Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An efficient regeneration and genetic transformation of maize through Agrobacterium and particle bombardment in immature embryos

An efficient Agrobacterium mediated transformation system, from which transgenic tropical maize plants was directly generated without previous crosses with laboratory or temperate lines was established in present study. Experimental evaluations are focused on two main issues: i) Establishment of appropriate tissue culture conditions, which induced somatic embryogenesis from the immature embryo cells, and ii) The delivery of T-DNA toward these cells. A high rate of embryogenic calli, generated from immature embryo was obtained when 2-4 D (4mgL-1) was added to the MS based induction medium. Regeneration rate was observed upto 19 plants per gram in the calli by using BAP and KIN at 0.5mgL-1. Regarding the Agrobacterium strains evaluated for their transformation capability on the tropical maize line MU-2092 used, best results are obtained from the strain when applied at OD 550nm= 0.5-1.0. Physical micro-wounds before the Agro-infection proved to be an excellent way to promote both the T-DNA transfer toward the immature embryo and the acceleration in rates of transient GUS expression when compared with particle bombardment. The highest frequencies of transient GUS expression corresponding to the embryos as well as the regeneration of whole transgenic plants emerged from them, was obtained using immature embryos wounded by bombarding at 80 lb/in2. Analysis of the progenies confirmed the sexual transmission of the introduced genes and their stable expression.
Video Scene-Aware Dialog Track in DSTC 7

Dialog systems need to understand scenes in order to have conversations with users about the objects and events around them. Scene-aware dialog systems could be developed by integrating state-of-the-art technologies from multiple research areas, including: end-to-end dialog technologies, which generate system responses using models trained from dialog data; visual question answering (VQA) technologies, which answer to questions about images using learned image features; and video description technologies, in which videos are described/narrated using multimodal information. This article proposes a video scene-aware dialog track for the 7th Dialog System Technology Challenges (DSTC7) workshop. The task is to generate system responses in a dialog about an input video.
Conditioned medium from hypoxia-stimulated placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells alters the biological properties of fibroblasts in scar formation via IL-10 and STAT 3 / ERK signaling pathways

It is well known that hypertrophic scar formation is correlated with the hyperproliferation of fibroblasts. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been demonstrated to be effective in inhibiting scar formation. Here, we investigated the effect of hypoxic conditioned medium from placenta-derived MSCs (PDMSC-hypoCM) on the biological properties of fibroblasts and the possible mechanisms involved. The isolated PDMSCs were identified by flow cytometry. IL-10 expression was measured by Real-time PCR and ELISA after hypoxic treatment. Cell survival and apoptosis of mouse fibroblasts NIH-3T3 was examined by crystal violet staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, respectively. Cell invasion was measured by Transwell assay. MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were evaluated by Western blot. Then, a mouse model of thermal injury was generated. On day 15, the levels of α-SMA, Ki67 and F4/80 in scar tissues were measured by Immunohistochemical staining. The activation of STAT3 and ERK pathways were investigated. The results showed that the isolated PDMSCs were positive for CD29 and CD44, while negative for CD31, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR. Hypoxia significantly induced IL-10 expression in PDMSCs. PDMSC-hypoCM and IL-10 decreased the living cell number, promoted NIH-3T3 cell apoptosis, impaired invasion capability, lowered MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in NIH-3T3 and reduced α-SMA, Ki67, F4/80, p-STAT3 and p-ERK levels in scar tissues in a mouse model. We also observed that the effect of PDMSC-hypoCM in vitro and in vivo was reversed by neutralizing antibody against IL-10. In conclusion, PDMSC-hypoCM may suppress scar formation via IL-10, STAT3 and ERK pathways.
Auto-Parametric Stability And Post-Critical Behavior of a Non-Linear Continuous System Under Random Seismic Excitation

Easily deformable tall structures exposed to a strong vertical component of an earthquake excitation are endangered by auto-parametric resonance effect. This non-linear dynamic process in a post-critical regime caused heavy damages or collapses of many towers, bridges and other structures in the epicenter area. Vertical and horizontal response components are independent on the linear level. However their interaction takes place due to non-linear terms in post-critical regime. Two different types of the post-critical regimes are presented: (i) post-critical state with possible recovery; (ii) exponentially rising horizontal response leading to a collapse, when the irreversibility limit is overstepped. A special attention is paid to system parameters sensitivity to reaching the semi-trivial solution stability as well as the limit of the irreversibility. Solution method combining analytical and numerical approaches is developed and used. Its applicability and shortcomings are commented. A few hints for engineering applications are given. Some open problems are indicated.
Dietary lipid sources and vitamin E affect fatty acid composition or lipid stability of breast meat from Muscovy duck

A trial was conducted in order to assess the fatty acid composition and lipid stability of breast meat from Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata domestica L.) fed a basal diet supplemented with 20 g kg-1 of soybean oil or fish oil and 30 or 230 mg kg-1 α-tocopheryl acetate (α-TA). A total of 120 one-day-old female muscovy ducklings were distributed over 12 pens (10 birds/pen). Growth performance traits were measured through the study. Each dietary treatment was randomly administered to three replicates when birds were 43 d until the slaughtering age of 66 d. Dietary treatments did not induce differences in growth performances and slaughter traits. Similarly, proximate composition and pH of breast muscle were not influenced by the diets. Significant increases in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contents in breast meat of ducks fed fish-oil-supplemented diets was observed. Lipid oxidation, expressed as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), of breast meat from birds fed 230 mg.
Concepts of Optimizing Power Semiconductor Devices Using Novel Nano-Structure for Low Losses

In the chapter, the authors discuss two new concepts of optimizing power devices that directly addressing the limitations of current IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolor Transistors) and SJ (Superjunction) MOSFET technologies. Power MOSFETs and IGBTs are the two main competing power semiconductor devices for switching electric power in electrical power conversion systems at mid-voltage ratings. Power MOSFETs conduct current as soon as a forward bias voltage is applied between the drain and the source electrodes; however, as the blocking voltage capability increases, the on-resistance of conventional power MOSFETs increases proportionally to the second order of its blocking voltage (Hu, 1979). In order to overcome the limitation of conventional power MOSFET, IGBT is introduced. Unlike conventional power MOSFET, the forward voltage drop of IGBTs does not follow a second order dependence on blocking voltage because the conductivity of the voltage blocking drift layer can modulated by carrier injection during forward bias. However, IGBTs cannot carry any significant current until the external bias surpasses an internal barrier voltage (heel voltage). This distinction, among other considerations, makes the selection of power semiconductor switches a trade-off between MOSFETs and IGBTs. For instance, paralleling IGBTs will not reduce the heel voltage. Another technology to address the limitation of conventional power MOSFET is SJ MOSFET that employs the charge compensation concept have been significantly researched in an effort to break the “silicon limit” and led to growing commercialization (Coe, 1988; Chen, 1993; Fujihira, 1997; Shenoy, et al., 1999; Deboy, et al., 1998). These devices use an alternating p and n charge compensation structure to replace the planar voltage-blocking drift layer in the conventional power MOSFET, where the n-columns can be much more heavily doped than the planar drift layer, leading to significant reduction in specific on-resistance. The breakdown voltage of an SJ MOSFET is proportional to the depth of the p and n columns. At the same time, reducing the widths of the alternating p and n columns leads to higher allowable doping levels and thus smaller on-resistance (Fujihira, 1997). However, fabricating the SJ structure with increasing depths of p and n columns and decreasing 9
Finitary codings for spatial mixing Markov random fields

It has been shown by van den Berg and Steif that the sub-critical and critical Ising model on $\mathbb{Z}^d$ is a finitary factor of an i.i. d. process (ffiid), whereas the super-critical model is not. In fact, they showed that the latter is a general phenomenon in that a phase transition presents an obstruction for being ffiid. The question remained whether this is the only such obstruction. We make progress on this, showing that certain spatial mixing conditions (notions of weak dependence on boundary conditions, not to be confused with other notions of mixing in ergodic theory) imply ffiid. Our main result is that weak spatial mixing implies ffiid with power-law tails for the coding radius, and that strong spatial mixing implies ffiid with exponential tails for the coding radius. The weak spatial mixing condition can be relaxed to a condition which is satisfied by some critical two-dimensional models. Using a result of the author, we deduce that strong spatial mixing also implies ffiid with stretched-exponential tails from a finite-valued i.i. d. process. We give several applications to models such as the Potts model, proper colorings, the hard-core model, the Widom--Rowlinson model and the beach model. For instance, for the ferromagnetic $q$-state Potts model on $\mathbb{Z}^d$ at inverse temperature $\beta$, we show that it is ffiid with exponential tails if $\beta$ is sufficiently small, it is ffiid if $\beta \beta_c(q,d)$ and, when $d=2$ and $\beta=\beta_c(q,d)$, it is ffiid if and only if $q \le 4$.
Aeroelastic large eddy simulations using vortex methods: unfrozen turbulent and sheared inflow

Vortex particles methods are applied to the aeroelastic simulation of a wind turbine in sheared and turbulent inflow. The possibility to perform large-eddy simulations of turbulence with the effect of the shear vorticity is demonstrated for the first time in vortex methods simulations. Most vortex methods formulation of shear, including segment formulations, assume a frozen shear. It is here shown that these formulations omit two source terms in the vorticity equation. The current paper also present unfrozen simulation of shear. The infinite support of the shear vorticity is accounted for using a novel approach relying on a Neumann to Dirichlet map. The interaction of the sheared vorticity with the wind turbine is shown to have an important impact on the wake shape. The obtained wake shape are closer to the one obtained using traditional computational fluid dynamics: Results with unfrozen shear do not have the severe upward motion of the wake observed in vortex methods simulation with frozen shear. The interaction of the shear and turbulence vorticity is shown to reduce the turbulence decay otherwise observed. The vortex code implemented is coupled to an aeroelastic code and examples of aeroelastic simulations under sheared and turbulent inflow are presented.
Utilize Syntax Tree Transformations as a C/C++ Test Seam

In C/C++, test code often inﬂuences the source code of the unit we want to test. During the test development process we often have to introduce new interfaces to replace existing dependencies, e.g. a supplementary setter or constructor function has to be added to a class for dependency injection. In many cases, extra template parameters are used for the same purpose. These solutions may have serious detrimental eﬀects on the code structure and sometimes on the run-time performance as well. We can use non-intrusive tests (tests which does not require any modiﬁcation in the production code) to avoid these disadvantages. Also, in legacy code bases often there are few or no unit tests. Refactoring such code in order to provide tests is almost impossible because we cannot verify correctness without having unit tests; hence it is a vicious circle. We can break the circle with non-intrusive tests, i.e. without actually modifying the production code. The diﬀerent non-intrusive testing methods have diﬀerent weaknesses. In this paper we introduce our new non-intrusive testing approach which complements the existing techniques. Our solution transforms certain parts of the original abstract syntax tree of the production code for the purpose of testing.
Criterion Validity of Facets versus Domains of the Big Five Inventory

The study investigated the two-facet-scale structure within each domain of the 44item Big Five Inventory investigated by Soto and John (2009). Undergraduate college students participated (N = 295). First, results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit for the two-facet structure for each domain. Next, we examined criterion validity of facets versus domains for predicting three measures relevant to social cognitive career theory (SCOT): goal instability, personal satisfaction with career development, and life satisfaction. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated improved prediction of SCOT measures when BFI facet scores were used as predictors rather than domain scores. The Big Five Inventory (BFI) (John, Naumann, & Soto, 2008) is one of several brief measures of the Big Five personality model (John, 1990) that provides reliable and valid assessment of the five broad personality domains (i.e., factors). Domains (e.g., conscientiousness) are composites of specific facets (i.e., traits) (e.g., self-discipline, order, etc.). Use of a brief measure of the Big Five has the major advantage of providing assessment of the broad domains within a 10-min session using only 44 items, in contrast to a 30-40 min session required for the 240-item NEO-PI-R that includes six facets per domain. The main disadvantage is loss of some trait-level information. For example, results of a meta-analysis of the Big Five personality model revealed no significant differences between males and females on the openness domain (Costa, Terracciano, & McCrae, 2001). However, in that meta-analysis, significant sex differences were observed for five of the six facets of openness. In other words, domain mean scores may be similar between groups, but may mask group differences on facets within the domains. Facet information has been demonstrated to be useful in prediction of academic achievement (Paunonen & Ashton, 2001), law enforcement training (Vasilopoulos, Cucina, & Hunter, 2007), job performance (Rothstein & Goffm, 2006), and workplace deviance (Hastings & O’Neill, 2009). Because facet information can improve prediction in applied settings, use of a brief measure that maintains facet information may prove to be useful in settings such as career counseling with college students. Recent evidence indicates that the 44-item BFI may also provide facet-level information. Soto and John (2009) identified 10 facet-level scales of the BFI. Their analysis supported a two-factor structure corresponding to two facets within each of the five domains. The domains (and corresponding facets) include neuroticism (anxiety,
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BODY FAT PERCENTAGE AND INCIDENCE OF ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION AND TYPE-2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN A VEGETARIAN AND NON-VEGETARIAN POPULATION

Background: Obesity is identified as a complex multifactorial disorder and a notable growing global problem. Body fat percentage (BFP) is more reliable method as compared to BMI for assessing the risk of developing disease. Essential hypertension and Type-2 diabetes mellitus are both associated with adiposity. Aims & Objective: In this study, we planned to observe the association, if any, of raised BFP levels in strict-vegetarians and comparatively analyzed with non-vegetarians in context to the indicated diseases. Materials and Methods: After getting approval from ethical review committee of the Aga Khan University for this Random, Cross sectional and population based study, 563 subjects were selected randomly (males 295, females 268, strict-vegetarians n= 324 (58.0%), non-vegetarian n=235 (42.0%) in 2012 from Tharparker, Pakistan. We recorded demographic and anthropometric data, presence of blood pressure, type-2 diabetes mellitus and co-morbidities. Analysis of BFP was carried out by Deurenberg formula. Level of BFP >20 in males and > 25 in females was taken as raised/abnormal. Data was analyzed descriptively and categorically by using SPSS-21 for comparative analysis of prevalence of the essential hypertension (EHTN) and Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Comparative analysis of association of raised levels of BFP was carried out in context to EHTN and T2DM in vegetarian and non-vegetarian population. A p-Value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Vegetarian subjects, n= 324 (58.0%), showed minimum age as 15 years; maximum 82 (mean 39.6, Std. Deviation 16.6). Non-vegetarian subjects, n= 235 (42.0%), had minimum age 10 years; maximum 76 years (mean 33.7, Std. Deviation 15.5). More male subjects had raised BFP (270 = 94.7%) than females (129 = 49%), p-Value 0.000. Despite positive association of raised BFP levels with EHTN and T2DM, the comparative analysis of association of raised BFP levels among the vegetarian and non-vegetarian cohort in relation to both EHTN and T2DM showed non-significant p-Values (0.105 and 0.347 respectively). Conclusion: Raised body fat percentage in the strict-vegetarian and non-vegetarian cohorts showed a non-significant association to produce essential hypertension and type-2 diabetes mellitus. Findings point to some other risk factors which could be responsible to produce the disease in the studied cohorts. Doing exercise and reducing caloric intake is strongly advised as the best measure to maintain a normal phenotype.
Speleotherapy as an Effective Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a liberal illness requires constant anti-inflammatory therapy. As praise of conventional treatments, patients often turn to alternate therapy. Current study aimed to evaluate the first study in Iran emphasizing on halotherapy influence on improving lung function testing results and relieving symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients, presented at respiratory referral hospital, Tehran in 2016. Materials and Methods: In this double-blind clinical study, 84 components suffering from COPD detached to two experimental and control groups. Following two months treatment with salitair or placebo, one month clearance phase was carried. Eventually, groups were treated with salitair and placebo for next two months. Influence was determined assessed6-minute walk distant, arterial oxygen saturation drop of six minutes walking, CAT enquiry and spirometry FEV1, FVC and FEV1/ FVC parameters. Results: Current study revealed that halotherapy might exert a positive effect on 6-minute walk distant and arterial oxygen saturation drop of six minutes walking parameters, since has no effect on CAT enquiry and FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC parameters. Conclusions: Advice for containing halotherapy as a healing treatment for COPD is doubtful. More studies are recommended to be done, including a larger study group to supply the best evidence.
Direct regeneration and efficient in vitro root development studies in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik)

Lentil is a self-pollinating annual crop with increasing demand all over the world due to its high protein content and easy digestibility. However, like many other crops lentil too needs improvement for which conventional as well as biotechnological tools are to be employed. This study was aimed at development of tissue culture protocol especially targeting improved root development to ensure their establishment in soil in order to use their potential towards genetic manipulation. Two Pakistani lentil cultivars, Masoor-2002 and Manshera-89 were used to obtain cotyledonary nodes, epicotyl and hypocotyl explants. The explants were cultured on shoot regeneration medium containing different concentration of kinetin, BAP and tyrosine with the addition of GA3, with or without charcoal for shoot development. Masoor-2002, showed the highest frequency of shoot development on MS medium containing 5.5 mg/L tyrosine, 0.25 mg/L kinetin, 1.0 mg/L BAP, 0.1 mg/L GA3, using cotyledonary node as explant. The addition of 2 g/L of charcoal in shoot medium resulted in healthier plants, but the number of shoots were reduced. Regarding the effect of age of explants on regeneration frequency, cotyledonary nodes of age 4-6 days had higher regeneration potential. Well-developed shoots were shifted to rooting medium containing different concentration of auxin with or without charcoal. Healthier and more roots were observed on medium containing 4 mg/L IAA with addition of 2 g/L charcoal. Plants were better established (70% survival) in a soil mix containing perlite, vermiculite and peat moss in 1:1:1 ratio.
Layout Optimization using Computer Simulation Tool for Decision Making

The purpose of this study is to present a case study based on real production data in which the computer simulation was used to analyze the efficiency of the current layout, paying attention to indicators defined by the value stream mapping, which determined the need of layout restructuring. For this purpose, it was used a computer tool for discrete events that permits to explore the features of the system, aiming to provide a more comprehensive view of the assembly line, since the software has several performance analysis tools. The method was developed through "in loco" data collection, in similar cases studied in the literature, and in the computation tool learning, thus creating a virtual environment that allowed simulate various layout restructuring strategies to reach the desired result, verifying a great potential for improvement with this restructuring. Finally, the results obtained with the simulation proved that its use emerges as a powerful tool for evaluating the rationalization of resources and production layout restructuring, making clear the advantages and features of the use of computer simulation as a tool to help making decisions in industrial manufacturing process.