Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical and Laboratory Studies of Nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus Resistant to Methicillin and Aminoglycosides

Abstract A methicillin/aminoglycoside-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (MARS) was likely introduced by transfer of a patient from another hospital. Over the next year, 20 other patients were colonized or infected with MARS of the same phage type, although antibiograms varied. Affected patients usually had serious underlying disease and were in intensive care units. Vancomycin therapy was frequently delayed and MARS may have contributed to the death of some patients. The mode of spread was not definitively delineated, but two nurses were found to be colonized. Institution of isolation procedures was difficult, but the problem gradually waned. Susceptibility testing showed vancomycin to be the most active agent. Synergy studies showed no consistent effect of combining methicillin with an aminoglycoside. This experience illustrates the problem of MARS spread between hospitals and wards, the need for institution of effective control measures, and consideration of early empiric use of vancomycin.
Dysregulated miR-34a–SIRT1–Acetyl p65 Axis Is a Potential Mediator of Immune Activation in the Colon during Chronic Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection of Rhesus Macaques

Persistent gastrointestinal inflammation, a hallmark of progressive HIV/SIV infection, causes disruption of the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier, microbial translocation, and generalized immune activation/inflammation driving AIDS progression. Apart from protein regulators, recent studies strongly suggest critical roles for microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating and managing certain aspects of the inflammatory process. To examine their immunoregulatory role, we profiled miRNA expression in the colon from 12 chronic SIV-infected and 4 control macaques. After applying multiple comparisons correction, 10 (3 upregulated and 7 downregulated) miRNAs showed differential expression. Most notably, miR-34a showed significant upregulation in both epithelial and lamina propria leukocyte (LPL) compartments. Intense γH2A. X expression in colonic epithelium and LPLs confirmed the contribution of DNA damage response in driving miR-34a upregulation. SIRT1 mRNA and protein decreased significantly in both colonic epithelium and LPLs. Luciferase reporter assays validated rhesus macaque SIRT1 as a direct miR-34a target. Decreased SIRT1 expression was associated with constitutively enhanced expression of the transcriptionally active form of the p65 (acetylated on lysine 310) subunit of NF-κB exclusively in the LPL compartment. The intensity and number of acetylated p65+ cells was markedly elevated in LPLs of chronically SIV-infected macaques compared with uninfected controls and localized to increased numbers of IgA+ and IgG+ plasma cells. These findings provide new insights into the potential role of the miR-34a–SIRT1–p65 axis in causing hyperactivation of the intestinal B cell system. Our results point to a possible mechanism where the normal immunosuppressive function of SIRT1 is inhibited by elevated miR-34a expression resulting in constitutive activation of acetylated p65 (lysine 310).
A Converse Liapunov Theorem for Uniformly Locally Exponentially Stable Systems Admitting Carathéodory Solutions

Abstract This paper provides a converse Liapunov theorem for uniformly locally exponentially stable, locally Lipschitz, non-linear, time-varying, possibly non-smooth systems that admit Caratheodory solutions. The main result proves that a critical point of such a system is uniformly locally exponentially stable if and only if the system admits a local (possibly non-smooth, time-varying) Liapunov function.
Gender Differences in Antiretroviral Drug–Related Adipose Tissue Alterations: Women Are at Higher Risk Than Men and Develop Particular Lipodystrophy Patterns

Adipose tissue alterations (ATAs) were clinically assessed in 2258 HIV-1–infected outpatients consecutively observed in 6 Italian clinical centers and were found to be present in 29.5% of the men and 41.9% of the women. A logistic regression model including age, HIV disease Centers for Disease Control stage, CD4 cell counts, HIV RNA load, the duration of antiretroviral therapy, the number of drugs taken, and the use of d4T showed that men had a 0.47 adjusted risk of presenting with ATAs (95% CI: 0.38–0.58, P < 0.0001). The risks of having ATAs (except circumscribed lipomas) in any body region, presenting with fat accumulation, or being affected by combined forms of ATA were also lower in men, whereas the risk of developing pure lipoatrophy was similar in the 2 genders. Our results indicate that women are at higher risk of developing antiretroviral treatment–related ATAs and show a particular and complex ATA pattern.
Spoof Plasmonic Waveguide-Fed 2-D Antenna Array With Improved Efficiency

Spoof planar plasmonic waveguides (SPPWs) are a new kind of low-loss surface-wave transmission line. In this letter, a two-dimensional (2-D) antenna array is excited by a one-dimensional (1-D) SPPW in a simple way, and the achievable array size is determined by the mode size of the SPPW. The proposed ${4} \times {4}$ patch array features an average gain of 19.6 dBi in the operating frequency band. Meanwhile, the antenna array is designed and fabricated in microwave frequency band, and the measured results validate the simulated high efficiency of the proposed array. Moreover, since the mode size of the SPPW can be flexibly designed, the proposed idea can be further extended into larger 2-D arrays with more elements.
Reducing Cardiovascular Risk in Spouses of Cardiac Patients

Few studies have examined risk-reducing interventions in spouses of coronary artery bypass patients. This study examined the effects of the Partners Together in Health (PaTH) intervention versus usual care on cardiovascular risk factors. Spouses in the experimental group (n = 17/group) attended cardiac rehabilitation with patients and made the same physical activity and healthy eating changes as patients. Spouses in the usual care group attended educational classes with patients. Spouses’ 30-year cardiovascular risk was calculated using the Lifetime Risk Scale before and after cardiac rehabilitation (3 months), and at 6 months. Spouses in both groups significantly reduced 30-year risk scores at 3 and 6 months. Exercise was the key ingredient in lowering risk. There was a trend toward reduction in systolic blood pressure and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in both groups. Although there were no group differences, having spouses participate in cardiac rehabilitation with the patient was effective for reducing spouses’ cardiovascular risk.
Visualizing data - exploring and explaining data with the processing environment

and reinvention. Today’s most progressive companies are using the power of data to propel their industries into new areas of innovation, specialization, and optimization. The horsepower of new tools and technologies have provided more opportunities than ever to harness, integrate, and interact with massive amounts of disparate data for business insights and value – something that will only continue in the era of the Internet of Things. And, as a new breed of tech-savvy and digitally native knowledge workers rise to the ranks of data scientist and visual analyst, the needs and demands of the people working with data are changing, too. The world of data is changing fast. And, it’s becoming more visual. Visual insights are becoming increasingly dominant in information management, and with the reinvigorated role of data visualization, this imperative is a driving force to creating a visual culture of data discovery. The traditional standards of data visualizations are making way for richer, more robust and more advanced visualizations and new ways of seeing and interacting with data. However, while data visualization is a critical tool to exploring and understanding bigger and more diverse and dynamic data, by understanding and embracing our human hardwiring for visual communication and storytelling and properly incorporating key design principles and evolving best practices, we take the next step forward to transform data visualizations from tools into unique visual information assets. Discusses several years of in-depth industry research and presents vendor tools, approaches, and methodologies in discovery, visualization, and visual analytics Provides practicable and use case-based experience from advisory work with Fortune 100 and 500 companies across multiple verticals Presents the next-generation of visual discovery, data storytelling, and the Five Steps to Data Storytelling with Visualization Explains the Convergence of Visual Analytics and Visual discovery, including how to use tools such as R in statistical and analytic modeling Covers emerging technologies such as streaming visualization in the IOT (Internet of Things) and streaming animation
CHARACTERIZATION OF SEWAGE SLUDGE ASH (SSA) IN CEMENT MORTAR

Sewage sludge Ash (SSA) is a waste material obtained from the incineration of waste water sludge. The SSA generated from the burning usually is disposed of to the landfill which is not the final solution. Hence an investigation was carried out to study the potential use of SSA in cement base material. The chemical mineralogical characteristic of SSA in cement mortar were examined. The percentage of SSA considered in this study was 10% replacement of the mass of cement whereas the incineration temperatures investigated was at 600° and 800°C. The test conducted in this study including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Filed Emission Scanning Electronic Microscope (FESEM) and compressive strength test. Result show significant amount of SiO², Al²O³ and CaO was traced after the incineration process. Mortar sample with 10% replacement of 800°C burnt SSA improves the compressive strength up to 1.14% and 5.06% at the ages of 28 and 98 days, respectively. The FESEM test result show that SSA samples in 600°C exhibited needle-shape particles and a smooth structure in 800°C due to pozzolanic activity which filled the void and pores in the mortar. The bonding also provides additional strength to the mortar in which the compressive strength has increased after 28 days and 90 days
Early embryonic expression of the growth hormone family protein genes in the developing rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

In fish, growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and somatolactin (SL) are three major peptide hormones produced in the pituitary gland. Using reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Southern blot analysis of the amplified products, the expression of GH, PRL, and SL genes were determined during the embryonic development in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The mRNA for GH, PRL and SL were detected not only in embryos prior to or after organogenesis of the pituitary gland but also in mature oocytes as maternal messages. After hatching, all of these three mRNA species were detected at very high levels. Since the ontogenesis of the pituitary gland takes place on embryonic day (ED) 14, these observations suggest that the GH family protein genes are expressed in the developing embryos prior to the formation of the pituitary gland. Using the same RT‐PCR assay, PRL mRNA was detected only in the head part of the fry whereas GH and SL mRNA were detected in both the head and trunk. In adult animals, though high levels of GH mRNA were primarily detected in the pituitary gland, brain, gill, and heart, low levels of GH mRNA were also detected in the kidney, liver, pyloric ceaca, and ovary. Results of the current study and those reported by Yang et al. (1997. Gen Comp Endocrinol 106:271–281) suggest that GH and SL genes are also expressed in extrapituitary tissues even after the organogenesis of the pituitary gland. Furthermore, these results suggest that these hormones may play important roles yet to be identified during embryonic development in fish. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 53:127–134, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Muscle deoxygenation during sustained and intermittent isometric exercise in hypoxia.

PURPOSE It is reported that the rate of locomotor muscle fatigue development during intermittent isometric exercise in hypoxia is accelerated compared with normoxia. In contrast, when sustained isometric contractions are used, some studies do not show any effect of hypoxia on fatigue development. Increased intramuscular pressure during sustained isometric exercise causes substantial and sustained ischemia, even in normoxia. Therefore, we hypothesized that the difference in muscle deoxygenation between normoxia and hypoxia would be small during sustained exercise compared with intermittent exercise and that this may contribute to the inconsistent findings. METHODS Subjects performed sustained and intermittent isometric, unilateral, and submaximal knee-extension exercises (60% maximal voluntary contraction to exhaustion) while breathing normoxic (inspired O2 fraction = 0.21) or hypoxic gas mixtures (inspired O2 fraction = 0.10-0.12). Muscle oxygenation (deoxyhemoglobin/myoglobin and tissue oxygenation index) using near-infrared spectroscopy and surface EMG were measured from the left vastus lateralis. RESULTS During intermittent isometric exercise in hypoxia, increases in deoxyhemoglobin/myoglobin and reductions of tissue oxygenation index were larger (P < 0.05) than those in normoxia. The rate of rise in integrated EMG during intermittent exercise was accelerated (P < 0.05) in hypoxia. In contrast, there were no significant differences in changes in near-infrared spectroscopy variables and integrated EMG during sustained isometric exercise between normoxia and hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that muscle deoxygenation is exaggerated during intermittent isometric exercise in hypoxia compared with normoxia, whereas during sustained isometric exercise, the extent of muscle deoxygenation is the same between normoxia and hypoxia. The different extent of muscle deoxygenation during sustained and intermittent isometric exercise in normoxia and hypoxia could affect muscle fatigability, which results from the varied rate of accumulation of metabolites.
Prognostic Implications of Raphe in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Anatomy

Importance Little is known about the association between bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) morphologic findings and the degree of valvular dysfunction, presence of aortopathy, and complications, including aortic valve surgery, aortic dissection, and all-cause mortality. Objective To investigate the association between BAV morphologic findings (raphe vs nonraphe) and the degree of valve dysfunction, presence of aortopathy, and prognosis (including need for aortic valve surgery, aortic dissection, and all-cause mortality). Design, Setting, and Participants In this large international multicenter registry of patients with BAV treated at tertiary referral centers, 2118 patients with BAV were evaluated. Patients referred for echocardiography from June 1, 1991, through November 31, 2015, were included in the study. Exposures Clinical and echocardiographic data were analyzed retrospectively. The morphologic BAV findings were categorized according to the Sievers and Schmidtke classification. Aortic valve function was divided into normal, regurgitation, or stenosis. Patterns of BAV aortopathy included the following: type 1, dilation of the ascending aorta and aortic root; type 2, isolated dilation of the ascending aorta; and type 3, isolated dilation of the sinus of Valsalva and/or sinotubular junction. Main Outcomes and Measures Association between the presence and location of raphe and the risk of significant (moderate and severe) aortic valve dysfunction and aortic dilation and/or dissection. Results Of the 2118 patients (mean [SD] age, 47 [18] years; 1525 [72.0%] male), 1881 (88.8%) had BAV with fusion raphe, whereas 237 (11.2%) had BAV without raphe. Bicuspid aortic valves with raphe had a significantly higher prevalence of valve dysfunction, with a significantly higher frequency of aortic regurgitation (622 [33.1%] vs 57 [24.1%], P < .001) and aortic stenosis (728 [38.7%] vs 51 [21.5%], P < .001). Furthermore, aortic valve replacement event rates were significantly higher among patients with BAV with raphe (364 [19.9%] at 1 year, 393 [21.4%] at 2 years, and 447 [24.4%] at 5 years) vs patients without raphe (30 [14.0%] at 1 year, 32 [15.0%] at 2 years, and 40 [18.0%] at 5 years) (P = .02). In addition, the all-cause mortality event rates were significantly higher among patients with BAV with raphe (77 [5.1%] at 1 year, 87 [6.2%] at 2 years, and 110 [9.5%] at 5 years) vs patients without raphe (2 [1.8%] at 1 year, 3 [3.0%] at 2 years, and 5 [4.4%] at 5 years) (P = .03). However, on multivariable analysis, the presence of raphe was not significantly associated with all-cause mortality. Conclusions and Relevance In this large multicenter, international BAV registry, the presence of raphe was associated with a higher prevalence of significant aortic stenosis and regurgitation. The presence of raphe was also associated with increased rates of aortic valve and aortic surgery. Although patients with BAV and raphe had higher mortality rates than patients without, the presence of a raphe was not independently associated with increased all-cause mortality.
DA6034 promotes gastric epithelial cell migration and wound‐healing through the mTOR pathway

Background and Aim: 7‐Carboxymethyloxy‐3′,4′,5‐trimethoxy flavone (DA6034), a synthetic derivative of eupatilin, has a protective effect on gastric mucosa against various ulcerogens, and is currently in the phase III clinical trial in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. Cell migration and/or growth plays a role in the repair process of gastric ulcer, so this study investigated the effect of DA6034 on the movement and proliferation of gastric epithelial cells and its associated signaling pathway.
The Fair Trade movement: an economic perspective

Fair Trade (FT) products such as coffee and textiles are becoming increasingly popular with altruistic consumers all over the world. This paper seeks to understand the economic effects of this grassroots movement which directly links ethically-minded consumers in industrialised countries with marginalised producers in developing economies. We extend the Ricardian trade model and introduce a FT sector in developing South that offers a fair wage – the FT premium. There are indeed positive welfare effects from FT but those come at the expense of rising inequalities within South which are in turn a rational by-product of FT. The degree of inequalities depends on the specifics of the cooperative structures in the FT sector. Given the rigidities and inequalities FT introduces and rests upon, this form of alternative trade appears to be only sustainable as niche movement.
Analysis of respiratory syncytial virus genetic variability with amplified cDNAs

Antigenic and genetic heterogeneities exist within the two major antigenic groups of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus. We developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay that not only differentiates the two RS virus groups but allows distinctions within groups on the basis of changes in the nucleotide sequences, as revealed by restriction fragment analysis. In this assay, viral RNA served as a template for cDNA synthesis with extension from a synthetic oligonucleotide primer complementary to bases 164 to 186 in the F protein mRNA. For PCR amplification, two group-specific 5' primers were added. The two primers corresponded to the G protein mRNA sequence of group B (bases 10 to 30) or group A (bases 247 to 267) RS virus. Agarose gel electrophoresis readily discriminated the 1.1-kb group B and the 0.9-kb group A virus amplification products. All 47 viruses tested were assigned to the same group by both PCR and monoclonal antibody reaction pattern analysis. Restriction fragment analysis of the amplified DNAs revealed 12 restriction patterns for group A viruses and 7 restriction patterns for group B viruses, while the monoclonal antibody reaction patterns revealed seven patterns for group A viruses and 3 patterns for group B viruses. Most viruses with the same monoclonal antibody reaction patterns had different restriction patterns, and some viruses with the same restriction patterns had different monoclonal antibody reaction patterns. Thus, the results of the PCR assay concurred with the monoclonal antibody reaction pattern analysis for group classification of RS viruses, while the restriction fragment analysis identified greater diversity within groups than was seen with the monoclonal antibody analysis.
Gepirone in the Treatment of Major Depression

&NA; Gepirone is a serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine, 5‐HT) type1A receptor agonist and a pharmacologic analogue of buspirone. Two double‐blind, placebocontrolled studies show the efficacy of gepirone in the treatment of major depression. Study 1 demonstrates gepirone's superiority over placebo in an 8‐week acute treatment of patients with major depression, including the melancholic subtype. Gepirone's antidepressant dose range is tentatively established at 5‐30 mg/day. Study 2 reveals the benefit of gepirone compared with placebo in 4‐week continuation therapy of patients with major depression who initially responded to 6 weeks of open therapy with gepirone. Analysis of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression item scores show gepirone especially improves scores on items of core depression.
Determination of Some Heavy Metals in Wastewater and Sediment of Artisanal Gold Local Mining Site of Abare Area i n Nigeria.

Wastewater and sediment samples from Abare artisanal gold mining and processing site Zamfara, Nig eria were analyzed for Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), and Iron (Fe). The average va lues (ppm) of Pb, Hg, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Fe in the Wastewater and sediment samples are, 0.832, and 1733.031 for Pb, 7 . 278, and 2.540 for Hg, 0.004, and 0.005 for Cd, 0.0001, and 2.277 for Cr, 0.06 2, and 45.908 for Cu, 45.908, and 1024.459 for Fe respectively. Evidence of contamination of the study area by these elements w as obvious when compared with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for portable water, as well as United State Environ mental Protection Agency (USEPA) standard for heavy metals in soil. Given the reality of extreme poverty in Zamfara State, stoppi ng mining operations without an alternative source of income is not realistic. It was recommended that, focus should instead be placed on informing about and implementing safer mining practices; enacting stronger regulation; and establishing areas outside of villages where ore could be securely stored and safely processed without posing significant threats to human health and the environment.