Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exposure to peanuts in utero and in infancy and the development of sensitization to peanut allergens in young children

This study attempted to determine the underlying factors that may influence the development of peanut sensitization in young children in South Africa. One of our objectives was to ascertain whether the consumption of peanuts or peanut‐containing foods during pregnancy and lactation by mothers from atopic families impacted upon the development of an allergic response to peanuts in the child. Forty‐three children between the ages of 0 and 3 yr participated in this study. There were 25 peanut‐sensitized subjects and 18 control subjects (children sensitized to milk and/or egg, but not to peanuts). A significant association was found between peanut sensitization and sensitivity to soya (p=0.0002), wheat (p=0.03), and cod fish. We found that mothers who consumed peanuts more than once a week during pregnancy were more likely to have a peanut‐allergic child than mothers who consumed peanuts less than once a week (odds ratio=3.97, 98% confidence interval 0.73–24). Peanuts or peanut butter was introduced into the child’s diet from a significantly younger age in the peanut‐allergic subjects (p<0.03). There was a positive correlation in the peanut‐allergic subjects between age of introduction of peanuts and age at the onset of symptoms (r = 0.63). Exclusive breast feeding did not protect against the development of peanut sensitization. Peanut allergy is associated with an increased risk of sensitization to other foods. It is more likely to occur if mothers eat peanuts more frequently during pregnancy and introduce it early to the infant’s diet. These features highlight potentially avoidable factors that might prevent sensitization.
How to write a case study for public affairs

ABSTRACT A case study is a story narrative that places readers into the shoes of a protagonist so that they can gain the experience of addressing a particular problem or issue. When used effectively in the classroom, case studies can help students bridge the gap from theory to practice. Although public affairs incorporated the case approach in the earliest training programs, the field currently lacks the volume of case studies that are found in other professional disciplines. To encourage the development of more case studies in public affairs, this article provides guidance to authors on the fundamentals of a case study and how to write an effective case study.
A Full Transmit Diversity Using Cyclic Delay Diversity for EST Based Modulation

This letter proposes a transmit-diversity scheme using cyclic delay diversity (CDD) and energy spreading transform (EST) based modulation. It achieves full diversity over frequency-selective fading channels as well as flat fading channels for any number of transmit and receive antennas at a rate of one symbol per channel use. Its performance is shown by simulation to be considerably better than the previous full transmit-diversity techniques and approaches the performance bound when the diversity order of the system is sufficiently large.
Multimodal Optimization Based on Global and Local Mutation Operators

Multimodal optimization is one of the most interesting topics in evolutionary computational discipline. Simple genetic algorithm, a basic and good-performance genetic algorithm, shows bad performance on multimodal problems, taking long generation time to obtain the optimum, converging on the local extrema in early generation. In this paper, we propose a new genetic algorithm with two new genetic mutational operators, i.e. global and local mutation operators, and no genetic crossover. The proposed algorithm is similar to Simple GA and the two genetic operators are as simple as the conventional mutation. They just mutate the genes from left or right end of a chromosome till the randomly selected gene is replaced. In fact, two operators are identical with each other except for the direction where they are applied. Their roles of shaking the population (global searching) and fine tuning (local searching) make the diversity of the individuals being maintained through the entire generation. The proposed algorithm is, therefore, robust and powerful.
Effects of subinhibitory concentrations of vancomycin or cefamandole on biofilm production by coagulase-negative staphylococci

The density of the biofilm layer produced on a plastic surface by 23 clinical isolates and 1 reference strain of slime-positive, coagulase-negative staphylococci was measured following growth in subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of cefamandole or vancomycin ranging from 2 to 0.008 micrograms/ml. All strains were susceptible to less than or equal to 2 micrograms of each agent per ml. The mean biofilm density produced by each strain was calculated from a total of eight determinations at each sub-MIC and was compared with the mean biofilm density of a drug-free control after correcting for differences in growth. The results showed that the density of the biofilm layer produced by 10 (42%) of 24 strains and 13 (54%) of 24 strains was significantly increased (P less than 0.006) at one or more sub-MICs of cefamandole or vancomycin, respectively. In contrast, the density of the biofilm produced by 9 (38%) of 24 and 2 (8%) of 24 strains was significantly reduced at one or more sub-MICs of cefamandole and vancomycin, respectively, and the biofilm density of 7 of these strains was decreased only when the sub-MIC was one-half the MIC. The biofilm density of six strains (five versus cefamandole and one versus vancomycin) was both enhanced and reduced by different sub-MICs of the same agent. None of the strains produced a detectable biofilm at or above the MIC for the strain. These data indicate that antimicrobial agents such as cefamandole or vancomycin could potentially enhance the biofilm matrix produced by certain slime-positive, coagulase-negative staphylococci on the surface of a biomedical implant if concentrations of these agents fall below the MIC for the infecting strain.
Morphofunctional Alterations in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Gills after Exposure to Mercury Chloride

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that may exert its toxic effects on living organisms and is found in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in three chemical forms; elemental, organic, and inorganic. The inorganic form (iHg) tends to predominantly accumulate in aquatic environments. The gill apparatus is a very dynamic organ that plays a fundamental role in gas exchange, osmoregulation, acid-base regulation, detoxification, and excretion, and the gills are the primary route of waterborne iHg entrance in fish. In the present work we investigated the morphofunctional and ultrastructural effects in Danio rerio gills after 96 h exposure to two low HgCl2 concentrations (7.7 and 38.5 µg/L). Our results clearly demonstrated that a short-term exposure to low concentrations of mercury chloride resulted in gill morphology alterations and in the modifications of both Na+/K+-ATPase and metallothioneins (MTs) expression pattern. The main morphological effects recorded in this work were represented by hyperplasia and ectopia of chloride cells (CCs), lamellar fusion, increased mucous secretion, alteration of pavement cells (PVCs), detachment of the secondary epithelium, pillar cell degeneration, degeneration, and apoptosis. Trough immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR analysis also showed a dose-related modulation of Na+/K+-ATPase and MTs.
A strong interaction between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and obesity on the risk of prevalent type 2 diabetes: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND Some studies have found an association of obesity with type 2 diabetes only among individuals with high normal serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity, not in those with low serum GGT. If this interaction reflected pathophysiology, it would have scientific and clinical importance. The findings failed to reach statistical significance, however, and no articles have focused on the topic. We investigated possible interactions between serum GGT and body mass index (BMI) and their effects on the risk of prevalent type 2 diabetes and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) insulin resistance. METHODS We analyzed 4011 adults > or =40 years old who participated in the 3rd US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. RESULTS BMI was associated with prevalent diabetes only among persons with high normal serum GGT activity (P for interaction = 0.002). In the highest serum GGT quartile, adjusted odds ratios for BMI 25-29.9, 30-34.5, and > or =35 kg/m(2) compared with BMI<25 kg/m(2) were 3.1, 5.1, and 6.2, respectively (P for trend <0.001). In the lowest serum GGT quartile, BMI was not associated with diabetes; corresponding adjusted odds ratios were 1.0, 0.9, 1.8, and 0.8 (P for trend = 0.551). After prevalent diabetes was excluded, there was a parallel interaction with HOMA levels (P for interaction <0.001). CONCLUSIONS BMI was not associated with prevalent type 2 diabetes when GGT was low normal, suggesting that obesity itself may not be a sufficient risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Practically, this interaction can be useful in clinical settings to identify individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes.
Harmonic mitigation in an islanded microgrid using a DSTATCOM

The degree of proliferation of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and application of power electronics appliances are in demand. A microgrid can contain variety of sources such as diesel generator, wind turbine, PV arrays, micro-turbine and fuel cell. Usually these sources share power where the system frequency changes depending on the power supplied. On the other hand, the microgrid can contain harmonic loads that can affect the performance of the synchronous generators. These deleterious effects of distorting loads can be corrected using a distribution static compensator (DSTATCOM). In this paper, an isochronous control based droop strategy is employed that forces the microgrid to operate at the base frequency of 50 Hz. Therefore the DSTATCOM can be operated at 50 Hz. A closed-loop space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique is used for the DSTATCOM control. The scheme is validated through the extensive PSCAD/EMTDC simulation studies.
Basal components of the transcription apparatus (RNA polymerase II, TATA ‐binding protein) contain activation domains: Is the repetitive c‐terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II a “Portable Enhance Domain”?

Regions rich in serine, threonine, and proline residues can be found in transcriptional activation domains, as well as in the N‐terminal parts of mammalian TATA‐binding proteins, where they are interrupted by polyglutamine stretches. Likewise, the C‐terminal domain of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II contains multiple repeats of the consensus heptapeptide sequence YSPTSPS. To test directly for possible activation functions, we fused the GAL4 DNA‐binding domain to the N‐terminal domain of human TBP or subdomains of it, and to the C‐terminal domain (CTD) of mouse RNA polymerase II or synthetic polymers of a CTD consensus repeat. We found that these chimeric proteins were able to activate transcription when bound to a GAL4 site in front of the TATA box, a function characteristic of transcription factors. However, while subdomains of TBP functioned only from a position close to the TATA box (“promoter” position), multiple repeats of the CTD consensus sequence were also able to mediate transcriptional activation from a remote (“enhancer”) position.
Metatranscriptome Sequencing Reveals Insights into the Gene Expression and Functional Potential of Rumen Wall Bacteria

Microbiota of the rumen wall constitute an important niche of rumen microbial ecology and their composition has been elucidated in different ruminants during the last years. However, the knowledge about the function of rumen wall microbes is still limited. Rumen wall biopsies were taken from three fistulated dairy cows under a standard forage-based diet and after 4 weeks of high concentrate feeding inducing a subacute rumen acidosis (SARA). Extracted RNA was used for metatranscriptome sequencing using Illumina HiSeq sequencing technology. The gene expression of the rumen wall microbial community was analyzed by mapping 35 million sequences against the Kyoto Encyclopedia for Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database and determining differentially expressed genes. A total of 1,607 functional features were assigned with high expression of genes involved in central metabolism, galactose, starch and sucrose metabolism. The glycogen phosphorylase (EC:2.4.1.1) which degrades (1->4)-alpha-D-glucans was among the highest expressed genes being transcribed by 115 bacterial genera. Energy metabolism genes were also highly expressed, including the pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (EC:2.7.9.1) involved in pyruvate metabolism, which was covered by 177 genera. Nitrogen metabolism genes, in particular glutamate dehydrogenase (EC:1.4.1.4), glutamine synthetase (EC:6.3.1.2) and glutamate synthase (EC:1.4.1.13, EC:1.4.1.14) were also found to be highly expressed and prove rumen wall microbiota to be actively involved in providing host-relevant metabolites for exchange across the rumen wall. In addition, we found all four urease subunits (EC:3.5.1.5) transcribed by members of the genera Flavobacterium, Corynebacterium, Helicobacter, Clostridium, and Bacillus, and the dissimilatory sulfate reductase (EC 1.8.99.5) dsrABC, which is responsible for the reduction of sulfite to sulfide. We also provide in situ evidence for cellulose and cellobiose degradation, a key step in fiber-rich feed digestion, as well as oxidative stress response and oxygen scavenging at the rumen wall. Archaea, mainly Methanocaldococcus and Methanobrevibacter, were found to be metabolically active with a high number of transcripts matching to methane and carbohydrate metabolism. These findings enhance our understanding of the metabolic function of the bovine rumen wall microbiota.
Quasi mobile IP-based architecture for seamless interworking between WLAN and GPRS networks

Fixed local service and cellular operators around the world have shown interest in providing wireless local area network (WLAN) services to their subscribers together with traditional packet data cellular services in a hybrid infrastructure in which subscribers can roam seamlessly. This document specifies the system description for a seamless interworking between a general packet radio service (GPRS) system and a wireless local area network. The main objective is to extend the services available in IP networks (e.g. Internet) providing session persistence to both cellular packet data network subscribers and WLAN users. A quasi mobile IP architecture is proposed as a suitable solution together with a network discovery and roaming algorithm. The proposed framework allows for independent system engineering, reuse of current infrastructure, charging, robustness and security. A new node is introduced called home agent and minimal changes on MN software providing the necessary seamless interconnection capability to any user which owns a terminal with GPRS and WLAN interfaces as well as valid credentials to access both networks.
Transport $J_{{c}}$ in Bulk Superconductors: A Practical Approach?

The characterization of the critical current density of bulk high-temperature superconductors is typically performed using magnetometry, which involves numerous assumptions, including, significantly, that Jc within the sample is uniform. Unfortunately, magnetometry is particularly challenging to apply where a local measurement of Jc across a feature, such as a grain boundary, is desired. Although transport measurements appear to be an attractive alternative to magnetization, it is extremely challenging to reduce the cross-sectional area of a bulk sample sufficiently to achieve a sufficiently low critical current that can be generated by a practical current source. In the work described here, we present a technique that enables transport measurements to be performed on sections of bulk superconductors. Metallographic techniques and resin reinforcement were used to create an I-shaped sample of bulk superconductor from a section of Gd-Ba-Cu-O containing 15 wt % Ag2O. The resulting superconducting track had a cross-sectional area of 0.44 mm2. The sample was found to support a critical current of 110 A using a field criterion in the narrowed track region of 1 μV cm-1. We conclude, therefore, that it is possible to measure critical current densities in excess of 2.5 × 108 A m-2 in sections of a bulk superconductor.
Management of Contaminated Bone Grafts

Using an experimental animal model, the infection rate of contaminated bone grafts after irrigation with either normal saline, povidone-iodine, or a cefazolin solution was evaluated. Mechanical cleansing appears to be the important factor in preventing infection in these grafts, since all the solutions showed almost equal effectiveness. As the amount of bulk and dead space increases, particularly in Pseudomonas infections, povidone-iodine might be slightly superior, although this difference was not statistically significant.
Expectation Congruency and Psychosocial Support in Formal Agriculture Teacher Mentoring Relationships.

Educational leaders have widely implemented mentoring and induction programs to support beginning teachers as they enter the profession. A variety of contextual factors within the mentoring dyad and program may impact the mentoring relationship and subsequent support received by the beginning teacher. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship among mentoring Expectation Congruency, Interaction, and Psychosocial Support received by agriculture teachers participating in Beginning Teacher Mentor/Induction program. Researchers collected mentoring relationship data from 83 first and second year agriculture teachers participating in a statemandated mentoring and induction program, with a 95.35% response rate. We used a hierarchical multivariate linear regression to determine the proportion of unique variance in Psychosocial Support attributable to differences in Expectation Congruency, Interaction time, and covariates identified through a review of literature. Researchers concluded differences in Expectation Congruency and Perceived Similarity each explained a large (d >1.0) proportion of variance in Support received by beginning teachers in the Acceptance, Counseling, Friendship, and Role Model functions. Variation in interaction time did not explain significant proportions of variance in support received for any psychosocial support constructs.
Separating Information Protection from Resource Management

Securing information in a computer system is becoming an intractable problem. Exacerbating the situation is the current paradigm of trusting an operating system for both security and resource management. One solution to this problem is to separate the role of protecting information from managing resources. This thesis studies the design and implementation of a system architecture called Software-Privacy Preserving Platform (SP3). 5P3 creates a new layer that is more privileged than the operating system and responsible for providing information secrecy to user applications. SP3 provides page-granular memory secrecy protection by augmenting memory paging and interrupt mechanisms of a computer system in such a way that physical memory pages for user applications are rendered encrypted to the operating system. The resulting 5P3 system therefore provides secrecy protection for the information contained in the memory of user applications. SP3 is implemented by modifying a hypervisor, which efficiently emulates the augmented semantics of paging and interrupt mechanism introduced by 5P3. The modified hypervisor employs a couple of optimization techniques to reduce the number of costly page-wide block cipher operations. In the page-frame replication technique, the hypervisor internally keeps both encrypted and decrypted images of a page and relies on shadow page table redirection to map the correct page. In the lazy synchronization technique, the needed synchronization between the replicated images of the page is deferred as long as possible so that the synchronization happens not when an image is modified, but when the other image is actually accessed. This thesis further explores the challenges and solutions in the new programming environment introduced by SP3. This thesis also presents an SP3-based digital rights-management solution that can protect both the copy-protected multimedia contents and a trusted multimedia player program without limiting the end-users' freedom. In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates the feasibility of separating information protection from resource management in systems software. This separation greatly reduces the size and complexity of the trusted part for information protection, resulting in a more resilient system that can tolerate a compromise in the operating system.
Income redistribution and inequality in the Mexican tax-benefit system

The paper examines the redistributive effect that was achieved by the Mexican taxbenefit system in 2014 using personal income tax, indirect taxes, social security contributions and social benefits. Our goal is to analyse the impact on inequality due to fiscal system action and then go further by demonstrating to what extent the contributions have on the total redistribution effect. The Mexican tax-benefit system is characterised by significant pre-fiscal income inequality. The contribution made by Vertical Equity (VE) is relatively important, but Horizontal Inequity (HI) reduces its impact. Income taxation does not greatly contribute to VE. Furthermore, some households receive unequal benefits, and therefore decrease the positive effect induced by VE.
Direction of Arrival Estimation in the Presence of Noise Coupling in Antenna Arrays

The direction of arrival (DOA) estimation problem in the presence of signal and noise coupling in antenna arrays is addressed. In many applications, such as smart antenna, radar and navigation systems, the noise coupling between different antenna array elements is often neglected in the antenna modeling and thus, may significantly degrade the system performance. Utilizing the exact noise covariance matrix enables to achieve high-performance source localization by taking into account the colored properties of the array noise. The noise covariance matrix of the antenna array consists of both the external noise sources from sky, ground and interference, and the internal noise sources from amplifiers and loads. Computation of the internal noise covariance matrix is implemented using the theory of noisy linear networks combined with the method of moments (MoM). Based on this noise statistical analysis, a new four-port antenna element consisting of two orthogonal loops is proposed with enhanced source localization performance. The maximum likelihood (ML) estimator and the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) for DOA estimation in the presence of noise coupling is derived. Simulation results show that the noise coupling in antenna arrays may substantially alter the source localization performance. The performance of a mismatched ML estimator based on a model which ignores the noise coupling shows significant performance degradation due to noise coupling. These results demonstrate the importance of the noise coupling modeling in the DOA estimation algorithms.