Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Droplet- Rather than Aerosol-Mediated Dispersion Is the Primary Mechanism of Bacterial Transmission from Contaminated Hand-Washing Sink Traps

Among the possible environmental reservoirs in a patient care environment, sink drains are increasingly recognized as a potential reservoir to hospitalized patients of multidrug-resistant health care-associated pathogens. With increasing antimicrobial resistance limiting therapeutic options for patients, a better understanding of how pathogens disseminate from sink drains is urgently needed. Once this knowledge gap has decreased, interventions can be engineered to decrease or eliminate transmission from hospital sink drains to patients. The current study further defines the mechanisms of transmission for bacteria that colonize sink drains. ABSTRACT An alarming rise in hospital outbreaks implicating hand-washing sinks has led to widespread acknowledgment that sinks are a major reservoir of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in patient care areas. An earlier study using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing Escherichia coli (GFP-E. coli) as a model organism demonstrated dispersal from drain biofilms in contaminated sinks. The present study further characterizes the dispersal of microorganisms from contaminated sinks. Replicate hand-washing sinks were inoculated with GFP-E. coli, and dispersion was measured using qualitative (settle plates) and quantitative (air sampling) methods. Dispersal caused by faucet water was captured with settle plates and air sampling methods when bacteria were present on the drain. In contrast, no dispersal was captured without or in between faucet events, amending an earlier theory that bacteria aerosolize from the P-trap and disperse. Numbers of dispersed GFP-E. coli cells diminished substantially within 30 minutes after faucet usage, suggesting that the organisms were associated with larger droplet-sized particles that are not suspended in the air for long periods. IMPORTANCE Among the possible environmental reservoirs in a patient care environment, sink drains are increasingly recognized as a potential reservoir to hospitalized patients of multidrug-resistant health care-associated pathogens. With increasing antimicrobial resistance limiting therapeutic options for patients, a better understanding of how pathogens disseminate from sink drains is urgently needed. Once this knowledge gap has decreased, interventions can be engineered to decrease or eliminate transmission from hospital sink drains to patients. The current study further defines the mechanisms of transmission for bacteria that colonize sink drains.
Novel Antimicrobial Peptides from the Arctic Polychaeta Nicomache minor Provide New Molecular Insight into Biological Role of the BRICHOS Domain

Endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are among the earliest molecular factors in the evolution of animal innate immunity. In this study, novel AMPs named nicomicins were identified in the small marine polychaeta Nicomache minor in the Maldanidae family. Full-length mRNA sequences encoded 239-residue prepropeptides consisting of a putative signal sequence region, the BRICHOS domain within an acidic proregion, and 33-residue mature cationic peptides. Nicomicin-1 was expressed in the bacterial system, and its spatial structure was analyzed by circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Nicomicins are unique among polychaeta AMPs scaffolds, combining an amphipathic N-terminal α-helix and C-terminal extended part with a six-residue loop stabilized by a disulfide bridge. This structural arrangement resembles the Rana-box motif observed in the α-helical host-defense peptides isolated from frog skin. Nicomicin-1 exhibited strong in vitro antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria at submicromolar concentrations. The main mechanism of nicomicin-1 action is based on membrane damage but not on the inhibition of bacterial translation. The peptide possessed cytotoxicity against cancer and normal adherent cells as well as toward human erythrocytes.
Seize the Night

after the perpetrators. Any sea area, any stretch of coast could be the scene of illegal activity after dark: drug smuggling, people smuggling, illegal fishing, terrorism, even comparatively minor crimes such as petty vandalism and theft. Perpetrators all too often get away with what they do because the chances of them being seen, and then arrested, are so slight the rewards more than justify any risks.
Statins Reduce Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Growth, Rupture, and Perioperative Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Background There are no recognized pharmacological treatments for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), although statins are suggested to be beneficial. We sought to summarize the literature regarding the effects of statins on human AAA growth, rupture, and 30‐day mortality. Methods and Results We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized and observational studies using the Cochrane CENTRAL database, MEDLINE, and EMBASE up to June 15, 2018. Review, abstraction, and quality assessment were conducted by 2 independent reviewers, and a third author resolved discrepancies. Pooled mean differences and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random effects models. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I2 statistic, and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. Our search yielded 911 articles. One case‐control and 21 cohort studies involving 80 428 patients were included. The risk of bias was low to moderate. Statin use was associated with a mean AAA growth rate reduction of 0.82 mm/y (95% confidence interval 0.33, 1.32, P=0.001, I2=86%). Statins were also associated with a lower rupture risk (odds ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.51, 0.78, P<0.0001, I2=27%), and preoperative statin use was associated with a lower 30‐day mortality following elective AAA repair (odds ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.36, 0.83, P=0.005, I2=57%). Conclusions Statin therapy may be associated with reduction in AAA progression, rupture, and lower rates of perioperative mortality following elective AAA repair. These data argue for widespread statin use in AAA patients. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.crd. york.ac. uk. Unique identifier: CRD42017056480.
Terahertz Detection in MOS-FET: A new model by the self-mixing

High frequency detection based on MOS-FET technology was long justified using a mechanism described by the plasma wave detection theory. In this paper we propose a new model based on the self-mixing process, taking place not in the channel, but in the depleted portion of the transistor body. Hydrodynamic semiconductor equations are solved in the small signal approximation. As a result, we present the dependence of the rectified voltage on the bias gate voltage, which fits carefully several experimental literature results.
Association of Vitamin D Deficiency with Increased Pulse Wave Velocity and Augmentation Index in Children With Chronic Kidney Disease.

INTRODUCTION It is known that in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular damage starts in the form of arterial stiffness. There are risk factors other than the traditional ones such as arterial stiffness hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and insulin resistance. Vitamin D deficiency is rather common in CKD, and it was introduced as a risk factor for atherosclerosis; however, its relationship with arterial stiffness is not known completely. The purpose of this study was to research the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and arterial stiffness. MATERIALS AND METHODS Arterial stiffness was evaluated by measuring augmentation index (AI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) from the radial and carotid arteries with a Vicorder. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured by an immunoassay method. RESULTS In the 81 CKD patients (mean age, 13.21 ± 6.02 years; mean body mass index, 19.42 ± 5.12 kg/m2; and 56.8% male), the mean vitamin D level was 60.71 ± 39.52 ng/mL, the mean AI was 7.93 ± 7.77%, and the mean PWV was 9.79 ± 4.36 m/s. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was correlated with AI (r = -0.482, P = 0.001) and PWV (r = -0.57, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS In this study, it was proven that vitamin D deficiency in children was related to nondiabetic and nondialysis CKD.
Physiological Responses of the Youth Viewing a Japanese Garden

Previous studies have demonstrated that exposure to a Japanese garden is a non-pharmacological measure to improve the behavioral symptoms of elderly people with dementia, and that Japanese gardens are significantly more effective than other environments. However, it is not clear whether Japanese gardens have similar effects in the young. To address this open question, we measured the physiological responses of university students when viewing a Japanese garden, and compared them to the same students’ responses when viewing a control space. We measured three physiological indicators of autonomous nervous system (ANS) activity: the electrocardiograph (ECG), the blood volume pulse (BVP) and the galvanic skin response (GSR). Our results suggest that the Japanese garden does not have as calming an effect on younger subjects as observed previously in elderly subjects. However, students did respond more positively to the Japanese garden than to an unstructured space. Ambient temperature was found to be a critical factor affecting heart rate and heart rate variability, but not other measures.
Pucker sign in irreducible posterolateral knee dislocation

24 years old male seen in the trauma bay involved in a motor vehicle accident with rollover landing on its roof. He was partially ejected with his right leg hyperflexed and entrapped. The patient was stable with complaints of right knee pain. There was dimpling of the right distal medial thigh (A, B). After unsuccessful attempts at closed reduction, the patient was taken for open reduction. There was entrapment of the femoral condyle in the extensor mechanism. The soft tissues were released and the condyle reduced back into its normal position. The extensor mechanism was then repaired. The patient had palpable posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis pulses after completion of the procedure. The mechanism for posterolateral knee dislocation is valgus and rotational stress during knee flexion. The medial cruciate ligament, anterior cruciate ligament, and the posterior cruciate ligament are usually injured in posterolateral knee dislocation with incarceration of the capsule and ligamentous structures in the intercondylar notch. Early open reduction is indicated as it is generally considered irreducible by closed reduction. The "pucker sign" is considered pathognomonic. On Radiographs with attention to the patella shows the patella maintaining its in-line attachments to the tibial tuberosity and is reduced with respect to the proximal tibia but dislocated with respect to the distal femur. At the follow up the patient is ambulatory after rehabilitation. Figure 1: Xray showing posterolateral dislocation of the knee.
Anterosuperior protraction of maxillae using the extraoral device, RAMPA; finite element method

Abstract This paper presents a boosting effect against gravity by analyzing the displacement and stress distribution of craniofacial structures due to the protraction of the extraoral device, the Right Angle Maxillary Protraction Appliance(RAMPA) system, including semi-rapid maxillary expansion (sRME) using the finite element method. In addition, a patient case was illustrated and compared with the results calculated from a simulation. The results from the finite element method were obtained for 0.5 mm activation using the screw of the intraoral device, gHu-1. This study reveals that RAMPA rotates the patient’s maxilla and mandible in the forward direction and forces them to move forward and upward.
Limb Kinetic Apraxia Is an Independent Predictor for Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease

Impaired dexterity is a common symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) and has been related to limb kinetic apraxia (LKA). LKA negatively influenced activities of daily living (ADL) in PD. However, the impact on quality of life (QoL) remains to be clarified, which was the aim of the current study.
Effect of Microwave Heat on the Nutritional Properties of Infected Red Kidney Beans

In this paper, the effect of microwave heat on the nutritional characteristics of affected red kidney beans, i.e., Rajma is studied. Evaluation of crude protein content in microwave heated red kidney beans are carried out using standard Kjeldahl method and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy. Red kidney beans affected by Pulse Beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis) have been analyzed throughout the experiments. The heat treatment of the samples is undertaken using a domestic microwave oven at 2.45 GHz. The samples are heated at different microwave powers, such as 90, 270, 450, 750, and 900 W, while the exposure time is varied from 30–90 s. The effective microwave power for maximum disinfestation is found to be 270–450 W at 30–60 s. Most of the red kidney beans are damaged at 900 W for 60 s. Using Kjeldahl method, a constant crude protein level of 22.5 % is obtained for untreated and treated samples at 90–450 W. Crude protein level of red kidney beans is changed at 750–900 W. From FTIR analysis, the absorbance spectrum of carbohydrate peaks is found at 900–1250 cm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-1}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, a moisture peak at 1650 cm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-1}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and a protein peaks at 2800–3000 cm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-1}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. Statistical analysis of the treated and untreated samples represents the lowest error of 0.0016 at 450 W power level for 60 s. Variances are determined to be the lowest with a value of 270 W and 450 W at 90 s and 60 s. These findings indicate the optimum microwave heat treatment for red kidney beans to retain its protein content.
Deep Learning and Multi-Sensor Fusion for Glioma Classification Using Multistream 2D Convolutional Networks

This paper addresses issues of brain tumor, glioma, grading from multi-sensor images. Different types of scanners (or sensors) like enhanced T1-MRI, T2-MRI and FLAIR, show different contrast and are sensitive to different brain tissues and fluid regions. Most existing works use 3D brain images from single sensor. In this paper, we propose a novel multistream deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture that extracts and fuses the features from multiple sensors for glioma tumor grading/subcategory grading. The main contributions of the paper are: (a) propose a novel multistream deep CNN architecture for glioma grading; (b) apply sensor fusion from T1-MRI, T2-MRI and/or FLAIR for enhancing performance through feature aggregation; (c) mitigate overfitting by using 2D brain image slices in combination with 2D image augmentation. Two datasets were used for our experiments, one for classifying low/high grade gliomas, another for classifying glioma with/without 1p19q codeletion. Experiments using the proposed scheme have shown good results (with test accuracy of 90.87% for former case, and 89.39 % for the latter case). Comparisons with several existing methods have provided further support to the proposed scheme. keywords: brain tumor classification, glioma, 1p19q codeletion, glioma grading, deep learning, multi-stream convolutional neural networks, sensor fusion, T1-MR image, T2-MR image, FLAIR.
Understanding the evolution of antibiotic-nonsusceptible pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization following pneumococcal conjugate vaccines implementation in young children.

Background Four main processes determine pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) antibiotic-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae (ANSP) carriage: reduction of PCV serotypes, increase of non-PCV serotypes, potential overall reduction in carriage, and within-serotype nonsusceptibility, resulting from continuous antibiotic pressure. The post-PCV implementation dynamics of these components were examined in young children from two distinct ethnic populations: Jewish and Bedouin. Methods An ongoing, prospective, population-based, active surveillance initiated at the time of seven- and 13-valent PCVs (PCV7; PCV13) implementation. Nasopharyngeal cultures for S. pneumoniae were obtained daily from children younger than 5 years, visiting the only pediatric emergency room in the district during a period of 6 years (2009 to 2015). Results Of 8,446 nasopharyngeal samples, 48·3% were positive (42·0% and 52·8% for Jewish and Bedouin children, respectively; P < ·001). Nonsusceptibility was significantly more frequent among PCV serotypes than among non-PCV serotypes, and among Bedouin children than among Jewish children. PCV serotype carriage declined by 80%, while that of non-PCV serotypes increased by 140%. The overall (all serotypes) pneumococcal carriage significantly declined (33% and 11% in Bedouin and Jewish children, respectively). Among non-PCV isolates, the proportion of ANSP significantly increased with time in both populations. As a summation of all four processes, ANSP carriage significantly decreased among both Bedouin and Jewish children. Conclusions PCV impact on ANSP nasopharyngeal carriage is a dynamic, multi-component process, highly dependent on antibiotic consumption in the community, which may result in continuous increase in antibiotic resistance in the replacing serotypes.
Oral Semaglutide

PATIENT INFO 2 of 2 Introduction The number of antihyperglycemic medications approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has increased dramatically in recent years (1). Since the initial approval of exenatide (Byetta) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005 (2), agents in the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist class of medications have quickly gained popularity as a treatment option for the management of hyperglycemia in T2D (3). The increase in use of GLP-1 receptor agonists is due, at least in part, to their demonstrated clinical utility in improving glycemic control and inducing weight loss in people with T2D (4). One practical barrier to GLP-1 receptor agonist use for some individuals is the need to administer these agents via subcutaneous injection. For patients unwilling or unable to initiate a GLP-1 receptor agonist for this reason, an alternative may be available in the future—namely, an oral formulation of semaglutide that is currently in phase 3 investigation for the treatment of T2D (5). This article provides a brief discussion of once-daily oral semaglutide and the future role it may play in the management of T2D.
Gettering Efficacy of APCVD-Based Process Steps for Low-Cost PERT-Type Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Gettering of impurities plays a crucial role in production processes of multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) solar cells. In industry this is commonly done via POCl3 diffusion gettering during emitter or back surface field formation. We report about the gettering efficacy of an alternative approach using doped glasses deposited prior to diffusion via atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD). Not only effective high-temperature diffusion gettering is shown but also low-temperature internal gettering, which takes place during deposition. Both mechanisms were found to reduce interstitial iron concentrations considerably leading to significantly enhanced minority charge carrier lifetimes. Despite structure and composition of APCVD, phosphorus silicate glasses (PSG) may differ considerably from POCl3 PSG, its overall gettering efficacy is found to be comparable or even superior. Resulting uniform sheet resistances and doping profiles are suitable for a cost-effective industrial APCVD-based codiffusion passivated emitter, rear totally diffused solar cell production process, whose applicability is demonstrated on 156 × 156 cm2 p-type mc-Si.
Daily expression of clock genes in central and peripheral tissues of tree sparrow (Passer montanus)

ABSTRACT Almost all organisms live in a fluctuating environment. To achieve synchrony with the fluctuating environment, organisms have evolved with time-tracking mechanism commonly known as biological clocks. This circadian clock machinery has been identified in almost all cells of vertebrates and categorized as central and peripheral clocks. In birds, three independent circadian clocks reside within the nervous tissues in the hypothalamus, pineal and retina, which interact with each other and produce circadian time at a functional level. There is limited knowledge available of the molecular clockwork, and of integration between central and peripheral clocks in birds. Here, we studied daily expression of canonical clock genes (Bmal1, Clock, Per2, Per3, Cry1 and Cry2) and clock-controlled gene (Npas2) in all three central tissues (hypothalamus, pineal and retina) and in peripheral tissues (liver, intestine and muscle). Wild caught adult male tree sparrows were exposed to equinox photoperiod (12L:12D) for 2 weeks and after that birds were sacrificed (N = 5 per time point) at six time points (ZT1, ZT5, ZT9, ZT13, ZT17 and ZT21; ZT0 is lights on). Daily expression of clock genes was studied using qPCR. Bmal1, Clock, Per2, Per3, Cry1, Cry2 and Npas2 showed daily oscillation in all tissues except Cry2 in hypothalamus, pineal and intestine. We observed tissue-specific expression pattern for all clock and clock-controlled genes. Bmal1 transcripts expressed during early phase of night. Clock acrophase was observed during middle or late day time in the central clock while during early-to-middle phase of night in peripheral tissues. Npas2 expression pattern was similar to Bmal1. Per genes peaked either late at night or early during day time. However, Cry genes were peaked either at late day time (Cry1in retina, liver and intestine; Cry2 in liver and intestine) or at early night phase (Cry1 in hypothalamus, pineal and muscle; Cry2 in hypothalamus, pineal, retina and muscle). Our results are consistent with the autoregulatory circadian feedback loop, and suggest a conserved tissue-level circadian time generation in tree sparrows. Change in peak expression timing of these genes in different tissues implicates tissue-specific contribution of individual clock genes in the circadian time generation.
The development of the chondrocranium of the lacertid lizard, Acanthodactylus boskiana

The trabeculae cranii are at first quite separate from each other, after few days their anterior two fifths are connected by a trabecular plate which is obliterated throughout development. The paired origin of the parachordal plate is not observed. The fused posterior orbital cartilages chondrify in the form of a wide short plate, traversed by the oculomotor and trochlear nerves. The basicranial fenestra and fenestra ovalis are formed by the degeneration of pre‐existing cartilage. The cochlear portion is completely fused with the parachordal plate from the very beginning. The elements of the pterygoquadrate are fused together. The quadrate and Meckel's cartilage are in close contact from the very beginning. While the lower part of the interorbital septum is derived from the trabecula communis, its upper part is derived from the anterior orbital cartilages. The lateral parts of the fused posterior orbital cartilages give rise to most of the taeniae and pilae of the orbitotemporal region. There is only one commissure between the auditory capsule and parachordal plate. A cartilaginous connection between the distal portion of the columella auris and ceratohyal persists for some time. The parietotectal and paranasal cartilages are fused together from the very beginning. The processus paroticus originates from the columella auris.