LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Phytochemical Analysis and Antibacterial Efficacy of Babchi Oil (Psoralea corylifolia) Against Multi-drug Resistant Clinical Isolates

Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India Correspondance: Dr. Praveen Dahiya, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida201303, Uttar Pradesh, India Abstract. Psoralea corylifolia Linn. (Leguminoseae) known as “Babchi” is a medicinal plant for the treatment of skin disorders. In the present investigation babchi oil has been evaluated for phytochemical constituents, antibacterial activity (agar well diffusion) and TLC bioautography assay. Phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of flavonoids, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, glycosides and saponins. Antibacterial activity of babchi oil was assessed on eight multi-drug resistant (MDR) clinical isolates from both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and two standard strains. It showed broad antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, S. aureus MRSA, Enterococcus sp. and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae. The highest in vitro inhibitory activity was observed for MDR Enterococcus sp. with wide inhibition zone diameters (21±0.16 mm) followed by standard S. aureus ATCC 25923 (16±0.11 mm) and K. pneumoniae (15±0.056 mm). Thin layer chromatography and bioautography assay demonstrated well-defined growth inhibition zones against Enterococcus sp. in correspondence with tannins observed at Rf values of 0.10-0.15 and 0.70-0.83. This established a good support to the use of this essential oil in herbal medicine and as a base for the development of novel potent drugs and phytomedicine. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that documents the antibacterial efficacy of tannins found in babchi oil against MDR bacteria from clinical isolates.
Railroad transportation of dangerous goods: Population exposure to airborne toxins

Hazardous materials are potentially harmful to people and environment due to their toxic ingredients. Although a significant portion of dangerous goods transportation is via railroads, prevailing studies on dangerous goods transport focus on highway shipments. We present an analytical framework that incorporates the differentiating features of trains, notably volume and nature of cargo, in the assessment of transport risk. We focus on hazardous materials that are airborne upon an accidental release into the environment. Each railcar is a potential source of release, and hence risk assessment of trains requires representation of multiple release sources in the model. We propose a risk approximation approach, which is not only effective but also robust with regards to the positioning of hazardous cargo in the train. We report on the use of the proposed approach for the assessment of population exposure associated with “Ultra-train” that passes through the city of Montreal everyday. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Building Flexible , Fault-Tolerant Flash-based Storage Systems

Adding flash memory to the storage hierarchy has recently gained a great deal of attention in both industry and academia. Decreasing cost, low power utilization and improved performance has sparked this interest. Flash reliability is a weakness that must be overcome in order for the storage industry to fully adopt flash for persistent stor age in mission-critical systems such as high-end storage controllers and low-power storage systems. We consider the unique reliability properties of NAND flash and present a high-level architecture for a reliable NAND flash memory storage system. The architecture manages erasure-coded stripes to increase reliability and operational lifetime of a flash memory-based storage system, while providing excellent write performance. Our analysis details the tradeoffs such a system can make, enabling the construction of highly reliable flash-based stor age systems.
Hybrid recommendation approach for learning material based on sequential pattern of the accessed material and the learner's preference tree

The explosion of the learning materials in personal learning environments has caused difficulties to locate appropriate learning materials to learners. Personalized recommendations have been used to support the activities of learners in personal learning environments and this technology can deliver suitable learning materials to learners. In order to improve the quality of recommendations, this research considers the multidimensional attributes of material, rating of learners, and the order and sequential patterns of the learner's accessed material in a unified model. The proposed approach has two modules. In the sequential-based recommendation module, latent patterns of accessing materials are discovered and presented in two formats including the weighted association rules and the compact tree structure (called Pattern-tree). In the attribute-based module, after clustering the learners using latent patterns by K-means algorithm, the learner preference tree (LPT) is introduced to consider the multidimensional attributes of materials, rating of learners, and also order of the accessed materials. The mixed, weighted, and cascade hybrid methods are employed to generate the final combined recommendations. The experiments show that the proposed approach outperforms the previous algorithms in terms of precision, recall, and intra-list similarity measure. The main contributions are improvement of the recommenda-tions' quality and alleviation of the sparsity problem by combining the contextual information, including order and sequential patterns of the accessed material, rating of learners, and the multidimensional attributes of materials. With the explosion of learning materials available on personal learning environments (PLEs), it is difficult for learners to discover the most appropriate materials according to keyword searching method. One way to address this challenge is the use of recom-mender systems [16]. In addition, up to very recent years, several researches have expressed the need for personalization in e-learning environments. In fact, one of the new forms of personalization in e-learning environments is to provide recommendations to learners to support and help them through the e-learning process [19]. According to the strategies applied, recommender systems can be segmented into three major categories: content-based, collabo-rative, and hybrid recommendation [1]. Hybrid recommendation mechanisms attempt to deal with some of the limitations and overcome the drawbacks of pure content-based approach and pure collaborative approach by combining the two approaches. The majority of the traditional recommendation algorithms have been developed for e-commerce applications, which are unable to cover the entire requirements of learning environments. One of these drawbacks is that they do not consider the learning process in their recommendation …
The new polio eradication end game: rationale and supporting evidence.

Polio eradication requires the removal of all polioviruses from human populations, whether wild poliovirus or those emanating from the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). The Polio Eradication & Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 provides a framework for interruption of wild poliovirus transmission in remaining endemic foci and lays out a plan for the new polio end game, which includes the withdrawal of Sabin strains, starting with type 2, and the introduction of inactivated poliovirus vaccine, for risk mitigation purposes. This report summarizes the rationale and evidence that supports the policy decision to switch from trivalent OPV to bivalent OPV and to introduce 1 dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine into routine immunization schedules, and it describes the proposed implementation of this policy in countries using trivalent OPV.
Edge Mesh: A New Paradigm to Enable Distributed Intelligence in Internet of Things

In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in Internet of Things (IoT) from centralized cloud computing to edge computing (or fog computing). Developments in ICT have resulted in the significant increment of communication and computation capabilities of embedded devices and this will continue to increase in coming years. However, existing paradigms do not utilize low-level devices for any decision-making process. In fact, gateway devices are also utilized mostly for communication interoperability and some low-level processing. In this paper, we have proposed a new computing paradigm, named Edge Mesh, which distributes the decision-making tasks among edge devices within the network instead of sending all the data to a centralized server. All the computation tasks and data are shared using a mesh network of edge devices and routers. Edge Mesh provides many benefits, including distributed processing, low latency, fault tolerance, better scalability, better security, and privacy. These benefits are useful for critical applications, which require higher reliability, real-time processing, mobility support, and context awareness. We first give an overview of existing computing paradigms to establish the motivation behind Edge Mesh. Then, we describe in detail about the Edge Mesh computing paradigm, including the proposed software framework, research challenges, and benefits of Edge Mesh. We have also described the task management framework and done a preliminary study on task allocation problem in Edge Mesh. Different application scenarios, including smart home, intelligent transportation system, and healthcare, are presented to illustrate the significance of Edge Mesh computing paradigm.
Wasp Sting Envenomation - A Case Report

Wasps belonging to the family vespidae is one of the dangerous hymenopteran when disturbed in its habitat either accidently or purposely. Wasp stings are common, especially in populations living in vicinity to forested areas all over the world. Local signs following stings are common and generally life threatening anaphylaxis may occur, including Kounis syndrome requiring immediate treatment. This case report is of a 67 yr old woman bitten by a swarm of wasps leading to her death due to envenomation and related complications.
Machine Learning on Large Databases: Transforming Hidden Markov Models to SQL Statements

Machine Learning is a research field with substantial relevance for many applications in different areas. Because of technical improvements in sensor technology, its value for real life applications has even increased within the last years. Nowadays, it is possible to gather massive amounts of data at any time with comparatively little costs. While this availability of data could be used to develop complex models, its implementation is often narrowed because of limitations in computing power. In order to overcome performance problems, developers have several options, such as improving their hardware, optimizing their code, or use parallelization techniques like the MapReduce framework. Anyhow, these options might be too cost intensive, not suitable, or even too time expensive to learn and realize. Following the premise that developers usually are not SQL experts we would like to discuss another approach in this paper: using transparent database support for Big Data Analytics. Our aim is to automatically transform Machine Learning algorithms to parallel SQL database systems. In this paper, we especially show how a Hidden Markov Model, given in the analytics language R, can be transformed to a sequence of SQL statements. These SQL statements will be the basis for a (inter-operator and intra-operator) parallel execution on parallel DBMS as a second step of our research, not being part of this paper. TYPE OF PAPER AND
Worse health-related quality of life and hip function in female patients with elevated chromium levels

Background and purpose - Blood metal ion levels can be an indicator for detecting implant failure in metal-on-metal (MoM) hip arthroplasties. Little is known about the effect of bilateral MoM implants on metal ion levels and patient-reported outcomes. We compared unilateral patients and bilateral patients with either an ASR hip resurfacing (HR) or an ASR XL total hip replacement (THR) and investigated whether cobalt or chromium was associated with a broad spectrum of patient outcomes. Patients and methods - From a registry of 1,328 patients enrolled in a multicenter prospective follow-up of the ASR Hip System, which was recalled in 2010, we analyzed data from 659 patients (311 HR, 348 THR) who met our inclusion criteria. Cobalt and chromium blood metal ion levels were measured and a 21-item patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) questionnaire was used mean 6 years after index surgery. Results - Using a minimal threshold of ≥7 ppb, elevated chromium ion levels were found to be associated with worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (p < 0.05) and hip function (p < 0.05) in women. These associations were not observed in men. Patients with a unilateral ASR HR had lower levels of cobalt ions than bilateral ASR HR patients (p < 0.001) but similar levels of chromium ions (p = 0.09). Unilateral ASR XL THR patients had lower chromium and cobalt ion levels (p < 0.005) than bilateral ASR XL THR patients. Interpretation - Chromium ion levels of ≥7 ppb were associated with reduced functional outcomes in female MoM patients.
The Mutual Development of Intersubjectivity and Metacognitive Capacity in the Psychotherapy for Persons with Schizophrenia

While cognitive behavioral approaches have been shown to help some individuals with schizophrenia, these approaches may be limited when working with patients with impairments in the metacognitive abilities required to form complex and integrated representations of themselves and others. In response, this paper explores the possibility that a key to working with patients with relatively impaired self-reflectivity lies in explicitly focusing on a patient’s intersubjective experience within psychotherapy. We offer theoretical and empirical support for the assertion that the tolerance and capacity for intersubjectivity is a basis for the development of self-reflectivity in general. We also explore how the fostering of intersubjective processes in psychotherapy might enable some patients to form more complex ideas about themselves and so better ward off delusions in the face of the challenges of daily life. To illustrate these principles we present the case of a patient with tenaciously held delusions and limited capacity for self-reflection. We discuss when and how the therapist’s awareness and verbalization of intersubjective processes within session allowed her and the patient to develop more complex and consensually valid ideas about him as a being in the world, which then assisted the patient to achieve improvements in a number of domains in his life.
Acupuncture improves exercise tolerance of patients with heart failure: a placebo-controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a complex clinical syndrome with autonomic dysbalance and increased plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines, which further worsen the syndrome. Experimental data have shown that stimulation of certain acupoints decreases autonomic dysbalance.


OBJECTIVE
To test the therapeutic potential of acupuncture for life-threatening diseases such as CHF.


METHODS
17 stable patients with CHF (New York Heart Association class II-III, ejection fraction <40%) receiving optimised heart failure medication were randomised into a verum acupuncture (VA) and placebo acupuncture (PA) group. Cardiopulmonary function, heart rate variability and quality of life were explored.


RESULTS
No improvements of the cardiac ejection fraction or peak oxygen uptake were observed, but the ambulated 6 min walk distance was remarkably increased in the VA group (+32+/-7 m) but not the PA group (-1+/-11 m; p<0.01). Accordingly, post-exercise recovery after maximal exercise and the VE/VCO(2) slope, a marker of ventilatory efficiency, were improved after VA but not PA. Furthermore, heart rate variability increased after VA, but decreased after PA. The 'general health' score and 'body pain' score of the quality-of-life questionnaire SF-36 tended to be improved after VA.


CONCLUSION
Acupuncture may become an additional therapeutic strategy to improve the exercise tolerance of patients with CHF, potentially by improving skeletal muscle function.
Associations and Outcomes of Septic Pulmonary Embolism

BACKGROUND
Septic pulmonary embolism is a serious but uncommon syndrome posing diagnostic challenges because of its broad range of clinical presentation and etiologies.


OBJECTIVE
To understand the clinical and radiographic associations of septic pulmonary embolism in patients presenting to an acute care safety net hospital.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective analysis of imaging and electronic health records of all patients diagnosed with septic pulmonary embolism in our hospital between January 2000 and January 2013.


RESULTS
41 episodes of septic pulmonary embolism were identified in 40 patients aged 17 to 71 years (median 46); 29 (72%) were men. Presenting symptoms included: febrile illness (85%); pulmonary complaints (66%) including pleuritic chest pain (22%), cough (19%) and dyspnea (15%); and those related to the peripheral foci of infection (24%) and shock (19%). Sources of infection included: skin and soft tissue (44%); infective endocarditis (27%); and infected peripheral deep venous thrombosis (17%). 35/41 (85%) were bacteremic with staphylococcus aureus. All patients had peripheral nodular lesions on chest CT scan. Treatment included intravenous antibiotics in all patients. Twenty six (63%) patients required pleural drainage and/or drainage of peripheral abscesses. Seven (17%) patients received systemic anticoagulants. Eight (20%) patients died due to various complications.


CONCLUSION
The epidemiology of septic pulmonary embolism has broadened over the past decade with an increase in identified extrapulmonary, non-cardiac sources. In the context of an extrapulmonary infection, clinical features of persistent fever, bacteremia and pulmonary complaints should raise suspicion for this syndrome, and typical findings on the chest CT scans confirm the diagnosis. Antibiotics, local drainage procedures and increasingly, anticoagulation are keys to successful outcomes.
Nature of fatty acids in high fat diets differentially delineates obesity-linked metabolic syndrome components in male and female C57BL/6J mice

BACKGROUND
Adverse effects of high-fat diets (HFD) on metabolic homeostasis are linked to adipose tissue dysfunction. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of the HFD nature on adipose tissue activity, metabolic disturbances and glucose homeostasis alterations in male mice compared with female mice.


METHODS
C57BL/6J mice were fed either a chow diet or HFD including vegetal (VD) or animal (AD) fat. Body weight, plasmatic parameters and adipose tissue mRNA expression levels of key genes were evaluated after 20 weeks of HFD feeding.


RESULTS
HFD-fed mice were significantly heavier than control at the end of the protocol. Greater abdominal visceral fat accumulation was observed in mice fed with AD compared to those fed a chow diet or VD. Correlated with weight gain, leptin levels in systemic circulation were increased in HFD-fed mice in both sexes with a significant higher level in AD group compared to VD group. Circulating adiponectin levels as well as adipose tissue mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased in HFD-fed male mice. Although its plasma levels remained unchanged in females, adiponectin mRNA levels were significantly reduced in adipose tissue of both HFD-fed groups with a more marked decrease in AD group compared to VD group. Only HFD-fed male mice were diabetic with increased fasting glycaemia. On the other hand, insulin levels were only increased in AD-fed group in both sexes associated with increased resistin levels. VD did not induce any apparent metabolic alteration in females despite the increased weight gain. Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors gamma-2 (PPARγ2) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) mRNA expression levels in adipose tissue were decreased up to 70% in HFD-fed mice but were more markedly reduced in male mice as compared with female mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The nature of dietary fat determines the extent of metabolic alterations reflected in adipocytes through modifications in the pattern of adipokines secretion and modulation of key genes mRNA expression. Compared with males, female mice demonstrate higher capacity in controlling glucose homeostasis in response to 20 weeks HFD feeding. Our data suggest gender specific interactions between the diet's fatty acid source, the adipocyte-secreted proteins and metabolic disorders.
DC-Link Voltage Balancing for a Three-Level Electric Vehicle Traction Inverter Using an Innovative Switching Sequence Control Scheme

This paper presents an advanced switching sequence for space-vector pulsewidth modulation (SV-PWM)-based three level neutral-point clamped inverter. The developed scheme helps to reduce the number of converter switching sequences, compared with the conventional SV-PWM strategy, and keeps the voltage difference between the two dc-link capacitors at the desired voltage level. The developed test bench is utilized for a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) drive for electric vehicle applications. The proposed strategy is compared with the performance of a PI controller-based voltage balancing strategy. The proposed control strategy is based on the nearest three-vector (N3V) scheme, with a hysteresis control of the dc-link capacitor voltage difference. Conventional N3V scheme uses a higher number of switching sequences, which makes the switching losses higher. In addition, these switching sequences are not same for all subsectors. This makes the switching frequency to vary extensively. In the proposed control strategy, a reduced number of switching sequences are used, and they are same for all subsectors. This makes the system operate with constant switching frequency. Detailed simulation studies are performed to verify the performance of the proposed control strategy. The performance-based test results are then compared with those of a PI controller-based strategy. Experimental test results show significant improvement in the performance of the PMSM with respect to dc-link capacitor voltage variation as well as wide speed and torque range of machine operation.