Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analytical Solution of the Magnetic Field in Permanent-Magnet Motors Taking Into Account Slotting Effect: No-Load Vector Potential and Flux Density Calculation

We present a general computation taking into account the slotting effect on the no-load magnetic field distribution in multipole surface mounted permanent-magnet motors (SMPMM). A new analytical solution based on 2-D analysis in polar coordinates is developed. It includes both radial and parallel magnetization and the main originality is to consider the stator slotting. The saturation effect of the magnetic circuit is neglected. The 2-D analytical calculation of the no-load magnetic field with the slotting effect has been validated by a corresponding finite-element analysis (FEA). The analytical results are in very good agreement with those obtained by the FEA, considering both amplitude and waveform.
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL HERPESVIRUS FROM A FREE-RANGING EASTERN GREY KANGAROO (MACROPUS GIGANTEUS)

We isolated a macropodid herpesvirus from a free-ranging eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteous) displaying clinical signs of respiratory disease and possibly neurologic disease. Sequence analysis of the herpesvirus glycoprotein G (gG) and glycoprotein B (gB) genes revealed that the virus was an alphaherpesvirus most closely related to macropodid herpesvirus 2 (MaHV-2) with 82.7% gG and 94.6% gB amino acid sequence identity. Serologic analyses showed similar cross-neutralization patterns to those of MaHV-2. The two viruses had different growth characteristics in cell culture. Most notably, this virus formed significantly larger plaques and extensive syncytia when compared with MaHV-2. No syncytia were observed for MaHV-2. Restriction endonuclease analysis of whole viral genomes demonstrated distinct restriction endonuclease cleavage patterns for all three macropodid herpesviruses. These studies suggest that a distinct macropodid alphaherpesvirus may be capable of infecting and causing disease in eastern grey kangaroos.
Comparison of palmar aponeuroses from individuals with diabetes Mellitus and Dupuytren's contracture

It is well known that Dupuytren's contracture is often associated with diabetes mellitus. Palmar fascia from individuals with diabetes mellitus and/or Dupuytren's contracture as well as controls were subjected to differential scanning calorimetry, biomechanical and biochemical analysis. The collagen denaturation temperature of the palmar aponeurosis from individuals with diabetes mellitus in the presence (71.0°C) or absence of Dupuytren's contracture (70.6°C) was increased as compared with controls (68.5°C), while this parameter was significantly reduced (about 3.5°C) in contracture bands of Dupuytren's contracture. Stress relaxation experiments revealed that the viscous fraction was slightly reduced in diabetes mellitus (6.5%) vs. controls (8.3%), whereas in Dupuytren's contracture, irrespective of additional diabetes mellitus, a pronounced increase of this parameter was seen (36.5% vs. 24.5%) in the presence of diabetes mellitus. The time constants were significantly elevated by both disorders, this increase being more pronounced in Dupuytren's contracture. Taken together, these changes can be explained by increased cross‐linking in diabetes mellitus, while in Dupuytren's contracture other structural changes, such as increased collagen type III content and loss of fascicular organization, play an additional role besides the finding of reduced cross linking. Anat Rec 255:401–406, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Odiosoft-Rhino versus rhinomanometry in healthy subjects

Conclusion. Odiosoft-Rhino (OR) is a non-invasive test that is completed in an extremely short period of time. It is easy to perform and little patient cooperation is needed. OR is safe and could be used in the rhinological setting if further improved. Objective. To evaluate nasal obstruction objectively with a new technique, OR, and to compare the results with a widely accepted method, rhinomanometry, in normal subjects. Subjects and methods. OR and anterior RMM were performed in 79 subjects without any rhinologic symptoms and signs. Visual analogue scales (VAS) of nasal obstruction, nasal airway resistance and nasal expiratory and inspiratory sounds were analysed. Results. VAS of nasal obstruction was found to be correlated with OR findings of expiration at 2000–4000 Hz frequency interval on both sides (r=0.564, p<0.01 for the left side, r=0.533, p<0.01 for the right side). Correlations were found (p<0.05) between left 2000–4000 Hz in expiration OR and left expiration RMM, left 4000–6000 Hz in expiration OR and left expiration RMM, right 2000–4000 Hz in expiration OR and right expiration RMM, and right 4000–6000 Hz in expiration OR and right expiration RMM. No correlation was seen between VAS, anterior RMM and OR at inspiration in any interval.
Coincorporation of LpxL1 and PagL Mutant Lipopolysaccharides into Liposomes with Neisseria meningitidis Opacity Protein: Influence on Endotoxic and Adjuvant Activity

ABSTRACT Wild-type lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Neisseria meningitidis normally contains six acyl chains. Penta-acylated LPS forms were generated through inactivation of the lpxL1 gene or through the expression of the Bordetella bronchiseptica pagL gene in N. meningitidis. The resulting LPS species, designated LpxL1 LPS and PagL LPS, respectively, display reduced endotoxic activity compared to wild-type LPS. Here, we determined the adjuvant potential of PagL LPS by comparison with the broadly used LpxL1 LPS. We also investigated the potential benefit for adjuvanticity of coincorporating these LPS species, together with the meningococcal opacity-associated protein OpaJ as a model antigen, in a liposomal delivery system. PagL LPS showed a higher endotoxic activity than LpxL1 LPS, and their incorporation into liposomes significantly reduced their endotoxic activity as determined by measuring the induction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in a murine macrophage cell line. To determine the adjuvant effect, BALB/c mice were immunized with OpaJ-containing liposomes and either free LPS or LPS coincorporated into the proteoliposomes. OpaJ-containing liposomes adjuvanted with AlPO4 or not adjuvanted at all were included as control groups. In the appropriate dose, PagL LPS showed a superior adjuvant effect compared with LpxL1 LPS, and for both LPS types, free LPS showed a higher adjuvant effect than when coincorporated into the liposomes, as evidenced by higher titers of IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies against OpaJ+ meningococci and higher bactericidal titers. In conclusion, PagL LPS is a better adjuvant than LpxL1 LPS, but coincorporation of either LPS into proteoliposomes did not improve their adjuvant activity.
Provider attributes associated with hormone therapy prescribing frequency

Objective:The aim of this study was to identify provider characteristics associated with hormone therapy prescribing. Methods:The study design is cross-sectional. In December 2005, we mailed surveys to providers practicing in two integrated healthcare delivery systems located in the northwestern and northeastern United States; 379 responded (74%) and 249 (49% of total) granted access to their automated data. Data included provider demographics, practice characteristics, and perceptions about hormone therapy. Provider-specific annual hormone therapy prescribing frequency was calculated as days supply of hormone therapy filled divided by the number of visits (among women aged 45-80 y). Factors associated with higher rates of hormone therapy prescribing were identified using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results:We report results separately for primary care providers (internists and family practitioners) and obstetrician/gynecologists because significant correlates differed in these two groups. For both primary care providers and obstetrician/gynecologists, in multivariate analyses, hormone therapy prescribing varied by site (P ≤ 0.002) and years at the healthcare organization (P ≤ 0.01). For primary care providers only, higher hormone therapy prescribing was associated with reported expert knowledge of the hormone therapy trials (P ≤ 0.001). For obstetrician/gynecologists, higher hormone therapy prescription was related to feeling well prepared to counsel women on hormone therapy (P ≤ 0.007), believing that the risks of estrogen with progestogen had been exaggerated (P = 0.04), and seeing younger aged patients (P = 0.03). Conclusions:After the release of the Women's Health Initiative findings and practicing under similar clinical guidelines, hormone therapy prescribing is associated with providers' confidence, practice location, and time with a healthcare organization.
Cellulose fibers and nanofibrils for adhesive reinforcement

Introduction In wood industry, adhesive bonding is one of the key process steps. To ensure continuing technological progress in wood industry it is necessary to explore new possibilities of improvement in adhesive bonding. The potential routes for performance improvements suggested by a state of the art report issued by COST Action E13 Wood Adhesion and Glued Products (Dunky et al. 2002) focus very much on polymer chemistry, where tremendous improvements have been achieved in past decades. Based on the results achieved in own preliminary experiments, the authors of the present report think that also another well known component of adhesives in wood bonding, usually addressed under the term “filler”, deserves more attention. As is well known from the science of composite materials (e.g. Chawla 1987), the addition of fibrous fillers significantly changes the physical properties of a polymer. Consequently, a large number of studies dealing with the reinforcement of polymers by various types of fibers (e.g. glass fibers, carbon fibers or polymeric fibers) can be found in literature. In contrast, for adhesive bonding of wood, literature on true reinforcing fillers is very scarce. A recently published study by Richter et al. (2009) reports for the first time on wood adhesives reinforced with cellulose nanofibrils. Two different adhesives, based on polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and polyurethane (PUR) respectively, were considered. Varying amounts of surface-modified fibrils were added to the adhesive and woodadhesive assemblies bonded with these modified adhesives were tested. In spite of significant changes observed for cellulose reinforced PVAc composite films characterised in a different experiment in the same study, no significant effects of cellulose nanofibrils on wood-adhesive shear strength were observed neither for PUR nor for PVAc.
A Novel Family of Cyclic Peptide Antagonists Suggests That N-cadherin Specificity Is Determined by Amino Acids That Flank the HAV Motif*

The classical cadherins (e.g. N-, E-, and P- cadherin) are well established homophilic adhesion molecules; however, the mechanism that governs cadherin specificity remains contentious. The classical cadherins contain an evolutionarily conserved His-Ala-Val (HAV) sequence, and linear peptides harboring this motif are capable of inhibiting a variety of cadherin-dependent processes. We now demonstrate that short cyclic HAV peptides can inhibit N-cadherin function. Interestingly, the nature of the amino acids that flank the HAV motif determine both the activity and specificity of the peptides. For example, when the HAV motif is flanked by a single aspartic acid, which mimics the natural HAVD sequence of N-cadherin, the peptide becomes a much more effective inhibitor of N-cadherin function. In contrast, when the HAV motif is flanked by a single serine, which mimics the natural HAVS sequence of E-cadherin, it loses its ability to inhibit the N-cadherin response. Our results demonstrate that subtle changes in the amino acids that flank the HAV motif can account for cadherin specificity and that small cyclic peptides can inhibit cadherin function. An emerging role for cadherins in a number of pathological processes suggests that the cyclic peptides reported in this study might be developed as therapeutic agents.
Limited increase in primary HIV‐1C drug resistance mutations in treatment naïve individuals in Ethiopia

Antiretroviral drug resistance is a major challenge for management and control of HIV‐1 infection worldwide and particularly in resource limited countries. The frequency of primary drug resistance mutations (DRMs) and of naturally occurring polymorphisms was determined in 83 antiretroviral treatment (ART) naïve Ethiopian individuals infected with HIV‐1, consecutively enrolled in 2010. In all individuals HIV‐1C was found. The median (interquartile range) of CD4+ T‐cell count and viral load were 100 (49–201) cells/μl and 44,640 (12,553–134,664) copies/ml, respectively. Protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) genes of HIV‐1 RNA were amplified and sequenced. The proportion of primary DRM to any drug class, using the World Health Organization mutation lists, was 7.2% (6/83), thus exceeding the WHO threshold limit of 5%. Three individuals (3.6%) had non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) mutations, two individuals (2.4%) had protease inhibitor mutations, and one (1.2%) had mutations associated with two drug classes (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and NNRTI). In addition, the frequency of polymorphisms in the PR and RT genes was higher compared with previous studies in Ethiopian as well as worldwide isolates. Hence, genotypic drug resistance testing as part of routine management of individuals seems reasonable even in resource limited countries prior to treatment in order to allow proper choice of ART. J. Med. Virol. 87:978–984, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Energy-Efficient Scalable Video Multicasting for Overlapping Groups in a Mobile WiMAX Network

Scalable video coding, together with adaptive modulation and coding, is a promising technique for providing real-time video multicast services on mobile stations (MSs) in heterogeneous channel conditions. On the other hand, since MSs are often powered by batteries, reducing the energy consumption of mobile devices is an important concern. In this paper, we study the problem of scalable video multicast scheduling in a mobile worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) network with the objective of maximizing the multicast energy throughput. This problem has never been seriously studied when the assumption that different multicast groups may partially overlap is made. We prove that this problem is NP-complete. Our proposed solution, which is called energy-efficient multicast scheduling with adaptive modulation and coding (EEMS-AMC), consists of three modules, namely, online admission control, base-layer data scheduling, and enhancement-layer data scheduling. The admission control rules not only help the base station to admit the maximum number of video streams but ensure that the video data can be delivered to mobile users within the timeliness requirement as well. Moreover, EEMS-AMC adopts the greedy strategy to schedule base-layer data such that even in the worst-case scenario, the average duty cycle of admitted MSs can be within a bounded factor from the theoretical minimum. Finally, EEMS-AMC employs the metric “expected multicast throughput” to derive the proper modulation and coding scheme for each enhancement-layer data and employs the metric “marginal multicast energy throughput” to efficiently derive near-optimal enhancement-layer data scheduling. Simulation results exhibit that EEMS-AMC achieves relatively good performances in terms of multicast energy throughput and normalized total utility.
Mucormycosis in immunocompetent individuals: an increasing trend.

OBJECTIVE Mucormycosis is a fatal infection of the immunocompromised individual. It is unusual to affect healthy individuals. We report eight such cases of infection caused by this emerging fungal pathogen in healthy patients. Of the eight cases, three were infected with Apophysomyces elegans, again an unusual pathogen causing mucormycosis. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case review conducted at a tertiary referral center. METHODS From 1999 to 2003, eight cases of mucormycosis were managed in otherwise healthy patients. Seven of them were treated with surgery. Clinical presentation, imaging studies, mycologic findings, operative findings at surgery, and postoperative results were evaluated. A review of the literature pertaining to mucormycosis infecting otherwise healthy patients and A. elegans infecting otherwise healthy patients in the nose and paranasal sinuses also was done. RESULTS Of the eight cases, three were infected with A. elegans, with no history of trauma or any invasive procedure. Seven patients underwent surgical treatment. Histopathologic examination showed broad, sparsely aseptate, thin-walled hyphae and angioinvasion with thrombosis. CONCLUSION Mucormycosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of any severe acute headache, sinusitis, or orbital cellulites, not only in immunocompromised patients but also in the absence of any underlying disease. Successful treatment requires tissue débridement and injection of amphotericin B.
Rapid genome sequencing for outbreak analysis of the emerging human fungal pathogen Candida auris

Background Candida auris was first described in 2009, and has since caused nosocomial outbreaks, invasive infections and fungaemia across 11 countries in five continents. An outbreak of C. auris occurred in a specialised cardiothoracic London hospital between April 2015 and November 2016, which to date has been the largest outbreak reported worldwide, involving a total of 72 patients. Methods To understand the epidemiology of C. auris infection within this hospital, we sequenced the genomes of outbreak isolates using Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illumina in order to type antifungal resistance alleles and to explore the outbreak within its local and global context. Findings Phylogenomic analysis placed the UK outbreak in the India/Pakistan clade, demonstrating an Asian origin. The outbreak showed similar diversity to that of the entire clade and limited local spatiotemporal clustering was observed. One isolate displayed resistance to both echinocandins and 5-flucytosine; the former was associated with a serine to tyrosine amino acid substitution in the gene FKS1, and the latter was associated with a phenylalanine to isoleucine substitution in the gene FUR1. These mutations are novel for this pathogen. Interpretation Multiple differential episodic selection of antifungal resistant genotypes has occurred within a genetically heterogenous population across this outbreak, creating a resilient pathogen and making it difficult to define local-scale patterns of transmission as well as implementing outbreak control measures. Funding Antimicrobial Research Collaborative, Imperial College London
Genetic Polymorphism and Molecular Epidemiology of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis from Different Hosts and Geographic Areas in Brazil

ABSTRACT Numerical zymotaxonomy and variability of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) between the small and large subunits of the rRNA genes were used to examine strain variation and relationships in natural populations of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. A total of 101 strains from distinct hosts and Brazilian geographic regions were assigned to 15 zymodemes clustered in two major genetic groups. The great number of isolates (48.5%) placed in zymodeme IOC/Z-27 were collected on the Atlantic coast. The high molecular diversity found in populations in the Amazon Basin was related to the great number of sandfly vector(s) in that region. The results of the restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the ITS depicted considerable intraspecific variation. Genotypic groups A, B, and C contained 39, 40, and 22 isolates, which were divided into 16, 10, and 15 genotypes, respectively. The genetic polymorphism observed demonstrates the degree of diversity of L. (V.) braziliensis strains from different regions where they are endemic. The results reinforce the clonal theory for Leishmania parasites showing the genetic diversity of this pathogen and an association of L. (V.) braziliensis genotypes with specific transmission cycles, probably reflecting an adaptation of different clones to the vector species involved.
Respiratory mechanical advantage of the canine external and internal intercostal muscles

1 The current conventional view of intercostal muscle actions is based on the theory of Hamberger (1749) and maintains that as a result of the orientation of the muscle fibres, the external intercostals have an inspiratory action on the lung and the internal interosseous intercostals have an expiratory action. This notion, however, remains unproved. 2 In the present studies, the respiratory actions of the canine external and internal intercostal muscles were evaluated by applying the Maxwell reciprocity theorem. Thus the effects of passive inflation on the changes in length of the muscles throughout the rib cage were assessed, and the distributions of muscle mass were determined. The fractional changes in muscle length during inflation were then multiplied by muscle mass and maximum active stress (3·0 kg cm−2) to evaluate the potential effects of the muscles on the lung. 3 The external intercostals in the dorsal third of the rostral interspaces were found to have a large inspiratory effect. However, this effect decreases rapidly both toward the costochondral junctions and toward the base of the rib cage. As a result, it is reversed to an expiratory effect in the most caudal interspaces. The internal intercostals in the caudal interspaces have a large expiratory effect, but this effect decreases ventrally and rostrally, such that it is reversed to an inspiratory effect in the most rostral interspaces. 4 These observations indicate that the canine external and internal intercostal muscles do not have distinct inspiratory and expiratory actions as conventionally thought. Therefore, their effects on the lung during breathing will be determined by the topographic distribution of neural drive.
Delaying aging and the aging-associated decline in protein homeostasis by inhibition of tryptophan degradation

Toxicity of aggregation-prone proteins is thought to play an important role in aging and age-related neurological diseases like Parkinson and Alzheimer’s diseases. Here, we identify tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (tdo-2), the first enzyme in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation, as a metabolic regulator of age-related α-synuclein toxicity in a Caenorhabditis elegans model. Depletion of tdo-2 also suppresses toxicity of other heterologous aggregation-prone proteins, including amyloid-β and polyglutamine proteins, and endogenous metastable proteins that are sensors of normal protein homeostasis. This finding suggests that tdo-2 functions as a general regulator of protein homeostasis. Analysis of metabolite levels in C. elegans strains with mutations in enzymes that act downstream of tdo-2 indicates that this suppression of toxicity is independent of downstream metabolites in the kynurenine pathway. Depletion of tdo-2 increases tryptophan levels, and feeding worms with extra l-tryptophan also suppresses toxicity, suggesting that tdo-2 regulates proteotoxicity through tryptophan. Depletion of tdo-2 extends lifespan in these worms. Together, these results implicate tdo-2 as a metabolic switch of age-related protein homeostasis and lifespan. With TDO and Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase as evolutionarily conserved human orthologs of TDO-2, intervening with tryptophan metabolism may offer avenues to reducing proteotoxicity in aging and age-related diseases.