Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional and Genetic characterization of new genomic islands from an E. coli strain associated with neonatal meningitis.

Enterobacteriaceae genomes evolve through mutations, rearrangements and horizontal gene transfer (HGT). The latter evolutionary pathway works through the acquisition DNA (GEI) modules of foreign origin that enhances fitness of the host to a given environment. The genome of E. coli IHE3034, a strain isolated from a case of neonatal meningitis, has recently been sequenced and its subsequent sequence analysis has predicted 18 possible GEIs, of which: 8 have not been previously described, 5 fully meet the pathogenic island definition and at least 10 that seem to be of prophagic origin. In order to study the GEI distribution of our reference strain, we screened for the presence 18 GEIs a panel of 132 strains, representative of E. coli diversity. Also, using an inverse nested PCR approach we identified 9 GEI that can form an extrachromosomal circular intermediate (CI) and their respective attachment sites (att). Further, we set up a qPCR approach that allowed us to determine the excision rates of 5 genomic islands in different growth conditions. Four islands, specific for strains appertaining to the sequence type complex 95 (STC95), have been deleted in order to assess their function in a Dictyostelium discoideum grazing assays. Overall, the distribution data presented here indicate that 16 IHE3034 GEIs are more associated to the STC95 strains. Also the functional and genetic characterization has uncovered that GEI 13, 17 and 19 are involved in the resistance to phagocitation by Dictyostelium d thus suggesting a possible role in the adaptation of the pathogen during certain stages of infection.
A novel MAC protocol exploiting concurrent transmissions for massive LoRa connectivity

Among variant low-power wide area networks (LPWAN), LoRa is one of the most promising and is extensively deployed worldwide because of its satisfactory performance and relatively low cost. In the foreseen future, various internet of things (IoT) applications are required to sustain connectivity for massive enddevices. Massive connectivity challenges the LoRaWAN network based on ALOHA medium access control (MAC) protocol due to severe collisions under high traffic loads. To solve this problem, we first dissect the principles and characteristics of LoRa physical layer. And it suggests that the capture effect among the signals with the same spreading factor (SF) and different SFs can be adequately leveraged to improve performance. Based on the capture effect, we develop a new receiver structure that enables the superposed LoRa signals with different odd/even SFs to be demodulated simultaneously. A suitable novel MAC protocol exploiting such concurrent transmissions is further presented. Simulations verify that, through utilizing the capture effect, the proposed protocol can partly tackle the collisions due to numerous access attempts, which results in enhancing the throughput compared to LoRaWAN. These results show that the proposed scheme is compliant with the requirement of IoT applications with massive connectivity.
Scan-based attack tolerance with minimum testability loss: a gate-level approach

Scan chain is an architectural solution to facilitate in-field tests and debugging of digital chips, however, it is also known as a source of security problems, e.g. scan-based attacks in the chips. The authors conduct a comprehensive gate-level security analysis on crypto-chips, which are equipped with a scan chain, and then propose a set of protection mechanisms to immune vulnerable nets of the chips against scan-based attacks. After extracting the set of most vulnerable nets, they perform net pruning algorithms on them, and gate-level protection mechanisms to block the information leaking from the nets during test mode. The protection mechanisms employ net masking, net flipping, and net shuffling based on the specifications of every net, i.e. gate-type driving the net, fan-out of the net, and net's logical depth. Their evaluations on the hardware-implemented advanced encryption standard (AES) and data encryption standard (DES) encryption algorithms show 100% for all types of scan-based attack tolerance, while the area overhead is at most 1.5%, 6.1% for AES and DES crypto-chip, respectively. As they find the smallest set of nets that have a high contribution to the scan attack, the test coverage loss of their protection mechanism is evaluated to be <0.8%.
Impact of Correlated Mobility on Delay–Throughput Performance in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

We extend the analysis of the scaling laws of wireless ad hoc networks to the case of correlated nodes movements, which are commonly found in real mobility processes. We consider a simple version of the Reference Point Group Mobility model, in which nodes belonging to the same group are constrained to lie in a disc area, whose center moves uniformly across the network according to the i.i. d. model. We assume fast mobility conditions and take as a primary goal the maximization of per-node throughput. We discover that correlated node movements have a huge impact on asymptotic throughput and delay and can sometimes lead to better performance than the one achievable under independent nodes movements.
Tree DBH measurement method based on smartphone and machine vision technology

Aiming at the problems of high labor intensity and low efficiency, complicated operation and high cost of advanced equipment in the measurement of DBH in existing traditional forest resources, and proposing a method for measuring diameter at breast height (DBH) based on smartphone and machine vision technology, and combining with camera calibration, 3D reconstruction, machine vision, close-range photogrammetry, and other technologies. First, The original image is obtained by smartphone, and the visual saliency map of the preprocessed image is processing by using the lab color space model and 3×3 operator to convolving with image. Combining with the H component of the HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) color model to enhance the color contrast part of the tree trunk in the image. The image segmentation algorithm is used to identify and obtain the target tree's contour in a natural environment. Then, an improved camera calibration model with nonlinear distortion terms is used to calibrate the camera's internal and external parameters. Finally, achieving reconstruction of a 3D world with camera parameters and two-dimensional image information is carried out to measure DBH at a height of 1.3 m. Experimental results indicated that within a certain range, the relative error of the DBH measurements was lower than 2.50%. This method has a high measurement accuracy, meeting the accuracy requirement of DBH measurement in forest resources investigation and could be applied in forestry resource surveys.
Supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy in children

Introduction: The stone disease in children shows wide geographic variations, and its incidence has increased worldwide in children of all ages. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has gradually emerged as one of the standard treatment options for the management of renal stones >1.5 cm in pediatric cases. PCNL just like in adults has been performed in the prone position. Of late observing the successful use of supine position for PCNL in adults, pediatric urologists have been encouraged to use the supine access for PCNL in children. We report our early experience with supine PCNL in children. Materials and Methods: All children with symptomatic renal stones presenting to the pediatric urological services of our hospital were prospectively included into the study to undergo supine PCNL. Children with skeletal anomalies, bleeding diathesis, and active urinary tract infection were excluded from the study. Results: Ten children (six males and four females) with a mean age of 11.48 ± 2.08 years (9–18 years) underwent supine PCNL. The mean size of the stone was 22 mm (range 17–47 mm). The initial stone-free rate was 90% immediately after a single PCNL session. One child needed an additional extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy session to clear a 7-mm fragment. The average operative time (from the beginning of the puncture trial to nephrostomy tube insertion) was 70 ± 5 min. Conclusions: Supine PCNL in children is feasible, safe, and an effective means for management of renal stones in the pediatric population.
Soluble components in body fluids as mediators of adenovirus infections

Human species A adenoviruses (HAdVs) comprise three serotypes: HAdV-12, -18, and -31. These viruses are common pathogens and cause systemic infections that usually involve the airways and/or intestine. In immunocompromised individuals, species A adenoviruses in general, and HAdV-31 in particular, cause life-threatening infections. By combining binding and infection experiments, we demonstrate that coagulation factor IX (FIX) efficiently enhances binding and infection by HAdV-18 and HAdV-31, but not by HAdV-12, in epithelial cells originating from the airways or intestine. This is markedly different from the mechanism for HAdV-5 and other human adenoviruses, which utilize coagulation factor X (FX) for infection of host cells. Surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed that the affinity of the HAdV-31 hexon-FIX interaction is higher than that of the HAdV-5 hexon-FX interaction and that the half-lives of these interactions are profoundly different. Moreover, both HAdV-31-FIX and HAdV-5-FX complexes bind to heparan sulfate-containing glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on target cells, but binding studies utilizing cells expressing specific GAGs and GAG-cleaving enzymes revealed differences in GAG dependence and specificity between these two complexes. These findings add to our understanding of the intricate infection pathways used by human adenoviruses, and they may contribute to better design of HAdV-based vectors for gene and cancer therapy. Furthermore, the interaction between the HAdV-31 hexon and FIX may also serve as a target for antiviral treatment.
Detection of Edges Using Fuzzy InferenceSystem

Traditionally edges have been loosely defined as pixel intensity discontinuities with in an image. First order linear filters and second order linear filters are most widely used algorithms for detection of edges but all these algorithms are sensitive to noise. Edges can be finding using fuzzy logic algorithm with different levels of processing. Edge detection is one of the basic requirements for biometric based human identification system. In this paper we are trying to detect the edges of images by using fuzzy logic in MATLAB environment without determining threshold value. Fuzzy inference system is successfully developed which corresponds to nine input pixels of matrix values with one output and can detect edges of the images. Experimental results are obtained and shown.
Competence Based Management in Academics through Data Mining Approach

Competence based Management through Data mining approach helps academia to improve research and academic decision making through uncovering hidden trends and patterns that predicts using a combination of explicit knowledge base, sophisticated analytical skills and academic domain knowledge. The paper proposes a framework for effective educational process using Data Mining techniques to uncover the hidden trends and patterns and making accuracy based predictions through higher level of analytical sophistication in students counseling process. Keywords : Faculty; Faculty Assessment; Faculty; Competence Management; Data Mining; Patterns.
Association Rule Hiding using Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm

mining is the process of extracting the previously unknown patterns from large amount of data. Privacy preserving data mining is one of the research areas in data mining. The main objective of privacy preserving data mining is to provide the privacy for personally identifiable information in the datasets. Many privacy preserving techniques are used for protecting the confidential data items. Some of them are Privacy preserving Association Rule Mining, Privacy Preserving Clustering, Privacy Preserving Classification, Statistical disclosure control, K-anonymity etc. In this research paper, we have discussed about the association rule hiding problem. Association rule mining is one of the very important data mining techniques. The process of discovering itemsets that frequently co-occur in a transactional database so as to produce significant association rules that hold for the data is known as Association rule mining. Association rule hiding is the process of modifying the original database by hiding the sensitive data to protect the sensitive association rules. In this paper, we have proposed Artificial Bee Colony optimization algorithm for hiding the sensitive association rules. We analyze the efficiency of the Artificial Bee Colony optimization technique by using various performance factors.
Characterisation of the bioreactor environment and its effect on mammalian cell performance in suspension culture during antibody production

The production of therapeutic proteins with complex post-translational modifications is typically performed with suspension adapted mammalian cells, in stirred tank bioreactors (STRs). In this environment cells are exposed to hydrodynamic forces derived from both agitation and aeration. An improved understanding of these forces and the resulting cellular response is therefore critical. This thesis has characterised the hydrodynamic conditions within a STR using computational fluid dynamics and investigated the lethal and sub-lethal effects of this environment on CHO cells during the production of a monoclonal antibody. The hydrodynamic forces varied within the vessel, with the maximum forces being present in the impeller region. Energy of dissipation rates obtained from single and multiphase models were found to be higher than those previously reported. Having gained understanding of the hydrodynamic forces within the bioreactor, the environment was changed in a systematic manner. To create a bubble and bubble free environment within the STR direct gas sparged and silicone membrane aerated systems (SMAS) were used. When cells were subjected to the stress of gas-liquid interfaces they entered apoptosis at an earlier stage of cell culture, had decreased F-actin intensity and a modified cell morphology. This had implications on cell strength and impurity release during primary recovery. The application of fed-batch mode and mild hypothermic conditions were shown to be beneficial; delaying the onset of lethal and sub-lethal effects, enabling higher cell densities to be obtained, prolonging the culture duration and increasing product titre. The vital role of shear protectant agents at gas-liquid interfaces was highlighted; in absence of Pluronic F-68 cell death occurred within 24 hours of inoculation, but growth proceeded when using the SMAS. The glycosylation profile was not significantly affected by the STR environment, with harvest point being shown to have a greater impact on the relative abundance of different glycoforms.
Distributed signing protocol for IEEE P1363-compliant identity-based signature scheme

The identity-based signature (IBS) scheme is one of the most promising secure and widely used cryptographic primitives for electronic commerce applications. For example, ID-based signing in a multi-party setting, without ever revealing any private and secret information, has received considerable interest in distributed applications such as a global manufacturer. However, there is no practical solution for such a group setting (e.g. more than two parties). Therefore, in this study, the authors present the first distributed identity-based signing protocol for the global electronic commerce system. Specifically, the authors’ designed protocol allows a group of parties to generate the signature in a decentralised and fair manner. They also prove that their proposed protocol is secure against a malicious adversary under the discrete logarithm and decisional Diffie–Hellman assumptions. Moreover, they implement the protocol using the MIRACL libraries on physical computing devices. Findings from the evaluations demonstrate the practical utility of their proposed protocol, in terms of achieving high level of security within a reasonable time framework (e.g. signing time (including communication latency and waiting delay) takes 311.86 ms for three parties, 558.2 ms for five parties, and 707.21 ms for seven parties, under a single-thread implementation).
The fermentation of hay and starch when incubated in vitro with faecal inoccula from either normal healthy horses or horses with a history of laminitis

Horses have evolved to consume small, frequent, forage-based meals in a trickle feeding manner. Such diets would typically be high in fibre and low in starch. Domesticated equidae are often meal fed feeds high in non-structural carbohydrates, which can, if fed in large amounts, lead to metabolic conditions such as laminitis. The current study examined the effects of incubating hay and starch, in vitro, with inocula comprising faecal material from either normal healthy horses, or those with a history of laminitis. The extent and rate of degradation was measured using the gas production technique. Substrates were inoculated with faecal slurries from either normal healthy horses, or horses with a predisposition to laminitis (they had suffered laminitis within the last 12 months). Significant differences (P<0.001) in the rate and extent of gas production were found between healthy horses and horses prone to laminitis when breaking down hay. Healthy horses had a significantly higher rate and extent of gas production than laminitics. In contrast, horses with a history of laminitis had significantly higher (P<0.001) gas production profiles when fermenting starch, than healthy horses, suggesting that the bacterial profile collected from these animals was more efficient in the breakdown of starch.
Mating type and pheromone genes in the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex : and evolutionary perspective

28 Introduction . 29 Materials and Methods . 32 Fungal isolates . 32 DNA sequencing . 32 Structural organization and conserved regions in the MAT loci . 33 Phylogenetic relationships . 34 Sequence evolution in coding and non-coding regions . 34 Results . 36 Structural organization and conserved regions in the MAT loci . 36 Phylogenetic relationships . 38 Sequence evolution in coding and non-coding regions . 38 Discussion . 39 References . 44 Tables . 48 Figures . 53
Prospective study on prescribing pattern of antihypertensive drugs at a tertiary care hospital

Hypertension is defined as elevated systolic blood pressure ≥140mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90mm Hg. Hypertension is the leading non-communicable disease risk attributing to cardio vascular morbidity and mortality. The overall prevalence of hypertension in India is estimated to be 29.8%, about 33% urban and 25% rural Indians are hypertensive. It is reported to be the fourth contributor to premature death in developed countries and the seventh in developing countries. The various reasons for hypertension are socio-economic, behavioural, sedentary life style, nutritional, age, obesity and poor health maintenance.
Using an Electronic Tablet to Assess Patients’ Home Environment by Videoconferencing Prior to Hospital Discharge: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Feasibility and Comparative Study

Background Occupational therapists working in hospitals are usually involved in discharge planning to assess patients’ safety and autonomy upon returning home. However, their assessment is usually done at the hospital due to organizational and financial constraints. The lack of visual data about the patients’ home may thus reduce the appropriateness and applicability of the support recommended upon discharge. Although various technological tools such as mobile devices (mobile health) are promising methods for home-based distance assessment, their application in hospital settings may raise several feasibility issues. To our knowledge, their usefulness and added value compared to standard procedure have not been addressed yet in previous studies. Moreover, several feasibility issues need to be explored. Objective This paper aims to (1) document the clinical feasibility of using an electronic tablet to assess the patient's home environment by mobile videoconferencing and (2) explore the added value of using mobile videoconferencing, compared to the standard procedure. Methods A feasibility and comparative study using a mixed-methods (convergent) design is currently undergoing. Six occupational therapists will assess the home environment of their patients in the hospital setting: they will first perform a semistructured interview (a) and then use mobile videoconferencing (b) to compare “a versus a+b. ” Interviews with occupational therapists and patients and their caregivers will further explore the advantages and disadvantages of mobile videoconferencing. Two valid tools are used (the Canadian Measure of Occupational Performance and the telehealth responsivity questionnaire). Direct and indirect time is also collected. Results The project was funded in the spring of 2016 and authorized by the ethics committee in February 2017. Enrollment started in April 2017. Five triads (n=4 occupational therapists, n=5 clients, n=5 caregivers) have been recruited until now. The experiment is expected to be completed by April 2019 and analysis of the results by June 2019. Conclusions Mobile videoconferencing may be a familiar and easy solution for visualizing environmental barriers in the home by caregivers and clinicians, thus providing a promising and inexpensive option to promote a safe return home upon hospital discharge, but clinical feasibility and obstacles to the use of mobile videoconferencing must be understood. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/11674
DSP IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FAST FOURIER TRANSFORM USING THE CORDIC ALGORITHM

Fourier transform is a tool enabling the understanding and implementation of a large number of numerical methods for signal and image processing. This tool has many applications in domains such as vocal recognition, image quality improvement, digital transmission, the biomedical sector and astronomy. This paper proposes to focus on the design methodology and experimental implementation of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The interest of this work is an improvement which makes it possible to reduce the processing time of calculates the FFT while preserving the best performances by using the operator CORDIC and the fixed point, so this work is compared with the results found in the literatures.
Smart Personnel m-Healthcare Patient Monitoring System

Nowadays, abounding of us, and not alone those with bloom issues breadth assemblage getting added bloom aware. With the appearance of accessory primarily based technologies, it's become achievable to actualize wearable wireless biometric accessory networks, accepted as Body Sensor Networks (BSNs) which admittance individuals to accumulate their bloom ability and forward it accidentally for added assay and storage. Assay has apparent that the apparatus of BSNs allows limited wireless diagnosing of altered bloom conditions. During this paper, we adduce a altered stratified design for alive bloom affliction arrangement breadth bloom association account suppliers, patients, doctors and hospitals accept admission to absolute time ability that has been aggregate apparatus abundant acoustic mechanisms. Accessory in nursing beginning case abstraction has been activated for analysis. Early after-effects appearance edges of this adjustment in up the accepted of bloom care.