Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of commercially available media for detection and isolation of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis

The Mycotrim Triphasic flask system (Irvine Scientific, Irvine, Calif.) was compared with a system composed of Mycotrim GU broth (Irvine Scientific) and A7 or A8 agar (Remel, Lenexa, Kans.) for the ability to detect Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis from 129 genital specimens. Of the 64 specimens positive for U. urealyticum, 25, 98, and 100% were detected on Mycotrim Triphasic agar and A7 and A8 agars, respectively. All 18 specimens that grew M. hominis were detected by A7 and A8 agars, and 94% grew on Mycotrim Triphasic agar. Mycotrim GU broth detected all of the positive specimens, and Mycotrim Triphasic broth detected all but one. Mycotrim GU broth inoculated simultaneously with either A7 or A8 agar was found to be more sensitive and cost-effective than the Mycotrim Triphasic flask system.
The effects of vitamin B6 on lens antioxidant system in valproic acid-administered rats

Valproic acid (VPA, 2-propyl pentanoic acid) is a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug (AED) and is commonly used in the treatment of bipolar disorders and epilepsy. AEDs are known to result in vascular disturbances. Vitamin B6 (Vit B6) is water soluble vitamin essential for normal growth, development, and metabolism. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of Vit B6 against VPA-induced lens damage in experimental animals. In this study, male 4-month-old, Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The animals were divided into four groups. Group I was intact control animals. Group II rats were administered with Vit B6 (50 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. Group III rats were administered with only VPA (500 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. Group IV was given VPA + Vit B6 (in a same dose and time). Vit B6 was given to rats by gavage and VPA was given by intraperitoneally. On the 8th day of experiment, all of the animals were fasted overnight and then killed under ether anesthesia. Lens tissues were taken from animals, homogenized in 0.9% saline to make up a 10% homogenate. The homogenates was used for glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein levels, and enzyme analysis. In VPA groups, levels of lens GSH and LPO and activities of glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and aldose reductase were increased, while superoxide dismutase activity was decreased. Treatment with Vit B6 reversed these effects. These results demonstrated that administration of Vit B6 is potentially beneficial agent to reduce the lens damage in VPA toxicity, probably by decreasing oxidative stress.
AFM and Multiple Transmission-Reflection Infrared Spectroscopy (MTR-IR) Studies on Formation of Air-Stable Supported Lipid Bilayers

Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) were prepared by deposition of unilamellar vesicles on a silicon substrate. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and a new Multiple Transmission-Reflection Infrared Spectroscopy (MTR-IR) developed by us were used to trace the dynamic formation of lipid bilayers on the silicon surfaces. The evolution from deformation of vesicles to formation of bilayers can be distinguished clearly by AFM imaging. MTR-IR provided high quality infrared spectra of ultrathin lipid bilayers with high sensitivity and high signal to noise ratio (SNR). The structural and orientational changes during vesicle’s fusion were monitored with MTR-IR. MTR-IR shows superiority over other infrared approaches for ultrathin films on standard silicon wafers in view of its economy and high sensitivity. Both MTR-IR and AFM results were consistent with each other and they provided more information for understanding the self-assembling procedure of SLBs.
Single leg balance test to identify risk of ankle sprains

Background: Ankle sprains are a common and potentially disabling injury. Successful prediction of susceptibility to ankle sprain injury with a simple test could allow ankle sprain prevention protocols to be initiated and help prevent disability in the athletic population. Objective: To investigate the ability of the single leg balance (SLB) test, carried out at preseason physical examination, to predict an ankle sprain during the autumn sports season. Design: Prospective cohort study Setting: High school varsity athletics and intercollegiate athletics. Main outcome measure: Ankle sprains in athletes with positive SLB tests. Results: The association between a positive SLB test and future ankle sprains was significant. Controlling for confounding variables, the relative risk for an ankle sprain with a positive SLB test was 2.54 (95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 6.03). Athletes with a positive SLB test who did not tape their ankles had an increased likelihood of developing ankle sprains. The relative risk for ankle sprain for a positive SLB test and negative taping was 8.82 (1.07 to 72.70). A history of previous ankle injury was not associated with future ankle sprains in this study. The κ value for interrater reliability for the SLB test was 0.898 (p<0.001). Conclusions: An association was demonstrated between a positive SLB test and ankle sprain. In athletes with a positive SLB test, not taping the ankle imposed an increased risk of sprain. The SLB test is a reliable and valid test for predicting ankle sprains.
Role for Thromboxane Receptors in Angiotensin-II–Induced Hypertension

Abstract—To evaluate the role of thromboxane in hypertension and its complications, we studied mice with targeted disruption of the TXA2 receptor gene in an angiotensin-II–dependent model of hypertension. To determine whether genetic background might alter the physiological actions of the TP receptor, we studied two lines of TP knockout (Tp−/−) mice with distinct genetic backgrounds (C57BL/6 and BALB/c). During chronic angiotensin II infusion (1000 ng/kg per minute × 28 days by subcutaneous osmotic pump), TP deficiency prevented mortality in the C57BL/6 background but not in the BALB/c strain. Chronic angiotensin II infusion also caused a rapid and significant increase in blood pressure in wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 and BALB/c animals, which was significantly attenuated in Tp−/− mice on either background. After 28 days of infusion, cardiac hypertrophy only occurred in the C57BL/6 strain: heart/body weight ratio increased by 57%±8% in WT mice compared with 17%±6.5% for the Tp−/− mice (P <0.01). Chronic angiotensin II infusion caused albuminuria only in the C57BL/6 strain, and TP deficiency did not alter its development. Cyclooxygenase-1 knockout mice also had attenuated blood pressure increase during chronic angiotensin II infusion, suggesting that cyclooxygenase-1 metabolites are involved in angiotensin-II–dependent hypertension. Thus, on the C57BL/6 background, TP receptors contribute to cardiac hypertrophy but not proteinuria. However, irrespective of genetic background, the TP receptor makes a robust contribution to the pathogenesis of angiotensin II-dependent hypertension.
An H∞ consensus achievement for LTI multi-agent systems with directed fixed networks

The H∞ consensus problem of homogeneous linear time invariant (LTI) multi-agent systems with a fixed directed communication network graph is studied in this paper. A design technique is proposed based on the solution of an algebraic Riccati equation without the need to solve linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). The design procedure is in two steps. First agents are made marginally stable by using a local state feedback controller. In the second step, a relative state feedback controller is designed to achieve consensus. It is worth mentioning that these steps can be performed independently. The stability of the proposed controller is investigated based on Lyapunov stability analysis. The effectiveness of the proposed consensus algorithm is illustrated through numerical simulations.
Cancer Stem Cells , Feedback and Radiation

Cancer stem cells exist in tumours as a source from which mature cancer cells differentiate, analogous to healthy tissue [2]. Multiple studies have shown that xenotransplantation of human cancer initiating cells into healthy mice tissue possess the ability to regrow the cancer [5]. Radiotherapy plays a substantial role in cancer treatment; however, it has been shown that sublethal doses of radiation can induce the tumour to respawn much more aggressively, and cancer stem cells, unfortunately, are much more resistant to ionizing radiation compared to their differentiated non-stem cells [1]. Discoveries suggest that sublethal radiation can increase the rate of dedifferentiation of mature cancer cells into CSC’s, causing substantial increases in the number of cancer initiating cells. We have constructed a mathematical model to investigate the dynamics of tumors, incorporating cell-cell communication and feedback among the different cell types, and the effect of ionizing radiation. We compare the model with recent experiments to determine the model parameters. To fit the data, we increased the dedifferentiation rate as the doses of radiation increased. Radiation also induced a decrease in the division rate of non-stem cells. A direct differentiation paramater was included to account for a decline in stem cell population in the experiment. The parametrized model can help suggest new treatment strategies to more effectively treat cancer patients.
The Capsular Polysaccharide of Burkholderia pseudomallei Contributes to Survival in Serum by Reducing Complement Factor C3b Deposition

ABSTRACT Burkholderia pseudomallei produces an extracellular polysaccharide capsule -3)-2-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-β-d-manno-heptopyranose-(1- which has been shown to be an essential virulence determinant. The addition of purified capsule was shown to increase the virulence of a capsule mutant strain in the Syrian hamster model of acute melioidosis. An increase in the number of wild-type B. pseudomallei cells in the blood was seen by 48 h, while the number of capsule mutant cells in the blood declined by 48 h. Capsule expression was shown to be induced in the presence of serum using a lux reporter fusion to the capsule gene wcbB. The addition of purified B. pseudomallei capsule to serum bactericidal assays increased the survival of B. pseudomallei SLR5, a serum-sensitive strain, by 1,000-fold in normal human serum. Capsule production by B. pseudomallei contributed to reduced activation of the complement cascade by reducing the levels of complement factor C3b deposition. An increase in phagocytosis of the capsule mutant compared to the wild type was observed in the presence of normal human serum. These results suggest that the production of this capsule contributes to resistance to phagocytosis by reducing C3b deposition on the surface of the bacterium, thereby contributing to the persistence of bacteria in the blood of the infected host. Continued studies to characterize this capsule are essential for understanding the pathogenesis of B. pseudomallei infections and the development of preventive strategies for treatment of this disease.
Randomised controlled trial of specialist nurse intervention in heart failure

Abstract Objectives: To determine whether specialist nurse intervention improves outcome in patients with chronic heart failure. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Setting: Acute medical admissions unit in a teaching hospital. Participants: 165 patients admitted with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The intervention started before discharge and continued thereafter with home visits for up to 1 year. Main outcome measures: Time to first event analysis of death from all causes or readmission to hospital with worsening heart failure. Results: 31 patients (37%) in the intervention group died or were readmitted with heart failure compared with 45 (53%) in the usual care group (hazard ratio=0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 0.96). Compared with usual care, patients in the intervention group had fewer readmissions for any reason (86 v 114, P=0.018), fewer admissions for heart failure (19 v 45, P<0.001) and spent fewer days in hospital for heart failure (mean 3.43 v 7.46 days, P=0.0051). Conclusions: Specially trained nurses can improve the outcome of patients admitted to hospital with heart failure. What is already known on this topic Studies have suggested that nurse intervention may reduce readmission in patients with heart failure What this study adds Home based intervention from nurses reduces readmissions for worsening heart failure Regular contact to review treatment and patient education are likely to contribute to this effect
The Protrusion Behaviors in Cu-TSV during Heating and Cooling Process

The Cu protrusion phenomena and thermal stresses in TSV structures were studied using ﬁnite element analysis. When the TSV model was heated from 25°C to 100°C, 200°C, 300°C, 400°C and then cooled down to 25°C, the change of the Cu protrusion height was estimated as a function of annealing temperature. It is concluded from the protrusion height-temperature hysteresis curve that Cu shows a combination of reversible thermal expansion and irreversible plastic deformation which cannot be recovered after annealing the Cu protrusion. The plastic deformation has been found to initiate at the top of the Cu and Si-via interface because of the large mismatch in the coefﬁcients of thermal expansion. The thermally induced plastic ﬂow causes Cu protrusion in the TSV. The simulation and experimental values of Cu protrusion height are respectively 0.93 μ m and 1.02 μ m at 400°C, showing the validity of the present model.
JOB STRESS AMONG BRITISH GENERAL PRACTITIONERS: PREDICTORS OF JOB DISSATISFACTION AND MENTAL ILL‐HEALTH

SUMMARY Questionnaires assessing levels of job satisfaction, mental well-being and sources of stress were distributed to a random sample of 850 general practitioners (GPs) in England. The final sample size was 414. Compared to a normative sample, male GPs exhibit significantly higher levels of anxiety, whereas female GPs compare favourably to the population norms. Job satisfaction levels among male and female GPs were significantly lower than when they were measured in 1987. Multivariate analysis revealed five major stressors that were predictive of high levels of job dissatisfaction and negative mental well-being; these were practice administration and demands of the job, interference with family and social life, routine medical work, interruptions and working environment. In addition, emotional involvement and type A behaviour were predictive of lack of mental well-being. It is concluded that there may be substantial benefit in providing training in management skills and introducing a stress management programme for GPs.
Minimizing CO2 emissions of Photovoltaic Thermal model in North America

In this paper, CO2 emission reduction of Photovoltaic Thermal model for residential load has been investigated and evaluated for four different PV coverage area cases of PVT (20%, 40%, 60% and 80%). The analysis is conducted by using a data set of weather conditions of a city in North America over one year.
A review: Fibres, polymer matrices and composites

The growing interest, environmental consciousness and high performance demands on engineering have led to extensive research and development of new and improved materials. Among the most commonly used natural fibres are kenaf, oil palm, sugar palm, pineapple leaf fibre, flax, hemp, sisal, coir and jute. These fibres are used to reinforce thermoplastic polymer matrices such as polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Meanwhile, phenolic, unsaturated polyester vinyl ester and epoxy resin are for thermosetting polymer matrices. The objective of this paper is to solicit works that cover major class of natural fibres, thermosetting polymers matrices, which detail about unsaturated polyester resin and hybrid biocomposites industry.
Nonlinear-Observer-Based  ${\cal H}_{\infty}$ Synchronization and Unknown Input Recovery

The aim of this work is to provide a unified observer design method for nonlinear Lipschitz discrete-time systems with extension to H infin synchronization and input recovery used for communication systems. The stability analysis is performed using a suitable Lyapunov function that leads to the solvability of linear matrix inequalities. One of the main challenges is to establish nonconservative stability conditions, particularly with respect to large Lipschitz constants. Simulations and experimental results have been provided in order to show the performances of the proposed method.
Stability and traction control of an actively actuated micro-rover

This article addresses the issue of enhancing mobility of actively actuated vehicles by the use of optimal force distribution, and by actively controlling the location of the center of mass of the vehicle body. Force distribution in actively actuated vehicles is an underspecified problem, and optimal force distribution leads to improved contact conditions. Actively actuated vehicles also possess the ability to vary their configuration. This capability can be used to locate the center of mass of the system to further enhance mobility by providing sufficient traction, and ensuring vehicle stability, during difficult vehicle maneuvers. In this work, the general idea of control of the location of the center of mass, followed by optimal force distribution, is addressed first. This is followed by an application of these ideas to Gofor, a simple actively actuated wheeled micro-rover system, that has been designed and fabricated at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. An algorithm to achieve desired traction and stability has been developed. Simulation studies were performed to investigate negotiation of a vertical surface. It was found that one set of wheels readily climbed the vertical surface with the use of active mass and force distribution. This is a significant improvement over traditional wheeled vehicle systems. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Study of fire behaviour of facade mock‐ups equipped with aluminium composite material‐based claddings, using intermediate‐scale test method

The fire behaviour of a building façade is dependent on the overall system's performance, rather than the performance of the individual components. A façade system includes the cladding and the insulant's characteristics, but also the cavities, cavity barriers, mounting and fixings, substrate, and any singularities, such as window frames. This publication presents façade fire propagation test according to the ISO 13785‐1 standard, with additional heat release rate and gases analysis using FTIR. Tests have been performed on 9 different compositions of aluminium composite panels (ACM) with several insulants. For tested compositions, the cladding is the most important parameter driving global fire behaviour of façade mock‐ups. ACM‐PE‐based cladding systems gave very different results from the other solutions tested. This was especially visible in heat release rates, where fire intensity was very high, whatever the insulant used in the system. The contribution of the insulant was only remarkable in these tests during the decay phase. The cavity barrier was largely ineffectual in the 3 tests with ACM‐PE cladding, as the integrity of the cavity was not ensured.
Experimental Investigation of Nano Alumina and Nano Silica on Strength and Consistency of Oil Well Cement

In oil and gas well cementing, a strong cement sheath is wanted to insure long-term safety of the wells. Successful completion of cementing job has become more complex, as drilling is being done in highly deviated and high pressure-high temperature wells. Use of nano materials in enhanced oil recovery, drilling fluid, oil well cementing and other applications is being investigated. This study is an attempt to investigate the effect of nano materials on oil well cement properties. Two types of nano materials were investigated, which are Nano silica (>40 nm) and Nano Alumina (80 nm) and high sulfate-resistant glass G cement is used. The investigated properties of oil well cement included compressive strength, thickening time, density, free water and rheological properties. All tests are conducted according to API specification and proceed in Laboratory of Drilling in Petroleum Technology Department in University of Technology and in Missan Oil Company. The experimental results show that NS and NAL behave like accelerators when added to cement and work to increase the compressive strength at 38°C but these increasing in compressive strength changes when the temperature is increased to 60°C. Also, adding NS and NAL lead to increasing in rheological parameter and reduce free water but the change in density is very small. The results show that the effect of NAL on compressive strength and thickening time is greater than the effect of NS but the effect of NS on free water and rheology is greater than the effect of NAL.
Global characterization of in vivo enzyme catalytic rates and their correspondence to in vitro kcat measurements

Significance The kcat values of enzymes are important for the study of metabolic systems. However, the current use of kcat presents major difficulties, as values for most enzymes have not been experimentally measured, and experimentally available values are often measured under nonphysiological conditions, thereby casting doubt on the relevance of kcat under in vivo conditions. We present an approach that utilizes omics data to quantitatively analyze the relationship between in vitro kcat values and the maximal catalytic rate of enzymes in vivo. Our approach offers a high-throughput method to obtain enzyme kinetic constants, which reflect in vivo conditions, and are useful for more accurate and complete cellular metabolic models. Turnover numbers, also known as kcat values, are fundamental properties of enzymes. However, kcat data are scarce and measured in vitro, thus may not faithfully represent the in vivo situation. A basic question that awaits elucidation is: how representative are kcat values for the maximal catalytic rates of enzymes in vivo? Here, we harness omics data to calculate kmaxvivo, the observed maximal catalytic rate of an enzyme inside cells. Comparison with kcat values from Escherichia coli, yields a correlation of r2= 0.62 in log scale (p < 10−10), with a root mean square difference of 0.54 (3.5-fold in linear scale), indicating that in vivo and in vitro maximal rates generally concur. By accounting for the degree of saturation of enzymes and the backward flux dictated by thermodynamics, we further refine the correspondence between kmaxvivo and kcat values. The approach we present here characterizes the quantitative relationship between enzymatic catalysis in vitro and in vivo and offers a high-throughput method for extracting enzyme kinetic constants from omics data.
A study in progress.

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Corpus-based Referring Expressions Generation

In Natural Language Generation, the task of attribute selection (AS) consists of determining the appropriate attribute-value pairs (or semantic properties) that represent the contents of a referring expression. Existing work on AS includes a wide range of algorithmic solutions to the problem, but the recent availability of corpora annotated with referring expressions data suggests that corpus-based AS strategies become possible as well. In this work we tentatively discuss a number of AS strategies using both semantic and surface information obtained from a corpus of this kind. Relying on semantic information, we attempt to learn both global and individual AS strategies that could be applied to a standard AS algorithm in order to generate descriptions found in the corpus. As an alternative, and perhaps less traditional approach, we also use surface information to build statistical language models of the referring expressions that are most likely to occur in the corpus, and let the model probabilities guide attribute selection.