Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prospective Comparison of the Clinical Impacts of Heterogeneous Vancomycin-Intermediate Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-Susceptible MRSA

ABSTRACT Although methicillin (meticillin)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (RVS-MRSA; including vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus [VISA] and heterogeneous VISA [hVISA]) have been linked with vancomycin treatment failure, it is unclear whether they are more pathogenic than vancomycin-susceptible MRSA (VS-MRSA). We prospectively assessed patients with clinical MRSA isolates during a 10-month period to determine clinical status (infection versus colonization) and therapeutic outcome before correlating these findings with the results of detailed in vitro assessment of vancomycin susceptibility, including population analysis profile (PAP) testing. hVISA and VISA were defined by standard PAP criteria (area-under-the-curve ratio compared to that of the reference hVISA strain Mu3 [≥0.9]) and routine CLSI criteria (vancomycin MIC, 4 to 8 μg/ml), respectively. Among the 117 patients assessed, 58 had RVS-MRSA isolates (56 hVISA and 2 VISA) and 59 had VS-MRSA isolates; the patient demographics and comorbidities were similar. RVS-MRSA was associated with a lower rate of infection than VS-MRSA (29/58 versus 46/59; P = 0.003), including a lower rate of bacteremia (3/58 versus 20/59, respectively; P < 0.001). The cure rates in RVS-MRSA and VS-MRSA groups were not statistically different (16/26 versus 31/42; P = 0.43), but the post hoc assessment of treatment regimes and study size made detailed conclusions difficult. The results of the macro method Etest correlated well with the PAP results (sensitivity, 98.3%, and specificity, 91.5%), but broth microdilution and our preliminary RVS-MRSA detection method correlated poorly. All isolates were susceptible to linezolid and daptomycin. These data suggest that detailed prospective laboratory identification of RVS-MRSA isolates may be of limited value and that, instead, such in vitro investigation should be reserved for isolates from patients who are failing appropriate anti-MRSA therapy.
Formate dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas oxalaticus.

Formate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.2) from Pseudomonas oxalaticus has been isolated and characterized. The enzyme (molecular weight 315000) is a complex flavoprotein containing 2 FMN, 18–25 non-heme iron atoms and 15–20 acid-labile sulphides. In the last step of the purification, a sucrose gradient centrifugation, a second catalytically active species has been found apparently originating from a dissociation of the enzyme into two equal subunits. The enzyme is specific toward its natural substrate formate. It transfers electrons to NAD+, oxygen, ferricyanide, and a lot of non-physiological acceptors (dyes). In addition electrons are transferred from NADH to these acceptors. The (reversible) removal of FMN requires a reduction step. Reincorporation has been followed by the reappearance of the reactivity against formate and by fluorescence titration. The deflavo enzyme also binds FAD and riboflavin. The resulting enzyme species show characteristic catalytic abilities. Activity against formate is peculiar to the FMN species.
50 GHz optical frequncy Comb generation based on an optoelectronic oscillator

50 GHz repetition rate optical frequency comb with very low phase noise is experimentally demonstrated by incorporating an optical frequency comb generator (OFCG) in an optoelectronic oscillator (OEO). To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest repetition rate optical frequency comb ever achieved by an OFCG. What more important is that, the OFCG is driven by the 50 GHz millimeter-wave signal oscillating in the OEO, and no frequency synthesizer is needed. The single-sideband (SSB) phase noise of the 50 GHz signal oscillating in the OEO is theoretically analyzed by the Leeson formula. The calculation result shows that the SSB phase noise could be as low as -125 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset with our experimental parameters.
Length of psychiatric hospitalization is correlated with CYP2D6 functional status in inpatients with major depressive disorder.

AIM This study aimed to determine the effect of the CYP2D6 genotype on the length of hospitalization stay for patients treated for major depressive disorder. METHODS A total of 149 inpatients with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder at the Institute of Living, Hartford Hospital (CT, USA), were genotyped to detect altered alleles in the CYP2D6 gene. Prospectively defined drug metabolism indices (metabolic reserve, metabolic alteration and allele alteration) were determined quantitatively and assessed for their relationship to length of hospitalization stay. RESULTS Hospital stay was significantly longer in deficient CYP2D6 metabolizers (metabolic reserve <2) compared with functional or suprafunctional metabolizers (metabolic reserve ≥2; 7.8 vs 5.7 days, respectively; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION CYP2D6 enzymatic functional status significantly affected length of hospital stay, perhaps due to reduced efficacy or increased side effects of the medications metabolized by the CYP2D6 isoenzyme. Functional scoring of CYP2D6 alleles may have a substantial impact on the quality of care, patient satisfaction and the economics of psychiatric treatment.
Prior residency does not always pay off – co-infections in Daphnia

SUMMARY The epidemiological and ecological processes which govern the success of multiple-species co-infections are as yet unresolved. Here we investigated prior versus late residency within hosts, meaning which parasite contacts the host first, to determine if the outcomes of intra-host competition are altered. We infected a single genotype of the waterflea Daphnia galeata with both the intestinal protozoan Caullerya mesnili and the haemolymph fungus Metschnikowia sp. (single genotype of each parasite species), as single infections, simultaneous co-infections and as sequential co-infections, with each parasite given 4 days prior residency. Simultaneous co-infections were significantly more virulent than both single infections and sequential co-infections, as measured by a decreased host life span and fecundity. Further, in addition to the Daphnia host, the parasites also suffered fitness decreases in simultaneous co-infections, as measured by spore production. The sequential co-infections, however, had mixed effects: C. mesnili benefited from prior residency, whereas Metschnikowia sp. experienced a decline in fitness. Our results show that multiple-species co-infections of Daphnia may be more virulent than single infections, and that prior residency does not always provide a competitive advantage.
Spontaanin puheen prosodinen jaksottelu

Vaitoksenalkajaisesitelma 27. elokuuta 2010 Helsingin yliopistossa. Eija Aho: Spontaanin puheen prosodinen jaksottelu . PIC Monographs. Helsinki: Helsingin yliopisto 2010. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-10-6405-0
Patterns of Spatio-Temporal Distribution, Abundance, and Diversity in a Mosquito Community from the Eastern Smoky Hills of Kansas

ABSTRACT: Nearly 30% of emerging infectious disease events are caused by vector-borne pathogens with wildlife origins. Their transmission involves a complex interplay among pathogens, arthropod vectors, the environment and host species, and they pose a risk for public health, livestock and wildlife species. Examining habitat associations of vector species known to transmit infectious diseases, and quantifying spatio-temporal dynamics of mosquito vector communities is one aspect of the holistic One Health approach that is necessary to develop effective control measures. A survey was conducted from May to August, 2010 of the abundance and diversity of mosquito species occurring in the mixed-grass prairie habitat of the Smoky Hills of Kansas. This region is an important breeding ground for North Americas grassland nesting birds and, as such, it could represent an important habitat for the enzootic amplification cycle of avian malaria and infectious encephalitides, as well as spill-over events to humans and livestock. A total of 11 species, belonging to the three genera Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex, was collected during this study. Aedes nigromaculis, Ae. sollicitans, Ae. taeniorhynchus, Culex salinarius, and Cx. tarsalis accounted for 98% of the collected species. Multiple linear regression models suggested that mosquito abundances in the grasslands of the central Great Plains were explained by meteorological and environmental variables. Temporal dynamics in mosquito abundances were well supported by models that included maximum and minimum temperature indices (adjusted R2=0.73). Spatial dynamics of mosquito abundances were best explained by a model containing the following environmental variables (adjusted R2=0.37): ground curvature, topographic wetness index, distance to woodland, and distance to road. The mosquito species we detected are known vectors for infectious encephalitides, including West Nile virus. Understanding the microhabitat characteristics of these mosquito species in a grassland ecosystem will aid in the control and management of these disease vectors.
Geometry of enstrophy and dissipation, grid resolution effects and proximity issues in turbulence

We perform a multi-scale non-local geometrical analysis of the structures extracted from the enstrophy and kinetic energy dissipation-rate, instantaneous fields of a numerical database of incompressible homogeneous isotropic turbulence decaying in time obtained by DNS in a periodic box. Three different resolutions are considered: 2563, 5123 and 10243 grid points, with kmax approximately 1, 2 and 4, respectively, the same initial conditions and Reλ ≈ 77. This allows a comparison of the geometry of the structures obtained for different resolutions. For the highest resolution, structures of enstrophy and dissipation evolve in a continuous distribution from blob-like and moderately stretched tube-like shapes at the large scales to highly stretched sheet-like structures at the small scales. The intermediate scales show a predominance of tube-like structures for both fields, much more pronounced for the enstrophy field. The dissipation field shows a tendency towards structures with lower curvedness than those of the enstrophy, for intermediate and small scales. The 2563 grid resolution case (kmax ≈ 1) was unable to detect the predominance of highly stretched sheet-like structures at the smaller scales in both fields. The same non-local methodology for the study of the geometry of structures, but without the multi-scale decomposition, is applied to two scalar fields used by existing local criteria for the eduction of tube- and sheet-like structures in turbulence, Q and [Aij]+, respectively, obtained from invariants of the velocity-gradient tensor and alike in the 10243 case. This adds the non-local geometrical characterization and classification to those local criteria, assessing their validity in educing particular geometries. Finally, we introduce a new methodology for the study of proximity issues among structures of different fields, based on geometrical considerations and non-local analysis, by taking into account the spatial extent of the structures. We apply it to the four fields previously studied. Tube-like structures of Q are predominantly surrounded by sheet-like structures of [Aij]+, which appear at closer distances. For the enstrophy, tube-like structures at an intermediate scale are primarily surrounded by sheets of smaller scales of the enstrophy and structures of dissipation at the same and smaller scales. A secondary contribution results from tubes of enstrophy at smaller scales appearing at farther distances. Different configurations of composite structures are presented.
Therapeutic benefits of ACE inhibitors and other antihypertensive drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Recently, Pahor et al. (1) presented a meta-analysis based on four studies assessing whether ACE inhibitors are superior to alternative agents for the prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes. The four eligible trials were as follows: 1 ) the Fosinopril Versus Amlodipine Cardiovascular Events Randomized Trial (FACET), 2 ) the Appropriate Blood Pressure Control in Diabetes Trial (ABCD), 3 ) the Captopril Prevention Project (CAPPP), and 4 ) the U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) (2,3,4,5). FACET's study lasted only 2.8 years, whereas the other studies lasted 5, 6.1, and 8.4 years, respectively. All of the trials were blind except for FACET. The primary end points of FACET were serum lipids and glucose metabolism, whereas the primary …
Children's Search Behaviour in Large-Scale Space: Developmental Components of Exploration

It has been argued that visual-search tasks provide a valid model for foraging behaviour. However, Gilchrist et al (2001 Perception 30 1459 – 1464) demonstrated that, whilst some aspects of behaviour transferred to large-scale egocentric search, there were substantially fewer revisits to previously searched locations than would be expected from the visual-search literature. This difference might be a result of the greater effort required to search in a large-scale egocentric context. Here, we present a novel, automated paradigm, for examining the effect of effort on egocentric search behaviour by manipulating the motor difficulty of the task. Children searched for a hidden target amongst a randomised display of lights by activating a switch at each potential location. The motor difficulty of the task was manipulated by requiring children to search with either their dominant or their nondominant hand. We found that when children searched with their nondominant hand, they made significantly more revisits to previously checked locations than they did when using their dominant hand. This suggests that, when the motor response was more effortful, children were less able to efficiently guide their search behaviour. Individuals with a greater visuo-spatial short-term memory span performed the task more quickly than those with a lower span. However, search latencies were unrelated to general fluid intelligence. This highlights the role of spatial working memory in the development of efficient exploration of large-scale space.
Análisis preliminar de las tobas cuaternarias del río Ebrón (Castielfabib, Valencia, Cordillera Ibérica)

En el valle del rio Ebron (sector central de la Cordillera Iberica), cerca de Castielfabib (provincia de Valencia), se diferencian dos unidades tobaceas encajadas. La antigua, de 77 m de espesor, tiene una edad de 180-100 ka obtenida mediante Racemizacion de Aminoacidos, y se correlaciona con los MIS 6 y 5. Los 25 m superiores de la unidad moderna presentan una edad de radiocarbono comprendida entre 6 y 2 ka (MIS 1). La sedimentacion tiene lugar en un sistema de barrera y represamiento cuya nucleacion parece controlada por un aumento en el gradiente del perfil del rio.
Modeling of arbitrary wire antennas above ground

An efficient method for modeling wire antennas of arbitrary shapes and orientations above a lossy ground is presented by using Galerkin method. As opposed to the traditional point matching method, careful treatment is required for the electric-field integral equation (EFIE) and its numerical implementation. Comparing with the point matching method, only three simple Sommerfeld integrals are needed in the new method, and the convergence is much faster. To test the validity of this method, numerous numerical examples are given. Numerical results show that, for equivalent-accuracy solutions, the cell number used in this method is much fewer than that in the point matching method.
On self-similar finitely generated uniformly discrete (SFU-)sets and sphere packings

This paper is ﬁrst a brief survey on links between Geometry of Numbers and aperiodic crystals in Physics, viewed from the mathematical side. In a second part, we prove the existence of a canonical cut-and-project scheme above a (ssfgud set) self-similar ﬁnitely generated packing of (equal) spheres Λ in R n and investigate its consequences, in particular the role played by the Euclidean and inhomogeneous minima of the algebraic number ﬁeld generated by the self-similarity on the Delone constant of the sphere packing. We discuss the isolation phenomenon. The degree d of this ﬁeld divides the Z -rank of Z [Λ − Λ]. We give a lower bound of the Delone constant of a k -thin ssfgud sphere packing which arises from a model set or a Meyer set when d is large enough.
Characterisation of molecular DNA rearrangements within the Xq12-q13.1 region, in three patients with X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (EDA).

A panel of somatic cell hybrids and X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (EDA) patient-derived cell lines, containing different rearranged X chromosomes, have been used to refine the physical map of the Xq12-q13.1 region. The patient-derived material included genomic DNA from an EDA male (EDA family 1015) with an interstitial deletion, and a cell line GM0705A, obtained from an isolated female patient with a de novo balanced (X;9) translocation, and the somatic hybrid, AnLy, derived from this cell line. This map subdivides the region into at least 6 mapping-intervals. DNA probes from DXS732 and DXS453, identified as the closest flanking marker loci to the EDA locus, were used to identify homologous Yeast Artificial Chromosome (YAC) clones. Two of the DXS732-specific YACs were shown by fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis to bridge the (X;9) translocation breakpoint. These two YACs were also screened against the ICRF human X chromosome cosmid library and identified 36 cosmid clones. Direct cosmid-cosmid hybridisation analysis placed subsets of these clones within four different cosmid contigs. Mapping of anchor clones from each contig, against the mapping panel, localised all these contigs within the Xq12-q13.1 region. One cosmid, ICRFc104C03.184, identified potential junctional-fragments in several restriction digests of AnLy hybrid DNA. This was confirmed by FISH analysis of the GM0705A cell line with total cosmid ICRFc104C03.184, in which both chromosomal elements of the (X;9) translocation were identified. A single-copy probe pC03.184E2, derived from this cosmid, also identified the der(9)-derived junctional fragment when hybridised against AnLy DNA. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Need Satisfaction, Motivation, and Well-Being in the Work Organizations of a Former Eastern Bloc Country: A Cross-Cultural Study of Self-Determination

Past studies in U.S. work organizations have supported a model derived from self-determination theory in which autonomy-supportive work climates predict satisfaction of the intrinsic needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness, which in turn predict task motivation and psychological adjustment on the job. To test this model cross-culturally, the authors studied employees of state-owned companies in Bulgaria, a country that has traditionally had a central-planning economy, a totalitarian political system, and collectivist values. A sample from a privately owned American corporation was used for comparison purposes. Results using structural equation modeling suggested that the model fit the data from each country, that the constructs were equivalent across countries, and that some paths of the structural model fit equivalently for the two countries but that county moderated the other paths.
Ultrastructure of mouse egg cylinders developed in vitro

Mouse blastocysts were grown in vitro and the ultrastructure of resulting egg cylinders was compared with the ultrastructure of egg cylinders isolated from uterus. Egg cylinders grown in vitro had two or three germ layers and were attached to the bottom of the dish through the layer of trophoblastic cells. The entoderm was composed of two cell types intermixed haphazardly: (1) One type had numerous microvilli on the free surface and a large number of dense bodies, autophagic vacuoles, big and small vacuoles and myelin figures in the cytoplasm. (2) The other type had rich, rough endoplasmic reticulum with wide cisternae. The cisternae were filled with fine, granular material similar to that found as a thick membrane separating the entodermal layer from the rest of the embryo. The first type of cell was ultrastructurally similar to cells of the visceral entoderm of egg cylinders isolated from uterus and the second type was similar to cells of the parietal entoderm. The thick basement membrane observed in embryos grown in vitro was similar to Reichert's membrane. Parietal entoderm and Reichert's membrane were never found as separate structures in embryos grown in vitro. It is probable that the entodermal cells in blastocysts differentiate in vitro into both parietal and visceral entodermal cells within the same layer. Mesodermal and ectodermal cells of vitral embryos were similar to such cells in the egg cylinders isolated from the uterus. The cytoplasm was filled with free ribosomes in the form of polysomes and also contained a few profiles of endoplasmic reticulum, well developed mitochondria and Golgi apparatus. Intercellular spaces between mesodermal cells were large and the cells were not attached to one another. Ectodermal cells were tightly packed and inter‐connected with numerous desmosomes. The ultrastructure of egg cylinders in vitro and in vivo was similar. Observed differences might be caused by culture conditions and some of them probably represented the changing pattern of differentiation in vitro.
Identification of Grb2 As a Novel Binding Partner of the Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule-Associated Protein Binding Receptor CD229 1

Ag recognition by the TCR determines the subsequent fate of the T cell and is regulated by the involvement of other cell surface molecules, termed coreceptors. CD229 is a lymphocyte cell surface molecule that belongs to the CD150 family of receptors. Upon tyrosine phosphorylation, CD229 recruits various signaling molecules to the membrane. One of these molecules is the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule-associated protein, of which a deficiency leads to the X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome. We report that CD229 interacts in a phosphorylation-dependent manner with Grb2. We mapped this interaction showing that the Src homology 2 domain of Grb2 and the tyrosine residue Y606 in CD229 are required for CD229-Grb2 complex formation. The Grb2 motif in the cytoplasmic tail of CD229 is distinct and independent from the two tyrosines required for efficient signaling lymphocytic activation molecule-associated protein recruitment. CD229, but not other members of the CD150 family, directly bound Grb2. We also demonstrate that CD229 precipitates with Grb2 in T lymphocytes after pervanadate treatment, as well as CD229 or TCR ligation. Interestingly, the CD229 mutant lacking the Grb2 binding site is not internalized after CD229 engagement with specific Abs. Moreover, a dominant negative form of Grb2 (containing only Src homology 2 domain) impaired CD229 endocytosis. Unexpectedly, Erk phosphorylation was partially inhibited after activation of CD229 plus CD3. Consistent with this, CD229 ligation partially inhibited TCR signaling in peripheral blood cells and CD229-Jurkat cells transfected with the 3XNFAT-luciferase reporter construct. Altogether, the data suggest a model whereby CD229 ligation attenuates TCR signaling and Grb2 recruitment to CD229 controls its rate of internalization.