Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oocyst Production of Eimeria lettyae in Northern Bobwhites Following Low-Dose Inoculations

Abstract Inoculation of northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) with low doses of Eimeria lettyae oocysts stimulates a protective immune response, suggesting immunization may be an option for controlling coccidiosis. However, the oocyst production of inoculated birds could be considerable, leading to subsequent outbreaks. To determine the oocyst production following inoculation with E. lettyae, we orally infected 12-wk-old bobwhites with 100, 1,000, or 10,000 sporulated oocysts. Fecal materials were collected on days 5–9 post-inoculation, and total oocyst production was counted in McMaster chambers. Oocyst production/bird was 49.75, 89.5, and 436 × 106 for 100, 1,000, or 10,000 oocysts administered, respectively. Estimated oocysts produced/oocyst administered was 49.75, 8.95, and 4.36 × 104 for 100, 1,000, or 10,000 oocysts administered, respectively. These findings not only illustrate the crowding effect of larger oocyst inocula but also illustrate the fecundity of E. lettyae at low doses. This suggests that successful immunization of bobwhites against coccidiosis with live vaccines might require attenuated strains with reduced reproductive potential.
Clinical utility of evolocumab in the management of hyperlipidemia: patient selection and follow-up

Inhibition of PCSK9 is a novel therapeutic strategy aimed at reducing low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and cardiovascular risk. Evolocumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits PCSK9, an enzyme that binds to LDL receptors and prevents them from recycling to the hepatocyte surface. Clinical trials have demonstrated 50%–70% reductions in LDL-C with evolocumab when used in combination with statin therapy. The recent FOURIER trial demonstrated that evolocumab further reduces cardiovascular events, but not mortality, in high-risk patients already receiving statin therapy. Furthermore, evolocumab did not affect neurocognitive function and was not associated with antidrug-antibody production in over 60,000 patient-years of drug exposure. Appropriate candidates for evolocumab primarily are individuals at high cardiovascular risk, including those with familial hypercholesterolemia and/or established cardiovascular disease, who are already on statin therapy. At this time, the use of evolocumab monotherapy seems appropriate only for individuals deemed statin-intolerant despite attempting several statins. Consideration must be given toward patient willingness to self-inject evolocumab and issues concerning third-party coverage, given the current costs of evolocumab.
Integer Forcing-and-Forward Transceiver Design for MIMO Multipair Two-Way Relaying

In this paper, we propose a new transmission scheme, called integer forcing-and-forward (IFF), for communications among multipair multiple-antenna users in which each pair exchanges their messages with the help of a single multiple-antenna relay in the multiple-access and broadcast phases. The proposed scheme utilizes integer forcing linear receiver (IFLR) at the relay, which uses equations, i.e., linear integer combinations of messages, to harness intrapair interference. Accordingly, we propose the design of a mean square error (MSE)-based transceiver, including precoder and projection matrices for the relay and users, assuming that perfect channel state information (CSI) is available. In this regard, in the multiple-access phase, we introduce two new MSE criteria for the related precoding and filter designs, i.e., the sum of the equations MSE (Sum-Equation MSE) and the maximum of the equations MSE (Max-Equation MSE), to exploit the equations in the relay. In addition, the convergence of the proposed criteria is proven as well. Moreover, in the broadcast phase, we use the two traditional MSE criteria, i.e., the sum of the users% mean square errors (Sum MSE) and the maximum of the users% mean square errors (Max MSE), to design the related precoding and filters for recovering the relay%s equations by the users. Then, we consider a more practical scenario with imperfect CSI. For this case, the IFLR receiver is modified, and another transceiver design is proposed, which takes into account the effect of channel estimation error. We evaluate the performance of our proposed strategy and compare the results with the conventional amplify-and-forward (AF) and denoise-and-forward (DF) strategies for the same scenario. The results indicate the substantial superiority of the proposed strategy in terms of outage probability and sum rate.
Middleware for On-Demand Access to Sensor Networks

As sensor networks become increasingly ubiquitous, we envision an instrumented environment that can provide varying amounts of information to mobile applications immersed within the network. Such a scenario deviates from existing deployments which are often highly application-specific and funnel information to a central collection service for a single purpose. Instead, we target future scenarios in which multiple mobile applications will leverage sensor network nodes opportunistically and unpredictably. To address the challenges introduced by this style of interaction, we introduce a middleware platform that enables the development of these adaptive mobile applications. This middleware attempts to overcome the challenges through the use of scenes (for locality of interactions) and virtual sensors (to ease programming complexity and efficiently use network resources).
Complementary crossover for genetic software architecture synthesis

Techniques exist to synthesize software architecture using genetic algorithms that employ transformations based on mutations and crossover. In this paper, we demonstrate that complementary crossover can significantly improve this technique. We study two versions of complementary crossover, one in which parents are selected so that they complement each other but the genes are inherited randomly from the parents, and another in which the genes are inherited in a more purposeful way. Empirical studies on two sample systems suggest that the complementary crossover outperforms the traditional crossover in genetic software architecture synthesis especially in the presence of mutations that provide delayed reward.
Do carotenoids and spleen size vary with helminth load in greylag geese

It has been suggested that carotenoid-derived coloration serves as an indicator of parasite levels and (or) the general health of birds. We investigated relationships among spleen size (sometimes considered an indicator of the cel- lular immune response capacity of birds), carotenoid level, helminth load, and leg and bill coloration of greylag geese, Anser anser (L., 1758), from Donana National Park (southwest Spain). Nematode abundance was positively related to spleen size and negatively to body condition, but only in males. Coloration of bill and legs was a reliable indicator of cestode but not nematode abundance. Individuals with many cestodes had greater carotenoid stores, suggesting that helminths do not limit carotenoid absorption. Rather, it suggests either that parasitized geese were accumulating more carotenoids to control parasite-induced damage, or that carotenoid-rich diets expose geese to more intermediate hosts of cestodes. Our results support the role of integumentary carotenoid-derived coloration as an indicator of parasitism, but only for particular taxonomic groups.
VoDkaV tool: model checking for extracting global scheduler properties from local restrictions

The VoDka server is a video on demand system developed using Erlang/OTP. We have developed a tool that, taking directly a simple abstraction of the source code of the system, first translates it into a intermediate process algebra and, later, generates the state space of a given configuration of the system. From this state space, some global properties of the system can be extracted. The tool uses internally different translation and model checking tools, and has a prototype GUI for hiding the internal details of the process.
If a trauma patient is tachycardic, should we call for a counsellor?

Background It has been suggested in the literature that raised heart rate in the early period after trauma is associated with the development of post-traumatic psychopathology, but little account has been taken of the potential confounding effect of injury severity. Materials and methods A cohort of 154 patients, studied as part of a wider investigation of trauma outcomes, was included. Initial heart rate in the accident & emergency department, and injury severity score and new injury severity scores were recorded. Patients completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) as a measure of psychopathology at presentation and again at two- and six-month follow-up. Results There was no relationship between psychopathology at presentation and initial heart rate or injury severity. Raised heart rate was associated with post-traumatic psychopathology at two months but not at six months. When the potential confounding effect of injury severity was controlled for, there was no independent correlation between heart rate and post-traumatic psychopathology. Injury severity score and new injury severity scores were strongly associated with GHQ-28 caseness. Conclusion Post-traumatic tachycardia is not associated with development of psychopathology, but injury severity is. Previous studies that have suggested a link between tachycardia and development of psychopathology are flawed because they have not considered the confounding effect of severity of injury.
HOOK: A program for finding novel molecular architectures that satisfy the chemical and steric requirements of a macromolecule binding site

A program (HOOK) is described for generating potential ligands that satisfy the chemical and steric requirements of the binding region of a macromolecule. Functional group sites with defined positions and orientations are derived from known ligand structures or the multicopy simulation search (MCSS) method (Miranker, A., Karplus, M. Proteins 11:29–34, 1991). HOOK places molecular “skeletons” from a database into the protein binding region by making bonds between sites (“hooks”) on the skeleton and functional groups. The nonpolar interactions with the binding region of candidate molecules are assessed by use of a simplified van der Waals potential. The method is illustrated by constructing ligands for the sialic acid binding site of the hemagglutinin from the influenza A virus and the active site of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. Aspects of the HOOK program that lead to a highly efficient search of 105 or more skeletons for binding to 102 or more functional group minima are outlined. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Separation of Moving Sound Sources Using Multichannel NMF and Acoustic Tracking

In this paper, we propose a method for separation of moving sound sources. The method is based on first tracking the sources and then estimation of source spectrograms using multichannel nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) and extracting the sources from the mixture by single-channel Wiener filtering. We propose a novel multichannel NMF model with time-varying mixing of the sources denoted by spatial covariance matrices (SCM) and provide update equations for optimizing model parameters minimizing squared Frobenius norm. The SCMs of the model are obtained based on estimated directions of arrival of tracked sources at each time frame. The evaluation is based on established objective separation criteria and using real recordings of two and three simultaneous moving sound sources. The compared methods include conventional beamforming and ideal ratio mask separation. The proposed method is shown to exceed the separation quality of other evaluated blind approaches according to all measured quantities. Additionally, we evaluate the method's susceptibility toward tracking errors by comparing the separation quality achieved using annotated ground truth source trajectories.
Equilibrium Positions and Eigenfunctions of Shape Invariant (`Discrete') Quantum Mechanics

Certain aspects of the integrability/solvability of the Calogero-Sutherland-Moser systems and the Ruijsenaars-Schneider-van Diejen systems with rational and trigonometric potentials are reviewed. The equilibrium positions of classical multi-particle systems and the eigenfunctions of single-particle quantum mechanics are described by the same orthogonal polynomials: the Hermite, Laguerre, Jacobi, continuous Hahn, Wilson and Askey-Wilson polynomials. The Hamiltonians of these single-particle quantum mechanical systems have two remarkable properties, factorization and shape invariance.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, and Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes scapularis, Southern Coastal Maine

Ixodes scapularis (deer ticks) from Maine were tested for multiple infections by polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. In 1995, 29.5%, 9.5%, and 1.9% of deer ticks were infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti, respectively. In 1996 and 1997, the number of A. phagocytophilum-infected ticks markedly declined. In 1995 through 1996, 4 (1.3%) of 301 were co-infected.
*Change, Change or Be Exchanged: The Discourse of Participation and the Manufacture of Identity

Promoting participation is an accepted and expected component of managerial activity, reflecting current management ideology and practice. This paper explores how one particular group of supervisors, within the same UK manufacturing organization, experience and make sense of participation practices and the role of identity in that process. Our findings show that whilst supervisors may utilize the managerial discourse in formal settings they also draw upon three alternative responses. Thus contrary to much of the literature they do not represent a homogenous or univocal grouping. Our study highlights the importance of the competing bases of identity formation that supervisors draw from, and the complexity and contradiction inherent in both the managerial discourse and in supervisors' responses to it. Copyright Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2006.
Brain tissue motion estimation: 2D speckle tracking using synthetic lateral phase technique

It is well known that the pulsatile motion of brain parenchyma results from cardiac and breathing cycles. The brain displaces in three directions, mediolateral, anteroposterior and cephalocaudal. We propose in this work to measure 2D displacement vector (mediolateral and anteroposterior componenst) of an imaged area of the brain through the right temporal window. A 2D speckle tracking based on the phase zero-crossing detection of correlation was applied to RadioFrequency signals to estimate the displacement vector. However, unlike the axial direction, the fundamental limitation for lateral tracking motion is the lack of RadioFrequency phase information. The synthetic lateral phase (SLP) technique was then used to create synthetic phase in this direction. Zero-crossing detection was then applied to the 2D complex phase of the synthetic RF signal. The advantage of SLP technique is that there is no need to modify the emission/reception ultrasound process to create synthetic phase in the lateral direction
Design and implementation of a prototype optical deflection network

We describe the design and implementation of a packet-switched fiber optic interconnect prototype with a ShuffleNet topology, intended for use in shared-memory multiprocessors. Coupled with existing latency-hiding mechanisms, it can reduce latency to remote memory locations. Nodes use deflection routing to resolve contention. Each node contains a processor, memory, photonic switch, and packet routing processor. Payload remains in optical form from source to final destination. Each host processor is a commercial workstation with FIFO interfaces between its bus and the photonic switch. A global clock is distributed optically to each node to minimize skew. Component costs and network performance figures are presented for various node configurations including bit-per-wavelength and fiber-parallel packet formats. Our efforts to implement and test a practical interconnect including real host computers distinguishes our work from previous theoretical and experimental work. We summarize obstacles we encountered and discuss future work.
Structure and agency in youth transitions : student perspectives on vocational further education

ABSTRACT The school-to-work transitions of two samples of 16–19-year-old college students in the UK arc examined in terms of their vocational preparation and expectations of labour market entry. Current processes of vocational preparation are evaluated primarily from the perspectives of the young people themselves. The aims are to explore influences of structure and agency in young people's lives in the light of their perceptions of the ‘new vocational ism’ and to assess how much control they feel they have over the further education phase of the school-to-work transition. A multi-method approach involving a structured questionnaire and a series of semi-structured group interviews is used to try to discover something of the ‘lived realities’ of these young people. An important finding is that young people in a ‘depressed’ labour market appear to be at least as optimistic about finding employment, and also experience similar levels of independence and control, as a similar sample in a more ‘buoyant’ labour.
Posttraumatic Stress and Depression Reactions Among Survivors of the Istanbul November 2003 Terrorist Attacks

This study investigated posttraumatic stress and depression reactions among survivors of the Istanbul November 2003 terrorist bombings that destroyed synagogues, an HSBC bank, and the British General Consulate. One hundred and forty-nine survivors completed a questionnaire measuring exposure, current posttraumatic stress, and depression responses 6 months after the blasts. This study showed that the prevalence rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors was 35.6% and the rate of depression was 23.5%. PTSD was strongly predicted by perceived life threat, whereas depression was strongly predicted by death of a close friend. Overall, female survivors were found to be more vulnerable to developing posttraumatic stress as well as depression after the terrorist bombings.
ButlerBot: The Robotic Butler

ButlerBot is a robotic butler created to cater to people’s questions at the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI) 2003 conference and to escort people to desired destinations. The three main areas of research focused on in ButlerBot, the Stony Brook Robot Design Team’s new robot created for the American Association of Artificial Intelligence's (AAAI) Robot Host competition, are navigation, computer vision and data server / human interaction. ButlerBot was the second place winner at the AAAI 2003 Robot Host competition.
Prophenoloxidase-Mediated Ex Vivo Immunity to Delay Fungal Infection after Insect Ecdysis

Skin immunity protects animals from airborne pathogen infection. Unlike mammals, arthropods, including insects, undergo periodic ecdysis to grow and develop. Newly molted insects emerge with unsclerotized thin cuticles but successfully escape pathogenic infections during the post-molt period. Here we show that prophenoloxidases (PPOs) in molting fluids remain bioactive on the integument and impede fungal infection after ecdysis. We found that the purified plasma PPOs or recombinant PPOs could effectively bind to fungal spores (conidia) by targeting the cell wall components chitin and β-1,3-glucan. Pretreatment of the spores of the fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana with PPOs increased spore hydrophilicity and reduced spore adhesion activity, resulting in a significant decrease in virulence as compared with mock infection. We also identified a spore-secreted protease BPS8, a member of peptidase S8 family of protease that degrade PPOs at high levels to benefit fungal infection, but which at lower doses activate PPOs to inhibit spore germination after melanization. These data indicate that insects have evolved a distinct strategy of ex vivo immunity to survive pathogen infections after ecdysis using PPOs in molting fluids retained on the underdeveloped and tender integument of newly molted insects for protection against airborne fungal infection.
Nutritional status and morbidity among school going children: A scenario from a rural India

School health has been regarded as a high priority intervention in developing countries. However it has not been prioritized in India for many years. Malnutrition is one of a major public health concern affecting a significant number of school children influencing their health, growth and development and school academic performance. The objective of this study was to find out the nutritional status and morbidity pattern in school going children. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements to assess underweight, stunting and thinness for 561 children at 5 to 18 years age, including 285 boys and 276 girls at Dhaura Tanda, Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh. The prevalence of malnutrition was calculated using World Health Organization (WHO) Anthro Plus software. This study shows that prevalence of under-nutrition in both male and female was 44.56 and 37.32% respectively. The prevalence of chronic malnutrition (stunting) in male was 26.31% and in females was 21.37%. The prevalence of acute malnutrition in both males and females according to the BMI-for-age was 38.24% and 34.05% respectively. The most common morbidities were upper respiratory tract infection 240 (42.78%), diarrhea 81 (14.44%), carbuncle/furancle 78 (13.90%) and scabies 63 (11.23%). Malnutrition in the form of underweight, stunting and thinning were 41.00%, 23.28% and 36.18% respectively among school going children. URTI & Diarrhea were the
Comprehensive identification of conditionally essential genes in mycobacteria

An increasing number of microbial genomes have been completely sequenced, and the identified genes are categorized based on their homology to genes of known function. However, the function of a large number of genes cannot be determined on this basis alone. Here, we describe a technique, transposon site hybridization (TraSH), which allows rapid functional characterization by identifying the complete set of genes required for growth under different conditions. TraSH combines high-density insertional mutagenesis with microarray mapping of pools of mutants. We have made large pools of independent transposon mutants in mycobacteria by using a mariner-based transposon and efficient phage transduction. By using TraSH, we have defined the set of genes required for growth of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin on minimal but not rich medium. Genes of both known and unknown functions were identified. Of the genes with known functions, nearly all were involved in amino acid biosynthesis. TraSH is a powerful method for categorizing gene function that should be applicable to a variety of microorganisms.