Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of multiplex-PCR for Genetically Modified Organism ( GMO ) detection targeting EPSPS and Cry 1 Ab genes in soy and maize samples

The incidence of GMO is increasing worldwide therefore development of a reliable yet cost and time saving analytical method to detect GMO is important. This study aimed to develop a multiplex-PCR for GMO detection targeting Cry1Ab and EPSPS genes in soy and maize samples simultaneously, and secondly to obtain purified nucleic acids using CTAB DNA extraction method for conducting a GM specific analysis on various types of food samples. The multiplex PCR was optimized to improve PCR performance and to minimize failure. Out of 60 samples, 42 (70.0%) were found containing Cry1Ab or EPSPS genes, consisting of 11.9% of Roundup Ready Soya positive samples and 88.1% of Bt 176 Maize positive samples. Besides, 71.7% samples yielded DNA concentration above 50 ng/μl; 66.7% samples were in the DNA purity range of 1.6 to 2.0 and 85.0% of the samples were amplifiable for the endogenous gene screening. The CTAB DNA extraction method is effective for the DNA extraction from animal feeds, raw materials and processed foods.
Multilayered crystals of macroions under slit confinement

The crystalline ground state of macroions confined between two neutral parallel plates in the presence of their homogeneously spread counterions is calculated by lattice sum minimization of candidate phases involving up to six layers. For increasing macroion density, a cascade of solid–solid transitions is found involving various multilayered crystals. The cascade includes triangular monolayer and buckled bilayer as well as rhombic, squared and triangular phase structures.
Recruitment strategies for minority participation: challenges and cost lessons from the POWER interview.

BACKGROUND The importance of recruiting and retaining women from diverse populations is well recognized; however, the recruitment process often presents greater challenges at higher costs than initially anticipated. OBJECTIVES To describe recruitment strategies and costs from a study evaluating women's preferences regarding tamoxifen use for primary prevention of breast cancer. DESIGN Description and analysis of recruitment strategies, outcomes, and costs for a cross-sectional interview study. SETTING University hospital and community sites. PARTICIPANTS 932 racially and ethnically diverse women respondents, of whom 771 completed the screening process (aged 27-87). INTERVENTION Women were recruited and screened by using the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Program (BCRA version 1, National Cancer Institute). Eligibility required an estimated five-year breast cancer risk of at least 1.7%. Recruitment goals targeted a high percentage of ethnic minorities. METHODS Recruitment strategies included direct mail, flyers, newspapers, media advertising, and community outreach. RESULTS Of the 771 screened women, 341 (44%) met eligibility criteria and 255 (33%) completed interviews (76.9% White, 10.6% Latina, 7.0% Asian, 3.9% African American, 1.6% Native American). Recruitment costs averaged US $113/screened participant. Direct mail and community contact yielded the largest number of participants (312 screened, 205 eligible). Radio advertising provided few participants (one screened, one eligible) at high cost. CONCLUSIONS Recruiting an ethnically diverse sample presented multiple challenges. We recommend that future studies budget adequately for recruitment time and costs, develop ongoing relationships with key community leaders, evaluate recruitment strategies closely, and report detailed recruitment findings to the research community.
Design and realization of deep learning coprocessor oriented to image recognition

In order to explore efficient design of the dedicated deep learning processor oriented to image recognition, this paper presents a deep convolutional neural network coprocessor which is applied in embedded image recognition system or SoC. In particular, the calculation of nonlinear active function and local response normalization are designed in PEs of the coprocessor based on approximate calculation so that the parallel computing in multiple PEs could be used instead of traditional serial computing based on additional ALU. In order to verify the function and performance of the coprocessor, two representative convolutional networks LeNet-5 and AlexNet are deployed on coprocessor respectively, and two datasets MNIST and CIFAR10 are used for training and testing. The prototype system of the coprocessor is implemented on XC6VLX240T of Xilinx, and the peak performance is up to 19.2GOP/s when it operates at 100MHz. The experiment results show that the test accuracy of the coprocessor is consistent with the deep learning framework Caffe, and the design of coprocessor meets the requirements of image recognition.
Embracing the Structure of Metacognitive Beliefs: Validation of the French Short Version of the Metacognitions Questionnaire

Cognitive models of psychopathology posit that metacognitive beliefs may figure prominently in the maintenance, and perhaps the etiology, of emotional disorders. Wells and Cartwright-Hatton (2004) developed the 30-item Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30) to measure metacognitive beliefs among individuals with anxiety and depression. However, uncertainty still abounds regarding the factorial structure of the French version of the MCQ-30. We designed the present study to overcome this issue. We computed confirmatory factor analyses to examine structural properties of the MCQ-30 in a French-speaking community sample (N = 262). Our results are consistent with previous studies, especially regarding the factorial structure. Moreover, good internal reliability and concurrent validity were observed. The MCQ-30 is a reliable and valid tool for assessing various factors of metacognitions for research and clinical purposes.
IL-6 and IL-11 as Markers for Tumor Aggressiveness and Prognosis in Gastric Adenocarcinoma Patients without Mutations in Gp 130 Subunits

Background & Aims. A point mutation (gp130Y757F/ Y759F) was identified as being responsible for aberrant activation of gp130 in mice and associated with gastric adenocarcinoma induction. As a result, we investigated the possible role of key point mutations in Tyr from IL6ST exon 17 that encode for the catalytic domain of gp130, and of its respective activators (IL-6 family member cytokines) in human gastric cancer initiation and development. method. DNA, protein and plasma from 51 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma have been used in exploring gp130 status. We used sequencing analysis of IL6ST exon 17 in order to identify possible mutations that would lead to constitutive active forms of the receptor. The levels of gp130 activators (IL-6, IL-11, LIF) were analyzed by ELISA in plasma and mucosa of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Results. Sequencing analysis did not identify mutations in gp130 key positions (Y759, Y767, Y814, Y905 and Y915). An increased IL-6 and IL-11 level in gastric mucosa was observed, correlated with staging, indicating these cytokines as gp130 activators in tumor epithelial cell. Those variations were consistent with increased IL-6 level in plasma. Furthermore, IL-6, but not IL-11 showed a significant correlation with patient’s survival time, suggesting that tissue and plasma concentration of IL-6 might be a marker of tumor aggressiveness with prognostic value. Conclusions. According to our results, no mutations were detected in gp130 key positions in human gastric adenocarcinoma samples. However, gp130 activation may occur due to the increased level of IL-6 and IL-11 cytokines detected that can become valuable biomarkers. *The first three authors equally contributed to this work.
Monte Carlo Evaluation of Classification Algorithms Based on Fisher's Linear Function in Classification of Patients With CHD

Classification comprises a variety of problems, which are solved in several ways. The need for automatic classification methods arises in a number of areas, from voice recognition, to modern automobiles, to the recognition of tumors through x-rays to assist doctors, by classifying emails as legitimate or spam. Due to the importance and complexity of such problems, there is a need for methods that provide greater accuracy and interpretability of the results. Among them the Boosting methods, which have emerged in the field of computation, work by sequentially applying a classification algorithm to reweighted versions of the training data set, giving greater weight to erroneous observations. The aim of this study was to study the Fisher Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) model and the same one using Boosting algorithm (AdaBoost) in the presence / absence of coronary heart disease (CHD) problem in patients. The criteria used to make the comparisons were sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate and false negative rate. In addition, Monte Carlo simulation was performed to calculate these rates in different partitions of the training set. The Boosting method was successfully applied in LDA and provided a higher sensitivity than the conventional LDA.
Feeding habits of two deep-sea sharks from central-northern Chile: hooktooth dogfish Aculeola nigra (Etmopteridae) and dusky catshark Bythalaelurus canescens (Scyliorhinidae)

Feeding habits of 381 specimens of Aculeola nigra and 513 specimens of Bythalaelurus canescens were studied. In 121 stomachs of A. nigra and 312 of B. canescens preys were found. Individuals were collected as by-catch from the deep-sea crustacean fishery, between 25o20'S and 35o43'S; from January 1997 to July 2000 off the northern-central Chilean coast. The most important prey by index of relative importance and by frequency of occurrence in A. nigra was the benthic deep-sea shrimp Heterocarpus reedi; while by number the euphausiid Euphausia mucronata and by weight the common hake Merluccius gayi were the most important. The deep-sea shrimp H. reedi was also the most important prey of B. canescens, for all feeding indices used. Significant differences were found in the habitat where these predators consume their prey, A. nigra eating more on pelagic prey; whereas B. canescens feeds more on benthic prey. A. nigra showed a higher trophic niche breadth, because they predate more on benthic, pelagic and mesopelagic resources; whereas B. canescens feeds primarily on benthic prey. The diet of both species significantly overlapped, suggesting a high competition between them.
QUEST: A Natural Language Interface to Relational Databases

Natural language interfaces to databases systems allow the user to use natural language to interrogate a database. Current systems mainly focus on simple queries but neglect nested queries, which are predominant in real cases. We present a NLIDB system, QUEST, which is able to cope with nested logic queries, without imposing any restrictions on the input query. QUEST outperforms a strong baseline system by 11% accuracy.
Effects of Exogenous Zinc on the Cellular Zinc Distribution and Cell Cycle of A549 Cells

As the second most abundant transition metal in humans, zinc plays essential roles in normal cellular biological functions, including metabolism, signalling, proliferation, gene expression and apoptosis. We use ZnSO(4) as a stressor in this study to investigate for the first time the effects of exogenous Zn(2+) on both the cellular distribution of zinc and zinc-related proteins and the cell cycle of human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells. The cellular distribution of zinc and soluble proteins was determined in the whole cell as well as in the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions. Exogenous zinc in the tested exposure range (0-100 µM) resulted in an altered cellular distribution of both zinc and the soluble proteins, together with total glutathione (GSx), the ratio of glutathione (GSH) to glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and non-protein sulphydryl (NPSH). Surprisingly, a turning point was observed in the re-distribution trend at a concentration of approximately 50 µM ZnSO(4). It is concluded that there exists a regulatory system in A549 cells that maintains the cellular zinc content stable in the presence of a certain range of extracellular zinc concentration. In addition, an MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis showed that the ZnSO(4) treatment led to a bi-phasic variation in viability and a slight fluctuation in the apoptosis of A549 cells. Our results will help to further elucidate zinc-related cell biology and biochemistry.
Effectiveness of a Combined Web-Based and Ecological Momentary Intervention for Incoming First-Year University Students: Protocol for a 3-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Alcohol use among university students is common, and those who drink often choose to drink heavily (ie, 4 or more drinks per session for women or 5 or more for men). Web-based interventions (WBIs), in which students complete assessments and receive personalized feedback about their alcohol use, and ecological momentary interventions (EMIs), which use mobile devices as a method of delivering intervention information, are 2 methods that have had some success in reducing alcohol use among university students. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a combined WBI and EMI intervention to reduce alcohol use among university students. Methods The study is a 3-arm randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomized into either a WBI+EMI condition, a WBI-only condition, or an assessment-only control. Our sample will consist of first-year university students, recruited through 5 residential colleges at the University of Otago, New Zealand. All participants will complete an online survey at baseline (ie, before Orientation Week); those in the WBI-only and WBI+EMI conditions will immediately receive personalized feedback (ie, the WBI), whereas participants in the assessment-only condition will receive no feedback. In addition, participants randomized into the WBI+EMI, but not those in the WBI-only or assessment-only groups, will receive 8 Orientation Week (2 per day on nights with large social events) and 6 academic year EMIs (delivered fortnightly). Participants in all conditions will complete brief surveys at the end of the first and second semester and report their weekend alcohol use fortnightly throughout each semester via ecological momentary assessments. Results The primary hypothesis is that participants in the WBI+EMI group will consume significantly fewer drinks during weekends in their first semester at university compared with WBI-only and assessment-only groups. Secondary hypotheses are that, when compared with the WBI-only and assessment-only groups, the WBI+EMI group will report consuming fewer drinks during Orientation Week, report experiencing fewer negative alcohol-related consequences after first semester, and report lower Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption scores following their first semester. Conclusions This study adds to a growing body of work investigating the utility of WBIs and EMIs in curbing alcohol consumption. In addition, the study will help to inform policy approaches aimed at curbing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm in university students. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618000015246; https://www.anzctr. org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx? id=374104&isReview=true (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6z9jRLTz6) Registered Report Identifier RR1-10.2196/10164
Are left ventricular ejection fraction and left atrial diameter related to atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation?

Abstract Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common form of arrhythmia, is associated with the prevalence of many common cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Catheter ablation is considered the first-line therapy for AF; however, AF recurrence is very common after catheter ablation. Studies have been performed to analyze the factors associated with AF recurrence, but none have reached a consistent conclusion on whether left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left atrial diameter (LA diameter) affect AF recurrence after catheter ablation. The databases PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were used to search for relevant studies up to September 2017. RevMan 5.3. 5 software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration Network was used to conduct this meta-analysis. Thirteen studies involving 2825 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the results revealed that elevated LA diameter values were significantly associated with AF recurrence in patients after catheter ablation (MD = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.63–2.75, P < .001), while baseline LVEF levels were not significantly positively associated with AF recurrence in patients after catheter ablation (MD = −0.91, 95% CI: −1.18 to 1.67, P = .14). Overall, elevated LA diameter may be associated with AF recurrence after catheter ablation; however, there was no direct relationship between LVEF values and AF recurrence after catheter ablation when baseline LVEF values are normal or mildly decreased. Besides, because of publication bias, further studies should be performed to explore the mechanisms underlying AF recurrence.
SPOIL: Practical location privacy for location based services

This paper presents SPOIL (Shifted POI List), a new method to achieve location privacy for map services on smartphones. Using SPOIL, users can query routes from POI (Point of Interests) A to POI B, while not revealing the locations of A and B to the map server. Different from previous works, SPOIL is transparent to existing map services, assume no trusted third party, and more efficient for smartphones. The basic idea is simple: the client (i.e., smartphone) shifts user-intended POIs to some neighboring POIs instead, and query the map server using the shifted POIs. By carefully selecting places for shifting, we ensure: (1) privacy: on observing the route query, it is difficult for an adversary to identify the user-intended endpoints. (2) usability: the returned route is very similar to the intended one, thus giving useful directions for the user; To make SPOIL efficient for smartphones, we let clients retrieve candidate places for shifting from an additional server, instead of storing all the places and computing nearest ones locally. We implement SPOIL as an Android application, and evaluate it with real query traces. Experimental results show that SPOIL strikes a good balance among privacy, usability and efficiency.
Evaluation of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy with Methylene Blue Dye in Early Carcinoma Breast

Aim: To determine the accuracy and feasibility of this procedure to incorporate the sentinel node biopsy in future surgical practice. Design: Prospective and experimental. Patients and Methods: Between July 2001 and August 2002, 30 female patients, diagnosed as carcinoma breast on fine needle aspiration cytology with clinical stage T1-2, N0, M0 were recruited for study. Under general anesthesia 1ml 1% methylene blue sterilized dye was injected in subareolar region of breast in all patients and gently massaged the breast for 1-2 minutes to disperse the dye in the lymphatics. Then the blue stained sentinel node was detected and biopsied from the axilla. Later all patients underwent routine mastectomy with axillary clearance. Results: Over all sentinel node identification rate was 93.4% (28 of 30 patients) and false negative rate was 7.1% (2 of 28 patients). Sensitivity and specificity were (85.7%) and (71.4%) respectively with positive and negative predictive values were (75.0%) and (83.3%) respectively. Conclusion: The findings of the study support the hypothesis that sentinel node is a true representative and predictor of the axillary nodal status in early carcinoma breast and the procedure can be performed safely with cheaper and feasible methylene blue dye with confidence.
Shape-shifting trypanosomes: Flagellar shortening followed by asymmetric division in Trypanosoma congolense from the tsetse proventriculus

Trypanosomatids such as Leishmania and Trypanosoma are digenetic, single-celled, parasitic flagellates that undergo complex life cycles involving morphological and metabolic changes to fit them for survival in different environments within their mammalian and insect hosts. According to current consensus, asymmetric division enables trypanosomatids to achieve the major morphological rearrangements associated with transition between developmental stages. Contrary to this view, here we show that the African trypanosome Trypanosoma congolense, an important livestock pathogen, undergoes extensive cell remodelling, involving shortening of the cell body and flagellum, during its transition from free-swimming proventricular forms to attached epimastigotes in vitro. Shortening of the flagellum was associated with accumulation of PFR1, a major constituent of the paraflagellar rod, in the mid-region of the flagellum where it was attached to the substrate. However, the PFR1 depot was not essential for attachment, as it accumulated several hours after initial attachment of proventricular trypanosomes. Detergent and CaCl2 treatment failed to dislodge attached parasites, demonstrating the robust nature of flagellar attachment to the substrate; the PFR1 depot was also unaffected by these treatments. Division of the remodelled proventricular trypanosome was asymmetric, producing a small daughter cell. Each mother cell went on to produce at least one more daughter cell, while the daughter trypanosomes also proliferated, eventually resulting in a dense culture of epimastigotes. Here, by observing the synchronous development of the homogeneous population of trypanosomes in the tsetse proventriculus, we have been able to examine the transition from proventricular forms to attached epimastigotes in detail in T. congolense. This transition is difficult to observe in vivo as it happens inside the mouthparts of the tsetse fly. In T. brucei, this transition is achieved by asymmetric division of long trypomastigotes in the proventriculus, yielding short epimastigotes, which go on to colonise the salivary glands. Thus, despite their close evolutionary relationship and shared developmental route within the vector, T. brucei and T. congolense have evolved different ways of accomplishing the same developmental transition from proventricular form to attached epimastigote.
Deriving Concept Based User Profiles for Search Engine Personalization

: Search engine is the vital key role of today’s life. Usually users use short and ambiguous terms for searching. Hence it’s difficult to get the exact required result. Hence in this approach we have designed a technique that will help to find out the required result. In this method we will first collect the clickthrough data from user and then apply the calculated measures to generate the expected result. After collecting the clickthrough, user’s profile is generated which shows the desired result.
Multi-Agent Path Finding with Deadlines: Preliminary Results

We formalize Multi-Agent Path Finding with Deadlines (MAPF-DL). The objective is to maximize the number of agents that can reach their given goal vertices from their given start vertices within the deadline, without colliding with each other. We first show that MAPF-DL is NP-hard to solve optimally. We then present two classes of optimal algorithms, one based on a reduction of MAPF-DL to a flow problem and a subsequent compact integer linear programming formulation of the resulting reduced abstracted multi-commodity flow network and the other one based on novel combinatorial search algorithms. Our empirical results demonstrate that these MAPF-DL solvers scale well and each one dominates the other ones in different scenarios.