Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic susceptibility pattern and identification of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae from Shiraz, Iran

Background and Objectives: Klebsiella pneumoniae, one of the important causes of nosocomial infections, is the most common extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) producing organism. ESBLs are defined as the enzymes capable of hydrolyzing oxyimino-cephalosporins, monobactams and carbapenems. The aims of this study were to identify ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates and detect their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2012 to May 2013 in teaching hospitals in Shiraz. Clinical specimens from the urine, sputum, wound, blood, throat, and body fluids were isolated and identified as K. pneumoniae. Antibacterial susceptibility testing was performed for 14 antibiotics using disk diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines. Isolates showing resistant to at least one of the β-lactam antibiotics were then evaluated for production of β-lactamase enzymes using E-test ESBL and combined disk Method. Also, MICs for ceftazidime and imipenem were determined using E-test. The presence of the blaSHV, blaTEM, blaPER and blaCTX-M genes was assessed by PCR. Results: Of 144 K. pneumoniae isolates from different specimens, 38 (26.3 %) was identified as ESBL producer by phenotypic confirmatory test. All ESBL producing isolates were susceptible to imipenem and meropenem and resistant to aztreonam. The highest rate of resistance belonged to amoxicillin (100%), cefotaxime (50%) and gentamicin (42.3%) and the lowest rates were seen for meropenem (11.8%), imipenem and amikacin (both 15.9%). Sixty-two isolates had MICs≥ 4 μg/mL for ceftazidime, of which 38 were positive for ESBLs in phenotypic confirmatory tests (PCT). The prevalence of blaSHV, blaCTX-M, and blaTEM genes among these isolates were 22.2%, 19% and 16%. blaPER was not detected in the studied isolates. Conclusions: Due to the relatively high prevalence of ESBLs-producing K. pneumoniae isolates in the studied population, it seems that screening of infections caused by ESBL producers can lead to the most effective antibiotics therapies.
TPP: Traceable Privacy-Preserving Communication and Precise Reward for Vehicle-to-Grid Networks in Smart Grids

In vehicle-to-grid (V2G) networks, service providers are battery-powered vehicles, and the service consumer is the power grid. Security and privacy concerns are major obstacles for V2G networks to be extensively deployed. In 2011, Yang et al. proposed a very interesting privacy-preserving communication and precise reward architecture for V2G networks in smart grids. In this paper, we enhance Yang et al.'s framework with the formal definitions of unforgeability and restrictiveness. Then, we propose a new traceable privacy-preserving communication and precise reward scheme with available cryptographic primitives. The proposed scheme is formally proven secure with well-established assumptions in the random oracle model. Thorough theoretical and experimental analyses demonstrate that our scheme is efficient and practical for secure V2G networks in smart grids.
Switching Frequency Analysis of Dynamically Detuned ICPT Power Pick-ups

Dynamic detuning methods have been used in inductive contactless power transfer (ICPT) systems for power flow control. However, the highly variable switching frequency involved in the detuning operation will contribute to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and power losses. It is difficult to determine the detuning frequency precisely due to nonlinear features of power pick-ups. Uncertainty in the operating frequency can result in difficulties in designing filters with suitable bandwidths and choosing suitable switching devices. Based on detailed analytical analysis in four segments of the detuning process, a numerical method is developed in this paper to determine the boundaries of the switching frequencies. An iterative algorithm is presented using a flow chart to illustrate the process taken in the numerical analysis. Simulation and practical experiments are conducted to verify the algorithm so as to ensure the calculated results are sufficiently accurate for designing EMI filters and choosing suitable switching devices.
Neuroanatomical Circuitry Associated with Exploratory Eye Movement in Schizophrenia: A Voxel-Based Morphometric Study

Schizophrenic patients present abnormalities in a variety of eye movement tasks. Exploratory eye movement (EEM) dysfunction appears to be particularly specific to schizophrenia. However, the underlying mechanisms of EEM dysfunction in schizophrenia are not clearly understood. To assess the potential neuroanatomical substrates of EEM, we recorded EEM performance and conducted a voxel-based morphometric analysis of gray matter in 33 schizophrenic patients and 29 well matched healthy controls. In schizophrenic patients, decreased responsive search score (RSS) and widespread gray matter density (GMD) reductions were observed. Moreover, the RSS was positively correlated with GMD in distributed brain regions in schizophrenic patients. Furthermore, in schizophrenic patients, some brain regions with neuroanatomical deficits overlapped with some ones associated with RSS. These brain regions constituted an occipito-tempro-frontal circuitry involved in visual information processing and eye movement control, including the left calcarine cortex [Brodmann area (BA) 17], the left cuneus (BA 18), the left superior occipital cortex (BA 18/19), the left superior frontal gyrus (BA 6), the left cerebellum, the right lingual cortex (BA 17/18), the right middle occipital cortex (BA19), the right inferior temporal cortex (BA 37), the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 46) and bilateral precentral gyri (BA 6) extending to the frontal eye fields (FEF, BA 8). To our knowledge, we firstly reported empirical evidence that gray matter loss in the occipito-tempro-frontal neuroanatomical circuitry of visual processing system was associated with EEM performance in schizophrenia, which may be helpful for the future effort to reveal the underlying neural mechanisms for EEM disturbances in schizophrenia.
Manipulation with Bounded Single-Peaked Width: A Parameterized Study

We study the manipulation problem in elections with bounded single-peaked width from the parameterized complexity point of view. In particular, we focus on the Borda, Copelandα and Maximin voting correspondences. For Borda, we prove that the unweighted manipulation problem with two manipulators is fixed-parameter tractable with respect to single-peaked width. For Maximin and Copelandα for every 0 ≤ α ≤ 1, we prove that the unweighted manipulation problem is fixed-parameter tractable with respect to the combined parameter (k; t), where k denotes the single-peaked width and t denotes the number of manipulators. In addition, we study the weighted manipulation problem for Maximin and Copelandα for every 0 ≤ α ≤ 1 in single-peaked elections and achieve several polynomial-time solvability results.
A recipe for improving food intakes in elderly hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS The aim of this study was to compare food wastage and intake between the normal hospital menu and one where more energy dense but smaller portions were provided. METHODS This study was carried out on an Elderly Rehabilitation ward in a University hospital. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either a normal or a reduced portion size fortified menu for a 14 day cycle and then swapped-over at the end of each cycle for the 56 day study. One group received a cooked breakfast and normal menus throughout the study. RESULTS All the menu combinations could meet the patients recommended intake. The fortified menu provided 14% more energy than the normal menu. Food wastage was highest in the cooked breakfast group (32%) and lowest in the Fortified group (27%). The total weight of wasted food was less than in the previous study. Nutritional intakes were 25% higher on the fortified menu compared with the normal menu. The mean protein intakes were still below that recommended. All patients had higher energy intakes on the Fortified menu compared with their intake on the normal menu despite being served a lower weight of food. CONCLUSIONS We conclude from our own data and that of others that it is possible for elderly patients to achieve their nutritional targets using a combination of smaller portions of increased energy and protein density and between-meal snacks. The needs of other groups of patients also needs to be assessed in a similar way to make hospital food appropriate to the needs of the sick.
Identification, emergence and mobilization of circulating endothelial cells or progenitors in the embryo

Using quail-chick parabiosis and QH1 monoclonal antibody analysis, we have identified circulating endothelial cells and/or progenitors in the embryo. These cells were already present early in ontogeny, before the third embryonic day. Under normal conditions, they integrated into most tissues but remained scarce. When experimental angiogenic responses were induced by wounding or grafts onto the chorioallantoic membrane, circulating endothelial cells were rapidly mobilized and selectively integrated sites of neoangiogenesis. Their mobilization was not dependent on the presence of the bone marrow as it was effective before its differentiation. Surprisingly, mobilization was not effective during sprouting angiogenesis following VEGF treatment of chorioallantoic membrane. Thus, embryonic circulating endothelial cells were efficiently mobilized during the establishment of an initial vascular supply to ischemic tissues following wounding or grafting, but were not involved during classical sprouting angiogenesis.
HPSG-Based Preprocessing for English-to-Japanese Translation

Japanese sentences have completely different word orders from corresponding English sentences. Typical phrase-based statistical machine translation (SMT) systems such as Moses search for the best word permutation within a given distance limit (distortion limit). For English-to-Japanese translation, we need a large distance limit to obtain acceptable translations, and the number of translation candidates is extremely large. Therefore, SMT systems often fail to find acceptable translations within a limited time. To solve this problem, some researchers use rule-based preprocessing approaches, which reorder English words just like Japanese by using dozens of rules. Our idea is based on the following two observations: (1) Japanese is a typical head-final language, and (2) we can detect heads of English sentences by a head-driven phrase structure grammar (HPSG) parser. The main contributions of this article are twofold: First, we demonstrate how off-the-shelf, state-of-the-art HPSG parser enables us to write the reordering rules in an abstract level and can easily improve the quality of English-to-Japanese translation. Second, we also show that syntactic heads achieve better results than semantic heads. The proposed method outperforms the best system of NTCIR-7 PATMT EJ task.
VEGF Application on Rat Skin Flap Survival

ABSTRACT Background: Induction of angiogenesis has been shown to be mediated by a number of glycoproteins called growth factors. Growth factors control the growth, differentiation, and metabolism of cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is believed to be the most potent regulator of this process. The effect of its exogenous administration on the distal third of a long random skin flap was examined. Materials and Methods: Eighteen Wistar rats were divided into two groups of nine. Rats were anesthetized, and a skin flap, measuring 1.5 × 7.5 cm, was elevated at their dorsum. The flap was standardized by centering the pedicle between the lower angles of the scapulae and by using a frame with the previously mentioned dimensions. The length of the flap was five times greater than its width. In group A (n = 9), the flap was elevated, one milliliter of normal saline was injected subdermally, at the distal third, and it was sutured back at its original place. In group B (n = 9), the flap was elevated, injections of 10 μg of VEGF were administrated subdermally, at the distal third, and it was again sutured back. Rats were euthanized a week later and flaps were excised. All specimens were measured, photographed, put in formalin 10%, and were sent for image and histological analysis. Image analysis was used both for the estimation of viable area and for the calculation of mean vessel density per mm2. Results: Necrotic areas of the flaps were clearly demarcated within a week's time. In group A, the mean flap survival percentage was 38.9%. In group B, the percentage was 80.4%. Histological analysis demonstrated angiogenesis in group B, with mean vessel density per mm2 being higher in group B than in group A. Conclusions: Administration of VEGF injections at the distal part of a long random skin flap (length to width ratio 5:1) has been shown to improve the survival rate of the flap and thus contributing to the salvage of greater peripheral segment of the flap. Neovascularization induced by exogenous VEGF seems to be the biological mechanism, which leads to the improvement of flap survival.
Global Role of TATA Box-Binding Protein Recruitment to Promoters in Mediating Gene Expression Profiles

ABSTRACT The recruitment of TATA box-binding protein (TBP) to promoters is one of the rate-limiting steps during transcription initiation. However, the global importance of TBP recruitment in determining the absolute and changing levels of transcription across the genome is not known. We used a genomic approach to explore the relationship between TBP recruitment to promoters and global gene expression profiles in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our data indicate that first, RNA polymerase III promoters are the most prominent binding targets of TBP in vivo. Second, the steady-state transcript levels of genes throughout the genome are proportional to the occupancy of their promoters by TBP, and changes in the expression levels of these genes are closely correlated with changes in TBP recruitment to their promoters. Third, a consensus TATA element does not appear to be a major determinant of either TBP binding or gene expression throughout the genome. Our results indicate that the recruitment of TBP to promoters in vivo is of universal importance in determining gene expression levels in yeast, regardless of the nature of the core promoter or the type of activator or repressor that may mediate changes in transcription. The primary data reported here are available at http://www.iyerlab. org/tbp .
Verifying the Melting Behavior in Single-Screw Plasticization Units Using a Novel Simulation Model and Experimental Method

Abstract We report on the development of a novel non-invasive ultrasonic measurement system for determining the melting behavior in a single-screw plasticization unit (35/22D) and on a modified drag-induced melt removal model that builds upon that by Tadmor and Gogos (2006). The solid bed to melt pool ratio is quantified using a non-invasive ultrasonic system based on reflection measurements. Automated analysis of the reflected pulses – measured at different axial positions along the barrel – allows the melting process to be monitored online. Our analysis of the delay section incorporates viscous dissipation into Tadmor's drag-induced melt removal model. We link temperature profile and melt film thickness via differential equations and consider viscous dissipation. By segmenting the delay section in the axial direction, the temperature dependency of the thermo-physical material properties is also considered. Using the melting behavior measured for different materials, we verified the mathematical model. Additionally, the effect of reduced screw length on the plasticization process, important for the injection molding process, was investigated.
Spatial Competition in the Network Television Industry

We present an empirical study of spatial competition and a methodology to estimate demand for products with unobservable characteristics. Using panel data, we estimate a discrete-choice model with latent-product attributes and unobserved heterogeneous consumer preferences. Our application of the methodology to the network television industry yields estimates that are consistent with experts' views. Given our estimates, we compute Nash equilibria of a product location game and find that firms' observed strategies (such as the degree of product differentiation) are generally optimal. Discrepancies between actual and optimal strategies reflect the networks' adherence to "rules of thumb" and, possible, bounded rationality behavior. Copyright 2001 by the RAND Corporation.
Experimental Studies on Wire Electric Discharge Cutting of SiCp/6061 Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites

This paper reports about the experimental findings on the wire electric discharge cutting (WEDC) of 6061 aluminum metal matrix composite (MMC) reinforced with silicon carbide particulates (i.e. SiCp/6061 Al). Four WEDC parameters namely servo voltage, pulse-on time, pulse-off time and wire feed rate were varied to study their effect on the quality of cut in SiCp/6061 aluminum MMC using average cutting rate and microstructure of the cut surface as response parameters. The experiments were conducted using one-factor-at-a-time experiment strategy in which only one input parameter was varied while keeping all other input parameters as constant. The experimental results indicate that the average cutting speed is mainly affected by pulse-on time, pulse-off time, and voltage and the changes are more prominent for the MMC 7.5% SiCp. The characteristics of the surface produced by WEDC were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Analysis of SEM images of the cut surface has revealed that the depth of micro-voids and micro-cracks slightly increases as the voltage and pulse-on time increases and as pulse-off time and wire feed rate decreases. there seems to be trade-off between the average cutting speed and better quality of cut for Al-SiCp MMC as far the values of pulse-on time, pulse-off time are considered and final choice will depend upon the type of application. An optimum range of the input parameters has been bracketed as the final outcome of this work for carrying out further research to develop the models for WEDC of SiCp/6061 aluminum MMC and to optimize the WEDC parameters for the best quality of cut and to minimize the wire breakage frequency.
Etiologic diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND Although bone specimens were established 25 years ago as the gold standard for etiologic diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis, recent studies suggest that nonbone specimens are as accurate as bone to identify the causative agent. We examined concordance rates between cultures from nonbone and bone specimens in 100 patients. METHODS Prospective study conducted at Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paul, a 750-bed university-based hospital located in Medellín, Colombia. We included patients with chronic osteomyelitis who had been free of antibiotic therapy for at least 48 hours, excluding those with diabetic foot and decubitus ulcers. At least 1 nonbone and 1 bone specimen were taken from each individual and subjected to complete microbiologic analysis. RESULTS Bone cultures allowed agent identification in 94% of cases, including anaerobic bacteria in 14%. Cultures of nonbone and bone specimens gave identical results in 30% of patients, with slightly better concordance in chronic osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus (42%) than by all other bacterial species (22%). However, statistical concordance determined by the Cohen kappa statistic was less than 0 (-0.0092+/-0.0324), indicating that the observed concordance was no better than that expected by chance alone (P>.99). CONCLUSIONS Appropriate diagnosis and therapy of chronic osteomyelitis require microbiologic cultures of the infected bone. Nonbone specimens are not valid for this purpose.
Automatic Text Input Generation for Mobile Testing

Many designs have been proposed to improve the automated mobile testing. Despite these improvements, providing appropriate text inputs remains a prominent obstacle, which hinders the large-scale adoption of automated testing approaches. The key challenge is how to automatically produce the most relevant text in a use case context. For example, a valid website address should be entered in the address bar of a mobile browser app to continue the testing of the app, a singer's name should be entered in the search bar of a music recommendation app. Without the proper text inputs, the testing would get stuck. We propose a novel deep learning based approach to address the challenge, which reduces the problem to a minimization problem. Another challenge is how to make the approach generally applicable to both the trained apps and the untrained apps. We leverage the Word2Vec model to address the challenge. We have built our approaches as a tool and evaluated it with 50 iOS mobile apps including Firefox and Wikipedia. The results show that our approach significantly outperforms existing automatic text input generation methods.
Isolation and cultivation of blastocyst‐derived stem cell lines from american mink (Mustela vison)

Ten embryonic stem (ES) cell lines from mink blastocysts were isolated and characterized. All the lines had a normal diploid karyotype; of the ten lines studied, five had the XX and five had the XY constitution. Testing of the pluripotency of the ES‐like cells demonstrated that (1) among four lines of genotype XX, an X was late‐replicating in three; both Xs were active in about one‐third of cells of line MES8, and analysis of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase revealed no dosage compensation for the X‐linked gene; (2) when cultured in suspension, the majority of lines were capable of forming “simple” embryoid bodies (EB), and two only showed the capacity for forming “cystic” multilayer EBs. However, formation of ectoderm or foci of yolk sac hematopoiesis, a feature of mouse ES ceils, was not observed in the “cystic” EB; (3) when cultured as a monolayer without feeder, the ES cells differentiated into either vimentin‐positive fibroblast‐like cells or cytokeratin‐positive epithelial‐like cells (less frequently); neural cells appeared in two lines; (4) when injected into athymic mice, only one of the four tested lines gave rise to tumors. These were fibrosarcomas composed of fibrobalst‐like cells, with an admixture of smooth muscular elements and stray islets of epithelial tissue; (5) when the ES cells of line MES1 were injected into 102 blastocyst cavities and subsequently transplanted into foster mathers, we obtained 30 offspring. Analysis of the biochemical markers and coat color did not demonstrate the presence of chimaeras among offspring. Thus the cell lines derived from mink blastocysts are true ES cells. However, their pluripotential capacities are restricted. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.