The Study on the Applicability of AHO-CORASICK Algorithm in Identifying Tests' Validity

Aho-Corasick Algorithm (ACA) is a kind of dictionary-matching algorithm that locates elements of finite set of strings within an input text. It matches all patterns “at once”, so the complexity of the algorithm is linear in the length of the patterns plus the length of the searched text plus the number of output matches. This paper discusses the applicability of Aho-Corasick algorithm in identifying test validity using the standard Guidelines in Evaluating Tests. A proposed Quiz-Zone system was developed in order to evaluate and test the applicability of the algorithm used. Quiz-Zone allows the user to create exam that will check the test's validity. It also allows the user to choose five types of exam namely: Matching Type, Multiple Choice, Essay, True or False and Short-Answer. The researchers revealed that there are some rules in identifying test validity that ACA can't be applied

Affordable & Accessible Housing for All Minnesotans: Equitable Investment in Housing for People with Disabilities

Without ensuring that housing is also accessible, Minnesota’s efforts to increase affordable housing is leaving out a segment of our community, Minnesotan’s with disabilities. Minnesota must commit to ensuing that every man, every woman, every child in Minnesota, without exception, has a safe, affordable, dignified and ACCESSIBLE place to call home

Human embryonic stem cell-derived test systems for developmental neurotoxicity: a transcriptomics approach

Developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) and many forms of reproductive toxicity (RT) often manifest themselves in functional deficits that are not necessarily based on cell death, but rather on minor changes relating to cell differentiation or communication. The fields of DNT/RT would greatly benefit from in vitro tests that allow the identification of toxicant-induced changes of the cellular proteostasis, or of its underlying transcriptome network. Therefore, the 'human embryonic stem cell (hESC)- derived novel alternative test systems (ESNATS)' European commission research project established RT tests based on defined differentiation protocols of hESC and their progeny. Valproic acid (VPA) and methylmercury (MeHg) were used as positive control compounds to address the following fundamental questions: (1) Does transcriptome analysis allow discrimination of the two compounds? (2) How does analysis of enriched transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) and of individual probe sets (PS) distinguish between test systems? (3) Can batch effects be controlled? (4) How many DNA microarrays are needed? (5) Is the highest non-cytotoxic concentration optimal and relevant for the study of transcriptome changes? VPA triggered vast transcriptional changes, whereas MeHg altered fewer transcripts. To attenuate batch effects, analysis has been focused on the 500 PS with highest variability. The test systems differed significantly in their responses (\20 % overlap). Moreover, within one test system, little overlap between the PS changed by the two compounds has been observed. However, using TFBS enrichment, a relatively large 'common response' to VPA and MeHg could be distinguished from 'compound-specific' responses. In conclusion, the ESNATS assay battery allows classification of human DNT/RT toxicants on the basis of their transcriptome profiles.EU/FP7/ESNATSDFGDoerenkamp-Zbinden Foundatio

An avirulent Brachyspira hyodysenteriae strain elicits intestinal IgA and slows down spread of swine dysentery

Swine dysentery caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, results in substantial economic losses in swine producing countries worldwide. Although a number of different vaccine approaches have been explored with regard to this disease, they show limitations and none of them have reached the market. We here determine the vaccine potential of a weakly haemolytic B. hyodysenteriae strain. The virulence of this strain was assessed in experimental infection trials and its protection against swine dysentery was quantified in a vaccination-challenge experiment using a seeder infection model. Systemic IgG production and local IgA production were monitored in serum and faeces respectively. Across all trials, pigs that were colonized by virulent, strongly haemolytic B. hyodysenteriae strains consistently developed swine dysentery, in contrast to none of the pigs colonized by the weakly haemolytic B. hyodysenteriae vaccine strain. In the seeder vaccination trial nearly all immunised animals developed swine dysentery on subsequent challenge with a virulent strain, but the speed of spread of swine dysentery and faecal score were significantly reduced in animals immunised with the weakly haemolytic strain compared to sham-immunised animals. The IgA response of immunised animals upon challenge with a virulent B. hyodysenteriae strain significantly correlated to a later onset of disease. The correlation between local IgA production and protection induced by a weakly haemolytic B. hyodysenteriae strain provides leads for future vaccine development against swine dysentery

Cusp Fracture Resistance of Maxillary Premolars Restored with the Bonded Amalgam Technique Using Various Luting Agents

Objective. This in vitro study uses measurements of fracture resistance to compare maxillary premolars restored with the bonded amalgam technique using a new resin luting cement, glass ionomer, and resin-modified glass ionomer as the bonding agents. Materials. Eighty-five sound maxillary premolars were selected and randomly assigned to one of five test groups of 17 teeth each. One group of intact teeth served as the control. The remaining groups were prepared to a standard cavity form relative to the dimensions of the overall tooth and restored with amalgam alone or a bonded amalgam using one of three luting agents: RelyX Arc (a new resin luting cement), RelyX luting (a resin-modified glass ionomer), or Ketac-Cem μ (a glass ionomer) as the bonding agents. Each tooth was then subjected to compressive testing until catastrophic failure occurred. The mean loads at failure of each group were statistically compared using ANOVA with a post hoc Bonferroni test. Results. It was found that regardless of the luting cement used for the amalgam bonding technique, there was little effect on the fracture resistance of teeth. Conclusion. Cusp fracture resistance of premolars prepared with conservative MOD cavity preparations is not improved by using an amalgam-bonding technique compared to similar cavities restored with amalgam alone

Water sorption of gingiva-shade composites and its influence on color stability

BackgroundThis study aimed to ascertain the water sorption of three gingival shade esthetic materials and understand the correlation between water sorption and color change when immersed in common food colorants.MethodsDisc-shaped composites were fabricated and subjected to immersion in distilled water, followed by desiccation to ascertain water sorption values. Simultaneously, similarly shaped specimens were fabricated, measured for total color using a spectrophotometer before and after immersion in various colorant solutions. Pearson's correlation was used to ascertain if there was a positive linear relationship between values for water sorption and change in total color.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference in mean water sorption data between the tested composites (p = 0.02, F value = 5.6). No correlation coefficients between water sorption and any tested composites in any colorant solutions were statistically significant (p ≥ 0.05), with the exception of PermaFlow Pink immersed in coffee (r = −0.635, p = 0.05).ConclusionsAll the tested composites exhibited favorable values for water sorption. Over the studied period, water immersion produced a negligible change in color among all the tested specimens. All composites exhibited changes in color when exposed to food colorants with the largest relative change occurring for immersion in curry. There was no positive correlation between water sorption values and change in color

QUALITY OF SERVICE OF SMALL HARDWARE COMPANIES IN A NORTHERN PERUVIAN PROVINCE

Currently, the quality of service provided by companies plays a fundamental role as a strategy to meet customer expectations and achieve customer satisfaction. The objective of the study was to identify the customers' perception of the quality of service provided by companies in the hardware sector in the province of Tumbes. In the methodology, the approach was quantitative, descriptive level and non-experimental design. The sample consisted of 487 clients of 10 companies that sell construction products. A questionnaire was adapted as a data collection instrument to evaluate the quality of service in a service company. The results showed that high levels of service quality prevailed with 72.48%, followed by medium with 25.87% and low with 1.64%. High levels of service quality were also found according to the sociodemographic variables sex, age and marital status. It is concluded that the majority of the clients considered the quality of service of the small hardware companies to be high, while only a small percentage considered the quality of service to be low

Metabolitos bioactivos de la culebra ciega (Anguis fragilis): Bioactive metabolites of de blind snake (Anguis fragilis)

En Venezuela existen muchas fuentes de productos naturales con propiedades medicinales, entre ellas se encuentra la culebra ciega Anguis fragilis (Reptilia: Squamata). Un ejemplar de esta especie de 98,2 g fue colectado en el Tigrito, municipio San José de Guanipa, Anzoátegui. Este ejemplar se extrajo, durante 3 semanas hasta agotamiento con etanol y luego con éter de petróleo. Los extractos obtenidos se concentraron a presión reducida obteniendo 3,65 g de extracto etanólico (EE) y 0,03 g de extracto en éter de petróleo (EEP), con un rendimiento en masa de 3,72 % y 0,03 % respectivamente. Cada extracto se analizó con ensayos de actividad antibacteriana, antifúngica, y letalidad contra crustáceos de Artemia salina; además se realizaron pruebas químicas preliminares, detectando la posible presencia de flavonoides, y alcaloides en el EEP; adicionalmente en el EE fue detectada la posible presencia de cumarinas, alcaloides, taninos, y glicósidos cardiotónicos, confirmando por IR-TF los grupos funcionales, asignables a las familias de compuestos identificados previamente en el EE (el de mayor masa), el cual fue fraccionado mediante columna cromatográfica, obteniendo 10 fracciones (A-J). Ninguno de los extractos, ni las fracciones del EE, mostraron actividad letal frente a A. salina, y en la evaluación de actividad antifúngica tampoco se evidenció sensibilidad de los organismos. Para las pruebas antibacterianas se usaron las cepas Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella tiphymurium y Bacillus subtilis, ninguna de ellas mostró sensibilidad ante los extractos, pero la fracción C mostró actividad frente a la mayoría de las bacterias ensayadas, con halos de inhibición entre 12 y 14 mm. A la fracción C se le realizó el análisis de IR-TF, observando que conserva los mismos grupos funcionales presentes en el extracto de origen. El EE se analizó mediante CG-EM y se identificaron los compuestos Éster etílico del ácido hexadecanoico, ácido linoleico, Éster etílico del ácido octadecadienoico, y el Colestan-5-en-3-ol

Contact-FP: A Dimerization-Dependent Fluorescent Protein Toolkit for Visualizing Membrane Contact Site Dynamics

Membrane contact sites (MCSs) are sites of close apposition between two organelles used to exchange ions, lipids, and information. Cells respond to changing environmental or developmental conditions by modulating the number, extent, or duration of MCSs. Because of their small size and dynamic nature, tools to study the dynamics of MCSs in live cells have been limited. Dimerization-dependent fluorescent proteins (ddFPs) targeted to organelle membranes are an ideal tool for studying MCS dynamics because they reversibly interact to fluoresce specifically at the interface between two organelles. Here, we build on previous work using ddFPs as sensors to visualize the morphology and dynamics of MCSs. We engineered a suite of ddFPs called Contact-FP that targets ddFP monomers to lipid droplets (LDs), the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, peroxisomes, lysosomes, plasma membrane, caveolae, and the cytoplasm. We show that these probes correctly localize to their target organelles. Using LDs as a test case, we demonstrate that Contact-FP pairs specifically localize to the interface between two target organelles. Titration of LD-mitochondria ddFPs revealed that these sensors can be used at high concentrations to drive MCSs or can be titrated down to minimally perturb and visualize endogenous MCSs. We show that Contact-FP probes can be used to: (1) visualize LD-mitochondria MCS dynamics, (2) observe changes in LD-mitochondria MCS dynamics upon overexpression of PLIN5, a known LD-mitochondrial tether, and (3) visualize two MCSs that share one organelle simultaneously (e.g., LD-mitochondria and LD-ER MCSs). Contact-FP probes can be optimized to visualize MCSs between any pair of organelles represented in the toolkit

Alta seroprevalencia tras la segunda oleada de infección respiratoria por SARS-COV2 en un pequeño asentamiento de la costa norte de Perú

Objetivo: a) evaluar la seroprevalencia de SARS-CoV-2 al final de la segunda ola; b) determinar su distribución por grupos de edad y los determinantes de salud asociados a la seropositividad. Materiales y Método: Un estudio realizado en un asentamiento humano de Tumbes entre diciembre de 2021 y enero de 2022 muestreó individuos mayores de 2 años en uno de cada cuatro hogares. Se tomó muestras de sangre por punción-digital y se realizó encuestas sintomáticas. Resultados: La seroprevalencia ajustada tras la segunda ola se duplicó (50.15%, IC 95% [45,92-54,40]), comparado con la primera ola (24.82%, IC 95% [22,49-27,25]). Las mujeres mantuvieron una mayor seroprevalencia (53.89; IC 95% [48,48-59,23] vs. 45.49; IC 95% [38,98-52,12], p = 0,042) comparado con los hombres. Los menores de 18 años presentaron mayor seropositividad IgG: el grupo de 12-17 años durante la segunda ola (85,14%) y el grupo de 2-11 años (25,25%) durante la primera ola. Congestión nasal y tos estuvieron asociados a la seropositividad, a diferencia de la primera oleada. Conclusiones: La seroprevalencia de COVID-19 se duplicó en comparado con la primera ola en Tumbes. Las limitaciones de infraestructura, los recursos humanos restringidos y las limitaciones de abastecimiento en los establecimientos de salud hicieron colapsar el sistema de salud peruano. La red de vigilancia epidemiológica debería incorporar herramientas de mhealth para obtener información en tiempo real sobre las enfermedades. de declaración obligatoria. Trabajar junto a la comunidad nos permitirá mejorar las intervenciones para prevenir o controlar nuevas pandemias.Objective:a) to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 at the end of the second wave;b) to determine the distribution by age group and health determinants associated with seropositivity.Material and Methodology: A study performed in a Tumbes' settlement betweenDecember 2021–January 2022 sampled individuals over 2 years old from one to every four households. We collected finger-prick blood samples and conducted symptom surveys. Results:The adjusted seroprevalence after the second waveincreasedby twofold(50.15%, 95% CI[45.92–54.40]), compared withthe first wave (24.82 %, 95%CI [22.49–27.25]).Females maintained a higherseroprevalence (53.89; 95% CI[48.48-59.23]) vs. 45.49; 95% CI [38.98-52.12], p=0.042)comparedto males. Those under 18 years of age had the highest IgG seropositivity: the 12–17age group during the second wave (85.14%) and the 2–11 age group (25.25%) during the first wave. Nasal congestion and cough were symptoms associated with seropositivity, unlike the first wave. Conclusions:The seroprevalence of COVID-19 increased by twofold compared to the initial wavein Tumbesregion. Infrastructure constraints, restricted human resources, and supplylimitationsin healthcare facilities made the Peruvian health system collapse. The epidemiological surveillance networkshould incorporate mHealth tools for real-timenotifiable disease information. Working alongside the community will let us improve interventions for preventing or controlling new pandemics