Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Occurrence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes, and distribution of enterococcal clonal complex 17 from animals and human beings in Korea

Enterococci are major zoonotic bacteria that cause opportunistic infections in human beings and animals. Moreover, pathogenic strains can be disseminated between human beings and animals, particularly companion animals that come into frequent contact with people. Recently, Enterococcus faecium clonal complex 17 (CC17) has emerged as a pandemic clone. Most CC17 strains are ampicillin resistant and possess virulence genes such as esp and hyl. Despite the possible dissemination of CC17 between human beings and animals, prevalence data about CC17 in animals is limited. In the present study, the phenotypes and genotypes of antimicrobial resistance were compared, as well as virulence gene profiles from 184 enterococci strains isolated from chickens, pigs, companion animals, and human patients in Korea. Ampicillin-resistant E. faecium (AREF) strains were selected, and multilocus sequence typing was performed to investigate the dispersion of CC17 among animals and human beings. The companion animal and human isolates showed high resistance rates to ampicillin and ciprofloxacin, whereas food animal isolates showed high tetracycline and erythromycin resistance rates. Ampicillin-resistant E. faecium was only detected in human (21/21 E. faecium, 100%) and companion animal (3/5 E. faecium, 60%) isolates, and all human AREF strains and 1 canine AREF strain were confirmed as CC17. In conclusion, the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes, and the distribution of enterococcal CC17 in companion animal enterococcal strains were similar to those of human strains rather than to those of food animal strains.
A ten-year (2000–2009) study of antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria that cause bovine respiratory disease complex—Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni—in the United States and Canada

Bovine isolates of Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni, collected from 2000 to 2009, were tested for in vitro susceptibility to ceftiofur, penicillin, danofloxacin, enrofloxacin, florfenicol, tetracycline, tilmicosin, and tulathromycin. Ceftiofur remained very active against all isolates. Penicillin retained good activity against P. multocida and H. somni isolates with no appreciable changes in susceptibility or minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) distributions with time. While there was no obvious trend, the percent of M. haemolytica that were susceptible to penicillin ranged from 40.9% to 66.7%. Danofloxacin MIC50 and MIC90 values for M. haemolytica and P. multocida did not change beyond a single dilution over the 6 years it was included in the testing panel. The MIC90 for H. somni increased beyond 1 dilution. Enrofloxacin MIC50 values for the 3 pathogens also did not change over time, unlike the MIC90 values, which increased by at least 4-doubling dilutions. Ninety percent or more of M. haemolytica and H. somni isolates were susceptible to florfenicol, while susceptibility among P. multocida was 79% or greater. Less than 50% of the isolates tested as susceptible to tetracycline in many of the years. All 3 organisms showed declines in tilmicosin and tulathromycin MIC50 and MIC90 values over the years in which they were tested.
The Rationale for Cervical Disc Arthroplasty

Although the concepts of total disc arthroplasty were first described in 1966, only recently has the spine community considered its routine use in the cervical spine. The tenets of motion preservation have been pervasive in orthopaedic surgery and, for this reason, many researchers have advocated for this approach in the treatment of spinal disorders. Anterior cervical fusions have led to excellent clinical results; however, many patients require further reoperations and may have long-term deterioration of their symptoms. The preliminary data from randomized controlled trials involving both cervical spine total disc arthroplasty and fusion cohorts have been encouraging in establishing its safety, efficacy, and potential avoidance of adverse events in the treatment of radiculopathy and/or myelopathy. This manuscript will review the rationale behind the use of a cervical disc prosthesis.
Genetics of Photosensitive Epilepsy1

Genetics of photosensitive epilepsy. Neuropadiatrie 1: 56—73 (1969). The importance of predisposing factors in the pathagenesis of photosensitive epilepsies is examined. The morbidity of seizures is greatest in the female family members, and particularly on the maternal side. The morbidity is more frequent in the families of probands with seizures than in families of probands without seizures (4.4 °/o and 1.6 °/o respectively). The electroencephalographic examinations revealed a photo-convulsive response in 26.2 °/o of the siblings and 6.8 %> of the control children (p <0.0005). The phenomenon occurred with maximum penetrance between the ages of 6 and 15 years. Besides photosensitivity, other genetic factors seem also to play a role in the triggering of seizures. The photoconvulsive response is regarded as a symptom of dispositional susceptibility to convulsions of the centrencephalic type. A symptomatic photosensitivity caused by organic brain lesions would appear to be a rare occurrence.
Data broadcasting in SIMD computers

Considers the data broadcasting problem for single instruction stream, multiple data stream (SIMD) computers. Two versions of this problem, i.e., random access read (RAR) and random access write (RAW) are considered. Efficient data broadcasting algorithms are developed for both cases. For the case of a RAR, the complexity of the algorithm is O(<i>q</i><sup>2</sup><i>n</i>) on a <i>q</i>-dimensional <i>n</i><sup>q</sup> PE mesh-connected computer and 0(log<sup>2</sup><i>N</i>) on an <i>N</i> PE cube-connected or perfect shuffle computer. For the case of a RAW, the complexity of the algorithm is 0(<i>q</i><sup>2</sup><i>n</i>+<i>dqn</i>) on a <i>q</i>-dimensional MCC and 0(log<sup>2</sup><i>N</i>+<i>d</i> log <i>N</i>) on an <i>N</i> PE cube-connected or perfect shuffle computer; <i>d</i> is the maximum number of data items written into any one PE.
Analytic Queueing Models for Programs with Internal Concurrency

Analytic queueing models of programs with internal concurrency are considered. The program behavior model allows a process to spawn two or more concurrent tasks at some point during its execution. Except for queueing effects, the tasks execute independently of one another, and at the end of their execution, either wait for all of their siblings to finish execution or merge with the parent if all have finished execution. Two approximate solution methods for the performance prediction of such systems are developed, and results of the approximations are compared to those of simulations. The approximations are both computationally efficient and highly accurate. The gain in performance due to multitasking and multiprocessing is studied with a series of examples.
The post-op brain.

Patients who have undergone surgery may develop a condition known as postoperative cognitive decline that involves problems with memory, concentration, and attention. Researchers are trying to determine what causes this condition and how to protect patients. Whether the impairment persists remains controversial, with some studies suggesting a link between surgery and long-term mental declines and other studies finding no connection. Researchers long suspected that anesthetics, which can damage brain cells, triggered cognitive problems. But the main suspect now is inflammation sparked by the physical trauma of surgery. Researchers are now investigating several ways of protecting the brain, including activating natural inflammation-suppressing mechanisms and beefing up patients9 cognitive abilities before surgery.
Use of the polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Babesia odocoilei 18S ribosomal RNA in formalin-fixed tissues

The effect of fixation and storage conditions on the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for Babesia odocoilei were examined using 3 different primer sets targeting the eukaryotic 18S ribosomal RNA gene, with variably sized products of 1,723 base pairs (bp), 483 bp, and 306 bp. All primer sets performed well on fresh-frozen tissue, and storage for 1 year at −20°C did not affect PCR performance. Formalin fixation markedly affected the amplicon length that could be amplified. However, DNA was successfully amplified after storage in formalin for 2 months using the primer set with a 483-bp product, and up to 6 months using the primer set with a 306-bp product. The latter primer set successfully differentiated B. odocoilei and Babesia microti DNA; however, further evaluation is required to confirm its specificity. Treatment of tissues with formic acid, at concentrations typically used to denature prions, degraded the DNA and made it unsuitable for PCR testing.
Combined analysis of sensor data from hand and gait motor function improves automatic recognition of Parkinson's disease

Objective and rater independent analysis of movement impairment is one of the most challenging tasks in medical engineering. Especially assessment of motor symptoms defines the clinical diagnosis in Parkinson's disease (PD). A sensor-based system to measure the movement of the upper and lower extremities would therefore complement the clinical evaluation of PD. In this study two different sensor-based systems were combined to assess movement of 18 PD patients and 17 healthy controls. First, hand motor function was evaluated using a sensor pen with integrated accelerometers and pressure sensors, and second, gait function was assessed using a sports shoe with attached inertial sensors (gyroscopes, accelerometers). Subjects performed standardized tests for both extremities. Features were calculated from sensor signals to differentiate between patients and controls. For the latter, pattern recognition methods were used and the performance of four classifiers was compared. In a first step classification was done for every single system and in a second step for combined features of both systems. Combination of both motor task assessments substantially improved classification rates to 97% using the AdaBoost classifier for the experiment patients vs. controls. The combination of two different analysis systems led to enhanced, more stable, objective, and rater independent recognition of motor impairment. The method can be used as a complementary diagnostic tool for movement disorders.
Estimation of nasal shedding and seroprevalence of organisms known to be associated with bovine respiratory disease in Australian live export cattle

The prevalence of organisms known to be associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) was investigated in cattle prior to export. A quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect nucleic acids from the following viruses and bacteria in nasal swab samples: Bovine coronavirus (BoCV; Betacoronavirus 1), Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 (BVDV-1), Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), Bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (BPIV-3), Histophilus somni, Mycoplasma bovis, Mannheimia haemolytica, and Pasteurella multocida. Between 2010 and 2012, nasal swabs were collected from 1,484 apparently healthy cattle destined for export to the Middle East and Russian Federation. In addition, whole blood samples from 334 animals were tested for antibodies to BoHV-1, BRSV, BVDV-1, and BPIV-3 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The nasal prevalence of BoCV at the individual animal level was 40.1%. The nasal and seroprevalence of BoHV-1, BRSV, BVDV-1, and BPIV-3 was 1.0% and 39%, 1.2% and 46%, 3.0% and 56%, and 1.4% and 87%, respectively. The nasal prevalence of H. somni, M. bovis, M. haemolytica, and P. multocida was 42%, 4.8%, 13.4%, and 26%, respectively. Significant differences in nasal and seroprevalence were detected between groups of animals from different geographical locations. The results of the current study provide baseline data on the prevalence of organisms associated with BRD in Australian live export cattle in the preassembly period. This data could be used to develop strategies for BRD prevention and control prior to loading.
Inter‐rater reliability of the National Triage Scale over 11,500 simulated occasions of triage

Since its introduction in 1993, the National Triage Scale (NTS), a five­ category scale based on the optimal time to medical intervention, has been introduced into most Australasian emergency departments as the basis of triage, clinical . indicators and in some departments, casemix classification. The scale is a modification of the Ipswich Triage Scale (ITS), developed in 1989. This scale was shown in separate studies in Ipswich and Perth to be reliable and valid. The NTS however, although well validated, particularly with regard to resource use, workload and admission rates, has not been formally tested for inter-rater reliability. In this study the inter-rater reliability of the NTS was assessed in eight Western Australian hospital emergency departments, covering teaching, non­ teaching, rural and private hospitals, using the same methodology and patient profiles as the original ITS study. One hundred and fifteen triage nurses ill these hospitals triaged 100 written patient profiles using the NTS. Inter-rater reliability was acceptable. Of the 115 respondents, 95% were with.in one category of the modal response for all but four patient profiles and 86% were with.in one category for all patient profiles. Concurrence, or the percentage of responses in the modal category, was good. For 89% of the profiles, more than 50% of trieurs agreed with the modal response. The distribution of modal responses was not significantly affected by hospital type or triage nurse experience. The inter-rater reliability of the NTS overall was slightly better than for the ITS in 1989. Emergency physicians, hospital administrators and government authorities can be confident that this widely used scale is a reliable measure of urgency.
Cytologic findings and diagnostic yield in 92 dogs undergoing fine-needle aspiration of the pancreas

The diagnosis of pancreatic disease in small animal veterinary patients is complicated by nonspecific clinical signs and the limitations of diagnostic testing. Pancreatic cytology is a potential diagnostic tool, but safety and diagnostic yield are not well characterized in large patient cohorts. We hypothesized that pancreatic fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in dogs would frequently generate diagnostic-quality samples and subsequent adverse medical events would be uncommon. Ninety-two client-owned dogs undergoing pancreatic FNA for clinical diagnostic evaluation were identified retrospectively by a computer search for pancreatic cytology submissions. Archived slides were reviewed by a single board-certified clinical pathologist using a predetermined descriptive scheme. Medical records were reviewed for adverse events 48 hr following FNA, for concurrent procedures and diagnosis in patients with adverse events and for histology results. Diagnostic yield was calculated as the % cases in which a cytologic diagnosis could be achieved; correlation with histology or other confirmatory testing was determined when possible. Diagnostic yield was 73.5%, and the major pathologic process identified cytologically correlated with confirmatory testing in 10 out of 11 cases. There were 7 adverse events, all in dogs with significant comorbidities or undergoing other invasive procedures. Pancreatic FNA in dogs has a good diagnostic yield and a low rate of clinical complications in a large case series of dogs. Correlation of cytology and histology results was high in a limited number of cases.
The Design of Optimal Systolic Arrays

Conventional design of systolic arrays is based on the mapping of an algorithm onto an interconnection of processing elements in a VLSI chip. This mapping is done in an ad hoc manner, and the resulting configuration usually represents a feasible but suboptimal design. In this paper, systolic arrays are characterized by three classes of parameters: the velocities of data flows, the spatial distributions of data, and the periods of computation. By relating these parameters in constraint equations that govern the correctness of the design, the design is formulated into an optimization problem. The size of the search space is a polynomial of the problem size, and a methodology to systematically search and reduce this space and to obtain the optimal design is proposed. Some examples of applying the method, including matrix multiplication, finite impulse response filtering, deconvolution, and triangular-matrix inversion, are given.
Differentiation of phyllodes tumors versus fibroadenomas: Mammographic and sonographic features

Purpose: To determine if mammographic and sonographic findings allow discrimination between phyllodes tumor and large sized fibroadenoma, which mimic each other in the clinical, radiologic and histopathologic appearances. Material and Methods: Thirty-one histopathologically proven masses including 12 phyllodes tumors and 19 fibroadenomas 3 cm or greater in diameter were compared. In total 28 women were retrospectively evaluated by mammography and pre-operative sonography. Results: Mammography revealed a high-density mass compared with surrounding fibroglandular breast tissue to be present in 9 of the 12 (75%) phyllodes tumors and 7 of the 19 (37%) fibroadenomas. At sonography a mass, which had a round or lobulated shape, marked posterior acoustic enhancement and intramural cystic areas, were statistically significantly more likely to be phyllodes tumors than fibroadenomas. None of the other mammographic or sonographic characteristics proved to be useful in differentiating phyllodes tumors and fibroadenomas. Conclusion: Although masses of high density at mammography, circumscribed border associated with posterior acoustic enhancement and internal cystic areas at sonography should suggest the diagnosis of phyllodes tumors rather than large sized fibroadenomas, there was a substantial overlap in the mammographic and sonographic characteristics of these two tumors. Therefore, an excisional biopsy would be necessary for equivocal masses.
Doctors Talking With Patients/Patients Talking With Doctors: Improving Communication in Medical Visits

The verbal and nonverbal exchanges that take place between doctor and patient affect both participants, and can result in a range of positive or negative psychological reactions-including comfort, alarm, irritation, or resolve. This updated edition of a widely popular book sets out specific principles and recommendations for improving doctor-patient communications. It describes the process of communication, analyzes social and psychological factors that color doctor-patient exchanges, and details changes that can benefit both parties. Medical visits are often less effective and satisfying than they would be if doctors and patients better understood the communication most needed for attainment of mutual health goals. The verbal and nonverbal exchanges that take place between doctor and patient affect both participants, and can result in a range of positive or negative psychological reactions-including comfort, alarm, irritation, or resolve. Talk, on both verbal and non-verbal levels, is shown by extensive research to have far-reaching impact. This updated edition of a widely popular book helps us understand this vital issue, and facilitate communications that will mean more effective medical care and happier, healthier consumers. Roter and Hall set out specific principles and recommendations for improving doctor-patient relationships. They describe the process of communication, analyze social and psychological factors that color doctor-patient exchanges, and detail changes that can benefit both parties. Here are needed encouragement and principles of action vital to doctors and patients alike. far-reaching impact.
Pulmonary embolization of immature Fascioloides magna causing fatal hemothorax confirmed by molecular technique in a heifer in the United States

The current report describes the use of a molecular technique to identify immature Fascioloides magna. An 18-month-old Brangus heifer was found dead in the field without any prior clinical signs. The cause of death was exsanguination into the thoracic cavity associated with pulmonary embolization and infection by immature Fascioloides magna resulting in 2 large foci of pulmonary necrosis and focal arteriolar and lung rupture. The liver had a few random migratory tracts with typical iron and porphyrin fluke exhaust, but no identified fluke larvae. A single immature fluke was found in the lungs, and species level identification as F. magna was confirmed by DNA sequence analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 region, 5.8S rRNA gene, and ITS2) and of partial 28S rRNA gene sequence. This is one of only a few pulmonary fascioloidiasis cases associated with hemothorax in the veterinary literature.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON HEADACHE: PAIN-SENSITIVE STRUCTURES OF THE HEAD AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN HEADACHE

Studies on man and lower animals have shown that the cranial blood vessels are pain-sensitive structures, capable under special circumstances of giving rise to headache.1The distention of cerebral arteries is primarily responsible for the headache produced by certain chemical agents, of which histamine is representative;2the headache associated with septicemia and fever is in the same category.3It has been shown that the afferent fibers from the pain-sensitive cerebral arteries above the tentorium enter the brain stem primarily through the fifth cranial nerve, whereas the fibers from the arteries below the tentorium enter the nervous system chiefly through the upper cervical nerves.4The distention of certain branches of the external carotid arteries is chiefly responsible for migraine headache and the headache associated with arterial hypertension.5 Thus, data about the great variety of headaches resulting from distention of cranial arteries are specific, but there is
A novel bioelectronic glucose sensor to process distinct electrical activities of pancreatic beta-cells

Glucose sensors have improved and facilitated therapy for type 1 diabetes. However, they are still not capable to sense all physiological signals and to act in a closed-loop. Pancreatic β-cells have been shaped during evolution as biological sensors and offer the advantage to integrate all physiological signals in addition to glucose. Moreover, biosensors based on these cells may also serve for non-invasive and continuous long-term characterization of β-cells, drug research, tissue engineering and pre-transplantation quality control. β-cells alter their electrical activity upon exposure to glucose and physiological hormones and we have used these properties to design a biosensor. To this end signals were recorded extracellularly from islet cells kept on multi-electrode arrays. Slow and rapid oscillations were observed, both modulated by glucose. Especially slow oscillations are very robust and have an excellent signal/noise ratio. Signal processing functions were designed to separate the two activities to extract and analyze relevant parameters. These parameters correlate very well with either increasing or decreasing glucose concentrations. An electronic device is under construction, based on an embedded FPGA capable of processing multiple channels in parallel. In the future, such a device shall be used as a portable real-time biosensor regulating insulin delivery from a pump.