Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Campylobacter jejuni motility and invasion of Caco-2 cells

We investigated the influence of motility on Campylobacter jejuni binding and invasion of Caco-2 cells. C. jejuni was motile in soft agar at basic (pH 8.5) and neutral pH values representative of the intestinal environment. However, C. jejuni was immobilized at pH 5.0. The inability of C. jejuni to swarm on soft agar at pH 5.0 was not related to flagellar depolymerization or loss of viability. In tissue culture medium, C. jejuni displayed typical periods of straight swimming punctuated by tumbling behavior. This behavior was altered when the viscosity of the medium was adjusted to mimic the viscosity of intestinal mucus. C. jejuni showed longer periods of straight swimming with significantly increased velocity followed by pauses instead of tumbles. The binding and invasion of C. jejuni in Caco-2 cells also increased significantly in high-viscosity growth medium. We speculate that the swimming behavior of C. jejuni in a viscous environment may be an important factor in the interaction of these organisms with host epithelial cells. The pH, which affects C. jejuni motility, may also influence the tropism of these organisms.
Cooperative behavior acquisition by asynchronous policy renewal that enables simultaneous learning in multiagent environment

This paper presents a method for simultaneous learning in multiagent environment to facilitate cooperative behavior. Each agent has one policy and one action value function: the former is for action execution based on the action value function updated in the previous stage, and the latter is for learning based on the episodes experienced by the current policy. This makes all agents behave based on the fixed policies, so that the non-Markovian problem can be avoided except for the update periods that depend on the learning progress of each agent. In order to avoid the local maxima due to such asynchronous renewal of action value functions, optimistic action values are given initially, which helps to avoid the exploration process being trapped in local maxima. The experimental results applied to one of the cooperative tasks in a dynamic, multiagent environment, RoboCup, is shown and a discussion is given.
The Raven's Progressive Matrices: Change and Stability over Culture and Time

Data relating to the stability and variation in the norms for the Raven's Progressive Matrices Test (a well-validated measure of basic cognitive functioning) for different cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups on a worldwide and within-country basis are first summarized. Subsequent sections deal with variation over time. A possible explanation for the variation in norms over time and between ethnic groups within countries is offered.
Changes in Active Life Expectancy Among Older Thais

This study aims to determine the disability prevalence and changes in active life expectancy of the Thai older people between 1997 and 2004. Data on disability of older people aged ≥60 years were obtained from the National Health Examination Surveys. Disability refers to one or more restrictions on the activities of daily living. The Sullivan method was used to calculate active life expectancy. A total of 4048 older people in 1997 and 19 372 older people in 2004 were included in the analysis. Active life expectancy at age 60 of men was 16.5 years in 1997 and 17.6 years in 2004, whereas that of women was 17.9 and 19.9 years, respectively. Women spent a greater proportion of the remaining life with disability. The proportion of active life for both genders also increased during the 7-year period suggesting an evidence of the compression of morbidity in Thai older people.
No Science without Semantics

Computer science often faces the criticism that it isn't actual science. Doing science means using the scientific method, which includes reporting results so that others can repeat and verify them. The problem with the computer science community is the lack of shared terms with precise semantics. When a researcher reports phenomenal results that can't be replicated, the author might be viewed as a brilliant alchemist, but such works undermine claims of being "science. "
Promoter methylation of the TSLC1 gene in advanced lung tumors and various cancer cell lines

We previously identified TSLC1, a tumor suppressor gene in human nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). TSLC1 belongs to immunoglobulin superfamily molecules and is involved in cell adhesion. Loss of TSLC1 expression was strongly correlated with the promoter hypermethylation in several NSCLC cell lines. Here, we examined the methylation status of the TSLC1 gene promoter in 48 primary NSCLC tumors by bisulfite SSCP in combination with bisulfite sequencing. Six CpG sites around the promoter regions were significantly methylated in 21 of 48 primary NSCLC tumors (44%). Promoter methylation was more likely to be observed in relatively advanced tumors with TNM classification of pT2, pT3 or pT4 (19 of 33, 58%) than in those with pT1 (2 of 15, 13%), suggesting that alteration of TSLC1 would be involved in the progression of human NSCLC. Loss of TSLC1 expression was also observed in 20 of 46 (43%) human cancer cell lines, including those from esophageal (3 of 3), gastric (8 of 9), ovarian (2 of 5), endometrial (2 of 2), breast (1 of 3), colorectal (2 of 8) and small cell lung cancers (2 of 10). Combined analysis of promoter methylation and the allelic state in these cell lines indicated that the TSLC1 gene was often silenced not only by mono‐allelic methylation associated with loss of the other allele but also through bi‐allelic methylation. These results suggest that alteration of TSLC1 would be involved in advanced NSCLC as well as in many other human cancers. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Control of Cell Division in Escherichia coli: Experiments with Thymine Starvation

This paper describes the kinetics of cell division in populations of cells which have been grown first under conditions which specifically inhibit deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis (in the absence of thymine or the presence of nalidixic acid) and subsequently under conditions which allow DNA synthesis to recommence. Cell division does not take place during inhibition of DNA synthesis. There is a delay between recommencement of DNA synthesis and recommencement of cell division. The length of this delay increases as a function of the length of the preceding period of inhibition of DNA synthesis. The first division after this delay is partly synchronous, but all subsequent division is asynchronous. These observations are explained in terms of a model which supposes that the formation of initiator of chromosome replication during a period when DNA synthesis is inhibited results in a block to cell division. Division does not then occur until this “extra” round of DNA synthesis is completed.
Did Photosymbiont Bleaching Lead to the Demise of Planktic Foraminifer Morozovella at the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum?

Abstract The symbiont‐bearing mixed‐layer planktic foraminiferal genera Morozovella and Acarinina were among the most important calcifiers of early Paleogene tropical–subtropical oceans. A marked and permanent switch in the abundance of these genera is known to have occurred at low‐latitude sites at the beginning of the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO), such that the relative abundance of Morozovella permanently and significantly decreased along with a progressive reduction in the number of species; concomitantly, the genus Acarinina almost doubled its abundance and diversified. Here we examine planktic foraminiferal assemblages and stable isotope compositions of their tests at Ocean Drilling Program Site 1051 (northwest Atlantic) to detail the timing of this biotic event, to document its details at the species level, and to test a potential cause: the loss of photosymbionts (bleaching). We also provide stable isotope measurements of bulk carbonate to refine the stratigraphy at Site 1051 and to determine when changes in Morozovella species composition and their test size occurred. We demonstrate that the switch in Morozovella and Acarinina abundance occurred rapidly and in coincidence with a negative carbon isotope excursion known as the J event (~53 Ma), which marks the start of the EECO. We provide evidence of photosymbiont loss after the J event from a size‐restricted δ13C analysis. However, such inferred bleaching was transitory and also occurred in the acarininids. The geologically rapid switch in planktic foraminiferal genera during the early Eocene was a major evolutionary change within marine biota, but loss of photosymbionts was not the primary causal mechanism.
Responses to 101 Questions on Islam

In the learner-friendly style of the 101 Questions series, John Renard's study of Islam for Christians gives a practical overview of the beliefs and customs of Islam in today's world. Renard's observations on Islam are at once respectful and insightful. He helps the reader to confront biases against Islam and its religious and cultural influence. The gift of Renard's many years of living with Muslims in Arab settings is his ability to relate what seems to be a foreign experience to the everyday life of Americans who are, for the most part, Christians often alarmed by the "political Islam" of the Middle East.
An improved reactive power control strategy for overvoltage fluctuation of distribution network with high penetration of PVs

In distribution network, with the installed of photovoltaic (PV), bought many problems. One of the most concerned problems is the overvoltage in the terminal bus of distribution network. It is caused by the reverse power flow which brought out by the increase of the PV sources penetration. In this paper, an improved PQ-Q (V) control strategy is proposed to alleviate such problem. The economic performance and the efficiency are considered in this prosed scheme. The photovoltaic grid-connected inverter is controlled to compensate the overvoltage or under voltage by compensating the inductive and capacitive reactive power to ensure voltage are within rated range. Its performance is compared with a traditional control method. On this basis, the influence of the method on the network is investigated, which have been found that the value of tune parameter will affect the regulate ability and the system stability. In this paper, the 13-bus IEEE network is used in the simulation of DIgSILENT software.
"Live High-Train Low and High" Hypoxic Training Improves Team-Sport Performance.

PURPOSE This study aims to investigate physical performance and hematological changes in 32 elite male team-sport players after 14 d of "live high-train low" (LHTL) training in normobaric hypoxia (≥14 h·d at 2800-3000 m) combined with repeated-sprint training (six sessions of four sets of 5 × 5-s sprints with 25 s of passive recovery) either in normobaric hypoxia at 3000 m (LHTL + RSH, namely, LHTLH; n = 11) or in normoxia (LHTL + RSN, namely, LHTL; n = 12) compared with controlled "live low-train low" (LLTL; n = 9) training. METHODS Before (Pre), immediately after (Post-1), and 3 wk after (Post-2) the intervention, hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) was measured in duplicate [optimized carbon monoxide (CO) rebreathing method], and vertical jump, repeated-sprint (8 × 20 m-20 s recovery), and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 2 (YYIR2) performances were tested. RESULTS Both hypoxic groups similarly increased their Hbmass at Post-1 and Post-2 in reference to Pre (LHTLH: +4.0%, P < 0.001 and +2.7%, P < 0.01; LHTL: +3.0% and +3.0%, both P < 0.001), whereas no change occurred in LLTL. Compared with Pre, YYIR2 performance increased by ∼21% at Post-1 (P < 0.01) and by ∼45% at Post-2 (P < 0.001), with no difference between the two intervention groups (vs no change in LLTL). From Pre to Post-1, cumulated sprint time decreased in LHTLH (-3.6%, P < 0.001) and LHTL (-1.9%, P < 0.01), but not in LLTL (-0.7%), and remained significantly reduced at Post-2 (-3.5%, P < 0.001) in LHTLH only. Vertical jump performance did not change. CONCLUSIONS "Live high-train low and high" hypoxic training interspersed with repeated sprints in hypoxia for 14 d (in season) increases the Hbmass, YYIR2 performance, and repeated-sprint ability of elite field team-sport players, with benefits lasting for at least 3 wk postintervention.
Phase III randomized trial of docetaxel plus cisplatin versus vindesine plus cisplatin in patients with stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer: the Japanese Taxotere Lung Cancer Study Group.

PURPOSE Few randomized trials have demonstrated survival benefit of combination chemotherapy involving new agents plus cisplatin compared with classic combination chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The primary aim of this study was to test whether docetaxel plus cisplatin (DC) improves survival compared with vindesine plus cisplatin (VdsC) in patients with previously untreated stage IV NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible, stage IV, chemotherapy-naive patients (n = 311) were randomly assigned to receive docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) intravenously on day 1 plus cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) intravenously on day 1 of a 3- or 4-week cycle, or vindesine 3 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 plus cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) intravenously on day 1 of a 4-week cycle. Cross-over administration of docetaxel and vindesine was prohibited for both treatment groups. RESULTS Overall, 302 patients were eligible for evaluation. The DC arm demonstrated significant improvements compared with the VdsC arm in overall response rates (37% v 21%, respectively; P <.01) and median survival times (11.3 v 9.6 months, respectively; P =.014). Two-year survival rates were 24% for the DC arm compared with 12% for the VdsC arm. The physical domain of the Quality of Life for Cancer Patients Treated with Anticancer Drugs measure was significantly better in the DC arm than in the VdsC arm (P =.020). Toxicity was predominantly hematologic and was more severe in the VdsC arm. CONCLUSION As first-line treatment for stage IV NSCLC, DC resulted in greater clinical benefit in terms of response rate (with marked improvements in overall and 2-year survival rates) and quality of life than did treatment with VdsC.
Teamwork on the rocks: Rethinking interprofessional practice as networking

Optimising interprofessional practice has been identified as one of the key methods for improving health outcomes across the globe (Institute of Medicine, 2001). Predominantly, in the United States, better interprofessional practice has been conceptualised as creating high-functioning teams that communicate and collaborate efficiently and effectively to meet the Triple Aim of improved health outcomes, lower cost, and enhanced patient experience (Earnest & Brandt, 2014). Yet, despite nearly two decades of work in the arenas of interprofessional practice and education, progress towards defining impactful, reproducible interventions that improve teamwork and lead to better health outcomes has been slow (Institute of Medicine, 2015; Reeves et al., 2016; Zwarenstein, Goldman, & Reeves, 2009). Recently, we identified some reasons why optimising interprofessional practice might be so challenging. Using data from the electronic health record (EHR), we identified the healthcare professionals involved in the care of a hundred patients with colorectal cancer. Based on data of when and how healthcare professionals access, enter, and review information related to each patient from the date of diagnosis in our university’s cancer registry through 60 days after this date, we created networks of electronic collaboration among the healthcare professionals caring for each patient. The size and complexity of these networks provided some startling insights into the barriers to interprofessional practice which we briefly discuss in this editorial.
A novel framework for validating dynamic web applications

World Wide Web contains an abundant amount of websites which are deemed invalid as they do not adhere to the HTML standards defined under W3C. Websites which are not well-formed may cause performance degradation for some applications and poses compatibility issues with some browsers. Furthermore, it is harder to render a non well formed webpage using state of the art web browsers. Therefore, a wide spectrum of HTML document validation tools are developed to validate HTML pages. However, these tools are able to validate only static based HTML pages, which is a drawback as it is not catered for current state of the art dynamic server side generated pages. To resolve this issue, we propose a novel framework for validating dynamic web applications. In our framework, we develop set of heuristic rules considering the various languages syntax and operation for well known server side languages such as PHP, Java EE, and ASP.NET. Our proposed framework is able to robustly validate dynamic based HTML pages with high efficiency.
A 100nW 6PPM/°C voltage reference with all MOS transistors

The paper presents a low-voltage low-power CMOS subthreshold voltage reference with no resistors and bipolar junction transistors applied in a wide temperature range. A GGNMOS transistor is used to fine-tune of its curvature compensation in high temperature. The temperature coefficient (TC) is lower than 6ppm/0C in a temperature changed from -40°C to 125°C with different corners. The supply voltage ranges from 0.65V to 2.5V, and the power consumption is 100nW with 1V supply voltage. The power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) without any filter capacitor at 100Hz is lower than -46dB.
Obesity – an indication for GLP‐1 treatment? Obesity pathophysiology and GLP‐1 treatment potential

Obesity is common and associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality; therefore, treatment is of great interest. At present, bariatric surgery is the only truly successful treatment of severe obesity. Mimicking one of the effects of bariatric surgery, namely the increased secretion of glucagon‐like peptide (GLP)‐1, by artificially increasing the levels of GLP‐1 might prove successful as obesity treatment. Recent studies have shown that GLP‐1 is a physiological regulator of appetite and food intake. The effect on food intake and satiety is preserved in obese subjects and GLP‐1 may therefore have a therapeutic potential. The GLP‐1 analogues result in a moderate average weight loss, which is clinically relevant in relation to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Inspired by the hormone profile after gastric bypass, a future strategy in obesity drug development could be to combine several hormones, and thereby produce a superior appetite suppressing hormone profile that may result in a weight loss exceeding that seen in single‐agent trials. In conclusion, with the GLP‐1 analogues combining a moderate weight loss with beneficial effects on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors, it seems that we are on the right track for future treatment of obesity.
Variation in simian immunodeficiency virus env is confined to V1 and V4 during progression to simian AIDS

We have monitored changes in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) envelope (env) gene in two macaques which developed AIDS after inoculation with a molecular clone of SIV. As the animals progressed to AIDS, selection occurred for viruses with variation in two discrete regions (V1 and V4) but not for viruses with changes in the region of SIV env that corresponds to the immunodominant, V3 loop of human immunodeficiency virus. Within the highly variable domains, the vast majority of nucleotide changes encoded an amino acid change (98%), suggesting that these envelope variants had evolved as a result of phenotypic selection. Analysis of the biological properties of these variants, which have been selected for in the host, may be useful in defining the mechanisms underlying viral persistence and progression to simian AIDS.
Penicillium viridicatum Westling: a new source of ochratoxin A.

Ochratoxin A has been obtained from both mycelium and culture filtrates of Penicillium viridicatum Westling grown on a yeast extract – sucrose medium. Ergosterol was also identified as a metabolite. The greatest amount of ochratoxin A was detected 9 days after inoculation. Toxin production decreased greatly after several successive subcultures. However, it was possible to obtain a strongly toxinogenic isolate again from the parent culture. Small amounts of ochratoxin A were detected in 60% whole wheat bread slices used as a substrate for P. viridicatum.
Information System and Firms' Performance: The Case of Malaysian Small Medium Enterprises

Information systems are widely use by many corporations to automate existing operations and to improve business activities efficiency. Prior researches have shown that information system adoption did increased firms’ performances and operations efficiency. In Malaysia, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has been targeted as a mechanism in generating domestic-led investment to stimulate economic development, particularly after the economic crisis that hit the country in 1997. Thus, it is crucial for SMEs to adopt information system to enhance their business operations capability and efficiency. Nevertheless, SMEs limited resources to implement information systems have been one of the critical barriers that hindered the adoption of information systems. Malaysian government has allocated special grants and various initiatives to assist Malaysian SMEs to adopt information system software. Therefore, this study is to investigate the impact of accounting information system on firm performance of Malaysian SMEs. Panel data was used to analyse firm’s performance. Results revealed that SMEs adopting accounting information system show significant improvement in performance compared to non-adopters.
Low latency integrated point-to-multipoint and e-band point-to-point backhaul for mobile small cells

Wireless backhaul is one of the main challenges in small cell deployment. Current wireless backhaul systems have one or more limitations on capacity, link distance and supporting line-of-sight (LOS) links. In this paper, we propose a novel two-tier small-cell backhaul architecture which provides a future-proof, powerful, flexible and scalable solution by using aggregation nodes and integrating sub-6GHz point-to-multipoint (P2MP) and point-to-point E-band links. In the bottom tier of the proposed architecture, local small cells are connected to an aggregation node by P2MP and low-cost mega bits per second (Mbps) E-band links; in the top tier, aggregation nodes are inter-connected by LOS giga bits per second (Gbps) E-band links. PHY and higher layer protocols, which integrate the three different links into a comprehensive solution, are introduced. Designs of devices used in the architecture, which are being developed in CSIRO, are provided. Novel techniques that have been developed for achieving low-latency are detailed. Simulation results show that the backhaul latency can be as low as a few microseconds when only E-band backhaul links are involved.
Pregnancy Outcomes Among the Ibani of Rivers State, Nigeria: Findings From Case-Studies

The prevalence of high maternal and infant morbidity/mortality among the Ibani of Rivers State, Nigeria, is linked to socio-cultural factors that influence perceptions, attitudes and practices of the people with regard to pregnancy. This study investigates the factors affecting pregnancy outcomes among the Ibani by examining 19 cases identified through Exit-interviews (EIs). Findings indicate that pregnancy outcomes depend on the interaction of complex variables such as male role, socioeconomic status of women, child spacing, access and use of maternal health facilities, among others. The results show that there are 4 principal types of pregnancy outcomes among the Ibani, which include: Type-1 representing maternal and infant survival; Type-2 which is synonymous with maternal survival but infant mortality; Type-3 or spontaneous abortion; and Type-4 which represents maternal mortality but infant survival. The findings suggest that multiple social, cultural and ideological factors condition behaviours among the Ibani and that pregnancy outcomes are only comprehensively understood in the context they occur.