Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of $d$- and $q$-Axis Inductances Influenced by Slot-Pole Combinations Based on Axial Flux Permanent-Magnet Machines

Flux-weakening capability of permanent-magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) is fundamentally determined by d- and q -axis inductances. Based on axial flux permanent-magnet machines (AFPMs), this paper extracts the intrinsic factors that influence the d- and q-axis inductances of PMSMs, meanwhile revealing the fact that the d- and q-axis inductances of fractional slot concentrated winding machines are not inevitably larger than that of distributed ones. The proportion of each of the d- and q-axis component inductances for multigap AFPMs is first studied. By analyzing armature inductance in conjunction with differential leakage inductance, this paper introduces a novel parameter to decouple the influence of slot-pole combinations and physical dimensions so that the “inductance ability” of different slot-pole combinations can be quantified. An improved method of calculating the slot leakage inductance of semiclosed slots is then put forward, which proves to be more accurate than the conventional method. The investigations and conclusion in this paper are not restricted to AFPMs but applicable to radial flux permanent-magnet machines as well. Validations of various slot-pole combinations are carried out with finite-element analysis and experiments.
An Empirical Investigation into the Factors Influencing the Use of E-Banking Services

This study proposes and empirically investigates a research model regarding the use of electronic financial services based on the e-service acceptance model. The current study categorizes electronic financial services provided by banks into transaction-oriented services (TOS) and communication-oriented services (COS) to emphasize the co-value creation phenomenon through customer participation. We assume that the antecedent variables studied in the previous studies may exert differential effects on the use behavior of electronic services. The proposed model includes self-efficacy, ease of use, perceived usefulness, and perceived risk as the antecedents to the use of e-banking services. The proposed research model was tested against the data collected through the survey method with company respondents. The key result is that the use behavior of the different types of e-banking services is affected by different sets of factors: the use of both COS and TOS is found to be affected by finance specific self-efficacy, finance specific ease of use, and perceived usefulness, whereas the use of TOS is affected by general Internet self efficacy. The methodology, results, and implications are further discussed.
Ilizarov fixator in management of nonunited and infected tibial shaft fractures

Background: Management of nonunion with bony defect and infection in long bones is a challenging problem for orthopedic surgeons. Objectives: Evaluation of Ilizarov circular fixation method of treatment for the management of nonunited and infected fractures of tibia. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital of eastern region of India on 30 subjects in a time span of 3 years after taking clearance of the Institutional Ethical Committee and informed consent of the patients. Results: All the patients had infected nonunion before undergoing Ilizarov procedure. Following initial injury, 22 patients were treated with external fixation and 8 cases were treated with internal fixation. At the time of presentation, 18 patients had infected gap nonunion, 5 patients had infected hypertrophic and 2 patients had atrophic nonunion. The Ilizarov fixator was kept for an average period of 303.7 days. Based on Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov scoring system, bony and functional results were assessed. The bony result was excellent in 16 patients, good in eight, fair in four and poor in two. The functional result was excellent in 10 patients, good in 16, fair in two, poor in two. Conclusion: Ilizarov ring fixator still remains an excellent treatment modality for tibial nonunion with a defect, regarding bone union, deformity correction, infection eradication, limb-length achievement, and limb function.
Linezolid Is Superior to Vancomycin in Experimental Pneumonia Caused by Superantigen-Producing Staphylococcus aureus in HLA Class II Transgenic Mice

ABSTRACT Superantigens (SAg), the potent activators of the immune system, are important determinants of Staphylococcus aureus virulence and pathogenicity. Superior response to SAg in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR3 transgenic mice rendered them more susceptible than C57BL/6 mice to pneumonia caused by SAg-producing strains of S. aureus. Linezolid, a bacterial protein synthesis inhibitor, was superior to vancomycin in inhibiting SAg production by S. aureus in vitro and conferred greater protection from pneumonia caused by SAg-producing staphylococci.
Case-Control Study of Drug Monitoring of β-Lactams in Obese Critically Ill Patients

ABSTRACT Severe sepsis and septic shock can alter the pharmacokinetics of broad-spectrum β-lactams (meropenem, ceftazidime/cefepime, and piperacillin-tazobactam), resulting in inappropriate serum concentrations. Obesity may further modify the pharmacokinetics of these agents. We reviewed our data on critically ill obese patients (body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2) treated with a broad-spectrum β-lactam in whom therapeutic drug monitoring was performed and compared the data to those obtained in critically nonobese patients (body mass index of <25 kg/m2) to assess whether there were differences in reaching optimal drug concentrations for the treatment of nosocomial infections. Sixty-eight serum levels were obtained from 49 obese patients. There was considerable variability in β-lactam serum concentrations (coefficient of variation of 50% to 92% for the three drugs). Standard drug regimens of β-lactams resulted in insufficient serum concentrations in 32% of the patients and overdosed concentrations in 25%. Continuous renal replacement therapy was identified by multivariable analysis as a risk factor for overdosage and a protective factor for insufficient β-lactam serum concentrations. The serum drug levels from the obese cohort were well matched for age, gender, renal function, and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score to 68 serum levels measured in 59 nonobese patients. The only difference observed between the two cohorts was in the subgroup of patients treated with meropenem and who were not receiving continuous renal replacement therapy: serum concentrations were lower in the obese cohort. No differences were observed in pharmacokinetic variables between the two groups. Routine therapeutic drug monitoring of β-lactams should be continued in obese critically ill patients.
Deriving Marketing Intelligence over Microblogs

With rapid growing popularity, microblogs have become a great source of consumer opinions. Confronting unique properties and massive volume of posts on microblogs, this paper proposes a summarization framework that provides compact numeric summarization for microblogs opinions. The proposed framework is designed to cope with four major tasks: 1) topics detection, 2) sentiment classification, 3) credibility assessment and 4) score aggregation. The experiment is held on twitter, the largest microblog platform, for proving the efficiency and correctness of the framework. We found the consideration of user credibility and opinion quality is essential for aggregating microblog opinions.
Complete Sequence of p07-406, a 24,179-Base-Pair Plasmid Harboring the blaVIM-7 Metallo-β-Lactamase Gene in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolate from the United States

ABSTRACT An outbreak involving a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain that was resistant to all tested antimicrobials except polymyxin B occurred in a hospital in Houston, TX. Previous studies on this strain showed that it possesses a novel mobile metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) gene, designated blaVIM-7, located on a plasmid (p07-406). Here, we report the complete sequence, annotation, and functional characterization of this plasmid. p07-406 is 24,179 bp in length, and 29 open reading frames were identified related to known or putatively recognized proteins. Analysis of this plasmid showed it to be comprised of four distinct regions: (i) a region of 5,200 bp having a Tn501-like mercuric resistance (mer) transposon upstream of the replication region; (ii) a Tn3-like transposon carrying a truncated integron with a blaVIM-7 gene and an insertion sequence inserted at the other end of this transposon; (iii) a region of four genes, upstream of the Tn3-like transposon, possessing very high similarity to plasmid pXcB from Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri commonly associated with plants; (iv) a backbone sequence similar to the backbone structure of the IncP group plasmid Rms149, pB10, and R751. This is the first plasmid to be sequenced carrying an MBL gene and highlights the amelioration of DNA segments from disparate origins, most noticeably from plant pathogens.
Biocide Activity against Urinary Catheter Pathogens

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial effects of essential oils against bacteria associated with urinary catheter infection was assessed. Tests were performed on 14 different bacterial species cultured either planktonically or as biofilms. Biofilms were found to be up to 8-fold more tolerant of the test agents. Higher antimicrobial tolerance was also evident in tests conducted in artificial urine. Eugenol exhibited higher antimicrobial effects against both planktonic cells and biofilms than did terpinen, tea tree oil, and cineole.
A Comparison of the Self-Reported Problems of Alcoholics, Drug Dependent Persons, and Multiple Drug Dependent Persons at Admission

Four diagnostic groups of newly admitted patients to Eagleville Hospital's Inpatient Program (A-alcohol dependence only; A + D-primary alcohol dependence, with secondary drug dependence or abuse; D - drug dependence only; D + A-primary drug dependence, with secondary alcohol dependence or abuse) were compared with respect to their self-reported problems on the Substance Abuse Problem Checklist (SAPC). When statistical controls were exercised for sex and age in a threeway ANOVA, the four diagnostic groups evidenced more similarities than differences. Main effect results for diagnosis, independent of age and sex, indicated that multiple substance abusers (MSA's), the A + D and D + A patients, reported significantly more problems on the SAPC than did the single substance abusers (SSA's), the A only and D only patients. This result is believed to be due to the MSA group's greater willingness to report problems early in treatment than the SSA groups.
When Good Bugs Go Bad: Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Corynebacterium striatum, an Emerging Multidrug-Resistant, Opportunistic Pathogen

ABSTRACT Infections with Corynebacterium striatum have been described in the literature over the last 2 decades, with the majority being bacteremia, central line infections, and occasionally, endocarditis. In recent years, the frequency of C. striatum infections appears to be increasing; a factor likely contributing to this is the increased ease and accuracy of the identification of Corynebacterium spp. , including C. striatum, from clinical cultures. The objective of this study was to retrospectively characterize C. striatum isolates recovered from specimens submitted as part of routine patient care at a 1,250-bed, tertiary-care academic medical center. Multiple strain types were recovered, as demonstrated by repetitive-sequence-based PCR. Most of the strains of C. striatum characterized were resistant to antimicrobials commonly used to treat Gram-positive organisms, such as penicillin, ceftriaxone, meropenem, clindamycin, and tetracycline. The MIC50 for ceftaroline was >32 μg/ml. Although there are no interpretive criteria for susceptibility with telavancin, it appeared to have potent in vitro efficacy against this species, with MIC50 and MIC90 values of 0.064 and 0.125 μg/ml, respectively. Finally, as previously reported in case studies, we demonstrated rapid in vitro development of daptomycin resistance in 100% of the isolates tested (n = 50), indicating that caution should be exhibited when using daptomycin for the treatment of C. striatum infections. C. striatum is an emerging, multidrug-resistant pathogen that can be associated with a variety of infection types.
A randomized controlled trial on Stroke telerehabilitation: The effects on falls self-efficacy and satisfaction with care

Summary We determined the effect of a multifaceted stroke telerehabilitation (STeleR) intervention on falls-related self-efficacy and satisfaction with care. We conducted a prospective, randomized, multisite, single-blinded trial in 52 veterans from three Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Participants who experienced a stroke in the past 24 months were randomized to the STeleR intervention or usual care. Participants in the intervention arm were administered an exit interview to gather specific patient satisfaction data three months after their final outcome measure. The STeleR intervention consisted of three home visits, five telephone calls, and an in-home messaging device provided over three months to instruct patients in functionally based exercises and adaptive strategies. The outcome measures included Falls Efficacy Scale to measure fall-related self-efficacy and a Stroke-Specific Patient Satisfaction with Care (SSPSC) scale, a measure separated into two subscales (satisfaction with home care and satisfaction with hospital care) was employed to measure the participants’ satisfaction. At six months, compared with the usual care group, the STeleR group showed statistically significant improvements in one of the two SSPSC scales (satisfaction with hospital care, p = .029) and approached significance in the second SSPSC scale (satisfaction with home care, p = .077). There were no improvements in fall-related self-efficacy. Core concepts identified were: (a) beneficial impact of the trained assistant; (b) exercises helpful; (c) home use of technology. The STeleR intervention improved satisfaction with care, especially as it relates to care following their experience from the hospital. With the limited resources available for in-home rehabilitation for stroke survivors, STeleR (and especially its exercise components) can be a useful complement to traditional post-stroke rehabilitation.
Effects of Zidovudine and Stavudine on Mitochondrial DNA of Differentiating 3T3-F442a Cells Are Not Associated with Imbalanced Deoxynucleotide Pools

ABSTRACT To test whether zidovudine (3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine) (AZT) inhibition of thymidine phosphorylation causes depletion of the TTP pool resulting in mitochondrial DNA depletion, 3T3-F442a cells were differentiated in the presence of AZT and analyzed to determine mitochondrial DNA content and deoxynucleotide levels. These results suggest that AZT toxicity may not be related to deoxynucleotide pool alterations.
A cost-effectiveness analysis of teledietetics in short-, intermediate-, and long-term weight reduction

Introduction To evaluate the effectiveness of teledietetics in weight loss for 24 weeks and the cost-effectiveness of weight loss between face-to-face and teledietetics services. Methods The study was conducted at a community health center and a community dietetics clinic. The study was a quasiexperimental design. Fifty adults aged 20–50 with a BMI ≥23 participated in the study. The face-to-face (FD) group received 12 dietary counselling sessions and recorded their diet in a log book. The teledietetics (TD) group attended three group nutrition seminars and recorded their diet on a Web-based platform. Changes in variables were compared using an independent t-test. Direct and indirect costs were applied to compute cost-effectiveness ratios. Results At week 6, the FD group showed greater reductions in all variables than did the TD group. At week 12, the effects reversed. At week 24, the accumulated reductions in weight and fat in the TD group were significantly higher than those in the FD group (all at p < 0.0001). The observed direct costs for 1% weight loss and 1% fat loss were USD 28.24 and USD17.09, respectively. Discussion A dietetic service delivered as a teledietetics model is more cost-effective than the face-to-face dietetics model in weight reduction.
Endurance Training in Females: Changes in β-Endorphin and ACTH

Previous results from endurance training in women have been discrepant in regard to influences on basal and maximum adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) concentrations before and after exhaustive exercise. A group of 23 untrained young women ran 3 times a week for 30 min at an individual specific intensity corresponding to their respective anaerobic threshold, derived from the lactate performance curve obtained from prior treadmill testing. ACTH and beta-EP were measured at rest, as well as 5 and 30 min after exhaustive progressive spiroergometric treadmill running, both before and after the 8 week endurance training program. Basal beta-EP did not change after training, but less elevated concentrations were measured both 5 (p < 0.05) and 30 min (p < 0.05) after exercise, after the training program. In contrast, the resting concentration of ACTH increased significantly; the respective maximum concentration was less elevated after 5 min and much less elevated 30 min after the exercise (p < 0.05). Positive correlations were found after the exhaustive exercise between beta-EP and ACTH, as well as between maximum lactate and ACTH. Training was associated with significant changes in maximum running speed (p < 0.01), maximum oxygen uptake (p < 0.01) and the running speed at the anaerobic threshold (p < 0.05). Maximum lactate and the level of perceived exertion remained unchanged, showing a similar level of exhaustion. Our results indicate that endurance training modulates the hormonal responses of beta-EP and ACTH to comparable workloads of high intensity. After the training program the maximum concentrations are significantly lower during the recovery period. The tendency to elevated basal ACTH, and thus elevated cortisol, might be a new factor to consider in evaluation of endurance training induced hormonal disturbances in women.
Consumer preferences for teledermoscopy screening to detect melanoma early

Introduction ‘Store and forward’ teledermoscopy is a technology with potential advantages for melanoma screening. Any large-scale implementation of this technology is dependent on consumer acceptance. Aim To investigate preferences for melanoma screening options compared with skin self-examination in adults considered to be at increased risk of developing skin cancer. Methods A discrete choice experiment was completed by 35 consumers, all of whom had prior experience with the use of teledermoscopy, in Queensland, Australia. Participants made 12 choices between screening alternatives described by seven attributes including monetary cost. A mixed logit model was used to estimate the relative weights that consumers place on different aspects of screening, along with the marginal willingness to pay for teledermoscopy as opposed to screening at a clinic. Results Overall, participants preferred screening/diagnosis by a health professional rather than skin self-examination. Key drivers of screening choice were for results to be reviewed by a dermatologist; a higher detection rate; fewer non-cancerous moles being removed in relation to every skin cancer detected; and less time spent away from usual activities. On average, participants were willing to pay AUD110 to have teledermoscopy with dermatologist review available to them as a screening option. Discussion and conclusions Consumers preferentially value aspects of care that are more feasible with a teledermoscopy screening model, as compared with other skin cancer screening and diagnosis options. This study adds to previous literature in the area which has relied on the use of consumer satisfaction scales to assess the acceptability of teledermoscopy.
Use of Xylitol To Enhance the Therapeutic Efficacy of Polymethylmethacrylate-Based Antibiotic Therapy in Treatment of Chronic Osteomyelitis

ABSTRACT Using a rabbit model of postsurgical osteomyelitis, we demonstrate that incorporation of xylitol into polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement enhances the elution of daptomycin under in vivo conditions. We also demonstrate that this can be correlated with an improved therapeutic outcome in the treatment of a chronic bone infection following surgical debridement.
Anatomical Study on Domestical Fowl (Gallus domesticus) Reproductive System

Ultimamente, los investigadores han tomado en consideracion estudiar aves, ya que estas representan un importante recurso nutritional. Existen varias descripciones clasicas del tracto reproductor de ellas, las cuales apuntan a establecer una correlacion entre la forma, tamano testicular, edad y madurez sexual. Este estudio analizo 50 Gallus domesticus machos, entre la semana 1 a 64 de edad. Las aves se recolectaron a los 10 dias y semanalmente hasta la semana 24, luego de las semanas 37,48,59 y luego sacrificadas por desplazamiento cervical. Se observo la sintopia de los testiculos con los otros organos. Ademas, se realizaron la medicion de los testiculos y el analisis estadistico, seguido del modelo de variacion de peso testicular en relacion a la edad del animal. Nuestros resultados muestran que el peso maximo de los testiculos, derecho e izquierdo, ocurre en los dias 167 y 210, respectivamente, lo que nos hace inferir que la madurez sexual ocurre en ese periodo
Antifungal Activity of Caspofungin in Combination with Amphotericin B against Candida glabrata: Comparison of Disk Diffusion, Etest, and Time-Kill Methods

ABSTRACT The in vitro activities of caspofungin plus amphotericin B against 50 Candida glabrata isolates were evaluated by the time-kill, disk diffusion, and Etest methods. In vitro experiments showed a positive interaction. Even though each of these methods uses different conditions and endpoints, the results of the different methods frequently agreed.
Stroke community rehabilitation: a classification of four different types of service

In the past two decades a great variety of community rehabilitation projects and teams have been developed, which are not easy to classify. This study examined the usefulness of a proposed classification system for home-based rehabilitation services for people with stroke. It was descriptive, comparative and quantitative. Services were categorized into four types: early supported discharge rehabilitation; postdischarge community rehabilitation; GP-orientated community rehabilitation; and late community rehabilitation. The features of each are described. The rehabilitation of almost all (98%) of patients studied could be placed within these categories. Providers of services, such as primary care trusts, need to identify the needs of their service users and match them, if possible, to suitable provision.