Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Haemophilus haemolyticus: a human respiratory tract commensal to be distinguished from Haemophilus influenzae.

BACKGROUND Haemophilus influenzae is a common pathogen in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a prospective study, selected isolates of apparent H. influenzae had an altered phenotype. We tested the hypothesis that these variant strains were genetically different from typical H. influenzae. METHODS A prospective study of adults with COPD was conducted. Strains of apparent H. influenzae obtained from a range of clinical sources were evaluated by ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, multilocus sequence analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization, and sequencing of the conserved P6 gene. RESULTS Variant strains were determined to be Haemophilus haemolyticus by means of 4 independent methods. Analysis of 490 apparent H. influenzae strains, identified by standard methods, revealed that 39.5% of sputum isolates and 27.3% of nasopharyngeal isolates were H. haemolyticus. Isolates obtained from normally sterile sites were all H. influenzae. In a prospective study, acquisitions of new strains of H. haemolyticus were not associated with exacerbations of COPD, whereas 45% of acquisitions of new strains of H. influenzae were associated with exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS Standard methods do not reliably distinguish H. haemolyticus from H. influenzae. H. haemolyticus is a respiratory tract commensal. The recognition that some strains of apparent H. influenzae are H. haemolyticus substantially strengthens the association of true H. influenzae with clinical infection.
Measurement of the equivalent circuit parameters of chemical interface layers on bulk acoustic wave resonators [chemical sensor applications]

The viscoelastic properties of thin polymer layers coated on a thickness shear mode (TSM) resonator is investigated by analysis of the impedance spectra of the resonator. The response of resonators coated with polyethleneoxide (PEO) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to organic vapours is described. The PEO coated sensor shows the conventional Sauerbrey behaviour of a negative frequency shift with adsorbed mass, but the PDMS coated sensors show a strong positive frequency shift. The complex shear modulus for these layers is calculated and it is found that the PDMS is in the rubbery state. The in-diffusion of organic vapours leads to a further softening of the layer which produces the positive frequency shift.
Driving performance in patients with mild to moderate glaucomatous clinical vision changes.

UNLABELLED The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between clinical measures of visual function and driving-related skills in patients with glaucoma who had good visual acuity in at least one eye and mild to moderate visual field loss. METHODS Twenty-five patients with glaucoma and twenty-nine age-equivalent normally sighted control subjects were included in the study. We tested each patient on an interactive driving simulator and collected vision data, including Lighthouse visual acuity, Goldmann and Humphrey visual fields, and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity. Information about real-world accident history for the previous 5-year period was obtained. RESULTS The glaucoma patients did not have significantly more simulator or real-world accidents than the normally sighted group. There were no significant differences between the groups in performance on seven of the eight simulator indexes that were measured. Of the clinical visual function measures, only lower contrast sensitivity in the eye with better contrast sensitivity correlated with driving skills, including slower speeds (r(24) = 0.58, p < or = 0.01), more lane boundary crossings (r(24) = -0.54, p < or = 0.01), and longer braking response times (r(24) = -0.60, p < or = 0.01) for the patient group. CONCLUSION Reduced contrast sensitivity may be important in indicating the level of driving skills for individuals with glaucoma, who have normal or near-normal visual acuity and mild to moderate visual field loss.
A hybrid security algorithm for RSA cryptosystem

This paper presents a new Hybrid security algorithm for RSA cryptosystem named as Hybrid RSA (HRSA). Here computation of "public key" (P) as well as "private key" (Q) depends on the value of M, where M is the product of four prime numbers. So complexity involved in factorizing the variable M increases. Another interesting feature about this algorithm is that the computation of P and Q involves the computation of some more intermediate factors which makes the computation more complex. In other existing works, the variable x or M is transferred during encryption and decryption process. However, this approach eliminates the transfer of variable x and M, where x represents the multiplication of two prime numbers a and b. Thus the proposed approach provides more secure path for encryption and decryption process. To substantiate this fact, the "key generation time", "encryption speed" and "decryption speed" of the proposed HRSA have been compared with conventional RSA and ERSA algorithms.
Susceptibility of Mice (Mus musculus) to Repeated Infestation with Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks

Abstract Laboratory mice, Mus musculus (L.), BALB/c strain, were assessed for their ability to develop resistance to repeated infestation by Amblyomma americanum (L.) ticks. Mice were infested five consecutive times with A. americanum nymphs. No decrease in tick viability was seen after five infestations, suggesting that BALB/c mice do not develop immune-mediated resistance to A. americanum. In contrast, tick viability was significantly reduced in the second infestation of a New Zealand White rabbit, a laboratory animal known to develop resistance to A. americanum.
The Logic of FeelingPHAMLOGIC OF FEELING

The contribution of the feelings-as-information hypothesis to our understanding of the role of affect in judgment and decision making is discussed. Basic principles and regularities in how affective feelings guide judgments and decisions are then identified. Based on these principles and regularities, it is argued that the role of feelings in judgment and decision making may be more adaptive than has been assumed in most academic circles. This adaptivity transpires (a) in the variety of goal-relevant signals that feelings convey, (b) the flexibility with which feelings are interpreted, (c) the judgmental properties of feelings, and (d) the selectivity with which feelings are invoked. It is speculated that affective feelings may tap into a separate system of judgment and decision making with its unique strengths and weaknesses.
Influence of salmon carcasses on stream productivity: response of biofilm and benthic macroinvertebrates in southeastern Alaska, U.S.A.

This study was conducted to determine if salmon carcasses (from spawning adults) increased stream biofilm ash-free dry mass (AFDM) and benthic macroinvertebrate abundance in southeastern Alaska, U.S.A. Thirty-six once-through artificial streams were situated along, and received water and drifting invertebrates from, a natural stream. Two treatments (salmon carcass, control) were sampled six times during a 3-month period in a randomized incomplete block design with a 2 x 6 factorial treatment structure. Additionally, two natural stream sites were sampled once for biofilm and macroinvertebrates, one site receiving 75 000 adult salmon migrants during 1996 and the other upstream of spawning salmon. While biofilm AFDM was 15 times higher in carcass-enriched reaches of Margaret Creek, there were no detectable treatment differences in the artificial streams. Total macroinvertebrate densities were up to eight and 25 times higher in carcass-enriched areas of artificial and natural streams, respectively; Chironomid.
BiPAP in Early Guillain-Barré Syndrome May Fail

ABSTRACT: Background: Non-invasive mechanical ventilation (BiPAP) has been introduced for use in neuromuscular respiratory disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and myasthenia gravis. There is no experience in Guillain-Barré syndrome. Methods: We describe for the first time the use of BiPAP to assist in the work of breathing in two consecutive patients with progressing Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and marginal pulmonary function. Results: Our initial attempts to use BiPAP in GBS and early neuromuscular respiratory failure were totally unsuccessful. There was marked initial improvement; however, emergency intubation was needed in both patients, one of which became acutely cyanotic. Conclusions: Until more experience is available, we strongly warn against using BiPAP in deteriorating patients with GBS.
Some New Injectable Dermal Filler Materials: Hylaform, Restylane, and Artecoll

The ~ea~ch for an i~eal dermal filler for the correction of facial lines and wnnkles has spanned a century. The first injectable material used for this purpose, at the turn of the century, was injectable paraffin. Although this material was demonstrated to be unacceptable and was abandoned due to the appearance of paraffinoma,' the quest for a suitable filler substance continued, perhaps with even greater vigour. A refined form of liquid silicone (medical grade 360) introduced in the 1960s by the Dow Corning Corporation (USA) was adopted by a number of American clinicians for use in correction of facial deformities, lines, and wrinkles. During the following three decades, various forms of injectable silicone were used in the management of tens of thousands of patients, with remarkably few reported complications when injected through a fine-bore needle using a "microdroplet" technique. Unfortunately, numerous severe complications arose from the use of adulterated or impure silicones and, on occasion, even following use of purified liquid silicones.l These problems, coupled with the lack of approval for marketing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and the Health Protection Branch (HPB) in Canada, essentially led to the demise of injectable silicone use in North America. In 1981, after extensive pre-marketing trials, injectable bovine collagen was introduced by Collagen Corporation (Palo Alto, CA). 4 This material (Zyderm", Zyplast'") has, since its introduction, become the "gold standard" against which other newly introduced injectables are appraised. It is easily administered, safe, and effective in short-term soft tissue augmentation. However, the possibility of allergic reaction to bovine collagen and the limited longevity of this product have sustained the ongoing search for a more ideal dermal filler. Injectable collagen products are also available in Japan (Koken Atelocollagen" implant, Koken Co., KID, Tokyo, Japan) and Europe (Resoplastf", Rofil Medical International BV, Breda, Netherlands) that have indications similar to those of Zyderm and Zyplast collagen. A readily available filler material is autologous fat. Although first used over a century ago by Neuber," the modern use of fat as a filling substance dates to its reintroduction by Fournier as "microlipoinjection" in the late 1970s,7 The longevity of contour correction following
Scalable multicore architectures for long DNA sequence comparison

Biological sequence comparison is one of the most important tasks in Bioinformatics. Owing to the fast growth of databases that contain biological information, sequence comparison represents an important challenge for high‐performance computing, especially when very long sequences are compared, i.e. the complete genome of several organisms. The Smith–Waterman (SW) algorithm is an exact method based on dynamic programming to quantify local similarity between sequences. The inherent large parallelism of the algorithm makes it ideal for architectures supporting multiple dimensions of parallelism (TLP, DLP and ILP). Concurrently, there is a paradigm shift towards chip multiprocessors in computer architecture, which offer a huge amount of potential performance that can only be exploited efficiently if applications are effectively mapped and parallelized. In this work, we analyze how large‐scale biology sequence comparison takes advantage of the current and future multicore architectures. Our starting point is the performance analysis of the current multicore IBM Cell B.E. processor; we analyze two different SW implementations on the Cell B.E. Then, using simulation tools, we study the performance scalability when a many‐core architecture is used for performing long DNA sequence comparison. We investigate the efficient memory organization that delivers the maximum bandwidth with the minimum cost. Our results show that a heterogeneous architecture can be an efficient alternative to execute challenging bioinformatic workloads. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha May Act as an Intra-Ovarian Mediator of Luteinizing Hormone-Induced Oocyte Maturation in Trout Keywords : GVBD , Maturation-inducing steroid ( MIS ) , Cytokine , Ovary , Teleost

In fish, like in other vertebrates, luteinizing hormone (Lh) is an essential hormone for the completion of oocyte maturation. In salmonid fish (i.e., salmon and trout), oocyte maturation is induced by Lh through its stimulation of the production of the maturation-inducing steroid, 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20beta-P). In mammals, several factors, including ovarian cytokines and growth factors, have been reported to contribute to the regulation of oocyte maturation. In fish, there is growing evidence suggesting that tumor necrosis factor alpha (hereafter referred to as Tnf) could play multiple physiological roles in the control of ovarian function. In the present study, we have investigated the possible involvement of Tnf in the regulation of oocyte maturation in brown trout (Salmo trutta). Our results show that in vitro treatment of brown trout preovulatory follicles with coho salmon Lh (sLh) significantly increased oocyte maturation, as assessed by germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), and this effect was blocked by TAPI-1 (an inhibitor of Tnf converting enzyme or Tace/Adam17). Furthermore, treatment of preovulatory follicles with sLh increased the expression of tnf and tace/adam17 as well as the secretion of the Tnf protein. Importantly, recombinant trout Tnf (rtTnf) significantly increased GVBD in vitro. Our results also show that the stimulatory effects of rtTnf on oocyte maturation may be the result of the direct involvement of rtTnf in stimulating the production of the maturation-inducing steroid as evidenced, first, by the stimulatory effects of rtTnf on 17,20beta-P production in vitro and on the expression of cholesterol side-chain cleavage P450 cytochrome (p450scc) and 20beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase 1 (cbr1), the enzyme responsible for the production of 17,20beta-P, and, second, by the ability of TAPI-1 to block the stimulatory effects of sLh on 17,20beta-P production and cbr1 expression. Furthermore, sLh and rtTnf increased the expression of the Lh receptor (lhr) and decreased the expression of aromatase (cyp19a1) and TAPI-1 completely blocked the effects of sLh. These results strongly suggest that Tnf may contribute to the regulation of oocyte maturation by Lh in trout. BOR Papers in Press. Published on August 31, 2011 as DOI:10.1095/biolreprod.111. 094433 Copyright 2011 by The Society for the Study of Reproduction.
“ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LACTOSE AND NON- LACTOSE FERMENTING BACTERIA FROM TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL AND THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TEST”

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to identify the fermenting and non-fermenting gram negative bacteria from the tertiary care hospital. Methods: The conventional method of identification by biochemical analysis and antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Furthermore, analysis of microbes was done by Vitek-2. Results: 424strains of lactose fermenting and non-lactose fermenting gram negative bacilli were isolated from 3097 clinical samples. From the total lactose fermenting bacteria Escherichia coli was the predominant isolate accounting for 50.94% specimens, followed by Klebsiella pneumonia 27.59% and Enterobacter 0.47%. From the total non-lactose fermenting gram negative bacilli Acinetobacter baumannii was the predominant isolate accounting for 12.73% specimens followed by Pseudomonas aeroginosa 6.13%, other isolates were Stenotrophomonas maltophilia 1.17% , Burkholderia cepacia 0.94%. In the present study male were more infected than female. The study also showed that lactose fermenting bacteria were more infectious than non lactose-fermenting bacteria and isolates were from urine samples. Conclusion: Both Non-Lactose Fermenting Gram Negative Bacilli and Lactose Fermenting Gram Negative Bacilli were found to be major contaminants, and are important pathogenic bacteria causing wide range of infections in the tertiary care hospital. Keywords: Lactose fermenting gram negative bacteria, Vitek-2, Tertiary Care Hospital, Kirby-Bauer Disc Diffusion, Lactose non-fermenting gram negative bacteria
The quinoline-based drug, N-[4-[1-hydroxy-2-(dibutylamino)ethyl] quinolin-8-yl]-4-azidosalicylamide, photoaffinity labels the multidrug resistance protein (MRP) at a biologically relevant site.

MRP is a member of the ABC trafficking proteins thought to mediate the transport of glutathione S-conjugates and amphiphilic natural products. However, unlike P-glycoprotein, the biochemical mechanism by which MRP mediates the resistance to cytotoxic drugs is not clear. In this report, we describe the interactions of a quinoline-based drug, N-{4-[1-hydroxy-2-(dibutylamino)ethyl] quinolin-8-yl}-4-azidosalicylamide (IAAQ), with MRP. Our results demonstrate the ability of IAAQ to photoaffinity label a 190 kDa protein in resistant Small Cell Lung Cancer cells (H69/AR) but not in the parental H69 cells. The photoaffinity labeling of the 190 kDa protein with IAAQ was both saturable and specific. The identity of the 190 kDa protein, as MRP, was confirmed by immunoprecipitation with the monoclonal antibody, QCRL-1. Furthermore, a molar excess of LTC4, MK 571 or vinblastine inhibited the photoaffinity labeling of MRP with IAAQ in intact cells and plasma membranes. Cell growth and drug transport studies showed H69/AR cells to be less sensitive to and to accumulate less IAAQ than the parental H69 cells. In addition, MK 571 and doxorubicin increased the sensitivity to and the accumulation of IAAQ in H69/AR cells. Together, the results of this study show for the first time the direct binding of unaltered cytotoxic drug to MRP. Moreover, given the structural similarities between IAAQ and MK 571, we suggest that MK 571 modulates MRP-mediated resistance by direct binding to MRP.
The influence of feeding allyl trenbolone during late lactation on the reproductive performance of primaparous and multiparous sows.

Major constraints on efficient swine production include extended remating intervals and relatively small litter sizes (1) and these two constraints are particularly evident with sows after weaning their first litters. When rebreeding of sows was delayed until at least 12 days after weaning, subsequent litter size increased (2). The mean remating interval in the latter study, however, exceeded 21 days and probably reflects the fact that many sows were rebred at their second postweaning estrus. The mechanism controlling the improvement in litter size is unknown, although an effect on ovulation rate has been suggested (3). If the same effect could be achieved without the necessity of delayed mating, this would be of considerable benefit to swine producers. It is known that the inclusion of the synthetic progestagen allyl trenbolone (AT) (Regumate, UCLAF Corp., New York) in the diet at 20 to 40 mg daily will suppress estrus in postpubertal gilts and lead to a synchronized estrus after its withdrawal (4). The feeding of AT to primiparous sows from weaning for three to seven days has also been shown to suppress estrus and lead to an extended, yet predictable and more synchronous remating interval, and is also accompanied by an improved subsequent litter size (5,6,7). Further, a recent pilot study demonstrated an increase in litter size of between 1 and 1.5 pigs following dietary inclusion of AT for the last ten days of lactation in primiparous sows (7). This latter protocol allows the benefits of feeding AT without extending the remating interval and is thus worthy of further consideration. We therefore designed an experiment to further investigate the influence of feeding AT during the last ten days of lactation on the subsequent performance of both primiparous and multiparous sows. Fifty primiparous and 41 multiparous (parities 2 to 6) sows were allocated randomly either to be fed 20 mg ofAT daily for the last ten days of a 35 d lactation (including the days of weaning), or to serve as controls. The AT, in a solution of oil, was mixed and fed with a small amount of feed each morning to
Surface phonons and CH vibrational modes of diamond (100) and (111) surfaces.

The surface phonons and CH vibrational structure of diamond (100) and (111) surfaces have been examined using high-resolution electron-energy-loss spectroscopy. Experimental phonon features of (2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1)-reconstructed diamond surfaces [H-free (100) and partially H-terminated (111)] agree well with scaled phonon frequencies of theoretically predicted modes for similarly reconstructed silicon surfaces. Several modes not detected on silicon surfaces are observed on diamond surfaces, in agreement with scaled theoretical calculations. Vibrational spectra from hydrogen-terminated diamond (1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1) surfaces reveal several types of ${\mathrm{CH}}_{\mathit{x}}$ species, including ${\mathit{sp}}^{3}$ hybridized methyl and methylene groups, and olefinic (${\mathit{sp}}^{2}$ hybridized) methylene groups. On heating to \ensuremath{\sim}1473 K, hydrogen desorbs readily from the (100) surface. Complete removal of hydrogen from the (111) surface by repeated annealing to \ensuremath{\sim}1473 K was impossible, although (2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1) reconstruction had already occurred.
Efficacies of Fluconazole, Caspofungin, and Amphotericin B in Candida glabrata-Infected p47phox−/− Knockout Mice

ABSTRACT Candida glabrata is the second leading cause of adult candidemia, resulting in high mortality. Amphotericin B is considered the treatment of choice, while the efficacy of fluconazole is controversial and caspofungin efficacy is unknown. To ascertain drug efficacy in vivo, the utility of a murine model of C. glabrata infection was investigated. C. glabrata was found to cause progressive, lethal infection when injected intravenously into C57BL/6 mice with reduced oxidative microbicidal capacity due to knockout of the p47phox gene. Spleen and kidney organ CFU counts were determined in groups of mice 2 days after the mice completed 6 days of daily intraperitoneal drug treatment, which began on the day of infection. Daily injections of fluconazole at 80 mg/kg did not reduce spleen or kidney CFU counts after infection with C. glabrata strains having in vitro fluconazole MICs of 2, 32, or 256 μg/ml compared to saline-treated controls. However, this fluconazole regimen reduced spleen CFU counts in mice infected with Candida albicans, an infection that is known to be responsive to fluconazole. Caspofungin at 5 mg/kg and amphotericin B at 5 mg/kg were both effective in reducing fungal burden in spleens and kidneys of C. glabrata-infected mice. Ten mice treated for 6 days with caspofungin at 1 mg/kg survived for 15 days, though all 10 saline-injected mice died or were so ill that they had to be sacrificed by 96 h postinfection. This murine model provided evidence of the efficacy of amphotericin B and caspofungin but not of fluconazole against C. glabrata infection.