Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of 16S rRNA gene PCR to study bowel flora of preterm infants with and without necrotizing enterocolitis

The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent to which bacteria not detected by culture contribute to the microbial flora of the bowel of preterm infants with and without neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Fecal samples from 32 preterm infants in special care baby units including samples from 10 infants with NEC were examined by culture and PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene (rDNA). The 16S rDNA V3 region was amplified with eubacterial primers, and the amplification products derived from the fecal sample DNA were compared with the products from individual cultured isolates by PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), allowing the DNA from uncultured bacteria to be identified. For the 22 infants without NEC weekly samples were examined for a mean of 5.3 postnatal weeks. The total number of types detected by culture combined with PCR-DGGE was 10.1 per infant, of which PCR-DGGE contributed 10.4% of the types identified. Additional types detected by PCR-DGGE were found in 14 (63.6%) of the 22 infants. The majority of the sequences associated with uncultured bacteria showed > 90% 16S rDNA sequence identity with sequences from culturable human enteric flora, and all were found in single infants with the exception of sequences indistinguishable by DGGE from seven infants. These sequences showed > 90% sequence identity with the 16S rDNA of Streptococcus salivarius and may have been derived from upper gastrointestinal or respiratory tract flora. In the present study uncultured bacteria detected by PCR-DGGE were no more frequent in fecal samples from infants with NEC than in samples from infants without NEC, although these findings do not exclude the possibility of unrecognized bacteria associated with the mucosa of the small intestine of infants with NEC.
Classification of enjoy sport problem using version spaces and the Candidate Elimination algorithm

This paper adopts Version Space and the Candidate Elimination approach to determine whether a person enjoys favorite water sport or not. This algorithm approach uses different kinds of attributes to predict the value of Enjoy Sport of an arbitrary day. We derive Specific hypothesis `S' and generalized hypotheses `G' sets which finally results in the version space with all describable consistent hypothesis. In this we also gave the confidence rating for approximating a Boolean-valued function from the given examples.
“Obese Equals Lazy?” Analysis of the Association between Weight Status and Physical Activity in Children

Introduction. Literature provides evidence that overweight children are more sedentary. To verify this generalized statement behavior patterns of overweight and nonoverweight children needs to be understood. Therefore, we investigated the distribution of sedentary and activity levels in a quantitative and qualitative way. Methods. Data was collected from 37 randomly selected nonoverweight and 55 overweight children. They were 8 to 11 years of age. Height and weight were measured and weight status was characterized by BMI (BMI-percentile, BMI-SDS). Daily PA (physical activity) was measured by direct accelerometry. Spare time and screen time entertainment were obtained by questionnaires. Results. The amount of time spent “passive” was significantly higher in overweight children, while nonoverweight children were more “active. ” The multiple regression model shows a significant association between weight status (BMI-SDS) and activity parameters. Additionally, screen time entertainment was significantly related to BMI-SDS. Conclusion. The results support the statement that overweight children are less active than nonoverweight children. The high amount of PA seems to be an important factor to prevent overweight in children given that PA shows the highest correlation to weight status. Quantitative and qualitative measurements are needed for further analysis.
Characterizing Listener Engagement with Popular Songs Using Large-Scale Music Discovery Data

Music discovery in everyday situations has been facilitated in recent years by audio content recognition services such as Shazam. The widespread use of such services has produced a wealth of user data, specifying where and when a global audience takes action to learn more about music playing around them. Here, we analyze a large collection of Shazam queries of popular songs to study the relationship between the timing of queries and corresponding musical content. Our results reveal that the distribution of queries varies over the course of a song, and that salient musical events drive an increase in queries during a song. Furthermore, we find that the distribution of queries at the time of a song's release differs from the distribution following a song's peak and subsequent decline in popularity, possibly reflecting an evolution of user intent over the “life cycle” of a song. Finally, we derive insights into the data size needed to achieve consistent query distributions for individual songs. The combined findings of this study suggest that music discovery behavior, and other facets of the human experience of music, can be studied quantitatively using large-scale industrial data.
nonordfp: An FP-growth variation without rebuilding the FP-tree

We describe a frequent itemset mining algorithm and implementation based on the well-known algorithm FPgrowth. The theoretical difference is the main data structure (tree), which is more compact and which we do not need to rebuild for each conditional step. We thoroughly deal with implementation issues, data structures, memory layout, I/O and library functions we use to achieve comparable performance as the best implementations of the 1st Frequent Itemset Mining Implementations (FIMI) Workshop.
Robust Head-Pose Estimation Based on Partially-Latent Mixture of Linear Regressions

Head-pose estimation has many applications, such as social event analysis, human-robot and human-computer interaction, driving assistance, and so forth. Head-pose estimation is challenging, because it must cope with changing illumination conditions, variabilities in face orientation and in appearance, partial occlusions of facial landmarks, as well as bounding-box-to-face alignment errors. We propose to use a mixture of linear regressions with partially-latent output. This regression method learns to map high-dimensional feature vectors (extracted from bounding boxes of faces) onto the joint space of head-pose angles and bounding-box shifts, such that they are robustly predicted in the presence of unobservable phenomena. We describe in detail the mapping method that combines the merits of unsupervised manifold learning techniques and of mixtures of regressions. We validate our method with three publicly available data sets and we thoroughly benchmark four variants of the proposed algorithm with several state-of-the-art head-pose estimation methods.
Statistical Modeling of Fetal Heart Rate Variability

The random variability of fetal heart rate (FHR) is of practical importance in obstetric management. The variability is not white, however, and cannot be adequately described by its variance alone. We have modeled FHR variability as the scalar output of a multivariate, nonlinear stochastic process. An adaptation of the Kalman filter algorithm is used as part of an approximate maximum likelihood estimator of the process parameters. The filter algorithm permits recording artifacts to be disregarded, by treating them as "missing" observations.
Electroactive Polymers as Artificial Muscles: Capabilities, Potentials and Challenges

For many years, electroactive polymers (EAP) received relatively little attention due to the small number of available materials and their limited actuation capability. The recent emergence of EAP materials with large displacement response changed the paradigm of these materials and their potential capability. The main attractive characteristic of EAP is their operational similarity to biological muscles, particularly their resilience and ability to induce large actuation strains. Unique robotic components and miniature devices are being explored, where EAP serve as actuators to enable new capabilities. In recognition of the need for international cooperation among the developers, users and potential sponsors, an SPIE Conference was organized for the first time on March 1-2, 1999, in Newport Beach, California. The conference was the largest ever on EAP, and it marked an important milestone, turning the spotlight onto these emerging materials and their potential. Following this success, an MRS conference was initiated to address the fundamental issues related to the material science of EAP. The WW-EAP newsletter was initiated to br ing the worldwide EAP community even closer. A homepage was also created to link worldwide EAP research and development facilities websites. In this paper, the current capabilities and potentials as well as the challenges of state -of-the art EAP will be
Impact of Perceived Self-Efficacy and Capability to Use IT Innovation on Individual Use Behaviour

Understanding the impact of individual desirability and perceived feasibility on individual intention to take action is an important issue that few studies have examined it in the context of technology acceptance. Not considering attitude and self-efficacy as direct determinants of intention is considered as a limitation of the UTAUT model as well. Perceived self-efficacy is concerned “not with the number of skills individual have but with what they believe they can do with what they have under a variety of circumstances”. People with a low sense of self-efficacy tend to have low aspirations and weak commitment to pursuing their goals, and feeble adherence to their values. To address these gaps, we integrate the UTAUT and EPM to develop a robust model which is able to measure the determinants that may influence entrepreneurs to adopt and use IT innovation. We collected data in a two-stage survey of 412 Malaysian entrepreneurs. The new model was tested and accounted for 78.4% of the variance in usage intention. The results indicated that perceived desirability, performance expectancy, perceived feasibility, and effort expectancy are determinants of intention to use IT innovation. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications for governments and academics.
Integrating IMU and landmark sensors for 3D SLAM and the observability analysis

This paper investigates 3-dimensional Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and the corresponding observability analysis by fusing data from landmark sensors and a strap-down Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) in an adaptive Kalman filter (KF). In addition to the vehicle's states and landmark positions, the self-tuning filter estimates the IMU calibration parameters as well as the covariance of the measurement noise. Examining the observability of the 3D SLAM system leads to the the conclusion that the system remains observable provided that at least one of these conditions is satisfied i) two known landmarks of which the connecting line is not collinear with the vector of the acceleration are observed ii) three known landmarks which are not placed in a straight line are observed.
A framework for low-power IPv6 routing simulation, experimentation, and evaluation

Low-power networked devices, such as sensors and actuators, are becoming a vital part of our everyday infrastructure. Being networked, the continued development of these systems needs involvement from the networking community. We present a framework for simulation, experimentation, and evaluation of routing mechanisms for low-power IPv6 networking. The framework provides a detailed simulation environment for low-power routing mechanisms, and allows the system to be directly uploaded to a physical testbed for experimental measurements.
L925I Mutation in the Para-Type Sodium Channel Is Associated with Pyrethroid Resistance in Triatoma infestans from the Gran Chaco Region

Background Chagas' disease is an important public health concern in Latin America. Despite intensive vector control efforts using pyrethroid insecticides, the elimination of Triatoma infestans has failed in the Gran Chaco, an ecoregion that extends over Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil. The voltage-gated sodium channel is the target site of pyrethroid insecticides. Point mutations in domain II region of the channel have been implicated in pyrethroid resistance of several insect species. Methods and Findings In the present paper, we identify L925I, a new pyrethroid resistance-conferring mutation in T. infestans. This mutation has been found only in hemipterans. In T. infestans, L925I mutation occurs in a resistant population from the Gran Chaco region and is associated with inefficiency in the control campaigns. We also describe a method to detect L925I mutation in individuals from the field. Conclusions and Significance The findings have important implications in the implementation of strategies for resistance management and in the rational design of campaigns for the control of Chagas' disease transmission.
Isoform-specific insulin receptor signaling involves different plasma membrane domains

In pancreatic β-cells, insulin selectively up-regulates the transcription of its own gene and that of the glucokinase gene by signaling through the two isoforms of the insulin receptor, i.e., A-type (Ex11−) and B-type (Ex11+), using different signaling pathways. However, the molecular mechanism(s) that allows the discrete activation of signaling cascades via the two receptor isoforms remains unclear. Here we show that activation of the insulin promoter via A-type and of the glucokinase promoter via B-type insulin receptor is not dependent on receptor isoform–specific differences in internalization but on the different localization of the receptor types in the plasma membrane. Our data demonstrate that localization and function of the two receptor types depend on the 12–amino acid string encoded by exon 11, which acts as a sorting signal rather than as a physical spacer. Moreover, our data suggest that selective activation of the insulin and glucokinase promoters occurs by signaling from noncaveolae lipid rafts that are differently sensitive toward cholesterol depletion.
Dynamic 3D human actor generation method using a time-of-flight depth camera

In this paper, we present a novel method to generate a dynamic 3D human actor using a time-of-flight depth camera, which provides synchronized color and depth images in real time. In practice, depth data obtained from the depth camera have critical problems, such as optical noise, absence of depth information for certain regions, and unmatched boundaries. In this work, we significantly enhance the visual quality of raw depth images of the human actor by performing noise reduction, recovery of the lost hair region, and boundary refinement. The 3D surface of the human actor is then created by applying a 3D mesh triangulation technique on the enhanced depth images. Finally, we generate a dynamic 3D human actor by providing the surface with corresponding color images. Experimental results show that the proposed method produces a natural and immersive 3D human actor successfully while minimizing problems inherent in the current depth camera-based images.
Preliminary examination of the reliability and concurrent validity of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder self-report scale v1.1 symptom checklist to rate symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To validate the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Self-Report Scale (ASRS) v1.1 Symptom Checklist versus the clinician-administered ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) in adolescents with ADHD. METHOD A total of 88 adolescents with ADHD aged 13-17 years participated in the study. The study was completed in one or two visits, 1-9 weeks apart. At each visit, participants completed the ASRS v1.1 Symptom Checklist, after which raters administered the ADHD-RS. Internal consistency of the ASRS v1.1 Symptom Checklist was assessed by Cronbach's alpha (Cronbach's α). Concurrent validity between the scales was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficients. Item-by-item reliability between the scales was assessed by the Kappa coefficient of agreement. RESULTS The mean age of participants was 14.9±1.5 SD years. 76.1% (n=67) were male. 73.9% (n=65) were currently receiving medication for ADHD. Internal consistency of ASRS v1.1 Symptom Checklist items was high, with Cronbach's α coefficients of 0.93 at Visit 1 and 0.94 at Visit 2. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the ASRS v1.1 Symptom Checklist and ADHD-RS were highly significant at Visit 1 (r=0.72, p<0.0001) and Visit 2 (r=0.73, p<0.0001). There was moderate item-by-item agreement between individual items on the scales (% agreement: 35.2%-63.4%) with statistically significant kappa coefficients for 17 of the 18 items. CONCLUSION The ASRS v1.1 Symptoms Checklist showed high internal consistency and high concurrent validity with the clinician-administered ADHD-RS in adolescents with ADHD. Results of this study suggest that the ASRS v1.1 Symptom Checklist is an internally consistent self-report scale for the assessment of adolescent ADHD and is moderately associated with a concurrently administered clinician measure of ADHD symptoms.
Secure Software Architectures

Secure distributed applications often include code to authenticate users, verify access rights, and establish secure communication channels between software components (e.g., clients and servers). This code is often particular to the application and the context in which the application is used. Embedding protection definitions in the application code makes it difficult to reuse because different applications often have very different protection constraints. In this paper we address the issues of security in software architectures, and propose a protection model based on software architectures, where the security policy is programmed separately from the application code.
Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Improves the Clinical Outcome in Patients Undergoing Multiple Overlapping Drug-Eluting Stents Implantation

Background and Objectives Stented segment length is a predictive factor for restenosis and stent thrombosis still in the drug-eluting stent (DES) era, and the benefit of routine intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether IVUS-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improved the vascular outcomes as compared with conventional PCI in the treatment of diffuse coronary artery disease. Subjects and Methods From our registry database from January 2006 to May 2009, we identified 85 consecutive patients with de novo coronary lesions treated with at least 64 mm of multiple, overlapping DES. The 2-year rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as the composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization (TLR), or stent thrombosis, was compared according to the use of IVUS. Results The 2-year MACE rate was lower in the IVUS-guided group than that of the angiography-guided group (8% vs. 33.3%, p=0.005). The incidence of TLR was lower in patients with IVUS use than in those without IVUS use (0% vs. 27.8%, p<0.001). On Cox proportional hazard analysis, no IVUS use {hazard ratio (HR) 5.917, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.037-33.770, p=0.045} and age (HR 1.097, 95% CI 1.006-1.138, p=0.032) were unfavorable predictors for the 2-year MACE. Conclusion The use of IVUS may improve the effectiveness and safety of multiple overlapping drug-eluting stenting for long, diffuse coronary lesions.
FlyBase: integration and improvements to query tools

FlyBase (http://flybase.org) is the primary resource for molecular and genetic information on the Drosophilidae. The database serves researchers of diverse backgrounds and interests, and offers several different query tools to provide efficient access to the data available and facilitate the discovery of significant relationships within the database. Recently, FlyBase has developed Interactions Browser and enhanced GBrowse, which are graphical query tools, and made improvements to the search tools QuickSearch and QueryBuilder. Furthermore, these search tools have been integrated with Batch Download and new analysis tools through a more flexible search results list, providing powerful ways of exploring the data in FlyBase.
The involvement of the HLA‐DQB1 alleles in the risk and the severity of Iranian coeliac disease patients

Coeliac disease (CD) is a highly prevalent autoimmune disorder that is triggered by the ingestion of wheat gluten and related proteins in genetically susceptible individuals. The CD is associated with human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes particularly with HLA‐DQ alleles encoding HLA‐DQ2 and DQ8 proteins. To define risk and severity alleles for CD, a total of 120 definite CD patients and 100 healthy controls were genotyped for HLA‐DQB1 gene. HLA‐DQB1 genotyping was performed in all patients and controls using PCR‐SSP technique, and to evaluate the clinical relevance of testing for HLA‐DQB1 and determining absolute risk of disease, prevalence‐corrected positive predictive value and prevalence‐corrected negative predictive value (PcPPV and PcNPV) were calculated. Our results for a first time show that DQB1*02:00 and DQB1*03:02 alleles and DQB1*02:01/03:02 genotype very significantly associated with increased risk of patients with CD, and DQB1*03:01,4 allele provides protection against CD in Iranian patients. Furthermore, the PcPPV for DQB*02:01 and 03:02 alleles in CD were 0.014 and 0.012, respectively, and the highest absolute risk presented by DQB*0201/0302 genotype (PcPPV = 0.079) and 98% of patients with CD carried DQB1*02:01/x or DQB1*03:02/x genotype. The results also clearly demonstrated that the DQB1*02:01 allele significantly associated with severity of CD, while DQB1*03:02 allele associated with mild form of CD. These results suggest that clinically suspected individuals for CD and first‐degree relatives of patients with CD to be screened for HLA‐DQB*0201 and DQB*0302 alleles for possible early diagnosis and treatments.
Communicating adaptation with emotions: the role of intense experiences in raising concern about extreme weather.

Adaptation to extreme weather is often considered as having a low urgency and being a low priority governance option, even though the intensity of extreme weather events is expected to increase as a result of climate change. An important issue is how to raise an adequate level of concern among individuals, policy makers, and broader decision makers in companies and organizations so that adaptation to extreme events becomes mainstream practice. We conducted 40 indepth interviews with individuals from different sectors in The Netherlands to identify the different types of experiences with extreme events, as well as the relationship between such experiences and the level of concern about extreme weather. Our results indicate that individuals who have experienced an intense, life- threatening event have a significantly higher level of concern than those without such an experience. Professional experience and secondhand experience through participating in information events do not significantly affect the level of concern about extreme events. This suggests limited intervention possibilities for communication of adaptation, as well as for raising support for adaptation measures. Framing adaptation measures in relation to personal circumstances and emotions during extreme events could help raise concern about extreme weather events, as well as societal support for adaptation measures.