Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Enterobacter Cloacae Isolated from Street Foods.

A total of 78 samples comprising different types of street foods, sold in different locations in Malaysia, were examined for the presence of Enterobacter cloacae. E. cloacae contamination was recorded in 9% of the samples examined. Tests for susceptibility to 12 different antibiotics showed that all were resistant to six or more antibiotics, but susceptible to chloramphenicol and gentamicin. Plasmids of four different sizes were detected from the three plasmid positive isolates. RAPD analysis using four primers yielded completely different banding patterns for all E. cloacae studied. In Malaysia, no published information on street foods in the epidemiological investigation of E. cloacae related disease is available. However, their occurrences have provided compelling evidence that the risk of disease transmission caused by E. cloacae through street foods is moderate.
Task-free MRI predicts individual differences in brain activity during task performance

Every brain is different We all differ in how we perceive, think, and act. What drives individual differences in evoked brain activity? Tavor et al. applied computational models to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from the Human Connectome Project. Brain activity in the “resting” state when subjects were not performing any explicit task predicted differences in fMRI activation across a range of cognitive paradigms. This suggests that individual differences in many cognitive tasks are a stable trait marker. Resting-state functional connectivity thus already contains the repertoire that is then expressed during task-based fMRI. Science, this issue p. 216 Brain activation when performing activities can largely be understood from its distinctive anatomy and connectivity. When asked to perform the same task, different individuals exhibit markedly different patterns of brain activity. This variability is often attributed to volatile factors, such as task strategy or compliance. We propose that individual differences in brain responses are, to a large degree, inherent to the brain and can be predicted from task-independent measurements collected at rest. Using a large set of task conditions, spanning several behavioral domains, we train a simple model that relates task-independent measurements to task activity and evaluate the model by predicting task activation maps for unseen subjects using magnetic resonance imaging. Our model can accurately predict individual differences in brain activity and highlights a coupling between brain connectivity and function that can be captured at the level of individual subjects.
Attachment and eating disorders: a review of current research.

OBJECTIVE Attachment insecurity may confer risk for developing an eating disorder. We describe domains of attachment functioning that are relevant to eating disorders including: affect regulation, interpersonal style, coherence of mind, and reflective functioning. Research since 2000 on attachment and eating disorders related to these domains is reviewed. METHOD We searched MedLine/Pubmed and PsycINFO from January 2000 to February 2014 and kept articles that: were empirical, included adults with a diagnosed eating disorder, and used a standard attachment measure. We retained 50 relevant studies. RESULTS Compared to controls, those with eating disorders had higher levels of attachment insecurity and disorganized mental states. Lower reflective functioning was specifically associated with anorexia nervosa. Attachment anxiety was associated with eating disorder symptom severity, and this relationship may be mediated by perfectionism and affect regulation strategies. Type of attachment insecurity had specific negative impacts on psychotherapy processes and outcomes, such that higher attachment avoidance may lead to dropping out and higher attachment anxiety may lead to poorer treatment outcomes. DISCUSSION Research to date suggests a possible relationship between attachment insecurity and risk for an eating disorder. More research is needed that uses attachment interviews, and longitudinal and case control designs. Clinicians can assess attachment insecurity to help inform therapeutic stances and interventions.
Towards a framework for architecting mechatronics software systems

As mechatronics software systems become larger and more complex, the need to ensure system consistency and completeness with respect to the requirements and to manage system complexity becomes more important. From a system point of view, complexity depends on the number and the multiplicity of system constituent units and their relationships. In this paper, the initial results from our efforts to adopt the concept of software architecture in the development of mechatronics software systems for the purpose of managing complexity and ensuring system qualities are presented. A design framework for architecting mechatronics software systems is being developed. The design framework includes two models. (I) an architecture model, and (2) a decision model. The architecture model aims to provide an effective basis for managing complexity and performing architecture based system development. The decision model aims to provide a basis for reasoning about how to meet flexibility-related qualities in the development.
PEPPeR, a Platform for Experimental Proteomic Pattern Recognition*S

Quantitative proteomics holds considerable promise for elucidation of basic biology and for clinical biomarker discovery. However, it has been difficult to fulfill this promise due to over-reliance on identification-based quantitative methods and problems associated with chromatographic separation reproducibility. Here we describe new algorithms termed “Landmark Matching” and “Peak Matching” that greatly reduce these problems. Landmark Matching performs time base-independent propagation of peptide identities onto accurate mass LC-MS features in a way that leverages historical data derived from disparate data acquisition strategies. Peak Matching builds upon Landmark Matching by recognizing identical molecular species across multiple LC-MS experiments in an identity-independent fashion by clustering. We have bundled these algorithms together with other algorithms, data acquisition strategies, and experimental designs to create a Platform for Experimental Proteomic Pattern Recognition (PEPPeR). These developments enable use of established statistical tools previously limited to microarray analysis for treatment of proteomics data. We demonstrate that the proposed platform can be calibrated across 2.5 orders of magnitude and can perform robust quantification of ratios in both simple and complex mixtures with good precision and error characteristics across multiple sample preparations. We also demonstrate de novo marker discovery based on statistical significance of unidentified accurate mass components that changed between two mixtures. These markers were subsequently identified by accurate mass-driven MS/MS acquisition and demonstrated to be contaminant proteins associated with known proteins whose concentrations were designed to change between the two mixtures. These results have provided a real world validation of the platform for marker discovery.
Differential response in allergen‐specific IgE, IgGs, and IgA levels for predicting outcome of oral immunotherapy

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) induces desensitization and/or tolerance in patients with persistent food allergy, but the biomarkers of clinical outcomes remain obscure. Although OIT‐induced changes in serum allergen‐specific IgE and IgG4 levels have been investigated, the response of other allergen‐specific IgG subclasses and IgA during OIT remains obscure.
An experimental strategy for the identification of AMPylation targets from complex protein samples

AMPylation is a posttranslational modification (PTM) that has recently caught much attention in the context of bacterial infections as pathogens were shown to secrete Fic proteins that AMPylate Rho GTPases and thus interfere with host cell signaling processes. Although Fic proteins are widespread and found in all kingdoms of life, only a small number of AMPylation targets are known to date. A major obstacle to target identification is the limited availability of generic strategies allowing sensitive and robust identification of AMPylation events. Here, we present an unbiased MS‐based approach utilizing stable isotope‐labeled ATP. The ATP isotopes are transferred onto target proteins in crude cell lysates by in vitro AMPylation introducing specific reporter ion clusters that allow detection of AMPylated peptides in complex biological samples by MS analysis. Applying this strategy on the secreted Fic protein Bep2 of Bartonella rochalimae, we identified the filamenting protein vimentin as an AMPylation target that was confirmed by independent assays. Vimentin represents a new class of target proteins and its identification emphasizes our method as a valuable tool to systematically uncover AMPylation targets. Furthermore, the approach can be generically adapted to study targets of other PTMs that allow incorporation of isotopically labeled substrates.
Microstructures to control elasticity in 3D printing

We propose a method for fabricating deformable objects with spatially varying elasticity using 3D printing. Using a single, relatively stiff printer material, our method designs an assembly of small-scale microstructures that have the effect of a softer material at the object scale, with properties depending on the microstructure used in each part of the object. We build on work in the area of metamaterials, using numerical optimization to design tiled microstructures with desired properties, but with the key difference that our method designs families of related structures that can be interpolated to smoothly vary the material properties over a wide range. To create an object with spatially varying elastic properties, we tile the object's interior with microstructures drawn from these families, generating a different microstructure for each cell using an efficient algorithm to select compatible structures for neighboring cells. We show results computed for both 2D and 3D objects, validating several 2D and 3D printed structures using standard material tests as well as demonstrating various example applications.
The H2CO abundance in the inner warm regions of low mass protostellar envelopes

We present a survey of the formaldehyde emission in a sample of eight Class 0 protostars obtained with the IRAM and JCMT telescopes. The data have been analyzed with three different methods with increasing level of sophistication. We first analyze the observed emission in the LTE approximation, and derive rotational temperatures between 11 and 40 K, and column densities between 1 and 20 x 10^13 cm^-2. Second, we use a LVG code and derive larger kinetic temperatures, between 30 and 90 K, consistent with subthermally populated levels and densities from 1 to 6 x 10^5 cm^-3. The column densities from the LVG modeling are within a factor of 10 with respect to those derived in the LTE approximation. Finally, we analyze the observations based upon detailed models for the envelopes surrounding the protostars, using temperature and density profiles previously derived from continuum observations. We approximate the formaldehyde abundance across the envelope with a jump function, the jump occurring when the dust temperature reaches 100 K, the evaporation temperature of the grain mantles. The observed formaldehyde emission is well reproduced only if there is a jump, more than two orders of magnitude, in four sources. In the remaining four sources the data are consistent with a formaldehyde abundance jump, but the evidence is more marginal (~2 sigma). The inferred inner H2CO abundance varies between 1 x 10^-8 and 6 x 10^-6. We discuss the implications of these jumps for our understanding of the origin and evolution of ices in low mass star forming regions. Finally, we give predictions for the submillimeter H2CO lines, which are particularly sensitive to the abundance jumps.
The Redshift Evolution of Early-Type Galaxies in COSMOS: Do Massive Early-Type Galaxies Form by Dry Mergers?

We study the evolution since z ~ 1 of the rest-frame B luminosity function of ETGs in ~0.7 deg2 in the COSMOS field. In order to identify all progenitors of local ETGs we construct the sample of high-z galaxies using two complementary criteria: (1) a morphological selection based on the Zurich Estimator of Structural Types and (2) a photometric selection based on the galaxy properties in the (U - V)-MV color-magnitude diagram. We furthermore constrain both samples so as to ensure that the selected progenitors of ETGs are compatible with evolving into systems that obey the μB-rhl Kormendy relation. Assuming the luminosity evolution derived from studies of the fundamental plane for high-z ETGs, our analysis shows no evidence for a decrease in the number density of the most massive ETGs out to z ~ 0.7: both the morphologically and the photometrically selected subsamples show no evolution in the number density of bright (~L > 2.5L*) ETGs. Allowing for different star formation histories, and cosmic variance, we estimate a maximum decrease in the number density of massive galaxies at that redshift of ~30%. We observe, however, in both the photometric and morphological samples, a deficit of up to about 2-3 of fainter ETGs over the same cosmic period. Our results argue against a significant contribution of recent dissipationless "dry'' mergers to the formation of the most massive ETGs. We suggest that the mass growth in low-luminosity ETGs can be explained with a conversion from z ~ 0.7 to z = 0 of blue, irregular, and disk galaxies into low- and intermediate-mass "red'' ETGs, possibly also through gas-rich mergers.
On the chemical state and distribution of Zr- and V-based additives in reactive hydride composites

Reactive hydride composites (RHCs) are very promising hydrogen storage materials for future applications due to their reduced reaction enthalpies and high gravimetric capacities. At present, the materials’ functionality is limited by the reaction kinetics. A significant positive influence can be observed with addition of transition-metal-based additives. To understand the effect of these additives, the chemical state and changes during the reaction as well as the microstructural distribution were investigated using x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and anomalous small-angle x-ray scattering (ASAXS). In this work, zirconium- and vanadium-based additives were added to 2LiBH4–MgH2 composites and 2LiH–MgB2 composites and measured in the vicinity of the corresponding absorption edge. The measurements reveal the formation of finely distributed zirconium diboride and vanadium-based nanoparticles. The potential mechanisms for the observed influence on the reaction kinetics are discussed.
Sleep in patients with remitted bipolar disorders: a meta‐analysis of actigraphy studies

Sleep dysregulation is highly prevalent in bipolar disorders (BDs), with previous actigraphic studies demonstrating sleep abnormalities during depressive, manic, and interepisode periods. We undertook a meta‐analysis of published actigraphy studies to identify whether any abnormalities in the reported sleep profiles of remitted BD cases differ from controls.
Mood and Food

The relationship between mood and food is complex. Mood can influence the foods we choose to eat. Sometimes we hear friends or family saying that they were so stressed by events in their lives that their eating was out of control – either they overate or, less frequently, that they could not eat. Overeating when stressed is a common reaction. More than a third of the participants in a national survey conducted by National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health (2014) said they change their diets during stressful times. The term ‘comfort food’ has entered our lexicon and refers to traditional foods that we feel provide a relief from negative emotions and an increase in positive feelings; eating comfort food is seen as a response to emotional stress. Comfort food is specific to culture and frequently has a high carbohydrate level and a simple preparation. When we feel stressed, we reach for foods that will comfort us immediately, but one theory proposes that this can lead to a vicious cycle: foods high in carbohydrates may lead to surges and crashes in blood sugar accompanied by a surge in adrenaline, or epinephrine, often called ‘the stress hormone’ (Aubrey, 2014). According to this explanation, eating lots of refined carbohydrates and sugar may exacerbate our responses to stress. The relationship between food and mood can also go the other way: the food we choose to eat may affect our mood. There may be types of food that make us more resilient to stress. Over the last two decades, researchers have been investigating the links between the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish (eggs, dark leafy greens, etc.) and emotional health and wellbeing (Aubrey, 2014). Others have shown a strong day-today relationship between more positive mood and higher fruit and vegetable consumption (Hopf, 2013; White, Horwath, & Conner, 2013). And others have demonstrated a link between
Rapid Detection of Ceratocystis platani Inoculum by Quantitative Real-Time PCR Assay

ABSTRACT Ceratocystis platani is the causal agent of canker stain of plane trees, a lethal disease able to kill mature trees in one or two successive growing seasons. The pathogen is a quarantine organism and has a negative impact on anthropogenic and natural populations of plane trees. Contaminated sawdust produced during pruning and sanitation fellings can contribute to disease spread. The goal of this study was to design a rapid, real-time quantitative PCR assay to detect a C. platani airborne inoculum. Airborne inoculum traps (AITs) were placed in an urban setting in the city of Florence, Italy, where the disease was present. Primers and TaqMan minor groove binder (MGB) probes were designed to target cerato-platanin (CP) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) genes. The detection limits of the assay were 0.05 pg/μl and 2 fg/μl of fungal DNA for CP and ITS, respectively. Pathogen detection directly from AITs demonstrated specificity and high sensitivity for C. platani, detecting DNA concentrations as low as 1.2 × 10−2 to 1.4 × 10−2 pg/μl, corresponding to ∼10 conidia per ml. Airborne inoculum traps were able to detect the C. platani inoculum within 200 m of the closest symptomatic infected plane tree. The combination of airborne trapping and real-time quantitative PCR assay provides a rapid and sensitive method for the specific detection of a C. platani inoculum. This technique may be used to identify the period of highest risk of pathogen spread in a site, thus helping disease management.
Near-Synonym Choice in an Intelligent Thesaurus

An intelligent thesaurus assists a writer with alternative choices of words and orders them by their suitability in the writing context. In this paper we focus on methods for automatically choosing nearsynonyms by their semantic coherence with the context. Our statistical method uses the Web as a corpus to compute mutual information scores. Evaluation experiments show that this method performs better than a previous method on the same task. We also propose and evaluate two more methods, one that uses anticollocations, and one that uses supervised learning. To asses the difficulty of the task, we present results obtained by human judges.
Uptake of Rabies Control Measures by Dog Owners in Flores Island, Indonesia

Background Rabies has been a serious public health threat in Flores Island, Indonesia since it was introduced in 1997. To control the disease, annual dog vaccination campaigns have been implemented to vaccinate all dogs free of charge. Nevertheless, the uptake rate of the vaccination campaigns has been low. The objective of this paper is to identify risk factors associated with the uptake of rabies control measures by individual dog owners in Flores Island. Methodology/principal findings A total of 450 dog owners from 44 randomly selected villages in the Sikka and Manggarai regencies were interviewed regarding their socio-demographic factors, knowledge of rabies, and their uptake of rabies control measures. The majority of dog owners surveyed (>90%) knew that rabies is a fatal disease and that it can be prevented. Moreover, 68% of the dog owners had a high level of knowledge about available rabies control measures. Fifty-two percent of the dog owners had had at least one of their dogs vaccinated during the 2012 vaccination campaign. Vaccination uptake was significantly higher for dog owners who resided in Sikka, kept female dogs for breeding, had an income of more than one million Rupiah, and had easy access to their village. The most important reasons not to join the vaccination campaign were lack of information about the vaccination campaign schedule (40%) and difficulty to catch the dog during the vaccination campaign (37%). Conclusions/significance Dog owners in Flores Island had a high level of knowledge of rabies and its control, but this was not associated with uptake of the 2012 vaccination campaign. Geographical accessibility was one of the important factors influencing the vaccination uptake among dog owners. Targeted distribution of information on vaccination schedules and methods to catch and restrain dogs in those villages with poor accessibility may increase vaccination uptake in the future.
Age Limits for Deep Brain Stimulation of Subthalamic Nuclei in Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND Clinical pre-operative predictive factors of optimal STN-DBS motor outcome in Parkinson's disease (PD) have been previously reported. However, available data involving elderly patients are conflicting. OBJECTIVE To compare early post-operative outcomes in parkinsonian patients younger than 65 years old (group 1) vs patients 65 years old or older (group 2) at the time of surgery. METHODS The cognitive and motor effects of DBS were evaluated by comparison of different scores obtained before (baseline) and 6 months after surgery using a repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS Post-operative motor improvement (UPDRS part III and UPDRS part IV scores) and drug reduction were not statistically different between groups 1 and 2 (P > 0.05). Axial motor score which was significantly worse in group 2 in the on-drug condition before surgery was also significantly worse both in off-drug/on-stimulation and on-drug/on-stimulation conditions (P < 0.05). Similarly, cognitive performances (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Stroop interference test, Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test with Immediate Recall, Verbal Fluency) significantly worsened post-operatively ingroup 2. CONCLUSIONS Although effective and safe, STN-DBS has a more negative impact on cognitive functions in elderly patient, requiring a careful preoperative selection.