Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial effect of para-alkoxyphenylcarbamic acid esters containing substituted N-phenylpiperazine moiety

In current research, nine basic esters of para-alkoxyphenylcarbamic acid with incorporated 4-(4-fluoro-/3-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazin-1-yl fragment, 6i–6m and 8f–8i, were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. Taking into account the minimum inhibitory concentration assay (MIC), as the most active against given yeast was evaluated 8i (MIC = 0.20 mg/mL), the most lipophilic structure containing para-butoxy and trifluoromethyl substituents. Investigating the efficiency of the compounds bearing only a single atom of fluorine and appropriate para-alkoxy side chain against Candida albicans, the cut-off effect was observed. From evaluated homological series, the maximum of the effectiveness was noticed for the stucture 6 k (MIC = 0.39 mg/mL), containing para-propoxy group attached to phenylcarbamoyloxy fragment, beyond which the compounds ceased to be active. On the contrary, all the tested molecules were against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (MICs > 1.00 mg/mL) practically inactive.
Bacterial Landscape of Bloodstream Infections in Neutropenic Patients via High Throughput Sequencing

Background Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a common and potentially life-threatening complication in patients with hematological malignancies and therapy-induced neutropenia. Administration of broad spectrum antibiotics has substantially decreased the mortality rate in febrile neutropenia, but bacterial infection is documented in only one-third or fewer of the cases. BSI is typically diagnosed by blood culture; however, this method can detect only culturable pathogens. Methods In the present study, a total of 130 blood samples from hematological patients receiving dose-intensive antitumoural treatment were subjected to 16S rRNA PCR and 62 of them were cultured. PCR positive samples were processed to high throughput sequencing by amplifying the V1-V3 regions of the 16S rRNA gene to obtain a full spectrum of bacteria present in BSI. Results Five phyla and 30 genera were identified with sequencing compared to 2 phyla and 4 genera with culture. The largest proportion of bacteria detected by sequencing belonged to Proteobacteria (55.2%), Firmicutes (33.4%) and Actinobacteria (8.6%), while Fusobacteria (0.4%) and Bacteroidetes (0.1%) were also detected. Ninety-eight percent of the bacteria identified by sequencing were opportunistic human pathogens and 65% belonged to the normal human microbiota. Conclusions The present study indicates that BSIs in neutropenic hosts contain a much broader diversity of bacteria, likely with host origin, than previously realized. The elevated ratio of Proteobacteria in BSI corroborates the results found in other systemic inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease or mucosal infections. This knowledge may become of value for tailoring antimicrobial drug administration.
A Systems Perspective on Situation Awareness II: Experimental Evaluation of a Modeling and Measurement Technique

Abstract : We present an empirical evaluation of the utility of a systems perspective on measuring and modeling Situation Awareness (SA) in a laboratory simulation requiring submarine stealth judgments to be made in an uncertain task environment. Applying the model to a comparison of baseline versus perceptually augmented interface conditions revealed that augmentation had both positive and negative effects on SA (improving the consistency with which humans perceptually acquired information, while also increasing regression bias, suggesting that supporting reliable cue perception was accompanied by overly severe assessments made on the basis of these cues). The model was also used as the basis for a post-hoc diagnosis of the factors discriminating high and low performers. These factors were both the consistency of cue perception and the ability to consistently apply task knowledge, rather than the task knowledge per se. These findings help to verify the utility of a systems-oriented approach to measuring and modeling SA in interface-mediated, uncertain environments.
In the black : status, management, and trade of the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) in North America

TRAFFIC initiated a series of surveys to gather basic data on the status, management, and trade of the American black bear. The purpose of the effort was to establish a baseline of information on the species and to examine trends over a period of years. TRAFFIC published the results of the first two surveys in a previous report. This report culminates the project, summarizing information from TRAFFICs third survey and comparing the data it provided to what was learned earlier.
Beauty and the beast

This paper describes the notion of “beauty” as a socially constructed value among the Kayapo of the Brazilian Amazon and how this value reflects relations within society and between humans and animals. Kayapo society is divided into two status groups, people who have received beautiful names from certain kin during elaborate village rituals, and those who have not. The ritual bestowal of such names counteracts fissive tendencies produced through the developmental cycle of Kayapo households. “Beautiful people” tend to have wider kin networks with access to greater resources and leadership roles than do ordinary “commoners. ” These distinctions are correlated with categories of animals and forms of behavior, and reveal parallels to the socialization and death of the person. However, certain contradictions in Kayapo society are epitomized in the figure of the jaguar, an animal that embodies beauty and power as well as fierceness and bestiality. Similarly, leaders mobilize resources for the well-being of the entire community, but they are also at risk of reverting to bestial behavior and running amok. Anthropological theories of animism and perspectivism would do well to consider the more nuanced Kayapo concepts of the complex interconnections between animals and humans, the natural and the social.
Predicting Faults in High Assurance Software

Reducing the number of latent software defects is a development goal that is particularly applicable to high assurance software systems. For such systems, the software measurement and defect data is highly skewed toward the not-fault-prone program modules, i.e., the number of fault-prone modules is relatively very small. The skewed data problem, also known as class imbalance, poses a unique challenge when training a software quality estimation model. However, practitioners and researchers often build defect prediction models without regard to the skewed data problem. In high assurance systems, the class imbalance problem must be addressed when building defect predictors. This study investigates the roughly balanced bagging (RBBag) algorithm for building software quality models with data sets that suffer from class imbalance. The algorithm combines bagging and data sampling into one technique. A case study of 15 software measurement data sets from different real-world high assurance systems is used in our investigation of the RBBag algorithm. Two commonly used classification algorithms in the software engineering domain, Na¨ıve Bayes and C4.5 decision tree, are combined with RBBag for building the software quality models. The results demonstrate that defect prediction models based on the RBBag algorithm significantly outperform models built without any bagging or data sampling. The RBBag algorithm provides the analyst with a tool for effectively addressing class imbalance when training defect predictors during high assurance software development.
Psychosocial buffers of traumatic stress, depressive symptoms, and psychosocial difficulties in veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom: the role of resilience, unit support, and postdeployment social support.

BACKGROUND Little research has examined the role of protective factors such as psychological resilience, unit support, and postdeployment social support in buffering against PTSD and depressive symptoms, and psychosocial difficulties in veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 272 OEF/OIF veterans completed a survey containing PTSD and depression screening measures, and questionnaires assessing resilience, social support, and psychosocial functioning. RESULTS Lower unit support and postdeployment social support were associated with increased PTSD and depressive symptoms, and decreased resilience and psychosocial functioning. Path analyses suggested that resilience fully mediated the association between unit support and PTSD and depressive symptoms, and that postdeployment social support partially mediated the association between PTSD and depressive symptoms and psychosocial functioning. LIMITATIONS Generalizability of results is limited by the relatively low response rate and predominantly older and reserve/National Guard sample. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that interventions designed to bolster unit support, resilience, and postdeployment support may help protect against traumatic stress and depressive symptoms, and improve psychosocial functioning in veterans.
Exploring the Anti-quorum Sensing and Antibiofilm Efficacy of Phytol against Serratia marcescens Associated Acute Pyelonephritis Infection in Wistar Rats

Quorum Sensing (QS) mechanism, a bacterial density-dependent gene expression system, governs the Serratia marcescens pathogenesis through the production of virulence factors and biofilm formation. The present study demonstrates the anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS), antibiofilm potential and in vivo protective effect of phytol, a diterpene alcohol broadly utilized as food additive and in therapeutics fields. In vitro treatment of phytol (5 and 10 μg/ml) showed decreasing level of biofilm formation, lipase and hemolysin production in S. marcescens compared to their respective controls. More, microscopic analyses confirmed the antibiofilm potential of phytol. The biofilm related phenomenons such as swarming motility and exopolysccharide productions were also inhibited by phytol. Furthermore, the real-time analysis elucidated the molecular mechanism of phytol which showed downregulation of fimA, fimC, flhC, flhD, bsmB, pigP, and shlA gene expressions. On the other hand, the in vivo rescue effect of phytol was assessed against S. marcescens associated acute pyelonephritis in Wistar rat. Compared to the infected and vehicle controls, the phytol treated groups (100 and 200 mg/kg) showed decreased level of bacterial counts in kidney, bladder tissues and urine samples on the 5th post infection day. As well, the phytol treatment showed reduced level of virulence enzymes such as lipase and protease productions compared to the infected and vehicle controls. Further, the infected and vehicle controls showed increasing level of inflammatory markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) productions. In contrast, the phytol treatment showed decreasing level of inflammatory markers. In histopathology, the uninfected animal showed normal kidney and bladder structure, wherein, the infected animals showed extensive infiltration of neutrophils in kidney and bladder tissues. In contrast, the phytol treatment showed normal kidney and bladder tissues. Additionally, the toxic effect of phytol (200 mg/kg) was assessed by single dose toxicity analysis. No changes were observed in hematological, biochemical profiles and histopathological analysis of vital organs in phytol treated animals compared to the untreated controls. Hence, this study suggested the potential use of phytol for its anti-QS, antibiofilm and anti-inflammatory properties against S. marcescens infections and their associated inflammation reactions.
Efficacy of Standardized Extract of Bacopa monnieri (Bacognize®) on Cognitive Functions of Medical Students: A Six-Week, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Rationale. Bacopa monnieri, popularly known as Brahmi, has been traditionally used in Ayurveda since ages for its memory enhancing properties. However, data on placebo-controlled trial of Bacopa monnieri on intellectual sample is scarce. Hence this study was planned to evaluate the effect of Bacopa monnieri on memory of medical students for six weeks. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of Bacopa monnieri on memory of medical students with six weeks' administration. Method and Material. This was a randomized double blind placebo-controlled noncrossover, parallel trial. Sixty medical students of either gender from second year of medical school, third term, regular batch, were enrolled from Government Medical College, Nagpur, India. Baseline biochemical and memory tests were done. The participants were randomly divided in two groups to receive either 150 mg of standardized extract of Bacopa monnieri (Bacognize) or matching placebo twice daily for six weeks. All baseline investigations were repeated at the end of the trial. Students were followed up for 15 days after the intervention. Results. Statistically significant improvement was seen in the tests relating to the cognitive functions with use of Bacopa monnieri. Blood biochemistry also showed a significant increase in serum calcium levels (still within normal range).
Prostorové aspekty současného vývoje brněnské maloobchodní sítě

Přispěvek je věnovan popisu ramcoveho vývoje maloobchodni sitě v Brně v obdobi po roce 1989 s důrazem kladeným na prostorove změny od roku 1997 po soucasnost. Uzemi města je pro ucely zachyceni prostoroveho rozloženi maloobchodni dynamiky rozcleněno do funkcnich, resp. socioekonomických typů. V ramci definovaných zon jsou pak sledovany ukazatele prodejni plochy. Zavěrem jsou charakterizovany dynamicke a stagnujici oblasti města z hlediska vývoje maloobchodu a formulovany dilci komentaře prostorových rozdilů.
The Conserved Sites for the FK506-binding Proteins in Ryanodine Receptors and Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors Are Structurally and Functionally Different*

We compared the interaction of the FK506-binding protein (FKBP) with the type 3 ryanodine receptor (RyR3) and with the type 1 and type 3 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R1 and IP3R3), using a quantitative GST-FKBP12 and GST-FKBP12.6 affinity assay. We first characterized and mapped the interaction of the FKBPs with the RyR3. GST-FKBP12 as well as GST-FKBP12.6 were able to bind ∼30% of the solubilized RyR3. The interaction was completely abolished by FK506, strengthened by the addition of Mg2+, and weakened in the absence of Ca2+ but was not affected by the addition of cyclic ADP-ribose. By using proteolytic mapping and site-directed mutagenesis, we pinpointed Val2322, located in the central modulatory domain of the RyR3, as a critical residue for the interaction of RyR3 with FKBPs. Substitution of Val2322for leucine (as in IP3R1) or isoleucine (as in RyR2) decreased the binding efficiency and shifted the selectivity to FKBP12.6; substitution of Val2322 for aspartate completely abolished the FKBP interaction. Importantly, the occurrence of the valylprolyl residue as α-helix breaker was an important determinant of FKBP binding. This secondary structure is conserved among the different RyR isoforms but not in the IP3R isoforms. A chimeric RyR3/IP3R1, containing the core of the FKBP12-binding site of IP3R1 in the RyR3 context, retained this secondary structure and was able to interact with FKBPs. In contrast, IP3Rs did not interact with the FKBP isoforms. This indicates that the primary sequence in combination with the local structural environment plays an important role in targeting the FKBPs to the intracellular Ca2+-release channels. Structural differences in the FKBP-binding site of RyRs and IP3Rs may contribute to the occurrence of a stable interaction between RyR isoforms and FKBPs and to the absence of such interaction with IP3Rs.
Antibodies to metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 in the Ophelia syndrome

Objective: To report the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) as the autoantigen of antibodies from 2 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and limbic encephalopathy (Ophelia syndrome). Methods: Immunohistochemistry with brain tissue and cultures of rat hippocampal neurons were used to demonstrate antibodies. Immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, and mGluR5-null mice served to identify the antigen. HEK293 cells transfected with mGluR5 or mGluR1 were used to determine immunologic crossreactivity. Results: Both patients developed symptoms consistent with limbic encephalopathy; one had MRI findings typical of this disorder and the other had more extensive radiologic involvement, including parietal and occipital cortex. Patients' sera had antibodies that predominantly reacted with the neuropil of hippocampus and cell surface of live hippocampal neurons. Immunoprecipitation from cultured neurons and mass spectrometry demonstrated that the antigen was mGluR5, a receptor involved in processes of learning and memory. The reactivity of patients' sera was abrogated in brain of mGluR5-null mice, further confirming the antibody specificity. Studies with a large number of controls including 2 patients with cerebellar ataxia and mGluR1 antibodies showed that mGluR5 was only identified by sera of the 2 patients with the Ophelia syndrome, and that despite the homology of this receptor with mGluR1 each autoantigen was specific for a distinct syndrome. Conclusions: Antibodies to mGluR5 should be considered in patients with symptoms of limbic encephalitis and HL (Ophelia syndrome). Recognition of this disorder is important because it can affect young individuals and is reversible.
Depositional architecture, sequence stratigraphy and geodynamicdevelopment of the Carpathian Foredeep (Czech Republic)

Five 3rd order depositional sequences were recognized within Neogene infill of the Carpathian Foredeep. Individual sequences are characterized by the diverse shape and extent of the basin, by characteristic depositional architecture and lithofacies. Their deposition was controled by the principal ruling factors, namely eustasy, tectonics, sediment supply, and basement morphology. 4th order depositional sequences (transgressive-regressive cycles) are also identified within the 3rd order depositional sequences. Depositional sequences are related to three distinct stages of the geodynamic history of the basin. The pre (main) collisional stage (Egerian/Eggenburgian) is represented by sequence I and was ruled by eustasy, sediment supply rate and basement relief. The collisional stage (Eggenburgian Late Karpatian) is represented by three sequences. Sequence II (Eggenburgian Early Karpatian) reflects the initiation of thrusting due to loading of the West Carpathian accretionary wedge. This process was mainly responsible for creation of accommodation space, while the other factors were supplementary. Sequence III (Karpatian) was ruled mainly by interactions between tectonic/flexural subsidence and isostatic rebound associated with the forebulge migration toward the foreland and thrust front. Sequence IV (Late Karpatian) is the upper part of the clastic wedge and reflects the main collision and rapid subsidence in the foreland basin. The depositional architecture was dominantly driven by tectonic processes. The post (main) collisional stage (Early Badenian) is identical with sequence V, which was ruled both by eustasy and tectonics. Accommodation space (incised valley? ) developed in the internal parts of the basin.
International Conference on Information Fusion ( FUSION ) A Comparison of Particle Filters for Recursive Track-before-detect

Track-before-detect is a powerful technique for detection and tracking of targets with low signal-to-noise ratio. This paper presents a performance comparison of two particle filters recently proposed for this application using several different particle proposal densities designed for track initiation. The first particle filter is a standard SIR particle filter, which treats the track-before-detect problem as a hybrid estimation problem by incorporating a discrete random variable, "target existence," into the state vector. The second particle filter formulates the probability of existence calculation in a different way, avoiding the need for hybrid estimation. Three different particle proposal densities are considered, which are designed to compare performance when the data is used to aid in particle proposal.
Quality assurance in memory built-in self-test tools

In the paper, two methods of ensuring high quality of the memory built-in self-test tools are presented. The described ideas illustrate general methods and are applicable to any commercial memory BIST tool. The first solution describes controller emulation in order to validate each step of the real controller's operations. The second approach presents a way to determine the test algorithms' fault coverage by means of the memory fault simulator. The experimental results show functional benefits and effectiveness of the proposed solutions.
Improved liver T1rho measurement precision with a breathhold black blood single shot fast spin echo acquisition: a validation study in healthy volunteers

Purpose: To explore the usability and normal T1rho value of liver parenchyma with a novel single breathhold black blood single shot fast spin echo acquisition based liver imaging sequence. Materials and Methods: In total 19 health subjects (10 males, 9 females; mean age: 37.4 yrs; range: 23-54 yrs) participated in the study. 11 subjects had liver scanned twice in the same session to access scan-rescan repeatability. 12 subjects had liver scanned twice in two sessions with 7-10 days' interval to access scan-rescan reproducibility. MR was performed with a 3.0 T scanner with dual transmitter. The MR sequence allows simultaneous acquisition of 4 spin lock times (TSLs: 0ms, 10 ms, 30 ms, 50ms) in 10 second. Inherent black blood effect of fast spin echo and double inversion recovery were utilized to achieve blood signal suppression. Results: The technique demonstrated good image quality and minimal artifacts. For liver parenchyma, Bland-Altman plot showed the scan-rescan repeatability mean difference was 0.025 ms (95% limits of agreement: -1.163 to 1.213 ms), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.977. The scan-rescan reproducibility mean difference was -0.075 ms (95% limits of agreement: -3.280 to 3.310 ms), and ICC was 0.820 which is better than the ICC of 0.764 of a previous bright blood multi-breath hold gradient echo acquisition technique. The liver T1rho value was 39.9 +/- 2.4 ms (range: 36.1 - 44.2 ms), which is lower than the value of 42.8=/-2.1 ms acquired with the previous bright blood technique. Conclusion: This study validated the application of a single breathhold black blood single shot fast spin echo acquisition based for human liver T1rho imaging. The lower liver parenchyma T1rho value and higher scan rescan reproducibility may improve of the sensitivity of this technique.
An information fusion technology based on fuzzy-OWA operator

This paper designs a multi-sensor information fusion system, gives the basic structure and information fusion process of this system, offers a new fuzzy information fusion technology based on fuzzy-OWA operators via extending ordered weighted OWA operator into this fusion technology of fuzzy information, and gives the concrete steps in its application process. Finally, it illustrates the feasibility and validity of this technology through the simulation of the materials' identification and classification, such as wood, plastics, copper, and aluminum, etc.