Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Genotypic and Phenotypic Methods to Detect Carbapenemase Production in Gram-Negative Bacilli.

BACKGROUND Carbapenemase-producing gram-negative bacteria (CP-GNB) are an urgent and expanding public health threat. Rapid and accurate identification of these organisms facilitates infection prevention efforts in healthcare facilities. The objective of our study was to evaluate methods to detect and identify CP-GNB. METHODS We examined 189 carbapenem-resistant GNB(CR-GNB), including Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii complex, using 3 different methods: 2 methods to screen isolates of GNB for carbapenemase production [the carbapenem inactivation method (CIM) and 2 chromogenic agars] and a molecular method (Cepheid GeneXpert Carba-R) to identify the mechanism of carbapenem resistance and the associated resistance genes (blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaOXA-48-like, and blaVIM). RESULTS The CIM was a simple and inexpensive phenotypic screen to differentiate between CR-GNB and CP-GNB, with improved analytical performance characteristics and inter-reader correlation compared to the modified Hodge test. Both chromogenic agars evaluated (HardyCHROM CRE and chromID CARBA) were able to support growth of most of the organisms tested, including isolates possessing the blaOXA-48-like gene. However, these media had a low analytical specificity for carbapenemase production, with breakthrough of CR-GNB that did not produce a carbapenemase. The Xpert Carba-R assay was rapid and easy to perform, and demonstrated 100% positive and negative agreement for characterization of genetic determinants of carbapenem resistance. CONCLUSIONS Screening by CIM followed by the Xpert Carba-R PCR is an accurate method for detecting and characterizing CP-GNB, including Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa, and A. baumannii complex.
Partial ordering of hyper-powersets and matrix representation of belief functions within DSmT

In this paper, we examine several issues for ordering or partially ordering elements of hyper- powertsets involved in the recent theory of plausible, uncertain and paradoxical reasoning (DSmT) developed by the authors. We will show the benefit of some of these issues to obtain a nice and useful matriz repre- sentation of belief junctions.
Body composition and prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND Fat-free mass (FFM) has been proposed as an optimal normalization of left ventricular (LV) mass to body size. We sought to evaluate the novel FFM-based criteria of LV hypertrophy (LVH). METHODS AND RESULTS A population sample of 1371 men and women aged 25 to 74 years was examined by echocardiography and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Internal partition values for LVH were generated in a healthy population subgroup on the basis of LV mass divided by FFM and by the traditional indexations to body height, height(2.7), and body surface area. In contrast to the sex-specific criteria required by traditional indexations, the value of LV mass/FFM that divided individuals with and without LVH was identical for men and women (4.1 g/kg). Estimates of LVH prevalence varied significantly by type of indexation used, internally or externally derived cut points, and by population subgroups. Differences were pronounced among hypertensives and the obese. Thus, the application of LV mass/FFM more than halved the risk of LVH in obese versus nonobese women (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.6 to 4.0) compared with criteria based on LV mass/height(2.7) (odds ratio, 5.5; 95% confidence interval, 3.6 to 8.3). Implications among hypertensives were less marked. CONCLUSIONS Indexation of LV mass to FFM eliminates sex-specific LVH criteria. The proportion of individuals defined as having LVH using the new criteria deviate markedly from traditional indexations. Prospective investigations will be needed to identify the prognostic implications of different indexations, especially in subgroups such as the obese.
Prediction of Antimicrobial Peptides Based on Sequence Alignment and Feature Selection Methods

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a class of natural peptides that form a part of the innate immune system, and this kind of ‘nature's antibiotics’ is quite promising for solving the problem of increasing antibiotic resistance. In view of this, it is highly desired to develop an effective computational method for accurately predicting novel AMPs because it can provide us with more candidates and useful insights for drug design. In this study, a new method for predicting AMPs was implemented by integrating the sequence alignment method and the feature selection method. It was observed that, the overall jackknife success rate by the new predictor on a newly constructed benchmark dataset was over 80.23%, and the Mathews correlation coefficient is 0.73, indicating a good prediction. Moreover, it is indicated by an in-depth feature analysis that the results are quite consistent with the previously known knowledge that some amino acids are preferential in AMPs and that these amino acids do play an important role for the antimicrobial activity. For the convenience of most experimental scientists who want to use the prediction method without the interest to follow the mathematical details, a user-friendly web-server is provided at http://amp.biosino. org/.
Long-Term Quality of Life and Pregnancy Outcomes of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Survivors Treated by Total Thyroidectomy and I131 during Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Introduction. Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is rare and confers good prognosis. Long-term health related quality of life (HRQoL) and pregnancy outcomes are not well known in subjects treated during adolescence and young adulthood. Methods. Cross-sectional analysis of HRQoL and global self-esteem, using SF-36 and ISP-25 surveys, and of pregnancy outcomes in female survivors of DTC treated by total thyroidectomy and I131 before age of 25 years. Results. Forty-five of 61 patients (74%) responded to the survey. Cumulative I131 activity was ≤3.85 GBq in 18 subjects and >3.85 GBq in 27 subjects. Mean time from diagnosis was 7.6 ± 5.2 years for the group ≤ 3.85 GBq versus 16.9 ± 11.6 years for the group > 3.85 GBq (P < 0.05). No significant alteration in long-term HRQoL and global self-esteem was observed. Thirty pregnancies after I131 were noted in patients from the group > 3.85 GBq and 10 in patients from the group ≤ 3.85 GBq. Frequency of miscarriages was of 17% (group > 3.85 GBq) and 10% (group ≤ 3.85 GBq) with 9 and 24 live births, respectively. No congenital malformations or first year mortality was noted. Conclusion. Long-term HRQoL, global self-esteem, and pregnancy outcomes are not affected in young female survivors of DTC.
RBF Neural Network Based on Fuzzy Evolution Kalman Filtering and Application in Mine Safety Monitoring

Fuzzy information fusion methods are adopted widely to resolve the complicated nonlinear problems in recent years. This paper proposes a fusion learning algorithm of radial basis function (RBF) neural network based on fuzzy evolution Kalman filtering. By using this proposed method, monitoring data are extracted and optimized in mine safety monitoring, and Matlab simulation results are analyzed. The results show that this method has feasibility and rapid learning efficiency, which can improve precision and reliability in mine monitoring systems.
Examinations on the Duration of the Period of Lactation and its Dependence on the Age of the Mother and other Factors

In order to ascertain the significance of the civil status and age of mother as well as the sex, birth number and birth weight of the child, for her lactation ability the author has made examinations on a material of 4 084 infants at the Stockholm Child Welfare Centres as to what degree the duration of the period of lactation varies with the factors mentioned. Consideration has herewith been taken, on the one hand to the period during which the mother has given the breast only (b) and on the other hand to the period during which she has given the breast at all (b + m). The results are as follows.
The mass balance and equilibrium line altitude trends of glaciers in northern Sweden

Glaciers are of extreme importance since they hold climatic data going back 2,000 years. Glaciers can provide important services such as ecosystem services, habitats, water runoff, and hydro-energy. They also affect the Earth’s processes and many feedback mechanisms. Glaciers all over the world are under the threat of climate change which may eventually lead to the disappearance of many of these important glaciers. That is why it is important to understand glaciological processes and to understand how individual glaciers are affected by climatic changes. This study focuses on the glaciers in northern Sweden and their response to climatic changes over a 15 year period (1986-2011). Data from the Tarfala research station, in northern Sweden is used to find trends in winter and summer mass balance, net mass balance and equilibrium line altitude. The reasons for similarities and differences in the trends are discussed and the glacial parameters are compared with parameters such as elevation, location, and aspect. Overall it was found that the winter balances were decreasing, the summer balances were increasing and the net mass balances were decreasing which results in a loss of mass on all glaciers. The differences amongst the glaciers were attributed to differences in altitude, location and climate. Also, R2 values and p-values showed that a significant relationship exists between the net mass balance and the summer temperature proving that the summer temperature is the main factor affecting mass loss or gain on glaciers in northern Sweden. Although the aim of the study was achieved, there were some limitations to it such as lack of or incomplete data, missing parameters and limited factors considered and compared. Future studies should include wind speeds and direction, solar radiation and humidity to name a few. Also, not only should the net mass balance and equilibrium line altitudes be analysed, but thickness, volume and frontal positions should be considered. (Less)
A Comparative Study of Detecting Chlamydophila psittaci in Pet Birds Using Isolation in Embryonated Egg and Polymerase Chain Reaction

Abstract This study, for the first time in Turkey, investigated the existence of Chlamydophila psittaci and determined the prevalence of its disease, chlamydiosis, in pet birds. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was compared with other testing methods that have been typically used in the diagnosis of C. psittaci. Fecal specimens (n = 96) of avian origin were tested by PCR and two identification methods, modified Gimenez staining (mGS) and direct fluorescein–conjugated monoclonal antibody staining (FA). The identification methods were implemented by staining the yolk sacs of embryonated chicken eggs inoculated at 6 days of age and harvested between 3 and 10 days after inoculation. Fecal specimens from pet birds were randomly collected from pet shops and homes. These specimens were then used to isolate C. psittaci and to detect its specific DNA. The inocula that were prepared from fecal specimens were then inoculated into yolks of 6-day-old embryonated chicken eggs. The preparations from egg yolk sacs were examined with mGS and direct FA after three blind passages. The PCR method was used to detect specific DNA in feces. In 96 fecal specimens, 33 (34.4%) were positive with PCR, 21 (21.9%) were positive with mGS, and 29 (30.2%) were positive with FA. Among 33 positive specimens with PCR, 28 specimens were positive with FA, and 20 specimens were positive with mGS. The sensitivity and specificity were 59% and 94% between FA and mGS, and 97% and 93% between FA and PCR, respectively.
On connected (γ, k)-critical graphs

A graph G is said to be (γ, k)-critical if γ(G−S) < γ(G) for any set S of k vertices and domination number γ. Properties of (γ, k)-critical graphs are studied for k ≥ 3. Ways of constructing a (γ, k)-critical graph from smaller (γ, k)-critical graphs are presented.
The Role of Preschool Home-Visiting Programs in Improving Children's Developmental and Health Outcomes

Child health and developmental outcomes depend to a large extent on the capabilities of families to provide a nurturing, safe environment for their infants and young children. Unfortunately, many families have insufficient knowledge about parenting skills and an inadequate support system of friends, extended family, or professionals to help with or advise them regarding child rearing. Home-visiting programs offer a mechanism for ensuring that at-risk families have social support, linkage with public and private community services, and ongoing health, developmental, and safety education. When these services are part of a system of high-quality well-child care linked or integrated with the pediatric medical home, they have the potential to mitigate health and developmental outcome disparities. This statement reviews the history of home visiting in the United States and reaffirms the support of the American Academy of Pediatrics for home-based parenting education and support.
PAPR Reduction via Constellation Extension in OFDM Systems Using Generalized Benders Decomposition and Branch-and-Bound Techniques

In this paper, a novel constellation extension (CE)-based approach is presented to address the high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) problem at the transmitter side, which is an important drawback of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. This new proposal is formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming optimization problem, which employs generalized Benders decomposition (GBD) and branch-and-bound (BB) methods to determine the most adequate extension factor and the optimum set of input symbols to be extended within a proper quarter plane of the constellation. The optimum technique based on GBD, which is denoted as GBD for constellation extension (GBDCE), provides a bound with relevant improvement in terms of PAPR reduction compared with other CE techniques, although it may exhibit slow convergence. To avoid excessive processing time in practical systems, the suboptimum BB for constellation extension (BBCE) scheme is proposed. Simulation results show that BBCE achieves a significant PAPR reduction, providing a good tradeoff between complexity and performance. We also show that the BBCE scheme performs satisfactorily in terms of power spectral density and bit error rate in the presence of a nonlinear high-power amplifier.
Design and Implementation of a Secure Wireless Mote-Based Medical Sensor Network

A medical sensor network can wirelessly monitor vital signs of humans, making it useful for long-term health care without sacrificing patient comfort and mobility. For such a network to be viable, its design must protect data privacy and authenticity given that medical data are highly sensitive. We identify the unique security challenges facing such a sensor network and propose a set of resource-efficient mechanisms to address these challenges. Our solution includes (1) a novel two-tier scheme for verifying the authenticity of patient data; (2) an ECC-based secure key exchange protocol to set up shared keys between sensor nodes and base stations; and (3) symmetric encryption/decryption for protecting data confidentiality and integrity. We have implemented the proposed mechanisms on a wireless mote platform and our results confirm their feasibility.
Optimal design of inductor and DC bus voltage for shunt active filter

This paper proposes two methods for optimal design of DC bus reference voltage (Vdcref) and an optimal selection of the shunt active filter (SAF) inductor. The proposed methods help to reduce the filter rating, devices stress and increase the performance of the SAF. An optimal choice of the inductor of the SAF is presented based on the slope calculation of the SAF current which was demonstrated to be greater than the slope of the nonlinear load current. Moreover, the adaptation of the DC reference voltage which is a function of the amplitude of total load current harmonics and load reactive current is developed and the latter offer important advantage in terms of losses reduction in the converter switches leading to a more accurate design of the SAF. To achieve these goals, the first developed method is based on the direct calculation of the maximum SAF voltage to determine the minimum DC bus voltage reference; while the second method is based on the estimation of the maximum voltage of the SAF through a control technique developed and applied to the model of the SAF. For validation purposes, the proposed methods were simulated. The simulation results validate the approach in terms of source current compensation, THD reduction, as well as the correction of power factor.
Analysis versus synthesis in signal priors

The concept of prior probability for signals plays a key role in the successful solution of many inverse problems. Much of the literature on this topic can be divided between analysis-based and synthesis-based priors. Analysis-based priors assign probability to a signal through various forward measurements of it, while synthesis-based priors seek a reconstruction of the signal as a combination of atom signals. The algebraic similarity between the two suggests that they could be strongly related; however, in the absence of a detailed study, contradicting approaches have emerged. While the computationally intensive synthesis approach is receiving ever-increasing attention and is notably preferred, other works hypothesize that the two might actually be much closer, going as far as to suggest that one can approximate the other. In this paper we describe the two prior classes in detail, focusing on the distinction between them. We show that although in the simpler complete and undercomplete formulations the two approaches are equivalent, in their overcomplete formulation they depart. Focusing on the ℓ1 case, we present a novel approach for comparing the two types of priors based on high-dimensional polytopal geometry. We arrive at a series of theoretical and numerical results establishing the existence of an unbridgeable gap between the two.
Low Molecular Weight Fucoidan and Heparin Enhance the Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor-Induced Tube Formation of Endothelial Cells through Heparan Sulfate-Dependent (cid:1) 6 Overexpression

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) activates its high-affinity receptors (FGFRs) but also acts through interaction with heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). Exogenous polysaccharides also modulate the angiogenic activity of FGF-2. We investigated the effect and mechanism of action of a low molecular weight fucoidan derivative (LMWF) on tube formation by human endothelial cells. LMWF has a better arterial antithrombotic potential in animals than low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). After stimulation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by FGF-2 and LMWF (or LMWH), we observed 1) using flow cytometry, an increase in the amount of the (cid:1) 6 integrin subunit; 2) using quantitative reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction, an increase in (cid:1) 6 mRNA (higher with LMWF than with LMWH); and 3) using a Matrigel model, an increase in vascular tube formation (also higher with LMWF than with LMWH). A direct link between (cid:1) 6 overexpression and vascular tube formation was confirmed by use of an anti- (cid:1) 6 antibody: in its presence, there was no capillary network for- mation on Matrigel. Unexpectedly, an anti-FGFR blocking antibody had no effect on (cid:1) 6 over-expression, whereas stripping off the heparan sulfate with heparitinases abolished overex- pression. Overall, our data suggest that FGF-2 stimulates (cid:1) 6 over-expression in HUVEC, through HSPG but independently from FGFR, and that LMWF (or LMWH) modulates this interaction. Expression of heparan sulfate proteoglycan increases af- ter ischemic injury. Given its antithrombotic properties and its ability to potentiate tube formation of endothelial cells, LMWF may have to be considered for revascularization of ischemic areas.
Spatial learning of an escape task by young corn snakes,Elaphe guttata guttata


Spatial learning is critical to most animals for many behaviours necessary to survival. In vertebrates, most studies on spatial learning and memory have been conducted in mammalian and avian species with few studies on reptiles. We examined spatial learning in the corn snake, Elaphe guttata guttata by training 17 young snakes to find the one open shelter in an eight-hole arena, where the entrance was not visible from the arena surface. Over a 16-trial, 4-day training period, snakes showed (1) a significant decrease in the mean latency to the goal, (2) a significant decrease in the mean total distance travelled, (3) a significant increase in the percentage of the total distance travelled in the quadrant containing the goal, and (4) a significant increase in movement in the goal quadrant above chance. Although no differences were found in the number of errors made over the training period, snakes made fewer errors on all days than expected by chance. This study shows that snakes can learn rapidly a spatial-escape task that is relevant behaviourally and suggests that entering a shelter reinforces this learning. Mechanisms of orientation for the task described are discussed. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Importance of pretest probability score and D-dimer assay before sonography for lower limb deep venous thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to develop and validate a clinical score (the Hamilton score) for the assessment of lower limb deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and to determine the usefulness of this score and a D-dimer assay before a complete lower limb sonographic examination. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Five hundred forty-two consecutive ambulatory patients presenting to the emergency department were prospectively recruited, of whom 16 patients were excluded from the study. Eighteen history and examination variables were collected by the emergency department physicians. The Simplify D-dimer assay and a complete, single lower limb sonographic examination were performed in all patients. All patients with a negative sonographic examination for DVT were followed up for 3 months, and all those with a positive sonographic examination were given anticoagulation therapy. The Hamilton score was developed using the data from the first 214 patients and was prospectively validated in the next 312 patients. RESULTS The most significant factors associated with a diagnosis of DVT were immobilization of the lower limb, active malignancy, and a strong clinical suspicion of DVT without other diagnostic possibilities by the emergency department physicians. Other factors were bed rest or recent surgery, male sex, calf circumference difference greater than 3 cm, and erythema. The Hamilton score was developed with the following weights: immobilization of the lower limb (2 points), active malignancy (2 points), strong clinical suspicion of DVT without other diagnostic possibilities by the emergency physicians (2 points), bed rest or recent surgery (1 point), male sex (1 point), calf circumference difference greater than 3 cm (1 point), and erythema (1 point). A score of 3 or greater indicates a likely probability for DVT, and a score of 2 or less represents an unlikely probability for DVT. Of the 103 patients with an unlikely probability Hamilton score and a negative D-dimer assay, only one patient had isolated calf DVT. A combined diagnostic strategy of unlikely-probability Hamilton score and a negative D-dimer would have a negative predictive value of 99% (95% confidence interval, 94.7-100%). CONCLUSION An unlikely-probability Hamilton score and a negative Simplify D-dimer assay effectively exclude lower limb DVT, and a sonographic examination is unnecessary in this group of ambulatory emergency department patients.