Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extractability of selected mineral and trace elements in infusions of chamomile

Chamomile flower heads were extracted with boiling water and the elements calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and cadmium were recorded in the drug and the resulting infusions. The extractabilities for calcium, magnesium and potassium in the infusions were 19–23%, 47–48% and 65–73%, respectively. Cadmium could be recovered to 15–21% in the infusions and zinc to 23–34%. A longer extraction time gave slightly higher recovery rates for potassium and zinc. The extraction of less plant material gave a slight reduction in the extractability only in the case of cadmium. A single cup of chamomile infusion can only afford a small proportion of the daily requirement of the mineral elements.
Association of the DVWA and GDF5 polymorphisms with osteoarthritis in UK populations

Background: Variants in the growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) and in the double von Willebrand factor A (DVWA) have recently been reported to be associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in Asian populations. Objective: To assess the role of such variants in OA susceptibility in two independent UK samples of Caucasian origin. Methods: Polymorphisms rs11718863 and rs7639618 (DVWA) and rs143383 (GDF5) were genotyped in 999 patients with knee OA, 843 patients with hip OA and 1166 controls from two UK studies from Nottingham and Chingford. Results: In agreement with previous reports, the major allele at rs143383 (GDF5) was associated with a higher risk of knee OA in our samples (ORMH = 1.29, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.47 p = 8×10−5). Conversely, the major allele at the DVWA SNP rs7639618, which increased risk in Asians, was not associated with a risk of knee OA, (ORMH = 0.88, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.04; p = 0.12). A meta-analysis of Asian and UK knee OA data indicated highly significant heterogeneity (I2 = 92%, Q = 48.5, p = 7×10−10) and no significant association with knee OA using a random effects meta-analysis (ORDL = 1.18, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.63; p = 0.309). Conclusions: These data confirm that the GDF5 variant is consistently associated with the risk of knee OA. Considerable ethnic variation in allele frequencies at the DVWA gene was found and no significant association was found in UK samples or by combining UK and Asian samples. The results suggest that the effect of DVWA amino acid changes on tubulin binding is unlikely to influence the risk of OA in Caucasians.
Cluster analysis of high-dimensional high-frequency financial time series

Recently the availability of tick data is driving renewed interest in statistical tools for the analysis of high-dimensional irregularly spaced time series. Since the standard tools require that the data are evenly spaced, the traditional multivariate time series analysis techniques are inadequate for the analysis of tick data. We develop for perhaps the first time a proper procedure that performs cluster analysis of tick data using the joint information of the temporal process and the continuous-valued data at the actual sampling times. A simulation example studies the problem with the standard approach and demonstrates the reliability of our proposed method. Data analyses of major stock market indices and currencies are provided.
Epitaxial NiSi2 source and drain technology for atomic-scale junction control in silicon nanowire MOSFETs

Epitaxial NiSi2 source and drain with dopant segregation technique is applied to silicon nanowire (SNW) MOSFETs. Growth of epitaxial NiSi2 is characterized by self-limiting growth behavior and stability of (111) facets. These features realize the layout of junction edges in atomic-scale. Advantage of epitaxial NiSi2 growth technique is demonstrated by performances of SNW MOSFETs.
Enhanced Flux Pinning Properties of YBCO Thin Films With Various Pinning Landscapes

Pinning enhancement for YBa<sub>2</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>O<sub>7-δ</sub> (YBCO) thin films is critical for their future applications such as superconducting cables, generators, and motors. In this study, several pinning landscapes are introduced and compared for improving the superconducting properties of YBCO thin films. First, BaZrO<sub>3</sub> (BZO) nanoparticles have been doped into YBCO matrix providing uniform defect pinning centers and resulting in the superconducting property enhancement. Second, a magnetic nanocomposite of (La<sub>0.7</sub>Sr<sub>0.3</sub>MnO<sub>3</sub> (LSMO))<sub>x</sub>(CeO<sub>2</sub> )<sub>1-x</sub> (with compositions of LSMO and CeO<sub>2</sub> varied from 50:50 to 70:30) has been incorporated into YBCO as either a cap layer or a buffer layer. Using this approach, both magnetic pinning and defects pinning are introduced in the systems. Third, multilayers of (LSMO)<sub>0.5</sub>(CeO<sub>2</sub>)<sub>0.5</sub>/YBCO have been deposited to achieve uniform defect and magnetic pinning effects through the film thickness. The superconducting properties (critical temperature T<sub>c</sub>, and especially the critical current density J<sub>c</sub>) are compared for all the YBCO films with different pinning landscapes, and the corresponding pinning mechanisms are also discussed for each case. It is found that the pinning effect of YBCO film with magnetic nanocomposite layer is more significant under lower applied field, compared to the BZO-YBCO film. Through this comparison study, optimum pinning landscapes with combined defects and magnetic pinning approaches are proposed.
Circulating tumor cells in breast cancer

Circulating tumor cell (CTC) measurement in peripheral blood of patients with breast cancer offers prognostic information. In this review, we will try to identify evidence that could be used for prognosis, predictive power to draw this tool to clinical utility. We reviewed 81 manuscripts, and categorized those in discovery datasets, prognostic factors in metastatic breast cancer, identification of clinical utility in early breast cancer and in novel approaches. With each patient responding differently to chemotherapy, more efficient markers would improve clinical outcome. Current CTC diagnostic techniques use epithelial markers predominantly; however, the most appropriate method is the measurement of circulating DNA. It has been hypothesized that micrometastasis occurs early in the development of tumors. That implies the presence of CTCs in nonmetastatic setting. The origin of stimulus for malignant transformation is yet unknown. The role of microenvironment as a stimulus is also being investigated. It has been shown that CTCs vary in numbers with chemotherapy. The markers, which are followed-up in the primary tumors, are also being studied on the CTCs. There is discordance of the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 status between the primary tumor and CTCs. This review summarizes our current knowledge about the CTCs. With genetic profiling and molecular characterization of CTCs, it is possible to overcome the diagnostic difficulties. Evidence for clinical utility of CTC as prognostic and predictive marker is increasing. Appropriate patient stratification according to CTC determination among other tests, would make personalized cancer therapy more feasible.
CNNComparator: Comparative Analytics of Convolutional Neural Networks

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are widely used in many image recognition tasks due to their extraordinary performance. However, training a good CNN model can still be a challenging task. In a training process, a CNN model typically learns a large number of parameters over time, which usually results in different performance. Often, it is difficult to explore the relationships between the learned parameters and the model performance due to a large number of parameters and different random initializations. In this paper, we present a visual analytics approach to compare two different snapshots of a trained CNN model taken after different numbers of epochs, so as to provide some insight into the design or the training of a better CNN model. Our system compares snapshots by exploring the differences in operation parameters and the corresponding blob data at different levels. A case study has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of our system.
Abnormal connexin expression in human chronic wounds

Regulated alteration of connexin expression has been shown to be integral to acute wound repair. Downregulation of the gap‐junction protein connexin 43 at the wound edge has been correlated with keratinocyte and fibroblast migration, while abnormal overexpression of connexin 43 significantly perturbs healing, as shown in the streptozotocin diabetic rodent impaired healing model.
Analysis on stability margin of Nb/sub 3/Sn Cable-in-Conduit-Conductor

The stability margin of Nb/sub 3/Sn Cable-in-Conduit Conductor (CICC) has been analyzed by a numerical model. The numerical code is based on the finite volume method to discretize the one-dimensional conservation equations on the staggered mesh. The algebraic method is used to transform the non-uniform mesh in the physical plane to the uniform mesh in the computational plane. The numerical simulation shows that the faster supercritical helium mass flow rate can improve the stability and increase the limiting current. The stability and limiting current are decreased with the increasing the operating temperature and background field. The shorter disturbance duration time allows the higher stability in the well-cooled region and the lower stability in the ill-cooled region.
The Influence of Implant Length, Angulation and Abutment Angulation on Stress Distribution Pattern: A Three Dimensional Finite Element Analysis

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate if the use of tilted implants as distal abutments is biomechanically superior to the use of distal cantilevers. Methods: A 3-D edentulous maxillary model was generated from computed tomography images. Four implants were placed in the pre-maxilla and splinted with a titanium bar. Keeping the prosthesis length constant, six different configurations were evaluated with the distal implant varying in length (8 mm, 10 mm, 13 mm); angulation (0, 15, 30, 45°) and abutment angulation (0, 17, 30°). A vertical load (120 N) was applied on the titanium bar corresponding to the position of the left second premolar abutment. Von Mises stress values transmitted to the peri-implant bone and implant abutment junction were evaluated. Results: The maximum stresses recorded at the peri-implant bone and the implant abutment junction were 5.821 MPa and 8.261 MPa for 8 mm vertical implant; 5.358 MPa and 8.131 MPa for the 10 mm implant; and 4.897 MPa and 7.754 MPa for the 13 mm vertical implant. Tilted distal implants resulted in increased stress values for all variables: 8.906 MPa, 8.938 MPa and 8.994 MPa at the peri-implant bone and 14.636 MPa, 15.567 MPa and 16.872 MPa at the implant abutment junction for 15, 30 and 45° respectively. Conclusion: An increase in implant length resulted in a decrease in the stresses, whereas the tilted distal implants and abutments increased the stresses at the peri-implant bone and implant abutment junction of the implants.
Multiscale Gaussian Derivative Functions for Hyperspectral Image Feature Extraction

A method for extracting spatiospectral features from hyperspectral (HS) data is proposed. Based on 2-D Gaussian derivative (GD) functions, a bank of 2-D filters is designed. These filters are utilized with various scale parameters to form a multiscale filter bank. This filter bank is applied on a few principal components extracted from HS data, resulting in a set of features called GD features. Four different scenarios are examined to employ these features in HS image classification. Some experiments are conducted on three well-known HS data sets. Based on the results, one scenario is adopted as the proposed framework. The effect of differentiation order of GD filters on classification accuracies is investigated. The proposed method is compared with some state-of-the-art spatiospectral methods. The experimental results confirm the remarkable performance of GD features in HS image classification.
Investigating Canadian parents' HPV vaccine knowledge, attitudes and behaviour: a study protocol for a longitudinal national online survey

Introduction Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, can cause anogenital warts and a number of cancers. To prevent morbidity and mortality, three vaccines have been licensed and are recommended by Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunisation (for girls since 2007 and boys since 2012). Nevertheless, HPV vaccine coverage in Canada remains suboptimal in many regions. This study will be the first to concurrently examine the correlates of HPV vaccine decision-making in parents of school-aged girls and boys and evaluate changes in parental knowledge, attitudes and behaviours over time. Methods and analysis Using a national, online survey utilising theoretically driven constructs and validated measures, this study will identify HPV vaccine coverage rates and correlates of vaccine decision-making in Canada at two time points (August–September 2016 and June–July 2017). 4606 participants will be recruited to participate in an online survey through a market research and polling firm using email invitations. Data cleaning methods will identify inattentive or unmotivated participants. Ethics and dissemination The study received research ethics board approval from the Research Review Office, Integrated Health and Social Services University Network for West-Central Montreal (CODIM-FLP-16–219). The study will adopt a multimodal approach to disseminate the study’s findings to researchers, clinicians, cancer and immunisation organisations and the public in Canada and internationally.
Comparative Sequence Analysis of the Hexon Gene in the Entire Spectrum of Human Adenovirus Serotypes: Phylogenetic, Taxonomic, and Clinical Implications

ABSTRACT The adenovirus (AdV) hexon constitutes the major virus capsid protein. The epitopes located on the hexon protein are targets of neutralizing antibodies in vivo, serve in the recognition by cytotoxic T cells, and provide the basis for the classification of adenoviruses into the 51 serotypes known to date. We have sequenced the entire hexon gene from human serotypes with incomplete or no sequence information available (n = 34) and performed a comparative analysis of all sequences. The overall sequence divergence between the 51 human serotypes ranged from 0.7 to 25.4% at the protein level. The sequence information has been exploited to assess the phylogeny of the adenovirus family, and protein distances between the six AdV species (A to F) and among individual serotypes within each species were calculated. The analysis revealed that the differences among serotypes within individual species range from 0.3 to 5.4% in the conserved regions (765 amino acids [aa]) and from 1.5 to 59.6% in the variable regions (154 to 221 aa). Serotypes of different species showed an expectedly greater divergence both in the conserved (5.9 to 12.3%) and variable (49.0 to 74.7%) regions. Construction of a phylogenetic tree revealed three major clades comprising the species B+D+E, A+F, and C, respectively. For serotypes 50 and 51, the original assignment to species B and D, respectively, is not in accordance with the hexon DNA and protein sequence data, which placed serotype 50 within species D and serotype 51 within species B. Moreover, the hexon gene of serotype 16, a member of species B, was identified as the product of recombination between sequences of species B and E. In addition to providing a basis for improved molecular diagnostics and classification, the elucidation of the complete hexon gene sequence in all AdV serotypes yields information on putative epitopes for virus recognition, which may have important implications for future treatment strategies permitting efficient targeting of any AdV serotype.
An outbreak of norovirus GI-6 infection following a wedding in North West England

SUMMARY In August 2015 a gastroenteritis outbreak occurred following a wedding. An outbreak investigation was undertaken and a cohort study was conducted using an online survey. Of 140 guests, 134 received the survey and 113 responded (84·3% response rate). Seventy respondents met the case definition of vomiting and/or diarrhoea within 72 h of the wedding (61·9% attack rate). Fifteen exposures were associated with illness; on stratification, all were confounded by the ham hock starter. Multivariable analysis showed a significant association with exposure to ham hock (risk ratio 6·62, 95% confidence interval 2·19–20·03). Eight guests and two catering staff submitted stool samples. All tested positive for norovirus GI-6 infection, including a food handler who had vomiting less than 48 h before the wedding. A single genotype was detected among all samples, suggesting a single source of contamination. The transmission pattern suggested point-source exposure. The most plausible cause of the outbreak was transmission from an infected food handler via contaminated food. This highlights the importance of appropriate exclusions for symptomatic food handlers. Additionally, the food handler's stool sample was submitted 7 days after symptom resolution. The potential for extended viral excretion, and the extremely low infective dose of norovirus, may mean that current exclusion guidelines are not of sufficient duration.
Regional Price Adjustment in a Monetary Union

Using a New-Keynesian framework, we investigate how far the inflationary processes in member states of EMU cause regional price levels to converge. We fail to produce hard evidence of the present existence of such an adjustment mechanism, notwithstanding that inflation in some countries tends to converge towards the euro area level. Overall, inflation persistence has declined significantly over the years, but there are still marked differences between countries on this score. We conclude that the euro area is not an optimal currency area yet, lending support to the quest for further structural reforms in European labour and product markets.
Intensive chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: results of the randomized intercontinental trial ALL IC-BFM 2002.

PURPOSE From 2002 to 2007, the International Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster Study Group conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial (ALL IC-BFM 2002) for the management of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 15 countries on three continents. The aim of this trial was to explore the impact of differential delayed intensification (DI) on outcome in all risk groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS For this trial, 5,060 eligible patients were divided into three risk groups according to age, WBC, early treatment response, and unfavorable genetic aberrations. DI was randomized as follows: standard risk (SR), two 4-week intensive elements (protocol III) versus one 7-week protocol II; intermediate risk (IR), protocol III × 3 versus protocol II × 1; high risk (HR), protocol III × 3 versus either protocol II × 2 (Associazione Italiana Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica [AIEOP] option), or 3 HR blocks plus single protocol II (Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster [BFM] option). RESULTS At 5 years, the probabilities of event-free survival and survival were 74% (± 1%) and 82% (± 1%) for all 5,060 eligible patients, 81% and 90% for the SR (n = 1,564), 75% and 83% for the IR (n = 2,650), and 55% and 62% for the HR (n = 846) groups, respectively. No improvement was accomplished by more intense and/or prolonged DI. CONCLUSION The ALL IC-BFM 2002 trial is a good example of international collaboration in pediatric oncology. A wide platform of countries able to run randomized studies in ALL has been established. Although the alternative DI did not improve outcome compared with standard treatment and the overall results are worse than those achieved by longer established leukemia groups, the national results have generally improved.
Notice of RetractionCongestion control in TCP/IP differentiated services network using neural network

The use of internet services for time sensitive applications like voice and video, requires the forecasting quality of service. The TCP/IP differentiated services structure is given to achieve this target. However, network congestion control is limited and comes from the high priority. Some studies are still seeking a replacement techniques such as random early detection (RED) and its modification to manage congestion. In this paper we present neural network control research results to implement RED, called NRED. We found that with neural network we can perform better for discrimination acts to cancel the packets for gathering traffic flow, and also provide better quality services to all types different traffic while ensuring high utilization.
Interactivity and Narrativity in Screen-Media

In this paper we explore the relationship between interactivity and narrativity in the context of screen-media, where by screen media we mean mainly time-based audio-visual material. Despite a few successful productions, interactive time-based screen media has not yet become an established storytelling medium and the opportunities it presents to media consumption are yet to be explored. Here, we discuss possible forms of interaction made possible by a genre independent paradigm for developing interactive narratives, called ShapeShifting Screen Media. For validation, we present two ShapeShifting screen media productions.
Identification of a protein complex that binds to a dodecamer sequence found at the 3' ends of yeast mitochondrial mRNAs

An activity from Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria was identified that specifically bound to a 12-nucleotide sequence, AAUAA(U/C)AUUCUU, that is a site for processing of pre-mRNAs so as to generate the mature 3' ends of mRNAs. Because processing occurs 3' to the end of the dodecamer site, all mRNAs in yeast mitochondria terminate with that sequence. RNase T1 digestion fragments which terminated precisely at their 3' ends with the dodecamer sequence bound the activity, indicating that mRNAs in vivo would be capable of binding. Gel mobility shift analyses using RNA oligonucleotides showed that binding was reduced by a U-to-A substitution at position 3 of the dodecamer sequence; a C-to-A substitution at position 10 eliminated binding. UV cross-linking identified three polypeptides with approximate molecular masses of 19, 60, and 70 kDa as constituents of the binding activity. These estimates included the contribution of the 32P-labeled RNA oligonucleotide used to tag these polypeptides. An oligonucleotide with a UA-->AU substitution at positions 3 and 4 of the dodecamer site formed complexes deficient in the 19-kDa species, suggesting that binding specificity was inherent to the higher-molecular-weight polypeptides. Assembly of the complex at a dodecamer site on an RNA protected sequences located 5' to the dodecamer site from digestion by a nucleoside triphosphate-dependent 3' exoribonuclease found in yeast mitochondria. Since mitochondrial mRNAs terminate with an intact dodecamer sequence, the binding activity may function in the stabilization of mRNAs in addition to 3'-end formation of mRNAs.
“It’s Like Pay Or Don’t Have It and Now I’m Doing Without”

Twenty-four thousand American youth lose Medicaid entitlements after discharge from foster care annually. The circumstance of being uninsured is a formidable barrier to health care that leaves the youth vulnerable to unmet health care needs. Given that foster youth often develop physical and/or mental health problems as a result of abuse or neglect, continuous access to health care is especially important. This descriptive phenomenology study explores the lived experience of transitional uninsured former foster youth. Nine uninsured former foster youth were recruited from a nonprofit community organization in an urban county and interviewed using semistructured interviews. Four themes identified from the analysis were (a) “Surviving the real world”: emancipation without essential documentation; (b) “It’s not always going to be fine”: managing mental and physical health without health care insurance; (c) “Roadblocks”: barriers to securing health care insurance; and (d) “Just not knowing”: Medicaid eligible albeit without health care insurance.