Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inactivation of Sterol Δ5,6-Desaturase Attenuates Virulence in Candida albicans

ABSTRACT Two clinical Candida albicans isolates that exhibited high-level resistance to azoles and modest decreases in susceptibility to amphotericin B were cultured from unrelated patients. Both isolates harbored homozygous nonsense mutations in ERG3, which encodes an enzyme, sterol Δ5,6-desaturase, involved in ergosterol synthesis. Extraction and analysis of the sterols from both isolates confirmed the absence of sterol Δ5,6-desaturase activity. Although the loss of sterol Δ5,6-desaturase activity is known to confer resistance to azoles, this mechanism of resistance has rarely been seen in clinical isolates, suggesting that such mutants are at a competitive disadvantage. To test this hypothesis, the virulence of the erg3 mutants was assayed by using a mouse systemic infection model. The mutants were significantly less virulent than the wild-type comparator strains. However, the kidney fungal burdens in mice infected with the erg3 mutants were similar to those in mice infected with the wild-type strains. Similar results were obtained by using a laboratory-generated homozygous erg3 deletion mutant (D. Sanglard et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 47:2404-2412, 2003). Reintroduction of a wild-type ERG3 allele into the homozygous deletion mutant restored virulence, ergosterol synthesis, and susceptibility to azoles, confirming that these phenotypic changes were solely due to the inactivation of Erg3p.
Pharmacokinetics of a single intravenous dose of marbofloxacin in adult donkeys

Six donkeys each received 2 mg/kg marbofloxacin as a 10 per cent aqueous solution administered intravenously. Principal pharmacokinetic parameters were determined and two efficacy indices were computed by using pharmacokinetic parameters and selected mic90 values of marbofloxacin against pathogenic equine strains to predict the efficacy of the drug at this dose. The pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin in donkeys was characterised by a large mean volume of distribution at a steady state (1·15 [0·09] l/kg) and a long mean (sd) elimination half-life of 9·24 (1·96) hours. It was also characterised by a relatively slow total body clearance of 0·10 (0·02) l/kg/hour, slower than in horses. Using mic90 values of marbofloxacin against pathogenic equine strains with a daily dose of 2 mg/kg, appropriate values of efficacy indicators were obtained only for Enterobacteriaceae. Daily intravenous doses of 0·33, 2·62 and 20 mg/kg were calculated for evaluation in clinical trials of infections due to Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococci, respectively.
Hatay Amik Ovası Ana Ürün Koşullarında Bazı Atdişi Mısır Çeşitlerinin Verim Ve Verimle İlişkili Özellikleri

Bu arastirma ana urun misir cesitlerinin Amik Ovasi kosullarinda verim potansiyellerinin belirlenmesi amaciyla 2010-2011 yillarinda yurutulmustur. Arastirmada, incelenen tum ozellikler cesitlere bagli olarak istatistiksel anlamda onemli farkliliklar gostermistir. Iki yillik ortalama verimlere bakildiginda; BC 6661 misir cesidi haric, denemede kullanilan tum cesitler 1000 kg/da uzerinde tane verimi vermis, en yuksek tane verimleri sirasiyla, 89 may 70 (1383 kg/da), P31 G 98 (1312 kg/da), Pasha ( 1312 kg/da) ve DKC-6589 (1218 kg/da) genotiplerinde belirlenmistir.
Epidemiological Studies on Dermatophytoses in Warangal District, Telangana State, India

The frequency of superficial fungal infections is more in hot and humid climate. Seasonal variation of skin diseases, a subject of much epidemiological interest, has been studied for centuries. The present study report is on dermatophytoses in different clinical conditions such as age, sex and seasonal impact in Warangal District, A.P. A retrospective study was done on all new outpatients visiting a single dermatologist Dr. Ramesh, at the Ramesh skin hospital, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh. The study population comprised of all new subjects visiting the outpatient department, from January to December, from 2008- 2010. The total number of cases was recorded according to the month wise prevalence.
Meeting the information needs of health workers in developing countries

Health workers in the developing world are starved of the information that is the lifeblood of effective health care.1 2 As a direct result, their patients suffer and die. In the words of the late James Grant, former executive director of Unicef, “The most urgent task before us is to get medical and health knowledge to those most in need of that knowledge. Of the approximately 50 million people who were dying each year in the late 1980s, fully two thirds could have been saved through the application of that knowledge. ”2 Providing access to reliable health information for health workers in developing countries is potentially the single most cost effective and achievable strategy for sustainable improvement in health care. Cost effective because the …
CHEMISTRY AND KINEMATICS OF THE LATE-FORMING DWARF IRREGULAR GALAXIES LEO A, AQUARIUS, AND SAGITTARIUS DIG

We present Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy of individual stars in the relatively isolated Local Group dwarf galaxies Leo A, Aquarius, and the Sagittarius dwarf irregular galaxy. The three galaxies—but especially Leo A and Aquarius—share in common delayed star formation histories (SFHs) relative to many other isolated dwarf galaxies. The stars in all three galaxies are supported by dispersion. We found no evidence of stellar velocity structure, even for Aquarius, which has rotating H i gas. The velocity dispersions indicate that all three galaxies are dark-matter-dominated, with dark-to-baryonic mass ratios ranging from (SagDIG) to (Aquarius). Leo A and SagDIG have lower stellar metallicities than Aquarius, and they also have higher gas fractions, both of which would be expected if Aquarius were further along in its chemical evolution. The metallicity distribution of Leo A is inconsistent with a closed or leaky box model of chemical evolution, suggesting that the galaxy was pre-enriched or acquired external gas during star formation. The metallicities of stars increased steadily for all three galaxies, but possibly at different rates. The [α/Fe] ratios at a given [Fe/H] are lower than that of the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy, which indicates more extended SFHs than Sculptor, consistent with photometrically derived SFHs. Overall, the bulk kinematic and chemical properties for the late-forming dwarf galaxies do not diverge significantly from those of less delayed dwarf galaxies, including dwarf spheroidal galaxies.
Metoprolol-induced hyperkalemia in a diabetic with advanced renal failure.

To the Editor. —We used metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor) to control hypertension in a 45-year-old diabetic man with advanced renal failure on hemodialysis. This treatment was associated with three symptomatic episodes of serious hyperkalemia requiring immediate hospitalization (potassium, 9.0, 9.1, and 8.7 meq/L, respectively) in the absence of other detectable causes of hyperkalemia. Also, there was a significant increase in the outpatient predialysis serum potassium levels during metoprolol therapy (potassium, 5.5±0.4 on metoprolol, 4.8±0.3 off metoprolol,P
Ab-initio simulations of MoS2 transistors: From mobility calculation to device performance evaluation

In this paper we present the first ab-initio quantum transport simulations of single-layer MoS2 field-effect transistors including electron-phonon scattering. It is shown that the relatively high ON-current and the negative differential resistance observed in previous studies are artifacts of the applied models and not physical effects. Despite a relatively high phonon-limited mobility (220 cm2/Vs) single-layer MoS2 cannot compete with strained-Si or III-V for potential application as high-performance logic switch. Its electron injection velocity ranging from 1.5e6 to 2.6e6 cm/s is too low for that purpose.
How to use Gagne's model of instructional design in teaching psychomotor skills

Gagne's model of instructional design is based on the information processing model of the mental events that occur when adults are presented with various stimuli and focuses on the learning outcomes and how to arrange specific instructional events to achieve those outcomes. Applying Gagne's nine-step model is an excellent way to ensure an effective and systematic learning program as it gives structure to the lesson plans and a holistic view to the teaching. In this paper, we have chosen a routine practical procedure that junior doctors need to learn: insertion of a peritoneal (ascitic) drain and we use Gagne's “events of instruction” to design a lesson plan for this subject.
A Preliminary Investigation of Dynamic Assessment With Native American Kindergartners.

PURPOSE This study examined dynamic assessment as a lessbiased evaluation procedure for assessing the languagelearning ability of Native American children. METHOD Twenty-three Arapahoe/Shoshone kindergartners were identified as stronger (n = 15) or weaker (n = 8) language learners through teacher report and examiner classroom observation. Through a test-teach-test protocol, participants were briefly taught the principles of categorization. Participant responses to learning were measured in terms of an index of modifiability and post-test categorization scores. The modifiability index, determined during the teaching phase, was a combined score reflecting the child's learning strategies, such as ability to attend, plan, and self-regulate, and the child's responses to the learning situation. Post-test scores consisted of performance on expressive and receptive subtests from a standardized categorization test after partialling out pretest score differences. Effect sizes and confidence intervals were also determined. RESULTS Group and individual results indicated that modifiability and post-test scores were significantly greater for stronger than for weaker language learners. The response to modifiability components was a better discriminator than was the learner strategies components. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS These results provide support for the further development of dynamic assessment as a valid measure of language learning ability in minority children.
Comparing the caries-preventive effect of two fissure sealing modalities in public health care: a single application of glass ionomer and a routine resin-based sealant programme. A randomized split-mouth clinical trial.

AIM The aim of this study was to compare the caries-preventive effect of two types of sealant modalities and to evaluate whether the caries-preventive effect is related to sealant retention. A hypothesis was tested in which a glass ionomer sealant, once applied to the occlusal surface, was able to protect the fissure from caries even if the sealant appeared lost at visual inspection. DESIGN A 3-year randomized split-mouth trial evaluating two sealant modalities was performed at a public health centre in Finland. A chemically curing glass ionomer cement (GIC) and light-curing resin-based (RB) sealant material were applied randomly to the permanent second molars. Sealant application as a routine treatment procedure was carried out to 599 children in the age group of 12-16 years. Caries rate of the sealed teeth and sealant retention with both materials were analysed by a modified McNemar's test. The effectiveness, rate difference, and relative risk with both sealant materials were measured. RESULTS The difference in caries rate between the two modalities was highly significant. When compared to the GIC sealant method, the effectiveness of RB sealant method was 74.1% and the rate difference 3.2% (95% CI 1.44%, 4.98%). The relative risk for RB-sealed surfaces vs. GIC-sealed surfaces of having detectable dentin caries was 0.26 (95% CI 0.12, 0.57). The retention rate of sealants was higher with RB than GIC (P < 0.001). The effectiveness of the retention rate for RB sealants was 94.8% and the rate difference 87.2% (95% CI 83.86%, 90.50%). The relative risk during the 3-year study period of having a defective or lost RB sealant was 0.052 (95% CI 0.036, 0.075) when compared to having a defective or lost GIC sealant. CONCLUSION It is concluded that in preventing dentin caries a RB sealant programme including resealing when necessary was more effective than a single application of GIC. The original hypothesis was thus falsified.
Space-Time Facet Model for Human Activity Classification

This paper presents a novel space-time feature-based human activity analysis system. We detect Space Time Interest Points (STIP) and generate their description based on the facet model. The proposed approach detects interest points in video data using the three-dimensional facet model efficiently. Then we describe each interest point by three-dimensional Haar wavelet transform and time derivatives of different order obtained from said facet model. Here we represent each video clip following the bag-of-words approach by learning feature specific dictionary. Finally, classification is done using non-linear SVM with χ2-kernel. We evaluate the performance of our system on standard datasets like Weizmann, KTH, UCF sports, ICD, UCF YouTube, and UCF50 and get better, or at least comparable results compared to other state-of-the-art systems.
On the Performance of LDPC Codes with Differential Detection over Rayleigh Fading Channels

In this paper, the performance of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes with differential detection is studied over additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and Rayleigh fading channels with particular emphasis on the sensitivity of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) parameters required for metric calculation. Two simple metrics are derived and compared. Computer simulation results demonstrate that an SNR mismatch has a considerable effect on the performance of LDPC codes, and optimal SNR mismatches are explored in terms of bit error rate performances. It is shown that in some cases a pessimistic SNR estimation can improve the overall performance
Screening for tetracycline residues in food products of animal origin in the State of Kuwait using Charm II radio-immunoassay and LC/MS/MS methods

This study surveyed tetracycline residues in foods marketed in Kuwait using various techniques to determine their prevalence above the threshold level. A total of 1517 locally produced and imported food samples of animal origin were collected for analyses, comprising dairy products, eggs and tissue samples (meat, poultry and fish) to give a representative picture of the current use and/or misuse of the drug in Kuwait. Screening was carried out using the Charm II test for tetracycline residues. Positive and suspect positive samples were confirmed by LC/MS/MS. Negative and positive controls, in triplicate, were applied to each method and showed 80–100% agreement. The results showed that 100% of tested eggs, meat, fish, ice cream and cheese were within the limit, while 5% of poultry and 18% of milk samples were above the permitted limit.
Biomechanical Testing of the Lumbosacral Spine

Objective. To assess various forms of anterior and posterior sacral fixation and to study the influence of anterior lumbosacral fixation and posterior pedicle fixation at L5 in conjunction with lumbosacral fixation. Summary of Background Data. Moments at the lumbosacral junction are high in the long constructs requiring lumbosacral fixation. The purpose of this study was to assess bending moments in flexion‐extension and lateral bending and rotational forces at the lumbosacral junction involving a variety of long constructs to the lumbosacral junction. The incidence of pseudarthrosis in such constructs in the adult spine literature ranges from 7% to 40%. Methods. An alignment jig was designed to display three‐dimensional motion in the three orthogonal planes. Nine constructs of five specimens each were tested. These consisted of fixation at T12‐L5‐S1 (construct 1), T12‐L5‐S1 with anterior L5‐S1 fixation and grafting (construct 2), T12‐L5‐S1, S2 with and without L5‐S1 fixation and grafting anterior (constructs 3 and 4, respectfully), T12‐S1, S2 with and without L5‐S1 anterior grafting and fixation(constructs 5 and 6, respectfully), T12 Jackson intrasacral fixation with or without L5‐S1 grafting anteriorly at the anterior fixation (constructs 7 and 8, respectfully), and T12‐L5‐S1, S2 fixation with anterior grafting only (construct 9). Results. The use of anterior fixation statistically increased stiffness in extension. There was a trend toward increasing stiffness in constructs with anterior fixation (two anterior anterior‐oblique L5‐S1 screws) and in other loading modes as well. Failure to use L5 screw fixation significantly decreased torsional rigidity in long constructs without anterior fixation. Conclusions. In long constructs, particularly in scoliosis surgery requiring lumbosacral fixation, the addition of anterior fixation at L5‐S1 is recommended. The addition of L5 fixation in addition to sacral fixation significantly decreases rotational stresses and is recommended as well.
Lightweight Materials Obtained by Utilization of Agricultural Waste

Lightweight ceramic materials in the form of bricks and blocks are widely used in modern construction. They may be obtained by adding of rice husk, rye straw, etc, as porous forming materials. Rice husk is a major by-product of the r ice milling industry. Its utilization as a valuable product ha s always been a problem. Various technologies for utilization of ri ce husk through biological and thermochemical conversion are being developed. The purpose of this work is to develop lightw eight ceramic materials with clay matrix and filler of rice husk and examine their main physicomechanical properties. The results obta ined allow to suppose that the materials synthesized on the basis of waste materials can be used as lightweight materials for construct ion purpose. Keywords—lightweight ceramic materials, properties, agro-was te
In vivo efficacy of fluoroquinolones against systemic tularaemia infection in mice.

OBJECTIVES The in vivo efficacy of ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin were assessed in an experimental Francisella tularensis Schu S4 infection in the BALB/c mouse model. METHODS Mice were given 100 mg/kg of antibiotic by oral administration twice daily commencing at 6, 24 or 48 h post-exposure and continued for 14 days post-exposure. All mice were challenged subcutaneously with 1 x 10(6) cfu F. tularensis Schu S4 and observed for a period of 56 days. RESULTS Treatment initiated 6 h post-exposure resulted in 94, 100 and 100% survival for ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin, respectively. When treatment was delayed until 24 h post-exposure the survival rates were ciprofloxacin 67%, gatifloxacin 96% and moxifloxacin 100%. Treatment initiated at 48 h post-exposure resulted in a significant reduction in the survival rate of the ciprofloxacin-treated mice, with 0% survival compared with 84 and 62% for gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin, respectively. Non-treated infected control mice died within 96 h post-exposure. Dexamethasone given at day 42 for 7 days to suppress the animals' immune system caused relapse in all of the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Both gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin were more effective at preventing mortality than ciprofloxacin and could be considered as alternative antibiotics in the treatment of systemic F. tularensis infection.
The association between childhood physical and sexual abuse and functioning and psychiatric symptoms in a sample of U.S. Army soldiers.

OBJECTIVE We examined associations between abusive childhood experiences and functioning and psychiatric symptoms in an active duty sample of U.S. Army soldiers. METHODS Cross-sectional survey of 204 soldiers stationed at a southern U.S. Army facility. RESULTS Forty-six percent of individuals reported childhood physical abuse alone, whereas 25% reported both childhood physical and sexual abuse. Soldiers' work, role, and social functioning; physical functioning; depression severity; and severity of alcohol misuse did not differ significantly with childhood abuse status (p > 0.22 for all). However, individuals who reported both childhood physical and sexual abuse reported severer posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms than did soldiers who reported no childhood abuse or childhood physical abuse only (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Although abusive childhood experiences were common, soldiers with such experiences reported functioning as well as those soldiers without such experiences. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were significantly elevated only in those who reported both childhood physical and sexual abuse.
DTSTM: Dynamic Tree Style Trust Measurement Model for Cloud Computing

In cloud computing infrastructure, current virtual machine trust measurement methods have many shortcomings in dynamism, security and concurrency. In this paper, we present a new method to measure the trust of virtual machine. Firstly, we propose “behavior trace” to describe the state of virtual machine. Behavior trace is a sequence of behaviors. The measurement of behavior trace is conducted on the basis of anticipated trusted behavior, which not only ensures security of the virtual machine during runtime stage but also reduces complexity of the trust measurement. Based on the behavior trace, we present a Dynamic Tree Style Trust Measurement Model (DTSTM). In this model, the measurement of system domain and user domain is separated, which enhances the extensibility, security and concurrency of the measurement. Finally, based on System Call Interceptor (SCI) and Virtual Machine Introspection (VMI) technology, we implement a DTSTM prototype system for virtual machine trust measurement. Experimental results demonstrate that the system can effectively verify the trust of virtual machine and requires a relatively low performance overhead.
Effects of Neural Progenitor Cell Transplantation in Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a chronic nervous system disease that severely damages the physical and developmental health of children. Traditional treatment brings about only improvement of mild to moderate CP, but severe CP still lacks effective interventions. To explore safety and efficacy of using neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to treat CP in children, we performed NPC transplantation in 45 patients with severe CP by injecting NPCs derived from aborted fetal tissue into the lateral ventricle. Gross motor function measures (GMFM), the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-Fine Motor (PDMS-FM) test, and a unified survey questionnaire designed specifically for children with CP were used to evaluate neurological function of the patients. Motor development was significantly accelerated within the first month after cell transplantation, but the rate of improvement gradually slowed to preoperative levels. However, after 1 year, the developmental level in each functional sphere (gross motor, fine motor, and cognition) of the treatment group was significantly higher compared to the control group. No delayed complications of this therapy were noted. These results suggest that NPC transplantation is a safe and effective therapeutic method for treating children with severe CP.
Mapping nursing intervention data into the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC): process and rules.

TOPIC Uniform language in nursing is needed to clearly depict the contributions of nursing in the healthcare arena but little data related to nursing interventions and patient outcomes are standardized. PURPOSE To investigate the feasibility of mapping nonstandardized nursing interventions into standardized language using the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC). SOURCE Data from a Midwest community hospital's computerized information system. CONCLUSIONS Results demonstrate that nonstandardized nursing orders can be mapped into standardized language using the NIC.