Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ancillary testing in children with rotavirus gastroenteritis.

OBJECTIVES Costly microbiological assays are frequently performed in patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis (RGE) to exclude concurrent serious bacterial infection (SBI). The incidence of concurrent SBI in this population is unknown but estimated to be low. The primary objective was to describe the incidence of SBI in children with RGE. The secondary objective was to elucidate risk factors for prolonged length of stay (LOS) in the cohort. METHODS All children < or =18 years seen at a community hospital for laboratory-confirmed RGE over a 4-year period were included in a retrospective cohort study to describe the incidence of concurrent SBI and to identify risk factors for prolonged LOS. Prolonged LOS was defined as hospitalization for > or =3 days. RESULTS Ninety-four cases of RGE were identified; 58 (61.7%) males and 80 (85.1%) African Americans. The median age was 8 months (interquartile range [IQR], 1 month to 16 years) and 83 patients (88.3%) required admission. There were no cases of SBI. The median LOS was 2 days. Age < or = 6 months (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-7.7; P = 0.022) and collection of a peripheral blood culture (adjusted OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.0-7.1; P = 0.043) were associated with LOS > or = 3 days. CONCLUSIONS In children evaluated at a community hospital with laboratory-confirmed RGE, no episodes of SBI occurred. This finding challenges the need to perform invasive, costly, microbiological assays to exclude concurrent SBI in this population. Children 6 months and younger were at increased risk of prolonged hospitalization from RGE.
La double absence : des illusions de l'émigré aux souffrances de l'immigré

Si l'immigre est absent de sa famille, de son pays, il est aussi absent, du fait de l'exclusion dont il est victime, du pays d'arrivee, qui le traite comme simple force de travail. Par des entretiens, l'auteur amene les immigres a livrer le plus profond de leur intimite.
Discrete Wavelet Transform Based Selection of Salient EEG Frequency Band for Assessing Human Emotions

In recent years, assessment of human emotions from Electroencephalogram (EEG) has one of the active research areas in developing intellectual man-machine interfaces. In this work, we considered two different frequency ranges of EEG signals such as alpha to gamma (8 Hz – 64 Hz) and delta to gamma (0 Hz – 64 Hz) for classifying five emotions (disgust, happy, surprise, fear, and neutral). EEG signals are collected using 64 channels from 20 subjects in the age group of 21~39 years. The raw EEG signals are preprocessed using Surface Laplacian filtering and a set of conventional and proposed statistical features are derived using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). Two linear classifiers (K Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA)) are used to map the statistical features into corresponding emotions. One of the proposed features derived by using “db8” wavelet function under alpha to gamma band gives the maximum average classification rate of 86.55% using KNN and 82.70% using LDA compared to delta to gamma band. In addition, the proposed features gives higher classification rate compared to conventional features. Finally we present the average classification accuracy and subsets of discrete emotion classification rates for justifying the performance of our emotion recognition system. The nonverbal communication through emotions, intentions and affective states are the current key areas of research on developing intellectual man-machine systems. Manifestations of emotional states are normally straightforward to detect and understand by humans, as these are reflected in both voice and body languages (Adler and Rodman 2003; Pease and Pease 2004). In recent years, the research efforts in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) are focused on empowering computers to understand human emotions. Most of the efforts have been dedicated to the design of user-friendly and ergonomic systems by means of innovative interfaces such as voice, vision, and gestures. Many literature works have been reported on emotion recognition using facial expressions and speech modalities (Chen and Huang 2000; Daabaj 2002; Hongo et al. 2000; Massaro 2000). These conventional methods of assessing emotions thorough the speech and the facial expressions of a subject are purposefully expressed and it can be more easily concealed by other subjects (Takahashi 2004). Indeed, it cannot be used for those people who have suffered from severe motor disabilities, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, paralysis, and introverted characters.
The compositional space of exhaled breath condensate and its link to the human breath volatilome

Breath analysis is commonly understood to target gaseous or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for the characterization of different pathologies. Targeted analysis is most effective if a working hypothesis can be based on a plethora of data. The recently published volatilome builds an optimal basis for organizing powerful target sets. However, the origin and pathways of biosynthesis of many VOCs are not known, which complicates the formulation of useful hypotheses. To find the missing link between VOCs and their origin, it is necessary to analyze their precursor fluids themselves. In order to provide condensation nuclei for the generation of future hypotheses, we provide the compositional space over 23 samples of the unperturbed human exhaled breath condensate (EBC) metabolome. We propose a way to connect the compositional spaces of both VOCs and EBC so as to gain insight into the most probable form of VOC precursors. In a way analogous to tandem MS it is possible to create a mass difference network over compositional data by linking compositions with mass differences that are designed to mimic biochemical reactions. We propose to use mass difference enrichment analysis (MDEA) in order to mine probable relations between VOCs and their precursor fluids. We have found 2691 EBC compositions and linked them to 235 breath VOC compositions that correspond to 848 individual compounds. We found that VOCs are likely to be found as hexose conjugates or as amino acid conjugates with Glutamine or Asparagine playing a major role. Furthermore, we found that dicarboxylic acid mass differences may be more indicative for oxidative stress than oxygenation-hydrogenation sequences.
Viral load monitoring for antiretroviral therapy in resource-poor settings: an evolving role.

Soon after its introduction, HIV-1 plasma RNA level (viral load) monitoring became integral to antiretroviral therapy (ART) management in well resourced settings. Clinical guidelines recommend viral loads to monitor implementation of ART, and to guide antiretroviral drug regimen-switching in cases of treatment failure. The logic of viral monitoring for HIV is compelling: maintaining an undetectable viral load defines ART success. Long survival times in the United States and Europe appear to support this view. Biological plausibility aside, it is unclear what portion of enhanced survival is attributable to viral load monitoring versus contemporaneous changes in antiretroviral drug regimens and practice. Yet in resource-rich settings, the broad acceptance of viral load testing as an integral part of high-quality HIV care assures its widespread use.
Pedestrian network map generation approaches and recommendation

With the advanced capabilities of mobile devices and the success of car navigation systems, interest in pedestrian navigation systems is on the rise. A critical component of any navigation system is a map database, which represents a network (e.g., road networks for car navigation) and supports key functionality such as map display, geocoding, and routing. Road networks, mainly due to the popularity of car navigation systems, are well defined and publicly available. However, in pedestrian navigation systems, as well as other applications including urban planning and physical activity studies, road networks do not adequately represent the paths that pedestrians usually travel. Currently, there is a void in literatures discussing the challenges, methods, and best practices for pedestrian network map generation. This coupled with the increased demand for pedestrian networks is the prime motivation for development of new approaches and algorithms to automatically generating pedestrian networks. Three approaches, network buffering, using existing road networks, collaborative mapping, using Global Positioning System (GPS) traces collected by volunteers, and image processing, using high-resolution satellite and laser imageries, were implemented and evaluated with a pedestrian network baseline as a ground truth. The results of the experiments indicate that these three approaches, while differing in complexity and outcome, are viable for automatic pedestrian network map generation. The recommendation of a suitable approach for generating pedestrian networks for a given set of sources and requirements is provided.
Nitrogen Farming for Pollution Control

Abstract The use of free water surface treatment wetlands for nitrate reduction has an extensive basis in data from dozens of operating systems. Marshes are effective for denitrification, with first order areal annual rate constants centered on thirty-four meters/year. Performance improves at higher water temperatures, with a modified Arrhenius temperature factor of 1.090. Performance also increases with increasing hydraulic efficiency, created by prevention of short-circuiting, and reflected in values of the tanks-in-series parameter N > 5. Higher efficiencies are associated with submergent and emergent soft tissue vegetation, and lower efficiencies with unvegetated open water and forested wetlands. Hydraulic loadings of 2–7 cm/day can produce 30% nitrate load reductions, over the temperature range 6–20°C. Carbon availability limits denitrification at high nitrate loadings, however, wetlands produce carbon in sufficient quantities to support the loads anticipated in the upper midwest. The conversion of agricultural lands to treatment wetlands focused on nitrate reduction is termed nitrogen (N) farming. (D.H. Hey, Nitrogen farming: harvesting a different crop. Restoration Ecology, 2002, 10 (1), 1–11). A demonstration project is indicated to address local issues and scale-up considerations. Such a project would require thorough monitoring for the purpose of optimizing and refining design models. Significant ancillary benefits of ecological diversity and wildlife habitat are certain to accompany the project, but are of secondary importance until the water quality functions are demonstrated. Regulatory issues include permitting and wetland classification. Economic issues include proper pricing of services and methods of revenue generation. Resolution of these potential difficulties may require modification of existing policies and institutions.
The influence of the Robertsonian translocation Rb(X.2)2Ad on anaphase I non-disjunction in male laboratory mice.

A Robertsonian translocation in the mouse between the X chromosome and chromosome 2 is described. The male and female carriers of the Rb(X.2)2Ad were fertile. A homozygous/hemizygous line was maintained. The influence of the X-autosomal Robertsonian translocation on anaphase I non-disjunction in male mice was studied by chromosome counts in cells at metaphase II of meiosis and by assessment of aneuploid progeny. The results conclusively show that the inclusion of Rb2Ad in the male genome induces non-disjunction at the first meoitic division. In second metaphase cells the frequency of sex-chromosomal aneuploidy was 10.8%, and secondary spermatocytes containing two or no sex chromosome were equally frequent. The Rb2Ad males sired 3.9% sex-chromosome aneuploid progeny. The difference in aneuploidy frequencies in the germ cells and among the progeny suggests that the viability of XO and XXY individuals is reduced. The pairing configurations of chromosomes 2, Rb2Ad and Y were studied during meiotic prophase by light and electron microscopy. Trivalent pairing was seen in all well spread nuclei. Complete pairing of the acrocentric autosome 2 with the corresponding segment of the Rb2Ad chromosome was only seen in 3.2% of the cells analysed in the electron microscope. The pairing between the X and Y chromosome in the Rb2Ad males corresponded to that in males with normal karyotype. Reasons for sex-chromosomal non-disjunction despite the normal pairing pattern between the sex chromosomes may be seen in the terminal chiasma location coupled with the asynchronous separation of the sex chromosomes and the autosomes. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Reliability Multihop Routes with Autonomous Cooperation

Barrage relays networks (BRNs) are mobile ad hoc networks based on an autonomous cooperative communication scheme that eliminates the need for link-based coordination between nodes (e.g., collision avoidance and routing). BRNs are therefore based on a physical layer resource that is not a single link, but a region of cooperative, multi-hop transport fabric. Simultaneous unicast flows in BRNs can be supported by spatially isolated controlled barrage regions (CBRs) which may be analyzed as multi-hop routes with autonomous cooperation. This paper compares the reliability of multihop unicast transmission via CBRs to that of traditional link-based routes. The analysis of a linear network model for CBRs is used to illuminate the substantial improvements in multihop transmission reliability afforded by the barrage relay mechanism. Specifically, the above analysis demonstrates significant benefits as compared to traditional routes, multi-hop routes with ideal, instantaneous rerouting, and multipath routes comprised of independent paths.
Physical, Physiological, and Behavioral Correlates of Musth in Captive African Elephants (Loxodonta africana)

Although musth in male African elephants (Loxodonta africana) is known to be associated with increased aggressiveness, urine dribbling (UD), temporal gland secretion (TGS), and elevated androgens, the temporal relationship between these changes has not been examined. Here, we describe the pattern of musth‐related characteristics in 14 captive elephant bulls by combining long‐term observations of physical and behavioral changes with physiological data on testicular and adrenal function. The length of musth periods was highly variable but according to our data set not related to age. Our data also confirm that musth is associated with elevated androgens and, in this respect, show that TGS and UD are downstream effects of this elevation, with TGS responding earlier and to lower androgen levels than UD. Because the majority of musth periods were associated with a decrease in glucocorticoid levels, our data also indicate that musth does not represent a physiological stress mediated by the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the occurrence of musth is associated with increased aggression and that this is presumably androgen mediated because aggressive males had higher androgen levels. Collectively, the information generated contributes to a better understanding of what characterizes and initiates musth in captive African elephants and provides a basis for further studies designed to examine in more detail the factors regulating the intensity and duration of musth.
Determination of heavy metals in different honey brands from Iranian markets

A variety of elements are present in honey at different concentrations. Although some of these heavy metals and trace elements are useful nutrition, at higher levels they could cause health problems. In order to achieve confidence about food safety, regular monitoring of food quality is necessary. In this study, heavy metals and trace element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer in 10 different honey brands from Iranian markets. All heavy metal contents in these samples were within ranges as reported in literature, except for Hg, Al and As. Compared with recommended daily intakes, it is concluded that heavy metals or trace elements intoxication following honey consumption in Iran is unlikely.
REDUCED MECHANISMS FOR PREDICTION of NO 2 FORMATION in METHANE-AIR COMBUSTION

Two new 14-step and 16-step reduced mechanisms for methane-air combustion were developed with the emphasis on their capabil ities to predict NO2 formation. The systematic reduction was carried out by assuming the quasi-steady state for 26~28 species in the starting mechanism with the help of a automatic mechanism reduction code. The two reduced mechanisms reproduce NO2 formation behaviors obtained with the starting mechanism both in post flame region and in opposed diffusion flames. The promotion of NO2 formation by hydrocarbon additive was also successfully predicted by the reduced chemistry. In addition, the reduced chemistry is accurate in predicting the diffusion flame structure and the ignition delay time.
Light climate and dissolved organic carbon concentration influence species-specific changes in fish zooplanktivory

Abstract Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in lakes reduces light penetration and limits fish production in low nutrient lakes, reportedly via reduced primary and secondary production. Alternatively, DOC and light reductions could influence fish by altering their visual feeding. Previous studies report mixed effects of DOC on feeding rates of zooplanktivorous fish, but most investigators tested effects of a single concentration of DOC against clear-water, turbid, or algal treatments. We used a controlled laboratory study to quantify the effects of a DOC gradient (3–19 mg L−1) on average light climate and the zooplankton feeding rate of 3 common, north temperate fishes. Light availability, which was inversely related to DOC concentration, had a positive and linear effect on zooplankton consumption by juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), explaining 22% and 28% of the variation in consumption, respectively. By contrast, zooplankton feeding rates by fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) were best predicted by a nonlinear, negative influence of light (R2 = 0.13). In bluegill feeding trials we found a general trend for positive selection of larger zooplankton (Cladocera and Chaoboridae); however, the light climate did not influence the selection of prey type. Largemouth bass selected for larger-bodied zooplankton, with weak evidence that selectivity for large Cladocera changed from negative to neutral selection based on electivity values across the light gradient. Our results suggest that the effect of DOC on the light climate of lakes may directly influence fish zooplanktivory and that this influence may vary among fish species.
Combination of the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Perindopril and the Diuretic Indapamide Activate Postnatal Vasculogenesis in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Cardiovascular risk factors are associated with reduction in both the number and function of vascular progenitor cells. We hypothesized that 1) hypertension abrogates postnatal vasculogenesis, and 2) antihypertensive treatment based on the combination of perindopril (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) and indapamide (diuretic) may counteract hypertension-induced alteration in progenitor cell-related effects. Postischemic neovascularization was significantly lower in untreated spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) compared with Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats (p < 0.05). Treatment of SHRs with perindopril and the combination of perindopril/indapamide reduced the blood pressure levels and normalized vessel growth in ischemic area. Cotreatment with perindopril and indapamide increased vascular endothelial growth factor and endothelial nitric-oxide synthase protein contents, two key proangiogenic factors. It is interesting to note that 14 days after bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) transplantation, revascularization was significantly lower in ischemic SHRs receiving BM-MNCs isolated from SHRs compared with those receiving BM-MNCs isolated from WKY rats (p < 0.05). Alteration in proangiogenic potential of SHR BM-MNCs was probably related to the reduction in their ability to differentiate into endothelial progenitor cells in vitro. Furthermore, the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) was reduced by 3.1-fold in SHRs compared with WKY rats (p < 0.001). Treatments with perindopril or perindopril/indapamide restored the ability of BM-MNCs to differentiate in vitro into EPCs, increased the number of circulating EPCs, and re-established BM-MNC proangiogenic effects. Therefore, hypertension is associated with a decrease in the number of circulating progenitor cells and in the BM-MNC proangiogenic potential, probably leading to vascular complications in this setting. The combination of perindopril and indapamide counteracts hypertension-induced alterations in progenitor cell-related effects and restores blood vessel growth.
Between Foreigners and Shi‘is: Nineteenth-Century Iran and its Jewish Minority

@fmct:Contents @toc4:Abbreviations iii Note on Transliteration and Style iii Glossary iii Acknowledgments iii Map of Nineteenth-Century Iran iii @toc2:Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Shii Legal Attitudes Toward the Jews 000 Chapter 2: "Justice and Kindness" (18481866) 000 Chapter 3: Vacillating Steps Toward Change (18661873) 000 Chapter 4: Fragile and Erratic Amelioration (18741883) 000 Chapter 5: Reassertion of the Dhimmah (18841896) 000 Conclusions 000 @toc4:Notes 000 Bibliography 000 Index 000
A molecular phylogeny of Chinese Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae inferred from nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences

The Hengduan Mountains of the Sino-Himalayas are rich in endemic species of Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae. To investigate relationships among these species and to ascertain their higher-level phylogenetic placements within the subfamily, we examined 106 accessions (representing 100 species from 52 genera) including the Chinese endemic genera Changium, Cyclorhiza, Notopterygium, Nothosmyrnium, and Sinolimprichtia. Sixty-three of these accessions were newly sequenced. Phylogenetic trees were inferred using maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. The phylogenetic trees were highly consistent and revealed several major clades heretofore unrecognized in the subfamily. Changium and Cyclorhiza fall within the Komarovia clade of previous investigations and Nothosmyrnium allies with tribe Pimpinelleae. Notopterygium and Sinolimprichtia along with many other taxa of Sino-Himalayan distribution comprise a well-supported East Asia clade; Vicatia and Haplosphaera arise within a paraphyletic Notopterygium. Other newly recognized, well-supported major clades include the Chamaesium clade, sister group to all other examined Apioideae except tribe Bupleureae, and the Asian Acronema clade, sister group to tribe Scandiceae. The Chamaesium clade and Bupleureae may represent the earliest diverging lineages of Apioideae in Asia. Sinodielsia allies weakly with Pterocyclus or is a sister group to the clade of tribe Apieae plus Pterocyclus; Sinodielsia is distinct from Meeboldia and Vicatia. Genera whose boundaries are poorly defined and controversial on the basis of morphology (Ligusticum, Peucedanum, Physospermopsis, Pimpinella, Pleurospermum, Sinocarum, Tongoloa, Trachyspermum) are not monophyletic in the ITS-based phylogenies. Further study of these Chinese endemics is necessary to produce a comprehensive, modern classification of Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae.