Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli in community, specialized outpatient clinic and hospital settings in Switzerland.

OBJECTIVES Resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) in Escherichia coli can be due to the production of ESBLs, plasmid-mediated AmpCs (pAmpCs) or chromosomal AmpCs (cAmpCs). Information regarding type and prevalence of β-lactamases, clonal relations and plasmids associated with the bla genes for ESC-R E. coli (ESC-R-Ec) detected in Switzerland is lacking. Moreover, data focusing on patients referred to the specialized outpatient clinics (SOCs) are needed. METHODS We analysed 611 unique E. coli isolated during September-December 2011. ESC-R-Ec were studied with microarrays, PCR/DNA sequencing for blaESBLs, blapAmpCs, promoter region of blacAmpC, IS elements, plasmid incompatibility group, and also implementing transformation, aIEF, rep-PCR and MLST. RESULTS The highest resistance rates were observed in the SOCs, whereas those in the hospital and community were lower (e.g. quinolone resistance of 22.6%, 17.2% and 9.0%, respectively; P = 0.003 for SOCs versus community). The prevalence of ESC-R-Ec in the three settings was 5.3% (n = 11), 7.8% (n = 22) and 5.7% (n = 7), respectively. Thirty isolates produced CTX-M ESBLs (14 were CTX-M-15), 5 produced CMY-2 pAmpC and 5 hyper-expressed cAmpCs due to promoter mutations. Fourteen isolates were of sequence type 131 (ST131; 10 with CTX-M-15). blaCTX-M and blaCMY-2 were associated with an intact or truncated ISEcp1 and were mainly carried by IncF, IncFII and IncI1plasmids. CONCLUSIONS ST131 producing CTX-M-15 is the predominant clone. The prevalence of ESC-R-Ec (overall 6.5%) is low, but an unusual relatively high frequency of AmpC producers (25%) was noted. The presence of ESC-R-Ec in the SOCs and their potential ability to be exchanged between hospital and community should be taken into serious consideration.
Ehrlichia chaffeensis seroprevalence among children in the southeast and south-central regions of the United States.

BACKGROUND The reported annual incidence of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, which is due to infection with Ehrlichia chaffeensis, is as high as 5.5 per million in some states, but serosurveys suggest much higher infection rates in some populations. OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of E chaffeensis infection among children aged 1 to 17 years living in the southeast and south-central United States. DESIGN Cross-sectional serosurvey. SETTING Seven academic pediatric medical centers in the southeastern and south-central United States. PATIENTS Nineteen hundred ninety-nine children (approximately 300 at each center) having their blood drawn for any reason. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The presence of antibody at 2 different cutoff titers to E chaffeensis, as detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS Overall, 250 children (13%) had E chaffeensis antibody titers of 1:80 or higher and 61 (3%) had titers of 1:160 or higher. Age-adjusted seroprevalence rates varied widely between sites. At 1:80 or higher, the highest rate was in Winston-Salem, NC (22%), and the lowest was in Louisville, Ky (2%). At 1:160 or higher, the highest rate was in Kansas City, Mo (9%), and the lowest was in Oklahoma City, Okla (<1%). In univariate analyses, no associations were found between seroprevalence at either cutoff value and sex, race, source of specimen, or residence demographics. However, age was a significant predictor of seroprevalence at both cutoff values. In multiple logistic regression analysis, study site and age remained strong predictors of seroprevalence, but living in a nonurban ZIP code was not significantly related. CONCLUSION Infection with E chaffeensis, or related ehrlichiae, may be more common in children than previously recognized.
Electronic individual identification of zebrafish using radio frequency identification (RFID) microtags

SUMMARY Although individual electronic tagging using passive integrated acoustic (PIT) tags is established, it is mainly for fish >60 mm in length and is unsuitable for fish of <30 mm, like zebrafish. We used radio frequency identification (RFID) microtags (1 mm in diameter and 6 mm in length, with a mass of ~10 mg) to individually identify juvenile zebrafish (length 16–42 mm, mass 138–776 mg) for the first time, and studied the effects of intracoelomic implantation on fish survival and microtag loss, growth, spawning and exploratory behaviour. After 5.5 months, both high survival (82%) and low microtag loss (11%) were achieved. The smallest surviving fish weighed 178 mg, and success in microtag reading was 73% for the size class 350–450 mg (26 mm). Greater success was achieved when fish were larger at the time of tagging but no negative effects on growth were observed for any size class and some tagged fish spawned. No significant differences in behavioural responses could be detected between tagged fish and untagged controls after 2 months. Overall, the results suggest that the tagging method is highly suitable for fish as small as zebrafish juveniles. We think this method will provide significant advances for researchers of the ever-growing fish model community and more generally for all small-fish users. Tagging is essential when one needs to identify fish (e.g. particular genotypes with no external cue), to run longitudinal monitoring of individual biological traits (e.g. growth) or to repeat assays with the same individual at discrete points in time (e.g. behaviour studies). Such a method will find applications in physiology, genetics, behaviour and (eco)toxicology fields.
Efficacy and safety of atazanavir-based highly active antiretroviral therapy in patients with virologic suppression switched from a stable, boosted or unboosted protease inhibitor treatment regimen: the SWAN Study (AI424-097) 48-week results.

BACKGROUND Atazanavir is a once-daily protease inhibitor (PI) for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection that has previously been studied in cohorts of treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients. Limited data are available on the usefulness of switching from a PI-based regimen to a regimen based on a different PI, such as atazanavir, in HIV-infected patients experiencing virologic suppression but seeking regimen simplification. METHODS The Switch to Another Protease Inhibitor (SWAN) study was a 48-week, open-label trial involving HIV-positive patients with virologic suppression who were receiving stable PI-based regimens (with or without ritonavir). Patients were randomized 2 : 1 to switch to atazanavir (400 mg per day)--or, if they were receiving tenofovir, to atazanavir-ritonavir (300/100 mg per day)--or to continue to receive their existing PI. The proportion of patients who experienced virologic rebound (defined as an HIV RNA load >or=50 copies/mL) was compared through study week 48. RESULTS Patients either received an atazanavir-containing regimen (278 patients) or continued to receive a comparator PI-containing regimen (141 patients). The proportion of patients who experienced virologic rebound was significantly lower among those who switched to an atazanavir-containing regimen (19 [7%] of 278) than it was among those who continued to receive a comparator PI regimen (22 [16%] of 141; P=.004). Patients who switched to atazanavir therapy experienced significantly fewer total cholesterol, fasting triglyceride, and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol elevations than did patients in the comparator PI group (P<.001); patients receiving atazanavir had comparable rates of adverse event-related discontinuation and serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS In patients with virologic suppression who were receiving other PIs, switching to a once-per-day regimen containing atazanavir provided better maintenance of virologic suppression (as demonstrated by significantly lower rates of virologic rebound and treatment failure than those observed with continued unmodified therapy), a comparable safety profile, and improved lipid parameters, compared with those for patients who continued their prior PI-based regimen through 48 weeks.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid from Porphyridium Cruentum: Increasing Growth and Productivity of Microalgae for Pharmaceutical Products

An alternative source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or omega-3 could be microalgae lipids instead of fish oils. However, EPA and lipid contents extracted from microalgae vary at different growth conditions. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to optimize the growth conditions of microalgae to maximize EPA production. In this paper, the effects of temperature (16 °C and 20 °C), light intensity (140 µE m −2 s −1 and 180 µE m −2 s −1 ) and nitrate level (0.075, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 g/L) on the cell growth, lipid productivity, and omega-6/omega-3 ratio of Porphyridium cruentum , one of the most promising oil-rich species of microalgae, are investigated. The ratio of the fatty acids with omega-6 and omega-3 groups at various growth conditions were compared, since an appropriate proportion of ω-6 (arachidonic acid (ARA)) to ω-3 (EPA) is vital for healthy nutrition. Lower EPA production and consequently a higher ARA/EPA ratio occurred when 5% CO 2 /air was utilized as CO 2 supplementation compared to pure CO 2 . The highest EPA (13.08% (w/w) of total fatty acids) and biomass productivity (143 mg L −1 day −1 ) was achieved at 140 µE m −2 s −1 , 20 °C, and 0.3 g/L nitrate, while lipid content was the lowest (0.5% w/w) at this condition. The optimal condition with minimum ARA/EPA ratio (2.5) was identified at 20 °C, 140 µE m −2 s −1 , and 0.5 g/L nitrate concentration.
Difference in Striae Periodicity of Heilongjiang and Singaporean Chinese Teeth

Striae periodicity refers to the number of cross-striations between successive lines of Retzius in tooth enamel. A regular time dependency of striae periodicity, known as the circaseptan interval, has been proposed. Previous studies on striae periodicity have been carried out on both modern and early humans given its potential applications in forensic age estimations and anthropology. Nevertheless, research comparing striae periodicities across gender groups and populations in different geographical locations, particularly in Asia, is lacking. In this study, we compared the striae periodicities of Heilongjiang and Singaporean Chinese, as well as that of Singaporean Chinese males and females. Results showed that while the median striae periodicity counts of Heilongjiang Chinese and Singaporean Chinese teeth are both 7, Heilongjiang Chinese tend to have lower striae periodicity counts than Singaporean Chinese (p < 0.01). No significant gender difference was observed between the median striae periodicity of Singaporean Chinese Female and Singaporean Chinese Male teeth (p = 0.511). We concluded that the median striae periodicity may statistically differ with geographical location, but not gender, provided that ethnicity and geographical location are held constant. Further studies are required to examine the causes for variation in striae periodicities between geographical locations, as well as to verify the other bio-environmental determinants of striae periodicity.
A replication approach to interval estimation in simulation

The authors modify an earlier approach developed for reducing the bias of the estimator for the mean response in simulation caused by the initial conditions. They try to balance the bias of the estimator in a simulation run by imposing a bias in the opposite direction in a companion run by suitably setting its initial conditions. They present analytical results for the bias of the estimator for AR(1) and M/M/s processes. They suggest making independent replications of the pairs of runs to construct a confidence interval for the mean response. They present some empirical results on the coverages and precisions of the confidence intervals. The results suggest that the idea of balancing a bias with a bias in the opposite direction is promising. >
Nanoscale SPM characterisation of nacre aragonite plates and synthetic human amyloid fibres

Atomic Foce Micoscopy is an especially useful tool in studying biological systems, because not only can they image and manipulate samples at molecular resolution, they can do so in physiological conditions – in liquid, and in air if desired as well as provide direct nanomechanical characterisation, which are essential for understanding the formation principles of these systems and the molecular mechanisms that govern their unique functionality. Nacre (mother-of-pearl), Amyloid fibres and lipid bilayer liposomes were the subject of Ultrasonic Force Microscopy (UFM) investigation.
Asymptotic Spectral Distribution of Crosscorrelation Matrix in Asynchronous CDMA

Asymptotic spectral distribution (ASD) of the crosscorrelation matrix is investigated for a random spreading short/long-code asynchronous direct sequence-code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system. The discrete-time decision statistics are obtained as the output samples of a bank of symbol matched filters of all users. The crosscorrelation matrix is studied when the number of symbols transmitted by each user tends to infinity. Two levels of asynchronism are considered. One is symbol-asynchronous but chip-synchronous, and the other is chip-asynchronous. The existence of a nonrandom ASD is proved by moment convergence theorem, where the focus is on the derivation of asymptotic eigenvalue moments (AEM) of the crosscorrelation matrix. A combinatorics approach based on noncrossing partition of set partition theory is adopted for AEM computation. The spectral efficiency and the minimum mean-square-error (MMSE) achievable by a linear receiver of asynchronous CDMA are plotted by AEM using a numerical method.
Breakpoints in ventilation, cerebral and muscle oxygenation, and muscle activity during an incremental cycling exercise

The aim of this study was to locate the breakpoints of cerebral and muscle oxygenation and muscle electrical activity during a ramp exercise in reference to the first and second ventilatory thresholds. Twenty-five cyclists completed a maximal ramp test on an electromagnetically braked cycle-ergometer with a rate of increment of 25 W/min. Expired gazes (breath-by-breath), prefrontal cortex and vastus lateralis (VL) oxygenation [Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)] together with electromyographic (EMG) Root Mean Square (RMS) activity for the VL, rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris (BF) muscles were continuously assessed. There was a non-linear increase in both cerebral deoxyhemoglobin (at 56 ± 13% of the exercise) and oxyhemoglobin (56 ± 8% of exercise) concomitantly to the first ventilatory threshold (57 ± 6% of exercise, p > 0.86, Cohen's d < 0.1). Cerebral deoxyhemoglobin further increased (87 ± 10% of exercise) while oxyhemoglobin reached a plateau/decreased (86 ± 8% of exercise) after the second ventilatory threshold (81 ± 6% of exercise, p < 0.05, d > 0.8). We identified one threshold only for muscle parameters with a non-linear decrease in muscle oxyhemoglobin (78 ± 9% of exercise), attenuation in muscle deoxyhemoglobin (80 ± 8% of exercise), and increase in EMG activity of VL (89 ± 5% of exercise), RF (82 ± 14% of exercise), and BF (85 ± 9% of exercise). The thresholds in BF and VL EMG activity occurred after the second ventilatory threshold (p < 0.05, d > 0.6). Our results suggest that the metabolic and ventilatory events characterizing this latter cardiopulmonary threshold may affect both cerebral and muscle oxygenation levels, and in turn, muscle recruitment responses.
Preserved glucose tolerance in high-fat-fed C57BL/6 mice transplanted with PPARγ−/−, PPARδ−/−, PPARγδ−/−, or LXRαβ−/− bone marrow*

Macrophage lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses are both regulated by the nuclear receptors PPAR and LXR. Emerging links between inflammation and metabolic disease progression suggest that PPAR and LXR signaling may alter macrophage function and thereby impact systemic metabolism. In this study, the function of macrophage PPAR and LXR in Th1-biased C57BL/6 mice was tested using a bone marrow transplantation approach with PPARγ−/−, PPARδ−/−, PPARγδ−/−, and LXRαβ−/− cells. Despite their inhibitory effects on inflammatory gene expression, loss of PPARs or LXRs in macrophages did not exert major effects on obesity or glucose tolerance induced by a high-fat diet. Treatment with rosiglitazone effectively improved glucose tolerance in mice lacking macrophage PPARγ, suggesting that cell types other than macrophages are the primary mediators of the anti-diabetic effects of PPARγ agonists in our model system. C57BL/6 macrophages lacking PPARs or LXRs exhibited normal expression of most alternative activation gene markers, indicating that macrophage alternative activation is not absolutely dependent on these receptors in the C57BL/6 background under the conditions used here. These studies suggest that genetic background may be an important modifier of nuclear receptor effects in macrophages. Our results do not exclude a contribution of macrophage PPAR and LXR expression to systemic metabolism in certain contexts, but these factors do not appear to be dominant contributors to glucose tolerance in a high-fat-fed Th1-biased bone marrow transplant model.
Effects of Density and Larval Competition on Selected Life History Traits of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract The effects of larval densities of one to four individuals in standard Drosophila-vials (diameter 25 by 95 mm) on the age at pupation, starved dry weight, and wing length of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say were studied. This approach required relatively few larvae per replicate and included a control treatment, where individual larvae developed in the absence of competition. This design also tested for competitive interactions between male and female larvae. Mosquitoes pupated later, and emerged with lighter starved dry adult weight and shorter wings as larval density increased. The size of adult female mosquitoes, particularly their starved dry weight, was sensitive to larval density and also was influenced by the presence or absence of competition with another female larva. In contrast, the life history traits of males did not vary as a function of competition with female larva. Female larvae were also more likely to die in the highest density treatment. This design confirmed previous results and offered a potentially useful experimental approach to investigate the effects of density-dependent competition among mosquito larvae.
Increased expression of myeloid antigen markers in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients: diagnostic and prognostic implications

Summary. By applying direct immunofluorescence with a dual‐staining technique we were able to demonstrate that 20/37 (54%) patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) expressed both lymphoid and myeloid antigens on the same leukaemic cells. CD13 and CD33 myeloid antigens were detected in 18/20 and in 15/20 cases respectively, and both in 13. Molecular studies confirmed that the four patients with T‐cell phenotype had molecular rearrangement of T‐cell receptor (TcR) β chain, and 26 ALL patients with ‘B‐cell’phenotype showed JH rearrangement. Two ALL patients without (ALL/My‐) and three with myeloid antigens (ALL/My+) also demonstrated bcr/abl rearrangement. Both groups of patients had similar presenting features such as age, sex, Hb level, white blood cells, platelet counts and cytogenetic features. Complete response was achieved in 16/17 (94%) ALL/My‐ patients and in 15/18 (83%) ALL/My+ patients (two deaths occurred during induction) with a mean duration of 17 and 16 months respectively and with similar survival and event‐free survival curves.
Novel application of lower body positive-pressure in the rehabilitation of an individual with multiple lower extremity fractures.

OBJECTIVE Lower extremity fractures, if not treated appropriately, can increase the risk of morbidity. Partial weight-bearing after surgical repair is recommended; however, current methods of partial weight-bearing may cause excessive loads through the lower extremity. A new rehabilitation tool that uses lower body positive-pressure is described, that may allow partial weight-bearing while preventing excessive loads, thereby improving functional outcomes. METHODS A patient with multiple lower extremity fractures underwent a 6-month rehabilitation programme using bodyweight support technology 3 times per week, post-surgery. RESULTS The patient experienced a reduction in pain and an improvement in ankle range of motion (p=0.002), walking speed (p>0.05) and physical function (p=0.004), as assessed by the Foot and Ankle Module of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Lower Limb Outcomes Assessment Instrument. Training did not appear to affect fracture healing, as was evident on radiograph. The effect of lower body positive-pressure on effusion, which has not previously been reported in the literature, was also investigated. No significant difference in effusion of the foot and ankle when using lower body positive-pressure was found. CONCLUSION Initial results suggest that this new technology may be a useful rehabilitation tool that allows partial weight-bearing during the treatment of lower extremity injuries.
Pointwise error estimates and asymptotic error expansion inequalities for the finite element method on irregular grids: Part I. Global estimates

This part contains new pointwise error estimates for the finite element method for second order elliptic boundary value problems on smooth bounded domains in R N . In a sense to be discussed below these sharpen known quasi-optimal L∞ and W 1∼ ∞ estimates for the error on irregular quasi-uniform meshes in that they indicate a more local dependence of the error at a point on the derivatives of the solution u. We note that in general the higher order finite element spaces exhibit more local behavior than lower order spaces. As a consequence of these estimates new types of error expansions will be derived which are in the form of inequalities. These expansion inequalities are valid for large classes of finite elements defined on irregular grids in R N and have applications to superconvergence and extrapolation and a posteriori estimates. Part II of this series will contain local estimates applicable to non-smooth problems.
The Critical Success Factors Study for e-Government Implementation

The high failure of e-Government is a motivation to do the research about Success Factors of e-Government implementation. Studying CSFs is an important issue that helps to implement e-Government successfully and to avoid failure. There have been various Success Factors of eGovernment implementation obtained from CSFs Studies by other researcher but gives no overall big picture. In this paper, author wants to synthesize some studies to get a generic model of Success Factor for e-Government implementation. The method used in this study is Meta-Ethnography for synthesizing qualitative findings about 94 studies and 571 CSFs concepts. The result from the study is 55 Synthesized Success factors that Government organization and all parties must pay attention to ones for successful e-Government implementation.