Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of methods for isolating Salmonella bacteria from faeces of naturally infected pigs

A series of experiments was conducted using faecal samples collected from commercial swine farms to evaluate the effects of variation in methods used for the detection of Salmonella bacteria. The primary objective of the studies was to compare the protocols routinely used in two laboratories in the USA. The studies included five experiments comparing the enrichment protocols used routinely in the respective laboratories (Method 1: 10 g faeces—buffered peptone water (BPW) pre‐enrichment—selective enrichment in Rappaport/Vassiliadis (RV) broth; Method 2: ∼1g faeces—primary enrichments in tetrathionate and Hajna GN broths—secondary enrichment in RV broth). The effects of enrichment temperatures (37 vs 42 °C) using RV broth (two experiments) and delayed secondary enrichment (four experiments) were also evaluated. Direct comparison of Method 1 and Method 2 indicated comparable results. However, when compared using faecal samples of equal weight, the Method 2 enrichment protocol was more sensitive for detecting Salmonella bacteria than the Method 1 protocol. Enrichment in RV at 42 °C was superior to 37 °C, particularly for samples that were pre‐enriched in BPW. Delayed secondary enrichment increased detection of Salmonella bacteria in swine faeces. These results highlight the imperfect sensitivity of culture methods, and the need for researchers to consider the sensitivity of bacteriological methods in the design and interpretation of the results of epidemiologic studies based on faecal culture
A clinical and urodynamic assessment of the Burch colposuspension for genuine stress incontinence

Summary. Twenty‐five women having a Burch colposuspension operation were assessed before and after the operation by urodynamic investigations including urethral pressure measurements at rest and on stress. After 3 months, the objective cure rate was 88%. An increase in voiding difficulty and urodynamic evidence of outflow obstruction was seen after the operation. The operation does not induce any significant change in resting urethral profile variables. The stress profile showed accentuation in pressure transmission ratios, most marked in the proximal urethra. These changes are likely to be mechanical in origin and may be responsible for voiding difficulties in those women who initiate voiding by straining.
Involvement of Mytilins in Mussel Antimicrobial Defense*

Four cationic peptides were purified from mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) hemocytes. A combination of Edman degradation and mass spectrometry of plasma revealed (i) a previously characterized molecule, mytilin B (Charlet, M., Chernysh, S., Philippe, H., Hetrut, C., Hoffmann, J., and Bulet, P. (1996)J. Biol. Chem. 271, 21808–21813) and (ii) three new isoforms, mytilin C, D, and G1. The four molecules exhibited complementary antimicrobial properties. The cDNA sequence coding for the mytilin B precursor was obtained from a hemocyte cDNA library. This precursor contains a putative signal peptide of 22 residues, a processing peptide sequence of 34 amino acids, and a C-terminal extension of 48 residues rich in acidic residues. Distribution of mytilin B mRNA and of the corresponding peptide in various mussel tissues revealed that mytilins are synthesized and stored in a specific hemocyte subtype. Furthermore, in an experimental model of infection, we showed (i) a recruitment of hemocytes containing mytilins toward the injection site within hours following bacterial challenge, (ii) that mytilins probably play a prominent role in killing intracellular bacteria after phagocytosis, and (ii) later an increase of mytilin-like material occurred in the plasma suggesting a secondary systemic role.
Validation of algorithms to determine incidence of Hirschsprung disease in Ontario, Canada: a population-based study using health administrative data

Objective Incidence rates of Hirschsprung disease (HD) vary by geographical region, yet no recent population-based estimate exists for Canada. The objective of our study was to validate and use health administrative data from Ontario, Canada to describe trends in incidence of HD between 1991 and 2013. Study design To identify children with HD we tested algorithms consisting of a combination of diagnostic, procedural, and intervention codes against the reference standard of abstracted clinical charts from a tertiary pediatric hospital. The algorithm with the highest positive predictive value (PPV) that could maintain high sensitivity was applied to health administrative data from April 31, 1991 to March 31, 2014 (fiscal years 1991–2013) to determine annual incidence. Temporal trends were evaluated using Poisson regression, controlling for sex as a covariate. Results The selected algorithm was highly sensitive (93.5%) and specific (>99.9%) with excellent predictive abilities (PPV 89.6% and negative predictive value >99.9%). Using the algorithm, a total of 679 patients diagnosed with HD were identified in Ontario between 1991 and 2013. The overall incidence during this time was 2.05 per 10,000 live births (or 1 in 4,868 live births). The incidence did not change significantly over time (odds ratio 0.998, 95% confidence interval 0.983–1.013, p = 0.80). Conclusion Ontario health administrative data can be used to accurately identify cases of HD and describe trends in incidence. There has not been a significant change in HD incidence over time in Ontario between 1991 and 2013.
Surfing Notes: An Integrated Web Annotation and Archiving Tool

Web archiving for preserving the valuable information online from disappearing due to the dynamic nature of the World Wide Web, and web annotation for promoting the development of the Web as a two-way information sharing platform are both active research fields. However, in spite of their common benefits to information management and intelligent learning, few attempts have been made to integrate web archiving and web annotation. This paper introduces Surfing Notes, a cloud-based system which allows the users to annotate and archive the web pages for personal use. The change detection algorithm as well as the change detection interval scheduler are discussed in detail and evaluated experimentally.
The Superalloys Fundamentals and Applications: The physical metallurgy of nickel and its alloys

Nickel is the fifth most abundant element on earth. The atomic number is 28, and this places it in the first row of the d block of transition metals, alongside iron and cobalt. The atomic weight is 58.71, the weighted average of the five stable isotopes 58, 60, 61, 62 and 64, which are found with probabilities 67.7%, 26.2%, 1.25%, 3.66% and 1.16%, respectively. The crystal structure is face-centred cubic (FCC; see Figure 2.1), from ambient conditions to the melting point, 1455 °C, which represents an absolute limit for the temperature capability of the nickel-based superalloys. The density under ambient conditions is 8907 kg/m 3 . Thus, compared with other metals used for aerospace applications, for example, Ti (4508 kg/m 3 ) and Al (2698 kg/m 3 ), Ni is rather dense. This is a consequence of a small interatomic distance, arising from the strong cohesion provided by the outer d electrons – a characteristic of the transition metals. In this chapter, some important aspects of the physical metallurgy of nickel and its alloys are considered. Section 2.1 is concerned with the compositions of the superalloys and the phases promoted by the presence of the alloying elements. Such composition– microstructure relationships have been established over many years, and considerable use of them is required when designing new grades of superalloy.
Patient satisfaction with doctor-patient interaction and its association with modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among moderately-high risk patients in primary healthcare

Background The outcomes of the physician-patient discussion intervene in the satisfaction of cardiovascular disease risk patients. Adherence to treatment, provision of continuous care, clinical management of the illness and patients’ adjustment are influenced by satisfaction with physician-patient interaction. This study aims to determine the patient satisfaction with doctor-patient interaction and over six months after following prevention counselling, its associations with modifiable cardiovascular risk factors amongst moderately-high risk patients in a primary healthcare clinic in Kelantan, Malaysia. Methods A prospective survey was conducted amongst patients with moderately-high cardiovascular risk. A total of 104 moderately-high risk patients were recruited and underwent structured prevention counselling based on the World Health Organization guideline, and their satisfaction with the doctor-patient interaction was assessed using ‘Skala Kepuasan Interaksi Perubatan-11,’ the Malay version of the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale-21. Systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured at baseline and at a follow-up visit at six months. Descriptive analysis, paired t test and linear regression analyses were performed. Results A total of 102 patients responded, giving a response rate of 98.1%. At baseline, 76.5% of the respondents were satisfied with the relation with their doctor, with the favourable domain of distress relief (85.3%) and rapport/confidence (91.2%). The unfavourable domain was interaction outcome, with satisfaction in only 67.6% of the respondents. Between the two visits, changes had occurred in total cholesterol (P = 0.022) and in systolic blood pressure (P < 0.001). Six months after the initial visits, no relationship existed between patient satisfaction scores and changes in modifiable cardiovascular risks. Discussion The ‘Skala Kepuasan Interaksi Perubatan-11’ which represents a component of the interpersonal doctor-patient relationship can be used to assess improvements of the medical skills and in medical training to enhance the quality of therapeutic communication.
Low incidence of kidney rejection after simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation after antithymocyte globulin induction and in the absence of corticosteroids: results of a prospective pilot study in 28 consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND Recipients of simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation receive a combination of polyclonal antithymocyte globulin (ATG), cyclosporin or tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and corticosteroids (Cs). To avoid the side effects and adverse events associated with Cs, we investigated a new immunosuppressive regimen without Cs after simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation. METHODS A total of 28 consecutive patients who underwent simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation were included in this study. All patients received ATG, cyclosporin, and MMF. RESULTS All patients but one tolerated the ATG course well. MMF was definitively discontinued in three patients because of leukopenia. Cytomegalovirus infection was diagnosed in eight patients (28.5%). Only two patients (7%) required an antirejection treatment. Patient, kidney, and pancreas survival is currently 96.4, 96.4, and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The combination of ATG, cyclosporin, and MMF, without Cs, was well tolerated. The unexpectedly low (7%) incidence of acute kidney rejection observed suggests that Cs may partially interfere with the immunosuppressive effect of ATG.
Numerical Simulation of PU Foaming Flow in a Refrigerator Cabinet

We have developed a numerical method for unsteady three-dimensional (3D) simulation of rigid polyurethane (PU) foaming flow in a refrigerator cabinet in this study. The governing equation for the compressible foaming flow is approximated with the Navier-Stokes equation, which means the foaming flow is assumed to be Newtonian. Numerical methods of simulation for unsteady compressible PU foaming flow with a free surface have been designed using a finite volume method (FVM) and the semi-implicit method for pressure-linked equations (SIMPLE) scheme as a pressure correction method. The formulation of numerical methods is developed on the basis of hexahedral meshes. Air in a refrigerator cabinet is neglected in the numerical method, and the free surface is traced with the volume of fluid (VOF) method. Viscosity and density of foam are assumed to be uniform in space and time-dependent, which are obtained with experimental methods. Results of numerical simulation for filling pattern and a finally filled position have been compared with the experimental results in a plate mold and a simple refrigerator cabinet. Simulation results of foaming fronts and finally filled position show good agreement with the experimental results. Numerical simulation of PU foaming flow is a useful tool to design a new refrigerator model and predict foam quality related to distance of foaming flow, air trapping, and location of finally filled position.
Uniform global position feedback tracking control of mechanical systems without friction

We establish, as far as we know, the first proof of uniform global asymptotic stability for a mechanical system (Euler-Lagrange) in closed loop with a dynamic controller which makes use only of position measurements. The controller is fairly simple, it is reminiscent of the so-called Paden-Panja controller [20] where unavailable generalized velocities are replaced by approximate differentiation (dirty derivatives). The controller has been reported previously however, only semiglobal asymptotic stability has been established so far. The novelty of this paper relies in establishing a global property as well as in the method of proof, which does not follow Lyapunov's. However, the problem of finding a strict control Lyapunov function remains open.
Clinical Use of Anti‐CD25 Antibody Daclizumab to Enhance Immune Responses to Tumor Antigen Vaccination by Targeting Regulatory T cells

CD4+ regulatory T cells frustrate productive tumor immune surveillance and represent an obstacle for cancer immunotherapy. In mice, anti‐CD25 antibody is an effective method of depleting CD25+ FOXP3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) in vivo and enhancing cancer immunity. Here, we propose the use of the anti‐CD25 monoclonal antibody daclizumab for the depletion of Tregs in cancer patients. In early results from an ongoing clinical trial, a single intravenous infusion of daclizumab in patients with metastatic breast cancer is associated with a marked and prolonged elimination of CD25+ FOXP3+ Tregs in peripheral blood. When a cancer antigen peptide vaccine is administered during the daclizumab‐induced Treg nadir, effective generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes has been observed, including those specific for neo‐antigens, such as cytomegalovirus peptide used as an immunological control. If confirmed in additional patients, these observations suggest that daclizumab may be an effective and available therapeutic agent for Treg modulation in patients with cancer.
Control and stabilization of morphologies in reactively compatibilized Polyamide 6 / High Density Polyethylene blends

This study deals with reactively compatibilized Polyamide 6 / High Density Polyethylene blends. More precisely, it focuses on the relationship between (1) the formulation, the processing parameters in corotating twin screw extrusion and (2) the morphologies and the microstructures of blends. Multi-scale morphologies were observed by Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy. At the micron scale, the following morphologies were developed: nodular dispersions, stretched nodules and co-continuous morphology. As the processing conditions did not influence the types of morphology, the different morphological regions were reported in ternary diagrams. In the case of compatibilized blends, two mechanisms for morphology development have been proposed: (1) the compatibilization reaction, being very fast, leads to the formation of nano-dispersions by interfacial instabilities and (2) the standard break-up/coalescence mechanism of domains poor in copolymer could lead to the formation of morphologies up to the micron scale. Both the evolution of the largest size as a function of the composition and the distribution of sizes were modeled using percolation concepts. The stability of the morphologies was then studied either during static annealing or controlled shear or in a second step processing. The copolymer formed at the interface allows stabilizing the size of the morphologies. Finally, crystallization at lower temperature was observed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry when the polymers are confined in submicron domains.
Monte Carlo Arithmetic: exploiting randomness in floating-point arithmetic

Monte Carlo Arithmetic (MCA) is an extension of standard oating-point arithmetic that exploits randomness in basic oating-point operations. MCA includes random rounding | which forces roundoo errors to be randomly distributed | and precision bounding | which limits the number of signiicant digits in a given value by random perturbation. Random rounding can be used to produce roundoo errors that are truly random and uncorrelated, and that have zero expected bias. Precision bounding can be used to vary precision dynamically, to implement inexact values (values known to only a few signiicant digits), and most importantly to detect catastrophic cancellation, which is the primary way that signiicant digits are lost in numerical computation. Randomization has both theoretical and practical beneets. It has the eeect of transforming any oating-point computation into a Monte Carlo computation, and roundoo analysis into statistical analysis. Unlike much previous work in this area, MCA makes no assumptions about the resulting roundoo error distributions, such as that they are normal. By running a program multiple times, one directly measures the sensitivity of particular outputs to random perturbations of particular inputs. MCA thus gives a way to implement roundoo analysis, using random variables for roundoo errors, so that the roundoo distributions can be studied explicitly. It encourages an empirical approach to evaluating numerical quality, and gives a way to exploit the Monte Carlo method in numerical computation. MCA also generally gives a diierent perspective on the study of error. For example, while oating-point summationis not associative, Monte Carlo summationis \statistically associative" up to the standard error of the sum. A statistical approach avoids anomalies of oating-point arithmetic. This work summarizes ways in which MCA has promise as a tool in numerical computation. It seems particularly promising as a way for the person on the street to estimate the number of signiicant digits in a oating-point value, and to experiment with the eeect of changing the precision used in numerical computation. Numerical modeling is becoming a part of life for more and more people, and few of these people either enjoy or are skilled at formal error analysis; MCA gives them a way to estimate the quality of their numerical models.
Spectral–Spatial Kernel Regularized for Hyperspectral Image Denoising

Noise contamination is a ubiquitous problem in hyperspectral images (HSIs), which is a challenging and promising theme in many remote sensing applications. A large number of methods have been proposed to remove noise. Unfortunately, most denoising methods fail to take full advantages of the high spectral correlation and to simultaneously consider the specific noise distributions in HSIs. Recently, a spectral-spatial adaptive hyperspectral total variation (SSAHTV) was proposed and obtained promising results. However, the SSAHTV model is insensitive to the image details, which makes the edges blur. To overcome all of these drawbacks, a spectral-spatial kernel method for HSI denoising is proposed in this paper. The proposed method is inspired by the observation that the spectral-spatial information is highly redundant in HSIs, which is sufficient to estimate the clear images. In this paper, a spectral-spatial kernel regularization is proposed to maintain the spectral correlations in spectral dimension and to match the original structure between two spatial dimensions. Moreover, an adaptive mechanism is developed to balance the fidelity term according to different noise distributions in each band. Therefore, it cannot only suppress noise in the high-noise band but also preserve information in the low-noise band. The reliability of the proposed method in removing noise is experimentally proved on both simulated data and real data.
The putative heme transporter HCP1 is expressed in cultured astrocytes and contributes to the uptake of hemin

Hemin, which is toxic to brain cells, has been reported to be taken up by cultured astrocytes; however, the mechanism of uptake is currently unknown. The present study investigated the mechanism of hemin uptake by rat primary astrocyte cultures. In medium containing 10% fetal calf serum, cultured astrocytes failed to accumulate significant amounts of heme‐iron, while in serum‐free medium the accumulation of heme‐iron was found to be time‐ and concentration‐dependent. After 6 h of incubation with 24 μM hemin, cells contained 36.2 ± 2.4 nmol heme‐iron/mg protein, which was 21% of the applied hemin. These results suggest that the accumulation of hemin in astrocytes does not require serum proteins such as hemopexin. A potential mechanism of hemin uptake in astrocytes involves the heme carrier protein 1 (HCP1), which is reported to mediate hemin uptake into intestinal cells. RT‐PCR analysis revealed that astrocyte cultures contained HCP1 mRNA, and immunocytochemical staining and Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of HCP1 protein in cultured astrocytes. The functionality of HCP1 in astrocytes was demonstrated by incubating cells with zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPPIX), which is known to be transported into cells via HCP1, and ZnPPIX autofluorescence was detected in HCP1‐positive astrocytes. In addition, ZnPPIX was found to attenuate the accumulation of heme‐iron by astrocytes. These results are the first to demonstrate that cultured astrocytes contain functional HCP1 and that this transporter contributes to hemin uptake by astrocytes. HCP1 may therefore provide a new target for reducing hemin‐related toxicity in brain cells. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Saliency Detection on Light Field

Existing saliency detection approaches use images as inputs and are sensitive to foreground/background similarities, complex background textures, and occlusions. We explore the problem of using light fields as input for saliency detection. Our technique is enabled by the availability of commercial plenoptic cameras that capture the light field of a scene in a single shot. We show that the unique refocusing capability of light fields provides useful focusness, depths, and objectness cues. We further develop a new saliency detection algorithm tailored for light fields. To validate our approach, we acquire a light field database of a range of indoor and outdoor scenes and generate the ground truth saliency map. Experiments show that our saliency detection scheme can robustly handle challenging scenarios such as similar foreground and background, cluttered background, complex occlusions, etc, and achieve high accuracy and robustness.
EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO DETERMINE EFFECT OF CRACK BUCKLING AND SPECIMEN DIMENSIONS ON FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF THIN SHEET MATERIALS

Abstract : This report presents test results on dimensional similitude requirements for plane stress fracture toughness testing of centrally notched Griffith panels. In addition to the similitude requirements data, the report also presents test results on crack buckling, slow crack extension, and crack tip yield zone size. This data is particularly useful in substantiating recent theoretical studies in fracture mechanics.