Utilizing J48 Algorithm in Predicting Students Dropout in Higher Education Institution

Dropout refers to students who voluntarily withdraw from a course or program prior to completion. University dropouts continue to be a major concern for educators and represent a substantial loss of human resources for society. At Cebu Technological University, it is always a challenge of the Department Chairperson the declining student population, which resulted in the reduction of the number of sections per year level and under loading of faculty. This study centers on the creation of a student-dropout model that predicts a student's behavior toward his studies. This model utilized the J48 decision tree algorithm, which extract data from the Student Information System (SIS) portal of the existing institution. Nine hundred sixty-one (961) demographic and academic datasets from students enrolled in the two programs under the College of Computer, Information, and Communications Technology (CCICT) of Cebu Technological University (CTU) with nineteen (19) attributes. During the testing procedure, 10-fold cross-validation was utilized. The J48 pruned tree utilized an average of 3 foliage with 4 as the measure of the tree.  The Kappa statistic yields a value of 0.8617 and its Correctly Classified Instances rate of 93.7%. This algorithm helps a lot to the institution in reducing the escalation of the attrition rate and providing proactive measures to address the issue

Multi-ancestry transcriptome-wide association analyses yield insights into tobacco use biology and drug repurposing

Most transcriptome-wide association studies (TWASs) so far focus on European ancestry and lack diversity. To overcome this limitation, we aggregated genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics, whole-genome sequences and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) data from diverse ancestries. We developed a new approach, TESLA (multi-ancestry integrative study using an optimal linear combination of association statistics), to integrate an eQTL dataset with a multi-ancestry GWAS. By exploiting shared phenotypic effects between ancestries and accommodating potential effect heterogeneities, TESLA improves power over other TWAS methods. When applied to tobacco use phenotypes, TESLA identified 273 new genes, up to 55% more compared with alternative TWAS methods. These hits and subsequent fine mapping using TESLA point to target genes with biological relevance. In silico drug-repurposing analyses highlight several drugs with known efficacy, including dextromethorphan and galantamine, and new drugs such as muscle relaxants that may be repurposed for treating nicotine addiction

An evaluation of orange and clear traps with pear ester to monitor codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in apple orchards

Barros-Parada, W (Barros-Parada, Wilson)[ 1 ] ; Knight, AL (Knight, Alan L.)[ 2 ] ; Basoalto, E (Basoalto, Esteban)[ 3 ] ; Fuentes-Contreras, E (Fuentes-Contreras, Eduardo)[ 1 ] Univ Talca, Fac Ciencias Agr, Casilla 747, Talca, ChileStudies were conducted to evaluate the use of several trap-lure combinations to improve the monitoring of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in apple, Mains domestica Bordk. The treatments involved the use of clear, orange, and white traps baited with one or more of the following attractants: the major sex pheromone component of the codling moth, (E, E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol (codlemone, PH); a primary volatile constituent of ripe pear, ethyl (E, Z)-2,4-decadienoate (pear ester, PE); and acetic acid (AA). The studies were conducted in an orchard treated with sex pheromone dispensers in Washington State (USA) and in four untreated orchards in the Maule Region (Chile). In Washington State, the PE+AA lures caught more females than the PE+PH lure in both the clear and orange traps. The clear traps caught more female moths than the orange traps when each trap was baited with the PE+PH lure. The two lures caught similar total numbers of moths across trap colors. The clear traps baited with PE+PH caught significantly more total moths than the orange traps baited with PE+AA. In Chile, the clear traps baited with PE+AA caught more females than the orange traps baited with PE+PH over both moth flights during two field seasons. The white traps baited with PH and the orange traps baited with PE+PH caught similar total numbers of moths in three of the four flight periods. The clear trap baited with PE+AA caught significantly fewer moths than the two treatments that included a PH lure in two of the four flight periods. These data suggest that the adoption of clear delta traps with PE-I-AA lures would allow growers to better track the seasonal population dynamics of female codling moths

Mendelian randomization supports bidirectional causality between telomere length and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential

Human genetic studies support an inverse causal relationship between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and coronary artery disease (CAD), but directionally mixed effects for LTL and diverse malignancies. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), characterized by expansion of hematopoietic cells bearing leukemogenic mutations, predisposes both hematologic malignancy and CAD

Generating Multimode Entangled Microwaves with a Superconducting Parametric Cavity

In this Letter, we demonstrate the generation of multimode entangled states of propagating microwaves. The entangled states are generated by parametrically pumping a multimode superconducting cavity. By combining different pump frequencies, applied simultaneously to the device, we can produce different entanglement structures in a programable fashion. The Gaussian output states are fully characterized by measuring the full covariance matrices of the modes. The covariance matrices are absolutely calibrated using an in situ microwave calibration source, a shot noise tunnel junction. Applying a variety of entanglement measures, we demonstrate both full inseparability and genuine tripartite entanglement of the states. Our method is easily extensible to more modes.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figures, 1 tabl

A risk assessment tool for resumption of research activities during the COVID-19 pandemic for field trials in low resource settings

RATIONALE: The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has suspended many non-COVID-19 related research activities. Where restarting research activities is permitted, investigators need to evaluate the risks and benefits of resuming data collection and adapt procedures to minimize risk. OBJECTIVES: In the context of the multicountry Household Air Pollution Intervention (HAPIN) trial conducted in rural, low-resource settings, we developed a framework to assess the risk of each trial activity and to guide protective measures. Our goal is to maximize the integrity of reseach aims while minimizing infection risk based on the latest scientific understanding of the virus. METHODS: We drew on a combination of expert consultations, risk assessment frameworks, institutional guidance and literature to develop our framework. We then systematically graded clinical, behavioral, laboratory and field environmental health research activities in four countries for both adult and child subjects using this framework. National and local government recommendations provided the minimum safety guidelines for our work. RESULTS: Our framework assesses risk based on staff proximity to the participant, exposure time between staff and participants, and potential viral aerosolization while performing the activity. For each activity, one of four risk levels, from minimal to unacceptable, is assigned and guidance on protective measures is provided. Those activities that can potentially aerosolize the virus are deemed the highest risk. CONCLUSIONS: By applying a systematic, procedure-specific approach to risk assessment for each trial activity, we were able to protect our participants and research team and to uphold our ability to deliver on the research commitments we have made to our staff, participants, local communities, and funders. This framework can be tailored to other research studies conducted in similar settings during the current pandemic, as well as potential future outbreaks with similar transmission dynamics. The trial is registered with clinicaltrials.gov NCT02944682 on October 26. 2016

Prolactin regulates luminal bicarbonate secretion in the intestine of the sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

The pituitary hormone prolactin is a pleiotropic endocrine factor that plays a major role in the regulation of ion balance in fish, with demonstrated actions mainly in the gills and kidney. The role of prolactin in intestinal ion transport remains little studied. In marine fish, which have high drinking rates, epithelial bicarbonate secretion in the intestine produces luminal carbonate aggregates believed to play a key role in water and ion homeostasis. The present study was designed to establish the putative role of prolactin in the regulation of intestinal bicarbonate secretion in a marine fish. Basolateral addition of prolactin to the anterior intestine of sea bream mounted in Ussing chambers caused a rapid (<20min) decrease of bicarbonate secretion measured by pH-stat. A clear inhibitory dose–response curve was obtained, with a maximal inhibition of 60–65% of basal bicarbonate secretion. The threshold concentration of prolactin for a significant effect on bicarbonate secretion was 10ngml–1, which is comparable with putative plasma levels in seawater fish. The effect of prolactin on apical bicarbonate secretion was independent of the generation route for bicarbonate, as shown in a preparation devoid of basolateral HCO3 –/CO2 buffer. Specific inhibitors of JAK2 (AG-490, 50mmoll–1), PI3K (LY-294002, 75mmoll–1) or MEK (U-012610, 10mmoll–1) caused a 50–70% reduction in the effect of prolactin on bicarbonate secretion, and demonstrated the involvement of prolactin receptors. In addition to rapid effects, prolactin has actions at the genomic level. Incubation of intestinal explants of anterior intestine of the sea bream in vitro for 3h demonstrated a specific effect of prolactin on the expression of the Slc4a4A Na+–HCO3– co-transporter, but not on the Slc26a6A or Slc26a3B Cl–/HCO3 – exchanger. We propose a new role for prolactin in the regulation of bicarbonate secretion, an essential function for ion/water homeostasis in the intestine of marine fish.This research was funded by the Portuguese National Science and Technology Foundation, project PTDC/MAR/104008/2008 (Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Portugal and European Social Funds) awarded to J.F