Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GENETIC APPRAISALS OF RED BALADI AND SINAI GABALI RABBITS USING MICROSATELLITE MARKERS AND DNA BARCODING.

The selected cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1) gene, and four microsatellite markers were used to investigate the population genetic structure of Red Baladi (RB), and Sinai Gabali (SG) rabbits as the Egyptian native rabbit breeds. Additionally, genetic assorted variety of these breeds was contemplated by utilizing both microsatellite markers and COI gene as DNA standardized identification barcode. A total of 50 does (25 animal for each breed) were used. Live body weight measured at 17 months of age, also the blood samples were collected for molecular analysis. Four microsatellite markers (SAT3, SAT13, SOL33, and SOL44) were used. A total of 18 alleles were discovered across the breeds. the range of alleles per locus discovered over loci and breeds was 3.63 ±0.26 alleles. All microsatellite markers were polymorphic, and the average polymorphic information content (PIC) was 53%. The mean of He values were 0.67±0.06, and 0.74±0.1 for SG, and RB, respectively. The Ho for different markers averaged 0.7±0.06 and ranged from 0.52 at marker SOL33 to 0.90 at markers SAT4. The overall mean of He was 0.574±0.04, and ranged from 0.45 at SOL33 to 0.69 at SAT4. Among the four loci, the hardy Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was highly significant (P≥0.001) for both of RB and SG for SOL44 locus. Although SOL33 locus was highly significant for SG, but it was not significant for RB. The highest reduction in heterozygosity (FST) values varied from 0.008 (SAT13) to 0.27 (SOL44). Concerning live body weight, there was a highly significant difference in live body weight between RB and SG (P≥0.001), where the difference in body weight between RB and SG was 419±83.3, the least square means were 3188 ± 47.1, and 2768 ± 68.7 for RB and SG breeds, respectively. In the present study, the similarity percentage between sequence reads for RB and SG breeds were 99%. At a starting codon 3, the RB has 227 amino acid, and the SG has 226 amino acid. Moreover, two single nucleotide polymorphisms have detected (SNP: C>A, and G>A) located at 273, and 275bp. There was a significantly association between the enclosed C>A SNP with BW. In addition, the general linear model analysis showed significant association between the live body weight and SAT4 locus (P≥ 0.05). From the present study, both microsatellite and the COI gene as a DNA barcode had proved to be exceedingly successful in distinguishing between breeds under investigation and genetic assorted variety between them.
Activity of Amikacin, Gentamicin and Kanamycin against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

The activity of amikacin, gentamicin and kanamycin was tested in vitro against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Concentrations of the antibiotics in serum and in saline solution were prepared according to serum levels produced in volunteers 15 minutes, 1, 2, and 6 hours after a single intramuscular injection of 500 mg amikacin, 80 mg gentamicin and 500 mg kanamycin. Following isolation of the Pseudomonas strains in cultures, they were incubated and seeded in Mueller-Hinton broth, then 107 dilutions of the organisms were kept in contact with the prepared antibiotic solutions in serum and in saline solution for three hours, the approximate half-life of the antibiotics in serum. Amikacin was active at concentrations seen six hours post-dose, inhibiting growth in a total of 72·5% of seeded plates. Gentamicin was active for only two hours and inhibited growth in 2·5% of the plates. Kanamycin showed no anti-pseudomonal activity.
Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients.

BACKGROUND Data on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China. METHODS The survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients. RESULTS The analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P < 0.001). When the threshold of BP < 130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P < 0.05). Using the threshold of < 140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.
Laboratory Analysis of Mudflow Properties

A rotational viscometer has been designed for laboratory measurements of the rheological properties of natural mudflow deposits in Colorado. The mudflow matrices comprised of silt and clay particles are sheared under temperature-controlled conditions at volumetric sediment concentrations ranging from 0.10 – 0.45. This study stresses the importance of conducting rheological measurements at low rates of shear because: 1) Those are the conditions found in natural channels; and 2) they avoid the slippage problems observed at large sediment concentrations. At low rates of shear, the Bingham model is fitted to the measured rheograms, and both the viscosity and yield stress increase exponentially with the sediment concentration of the fluid matrix. Both the yield stress and the viscosity increase by three orders of magnitude as the volumetric concentration of sediments in the fluid matrix changes from 10% to 40%. The addition of sand particles does not significantly alter the rheological properties of the matrix unless the volumetric concentration of sands exceeds 0.20.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD and depression symptoms reduces risk for future intimate partner violence among interpersonal trauma survivors.

OBJECTIVE Women who develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression subsequent to interpersonal trauma are at heightened risk for future intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in reducing PTSD and depression symptoms, yet limited research has investigated the effectiveness of CBT in reducing risk for future IPV among interpersonal trauma survivors. METHOD This study examined the effect of CBT for PTSD and depressive symptoms on the risk of future IPV victimization in a sample of women survivors of interpersonal violence. The current sample included 150 women diagnosed with PTSD secondary to an array of interpersonal traumatic events; they were participating in a randomized clinical trial of different forms of cognitive processing therapy for the treatment of PTSD. Participants were assessed at 9 time points as part of the larger trial: pretreatment, 6 times during treatment, posttreatment, and 6-month follow-up. RESULTS As hypothesized, reductions in PTSD and in depressive symptoms during treatment were associated with a decreased likelihood of IPV victimization at a 6-month follow-up even after controlling for recent IPV (i.e., IPV from a current partner within the year prior to beginning the study) and prior interpersonal traumas. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the importance of identifying and treating PTSD and depressive symptoms among interpersonal trauma survivors as a method for reducing risk for future IPV.
Nef-Mediated Disruption of HLA-A2 Transport to the Cell Surface in T Cells

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef is a key pathogenic factor necessary for the development of AIDS. One important function of Nef is to reduce cell surface levels of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules, thereby protecting HIV-infected cells from recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The mechanism of MHC-I downmodulation by Nef has not been clearly elucidated, and its reported effect on MHC-I steady-state levels ranges widely, from 2-fold in HeLa cells to 200-fold in HIV-infected primary T cells. Here, we directly compared downmodulation of HLA-A2 in HIV-infected HeLa cells to that in T cells. We found that similar amounts of Nef protein resulted in a much more dramatic downmodulation of HLA-A2 in T cells than in HeLa cells. A comparison of Nef's effects on HLA-A2 endocytosis, recycling, and transport rates indicated that the most prominent effect of Nef on HLA-A2 in T cells was to inhibit transport to the cell surface. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, LY294002, previously reported to inhibit Nef-mediated MHC-I downmodulation in astrocytic cells, did not directly affect Nef's ability to block transport of MHC-I to the cell surface in T cells.
TouchSense: Classifying and Measuring the Force of Finger Touches with an Electromyography Armband

We present TouchSense, a system to classify and to compute the force of finger touches using an inexpensive, off-the-shelf electromyography (EMG) armband. From EMG input only, we classify the finger touches and estimate the force applied when pressing an object or surface with the thumb, forefinger, or middle finger. We propose a novel neural network architecture for finger classification using EMG data. Our system runs in real time and only utilizes the Thalmic Labs Myo EMG armband and an Android smartphone, thereby being wearable and mobile. We showcase one application for our system, which controls the brightness of a lamp.
Handoff performance enhancement scheme for multi-interface enterprise WLANs

Recently more and more mobile smart devices such as smartphones and smart pads are used, which accelerates wide deployments of IEEE 802.11 based access points (APs) to provide wireless coverage. In IEEE 802.11 networks, a handoff occurs when a mobile station moves from one basic service set (BSS) to another BSS. During the handoff process, long delay may occur, which severely degrades user satisfaction for services that require stringent QoS requirements, such as VoIP and video streaming. In this paper, we propose a handoff scheme to reduce handoff delay under the enterprise wireless local area network (EWLAN) environment. In EWLAN, a special entity called central controller collects wireless channel information and controls system parameters of APs to enhance network performance. In the proposed scheme, each AP is equipped with multiple wireless network interface cards to reduce handoff delay. We performed simulations to evaluate performance, and our simulation results show that the proposed scheme shows lower handoff delay performance than existing handoff schemes.
An Omnifont Open-Vocabulary OCR System for English and Arabic

We present an omnifont, unlimited-vocabulary OCR system for English and Arabic. The system is based on hidden Markov models (HMM), an approach that has proven to be very successful in the area of automatic speech recognition. We focus on two aspects of the OCR system. First, we address the issue of how to perform OCR on omnifont and multi-style data, such as plain and italic, without the need to have a separate model for each style. The amount of training data from each style, which is used to train a single model, becomes an important issue in the face of the conditional independence assumption inherent in the use of HMMs. We demonstrate mathematically and empirically how to allocate training data among the different styles to alleviate this problem. Second, we show how to use a word-based HMM system to perform character recognition with unlimited vocabulary. The method includes the use of a trigram language model on character sequences. Using all these techniques, we have achieved character error rates of 1.1 percent on data from the University of Washington English Document Image Database and 3.3 percent on data from the DARPA Arabic OCR Corpus.
Space-filling Software Visualization

Abstract SeeSys is a system embodying a technique for visualizing statistics associated with code that is divided hierarchically into subsystems, directories and files. This technique can display the relative sizes of the components in the system, the relative stability of the components, the location of new functionality and the location of error-prone code with many bug fixes. Using animation, it can display the historical evolution of the code. Applying this technique, the source code from a multi-million line production software product is visualized.
HCMV Protein LUNA Is Required for Viral Reactivation from Latently Infected Primary CD14+ Cells

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a member of the Herpesviridae family that infects individuals throughout the world. Following an initial lytic stage, HCMV can persist in the individual for life in a non-active (or latent) form. During latency, the virus resides within cells of the myeloid lineage. The mechanisms controlling HCMV latency are not completely understood. A latency associated transcript, UL81-82ast, encoding the protein LUNA (Latency Unique Natural Antigen) was identified from latently infected donors in vivo. To address the role of the UL81-82ast protein product LUNA, in the context of the viral genome, we developed a recombinant HCMV bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) that does not express LUNA. This construct, LUNA knockout FIX virus (FIX-ΔLUNA), was used to evaluate LUNA's role in HCMV latency. The FIX-ΔLUNA virus was able to lytically infect Human Fibroblast (HF) cells, showing that LUNA is not required to establish a lytic infection. Interestingly, we observed significantly higher viral copy numbers in HF cells infected with FIX-ΔLUNA when compared to FIX-WT virus. Furthermore, FIX-WT and FIX-ΔLUNA genomic DNA and transcription of UL81-82ast persisted over time in primary monocytes. In contrast, the levels of UL138 transcript expression in FIX-ΔLUNA infected HF and CD14+ cells was 100 and 1000 fold lower (respectively) when compared to the levels observed for FIX-WT infection. Moreover, FIX-ΔLUNA virus failed to reactivate from infected CD14+ cells following differentiation. This lack of viral reactivation was accompanied by a lack of lytic gene expression, increase in viral copy numbers, and lack of the production of infectious units following differentiation of the cells. Our study suggests that the LUNA protein is involved in regulating HCMV reactivation, and that in the absence of LUNA, HCMV may not be able to enter a proper latent state and therefore cannot be rescued from the established persistent infection in CD14+ cells.
A New General Multilevel Converter Topology Based on Cascaded Connection of Submultilevel Units With Reduced Switching Components, DC Sources, and Blocked Voltage by Switches

A new cascade topology for multilevel converter is introduced in this paper which comprises series connection of several submultilevel units. To determine the magnitudes of the dc sources, two new methods are described. The proposed topology is optimized to generate any levels with minimum number of components and peak voltage on switches. The presented topology can be used in high-voltage applications due to using the switches with low voltage rating. To indicate the merits of the proposed structure, comparison studies are provided with other topologies in terms of the number of elements and peak voltage on switches. The comparison results prove that the presented cascade multilevel converter requires fewer components. Moreover, it is shown that the total peak voltage on switches in the proposed topology is less than other structures. Experimental work is presented to demonstrate the performance of the presented multilevel converter.
Perfluorodecanoic acid enhances the formation of oleic acid in rat liver.

The feeding of perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) to male rats at a dietary concentration of 0.005% (w/w) for 7 days resulted in a marked increase in the activity of microsomal stearoyl-CoA desaturation in the liver. This increase in the overall desaturation activity was due to the induction of terminal desaturase among the components comprising the desaturation system. In contrast, PFDA inhibited desaturation in vitro, seemingly due to interference with electron transport through the desaturation system. Accordingly, PFDA can be an inducer and also an inhibitor of delta9-desaturation. PFDA feeding enhanced the conversion of radioactive stearic acid into oleic acid in the liver in vivo, indicating that the induction of delta9-desaturase by PFDA functions in vivo. PFDA feeding increased the mass of octadecenoic acid (C18:1) in the liver and the proportion of C18:1 in microsomal lipid. A highly significant linear correlation existed between the microsomal desaturase activity and the proportion of C18:1 in microsomal lipid when compared using rats in five different physiological states: control, PFDA-fed, p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid (clofibric acid)-fed, starved and starved/refed. These results suggest that the increase in the hepatic level of C18:1 caused by feeding of PFDA to rats can be explained by the common concept of regulation, i.e. the hepatic level of C18:1 is under the control of delta9-desaturase. The dietary administration of PFDA also increased the content of cytochrome P-450 and the activity of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-de-ethylase in the liver.
An efficient QoS-based scheduling algorithm for MIMO wireless systems

This paper investigates the quality of service (QoS) differentiation that can be provided for a system with multi single-antenna users and multi-antenna base station. Based on a TDMA/SDMA access system, a new scheduling algorithm is proposed and analyzed in order to provide QoS guarantee for real-time connections and high average performances for non- real-time ones. The real-time connections are guaranteed a certain data rate and a certain waiting delay violation probability while the non-real-time ones have no QoS guarantee (best effort). Since the wireless channel state is dependant on time and on space, the scheduling algorithm prioritize the real-time users according to their corresponding QoS demands and then selects co-slot users in function of the channel state and users priorities.
Loss of FHIT protein expression is a marker of adverse evolution in good prognosis localized breast cancer

The FHIT tumor suppressor gene, which encompasses the fragile site FRA3B at 3p14.2, is altered frequently in many types of human cancers. To determine its importance as a prognostic marker in breast cancer, the expression of the FHIT protein was studied in a series of 452 breast carcinomas by using immunohistochemistry on sections of tissue microarrays. Three distinct levels of FHIT expression were observed: in 154 cases (34.1%) expression was unchanged as compared to normal level; in 78 (17.2%) no expression was found; in the remaining 220 cases (48.7%), expression was intermediate. Overall, two‐thirds of the cases had abnormal levels of the protein. Absence of FHIT was significantly associated with a higher grade (p < 0.01) and absence of hormone receptors (p < 0.001). The patients were separated into Group I (153 node‐negative good prognosis patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy) and Group II (226 high‐risk patients treated by adjuvant chemotherapy) according to the St.‐Gallen conference consensus. The median follow‐up was 48 months. Among Group I but not Group II patients, a multivariate analysis showed that FHIT expression was significantly associated with disease‐free survival. The relative risk of recurrence for FHIT‐negative Group I patients was 2.37 (1.21–4.64; p = 0.03). Thus, among the patients who present with tumors of apparent good prognosis, FHIT is an independent prognostic factor that distinguishes a subgroup of patients who could benefit from adjuvant treatment. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Sociocognitive and Dissociation Theories of Hypnosis: Toward a Rapprochement

Abstract In this introductory article to a special issue on the sociocognitive perspective of hypnosis, the authors contrast two influential hypnosis theories—the sociocognitive and dissociation perspectives—and argue that recent developments in sociocognitive theory (i.e., response set theory) and in the broader field of cognitive psychology pertaining to nonconscious information processing and goal-directed action make possible a rapprochement between theoretical accounts that have vied for attention and empirical support.
Effects of ammonia and nitrite accumulation on the survival and growth performance of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Ammonia and nitrite levels caused by shrimp excreta and metabolic waste and organic detritus are important limiting factors in intensive aquaculture system, the purpose of this study was to determine how ammonia and nitrite accumulation caused by accumulated these compounds affected survival and growth performance of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Unconsumed feed, feces and seawater in treatment group were not removed or replaced over a 33-day period, while unconsumed feed and feces in control group were removed with a siphon tube and 60 % seawater was replaced once-daily. Significantly higher ammonia and nitrite concentrations were accumulated in the seawater of treatment group from day 6 to day 33 and from day 9 to day 33, compared with control group, respectively. Significantly lower survival rate, weight gain percentage, length gain percentage and specific growth rate were recorded in treatment shrimp, compared with control shrimp. Significantly higher lipase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities, malondialdehyde content, relative expression of 4E-binding protein 1, p70S6 kinase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase mRNA were detected in the hepatopancreas of treatment versus control shrimp. Significantly lower protease, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and glutathione content were detected in the hepatopancreas of treatment versus control shrimp. Meanwhile, hepatopancreas in treatment shrimp showed disorganized tubules, blurred boundaries, decreased or disappeared B, R and E cells, injured connective tissue between liver tubule, infiltrated hemocytes, narrowed lumen, and vacuolization compared with control shrimp. These findings might indicate that ammonia and nitrite accumulation caused by accumulated waste in aquaculture tanks could significantly reduce survival, growth performance of L. vannamei with hepatopancreas damage, which was resulted from accumulated reactive oxygen species. Therefore, ammonia and nitrite accumulation may significantly impact shrimp production in intensive aquaculture system.