Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Invasive Candidiasis: a Persistent Public Health Problem

SUMMARY Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a leading cause of mycosis-associated mortality in the United States. We examined data from the National Center for Health Statistics and reviewed recent literature in order to update the epidemiology of IC. IC-associated mortality has remained stable, at approximately 0.4 deaths per 100,000 population, since 1997, while mortality associated with invasive aspergillosis has continued to decline. Candida albicans remains the predominant cause of IC, accounting for over half of all cases, but Candida glabrata has emerged as the second most common cause of IC in the United States, and several less common Candida species may be emerging, some of which can exhibit resistance to triazoles and/or amphotericin B. Crude and attributable rates of mortality due to IC remain unacceptably high and unchanged for the past 2 decades. Nonpharmacologic preventive strategies should be emphasized, including hand hygiene; appropriate use, placement, and care of central venous catheters; and prudent use of antimicrobial therapy. Given that delays in appropriate antifungal therapy are associated with increased mortality, improved use of early empirical, preemptive, and prophylactic therapies should also help reduce IC-associated mortality. Several studies have now identified important variables that can be used to predict risk of IC and to help guide preventive strategies such as antifungal prophylaxis and early empirical therapy. However, improved non-culture-based diagnostics are needed to expand the potential for preemptive (or early directed) therapy. Further research to improve diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies is necessary to reduce the considerable morbidity and mortality associated with IC.
Competitive adsorption of fluoride and natural organic matter onto activated alumina

ABSTRACT Natural organic matter (NOM) is a major water constituent that affects the performance of water treatment processes. Several studies have shown that NOM can be adsorbed on the surface of oxides and may compete with other ions. The overall goal of this study was essentially to investigate the competitive adsorption between fluoride and NOM on activated alumina (AA). For this purpose, a humic acid (HA) was used as a model compound for NOM. The interaction of NOM with fluoride, the simultaneous competitive adsorption, and the effect of preloading AA with NOM were investigated. The specific absorbance of HA was determined at 254 nm. Size-exclusion chromatography measurements confirmed the adsorption of aromatic fractions of NOM onto AA. The presence of HA in the system inhibited fluoride sorption onto AA and the removal yield using fresh AA decreased from 70.4 % to 51.0 % in the presence of HA. The decrease was more pronounced using AA preloaded with HA, reaching 37.7 %. The interference of coexisting ions and their effect on fluoride removal capacity were evaluated, showing a severe impact of the presence of phosphate on the removal capacity unlike nitrates and sulfates, which slightly improved the fluoride sorption.
Single-step colloidal processing of stable aqueous dispersions of ferroelectric nanoparticles for biomedical imaging

The biomedical applications of ferroelectric nanoparticles rely on the production of stable aqueous colloids. We report an implementation of the high energy ball milling method to produce and disperse ultrafine BaTiO3 nanoparticles in an aqueous media in a single step. This technique is low-cost, environmentally friendly and has the capability to control nanoparticle size and functionality with milling parameters. As a result, ultrafine nanoparticles with sizes as small as 6 nm can be produced. These nanoparticles maintain ferroelectricity and can be used as second harmonic generating nanoprobes for biomedical imaging. This technique can be generalized to produce aqueous nanoparticle colloids of other imaging materials.
Capacity Investment and Product Line Decisions of a Multiproduct Leader and a Focus Strategy Entrant

In this article, I investigate the capacity investment cost conditions where a multiproduct market leader may respond to a focus strategy entrant by using different strategies such as changing the product mix, production volumes, quality levels, and/or by investing in more capacity. The products offered in the market are quality differentiated and customers are heterogeneous in their willingness to pay for quality. The capacity investment costs of the two firms (i.e., the leader and the entrant) may also be different. The classical Stackelberg model predicts that an incumbent does not change its position in response to entry. However, when heterogeneous customer base, product differentiation, and capacity costs are taken into consideration, I find that the leader with a low capacity cost may choose to expand its product line and increase its production. The leader with low capacity cost may introduce a product that it was holding back when the entrant has to bear the high-capacity cost and cannibalization threat is relatively small. Nevertheless, the extent of production volume strategies reduces as the capacity cost increases for the leader. I also find that when the leader has the power to set the industry standards by deciding the quality levels, as a response to a high-quality focused entrant, the leader increases both levels of quality and production of the low-quality product. Moreover, when the capacity investment cost is high for both the entrant and the leader, I find that market prices may increase with entry. [Submitted: July 19, 2012. Revised: October 3, 2012. Accepted: December 12, 2012. ] Subject Areas: Capacity Investment, Competition, Focus Strategy, OMMarketing Interface, and Product Line.
Next-Gen Sequencing Exposes Frequent MED12 Mutations and Actionable Therapeutic Targets in Phyllodes Tumors

Phyllodes tumors are rare fibroepithelial tumors with variable clinical behavior accounting for a small subset of all breast neoplasms, yet little is known about the genetic alterations that drive tumor initiation and/or progression. Here, targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to identify somatic alterations in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) patient specimens from malignant, borderline, and benign cases. NGS revealed mutations in mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12) affecting the G44 hotspot residue in the majority (67%) of cases spanning all three histologic grades. In addition, loss-of-function mutations in p53 (TP53) as well as deleterious mutations in the tumor suppressors retinoblastoma (RB1) and neurofibromin 1 (NF1) were identified exclusively in malignant tumors. High-level copy-number alterations (CNA) were nearly exclusively confined to malignant tumors, including potentially clinically actionable gene amplifications in IGF1R and EGFR. Taken together, this study defines the genomic landscape underlying phyllodes tumor development, suggests potential molecular correlates to histologic grade, expands the spectrum of human tumors with frequent recurrent MED12 mutations, and identifies IGF1R and EGFR as potential therapeutic targets in malignant cases. Implications: Integrated genomic sequencing and mutational profiling provides insight into the molecular origin of phyllodes tumors and indicates potential druggable targets in malignant disease. Visual Overview: http://mcr.aacrjournals. org/content/early/2015/04/02/1541-7786.MCR-14-0578/F1.large. jpg. Mol Cancer Res; 13(4); 613–9. ©2015 AACR. Visual Overview
Effect of hybridization and chemical modification on the water‐absorption behavior of banana fiber–reinforced polyester composites

The water sorption characteristics of banana fiber–reinforced polyester composites were studied by immersion in distilled water at 28, 50, 70, and 90°C. The effect of hybridization with glass fiber and the chemical modification of the fiber on the water absorption properties of the prepared composites were also evaluated. In the case of hybrid composites, water uptake decreased with increase of glass fiber content. In the case of chemically modified fiber composites, water uptake was found to be dependent on the chemical treatment done on the fiber surface. Weight change profiles of the composites at higher temperature indicated that the diffusion is close to Fickian. The water absorption showed a multistage mechanism in all cases at lower temperatures. Chemical modification was found to affect the water uptake of the composite. Among the treated composites the lowest water uptake was observed for composites treated with silane A1100. Finally, parameters like diffusion, sorption, and permeability coefficients were determined. It was observed that equilibrium water uptake is dependent on the nature of the composite and temperature. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3856–3865, 2004
Pediatric Emergencies Admitted in the Resuscitation Room of a Swiss University Hospital

ObjectivesPediatric resuscitation is an intense, stressful, and challenging process. The aim of this study was to review the life-threatening pediatric (LTP) emergencies admitted in a Swiss university hospital with regards to patients’ demographics, reason for admission, diagnosis, treatment, significant events, critical incidents, and outcomes. MethodsA retrospective observational cohort study of prospectively collected data was conducted, including all LTP emergencies admitted over a period of 2 years in the resuscitation room (RR). Variables, including indication for transfer, mode of prehospital transportation, diagnosis, and time spent in RR, were recorded. ResultsOf the 60,939 pediatric emergencies treated in our university hospital over 2 years, a total of 277 LTP emergencies (0.46%) were admitted in the RR. They included 160 boys and 117 girls, aged 6 days to 15.95 years (mean, 6.69 years; median, 5.06). A medical problem was identified in 55.9% (n = 155) of the children. Of the 122 children treated for a surgical problem, 35 (28.3%) went directly from the RR to the operating room. Hemodynamic instability was noted in 19.5% of all LTP emergencies, of which 1.1% benefited from O negative transfusion. Admission to the intensive care unit was necessary for 61.6% of the children transferred from another hospital. The average time spent in the RR was 46 minutes. The overall mortality rate was 7.2%. ConclusionsThe LTP emergencies accounted for a small proportion of all pediatric emergencies. They were more medical than surgical cases and resuscitation measures because of hemodynamic instability were the most frequent treatment.
Small Vessel Parametric Model Coefficient Estimation

dissertation research in the area of real-time system identification of ship hydrodynamic coefficients is presented. In accordance with the naval initiative of Seabasing requiring automation of small vessels, a real-time coefficient system identification method is being researched. Ship coefficient system identification has been relatively neglected with efforts limited only to Kalman filtering application on one degree of freedom ship models. In this paper, the effectiveness of Least Squares technique is researched for a 3 DOF model of the FAU R/V Stephan. Utilizing this simulation program of the vessel, various maneuvers are performed for parameter estimation. Results show that the degradation of Least Squares, with increasing ship speed and maneuver complexity, indicate that this technique is not suitable for development into a real-time system identification system.
Diminished Acyl-CoA Synthetase Isoform 4 Activity in INS 832/13 Cells Reduces Cellular Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid Levels and Results in Impaired Glucose-stimulated Insulin Secretion*

Background: The role of intracellular lipid metabolism as it relates to nutrient-coupled glucose-stimulated insulin secretion has not been fully elucidated. Results: Knockdown of acyl-CoA synthetase isoform 4 impairs glucose-stimulated insulin secretion caused by decreased cellular epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. Conclusion: Acyl-CoA synthetase 4 is required for optimal glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Significance: Understanding the role of beta-cell lipid metabolism is needed to develop novel strategies to enhance insulin secretion. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic beta-cells is potentiated by fatty acids (FA). The initial step in the metabolism of intracellular FA is the conversion to acyl-CoA by long chain acyl-CoA synthetases (Acsls). Because the predominantly expressed Acsl isoforms in INS 832/13 cells are Acsl4 and -5, we characterized the role of these Acsls in beta-cell function by using siRNA to knock down Acsl4 or Acsl5. Compared with control cells, an 80% suppression of Acsl4 decreased GSIS and FA-potentiated GSIS by 32 and 54%, respectively. Knockdown of Acsl5 did not alter GSIS. Acsl4 knockdown did not alter FA oxidation or long chain acyl-CoA levels. With Acsl4 knockdown, incubation with 17 mm glucose increased media epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and reduced cell membrane levels of EETs. Further, exogenous EETs reduced GSIS in INS 832/13 cells, and in Acsl4 knockdown cells, an EET receptor antagonist partially rescued GSIS. These results strongly suggest that Acsl4 activates EETs to form EET-CoAs that are incorporated into glycerophospholipids, thereby sequestering EETs. Exposing INS 832/13 cells to arachidonate or linoleate reduced Acsl4 mRNA and protein expression and reduced GSIS. These data indicate that Acsl4 modulates GSIS by regulating the levels of unesterified EETs and that arachidonate controls the expression of its activator Acsl4.
Reply to GC Chen et al

observational studies that showed that the benefits of nuts may be saturated at certain amounts (3). It would be more informative to further show the curves by restricting the analyses to the RCTs instead of all trials, given the fact that nonrandomized trials showed greater effects in most of their subanalyses. In sum, the study by Del Gobbo et al. (5) represents an interesting and important study that showed a cholesterol-lowering effect of nut consumption, a mechanism by which nuts may exert their health effects. However, it is notable that the trials included in the meta-analysis are of relatively short durations, and a recent Cochrane systematic review (10) that considered RCTs of 3 mo claimed “very limited evidence for the effects on CVD risk factors. ” Thus, additional long-term, well-designed RCTs that investigate the effects of nut supplementation on risk factors for, and primary prevention of, CVD are still required.
Upscaling Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation in 0.5m Columns: Experimental and Modeling Results

Microbial induced calcite precipitation (MICP), involving microbial urea hydrolysis by the bacteria Sporoscarcina pasteurii to prime conditions for calcite precipitation, offers an environmentally conscience solution to a wide range of civil engineering problems. MICP has been shown to improve the undrained shear response of soils at the element scale and offers potential benefits over current ground improvement techniques that are highly energy intensive and may pose health risks. The objective of this study is to identify effective means of achieving uniform distribution of precipitate in a one-dimensional flow, 50 cm long laboratory sand column experiments. The approach involves comparing two injection methods and investigating a numerical model of MICP developed previously (Barkouki et al. 2010). Results demonstrate that the stopped-flow injection of a urea- and calcium-rich solution produces a more uniform calcite distribution as compared to a continuous injection method. Statistical analysis on the regression parameters used show that more, higher quality data is required to achieve a unique solution to calibrating MICP.
Essential Thioredoxin-Dependent Peroxiredoxin System from Helicobacter pylori: Genetic and Kinetic Characterization

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori, an oxygen-sensitive microaerophile, contains an alkyl hydroperoxide reductase homologue (AhpC, HP1563) that is more closely related to 2-Cys peroxiredoxins of higher organisms than to most other eubacterial AhpC proteins. Allelic replacement mutagenesis revealed ahpC to be essential, suggesting a critical role for AhpC in defending H. pyloriagainst oxygen toxicity. Characterization of the ahpCpromoter region divulged two putative regulatory elements and identified the transcription initiation site, which was mapped to 96 and 94 bp upstream of the initiation codon. No homologue ofahpF, which encodes the dedicated AhpC reductase in most eubacteria, was found in the H. pylori genome. Instead, homologues of Escherichia coli thioredoxin (Trx) reductase (TrxR, HP0825) and Trx (Trx1, HP0824) formed a reductase system forH. pylori AhpC. A second Trx homologue (Trx2, HP1458) was identified but was incapable of AhpC reduction, although Trx2 exhibited disulfide reductase activity with other substrates [insulin and 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)]. AhpC interactions with each substrate, Trx1 and hydroperoxide, were bimolecular and nonsaturable (infinite Vmax and Kmvalues) but rapid enough (at 1 × 105 to 2 × 105 M−1 s−1) to suggest an important role for AhpC in cellular peroxide metabolism. AhpC also exhibited a wide specificity for hydroperoxide substrates, which, taken together with the above results, suggests a minimal binding site for hydroperoxides composed of little more than the cysteinyl (Cys49) active site. H. pylori AhpC was not reduced bySalmonella typhimurium AhpF and was slightly more active with E. coli TrxR and Trx1 than was S. typhimurium AhpC, demonstrating the specialized catalytic properties of this peroxiredoxin.
CD8+ Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Are Primed for Fas-Mediated Activation-Induced Cell Death But Are Not Apoptotic In Situ1

Induction of Fas-mediated activation-induced cell death in antitumor T cells has been hypothesized to permit tumor escape from immune destruction. Several laboratories have proposed that expression of Fas ligand (L) by tumor is the basis for this form of T cell tolerance. In this study, we characterized murine tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) for activation status, cell cycle status, level of apoptosis, cytokine secretion, and proliferative capacity. TILs express multiple activation markers (circa CD69, CD95L, CD122, and LFA-1) and contain IL-2 and IFN-γ mRNAs, but are neither cycling nor apoptotic in situ. In addition, TIL are dramatically suppressed in proliferative response and do not secrete IL-2 and IFN-γ. However, upon purification and activation in vitro, TIL secrete high levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ, enter S phase, and then die by Fas-mediated apoptosis. Activation by injection of anti-TCR Ab or IL-2 into tumor-bearing mice induced TIL entrance into S phase preceding apoptosis, showing that TIL have functional TCR-mediated signal transduction in situ. Our data demonstrate that TIL, not tumor, express both Fas and FasL, are arrested in G1, do not secrete cytokine in situ, and, upon activation in vitro and in vivo, rapidly die by activation-induced cell death.
Plasma and Dust at Saturn ’ s Icy Moon Enceladus and Comet 67 P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko by Ilka

Saturn’s moon Enceladus and comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko both are examples of icy solar system objects from which gas and dust flow into space. At both bodies, the gas becomes partly ionized and the dust grains get charged. Both bodies have been visited by spacecraft carrying similar Langmuir probe instruments for observing the plasma and the charged dust. The conditions at Enceladus and the comet turn out to be different, so we emphasize different aspects of their plasma environments. At Enceladus, we concentrate on the characteristic plasma regions and charged dust. At the comet, we investigate cold electrons. At Enceladus, internal frictional heating leads to gas escaping from cracks in the ice in the south pole region. This causes a plume of gas, which becomes partially ionized, and dust, becoming charged. We have investigated the plasma and charged nanodust in this region by the use of the Langmuir Probe (LP) of the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument on Cassini. The dust charge density can be calculated from the quasineutrality condition, the difference between ion and electron density measurements from LP. We found support for this method by comparing to measurements of larger dust grains by the RPWS electric antennas. We use the LP method to find that the plasma and dust environment of Enceladus can be divided into at least three regions. In addition to the well known plume, these are the plume edge and the trail region. At the comet, heat from the Sun sublimates ice to gas dragging dust along as it flows out into space. When gas molecules are hit by ionizing radiation we get a plasma. Models predict that the electron temperature just after ionization is around 10 eV, but that this collisions with the neutral gas should cool the electrons to below 0.1 eV. The Langmuir Probe instrument LAP has previously been used to show that the warm component exists at the comet. We present the first measurements of the cold component, co-existing with the warm component. We find that that the cold plasma often is observed as brief pulses in the LAP data, which we interpret as filamentation of the cold plasma.
ABC Transporter Cdr1p Contributes More than Cdr2p Does to Fluconazole Efflux in Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans Clinical Isolates

ABSTRACT Fluconazole (FLC) remains the antifungal drug of choice for non-life-threatening Candida infections, but drug-resistant strains have been isolated during long-term therapy with azoles. Drug efflux, mediated by plasma membrane transporters, is a major resistance mechanism, and clinically significant resistance in Candida albicans is accompanied by increased transcription of the genes CDR1 and CDR2, encoding plasma membrane ABC-type transporters Cdr1p and Cdr2p. The relative importance of each transporter protein for efflux-mediated resistance in C. albicans, however, is unknown; neither the relative amounts of each polypeptide in resistant isolates nor their contributions to efflux function have been determined. We have exploited the pump-specific properties of two antibody preparations, and specific pump inhibitors, to determine the relative expression and functions of Cdr1p and Cdr2p in 18 clinical C. albicans isolates. The antibodies and inhibitors were standardized using recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that hyper-express either protein in a host strain with a reduced endogenous pump background. In all 18 C. albicans strains, including 13 strains with reduced FLC susceptibilities, Cdr1p was present in greater amounts (2- to 20-fold) than Cdr2p. Compounds that inhibited Cdr1p-mediated function, but had no effect on Cdr2p efflux activity, significantly decreased the resistance to FLC of seven representative C. albicans isolates, whereas three other compounds that inhibited both pumps did not cause increased chemosensitization of these strains to FLC. We conclude that Cdr1p expression makes a greater functional contribution than does Cdr2p to FLC resistance in C. albicans.
Stochastic control for Itô system with state transmission delay

This paper is concerned with the fundamental problem of stochastic control for Itô system with state transmission delay. The optimal controller is firstly given based on the Maximum Principle and the relationship between the state and costate. A sufficient and necessary stabilizing condition is presented for the stochastic system with delayed state. The analytical controller is given in terms of the conditional expectation of the state and the solution to a coupled nonlinear equation developed in this paper.