Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TaqMan probe real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the quantification of canine DNA in chicken nugget

ABSTRACT This paper describes a short-amplicon-based TaqMan probe quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for the quantitative detection of canine meat in chicken nuggets, which are very popular across the world, including Malaysia. The assay targeted a 100-bp fragment of canine cytb gene using a canine-specific primer and TaqMan probe. Specificity against 10 different animals and plants species demonstrated threshold cycles (Ct) of 16.13 ± 0.12 to 16.25 ± 0.23 for canine DNA and negative results for the others in a 40-cycle reaction. The assay was tested for the quantification of up to 0.01% canine meat in deliberately spiked chicken nuggets with 99.7% PCR efficiency and 0.995 correlation coefficient. The analysis of the actual and qPCR predicted values showed a high recovery rate (from 87% ± 28% to 112% ± 19%) with a linear regression close to unity (R2 = 0.999). Finally, samples of three halal-branded commercial chicken nuggets collected from different Malaysian outlets were screened for canine meat, but no contamination was demonstrated.
Cooperative Transmission via Caching Helpers

This paper models the cooperative transmission via caching helpers (cache-based joint transmission), which cache one of the K most popular files, in wireless cellular networks and analyzes its performance in terms of the file transmission success probability in the stochastic geometry framework. For given caching placement, the caching helpers can either provide a file diversity gain by serving different files or a cooperative gain by jointly transmitting the same files. In order to account for the tradeoff between the file diversity gain and the cooperative gain, we derive the cache hit probability and the rate coverage probability. We also find the optimal caching placement balancing the tradeoff and investigate the effects of various system parameters, such as the cooperative region, the density of caching helpers, and the file popularity exponent, on the optimal caching placement.
Interactions between rod and L-cone signals in deuteranopes: Gains and phases

The dynamics of interactions between rod and L-cone driven signals were studied psychophysically in two deuteranopic observers. Flicker detection thresholds for different ratios of rod to L-cone modulation were measured at temporal frequencies between 1 and 15 Hz. A model, which assumes that rod and L-cone driven signals are vector added, can describe the threshold data adequately. We found that up to about 8–10 Hz temporal frequency, rod and L-cone signals interact additively, whereas at higher frequencies the interaction is subtractive. Rod and L-cone signal strengths depend similarly on temporal frequency and are maximal between 3 and 5 Hz. The phase difference between rod and L-cone signals increases linearly with temporal frequency, indicating that their responses have a delay difference of about 20 to 30 ms, consistent with involvement of the faster rod pathway. The data would suggest a nearly complete additivity of the rod and cone driven signals when using flashed stimuli. But, literature data showed only partial additivity of the two, suggesting that different postreceptoral mechanisms are involved in the two tasks.
Adaptive Behavior in Stressful Situations and Stroke Incidence in Hypertensive Men: Results From Prospective Cohort Study “Men Born in 1914” in Malmö, Sweden

Background and Purpose— Although hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, many hypertensive persons remain healthy. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether adaptation in a stressful situation was associated with the incidence of stroke in hypertensive men. Methods— Two hundred thirty-eight hypertensive men were followed from baseline in 1982/1983 until first stroke, death, or December 31, 1996. Adaptation to stress was studied with the serial Color-Word Test. In the Regression dimension, 4 patterns of adaptation could be distinguished according to mastering of the test. Successful mastering of the test was shown in stabilized patterns, increasing difficulty in cumulative patterns, fluctuating difficulty in dissociative patterns, and fluctuating difficulty that increased during testing in cumulative-dissociative patterns. The patterns were compared regarding stroke incidence. Results— Forty-three men experienced a stroke during follow-up. Stroke rates per 1000 person-years were 12.6 for men with stabilized patterns, 14.3 for men with cumulative patterns, 16.2 for men with dissociative patterns, and 31.2 for men with cumulative-dissociative patterns. Multivariate analysis, adjusted for relevant cerebrovascular risk factors, showed that the cumulative-dissociative pattern of the Regression dimension was associated with an increased risk of stroke during follow-up (relative risk 3.00, 95% CI 1.32 to 6.81). Conclusions— The specific behavior pattern, characterized by the greatest difficulties in managing the test, was associated with incidence of stroke in hypertensive men. One interpretation is that hypertensive men who chronically fail to find successful strategies in stressful situations are vulnerable to the damaging effects of stress and thereby at an increased risk of a future stroke.
The kinetics of the redox reactions of ubiquinone related to the electron-transport activity in the respiratory chain.

The role of ubiquinone (Q) in the respiratory chain is quantitatively analyzed by correlating both the steady-state redox level of Q and the kinetics of oxidation and reduction with the flux of the overall electron transport in uncoupled submitochondrial particles. This is achieved by experimentally defining donor and acceptor activities for Q. 1 The degree of reduction of Q in the steady state is proportional to the respiratory activity with NADH and succinate, if the respiratory activity is varied by titrating the donor side for Q with rotenone and malonate, respectively. The proportionality constant (acceptor activity, Vox) is independent of the substrate used. 2 The degree of oxidation of Q in the steady state is proportional to the respiratory activity as varied by titration of the acceptor side for Q with antimycin. The proportionality constant (donor activity, Vred) is independent of the acceptor activity and depends on the dehydrogenase activity for NADH and succinate. 3 From these experimental relations, the redox state of Q in the steady state and the respiratory activity can be described as functions of the donor and the acceptor activity only. The equations are valid with both NADH and succinate as the substrates. 4 The kinetics of oxidation of Q on the addition of oxygen as measured by the quench-flow method are in agreement with that measured by direct absorption recording in a mixing chamber. The reaction is first order with a rate constant equal to the acceptor activity divided by the amount of redox-active Q (Vox/Qa). The final steady-state level (in the present case 15% reduction) is a result also of the reduction reaction with the first-order rate constant, VredQa. 5 The acceptor activity can also be measured as maximum respiratory activity with duro-hydroquinone. This activity is independent of the presence of Q but sensitive to antimycin. Thus, the acceptor activity for ubiquinone can be measured by three independent methods. 6 It is concluded, that also in the steady state the reduction and oxidation of the active Q-pool follow pseudo-first-order reactions, the rates of which are equal to the respiratory rate. The total amount of redox-active Q is kinetically and functionally homogeneous and is not divided into substrate-specific compartments.
Proportion of Undercarboxylated Osteocalcin and Serum P1NP Predict Incidence of Myocardial Infarction in Older Men.

CONTEXT Undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) modulates insulin secretion and sensitivity in mice, and higher ucOC is associated with lower prevalence of diabetes in men. The influence of ucOC distinct from other markers of bone turnover on incidence of cardiovascular events is unclear. PARTICIPANTS Community-dwelling men aged 70-89 years resident in Perth, Western Australia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Serum total osteocalcin (TOC), N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP), and collagen type I C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide (CTX) were measured by immunoassay, and ucOC by hydroxyapatite binding. The ratio ucOC/TOC was calculated. Hospital admissions and deaths from myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke were ascertained. RESULTS There were 3384 men followed for 7.0 years, during which 293 experienced an MI, 251 stroke, and 2840 neither. In multivariate analyses, higher ratio of ucOC/TOC (expressed as %) was associated with lower incidence of MI (quartiles Q2-4, ≥ 49% versus Q1,<49%, hazard ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval = 0.54-0.91), but not of stroke (0.99, 0.73-1.34). Higher P1NP was associated with higher incidence of MI (Q2-4, ≥ 28.2 μg/L versus Q1, <28.2 μg/L, hazard ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.97), but not of stroke (0.94, 0.70-1.26). CTX was not associated with incident MI or stroke. CONCLUSIONS A reduced proportion of undercarboxylated osteocalcin or higher P1NP are associated with increased incidence of MI. UcOC/TOC ratio and P1NP predict risk of MI but not stroke, in a manner distinct from CTX. Further studies are needed to investigate potential mechanisms by which bone turnover markers related to metabolic risk and to collagen formation could modulate cardiovascular risk.
First-Pass Selectivity for Semantic Categories in Human Anteroventral Temporal Lobe

How the brain encodes the semantic concepts represented by words is a fundamental question in cognitive neuroscience. Hemodynamic neuroimaging studies have robustly shown that different areas of posteroventral temporal lobe are selectively activated by images of animals versus manmade objects. Selective responses in these areas to words representing animals versus objects are sometimes also seen, but they are task-dependent, suggesting that posteroventral temporal cortex may encode visual categories, while more anterior areas encode semantic categories. Here, using the spatiotemporal resolution provided by intracranial macroelectrode and microelectrode arrays, we report category-selective responses to words representing animals and objects in human anteroventral temporal areas including inferotemporal, perirhinal, and entorhinal cortices. This selectivity generalizes across tasks and sensory modalities, suggesting that it represents abstract lexicosemantic categories. Significant category-specific responses are found in measures sensitive to synaptic activity (local field potentials, high gamma power, current sources and sinks) and unit-firing (multiunit and single-unit activity). Category-selective responses can occur at short latency (as early as 130 ms) in middle cortical layers and thus are extracted in the first pass of activity through the anteroventral temporal lobe. This activation may provide input to posterior areas for iconic representations when required by the task, as well as to the hippocampal formation for categorical encoding and retrieval of memories, and to the amygdala for emotional associations. More generally, these results support models in which the anteroventral temporal lobe plays a primary role in the semantic representation of words.
The Effect of Item Choice on Ability Estimation When Using a Simple Logistic Tailored Testing Model.

This paper explores the effects of item choice on ability estimation when using a tailored testing procedure based on the Rasch simple logistic model. Most studies of the simple logistic model imply that ability estimates are totally independent of the items used, regardless of the testing procedure. This paper shows that the ability estimate is affected by item choice and gives theoretical and empirical information as to the direction and magnitude of the effect. (Author/RC) The Effect Of Item Choice On Ability Estimation When Using A Simple Logistic Tailored Testing Model by rrN Mark D. Reckase C) University of Missouri Columbia r-1 ca
Banking Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) Stem Cells: Awareness, Attitude and Expectations of Potential Donors from One of the Largest Potential Repository (India)

Background The concept of Umbilical Cord blood (UCB) stem cells is emerging as a non-invasive, efficacious alternative source of hematopoietic stem cells to treat a variety of blood and bone marrow diseases, blood cancers, metabolic disorders and immune deficiencies. Aim of the present study was to determine the level of awareness about banking UCB among pregnant women in India. We also assessed patient perception for banking of UCB and explored the patient expectations of banking UCB in future. This is the first study to assess current attitudes, in a sample population of potential donors from one of the largest potential UCB repository (India). Obtaining this information may help optimize recruitment efforts and improve patient education. Material and Method Present explorative questionnaire based survey included 254 pregnant women in the final analysis. Results We established only 26.5% pregnant women in our study population knew what exactly is meant by UCB. A large proportion (55.1%) was undecided on whether they want to bank UCB or not. Women were more aware of the more advertised private cord blood banking compared to public banking. More than half of the pregnant women expected their obstetrician to inform them regarding UCB. One-third of the women in our population had undue expectations from banking of the UCB. Conclusion Obstetricians should play a more active role in explaining the patients regarding pros and cons of UCB banking.
Public Stigma towards Older Adults with Depression: Findings from the São Paulo-Manaus Elderly in Primary Care Study

This study investigates three domains of public stigma (perceived negative reactions, perceived discrimination, and dangerousness) against older adults with depression. The sample comprised of older adults registered with primary care clinics (n = 1,291) and primary health care professionals (n = 469) from São Paulo and Manaus, Brazil. Participants read a vignette describing a 70-year-old individual (Mary or John) with a depressive disorder and answered questions measuring stigma. The prevalence of the three stigma domains was between 30.2 and 37.6% among older participants from São Paulo and between 27.6 and 35.4% among older participants from Manaus. Older adults from both cities reported similar prevalence of perceived stigma. Key factors associated with stigmatizing beliefs among older participants were reporting depressive symptoms, having physical limitations, and identifying the case of the vignette as a case of mental disorder. Among health professionals, the prevalence of the three stigma domains was between 19.8 and 34.8% in São Paulo and 30.2 and 44.6% in Manaus. The key factor associated with stigma among primary health care professionals was city, with consistently higher risk in Manaus than in São Paulo. Findings confirm that public stigma against older adults in Brazil is common. It is important to educate the public and primary health care providers in Brazil on stigma related to mental illness in order to reduce barriers to adequate mental health treatment.
Papillary renal cell carcinoma and collecting duct carcinoma combination. A case report and review of synchronous renal cell carcinoma subtypes in the same kidney

Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC), also known as Bellini duct carcinoma, is a rare neoplasm comprising less than 1% of renal epithelial tumors [1]. Collecting duct carcinoma is an aggressive neoplasm and is thought to arise from the collecting ducts of renal medulla [2]. Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) comprises 10% of renal cell carcinomas (RCC) and has distinct cytogenetic and molecular features [3].
Documenting Design-Pattern Instances: A Family of Experiments on Source-Code Comprehensibility

Design patterns are recognized as a means to improve software maintenance by furnishing an explicit specification of class and object interactions and their underlying intent [Gamma et al. 1995]. Only a few empirical investigations have been conducted to assess whether the kind of documentation for design patterns implemented in source code affects its comprehensibility. To investigate this aspect, we conducted a family of four controlled experiments with 88 participants having different experience (i.e., professionals and Bachelor, Master, and PhD students). In each experiment, the participants were divided into three groups and asked to comprehend a nontrivial chunk of an open-source software system. Depending on the group, each participant was, or was not, provided with graphical or textual representations of the design patterns implemented within the source code. We graphically documented design-pattern instances with UML class diagrams. Textually documented instances are directly reported source code as comments. Our results indicate that documenting design-pattern instances yields an improvement in correctness of understanding source code for those participants with an adequate level of experience.
XX Disorder of Sex Development is associated with an insertion on chromosome 9 and downregulation of RSPO1 in dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)

Remarkable progress has been achieved in understanding the mechanisms controlling sex determination, yet the cause for many Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) remains unknown. Of particular interest is a rare XX DSD subtype in which individuals are negative for SRY, the testis determining factor on the Y chromosome, yet develop testes or ovotestes, and both of these phenotypes occur in the same family. This is a naturally occurring disorder in humans (Homo sapiens) and dogs (C. familiaris). Phenotypes in the canine XX DSD model are strikingly similar to those of the human XX DSD subtype. The purposes of this study were to identify 1) a variant associated with XX DSD in the canine model and 2) gene expression alterations in canine embryonic gonads that could be informative to causation. Using a genome wide association study (GWAS) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), we identified a variant on C. familiaris autosome 9 (CFA9) that is associated with XX DSD in the canine model and in affected purebred dogs. This is the first marker identified for inherited canine XX DSD. It lies upstream of SOX9 within the canine ortholog for the human disorder, which resides on 17q24. Inheritance of this variant indicates that XX DSD is a complex trait in which breed genetic background affects penetrance. Furthermore, the homozygous variant genotype is associated with embryonic lethality in at least one breed. Our analysis of gene expression studies (RNA-seq and PRO-seq) in embryonic gonads at risk of XX DSD from the canine model identified significant RSPO1 downregulation in comparison to XX controls, without significant upregulation of SOX9 or other known testis pathway genes. Based on these data, a novel mechanism is proposed in which molecular lesions acting upstream of RSPO1 induce epigenomic gonadal mosaicism.
Wikipedia: An opportunity to rethink the links between sources' credibility, trust, and authority

The Web and its main tools (Google, Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter) deeply raise and renew fundamental questions, that everyone asks almost every day: Is this information or content true? Can I trust this author or source? These questions are not new, they have been the same with books, newspapers, broadcasting and television, and, more fundamentally, in every human interpersonal communication. This paper is focused on two scientific problems on this issue. The first one is theoretical: to address this issue, many concepts have been used in library and information sciences, communication and psychology. The links between these concepts are not clear: sometimes two concepts are considered as synonymous, sometimes as very different. The second one is historical: sources like Wikipedia deeply challenge the epistemic evaluation of information sources, compared to previous modes of information production. This paper proposes an integrated and simple model considering the relation between a user, a document and an author as human communication. It reduces the problem to three concepts: credibility as a characteristic granted to information depending on its truth-value; trust as the ability to produce credible information; authority when the power to influence of an author is accepted, i.e. , when readers accept that the source can modify their opinion, knowledge and decisions. The model describes also two kinds of relationships between the three concepts: an upward link and a downward link. The model is confronted with findings of empirical research on Wikipedia in particular.
A spoon full of studies helps the comparison go down: a comparative analysis of Tulving’s spoon test

Mental time travel refers to the ability to cast one’s mind back in time to re-experience a past event and forward in time to pre-experience events that may occur in the future. Tulving (2005), an authority on mental time travel, holds that this ability is unique to humans. Anticipating that comparative psychologists would challenge this claim, Tulving (2005) proposed his spoon test, a test specifically designed to assess whether non-human animals are capable of mental time travel. A number of studies have now employed the spoon test to assess mental time travel in non-human animals. Here, we review the evidence for mental time travel in primates. To provide a benchmark, we also review studies that have employed the spoon test with preschool children. The review demonstrates that if we compare the performance of great apes to that of preschool children, and hold them to the same criteria, the data suggest mental travel is present but not ubiquitous in great apes.
Review: Diversity of Microorganisms in Global Fermented Foods and Beverages

Culturalable and non-culturable microorganisms naturally ferment majority of global fermented foods and beverages. Traditional food fermentation represents an extremely valuable cultural heritage in most regions, and harbors a huge genetic potential of valuable but hitherto undiscovered strains. Holistic approaches for identification and complete profiling of both culturalable and non-culturable microorganisms in global fermented foods are of interest to food microbiologists. The application of culture-independent technique has thrown new light on the diversity of a number of hitherto unknown and non-cultural microorganisms in naturally fermented foods. Functional bacterial groups (“phylotypes”) may be reflected by their mRNA expression in a particular substrate and not by mere DNA-level detection. An attempt has been made to review the microbiology of some fermented foods and alcoholic beverages of the world.
DISCO: acquisition of translucent objects

Translucent objects are characterized by diffuse light scattering beneath the object's surface. Light enters and leaves an object at possibly distinct surface locations. This paper presents the first method to acquire this transport behavior for arbitrary inhomogeneous objects. Individual surface points are illuminated in our DISCO measurement facility and the object's impulse response is recorded with a high-dynamic range video camera. The acquired data is resampled into a hierarchical model of the object's light scattering properties. Missing values are consistently interpolated resulting in measurement-based, complete and accurate representations of real translucent objects which can be rendered with various algorithms.