Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of bacteriological profile and antibiotic sensitivity patterns in children with urinary tract infection: A prospective study from a tertiary care center

Introduction: Development of regional surveillance programs is necessary for the development of community-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI) guidelines, especially for sub-urban and rural areas where empirical treatment is the mainstay in the absence of proper diagnostic modalities. Our aim was to evaluate the bacteriological profile and antibiotic sensitivity patterns in children with UTI prospectively from a tertiary care center. Methods: A total of 800 children up to 18 years of age with suspected UTI attending our center were included. For all suspected cases urine microscopy, gram staining, and culture were done. Antibiotic sensitivity was performed on selected antimicrobials using disk diffusion method following Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Results: Majority of pathogens were isolated from female (54.2%) patients. Pre-teens (52.1%) and teens (27.1%) were most commonly affected age group. The most common presentation in culture-proven UTI was fever with urinary symptoms (33.3%). In a group of 192 patients 26.7% had proven UTI. Escherichia coli (42.3%) was the most common aetiological agent, followed by Enterococcus fecalis (13.5%), Klebsiella spp. (11.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (11.5%). Most active antibiotics against Gram-negative isolates were nitrofurantoin, cefotaxime, and amikacin. Gram-positive isolates were sensitive to nitrofurantoin, cotrimoxazole, and novobiocin. Conclusion: E. coli was the commonest isolate. The organisms grown in significant numbers were E. fecalis, Klebsiella spp. and S. aureus, causing UTI in 0–18 years of age group. Gram-negative isolates were sensitive to nitrofurantoin, amikacin, and cefotaxime. Gram-positive isolates were sensitive to nitrofurantoin, cotrimoxazole, and novobiocin. Prospective, regional studies are ensured periodically to explain bacteriological profile and antibiotic sensitivity patterns to be applicable for children with UTI over that geographic area.
Impact of backreflection on upstream transmission in WDM single-fiber loopback access networks

This paper investigates the impact of backreflection lights on upstream transmission in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) single-fiber loopback access networks, where a WDM light source is located at the central office (CO) and each optical network unit (ONU) includes an optical modulator with optical amplifiers. This study considers backreflection lights from two sources, the continuous wave (CW) light at the CO (Reflection-I) and the modulated signal at the ONU (Reflection-II). It is confirmed, for the first time, that the impact of Reflection-II increases strongly with ONU gain. To estimate the impact of these backreflection lights, a simple intensity noise estimation scheme is presented. This scheme clarifies that the acceptable transmission line losses is 10 dB for 1.25 Gb/s under the optical return loss (ORL) of -32 dB.
Responsiveness to acidity via metal ion regulators mediates virulence in the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori

The virulence of pathogenic bacteria is dependent on their adaptation to and survival in the stressful conditions encountered in their hosts. Helicobacter pylori exclusively colonizes the acid stomach of primates, making it an ideal study model. Little is known about how H. pylori responds to the moderately acidic conditions encountered at its colonization site, the gastric mucus layer. Thus, we compared gene expression profiles of H. pylori 26695 grown at neutral and acidic pH, and validated the data for a selection of genes by real‐time polymerase chain reaction, dot‐blots or enzymatic assays. During growth in acidic conditions, 56 genes were upregulated and 45 genes downregulated. We found that acidity is a signal modulating the expression of several virulence factors. Regulation of genes related to metal ion homeostasis suggests protective mechanisms involving diminished transport and enhanced storage. Genes encoding subunits of the F0F1 ATPase and of a newly identified Na+/H+ antiporter (NhaC‐HP0946) were downregulated, revealing that this bacterium uses original mechanisms to control proton entry. Five of the upregulated genes encoded proteins controlling intracellular ammonia synthesis, including urease, amidase and formamidase, underlining the major role of this buffering compound in the protection against acidity in H. pylori. Regulatory networks and transcriptome analysis as well as enzymatic assays implicated two metal‐responsive transcriptional regulators (NikR and Fur) and an essential two‐component response regulator (HP0166, OmpR‐like) as effectors of the H. pylori acid response. Finally, a nikR‐fur mutant is attenuated in the mouse model, emphasizing the link between response to acidity, metal metabolism and virulence in this gastric pathogen.
Area efficient and high throughput CAVLC encoder for 1920×1080@30p H.264/AVC

This paper proposes a high performance hardware architecture design for the H.264/AVC CAVLC encoder. The proposed architecture can make a realtime process for 1920×1080 @ 30p. With the synthesis constraint of a 114MHz clock, the hardware cost of the proposed design is 7389 gates based on SS65LP 65nm technology.
Influence of Graft Type on Outcomes After Pediatric Liver Transplantation

We sought to determine which type of donor graft provides children and young adults with the best outcomes following liver transplantation. Using the US Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database, we identified 6467 recipients of first liver transplants during 1989–2000 aged < 30 years. We used Cox models to examine adjusted patient and graft outcomes by age (< 2, 2–10, 11–16, 17–29) and donor graft type (deceased donor full size (DD‐F), split (DD‐S), living donor (LD)].
Does Aging Adversely Affect Muscle Mitochondrial Function?

SHORT, K.R. , and K.S. NAIR. Does aging adversely affect muscle mitochondrial function? Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., Vol. 29, No. 3, pp 118–123, 2001. Muscle oxidative function appears to decline with aging, and evidence suggests that this is related to reduced synthesis of mitochondrial and other muscle proteins. Causes for these events may include mtDNA damage or reduced mtDNA copy numbers, reduced oxidative enzyme activities and ATP production, and increased proton leak.
You're Hired: Examining Acceptance of Social Media Screening of Job Applicants

The paper examines attitudes towards employers using social media to screen job applicants. In an online survey of 454 participants, we compare the comfort level with this practice in relation to different types of information that can be gathered from publicly accessible social media. The results revealed a nuanced nature of people’s information privacy expectations in the context of hiring practices. People’s perceptions of employers using social media to screen job applicants depends on (1) whether or not they are currently seeking employment (or plan to), (2) the type of information that is being accessed by a prospective employer (if there are on the job market), and (3) their cultural background, but not gender. The findings emphasize the need for employers and recruiters who are relying on social media to screen job applicants to be aware of the types of information that may be perceived to be more sensitive by applicants, such as social network-related information. Keywords : social media, information privacy, job screening, hiring practices
Impact of Energetic Electron Precipitation on the Upper Atmosphere: Nitric Monoxide

Received: October 20, 2016 Revised: March 07, 2017 Accepted: March 11, 2017 Abstract: Background: Nitric oxide concentration in the upper atmosphere is known to be highly dependent on the solar activity. It can be transported to the stratosphere by the atmospheric circulation. In the stratosphere it is responsible for the destruction of ozone and consequently stratospheric heating rates are affected. This is one of the mechanisms by which solar variability has been suspected to drive variability in the energetic budget of the Earth climate. Therefore, it is essential to know every physical and chemical processes leading to the production or to a destruction of nitric oxide.
Primary Surgery in Treatment of Stages II and III Wilms' Tumour: A Developing Countries' Experience.

BACKGROUND Treatment options for Wilms' tumour (WT) are costly and it affects the country's health budget and resources if adopted and implemented at the national level especially in developing countries with low or resource-challenged settings. AIM The objective of this study is to evaluate the role and effectiveness of primary surgery in the treatment of stage II and III pediatric WT following the schedule indicated in the National Wilms' Tumor Study (NWTS-4) in the institutes of two developing countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study enrolled 40 children who were primarily diagnosed as stage II and III WT. They were divided into 2 equal groups. Group I (n = 20) included those children who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and postoperative chemotherapy, while group II (n = 20) included those children who have undergone primary surgery as an initial management followed by chemotherapy. After a mean postoperative follow-up period of 20±5 months, clinical and radiological evaluation was performed for all patients. RESULTS In group I, 15 patients were preoperatively diagnosed as stage II and 5 patients as stage III while in group II, 16 patients were proved to be stage II and 4 patients were stage III. After a follow up period, clinical and radiological evaluation using CT was performed on all patients. In patients with stage II, evidence of recurrence was noted in 4 patients of group I whereas no patient showed any evidence of recurrence in group II. In patients with stage III, rebound increase in size was seen in 2 patients in group I and only one patient in group II. CONCLUSION Primary surgery with appropriate adjuvant therapy improves the treatment results compared to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy and delayed surgery for children primarily diagnosed as stage II and III WT. It may be used as a safe and effective tool in treating WT patients with relatively no changes from the long administration schedules. This will have a highly positive impact in lowering treatment cost in developing countries.
Periodontal Ligament Cells Under Mechanical Stress Induce Osteoclastogenesis by Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κB Ligand Up‐Regulation via Prostaglandin E2 Synthesis

Previously, we discovered that periodontal ligament (PDL) cells not only support osteoclastogenesis through cell‐to‐cell contact, but also inhibit the formation of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase‐positive (TRAP+) multinucleated cells by a producing soluble factor(s). Furthermore, PDL cells express both receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) messenger RNA (mRNA). Clinically, “ankylosed teeth,” which lack periodontal ligament, cannot be moved with orthodontic tooth treatment. From this, we hypothesized that PDL cells under mechanical stress should play a pivotal role in osteoclast formation during orthodontic tooth movement. This study examined how mechanical stress affects the osteoclastogenesis‐supporting activity of PDL cells. PDL cells were compressed continuously and then cocultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for 4 weeks. PDL cells under mechanical stress up‐regulated osteoclastogenesis from PBMCs. Furthermore, the expression of RANKL mRNA and protein in PDL cells increased with compressive force in parallel with the change in the number of osteoclasts. In addition, cyclo‐oxygenase 2 (COX‐2) mRNA expression was induced by compressive force, and indomethacin inhibited the RANKL up‐regulation resulting from compressive force. PDL cells under compressive force exhibited significantly increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in comparison with control PDL cells. Exogenous PGE2 treatment increased RANKL mRNA expression in PDL cells. Interestingly, OPG expression remained constant throughout compressive force or PGE2 treatment. In conclusion, compressive force up‐regulated RANKL expression in PDL cells. Furthermore, RANKL up‐regulation in mechanically stressed PDL cells was dependent on PGE2.
Speed of decision-making processes in patients with unilateral cerebral disease.

The reaction time experiment was extended by requiring patients with unilateral hemispheric disease to respond differentially to one of one, two, three, or four stimuli. Evaluation was based on the performance of control patients without cerebral disease. Reaction time was found to be an increasing function of the complexity of the task in all groups. While both groups of brain-damaged patients were slower than control patients, under all conditions, the performance of those with unilateral right hemisphere disease paralleled that of controls. The patients with left hemisphere disease, however, showed a more marked retardation in speed of response as the task grew more complex. The results suggest patients with disease of the left hemisphere show relatively greater impairment in speed of decision making in situations of increased complexity than do patients with right hemisphere disease.
Surface Language Models for Discovering Temporally Anchored Definitions on the Web - Producing Chronologies as Answers to Definition Questions

This work presents a data-driven definition question answering (QA) system that outputs a set of temporally anchored definitions as answers. This system builds surface language models on top of a corpus automatically acquired from Wikipedia abstracts, and ranks answer candidates in agreement with these models afterwards. Additionally, this study deals at greater length with the impact of several surface features in the ranking of temporally anchored answers.
Resistance to Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis in IL-6-Deficient Mice Is Associated with Reduced Germinal Center Formation and C3 Production1

To provide direct genetic evidence for a role of IL-6 in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG), IL-6 gene KO (IL-6−/−) mice in the C57BL/6 background were immunized with Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and evaluated for EAMG. Only 25% of AChR-immunized IL-6−/− mice developed clinical EAMG compared to 83% of C57BL/6 (wild-type) mice. A significant reduction in the secondary anti-AChR Ab of IgG, IgG2b, and IgG2c, but not the primary or secondary IgM response was observed in AChR-immunized IL-6−/− mice, suggesting a possible defect in T cell help and class switching to anti-AChR IgG2 isotype. The AChR-specific lymphocyte proliferative response, IFN-γ, and IL-10 production were suppressed in AChR-immunized IL-6−/− mice. EAMG resistance in IL-6−/− mice was associated with a significant reduction in germinal center formation and decreased serum complement C3 levels. The data provide the first direct genetic evidence for a key role of IL-6 in the autoimmune response to AChR and in EAMG pathogenesis.
THE STRUCTURE AND KINEMATICS OF THE CIRCUMGALACTIC MEDIUM FROM FAR-ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA OF z ≃ 2–3 GALAXIES

We present new results on the kinematics and spatial distribution of metal-enriched gas within ∼125 kpc of star-forming (“Lyman break”) galaxies at redshifts 2 ≲ z ≲ 3. In particular, we focus on constraints provided by the rest-frame far-ultraviolet (far-UV) spectra of faint galaxies, and demonstrate how galaxy spectra can be used to obtain key spatial and spectral information more efficiently than possible with QSO sightlines. Using a sample of 89 galaxies with 〈z〉 = 2.3 ± 0.3 and with both rest-frame far-UV and Hα spectra, we re-calibrate the measurement of accurate galaxy systemic redshifts using only survey-quality rest-UV spectra. We use the velocity-calibrated sample to investigate the kinematics of the galaxy-scale outflows via the strong interstellar (IS) absorption lines and Lyα emission (when present), as well as their dependence on other physical properties of the galaxies. We construct a sample of 512 close (1″–15″) angular pairs of z ∼ 2–3 galaxies with redshift differences indicating a lack of physical association. Sightlines to the background galaxies provide new information on the spatial distribution of circumgalactic gas surrounding the foreground galaxies. The close pairs sample galactocentric impact parameters 3–125 kpc (physical) at 〈z〉 = 2.2, providing for the first time a robust map of cool gas as a function of galactocentric distance for a well-characterized population of galaxies. We propose a simple model of circumgalactic gas that simultaneously matches the kinematics, depth, and profile shape of IS absorption and Lyα emission lines, as well as the observed variation of absorption line strength (H i and several metallic species) versus galactocentric impact parameter. Within the model, cool gas is distributed symmetrically around every galaxy, accelerating radially outward with vout(r) increasing with r (i.e., the highest velocities are located at the largest galactocentric distances r). The inferred radial dependence of the covering fraction of cool gas (which modulates the absorption line strength) is fc(r) ∝ r−γ with 0.2 ≲ γ ≲ 0.6 depending on transition. We discuss the results of the observations in the context of “cold accretion,” in which cool gas is accreting via filamentary streams directly onto the central regions of galaxies. At present, we find little observational evidence for cool infalling material, while evidence supporting the large-scale effects of superwind outflows is strong. This “pilot” study using faint galaxy spectra demonstrates the potential of using galaxies to trace baryons within galaxies, in the circumgalactic medium, and ultimately throughout the intergalactic medium.
An unusually long-lasting outbreak of community-acquired Legionnaires' disease, 2005–2008, Italy

SUMMARY An unusually long-lasting community-acquired outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) occurred in the inhabitants of a town in northern Italy from 2005 to 2008. Overall, 43 cases were diagnosed including five deaths. Hundreds of water samples were collected for Legionella isolation but only two clinical samples were obtained. Clinical strains were ST23 as were environmental isolates detected in most Legionella-positive patients' homes and those from a public fountain. Although no Legionella was found in the municipal water mains, a continuous chlorination was applied in 2008. This action resulted in a halving of cases, although incidence remained tenfold higher than the Italian average incidence until the end of 2013, when it dropped to the expected rate. Retrospective analyses of prevalent wind direction suggested that a hidden cooling tower could have been the main cause of this uncommon outbreak, highlighting the importance of implementation of cooling tower registers in supporting LD investigations.
B cell granule peptides affect human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) fibril formation in vitro.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) forms fibrils spontaneously. We examined whether other B cell granule peptides affect formation of beta-pleated sheet fibrils in vitro from human IAPP. Quantitative radioassay (radioactivity of soluble IAPP after adding 125I-IAPP) and thioflavine fluorescence spectroscopy showed that insulin, C-peptide, and pancreastatin inhibited fibril formation by 60-100% at ratio 100:1 (peptide:IAPP), whereas at 1:10 or 1:100, i.e., IAPP in excess, a potentiated IAPP fibril formation was induced by the peptides. Semi-quantitative analysis by electron microscopy yielded similar effects. Thus, spontaneous IAPP fibrillisation is influenced by other B cell secretory granule peptides in a molar ratio dependent manner.
Surface modification of orthodontic wires with photocatalytic titanium oxide for its antiadherent and antibacterial properties.

OBJECTIVE To test the antiadherent and antibacterial properties of surface modification of orthodontic wires with photocatalytic titanium oxide (TiO(2)). MATERIALS AND METHODS TiO(2) was coated on the surface of the orthodontic wires by a sol-gel thin film dip-coating method. Bacterial adhesion to the wires was evaluated by the weight change of the wires. The antibacterial activity of the surface-modified orthodontic wires was demonstrated by the dilution agar plate method for Streptococcus mutans and spectrophotometry for Porphyromonas gingivalis. RESULTS The orthodontic wires coated with the photocatalytic TiO(2) showed an antiadherent effect against S. mutans compared with the uncoated wires. The bacterial mass that bound to the TiO(2)-coated orthodontic wires remained unchanged, whereas that of the uncoated wires increased by 4.97%. Furthermore, the TiO(2)-coated orthodontic wires had a bactericidal effect on S. mutans and P. gingivalis, which cause dental caries and periodontitis, respectively. The antiadherent and antibacterial mechanisms of TiO(2) to break down the cell wall of those bacteria were revealed by scanning electron microscopy. CONCLUSION The surface modification of orthodontic wires with photocatalytic TiO(2) can be used to prevent the development of dental plaque during orthodontic treatment.
A peer review process for classroom teaching.

OBJECTIVE Describe the planning, implementation, and faculty perceptions of a classroom peer-review process, including an evaluation tool. DESIGN A process for peer evaluation of classroom teaching and its evaluation tool were developed and implemented by a volunteer faculty committee within our department. At the end of the year, all faculty members were asked to complete an online anonymous survey to evaluate the experience. ASSESSMENT The majority of faculty members either agreed or strongly agreed that the overall evaluation process was beneficial for both evaluators and for those being evaluated. Some areas of improvement related to the process and its evaluation tool also were identified. SUMMARY The process of developing and implementing a peer-evaluation process for classroom teaching was found to be beneficial for faculty members, and the survey results affirmed the need and continuation of such a process.
Modular Organization of the Sulfolobus solfataricus Mini-chromosome Maintenance Protein*

Mini-chromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins form ring-like hexameric complexes that are commonly believed to act as the replicative DNA helicase at the eukaryotic/archaeal DNA replication fork. Because of their simplified composition with respect to the eukaryotic counterparts, the archaeal MCM complexes represent a good model system to use in analyzing the structural/functional relationships of these important replication factors. In this study the domain organization of the MCM-like protein from Sulfolobus solfataricus (Sso MCM) has been dissected by trypsin partial proteolysis. Three truncated derivatives of Sso MCM corresponding to protease-resistant domains were produced as soluble recombinant proteins and purified: the N-terminal domain (N-ter, residues 1–268); a fragment comprising the AAA+ and C-terminal domains (AAA+-C-ter, residues 269–686); and the C-terminal domain (C-ter, residues 504–686). All of the purified recombinant proteins behaved as monomers in solution as determined by analytical gel filtration chromatography, suggesting that the polypeptide chain integrity is required for stable oligomerization of Sso MCM. However, the AAA+-C-ter derivative, which includes the AAA+ motor domain and retains ATPase activity, was able to form dimers in solution when ATP was present, as analyzed by size exclusion chromatography and glycerol gradient sedimentation analyses. Interestingly, the AAA+-C-ter protein could displace oligonucleotides annealed to M13 single-stranded DNA although with a reduced efficiency in comparison with the full-sized Sso MCM. The implications of these findings for understanding the DNA helicase mechanism of the MCM complex are discussed.