Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bioinformatics tools for development of fast and cost effective simple sequence repeat (SSR), and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers from expressed sequence tags (ESTs)

The development of current molecular biology techniques has led to the generation of huge amount of gene sequence information under the expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing projects on a large number of plant species. This has opened a new era in crop molecular breeding with identification and/or development of a new class of useful DNA markers called genic molecular markers (GMMs). These markers represent the functional component of the genome in contrast to all other random DNA markers (RMMs). Many recent studies have demonstrated that GMMs may be superior to RMMs for use in the marker assisted selection, comparative mapping and exploration of functional genetic diversity in the germplasms adapted to different environment. Therefore, identification of DNA sequences which can be used as markers remains fundamental to the development of GMMs. Amongst others; bioinformatics approaches are very useful for development of molecular markers, making their development much faster and cheaper. Already, a number of computer programs have been implemented that aim at identifying molecular markers from sequence data. A revision of current bioinformatics tools for development of genic molecular markers is, therefore, crucial in this phase. This mini-review mainly provides an overview of different bioinformatics tools available and its use in marker development with particular reference to SNP and SSR markers. Keywords: Genic molecular marker, simple sequence repeat (SSR), and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers from expressed sequence tags (ESTs). African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(30), pp. 4713-4721
Leveraging prototypes to Support Self-directed Social learning in Makerspaces

The “Maker Movement” signifies emergence of a cultural model of a society where anyone can become a creative maker. As part of this movement, various kinds of “Makerspaces” provide physical and social infrastructures that help unleash people’s intrinsic abilities to make, create, and innovate. In this way, makerspaces become loci where maker communities develop as communities of interest and communities of practice. In such communities, participants acquire skills and knowledge through selfdirected peer-learning and learning-by-doing, while leveraging each other’s practical expertise, individual motivations and enthusiasm. The presented work elaborates upon how maker communities within academic design engineering education and everyday-life contexts could better support their participants’ self-directed learning. Throughout two independent researches through design case studies, we investigated how these learning processes could be improved. Both cases involved the iterative development and assessment of service platforms for supporting the social learning processes of makers. One platform focused on documenting and sharing skills of makers, the other on documenting and sharing the making processes leading to a given artefact. Reflecting on the two platforms revealed two distinct aspects of encountered learning. The first aspect involves deepening and mutually encouraging development of individual expert skills. The second aspect involves multidisciplinary alignment during collaborations and peer-learning within a maker community, performed in teams encompassing complementary skills. The lessons learnt lead to proposing a conceptual framework, which aims to provide a support structure to improve self-directed social learning processes in makerspaces.
Pharmacoeconomic Fellowships: Preceptors’ Views Regarding Adherence to the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Guidelines

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to describe the extent to which pharmacoeconomic/outcomes research (PE/OR) fellowships adhere to the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) guidelines developed in 1999. Methods. Fellowship preceptors' opinions regarding the components that identify the structure and process of current PE/OR programs were solicited using a web-based survey method. Results. Of the 49 preceptors who completed the web-based survey, 38 met the inclusion criteria. Concerning the structure of PE/OR fellowships, preceptors reported that their programs provided fellows with appropriate resources and facilities in accordance to ACCP guidelines. Preceptors indicated that their programs offered fellows appropriate didactic coursework as well as skills taught in adherence to ACCP guidelines. Few preceptors indicated that their programs provided trainees with hands-on research activities at the level suggested by the guidelines. Preceptors' responses showed that current PE/OR fellowship .
The role of mitochondrial genome [mtDNA] in somatic and embryo cloning of mammals. A review

Mitochondria are semiautonomous organelles that contain double-stranded (α-helix) circular DNA molecules (mtDNAs) of about 16300 to 16500 base pairs (bp). The mtDNA encodes only 13 proteins, 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs. Up to 95% of proteins involved in biogenesis and functions of mitochondria are encoded by the cell nucleus. The copy number of mitochondrial genome in a typical mammalian somatic cell ranges from approximately 2 × 103 to about 5 × 103, whereas the number of mtDNA molecules in a single mature (Metaphase II) oocyte is about 1.6 × 105 in mice, 2.5 × 105 in cattle and 3-8 × 105 in humans. In the procedure of somatic or embryo cell cloning (nuclear transfer), mitochondria of nuclear donor cells, together with the nucleus, are transplanted to the enucleated recipient oocyte (ooplast). Thus, the cloned embryo should harbour the mtDNAs from both the donor cell and the recipient oocyte. In cloned animals, mitochondria are inherited primarily from recipient oocytes, and mitochondria from donor cells appear to be rapidly eliminated during the first few cleavage divisions and are almost undetectable by the blastocyst stage. This selective segregation of the donor mitochondrial genome, which takes place in the preimplantation development of nuclear transfer-derived embryos, leads gradually to cellular mtDNA homoplasmy. Only in some cases does the mitochondria originating from both donor cells and recipient oocytes coexist (the so-called mtDNA heteroplasmy). When cloning both embryos and adult individuals, what is often forgotten is the presence in the cytoplasm of donorand recipient-cells of mtDNA. This contains small (approximately 0.01%) amounts of total cell genetic information, but it is different from information recorded in the nuclear DNA (99.99% of cellular genome). Thus, introduction of donor cell nucleus into the oocyte derived from another individual leads to generation of hybridic (in terms of genetic mitochondrial material) reconstructed oocytes, which can have a certain influence on the genotype and phenotype identity of offspring produced as a result of cloning. The “ideal” clone can be obtained only with donor cell nucleus transplanted into the oocyte originating 214 mtDNA IN SOMATIC AND EMBRYO CLONING OF MAMMALS 215 SAMIEC M. from the same individual. Therefore “ideal mammalian clones” can only be the clones of females, whose overall mitochondrial genome has a completely homogenouspattern of regulatory and coding nucleotide sequences of all cellular mtDNA copies in all the somatic and germ cell lines.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Current Paths in the Management of Obesity

The treatment of obesity and its related chronic symptoms is one of the major issues that world healthcare systems are facing today. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective therapies in the treatment of dysfunctional eating behaviors. In the first part of the chapter, the phenomenon of obesity will be introduced; subsequently, the role of CBT into obesity treatment will be underlined. CBT’s core strategies will be presented and analyzed: goal setting, self-monitoring, stimulus control, problem solving technique, and cognitive restructuring technique. The use of these strategies and related results is a major issue, emphasizing the need for further studies on the phenomenon of obesity, given the excellent results available in the short term, with significant weight loss, but the difficulties in keeping the results achieved in the long run. Since obesity is a chronic condition, CBT treatments must focus on different outcomes, considering weight loss as a consequence of a change in the individual’s eating style rather than as a major and only result to be pursued. Finally, we will take into account the topic of motivation in the psychological treatment of obesity since patient’s motivation assessment seems to be a major prerequisite for successful weight loss therapy.
Customising doctor-nurse communications

Doctor-Nurse communications are critical for patient safety and workflow effectiveness. Our research question was: What further improvements can be made to current communication systems? A variety of mobile and land based communication systems have been used and experimented with. In the study, the pager was found to be most common and more recent attempts to provide broadband capability with systems such as the iBeep. We built an alternative information system using Android phones and a software application that was customised by feedback from the medical professionals. The trial in five wards with 22 doctors and 170 nurses over one month showed marked improvement in the end users’ perception of technologies to help their work. Customising the Doctor-Nurse communication channel with role based communication applications, smart phone capabilities enhanced the efficiency, safety, and effectiveness of a time challenged work force. Nurses found they could provide more information and that it was easier to portray how unwell a patient is. Doctors found they were better able to prioritise their time and that urgent tasks were more apparent for immediate action. Each effect had beneficial work impacts.
On the Importance of Simulation in Enabling Continuous Delivery and Evaluating Deployment Pipeline Performance

In modern Software Engineering, Continuous Delivery (CD) is a development approach in which a software is iteratively developed in short cycles ensuring, for each cycle, that the new features are available to end users as soon as they are implemented and tested. CD aims at defining, building and releasing software with greater speed and frequency through the deployment pipeline resulting in three major benefits, visibility, feedback and continuous deployment respectively, enabling the software functional items to efficiently flow from development to production. In this domain, the need for evaluating the performance of the deployment pipeline emerges, since the conventional metrics available in the software engineering discipline are not suited to handle all the involved aspects. In this paper, the metrics suited for supporting CD are introduced and an integration with Modeling and Simulation (M&S) techniques is discussed, based on the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) standard, which could represent a valid support offering a graphical notation to easily specify the deployment pipeline steps as a standard and repeatable process. The main objective is to identify feasible perspectives in which simulation methods and principles can be exploited, thus evaluating the effectiveness of M&S to support performance analysis of a deployment pipeline, seen as a predictable process. Specifically, M&S can be seen as an enabling tool for the evaluation and comparison of different CD choices against requirements through an effective implementation of simulation techniques and virtual testing.
C-reactive protein and lipid abnormalities in children suffering from pneumonia

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in serum lipids, lipoproteins and C-reactive protein in children with pneumonia. 40 children suffering with pneumonia between age group 5-12 years, and 40 normal healthy controls matched in age were included in this study. On the day of admission analysis was done for serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and C-reactive protein, LDL cholesterol was calculated by Friedwald’s formula. The significant increase in the concentration of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol was observed in pneumonic children than the controls. Significantly decreased concentration of HDL cholesterol was found in patient group than the control group. Also an increased concentration of C-reactive protein was observed in children with pneumonia as compared to controls. Keyword: Pneumonia; C-reactive protein; Total Cholesterol; Triglycerides; HDL Cholesterol; LDL cholesterol
Novel hexagonal structure and ultrahigh strength of magnesium solid solution in the Mg–Zn–Y system

A magnesium (Mg) solid solution with a long periodic hexagonal structure was found in a Mg_97Zn_1Y_2 (at.%) alloy in a bulk form prepared by warm extrusion of atomized powders at 573 K. The novel structure has an ABACAB-type six layered packing with lattice parameters of a = 0.322 nm and c = 3 × 0.521 nm. The Mg solid solution has fine grain sizes of 100 to 150 nm and contains 0.78 at. % Zn and 1.82 at. % Y. In addition, cubic Mg_24Y_5 particles with a size of about 7 nm are dispersed at small volume fractions of less than 10% in the Mg matrix. The specific density (ρ) of the extruded bulk Mg–Zn–Y alloy was 1.84 Mg/m^3. The tensile yield strength (σy) and elongation (δ) are 610 MPa and 5%, respectively, at room temperature, and the specific yield strength defined by the ratio of σy to ρ is as high as 3.3 × 10^5 Nm/kg. High σy values exceeding 400 MPa are also maintained at temperatures up to 473 K. It is noticed that the σy levels are 2.5 to 5 times higher than those for conventional high-strength type Mg-based alloys. The Mg-based alloy also exhibits a high-strain-rate superplasticity with large δ of 700 to 800% at high strain rates of 0.1 to 0.2 s^−1 and 623 K. The excellent mechanical properties are due to the combination of the fine grain size, new long periodic hexagonal solid solution containing Y and Zn, and dispersion of fine Mg_24Y_5 particles. The new Mg-based alloy is expected to be used in many fields.
Evolution of Mn and Co oxidation state on TbMn 1x Co x O 3 compounds

Structural and electronic properties of TbMn 1-xCoxO3 samples have been characterized by means of x-ray and neutron diffraction and x-ray absorption spectroscopic techniques. Crystallographic structure was refined from diffraction data, and samples show the orthorhombic distorted perovskite structure ( Pbnm), being isostructural to TbMnO 3, except for x=0.4, 0.5 and 0.6, where an ordered double perovskite structure ( P21/n) is found. The electronic configuration of Mn and Co ions was obtained along the series from the chemical shift of the edge on x-ray absorption spectra, at the Mn and Co K-edges. Our results agree with a charge redistribution between Mn and Co ions, yielding a mixed valence state Mn /Mn and Co/Co for the whole series.
Comparative Study of Navigation Methods for Unmanned Vehicles in a GPS-Denied Environment

In this era of increasing technological advancement, where mankind is pushing the frontiers of exploration, systems are required to be increasingly autonomous and intelligent in order to work efficiently, and to provide optimum results. Unmanned vehicles generally use GPS to find their position in an environment and navigate. In this paper, we have studied and analysed two different algorithms used for navigating in a GPS denied environment, which is a more common scenario than navigating in a GPS-enabled environment. The SLAM algorithm generates a map of its environment by estimation and mapping, while the LIDAR maps its environment using pulses of a short wavelength. Both of them can be used for widely varying applications, and current researches in these fields are crucial in the development of autonomous systems.
Self-Efficacy Level and Patient Satisfaction with Healthcare in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic and progressive disease characterized by the deterioration of the lower airways. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationships between the satisfaction with healthcare services of the people with COPD and their self-efficacy. Methods: Participants were patients visiting polyclinics. The patient information form, the patient assessment of chronic illness care, and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease self-efficacy scale were used for this study. The data was collected by researchers in face-to-face interviews with participants after their medical examination. Spearman correlation test was used for correlation analysis. Student’s t-test, one-way ANOVA, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze scale scores. Results: Total 62.4% participants were male, and the mean age was 65.19 ± 12.28. It was found that individuals with COPD have a low level of satisfaction with the healthcare services they receive and their self-efficacy level is low. Conclusions: Patients with COPD reported a low level of satisfaction with healthcare delivery and low self-efficacy. For this reason, there is a need for attempts to promote patient satisfaction with healthcare services and self-efficacy.
Fission yeast as a HTS platform for molecular probes of HIV-1 Vpr-induced cell death

HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr) plays an important role in the viral life cycle and pathogenesis of HIV-1. Its activities associate with activation of viral replication, suppression of host immune responses and depletion of CD4+ T-lymphocytes. In particular, Vpr induces cell death through apoptosis that may contribute to the depletion of CD4 T cells, which is a hallmark of HIV-1 infection. Currently, there are no anti-Vpr drugs or adequate assays for high throughput screening to identify selective and potent inhibitors of Vpr activities. In this report, we developed a simple fission yeast-based High Throughput Screening (HTS) system that allows us to screen small molecule compounds that specifically inhibit HIV-1 Vpr. This HTS system includes an absorbance-based primary growth assay, a secondary assay using a semi-quantitative colony-forming dot test, and a fluorescence-based LIVE/DEAD yeast viability assay, which is used as the counter screen tests. We further present here results of a pilot study using a Microsource Spectrum Collection Library, which contains 2,000 biologi- cally active and structurally diverse compounds of known drugs, experimental bioactives, and pure natural products. One compound Benfotiamine showed . 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) and 100% inhibition at 20 and 100 µM, respectively. Interestingly, Benfotiamine is in the same family as thiamine, which was used in this system to control Vpr production through transcriptional inhibition. Even though transcriptional suppressor is not what we are looking for, finding Benfotiamine through the described HTS system from a drug library nevertheless demonstrated the feasibility of the screening assay.
Identifying Reliable Opportunistic Neighbors in Wireless Sensor Networks

Routing in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) commonly uses very stable links. Stable links are determined by long-term link estimators implemented in many current routing protocols. Recent research has shown that many links in WSNs are not stable in the long term, but offer short term opportunities for packet forwarding. While not providing good link quality in the long run, these so-called intermediate links alternate between reliable and unreliable periods of transmission over a shorter time duration. In order to detect neighbors with short-term opportunities for packet forwarding, a short-term link estimator is required as opposed to a long-term link estimator. Research into this problem has begun; but so far no broadly accepted method for estimation of intermediate link quality has emerged. Specifically these approaches lack the ability to estimate the reliability of those links. This thesis introduces a metric to determine the reliability of intermediate links and a concrete link estimator is designed to estimate the quality of such links for routing purposes.
Regionalism and Incentives for Multilateralism

The paper studies the effects of regional integration on the incentives of mem - bers and non-members to undertake multilateral trade liberalization. Using a three- country political economy model with imperfect competion, it shows how regionalism can undermine support for multilateralism. Discriminatory trade policies alter the balance of gains and losses that members and non-members experience from multilateral liberalization. As the degree of preference within the PTA increases, the member countries’ support for large multilateral tariff cuts, as well as the excluded countries’ support for small multilateral trade liber - alization, declines.
Animal model show physiological characteristics can alter by feeding of different cereal type and exogenous multi-enzyme

Physiological characteristics of meat-type chicken such as growth traits, serum biochemical metabolites and mineral concentrations, serum enzyme activity, and gut flora were studied by means of 625 day-old chicks which randomly assigned to five treatments with five replicates in a completely randomized design. Four different types of cereal-based diets (wheat, and barley with or without exogenous multi-enzyme supplement) were used as experimental groups and a corn-based diet was also considered to serve as control group. All diets had similar contents of crude protein, energy, and total non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). Results indicated that enzyme supplemented diets improved daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio than barley and wheat diets without enzyme significantly (P<0.01). Feeding wheat and barley diets decreased the serum cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose concentrations than control group significantly (P<0.01) . Also using of these two type of cereals without enzyme supplementation resulted in reduced serum mineral concentration and undesirable effect on gut flora (P<0.01). Total gram negative bacteria of the ileum was decreased, however lactic acid and bifida bacteria population were increased by supplementation of wheat and barley diets with exogenous multi-enzyme significantly (P<0.01) . The serum activities of α-amylase and lipase were increased in chicks fed wheat and barley diets when compared to the control group fed on corn diet, but enzyme supplementation significantly reduced the serum activities of α-amylase and lipase (P<0.01).