Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Susceptibility of MDR-K. Pneumoniae To Polymyxin B Plus Its Nebulised Form Versus Polymyxin B Alone in Critically Ill South Asian Patients

Abstract Introduction Critically ill patients in intensive care units are at high risk of dying not only from the severity of their illness but also from secondary causes such as hospital-acquired infections. USA national medical record-data show that approximately 10% of patients on mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit developed ventilator-associated pneumonia. Polymyxin B has been used intravenously in the treatment of multi-drug resistant gram-negative infections, either as a monotherapy or with other potentially effective antibiotics, and the recent international guidelines have emphasised the use of nebulised polymyxin B together with intravenous polymyxin B to gain the optimum clinical outcome in ventilator-associated pneumonia cases caused by multi-drug resistant gram-negative infections. Methods One hundred and seventy-eight patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia due to multi-drug resistant K. pneumoniae were identified during the study period. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 121 patients were enrolled in the study and randomly allocated to two study groups. Group 1 patients were treated with intravenous Polymyxin B plus nebulised polymyxin B (n=64) and Group 2 patients with intravenous Polymyxin B alone (n=57). The study aimed to compare the use of Polymyxin B plus its nebulised form to polymyxin B alone, in the treatment of MDR-K. pneumoniae associated ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients. Results In Group 1, a complete clearance of K. pneumoniae was found in fifty-nine patients (92.1%; n=64) compared to forty patients (70.1%, n=57) in the Group 2 (P<0.003). The average time till extubation was significantly higher in Group 2 compared to Group 1 (P<0.05). The total length-of-stay in the ICU was significantly higher in Group 2 compared to Group 1. (P<0.05). These results support the view that the Polymyxin B dual-route regime may be considered as an appropriate antibiotic therapy, in critically ill South Asian patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Occurrence of Taurine in Plants

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is known to be present in almost all organs of animals,1} and there is increasing evidence that this compound plays an important role in the body.2) On the other hand, as for plants, it has been reported that taurine exists in some kinds of seaweeds,3 ~5) but there have only been a few other reports. Even the contents and physiological significance of taurine in plants have not been clarified. Therefore we have conducted experimental research, using the electroncapture gas chromatographic method6) we developed recently, to confirm the occurrence and to determine the contents of taurine in plants. Two rhodophytes, two phaeophytes, one chlorophyte, three fungi, three bryophytes, two pteridophytes and two spermatophytes were used for the identification and determination of taurine. Each material, 0.2~5g, was homogenized in 10ml of 0.04n H2SO4 with a Waring blender. After centrifugation at 3500 rpm for lOmin, the precipitates were homogenized again in the same volume of the H2SO4solution. The combined supernatants were neutralized with 0.1 n NaOHand then made up to 50ml with distilled water. Through this extraction procedure, taurine was quantitatively extracted from the plant samples. An aliquot (lml) of each extract was applied to a column packed with a cation-exchange resin (Dowex 50W x 8,7) 100/200 mesh, H+from, 7.5 x40mm), and then the column was eluted with 2ml of distilled water. Through this column chromatographic procedure, possible contaminants in samples were removed, and the recovery of taurine was above 99%. An appropriate amount of 3-aminopropanesulfonic acid (internal standard) was added to all eluate, and an aliquot (1 ml) of each mixture was derivatized as previously reported.6) The determination of taurine was carried out by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD), for which taurine was analysed as its A/-pentafluorobenzoyl (N-PFB) dibutylamide derivative. Typical chromatograms obtained for a standard solution and several plant specimens are shown in Fig. 1. A single peak showing the same tR as standard taurine was detected in the chromatograms of the plant specimens. That the corresponding peaks contained only taurine was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Sample (A) (B)
A brief evaluation of the MOD17A2H product over a pasture in northeast Brazil

ABSTRACT This research aims to provide a brief evaluation of remotely sensed estimates in representing gross primary production (GPP) over pasture in the Northeast Region of Brazil. We used GPP data measured in situ during a micrometeorological experiment performed in a pasture area located in the NEB region using the eddy covariance technique. Remotely sensed GPP was obtained through the MOD17A2H product of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor on board the Terra satellite. We concluded that the MOD17A2H product moderately represents surface-measured GPP in the studied site, highlighting the need for improvements in the quality of the remotely sensed GPP estimates over this type of ecosystem.
An Overview of COVID-19’s Impact on English Language University Admissions and Placement Tests

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic led to rapid innovation among language assessment developers who had to adapt their testing processes to address various restrictions from governments and institutions. This overview introduces some of the challenges and opportunities test developers grappled with during this period as well as introduces the six commentaries provided in the special issue. These commentaries were written by testing teams in various higher education contexts who were tasked with modifying their assessments in the rapidly evolving situation associated with the pandemic. The assessment contexts described in this special issue range from relatively small-scale local placement to international large-scale.
A Unified Mathematical Formalism for First to Third Order Dielectric Response of Matter: Application to Surface-Specific Two-Colour Vibrational Optical Spectroscopy

To take advantage of the singular properties of matter, as well as to characterize it, we need to interact with it. The role of optical spectroscopies is to enable us to demonstrate the existence of physical objects by observing their response to light excitation. The ability of spectroscopy to reveal the structure and properties of matter then relies on mathematical functions called optical (or dielectric) response functions. Technically, these are tensor Green’s functions, and not scalar functions. The complexity of this tensor formalism sometimes leads to confusion within some articles and books. Here, we do clarify this formalism by introducing the physical foundations of linear and non-linear spectroscopies as simple and rigorous as possible. We dwell on both the mathematical and experimental aspects, examining extinction, infrared, Raman and sum-frequency generation spectroscopies. In this review, we thus give a personal presentation with the aim of offering the reader a coherent vision of linear and non-linear optics, and to remove the ambiguities that we have encountered in reference books and articles.
Quantifying over Asynchronous Information Change

We propose a logic AAA for Arbitrary Asynchronous Announcements. In this logic, the sending and receiving of messages that are announcements are separated and represented by distinct modalities. Additionally, the logic has a modality that represents quantiﬁcation over information change in the shape of sequences of sending and receiving events, called histories. We present a complete however inﬁnitary axiomati-sation, bisimulation invariance, and various results for the logical semantics, wherein we consider both how the logic is diﬀerent from asynchronous announcement logic AA and how the logic is diﬀerent from arbitrary public announcement logic APAL . We also address the expressivity and we demonstrate the preservation of an extended fragment of positive formulas (wherein negations do not occur before epistemic modalities). Finally, we present work in progress on the logic AAM of Asynchronous Action Models and the logic AAAM of Arbitrary Asynchronous Action Models.
Random walks and forbidden minors III: $\text{poly}\left(d\varepsilon ^{-1}\right)$-time partition oracles for minor-free graph classes

Consider the family of bounded degree graphs in any minor-closed family (such as planar graphs). Let d be the degree bound and $n$ be the number of vertices of such a graph. Graphs in these classes have hyperfinite decompositions, where, one removes a small fraction of edges of the graph controlled by a proximity parameter to get connected components of size independent of $n$. An important tool for sublinear algorithms and property testing for such classes is the partition oracle, introduced by the seminal work of Hassidim-Kelner-Nguyen-Onak (FOCS 2009). A partition oracle is a local procedure that gives consistent access to a hyperfinite decomposition, without any preprocessing. Given a query vertex v, the partition oracle outputs the component containing v in time independent of n. All the answers are consistent with a single hyperfinite decomposition. The partition oracle of Hassidim et al. runs in time exponential in the proximity parameter per query. They pose the open problem of whether partition oracles which run in time polynomial in reciprocal of proximity parameter can be built. Levi-Ron (ICALP 2013) give a refinement of the previous approach, to get a partition oracle that runs in quasipolynomial time per query. In this paper, we resolve this open problem and give polynomial time partition oracles (in reciprocal of proximity parameter) for bounded degree graphs in any minor-closed family. Unlike the previous line of work based on combinatorial methods, we employ techniques from spectral graph theory. We build on a recent spectral graph theoretical toolkit for minor-closed graph families, introduced by the authors to develop efficient property testers. A consequence of our result is an efficient property tester for any monotone and additive with running time property of minor-closed families (such as bipartite planar graphs). Our result also gives query efficient algorithms for additive approximations for problems such as maximum matching, minimum vertex cover, maximum independent set, and minimum dominating set for these graph families.
New Conditions for Univalence of Confluent Hypergeometric Function

Since in many particular cases checking directly the conditions from the definitions of starlikeness or convexity of a function can be difficult, in this paper we use the theory of differential subordination and in particular the method of admissible functions in order to determine conditions of starlikeness and convexity for the confluent (Kummer) hypergeometric function of the first kind. Having in mind the results obtained by Miller and Mocanu in 1990 who used a,c∈R, for the confluent (Kummer) hypergeometric function, in this investigation a and c complex numbers are used and two criteria for univalence of the investigated function are stated. An example is also included in order to show the relevance of the original results of the paper.
The Precipitation Behaviour of Copper in Silicon Single Crystals

The precipitation behaviour of copper in silicon is examined from a macroscopic point of view by means of I.R. microscopy, X-ray micrography, and etching. It is shown that the arms of the starts and the “needles” commonly observed in silicon which is heavily decorated with copper, have the form of “swords” parallel to the (111) and pointing in the 〈110〉 directions. These sword-like regions are built up of a large number of small copper containing specks and dislocations. A mechanism is proposed which explains the nucleation and growth of the decoration-patterns. This is based on indentation by oxygen containing precipitates and climb of the resulting fresh dislocation. The X-ray experiments show that, although decorated dislocations produce a broadened image and complete extinction cannot be obtained, the determination of the Burgers vector is still possible. Das Abscheidungsverhalten von Kupfer in Silizium wurde durch IR-Mikroskopie, Rontgenmikrographie und Atzen untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, das die Arme der Sterne und die „Nadeln”, die gewohnlich in stark mit Kupfer dekoriertem Silizium beobachtet werden, die Form von „Schwertern” parallel zu (111) haben und in die 〈110〉-Richtungen zeigen. Diese schwertformigen Bereiche sind aus einer grosen Zahl von Kupfer enthaltenden Flecken und Versetzungen aufgebaut. Es wird ein Mechanismus vorgeschlagen, der die Keimbildung und das Wachstum der Dekorationsmuster erklart. Er beruht auf der Auszackung der Sauerstoff enthaltenden Abscheidungen und Klettern der sich ergebenden Versetzungen. Aus den Rontgenstrahluntersuchungen ergab sich, das der Burgersvektor noch bestimmbar war, obwohl die dekorierten Versetzungen ein verbreitertes Bild erzeugen und vollstandige Extinktion nicht erhalten werden konnte.
Discrete-Time Pole-Region Robust Controller for Magnetic Levitation Plant

Robust pole-placement based on convex DR-regions belongs to the efficient control design techniques for real systems, providing computationally tractable pole-placement design algorithms. The problem arises in the discrete-time domain when the relative damping is prescribed since the corresponding discrete-time domain is non-convex, having a “cardioid” shape. In this paper, we further develop our recent results on the inner convex approximations of the cardioid, present systematical analysis of its design parameters and their influence on the corresponding closed loop performance (measured by standard integral of absolute error (IAE) and Total Variance criteria). The application of a robust controller designed with the proposed convex approximation of the discrete-time pole region is illustrated and evaluated on a real laboratory magnetic levitation plant.
Obstacle Comparisons to Achieving Distance Learning and Applying Electronic Exams during COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aims to identify obstacles and barriers to achieving quality distance learning and the use of electronic exams, comparing them to pursue success in the distance education system during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). It also aimed to determine the similarity and differences between the two main components of distance education. This is based on a sample of evaluations from professors and students at universities in the Arab world, i.e., Algerian, Egyptian, Iraqi, and Palestinian universities. We used a descriptive approach using questionnaires (open question) with conveniently selected samples from two different groups: (1) 400 professors and student’s feedback from 600 distributed (i.e., Algerian, Egyptian, Palestinian, and Iraqi) and (2) 152 professors and student’s feedback from 300 distributed (i.e., Palestinian universities in the governorates of Gaza). The results indicated that professors and students faced 27 barriers in both distance learning and electronic exams, which are divided into four groups (categories) according to the sample. Recommendations to understand and overcome these obstacles will also be presented to improve distance learning and e-exams in the future. It is important to coordinate efforts in the development of distance education, especially concerning universities using distance learning and e-exams.
Growth conditions for wurtzite zinc oxide films in aqueous solutions

A pH above 9.0 was essential for the formation of wurtzite zinc oxide (ZnO) in aqueous solution systems. The addition of complexing agents to decrease the deposition rate was required for the direct growth of ZnO on the surface of substrates through heterogeneous nucleation. The nucleation of the crystals was promoted by undercoats derived from zinc acetate. Wurtzite ZnO films consisting of hexagonal columns with diameters of 20–100 nm were successfully prepared on various substrates under suitable conditions.
Ion exchange process for chromium removal and recovery from tannery wastes

A new process, namely, IERECHROM (Ion Exchange REcovery of CHROMmium), has been developed for removal of Cr(III) ionic complex from segregated wastewaters (10% of the overall wastewaters discharged from tanning operations). The process is based on a macroporous carboxylic resin (i.e., Purolite C106) retaining the metal of reference, together with other trace metals, including aluminum and iron. In a first regeneration step, alkaline hydrogen peroxide (pH 12) is used. The anionic species formed (chromate and aluminate) are quantitatively eluted from the cation resin and separated. In a second polishing step of the resin, ferric species are eluted with 1 M sulfuric acid. The resulting ferric and aluminum sulfate solutions are recycled as flocculating agents. The residual chromate solution is directly reused in the plating industry or, after reduction to Cr(III), in the same tannery. Before the new exhaustion cycle, the resin is reactivated by elution of 1 M NaOH followed by hydrolysis with softened water. A 10 m{sup 3}/day fully automated pilot plant was assembled, and process reliability and cost benefits were demonstrated.
Fooling Constant-Depth Threshold Circuits

We present new constructions of pseudorandom generators (PRGs) for two of the most widely studied non-uniform circuit classes in complexity theory. Our main result is a construction of the first non-trivial PRG for linear threshold (LTF) circuits of arbitrary constant depth and super-linear size. This PRG fools circuits with depth d ∈ N and n1+δ wires, where δ = 2−O(d), using seed length O(n1−δ) and with error 2−n δ . This tightly matches the best known lower bounds for this circuit class. As a consequence of our result, all the known hardness for LTF circuits has now effectively been translated into pseudorandomness. This brings the extensive effort in the last decade to construct PRGs and deterministic circuit-analysis algorithms for this class to the point where any subsequent improvement would yield breakthrough lower bounds. Our second contribution is a PRG for De Morgan formulas of size s whose seed length is s1/3+o(1) ·polylog(1/e) for error e. In particular, our PRG can fool formulas of sub-cubic size s = n3−Ω(1) with an exponentially small error e = exp(−nΩ(1)). This significantly improves the inverse-polynomial error of the previous state-of-the-art for such formulas by Impagliazzo, Meka, and Zuckerman (FOCS 2012, JACM 2019), and again tightly matches the best currently-known lower bounds for this class. In both settings, a key ingredient in our constructions is a pseudorandom restriction procedure that has tiny failure probability, but simplifies the function to a non-natural “hybrid computational model” that combines several computational models. As part of our proofs we also construct “extremely low-error” PRGs for related circuit classes; for example, we construct a PRG for arbitrary functions of s LTFs that can handle even the extreme setting of parameters s = n/polylog(n) and e = 2−n/polylog(n). ∗Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University, OH, USA. Email: pooyahat@gmail.com †Department of Computer Science, University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA. Email: whoza@utexas.edu ‡Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, CA, USA. Email: atal@berkeley.edu §Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. Email: roei.tell@gmail.com ISSN 1433-8092 Electronic Colloquium on Computational Complexity, Revision 1 of Report No. 2 (2021)
Oxidation Behavior of Iron and Nickel in Zr2(Fe, Ni) Precipitates in Zircaloy-2

The oxidation behavior of Zr2 (Fe, Ni) precipitate in Zircaloy-2 was examined by microprobe Auger electron analysis focussing attention on the oxidation behavior of iron and nickel. In the pre-transition period, the iron oxide was formed only on the top surface of zirconium oxide layer of the precipitate and the thickness of iron oxide layer increased with the oxidation time, and nickel was oxidized via dissolution in the matrix zirconium oxide near the top surface. In the post-transition period, the oxidation of iron and nickel proceeded also inside the oxide layer. Such variety of oxidation behavior of iron and nickel between the pre- and post-transition period was attributed to the situation whether the oxygen potential gradient existed or not in the matrix zirconium oxide layer.
In Situ Cross-Linking of Electrospun Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanofibers

We examine single step reactive electrospinning of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and a chemical cross-linking agent, glutaraldehyde (GA), with hydrochloric acid (HCl) as a catalyst to generate water insoluble PVA nanofibers. Such an approach using a conventional setup with no modification enables the fibers to cross-link during the electrospinning process, thereby eliminating the need for post-treatment. Significant changes in the rheological properties occur during in situ cross-linking, which we correlate with electrospinnability. In particular, we associate changes in dynamic rheological properties to changes in fiber morphology for two regions: (1) below the critical concentration to electrospin PVA only and (2) above the critical concentration to electrospin PVA only. In region 1 fiber morphology changes from beaded fibers to uniform fibers to flat fibers, and in region 2 fiber morphology changes from uniform fibers to flat fibers. Electrospinning windows to generate uniform fibers for both regions are d.