Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
l1-Regularized Hull Representation for Visual Tracking

Due to various factors such as partial occlusions, fast motion and illumination variations, developing an eﬀective and eﬃcient appearance model is a challenging task. In this paper, we propose a simple and eﬀective tracking algorithm with an appearance model based on (cid:96) 1 -regularized hull representation with target templates. (cid:96) 1 - regularized aﬃne combinations can cover target appearances which do not appear in target templates. (cid:96) 1 constraint enables the tracking algorithm to robustly deal with partial occlusions and outliers. A novel likelihood function is introduced, which is derived from the reconstruction residual between a target candidate and the target templates and target template coeﬃcients. Experimental results on several challenging video sequences against state-of-the-art tracking algorithms demonstrate that the proposed tracking algorithm is robust to partial occlusions, illumination variations, background clutters, etc.
Graphene-Based Biosensor for Early Detection of Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent and severe nutritional disorder globally and is the leading cause of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). IDA often progresses subtly symptomatic in children, whereas prolonged deficiency may permanently impair development. Early detection and frequent screening are, therefore, essential to avoid the consequences of IDA. In order to reduce the production cost and complexities involved in building advanced ID sensors, the devices were fabricated using a home-built patterning procedure that was developed and used for this work instead of lithography, which allows for fast prototyping of dimensions. In this article, we report the development of graphene-based field-effect transistors (GFETs) functionalized with anti-ferritin antibodies through a linker molecule (1-pyrenebutanoic acid, succinimidyl ester), to facilitate specific conjugation with ferritin antigen. The resulting biosensors feature an unprecedented ferritin detection limit of 10 fM, indicating a tremendous potential for non-invasive (e.g., saliva) ferritin detection.
Revision of Australian Prionocyphon Redtenbacher (Scirtidae: Coleoptera)

Abstract The Australian members of the marsh beetle genus Prionocyphon Redtenbacher (Scirtidae; Coleoptera) are reviewed. Seventeen species are recognized 16 of which are new: Prionocyphon deanboltoi sp. nov., P. caementum sp. nov., P. hamatus sp. nov., P. insolitus sp. nov., P. kurandaensis sp. nov., P. lamingtonensis sp. nov., P. latusmandibularis sp. nov., P. macroflavidus sp. nov., P. monteithi sp. nov., P. microflavidus sp. nov., P. niger Kitching & Allsopp, P. ocellatus, sp. nov., P. quasichameleon sp. nov., P. storeyi sp. nov., P. tolgaensis. sp. nov., P. warra sp. nov., and P. yarraensis sp. nov. All species are described and illustrated. The male genitalia of a number of species have an extrudable sperm duct, possibly associated with an internal sac. A key to the species is provided.
Descriptive epidemiology of Heligmosomoides polygyrus in Apodemus sylvaticus from three contrasting habitats in south-east England

Abstract Seasonal fluctuations in the prevalence and intensity of infection with Heligmosomoides polygyrus (Nematoda) were studied in Apodemus sylvaticus (wood mouse, n = 399), sampled from three contrasting habitats in southern England, to test the hypothesis that both intrinsic (host sex, age) and extrinsic (season, site) factors influence parasite burdens. Maximum likelihood techniques based on log linear analysis of contingency tables were employed to generate a minimum sufficient model for prevalence of infection and 3-way ANOVA with negative binomial errors was used to evaluate the relative contribution of the principal factors and their interactions in explaining variation in worm burdens. Host age could not be entered into either statistical model because of some incomplete subsets of data. However, it was evident that in general juvenile mice carried lower worm burdens compared with adults, although these increased towards the winter season. Host sex was not a significant factor, other than in making a contribution to a weak significant interaction between sex and site, arising from male bias in one site and female bias in the remaining two. The principal determinants of variation in worm burden were the extrinsic factors, site and season, with an approximately equal weighting, and their interaction. These effects arose because worm burdens were lower at Dungeness and showed quite different seasonal patterns to the Egham and Isle of Wight sites. We propose that the unique character of the Dungeness habitat was not conducive to optimal transmission of H. polygyrus throughout most of the year (excepting spring) and we suggest possible explanations for these observations.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in MiRNA Binding Sites of Nucleotide Excision Repair-Related Genes Predict Clinical Benefit of Oxaliplatin in FOLFOXIRI Plus Bevacizumab: Analysis of the TRIBE Trial

Background: The nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway participates in platinum-induced DNA damage repair. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA-binding sites in the NER genes RPA2 and GTF2H1 are associated with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we analyzed whether RPA2 and GTF2H1 SNPs predict the efficacy of oxaliplatin in metastatic CRC (mCRC) patients. Patients and methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples from 457 patients with mCRC enrolled in the TRIBE trial, which compared first-line FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab (BEV) (n = 230, discovery cohort) and first-line FOLFIRI plus BEV (n = 227, control cohort). SNPs were analyzed by PCR-based direct sequencing. Results: In the FOLFOXIRI + BEV-treated cohort expressing wild-type KRAS, progression-free survival (PFS) was shorter for the RPA2 rs7356 C/C variant subgroup than the any T allele subgroup in univariate analysis (9.1 versus 13.3 months respectively, hazard ratio (HR) 2.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07–5.03, p = 0.020) and this remained significant in multivariable analysis (HR 2.97, 95%CI: 1.27–6.94, p = 0.012). A similar trend was observed for overall survival. In contrast, patients expressing mutant RAS and RPA2 rs7356 C/C variant had longer PFS with FOLFOXIRI + BEV than with FOLFIRI + BEV (12.1 versus 7.6 months, HR 0.23, 95%CI: 0.09–0.62, p = 0.002) but no superiority of FOLFOXIRI + BEV was observed for the RAS mutant, RPA2 rs7356 any T variant subgroup (11.7 versus 9.6 months, HR 0.77, 95%CI: 0.56–1.07, p = 0.12) or the RAS wild-type, RPA2 rs7356 C/C variant subgroup. Conclusion: RPA2 SNPs may serve as predictive and prognostic markers of oxaliplatin responsiveness in a RAS status-dependent manner in mCRC patients receiving FOLFOXIRI + BEV.
A Multiplex PCR Based on Mitochondrial COI Sequences for Identification of Members of the Anopheles barbirostris Complex (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand and Other Countries in the Region

A multiplex-PCR assay based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences was developed for identification of five members of the Barbirostris Complex which occur in Thailand: Anopheles barbirostris s.s. , An. dissidens, An. saeungae, An. wejchoochotei and An. barbirostris species A3. Anopheles campestris was not included in the assay due to the lack of unequivocal sequences. Allele-specific primers were designed for specific nucleotide segments of COI sequences of each species. Mismatch method and addition of long GC tail were applied for some primers. The assay provided products of 706 bp for An. barbirostris s.s. , 238 bp for An. dissidens, 611 bp for An. saeungae, 502 bp for An. wejchoochotei and 365 bp for An. barbirostris A3. The assay was tested using 111 wild-caught female mosquitoes from Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia (Sulawesi) and Thailand. The results of the multiplex PCR were in complete agreement with COI sequencing; however, one of three specimens from Bhutan and all 11 specimens from Indonesia were not amplifiable by the assay due to their distinct COI sequences. This, together with the distinct rDNA sequences of these specimens, suggests the presence of at least two additional new species in the Barbirostris Complex.
Predicting Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption Based on Physical Activity Level and Demographic Characteristics in Romanian Students

Background: This study aims to assess the relationships between alcohol and tobacco consumption, physical activity (PA) and demographic characteristics in Romanian students. Methods: There were 253 participants in this study (112 male and 141 female, age 19.2 ± 0.70 yrs; BMI 22.4 ± 2.2 kg/m2), students of Transilvania University of Brasov. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) were employed for the data collection. Results: Results showed that moderate consumption of tobacco and harmful consumption of alcohol had high prevalence among age, gender, year of study and PA level categories. Although the correlation coefficient showed no significant relationship between tobacco and alcohol use, it was shown that a negative correlation between tobacco and PA level existed. Further, age, year of study and PA level had a negative significant relationship with alcohol use among students. In the end, the tobacco and alcohol consumption prediction model showed heterogeneous coefficients. Conclusion: Full models of tobacco and alcohol use were differently predicted by variables, so PAL (Physical Activity Level) could predict tobacco consumption but not alcohol.
Application of Helicobacter pylori antigen test to evaluate gastric mucosa specimens

Purpose: To investigate, whether the test documenting the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antigens in the gastric mucosa may be used as diagnostic test. Materials and methods: Mucosal specimens taken from eighty-three patients during gastroscopic examination were subjected to rapid urease test (CLO test), histology, and H. pylori culture. The same biopsy specimens that had been evaluated in the CLO test or collected into the transport medium for bacterial culture were used to detect H. pylori antigens. An amplified immunoassay for the detection of H. pylori antigens in stool was used for gastric mucosa specimens. The sensitivity and specificity of the H. pylori antigen test were evaluated in relation to the results of each verifying test (CLO test, histology, culture) separately and to all 3 tests analysed together. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the H. pylori antigen test in relation to the CLO test, histological examination, and H. pylori culture were 85.4% and 90.5%, 76.1% and 83.4%, and 90.7% and 90.0% for specimens taken for the CLO test and 90.0% and 82.0%, 78.0% and 81.0%, and 93.0% and 88.0% for specimens taken for bacterial culture, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the antigen test in relation to all 3 verifying tests analysed together were 91.3% and 97.3% for specimens taken for the CLO test, and 91.7% and 97.1% for specimens taken for bacterial culture, respectively. Conclusions: H. pylori antigen test in gastric mucosa specimens may be a sufficiently reliable source of information about stomach infection.
Spawning Odds in Relation to Size of American Lobsters Homarus americanus

ABSTRACT In Newfoundland, the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery has considerable socioeconomic value. Concern about the sustainability of this fishery continues to be a concern as a result of high exploitation rates. Conservation initiatives (marine protected areas, a slot fishery, and v-notching) have been established in several lobster fishing areas (LFAs) in western Newfoundland to increase the number of large lobsters and fecundity (egg production) of populations. However, there has been concern by harvesters in western Newfoundland, where slot fisheries are in effect, that the large lobsters being caught are rarely ovigerous.We used extensive field data from 5 LFAs in western Newfoundland (LFA12, LFA13A, LFA13B, LFA14A, and LFA14B) to test whether the spawning odds depend on size in a slot fishery, where large females were present in sufficient numbers to allow reliable estimates. Three analyses of size-dependent spawning odds were conducted via logistic regression: 2 analyses by year for LFA14A and LFA14B from 2006 to 2011 and 1 spatial analysis for 5 LFAs (LFA12, 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B) during the same year (2010). In 4 of 6 y, for both LFA14A and LFA14B, spawning odds increased with size, and for 3 of the 5 LFAs for the same year, spawning odds increased with size. We found no evidence of a decrease in spawning odds with size and, equivalently, no decrease in percent ovigerous with increasing size. Our results support the use of spawning odds to calculate the effects of sustainability measures in lobsters.
Increased Incidence of Apoptosis in Transforming Growth Factor α-Deficient Mouse Blastocysts

We previously demonstrated that exogenous transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha) reduces the incidence of apoptosis in mouse blastocysts that develop in vitro but does not result in an increase in cell number or the incidence of development to the blastocyst stage. Thus, TGFalpha may function as a cell survival factor in the preimplantation mouse embryo. To extend these studies, we have now examined the development of TGFalpha-deficient preimplantation embryos in vitro and in vivo in TGFalpha-deficient mothers. We found that in both instances the incidence of apoptosis is dramatically increased in the TGFalpha-deficient blastocysts and that this increase is essentially restricted to the cells of the inner cell mass when the embryos develop in vivo but extends to the trophectoderm cells for embryos that develop in vitro. The absence of endogenous TGFalpha has little effect on the incidence of development to the blastocyst stage and cell number, cell lineage allocation, blastocoel volume, and the timing and incidence of hatching in these blastocysts, when compared to wild-type embryos. These results buttress our previous suggestion that TGFalpha functions as a cell survival factor in the preimplantation mouse embryo.
Sociodemographic Determinants of Physical Activity and Sport Participation among Women in the United States

Regular physical activity and sport participation have been shown to improve women’s health; however, research has found that better health is associated with sport participation. Little is known about the sociodemographic determinants of physical activity among women, especially among the different subcategories of physical activity (sport, conditioning exercise, recreation, and household tasks). Because of the added health benefits associated with sport participation, the purpose of this study was to examine the sociodemographic determinants among subcategories of physically active women in the United States by analyzing Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. We used data from the 2017 national BRFSS survey to conduct this secondary data analysis. Participants were asked an extensive set of questions about their physical activity. Seventy-six different activities were identified and categorized as either sport, recreation, conditioning exercise, or household tasks. Weighted descriptive statistics were performed to describe the sociodemographic determinants of the four physical activity subcategories, including age, income, education, employment, and race/ethnicity. There were significant differences in all sociodemographic variables among the four subcategories of physical activity. Women who participated in sport were more likely to be in the younger age groups; however, physical activity declined among all subcategories beyond the age of 64. Women who participated in sports were more diverse, likely to be employed, and college graduates compared to the other subcategories. Women who participated in recreational or household tasks were more likely to meet the criteria to be categorized as highly active; however, they exercised at a lower intensity. The sociodemographic characteristics of physical activity and sport participation can be used to create promotional strategies to increase physical activity and improve fitness and health among women who tend towards participation, and also to change programs to accommodate women from other sociodemographic groups.
Bed Bugs (Hemiptera, Cimicidae): Overview of Classification, Evolution and Dispersion

The bed bugs (Cimex lectularius and C. hemipterus) have undergone a significant resurgence worldwide since the 1990s. A compilation of findings from a database, including 2650 scientific publications from seven major medical databases, allowed us to document main evolutionary events, from fossil evidence, dating from 11,000 years ago, until the present that has led to the current worldwide expansion of Cimicid species. We present the hypotheses on the possible dispersion pathways of bed bugs in light of the major historical and evolutionary events. A detailed classification of the Cimicidae family and finally, an illustrative map displaying the current distribution of known Cimex species in each geographical ecozone of Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Australia are presented.
Traditional medicine treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome

Abstract Background: Diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is challenging; however, proper evaluation and treatment ensure relief from symptoms in most patients. A comprehensive approach to treatment is important, considering the multifactorial etiology of TOS. The objective of this systematic review is to describe the methods for evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture-based traditional medicine treatments for TOS. Methods: A total of 13 databases will be searched, from their inception to the present date, for studies that have investigated the treatment of TOS. Databases that will be included are MEDLINE, Embase, AMED, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and 4 Korean, 2 Chinese, and 2 Japanese databases. We will include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing acupuncture-based traditional medicine for the treatment of any type of TOS. All RCTs on traditional medicine with any form of acupuncture will be eligible for inclusion. The methodologic quality of the RCTs will be analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool to assess the risk of bias, and the confidence in the cumulative evidence will be assessed using the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation instrument. Ethics and dissemination: The results of this systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated both electronically and in print. The review will be updated to inform and guide health care practices. Trial registration number: PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020164869
Sesquiterpene Lactones from Calea pinnatifida: Absolute Configuration and Structural Requirements for Antitumor Activity

This work describes the chromatographic fractionation of the aerial parts of Calea pinnatifida and the structural characterization and determination of the absolute configuration of the isolated compounds as well as their antitumor potential. The HPLC fractionation of the CH2Cl2 phase of the MeOH extract from the leaves of C. pinnatifida led to the isolation of two related sesquiterpene lactones (STLs): calein C (1) and calealactone B (2). Additionally, during the purification process, a derivative of calein C (3) was formed as a product of the Michael addition of MeOH. The structures of Compounds 1–3 were established based on spectroscopic and spectrometric data, while the absolute stereochemistry was established by vibrational circular dichroism. In order to evaluate the effect of the conjugated double bonds on the cytotoxic activity of STLs, Compounds 1–3 were tested against anaplastic (KTC-2) and papillary (TPC-1) thyroid carcinoma cells. Calein C was the most active of the STLs, and displayed activity against both KTC-2 and TPC-1. On the other hand, the calein C derivative (3) was the least cytotoxic of all the compounds tested. These results are promising and suggest the importance of studying sesquiterpene lactones isolated from C. pinnatifida in terms of antitumor activity, especially considering the effects of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl systems.
Mixed-effects models for the design and analysis of stepped wedge cluster randomized trials: An overview

The stepped wedge cluster randomized design has received increasing attention in pragmatic clinical trials and implementation science research. The key feature of the design is the unidirectional crossover of clusters from the control to intervention conditions on a staggered schedule, which induces confounding of the intervention effect by time. The stepped wedge design first appeared in the Gambia hepatitis study in the 1980s. However, the statistical model used for the design and analysis was not formally introduced until 2007 in an article by Hussey and Hughes. Since then, a variety of mixed-effects model extensions have been proposed for the design and analysis of these trials. In this article, we explore these extensions under a unified perspective. We provide a general model representation and regard various model extensions as alternative ways to characterize the secular trend, intervention effect, as well as sources of heterogeneity. We review the key model ingredients and clarify their implications for the design and analysis. The article serves as an entry point to the evolving statistical literatures on stepped wedge designs.
Numerical modeling of therapeutic lens drug delivery in the anterior human eye for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma

A numerical model of drug delivery from a therapeutic lens in the anterior portion of the human eye has been developed for a more effective treatment plan of primary open-angle glaucoma. The numerical model takes into account the drug diffusion through the therapeutic lens along with heat transfer and aqueous humor flow in different orientations of the human eye (supine (two-dimensional) as well as standing (three-dimensional)). Results illustrate that the drug diffuses through the therapeutic lens to the cornea and is convected into the anterior chamber of the eye due to the temperature gradient across the eye. In addition, eye orientation significantly affects drug delivery with supine orientation providing better and uniform drug exposure in different target regions of the eye as compared to standing in the case of the therapeutic lens. Furthermore, a comparison of the therapeutic efficacy of the therapeutic lens has been done with topical administration and the drug uptake results from both the drug delivery modes have been validated with the experimental data reported in the literature. The developed model may help ophthalmologists to comprehend the transport and retention of different drugs in different domains and orientations of the human eye when administered through a therapeutic lens.