Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) rs 16147 Gene Polymorphism on the Blood Pressure of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients and Control Healthy in Medan, Indonesia

Introduction: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a pathological condition that occurs gradually and is irreversible, characterized by structural and functional abnormalities in the kidneys that lasts for more than three months. The C allele in the Neuropeptide Y (NPY) RS16147 gene is closely related to an increase in the incidence of hypertension, a decrease in glomerular filtration rate, and an increase in total cholesterol levels in CKD patients. Objective: To determine the effect of the NPY RS16147 gene polymorphism on the blood pressure of chronic kidney disease patients and control healthy in Medan Indonesia. Methods: This study is an analytical study with a case-control design at the Haji Adam Malik General Hospital Medan from July to August 2020. All subjects had Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) analysis using Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results: We obtained 100 study subjects, 43 was CKD patients with dialysis, 31 CKD patients without dialysis, and 26 control healthy groups. In this study, there were differences in the trend genotypes of NPY RS16147 polymorphism with the incidence of CKD and control healthy. We obtained a significant difference the mean systolic blood pressure patients with genotypes TT (139,05±21,42) and TC/CC (151,32±22,26) as evidenced by the value of P = 0.00 (≤0.05). The presence of the "C" allele in the NPY RS16147 gene sample increased blood pressure in all study subjects significantly (P=0.028; ≤0.05). Conclusion: the "C" allele in the NPY RS16147 gene affects systolic blood pressure. Keywords: NPY RS16147 polymorphism, Chronic kidney disease, Blood pressure.
One half-scan dual-energy CT imaging using the Dual-domain Dual-way Estimated Network (DoDa-Net) model.

Background Compared with single-energy computed tomography (CT), dual-energy CT (DECT) can distinguish materials better. However, most DECT reconstruction theories require two full-scan projection datasets of different energies, and this requirement is hard to meet, especially for cases where a physical blockage disables a full circular rotation. Thus, it is critical to relax the requirements of data acquisition to promote the application of DECT. Methods A flexible one half-scan DECT scheme is proposed, which acquires two projection datasets on two-quarter arcs (one for each energy). The limited-angle problem of the one half-scan DECT scheme can be solved by a reconstruction method. Thus, a dual-domain dual-way estimation network called DoDa-Net is proposed by utilizing the ability of deep learning in non-linear mapping. Specifically, the dual-way mapping Generative Adversarial Network (DM-GAN) was first designed to mine the relationship between two different energy projection data. Two half-scan projection datasets were obtained, the data of which was twice that of the original projection dataset. Furthermore, the data transformation from the projection domain to the image domain was realized by the total variation (TV)-based method. In addition, the image processing network (Im-Net) was employed to optimize the image domain data. Results The proposed method was applied to a digital phantom and real anthropomorphic head phantom data to verify its effectiveness. The reconstruction results of the real data are encouraging and prove the proposed method's ability to suppress noise while preserving image details. Also, the experiments conducted on simulated data show that the proposed method obtains the closest results to the ground truth among the comparison methods. For low- and high-energy reconstruction, the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of the proposed method is as high as 40.3899 and 40.5573 dB, while the PSNR of other methods is lower than 36.5200 dB. Compared with FBP, TV, and other GAN-based methods, the proposed method reduces root mean square error (RMSE) by, respectively, 0.0124, 0.0037, and 0.0016 for low-energy reconstruction, and 0.0102, 0.0028, and 0.0015 for high-energy reconstruction. Conclusions The developed DoDa-Net model for the proposed one half-scan DECT scheme consists of two stages. In stage one, DM-GAN is used to realize the dual map of projection data. In stage two, the TV-based method is employed to transform the data from the projection domain to the image domain. Furthermore, the reconstructed image is processed by the Im-Net. According to the experimental results of qualitative and quantitative evaluation, the proposed method has advantages in detail preservation, indicating the potential of the proposed method in one half-scan DECT reconstruction.
MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE SAFETY, NEUROTOXICITY AND SOME RECENT STUDIES

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a worldwide flavor enhancer. Despite controversy surrounding the safety of MSG, it is still consumed in large amounts. This review provides a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of MSG induced neurotoxicity including the different ways of glutamate regulation in brain and umami taste signaling pathway. In addition, this review summarizes the history of MSG discovery and synthesis, products and natural food containing MSG, details of MSG safety and toxicity with limited allowed amounts that can be used according to different organizations opinion. Finally, this review enumerates the different MSG studies in both animals and humans in the last 20 years.
Nut Allergenicity: Effect of Food Processing

Nuts are considered healthy foods due to their high content of nutritional compounds with functional properties. However, the list of the most allergenic foods includes tree nuts, and their presence must be indicated on food labels. Most nut allergens are seed storage proteins, pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, profilins and lipid transfer proteins (LTP). Nut allergenic proteins are characterized by their resistance to denaturation and proteolysis. Food processing has been proposed as the method of choice to alter the allergenicity of foods to ensure their safety and improve their organoleptic properties. The effect of processing on allergenicity is variable by abolishing existing epitopes or generating neoallergens. The alterations depend on the intrinsic characteristics of the protein and the type and duration of treatment. Many studies have evaluated the molecular changes induced by processes such as thermal, pressure or enzymatic treatments. As some processing treatments have been shown to decrease the allergenicity of certain foods, food processing may play an important role in developing hypoallergenic foods and using them for food tolerance induction. This work provides an updated overview of the applications and influence of several processing techniques (thermal, pressure and enzymatic digestion) on nut allergenicity for nuts, namely, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios, almonds and walnuts.
A meta-analysis of the impact of open innovation on performance

Using the meta-analysis technique, this research comprehensively reviews the existing open innovation (OI) literature, systematically aggregates empirical findings on the impact of OI on performance to identify key moderators and statistically tests the significance of these moderators in influencing the OI–performance relationship. Based on a comprehensive dataset of 2,377,123 firms and sub-firm units in 171 studies published from 2003 to 2018, this research demonstrates that the OI–performance relationship is significantly moderated by three key factors: performance measure, OI approach, and level of analysis. This research helps explain the conflicting findings regarding the OI–performance relationship in the existing literature, and contributes to the understanding of the effectiveness of OI practice.
Extraction of tissue optical property and blood flow from speckle contrast diffuse correlation tomography (scDCT) measurements.

Measurement of blood flow in tissue provides vital information for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of various vascular diseases. A noncontact, camera-based, near-infrared speckle contrast diffuse correlation tomography (scDCT) technique has been recently developed for 3D imaging of blood flow index (αDB) distributions in deep tissues up to a centimeter. A limitation with the continuous-wave scDCT measurement of blood flow is the assumption of constant and homogenous tissue absorption coefficient (μ a ). The present study took the advantage of rapid, high-density, noncontact scDCT measurements of both light intensities and diffuse speckle contrast at multiple source-detector distances and developed two-step fitting algorithms for extracting both μ a and αDB. The new algorithms were tested in tissue-simulating phantoms with known optical properties and human forearms. Measurement results were compared against established near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) techniques. The accuracies of our new fitting algorithms with scDCT measurements in phantoms (up to 16% errors) and forearms (up to 23% errors) are comparable to relevant study results (up to 25% errors). Knowledge of μ a not only improved the accuracy in calculating αDB but also provided the potential for quantifying tissue blood oxygenation via spectral measurements. A multiple-wavelength scDCT system with new algorithms is currently developing to fit multi-wavelength and multi-distance data for 3D imaging of both blood flow and oxygenation distributions in deep tissues.
Factors Determining Genotypic Variation in the Speed of Rice Germination

Rapid germination is important for both direct seeded rice in the field and for the production of germinated brown rice for healthy food. This study aims to evaluate genotypic differences in germination speed and identify characteristics that determine germination speed. Seven experiments were conducted to determine (i) the impact of dehulling on water absorption and germination, (ii) variety consistency in germination speed across crops grown in three years, and (iii) the effect of grain size. Germination speed in both paddy rice and dehulled brown rice was significantly correlated with grain moisture content at early stages of soaking, however significant interaction of genotype and grain type (paddy and brown rice) existed and varieties differed in their response to dehulling. Germination speed of grain from crops exposed to water deficit in the field was slightly slower than those with higher water supply. Sherpa/IRAT109 genotypes with smaller grain size tended to germinate faster than larger grain, however no significant effect of grain size existed among diversity set varieties. It was concluded that genotype ranking in germination speed was consistent across years and water availability conditions, and that barriers to water absorption in hull and pericarp were important determinants of germination speed. The existence of genotypic variation in germination speed has management implications for both field crop establishment and paddy germination in food processing.
Design and analysis of depth cues on depth perception in interactive mixed reality simulation systems

Implementing an interactive mixed reality simulation system is an economical and risk‐free method for skill training. However, research to enhance the accuracy of mixed reality simulation has always been a challenge. One of the key indicators of a simulation's accuracy is the user's depth perception. Adding depth cues to the simulation scene can effectively increase the accuracy of depth perception. Therefore, in this study, we designed five depth cues to find the one most beneficial for depth perception: (1) depth bar, (2) location ball, (3) fixed window, (4) 3D wireframe, and (5) movable silhouettes. These depth cues were tested using an experimental system with two sets of experimental settings. The first experiment compared the five depth cues at five different viewing distances and showed that the movable silhouettes benefited depth perception accuracy the most. The second experiment compared depth perception accuracies among three different horizontal tilt settings, showing that depth perception accuracy is dependent on the horizontal tilt. Furthermore, different depth perception accuracies were obtained with and without depth cues, proving that the effects from the horizontal tilts were independent of depth cues. The results of these studies provide references for designing interactive mixed reality simulation systems.
Impact of microcredit on the household income and expenditure of the fish farmers: Bangladesh perspective

Abstract Access to credit is a major limitation for small-scale fish farmers in Bangladesh in pursuing their fish farming activities. One attempted remedy is that NGOs have created microcredit facilities to address this limitation. This study empirically assesses the impact of microcredit on the economic welfare of the poor fish farmers in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Opinions of the fish farmers toward their economic well-being under microcredit programs have also been assessed by using the Binary Logistic Regression technique. Our empirical findings support the existing literature that access to credit can significantly contribute to the expansion of the economic welfare of the fish farmers in terms of household income and expenditure. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that an overwhelming proportion of the fish farmers has expressed satisfaction toward microcredit programs for uplifting their living-standard on economic indicators.
Adaptive Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulator Coding Techniques for Target Detections in Parkinson’s

Deep brain stimulation is a device-based neurosurgical technological method built into a well-known treatment distinctively and specifically for Parkinson’s Disease movement-disorders. Its basic function is to reduce motor symptoms and restore the motor functioning. However, the insertion of small microelectrode in STN of the brain is a complicated-mission. Embedding microsensors (microelectrodes) and encoding the DBS devices are challenging and primly quantified significant factors for the end-results/clinical-outcome. This study presents the latest in science – the Parkinson’s research and emphasizes the significance of the enveloping and all-encompassing well-known net works coupled with precisely DBS reaching targets. DBS also gives a unique-opportunity to study the electrical-activity (i.e., oscillating neural-activity) of various sub-cortical-structures in Parkinson’s brain. Progressing the objective of anatomical–structural and, also functional-net works engrossed in the invention of pathological–neural–activity shall resolve and improve the clinical-outcome with DBS and lower the dyskinesia's. The study also experimentally investigates over the latest discovery on target sub-cortical-structures and targeting-methods, and presents the thorough and meticulous innovative technologies and inventive mechanisms which props up encoding DBS techniques and gears-up choosing the parameters expectations in built bio-feedback-signals, i.e., biomarkers and local-field-potentials incorporated in DBS which are now defined to as adaptive closed-loop DBS systems. These scientific advances are focused for achieving to the prevention of cardinal-motoric-features by the least/likely dyskinesia’s. Enhancing the targeting of anatomical–structural and functional networks involved in the computationally generation of pathological neuronal and neural-activity will progress the DBS-effect clinically and prognostically and edge the dyskinesia’s and dysarthria’s (adverse-effects).
How much does degree choice matter?

We use a large and novel administrative dataset to investigate returns to diﬀerent university ‘degrees’ (subject-institution combinations) in the United Kingdom. Conditioning on a rich set of background characteristics, we ﬁnd substantial variation in returns across degrees with similar selectivity levels, suggesting students’ degree choices matter a lot for later-life earnings. Returns increase with university selectivity much more at the top of the selectivity distribution than further down, and much more for some subjects than others. Returns are poorly correlated with observable degree characteristics other than selectivity, which could have important implications for student choices and the incentives of universities.
Perspective on Sex and Regeneration

Regeneration is usually regarded as a unique plant or some animal species process. In reality, regeneration is a ubiquitous process in all multicellular organisms. It ranges from response to wounding by healing the wounded tissue to whole body neoforming (remaking of the new body). In a larger context, regeneration is one facet of two reproduction schemes that dominate the evolution of life. Multicellular organisms can propagate their genes asexually or sexually. Here I present the view that the ability to regenerate tissue or whole-body regeneration is also determined by the sexual state of the multicellular organisms (from simple animals like hydra and planaria to plants and complex animals). The above idea is manifested here by showing evidence that many organisms, organs, or tissues show inhibited or diminished regeneration capacity when in reproductive status compared to the same organism organs or tissues in nonreproductive conditions or by exposure to sex hormones.
Identifying and Responding To Anxiety and Depression in Adult Cancer Patients: Development, Acceptability and Uptake of An On-Line Communication Skills Education Program Targeting Challenging Conversations for Oncology Health Professionals

Background: Anxiety and depression screening and management in cancer settings occurs inconsistently in Australia. We developed a clinical pathway (ADAPT CP) to promote standardized assessment and response to affected patients and enhance uptake of psychosocial interventions. Health professional education is a common strategy utilised to support implementation of practice change interventions. Health professional education is a common strategy utilised to support implementation of practice change interventions. We developed an interactive on-line education program to support staff communication and confidence with anxiety/depression screening and referral prior to the ADAPT CP being implemented in 12 oncology services participating in the ADAPT CP cluster randomised controlled trial (CRCT). The aim of this research was to assess acceptability and uptake of the education program.Patient Involvement: Although the wider ADAPT Program included patient consumers on the Steering Committee, in the context of this research consumer engagement included health professionals working in oncology. These consumers contributed to resource development.Methods: Development was informed by oncology and communication literature. The five online modules were pilot tested with 12 oncology nurses who participated in standardised medical simulations. Acceptability and uptake were assessed across the 12 Oncology services participating in the ADAPT CRCT. Results: During pilot testing the online training was reported to be acceptable and overall communication and confidence improved for all participants post training. However, during the ADAPT CRCT uptake was low (7%; n=20). Although those who accessed the training reported it to be valuable, competing demands and online format reportedly limited HPs’ capacity and willingness to undertake training.Conclusions: This interactive on-line training provides strategies and communication skills for front-line staff to guide these important conversations. Building workforce skills, knowledge and confidence is crucial for the successful implementation of practice change interventions. However, despite being acceptable during pilot testing, low uptake in real world settings highlights organisational support and incentivisation for frontline staff to undertake training is critical for wider engagement. A multimodal approach to delivery of training to cater for staff preferences for face to face and/or online staff may maximise training uptake and increase effectiveness of training interventionsTrial Registration: Pilot study ACTRN12616001490460 (27/10/2016). ADAPT RCT ACTRN12617000411347(22/03/2017)
Predicting emotions in music using the onset curve

The relationship between parameters extracted from the musical stimuli and emotional response has been traditionally approached using several physical measures extracted from time or frequency domains. From time-domain measures, the musical onset is defined as the moment in that any musical instrument or human voice issues a musical note. The onsets’ sequence in the performance of a specific musical score creates what is known as the onset curve (OC). The influence of the structure of OC on the emotional judgment of people is not known. To this end, we have applied principal component analysis on a complete set of variables extracted from the OC to capture their statistical structure. We have found a trifactorial structure related to activation and valence dimensions of emotional judgment. The structure has been cross-validated using different participants and stimuli. In this way, we propose the factorial scores of the OC as a reliable and relevant piece of information to predict the emotional judgment of music.
Examining the barriers experienced by EFL teachers when implementing technology in senior secondary schools in Japan: a self-study

ABSTRACT The introduction of technology in classroom practices can be challenging if teachers are not encouraged to utilise it in school contexts. Through a self-study methodology, this study investigates a Japanese English teacher’s experiences using technology in classroom teaching. The present study identified both external (first-order) and internal (second-order) barriers to teachers. First-order barriers identified in the Japanese school context involve (a) resources: IT infrastructure and technical support, (b) institution: school policies, classroom sizes and time limitations, (c) subject culture, and (d) assessment: high-stakes examinations. Second-order barriers include (e) teachers’ attitudes and beliefs: a fixed mindset, and (f) knowledge and skills: the lack of professional development. A complicated relationship among teachers was identified as a context-specific issue. This study also discusses further interventions that should be included in the classification of barriers in technology integration at schools.
Evaluating DoS jamming attack on reactive routing protocol in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) over the years have emerged as the enabling underlining infrastructure for new wireless technology trends such as Internet-of Things (IoT) and Fog Computing. Its application has spread across diverse fields such as agriculture, military, healthcare and home automation. Despite its promising attributes, it is characterized by its extremely limited resources such as battery energy and memory. Additionally, its deployment in hostile and unattended areas make it vulnerable to security attacks. One of such attacks is the denial of service (DoS) jamming attack that is perpetrated by malicious nodes emitting radio frequency signals to disrupt and interfere with the normal functions of the sensor nodes in the network. This eventually causes a denial of service in the network. Different routing protocols have been proposed over the years to guarantee reliable communication and maintain the network lifetime and functionality for a reasonable duration, notwithstanding DoS jamming attack. Therefore, in this work, we evaluate the effect of a constant jamming DoS attack on two key reactive routing protocols in WSN, ad hoc on-demand distance vector (AODV) and dynamic source routing (DSR). Metrics such as packet sending ratio (PSR), packet loss (PL) and transmitted packets are used to measure the impact of constant jamming DoS attack in the network. Simulation results using network simulation 2 (NS2) and trace graph show that, irrespective of the adopted reactive routing protocol, the impact of the jamming attack is the same.