Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Molecular Genetics of Macrolide Resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates Collected in Finland in 2002

ABSTRACT The prevalence and mechanisms of macrolide resistance among 1,007 clinical pneumococcal isolates collected in Finland were investigated. Of these, 217 (21.5%) were resistant to erythromycin and 11% to clindamycin. Among the erythromycin-resistant isolates, mef(E) was present in 95 isolates (44%), mef(A) was present in 12 isolates (6%), and erm(B) was present in 90 isolates (41%). A double mechanism, mef(E) and erm(B), was detected in five isolates (2%). Ribosomal mutation was detected in 14 (6%) macrolide-resistant isolates in which no other determinant was found. Based on the telithromycin MICs, two groups of isolates were formed: 83.3% of the isolates belonged to a major group for which the telithromycin MIC range was ≤0.008 to 0.063 μg/ml, and 16.7% belonged to a minor group for which the telithromycin MIC range was 0.125 to 8 μg/ml. All except three isolates in the minor population carried a macrolide resistance gene.
Fuzzy phase locked loop for three-phase power converters

This paper presents a new structure for a phase locked loop (PLL) that operates based on a fuzzy logic controller. One commonly known fact is that phase jump may deteriorate phase locked loop performance. Accordingly, this paper specifically focuses on designing a fuzzy phase-locked loop (PLL) to track phase jumps in the least possible time. The fuzzy PLL attempts to track phase angle through outputs of the fuzzy logic controller, including angular frequency and phase angle compensation factors. To achieve the best possible performance, an adaptive fuzzy particle swarm optimization (AFPSO) algorithm is considered to optimize parameters of the fuzzy system. Two main advantages of this proposed structure is a) the very fast tracking of phase jumps and b) the ability to integrate the fuzzy PLL into other types of PLLs.
Mosquito Larvicidal Potential of Gossypium hirsutum (Bt cotton) Leaves Extracts against Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi larvae

Background: We aimed to extract the ingredients from leaves of Gossypium hirsutum (Bt cotton) using different solvents and evaluate for potential use to control different larval stages of mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi. Methods: Qualitative and quantitative estimation of ingredients from Go. hirsutum (Bt) plant extract was carried out and their inhibitory action against mosquito larvae was determined using mosquito larvicidal assay. Results: LC50 values of water, ethanol, ethyl acetate and hexane extracts for Ae. aegypti were 211.73±21.49, 241.64±19.92, 358.07±32.43, 401.03±36.19 and 232.56±26.00, 298.54±21.78, 366.50±30.59, 387.19±31.82 for 4th instar of An. stephensi, respectively. The water extract displayed lowest LC50 value followed by ethanol, ethyl acetate and hexane. Owing to the comparatively better activity of water extract, its efficacy was further evaluated for mosquito larvicidal activity, which exhibited LC50 values of 133.95±12.79, 167.65±11.34 against 2nd and 3rd instars of Ae. aegypti and 145.48±11.76, 188.10±12.92 against 2nd and 3rd instars of An. stephensi, respectively. Crude protein from the water extract was precipitated using acetone and tested against 2nd, 3rd and 4th instars of Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi. It revealed further decrease in LC50 values as 105.72±25.84, 138.23±23.18, 126.19±25.65, 134.04±04 and 137.88±17.59, 154.25±16.98 for 2nd, 3rd and 4th instars of Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi, respectively. Conclusion: Leaves extracts of Go. hirsutum (Bt) is potential mosquito larvicide and can be used as a potent alternative to chemical insecticides in integrated pest management.
Aging behavior of optical fibers in aqueous environments

Silica optical fibers drawn from a common preform and coated with specialty coatings were exposed to zero-stress aging in various aqueous environments for approximately ten months. The strength of the fiber samples was tracked with two-point bend testing. The onset of an aging “knee” was observed for some fiber samples while other coatings offered enhanced protection from the effects of moisture-induced strength degradation.
Efficient micro-mobility using intra-domain multicast-based mechanisms (M&M)

One very important metric in evaluation of IP mobility protocols is handover performance. Handover occurs when a mobile node changes its network point-of-attachment. If not performed efficiently, handover delays, jitters and packet loss directly impact applications and services. With the Internet growth and heterogeneity, it becomes crucial to design efficient handover protocols that are scalable, robust and incrementally deployable. Mobile IP (MIP) has been shown to exhibit poor handover performance during micro-mobility. We propose a new architecture for providing efficient and smooth handover, while being able to coexist and inter-operate with other technologies. Specifically, we propose an intra-domain multicast-based mobility architecture, where a visiting mobile is assigned a multicast address to use while moving within a domain. Efficient handover is achieved using standard multicast join/prune mechanisms.Two approaches are proposed and contrasted. The first introduces the concept of proxy-based mobility, while the other uses algorithmic mapping to obtain the multicast address of visiting mobiles. We show that the algorithmic mapping approach has several advantages over the proxy approach, and provide mechanisms to support it.Simulations used to evaluate our scheme and compare it to other micro-mobility schemes - CIP and HAWAII. The proactive handover results show that both M&M and CIP show low handoff delay and packet reordering depth as compared to HAWAII. The reason for M&M's comparable performance with CIP is that both use bi-cast in proactive handover. M&M, however, handles multiple border routers in a domain, where CIP fails. Also using a proactive path setup mechanism, we show that M&M clearly outperforms CIP in case of reactive handover.
Reversing heart failure by CRT: how long do the effects last?

This editorial refers to ‘Long-term impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy in mild heart failure: 5-year results from the REsynchronization reVErses Remodeling in Systolic left vEntricular dysfunction (REVERSE) study’[†][1], by C. Linde et al. , on page 2592 Device-based treatment of advanced systolic heart failure by cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a fairly invasive procedure when compared with conservative pharmacological therapy. Despite all efforts to improve the safety, feasibility, and clinical efficacy of the implantation procedure, a small, but not negligible, perioperative risk and the possibility for long-term complications such as device infection and lead dislocation remain. Furthermore, the upfront costs at the time of implantation are comparatively high. However, the large amount of available evidence which has been accumulated over the last two decades from many well-controlled and randomized trials has proven that the procedure is highly cost-effective and efficient in well selected patients. The stimulus to place an additional pacing lead on the delayed activated left ventricular free wall in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) to improve cardiac haemodynamics was based on pathophysiological principles, well-performed animal experiments, and thoughtful clinical observations. However, what initially was meant to be a rescue therapy for end-stage heart failure patients,1,2 has, over time, transformed into a life-saving routine treatment which is now indicated as soon as a patient with depressed systolic function and LBBB develops symptoms of heart failure [e.g. New York Heart Association (NYHA) class ≥II]. 3 Part of the evidence to support this aggressive therapeutic approach in patients with mild symptoms of heart failure comes from the 12-month results of the REVERSE trial,4 which was the first prospective, randomized trial to include patients with less than NYHA class III–IV. Although the primary endpoint—a composite score of the clinical response of heart failure—failed to reach statistical significance … [1]: #fn-2
A Better Approach for Conceptual Readability of WSDL

Issues that concerns with the inter-operability on a heterogeneous environment can easily be address using the flexible platform of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). Web service is an implementation and modeling of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). Web service description language (WSDL)is a standard describing a web service in XML form. This Description can be categorized in two parts i.e. Structural and non-structural. The readability of a web service helps the consumer to understand it easily, it is suggested to provide sufficient details about functionality scope and limitation of scope in WSDL, so that it can easily be understandable. Readability depends upon interaction of two variables i.e. Text and reader. The maximum details about a web service could lead to it's reproduction by business competitor, and it may helps in maximizing vulnerabilities in it. This paper focuses on a technique for computing readability index by a detail analysis of WSDL document. This readability index obtain using this approach helps the producer of a web service to adjust readability, so that it can easily be understandable by consumer. The better readability index can also leads the provider to a better service discovery. To calculate Readability Index, extraction of WSDL file components was performed. After extraction of key concepts, they were mapped with the Domain Ontology. The words that were not mapped in the ontology, synonyms are employed by consulting the Word Net. Final readability was obtained using Simplified Dale Chall readability index (DaCw). The Web Service Readability can be measure more precisely by considering words that were not found in the mapping process.
A Craniometric Analysis of Cranial Base and Cranial Vault Differences in Patients With Metopic Craniosynostosis

Purpose: The effect of synostosis is not confined to the immediate vicinity of the suture. The authors hypothesized metopic craniosynostosis results in migration of lateral structures from midline, and differences in segmental volume of the cranial fossa. Methods: A retrospective case-controlled cohort analysis of patients with nonsyndromic metopic craniosynostosis was performed. Craniometric angles, distances to landmarks from midline, cephalic index, and segmented volume ratios were calculated. A comparison group consisted of patients without cranial pathology or with mild positional plagiocephaly. Results: Twenty patients with metopic craniosynostosis and 19 controls were identified. The bifrontal angle was significantly more acute in metopic patients. Distance from midline to the medial carotid, the foramen ovale, and the hypoglossal canal were all significantly longer in metopic patients. Ratio of anterior third to total cranial vault volume was significantly smaller in metopic patients; however, ratio of middle third to total cranial vault volume was significantly larger. As the bifrontal angle decreased by 1°, the volume of the anterior third of the cranial vault was observed to decrease by 0.17% (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients with metopic craniosynostosis show a distinct and significant transverse lateralization of structures of the anterior skull base relative to midline, significant restriction of the anterior third of the cranial vault, and compensatory expansion of the middle third. There is a linear relationship between the bifrontal angle and the subsequent change in anterior third cranial vault volume. Level of Evidence: IV; Therapeutic
Galaxy Formation and Evolution: Low Surface Brightness Galaxies

ABSTRACT We investigatein detail the hypothesisthat low surfacebrightnessgalaxies(LSB) diﬀerfrom ordinary galaxies simply because they form in halos with large spin parameters.We compute star formation rates using the Schmidt law, assuming the same gas infalldependence on surface density as used in models of the Milky Way. We build stellarpopulation models, predicting colours, spectra, and chemical abundances. We compareour predictions with observed values of metallicity and colours for LSB galaxies andﬁnd excellent agreement with all observables. In particular, integrated colours, colourgradients, surface brightness and metallicity match very well to the observed valuesof LSBs for models with ages larger than 7 Gyr and high values (λ > 0.05) for thespin parameter of the halos. We also compute the global star formation rate (SFR)in the Universe due to LSBs and show that it has a ﬂatter evolution with redshiftthan the corresponding SFR for normal discs. We furthermore compare the evolutionin redshift of [Zn/H] for our models to those observed in Damped Lyman α systemsby Pettini et al. (1997) and show that Damped Lyman α systems abundances areconsistent with the predicted abundances at diﬀerent radii for LSBs. Finally, we showhow the required late redshift of collapse of the halo may constrain the power spectrumof ﬂuctuations. Key words: galaxies: formation – galaxies: evolution – galaxies: spiral – galaxies:stellar content.
Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ‐dependent and ‐independent growth inhibition of gastrointestinal tumour cells

Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) acts as a ligand‐activated transcription factor. Although ligand‐induced cellular differentiation and growth inhibition have been mostly studied on human cancers expressing PPARγ, it is unclear if the transcriptional activation of PPARγ is the main mechanism of growth inhibition. In this study, we investigated whether there is a link between growth inhibitory effect and transcriptional activation of PPARγ in several gastrointestinal tumour cell lines. The transcriptional activation potential of PPARγ was assessed by reporter gene assay employing a PPRE‐luciferase vector, and growth inhibitory effect of PPARγ was investigated by 3H‐thymidine incorporation assay, in the presence or absence of thiazolidinedione ligands, rosiglitazone and troglitazone. As expected, in the case of cell lines positive for the transcriptional activation potential of PPARγ (T.Tn, MKN‐45 and LoVo), both the ligands induced growth inhibition. However, in case of some other cell lines negative for the transcriptional activation potential of PPARγ (TT, AGS and HCT‐15), troglitazone still showed a growth inhibitory effect. Administration of the PPARγ antagonist GW9662 did not reverse this growth inhibitory activity of troglitazone. The introduction of dominant negative mutants of PPARγ did not suppress the activity either. These observations suggest that while rosiglitazone inhibits cellular growth predominantly through transcriptional activation of PPARγ, troglitazone can induce it both in PPARγ‐dependent and ‐independent pathways.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among health care professionals: A cross-sectional assessment of risk factors in a tertiary hospital, India

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are responsible for morbidity in many working populations. Apart from lowering the quality of workers’ life and reducing the productivity, WMSDs are the most expensive form of work disability, attributing to about 40% of all costs toward the treatment of work-related injuries. WMSDs are considered to be multifactorials that are caused due to the interactions between various risk factors, which result in conditions that vary across different occupations. Although health care profession is known to be at a high risk for WMSDs, it is one of the least-studied occupations. Most of the previous studies on WMSDs among health care workers were limited to any one of the professional groups such as nurses, physical therapists, dentists, and others. Hence this study was aimed at looking into the WMSDs affecting five different health care professionals working in a tertiary care hospital. It compared the prevalence and distribution of WMSDs among the five groups, evaluated the multiple risk factors that contribute to the development of WMSDs, and identified the high-risk group. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among dentists, laboratory technicians, nurses, physicians, and physiotherapists of various clinical departments in a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India, from January to June 2013. Face-to-face interviews as well as observational analysis of various tasks were employed. Different combinations of validated and standardized questionnaires were used for collecting different types of data. Results: A high proportion of health care professionals reported WMSDs at one or the other body region, lower back being the most commonly affected area. Working in the same position for long periods, working in awkward or cramped positions and handling an excessive number of patients or samples in one day were found to be the most commonly reported job risk factor that contributed to the development of WMSDs, in this study. Conclusion: Among all the health care professionals assessed in this study, nurses were found to be at the highest risk, whereas physicians were at the lowest risk. A longitudinal study using quantitative analytical tools may give a more accurate estimate of WMSDs and job risk factors, which would pave way for making more precise recommendations to eliminate the risk factors and thereby prevent WMSDs.
SURVIVING WITH THALASSEMIA MAJOR: The Italian Experience

Until not long ago, the diagnosis of thalassemia major was a tragic event. Everybody in Italy knew that having the Mediterranean anemia meant living a short and unhappy life. I still remember reading of a Sicilian family who, as soon as a child was diagnosed with the disease, bought for him a small white coffin to be kept under his bed, ready for use. Luckily this is no longer the case. Today, in Italy, thalassemia major is still a demanding disease, but life expectancy is good and complications are rarer and appear much later. Transfused blood is safer and chelation is no longer the ordeal that once was, as at least two oral chelators have entered, or are entering, in use. A lot more is known about the pathophysiology of the disease, and the direct measurement of accumulation of iron has been made possible by new methods. For some of the patients, who have a related or unrelated HLA-identical donor, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is also a viable alternative to transfusion and chelation, with a probability of cure ranging from 90–95% for related [1] to 80–85% for unrelated grafts, the latter approaching 90% when matching is as strict as that between HLAidentical siblings [2]. Best results of transplantation are obtained in young patients with limited iron overload and without previous liver viral infection. Most patients are cared for in thalassemia centers that have developed a large experience in treating the disease, and where often, in addition to the physicians, specialized nurses are of great clinical and psychological support. Transfusion and chelation therapy, being delivered through the National Health System, are free of charge, as are all the tests and treatments necessary for dealing with the complications of thalassemia. In addition, patients and families are well organized in support groups, and patients are protected
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Background: The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) was developed to meet demand for instruments to measure mental well-being. It comprises 14 positively phrased Likert-style items and fulfils classic criteria for scale development. We report here the internal construct validity of WEMWBS from the perspective of the Rasch measurement model. Methods: The model was applied to data collected from 779 respondents in Wave 12 (Autumn 2006) of the Scottish Health Education Population Survey. Respondents were aged 16–74 (average 41.9) yrs. Results: Initial fit to model expectations was poor. The items 'I've been feeling good about myself', 'I've been interested in new things' and 'I've been feeling cheerful' all showed significant misfit to model expectations, and were deleted. This led to a marginal improvement in fit to the model. After further analysis, more items were deleted and a strict unidimensional seven item scale (the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS)) was resolved. Many items deleted because of misfit with model expectations showed considerable bias for gender. Two retained items also demonstrated bias for gender but, at the scale level, cancelled out. One further retained item 'I've been feeling optimistic about the future' showed bias for age. The correlation between the 14 item and 7 item versions was 0.954. Given fit to the Rasch model, and strict unidimensionality, SWEMWBS provides an interval scale estimate of mental well-being. Conclusion: A short 7 item version of WEMWBS was found to satisfy the strict unidimensionality expectations of the Rasch model, and be largely free of bias. This scale, SWEMWBS, provides a raw score-interval scale transformation for use in parametric procedures. In terms of face validity, SWEMWBS presents a more restricted view of mental well-being than the 14 item WEMWBS, with most items representing aspects of psychological and eudemonic well-being, and few covering hedonic well-being or affect. However, robust measurement properties combined with brevity make SWEMWBS preferable to WEMWBS at present for monitoring mental well-being in populations. Where face validity is an issue there remain arguments for continuing to collect data on the full 14 item WEMWBS. Published: 19 February 2009 Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2009, 7:15 doi:10.1186/1477-7525-7-15 Received: 8 September 2008 Accepted: 19 February 2009 This article is available from: http://www.hqlo. com/content/7/1/15 © 2009 Stewart-Brown et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2009, 7:15 http://www.hqlo. com/content/7/1/15
Management for the anterior combined with posterior urethral stricture: a 9-year single centre experience.

OBJECTIVE Therapy for anterior combined with posterior urethral stricture is difficult and controversial. This study aims to introduce a standard process for managing anterior combined with posterior urethral stricture. PATIENTS AND METHODS 19 patients with anterior combined with posterior urethral stricture were treated following our standard process. Average (range) age was 52 (21-72) years old. In this standard process, anterior urethral stricture should be treated first. Endoscopic surgery is applied for anterior urethra stricture as a priority as long as obliteration does not occur, and operation for posterior urethral stricture can be conducted in the same stage. Otherwise, an open reconstructive urethroplasty for anterior urethral is needed; while in this condition, the unobliterated posterior urethra can also be treated with endoscopic surgery in the same stage; however, if posterior urethra obliteration exists, then open reconstructive urethroplasty for posterior urethral stricture should be applied 2-3 months later. RESULTS The median (range) follow-up time was 25.8 (3-56) months. All 19 patients were normal in urethrography after 1 month of the surgery. 4 patients (21.1%) recurred urethral stricture during follow-up, and the locations of recurred stricture were bulbomembranous urethra (2 cases), bulbar urethra (1 case) and bladder neck (1 case). 3 of them restored to health through urethral dilation, yet 1 underwent a second operation. 2 patients (10.5%) complaint of dripping urination. No one had painful erection, stress urinary incontinence or other complications. CONCLUSIONS The management for anterior combined with posterior urethral stricture following our standard process is effective and safe.