Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic relationship between type and longevity in the Holstein breed

The relationship between type traits and longevity was studied in the French Holstein breed using a survival analysis model where the phenotypic value or the estimated genetic value of the cow for each type trait was included as a risk factor. This was done separately for two subpopulations (registered and non registered herds) and with or without adjustment for production traits, i.e., considering true or functional longevity. For all herds, udder traits (and above all, udder depth) clearly influence length of productive life. There seems to be a more drastic voluntary culling on type traits in registered herds. The correction for production traits, as a way to approximate functional longevity, increases the importance of udder traits and decreases the weight of capacity traits. The same results were obtained when the phenotypic value of the cow for type was replaced by her EBV. The relationship between longevity and type traits is most often nonlinear, in particular for udder traits.
A Comprehensive Study of the Effect of Class Imbalance on the Performance of Classifiers

Class imbalance is one of the significant issues which affect the performance of classifiers. In this paper we systematically analyze the effect of class imbalance on some standard classification algorithms. The study is performed on benchmark datasets, in relationship with concept complexity, size of the training set, and ratio between number of instances and number of attributes of the training set data. In the evaluation we considered six different metrics. The results indicate that the multilayer perceptron is the most robust to the imbalance in training data, while the support vector machine’s performance is the most affected. Also, we found that unpruned C4.5 models work better than the pruned versions.
Side Group Addition to the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Coronene by Proton Irradiation in Cosmic Ice Analogs

Ices at ~15 K consisting of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon coronene (C24H12) condensed either with H2O, CO2, or CO in the ratio of 1 : 100 or greater have been subjected to MeV proton bombardment from a Van de Graaff generator. The resulting reaction products have been examined by infrared transmission-reflection-transmission spectroscopy and by microprobe laser-desorption laser-ionization mass spectrometry. Just as in the case of UV photolysis, oxygen atoms are added to coronene, yielding, in the case of H2O ices, the addition of one or more alcohol (–OH) and ketone (>C=O) side chains to the coronene scaffolding. There are, however, significant differences between the products formed by proton irradiation and the products formed by UV photolysis of coronene containing CO and CO2 ices. The formation of a coronene carboxylic acid (–COOH) by proton irradiation is facile in solid CO but not in CO2, the reverse of what was previously observed for UV photolysis under otherwise identical conditions. This work presents evidence that cosmic-ray irradiation of interstellar or cometary ices should have contributed to the formation of aromatics bearing ketone and carboxylic acid functional groups in primitive meteorites and interplanetary dust particles.
Comparison of the cobas Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Test with the Hybrid Capture 2 and Linear Array HPV DNA Tests

ABSTRACT The cobas human papillomavirus (HPV) test (cobas) was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and identifies HPV16 and HPV18 separately as well as detecting a pool of 11 HR-HPV genotypes (HPV31, -33, -35, -39, -45, -51, -52, -56, -58, -59, -68) and also HPV66. We compared cobas, Linear Array (LA), and Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) assays for detection of carcinogenic HPV DNA, and cobas and LA for detection of HPV16 and HPV18 DNA, among the first 1,852 women enrolled in the HPV Persistence and Progression Cohort (PaP Cohort) study. Specimens were tested by all 3 assays 1 year after an HC2-positive result. In 1,824 specimens with cobas results, cobas had an 85.9% agreement with HC2 and 91.0% agreement with LA for carcinogenic HPV detection. When results between cobas and HC2 disagreed, cobas tended to call more women HPV positive (P < 0.01). Categorizing cobas and LA results hierarchically according to cancer risk (HPV16, HPV18, other carcinogenic HPV genotypes, or carcinogen negative), there was a 90% agreement for all categories of HPV (n = 1,824). We found good agreement between the two U.S. FDA-approved HPV tests, with discrepancies between the two assays due to specific characteristics of the individual assays. Additional studies are needed to compare HC2 and cobas for detecting and predicting CIN3 to understand the clinical implications of the discrepant test results between the two tests.
Efficient methods for highly oscillatory integrals with weak and Cauchy singularities

In this paper, we present two fast and accurate numerical schemes for the approximation of highly oscillatory integrals with weak and Cauchy singularities. For analytical kernel functions, by using the Cauchy theorem in complex analysis, we transform the integral into two line integrals in complex plane, which can be calculated by some proper Gauss quadrature rules. For general kernel functions, the non-oscillatory and nonsingular part of the integrand is replaced by a polynomial interpolation in Chebyshev points, and the integral is then evaluated by using recurrence relations. Furthermore, several numerical experiments are shown to verify the validity of such methods.
Inhibition of prokaryotic translation by the Shiga toxin enzymatic subunit.

Shiga toxin, produced by Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1, is a member of the large family of ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) which are primarily produced by plants. All RIPs are rRNA N-glycosidases which inactivate ribosomes through the removal of a specific adenine residue from the well-conserved aminoacyl-tRNA-accepting loop of rRNA. As a type II RIP, STX is believed to have little effect on prokaryotic ribosomes. However, we have demonstrated that over-expression of the STX enzymatic (A1) polypeptide which lacks a signal sequence caused a reduced rate of growth of its Escherichia coli host. Over-expression of the same StxA1 polypeptide with a catalytic site substitution had no effect on the growth of E. coli. In addition, purified StxA1 was an inhibitor of prokaryotic protein synthesis as assessed using an in vitro transcription and translation assay. The specific activity of StxA1 was significantly higher than ricin, which is another type II RIP, with both eukaryotic and prokaryotic translation systems.
Wearable Health Monitors and Physician-Patient Communication: The Physician's Perspective

Studies have shown that effective physician-patient communication can result in improved health outcomes. Wearable health monitors, which are steadily growing in adoption, may help to improve this communication. In this paper we report the findings of a survey conducted among physicians, in which we assessed their views on the potential integration of wearables into patient care. Our analysis suggests that physicians think of wearables in terms of getting accurate information on patient compliance and the efficacy of treatment to inform their decision-making. Respondents expressed interest in whether wearables would be convenient, feasible, and applicable. They also showed concern for regulations, intrusiveness, and interruptions. If integrated into physician-patient communication and interaction, wearables may be more effective to improve health and to have lasting effects. This study is a first step in understanding how this might be realized and how issues surrounding integration might be investigated.
Analyzing the Dynamics of a Rumor Transmission Model with Incubation

This paper considers a rumor transmission model with incubation that incorporates constant recruitment and has infectious force in the latent period and infected period. By carrying out a global analysis of the model and studying the stability of the rumor-free equilibrium and the rumor-endemic equilibrium, we use the geometric approach for ordinary differential equations which is based on the use of higher-order generalization of Bendixson’s criterion. It shows that either the number of rumor infective individuals tends to zero as time evolves or the rumor persists. We prove that the transcritical bifurcation occurs at crosses the bifurcation threshold by projecting the flow onto the extended center manifold. Since the rumor endemic level at the equilibrium is a continuous function of , as a consequence for successful eradication of the rumor, one should simply reduce continuously below the threshold value 1. Finally, the obtained results are numerically validated and then discussed from both the mathematical and the sociological perspectives.
Interplay between Cellular Methyl Metabolism and Adaptive Efflux during Oncogenic Transformation from Chronic Arsenic Exposure in Human Cells*

After protracted low level arsenic exposure, the normal human prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1 acquires a malignant phenotype with DNA hypomethylation, indicative of disrupted methyl metabolism, and shows arsenic adaptation involving glutathione overproduction and enhanced arsenic efflux. Thus, the interplay between methyl and glutathione metabolism during this progressive arsenic adaptation was studied. Arsenic-treated cells showed a time-dependent increase in LC50 and a marked increase in homocysteine (Hcy) levels. A marked suppression of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) levels occurred with decreased methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (converts methionine to SAM) expression and increased negative regulator methionine adenosyltransferase B, suggesting reduced conversion of Hcy to SAM. Consistent with Hcy overproduction, activity and expression of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (converts S-adenosylhomocysteine to Hcy) were both increased. Expression of cystathionine β-synthase, a key gene in the transsulfuration pathway, and various glutathione production genes were increased, resulting in a 5-fold increase in glutathione. Arsenic efflux increased along with expression of ATP-binding cassette protein C1, which effluxes arsenic as a glutathione conjugate. Evidence of genomic DNA hypomethylation was observed during early arsenic exposure, indicating that the disruption in methyl metabolism had a potential impact related to oncogenesis. Thus, cellular arsenic adaptation is a dynamic, progressive process that involves decreased SAM recycling and concurrent accumulation of Hcy, which is channeled via transsulfuration to increase glutathione and enhance arsenic efflux but may also impact the carcinogenic process.
Buddhist Psychology and Mindfulness: Does It Provide a Remedy for Western Shame?

This writing explores shame and its distress. It does so through a historical examination of Western psychological theories of emotion compared to emotions as seen through Buddhist psychology, based upon scholars and authorities within these respective fields. Further, it explores some Western psychotherapeutic approaches used to alleviate (unhealthy) shame compared to Buddhist mindfulness methods for alleviating aversive emotions and their efficacy, alone or in combination. The question examined is whether mindfulness grounded in Buddhist psychology and teachings, when applied within Western therapeutic settings and populations, is an effective and appropriate means to help alleviate aversive states of shame. To identify therapeutic approaches utilizing mindfulness-based or other approaches to alleviate shame and psychological distress, database searches (primarily PubMed and PsycInfo with some auxiliary searches of Google Scholar) were conducted of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, and Shame Resilience Theory to locate systematic reviews or meta-analytic research studies of their therapeutic effectiveness, primarily on psychological disorders, published from 2010-2020. After an overview of study outcomes, a discussion follows of their respective benefit (or harm) as well as opportunities for greater integration or further exploration of the application of mindfulness meditative techniques to shame or other aversive emotions.
Morphology of the Claw Closer Muscle in Two Estuarine Crab Species (Crustacea, Varunidae): An Ultrastructural Study

We analyzed the ultrastructural features of the claw closer muscles in two estuarine crabs, Cyrtograpsus angulatus and Neohelice granulata, by transmission electron microscopy. Adult male crabs at intermolt stage were collected in the Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon (Buenos Aires, Argentina). The muscle fibers of both species showed evident striations, peripheral and intermyofibrillar nuclei, clefts in continuity with T and Z tubules, sarcoplasmic reticulum and T tubules forming dyads and triads usually located between the A and I bands, and mitochondria located mainly beneath the sarcolemma. Glycogen was observed as diffuse, small particles among myofilaments. The claw closer muscle of C. angulatus exhibited two fiber types: one with relatively fast-contracting fibers (shorter sarcomeres, myofilaments with an ordered arrangement, lineal Z discs, a well-developed sarcotubular system) and fatigue-resistant (numerous large mitochondria); and the other type, with slower-contracting fibers (longer sarcomeres, less orderly arranged myofilaments, wavy Z discs, a less developed sarcotubular system) and less resistant to fatigue (lower mitochondrial density). N. granulata showed only the slow, less resistant to fatigue type. The fibers less resistant to fatigue and more slowly contracting would presumably be used primarily for displays and agonistic interactions, whereas fast fibers with abundant mitochondria would be associated with continuous movements during feeding and grooming.
A new method for grid-tie inverters synchronization based on RDFT with linear approximation

A new method based on linear approximation of RDFT is presented in this paper which will provide a computation reduction as well as high accuracy in tracking the fundamental in distorted grid during synchronization. Due to recent developments combined with the increasing of power demand by single phase nonlinear loads, voltage spikes, harmonics and DC component had affected on the electric grid quality. These effects make Synchronization a challenge where filters or DSP analysers are required to acquire the fundamental component as a consequence to the waveform deformation. Applying DFT “Discrete Fourier Transform” using DSP processors can be one of the best solutions to find the waveform parameters. However DFT is combined with high mathematical computations and required using advanced microprocessors to be applied in real-time.
[Nursing performance in the policy transfer of directly observed treatment of tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE Analyzing the policy transfer of directly observed treatment of tuberculosis from the perspective of nursing. METHOD This is a descriptive study with qualitative approach, which had 10 nurses of the Family Health Strategy in São Paulo as subjects. The interviews were carried out between May and June 2013, and were adopted the technique of thematic content analysis and the referential of policy transfer. RESULTS On the signification of this treatment, are related the senses of disciplinary monitoring, the bond and approximation to the context of patients' lives. Operationally, nurses, community health agents and nursing technicians stand out as agents of implementation of this policy, developing multiple actions of user embracement. The nurse is evidenced as an educator in health, leader in the family health team, and capable of creating emotional bond with users. CONCLUSION It was found that the innovations proposed in the treatment are incipient in the daily work of nurses.
The impact of South Korea’s new drug-pricing policy on market competition among off-patent drugs

Introduction: A new pricing policy was introduced in Korea in April 2012 with the aim of strengthening competition among off-patent drugs by eliminating price gaps between originators and generics. Objective: Examine the effect of newly implemented pricing policy. Methods: Retrospectively examining the effects through extracting from the National Health Insurance claims data a 30-month panel dataset (January 2011–June 2013) containing consumption data in four major therapeutic classes (antihypertensives, lipid-lowering drugs, antiulcerants and antidepressants). Proxies for market competition were examined before and after the policy. Results: The new pricing policy did not enhance competition among off-patent drugs. In fact, price dispersion significantly decreased as opposed to the expected change. Originator-to-generic utilization increased 6.12 times (p = 0.000) after the new policy. Conclusions: The new pricing policy made no impact on competition among off-patent drugs. Competition in the off-patent market cannot be enhanced unless both supply and demand side measures are coordinated.
Mannose‐binding lectin (MBL2) polymorphisms and inflammation in hypertensive patients

We investigated the possible role of Mannose binding lectin 2 (MBL2) functional polymorphisms in the prevalence of hypertension and hypertensive end‐organ damage in 300 hypertensive patients and 313 normotensive individuals from Southern Brazil. Hypertensive subjects with MBL2 AO/OO genotypes presented lower C‐reactive protein levels than AA individuals and consequently lower inflammatory status.
Web services for communication over IP

This article describes a service-oriented communication (SOC) paradigm based on Web services for real-time communication and converged communication services over IP. This approach extends Web services from a methodology for service integration to a framework for SOC. In particular, we introduce the generic Web services-based application session management (WS-session), the two-way full duplex Web services interaction for communication, and most importantly, the development of Web Services Initiation Protocol. WIP is a full-featured Web services and SOA-based communication paradigm for multimedia and voice communication-over-IP. In the SOC paradigm of WIP, each WIP communication end point may be exposed as a UDDI-publishable Web resource, searchable by Web search engines, and capable of being integrated into a communication-enabled business process as services. We show that WIP provides a SOA that can be extended seamlessly from a primitive P2P end point for voice and video communication to an end point with advanced call control and switching capabilities typically requiring the assistance of a dedicated PBX. A prototype WIP system is fully developed. Architectural design and a system implementation of Web services-based communication are studied and applied to real scenarios of converged communication services. The advance of WIP indicates the beginning of a full Web service and SOA-based communication paradigm that can reshape the direction of communication over IP.
Escherichia coli dam Methylase

The Escherichia coli dam methylase has been purified 3000-fold to a purity of 95% from a clone which overproduces the enzyme 10to 20-fold. Physical properties of enzyme purified from the overproducing clone were identical with those of enzyme previously obtained from a non-overproducing E. coli strain (Geier, G. E., and Modrich, P. (1979) J. BioL C h m . 254, 1408-1413). The methylase is comprised of a single polypeptide chain of M, = 31,000, has an s20,w of 2.8 S, a Stokes radius of 24 A, and exists in solution as a monomer. Its aggregation state is not affected by the presence of Sadenosyl-L-methionine. The simple kinetic behavior of the methylase indicates that it functions as a monomer. Initial rates of methyl transfer are first order in enzyme concentration, and Michaelis-Menten behavior is obeyed with respect to both substrates. At 37 “C, in the presence of saturating DNA, the enzyme has a turnover number of 19 methyl transfers/min with a K, for S-adenosyl-Lmethionine of 12.2 p ~ . At half-saturating S-adenosyl-Lmethionine, the apparent K,,, for d(G-A-T-C) sites in ColEl DNA is 3.0 m. The mechanism of methyl transfer is also consistent with the monomer being the functional form of the enzyme. Studies with G4 RFI DNA (two d(G-A-T-C) sites) indicate that the methylase transfers 1 methyl group to a recognition site and then dissociates from this DNA prior to subsequent catalysis. It appears that kinetic parameters for methyl transfer to sites already modified on one DNA strand may be slightly more favorable than those for transfer to sites in which both strands are unmethylated.
Stability of CV Intergestural Timing and Coordination as a Function of Prosodic Boundary and Syllable Structure in Korean

This study examined effects of Prosodic Boundary and Syllable Structure on the CV intergestural timing in Korean, using an EMA. The intergestural timing was more stable in the tautosyllabic (#CV) than in the heterosyllabic (C#V) condition, in line with the lexically-specified intergestural timing hypothesis, and that it was found to be more stable across an IP than a Word boundary. Nevertheless, some aspects of CV coordination remained invariant even when the consonant duration changed. Some evidence was also found, showing both dependency and independency of consonant and vowel gestures. Some of the data were interpretable in terms of gestural coupling relation.
Integration of an Internet-based medical chart into a pharmacotherapy lecture series.

OBJECTIVES To integrate an Internet-based medical chart (IMC) system into a pharmacotherapy course to facilitate evaluation and feedback processes, foster development of written documentation skills, and prepare pharmacy students for future changes in electronic medical documentation systems. DESIGN An IMC system was introduced into a pharmacotherapy course for third-professional year pharmacy students and 4 "finish the SOAP note" activities were added to the curriculum. Students' performance on the SOAP notes were assessed by a team of evaluators. At the end of the semester, students and evaluators completed separate 6-item survey instruments concerning the usefulness of the IMC system in meeting the course objectives. ASSESSMENT Students' performance on documentation activities improved over the course of the semester: 87% of the students avoided repeating previous mistakes by their final documentation activity. The vast majority of the students and evaluators found the system easy to use and the activities helpful. CONCLUSION The development, implementation, and initial expansion of the IMC system across both laboratory and pharmacotherapy courses was a success. Continued integration into clinical coursework is planned and will further expand opportunities for applied learning experiences to prepare students for their experiential program and beyond.
Epidemiology of Maternal Mortality in Malawi.

In Malawi the number of maternal deaths has been estimated using hospital-based surveys and populationbased surveys. The results of these studies sorted by setting and year of the study are presented in table 1. In addition large community-based surveillance systems are currently being implemented by the Karonga Prevention Study of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the South of Karonga District and by the Centre for Reproductive Health of the College of Medicine in the Lungwena area in Mangochi District. Estimates from hospital-based studies concerning the period 1977 to 1990 range from 32 to 945 maternal deaths per 100000 live births. More recent estimates have not been found. The MMR estimated from community surveys in the eighties to early nineties varied from 398 to 620. For the late nineties only the MDHS estimate of the MMR is available which is 1120 maternal deaths per 100000 live births. (excerpt)