Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains to Gatifloxacin and Moxifloxacin by Different Methods

Background: Considering the potentials of gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin in the treatment of tuberculosis, the present study was aimed to define resistance to both these drugs. Methods: Fifty Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates, consisting of 30 ofloxacin-susceptible and 20 ofloxacin-resistant strains, were tested for their susceptibility to gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin using different susceptibility testing methods, namely the absolute concentration method on Lowenstein-Jensen medium (LJ), the proportion susceptibility testing method (PST) on LJ and 7H11 agar media, and the BACTEC radiometric method. Result: The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin was 1 µg/ml by the absolute concentration method on LJ. In the PST method on LJ and 7H11, using a criterion of ≧1% growth as resistant, there was 100% agreement with the absolute concentration method at a concentration of 0.5 µg/ml for gatifloxacin, and 96% agreement with the BACTEC method at a concentration of 0.25 µg/ml. For moxifloxacin, results by the PST method showed 96% agreement with the absolute concentration method on LJ at a concentration of 1 µg/ml and 92% agreement at a concentration of 0.5 µg/ml for both the absolute concentration method on 7H11 and the BACTEC method. Conclusions: The MICs of gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin were much lower than the MICs of other quinolones like ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Additionally, these two drugs have shown a low mean MIC and low concentration as a definition of resistance, which might help in treating the patients with low levels of quinolone resistance.
Evaluating sensor distribution in simply supported truncated conical shells with piezoelectric layers

ABSTRACT In this investigation, the effects of sensor distribution in the simply supported conical shells on the modal voltages of the sensors are studied. Three kinds of sensor distribution named as: longitudinal, circumferential, and diagonal distributed sensors are considered. Results show that the diagonal and longitudinal sensors are more appealing than circumferential sensors. Also results show that the cone angle has a direct effect on the modal voltage of the sensor. The modal voltage increases as the layer thickness increases, in all kind of distributions. As the cone longness increases, the modal voltage increases. The sensor size effect is also evaluated.
Quantum dot-induced viral capsid assembling in dissociation buffer

Viruses encapsulating inorganic nanoparticles are a novel type of nanostructure with applications in biomedicine and biosensors. However, the encapsulation and assembly mechanisms of these hybridized virus-based nanoparticles (VNPs) are still unknown. In this article, it was found that quantum dots (QDs) can induce simian virus 40 (SV40) capsid assembly in dissociation buffer, where viral capsids should be disassembled. The analysis of the transmission electron microscope, dynamic light scattering, sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and cryo-electron microscopy single particle reconstruction experimental results showed that the SV40 major capsid protein 1 (VP1) can be assembled into ≈25 nm capsids in the dissociation buffer when QDs are present and that the QDs are encapsulated in the SV40 capsids. Moreover, it was determined that there is a strong affinity between QDs and the SV40 VP1 proteins (KD = 2.19E-10 M), which should play an important role in QD encapsulation in the SV40 viral capsids. This study provides a new understanding of the assembly mechanism of SV40 virus-based nanoparticles with QDs, which may help in the design and construction of other similar virus-based nanoparticles.
Monitoring of fecal pollution in coastal waters by use of rapid enzymatic techniques

Enzyme assays for 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactopyranosidase and 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronidase activities were used for rapid detection (25 min) of fecal water pollution and to determine the impact of sewage discharge in coastal waters. Two coastal areas were investigated: (i) an estuary characterized by a high degree of contamination downstream of a discharge from a sewage treatment plant and a low degree of water renewal and (ii) a fjord with a low degree of pollution and a high degree of water renewal. Statistical analysis showed that a global correlation curve could be used to estimate concentrations of culturable fecal coliform bacteria in the two coastal areas, although environmental factors important for cell physiology (e.g., salinity) varied at different sampling locations. The sensitivity limit for detection of 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronidase activity corresponded to bacterial concentrations on the order of 10 to 100 CFU/100 ml. The 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactopyranosidase assay was less sensitive because of a higher rate of substrate autohydrolysis. The detection limit corresponded to bacterial concentrations on the order of 100 to 1,000 fecal coliforms per 100 ml.
Local Repair Signature Handling for Repairable Memories

A repairable memory cell consists of repair logic and a memory repair register (MRR) which holds the signature for memory repair. Every time a repairable memory is powered on, the memory repair register is programmed by transferring the memory repair signature from a nonvolatile memory such an EPROM into MRR. During repair signature programming, the MRR of all memories in the design are wired together to load the signature in a serial fashion. For example, if there are three memories in the design with an 8 bit MRR each, then each of these three MRR's will be configured to shift in a 24-bit signature in a serial fashion. During the course of normal operation, memories are frequently shutdown to reduce power consumption, while some part of the design remains operational. When these memories are powered back on, the MRR's must be reprogrammed for proper memory operation. This work provides an elegant mechanism to hold these MRR signatures in a shadow register which can later be used to reprogram the MRR to make the memories operational. The method provides a mechanism for loading each of the memories' MRR's in parallel, allowing faster system bring up.
Speaker identification using a polynomial-based classifier

A new set of techniques for using polynomial-based classifiers for speaker identification is examined. This set of techniques makes application of polynomial classifiers practical for speaker identification by enabling discriminative training for large data sets. The training technique is shown to be invariant to fixed liftering and affine transforms of the feature space. Efficient methods for new class addition, low-complexity retraining, and identification across large populations are given. The method is illustrated by application to the YOHO database.
Patent partner recommendation in enterprise social networks

It is often challenging to incorporate users' interactions into a recommendation framework in an online model. In this paper, we propose a novel interactive learning framework to formulate the problem of recommending patent partners into a factor graph model. The framework involves three phases: 1) candidate generation, where we identify the potential set of collaborators; 2) candidate refinement, where a factor graph model is used to adjust the candidate rankings; 3) interactive learning method to efficiently update the existing recommendation model based on inventors' feedback. We evaluate our proposed model on large enterprise patent networks. Experimental results demonstrate that the recommendation accuracy of the proposed model significantly outperforms several baselines methods using content similarity, collaborative filtering and SVM-Rank. We also demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the interactive learning, which performs almost as well as offline re-training, but with only 1 percent of the running time.
Functional domains in plant shoot meristems

The development of higher plants depends on the activity of a shoot apical meristem. Organs are formed on the flanks of the meristem, while pluripotent stem cells are found in a separate domain in the meristem centre. Further domains are distinguished by the expression patterns of genes that control the development of the shoot meristem. Although most plant cells are immobile, their relative position within a meristem, and therefore also their function, can change after cell divisions. To maintain an active shoot meristem throughout plant life, the cells in the meristem need constantly to assess their position, transmit this information to others, and readjust their gene expression profiles and their fate. Some of the genes that permit intercellular communication have been isolated. They enable the flow of information in and between meristem regions via ligands and receptor proteins to transcription factors, that ultimately control the fate of cells in the centre of the meristem. BioEssays 23:134–141, 2001. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Search-based improvement of subsystem decompositions

The subsystem decomposition of a software system degrades gradually during its lifetime and therefore it gets harder and harder to maintain. As a result this decomposition needs to be reconditioned from time to time. The problem is to determine a suitable subsystem decomposition that can be used as a basis for future maintenance tasks. This paper describes a new methodology that computes such a subsystem decomposition by optimizing metrics and heuristics of good subsystem design. The main idea is to treat this task as a search problem and to solve it using a genetic algorithm.
The report on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure.

Hypertension that goes undetected or untreated is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. However, most patients with hypertension can be effectively treated, their blood pressure lowered, and their risk of death and adverse effects reduced. Hypertension poses a major challenge to the medical profession and offers physicians a unique opportunity to practice preventive medicine. Therefore, all physicians should give careful attention to the report of the Joint National Committee on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure (p 255). Each member of the commission represents a major organization or agency, and the report has the endorsement of these organizations and agencies. Although the report was sponsored by the National Heart and Lung Institute, it is not a government directive on how to practice medicine. The report should be viewed as a useful guide and not as a rigid directive on how to manage high blood pressure. One should
The second type II module from human matrix metalloproteinase 2: structure, function and dynamics.

BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2, gelatinase A, 72 kDa type IV collagenase) has an important role in extracellular matrix degradation during cell migration and tissue remodeling. It is involved in development, inflammation, wound healing, tumor invasion, metastasis and other physiological and pathological processes. The enzyme cleaves several types of collagen, elastin, fibronectin and laminin. Binding to collagen is mediated by three repeats homologous to fibronectin type II modules, which are inserted in the catalytic domain in proximity to the active site. RESULTS We have determined the NMR solution structure of the second type II module from human MMP-2 (col-2). The module exhibits a typical type II fold with two short double-stranded antiparallel beta sheets and three large loops packed around a cluster of conserved aromatic residues. Backbone amide dynamics, derived from (15)N relaxation experiments, correlate well with solvent accessibility and intramolecular hydrogen bonding. A synthetic peptide with the collagen consensus sequence, (Pro-Pro-Gly)(6), is shown to interact with the module. CONCLUSIONS Spectral perturbations induced by (Pro-Pro-Gly)(6) binding reveal the region involved in the interaction of col-2 with collagen. The binding surface comprises exposed aromatic residues Phe21, Tyr38, Trp40, Tyr47, Tyr53 and Phe55, and the neighboring Gly33-Gly37 segment.
Improving the processability and cycling stability of nano-LiFePO4 cathode by using PVDF/TX binary binder

ABSTRACT In lithium-ion battery industry, the nanoscale electrode materials usually have difficulty to be dispersed well in the electrode slurry. The inferior processability thus results in deteriorated electrochemical performances of the cell. In this work, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and terpene resin (TX) as a binary binder are used to improve the dispersibility and cycling stability of nanoscale LiFePO4 (nano-LFP) cathode. The wettability, dispersibility, adhesion strength and electrochemical performance of nano-LFP cathode using PVDF/TX are measured and compared with that using only PVDF binder. Nano-LFP cathode using PVDF/TX binder (the optimal ratio of PVDF to TX is 97:3) exhibits better dispersibility and stronger adhesion strength than that of PVDF. In addition, nano-LFP cathode with PVDF/TX binder shows better cycling stability, rate capability, and electrochemical kinetics than that with PVDF, retaining 97.4% capacity after 100 cycles test at C/5 in room temperature and 93.4% capacity after 60 cycles test at C/2 in 55℃, respectively. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Low-Cost Perturbation-Based ICI Equalizers for OFDMA Mobile Systems

SUMMARY For advanced mobile communication systems that adopt orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) technologies, intercarrier interference (ICI) significantly degrades performance when mobility is high. Standard specifications and concerns about complexity demand low-cost methods with deployment readiness and decent performance. In this paper, novel zero forcing (ZF) and minimum mean-square error (MMSE) equalizers based on per-subcarrier adaptive (PSA) processing and perturbation-based (PB) approximation are introduced. The proposed equalizers strike a good balance between implementation cost and performance; therefore they are especially suitable for OFDMA downlink receivers. Theoretical analysis and simulations are provided to verify our
Optimization of EDM Process Parameters For MRR, TWR and SR Using Response Surface Methodology

This work proposes an optimization methodology for the selection of optimum process parameters in electric discharge machining. In today’s competitive environment, the industries around the world are trying to increase their profits without increasing the sales price of their products. This can only be done through minimizing the losses that are occurring during production. In this work the Titanium super alloy and copper are used as work piece and tool electrode. Regular cutting experiments are carried out on die-sinking machine under different conditions of process parameters. The process model is formed by using central composite design using reputed literature data. This model is occupied to simultaneously maximize the material removal rate as well as minimize the tool wear rate and surface roughness using response surface methodology from Minitab 17.0 software. Finally, flexibility of method is compared with literature results. All results are shown in the form of tables and figures.
Sensory Adaptation and Short Term Plasticity as Bayesian Correction for a Changing Brain

Neurons in the sensory system exhibit changes in excitability that unfold over many time scales. These fluctuations produce noise and could potentially lead to perceptual errors. However, to prevent such errors, postsynaptic neurons and synapses can adapt and counteract changes in the excitability of presynaptic neurons. Here we ask how neurons could optimally adapt to minimize the influence of changing presynaptic neural properties on their outputs. The resulting model, based on Bayesian inference, explains a range of physiological results from experiments which have measured the overall properties and detailed time-course of sensory tuning curve adaptation in the early visual cortex. We show how several experimentally measured short term plasticity phenomena can be understood as near-optimal solutions to this adaptation problem. This framework provides a link between high level computational problems, the properties of cortical neurons, and synaptic physiology.
Cost-Effective Control of Plant Disease When Epidemiological Knowledge Is Incomplete: Modelling Bahia Bark Scaling of Citrus

A spatially-explicit, stochastic model is developed for Bahia bark scaling, a threat to citrus production in north-eastern Brazil, and is used to assess epidemiological principles underlying the cost-effectiveness of disease control strategies. The model is fitted via Markov chain Monte Carlo with data augmentation to snapshots of disease spread derived from a previously-reported multi-year experiment. Goodness-of-fit tests strongly supported the fit of the model, even though the detailed etiology of the disease is unknown and was not explicitly included in the model. Key epidemiological parameters including the infection rate, incubation period and scale of dispersal are estimated from the spread data. This allows us to scale-up the experimental results to predict the effect of the level of initial inoculum on disease progression in a typically-sized citrus grove. The efficacies of two cultural control measures are assessed: altering the spacing of host plants, and roguing symptomatic trees. Reducing planting density can slow disease spread significantly if the distance between hosts is sufficiently large. However, low density groves have fewer plants per hectare. The optimum density of productive plants is therefore recovered at an intermediate host spacing. Roguing, even when detection of symptomatic plants is imperfect, can lead to very effective control. However, scouting for disease symptoms incurs a cost. We use the model to balance the cost of scouting against the number of plants lost to disease, and show how to determine a roguing schedule that optimises profit. The trade-offs underlying the two optima we identify—the optimal host spacing and the optimal roguing schedule—are applicable to many pathosystems. Our work demonstrates how a carefully parameterised mathematical model can be used to find these optima. It also illustrates how mathematical models can be used in even this most challenging of situations in which the underlying epidemiology is ill-understood.
Infusional CHOP chemotherapy (CVAD) with or without chemosensitizers offers no advantage over standard CHOP therapy in the treatment of lymphoma: a Southwest Oncology Group Study.

PURPOSE Two phase II studies were conducted to evaluate infusional cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and dexamethasone chemotherapy, termed the CVAD regimen, alone (Southwest Oncology Group [SWOG] 9240) and with the chemosensitizers verapamil and quinine (SWOG 9125) to assess effects on response, survival, and toxicity in intermediate- and high-grade advanced-stage non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The results were compared with the historic group of patients randomized to CHOP chemotherapy on Intergroup (INT) 0067 (SWOG 8516). PATIENTS AND METHODS All patients had biopsy-proven intermediate- or high-grade NHL (lymphoblastic histology excluded), were ambulatory and previously untreated, and had bulky stage II, III, or IV disease. One hundred twelve patients were registered on SWOG 9240 and received cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m(2) by intravenous bolus day 1, doxorubicin 12.5 mg/m(2)/d and vincristine 0.5 mg/d delivered as a continuous 96-hour infusion on days 1 through 4, and dexamethasone 40 mg/d orally on days 1 through 4 (CVAD). Cycles were repeated every 21 days for eight cycles. One hundred patients on SWOG 9125 received the same chemotherapy and the chemosensitizers verapamil 240 mg bid and quinine 40 mg tid. Chemosensitizers were begun 24 hours before chemotherapy and continued for a total of 6 days. RESULTS Eighty-one patients were eligible for each study. The complete response (CR) rates were 39% on SWOG 9125 and 31% on SWOG 9240. With a median follow-up of 5.8 years on SWOG 9125 and 4.5 years on SWOG 9240, the 2-year failure-free survival (FFS) rate was 42% on SWOG 9125 and 41% on SWOG 9240. Two-year overall survival (OS) rate was 64% on SWOG 9125 and 58% on SWOG 9240. These results are comparable to a 44% CR rate, a 2-year FFS of 46%, and 2-year OS of 63% observed in 225 patients treated with CHOP on INT 0067 (SWOG 8516). CONCLUSION CVAD combination chemotherapy alone or with the chemosensitizers verapamil and quinine is not promising therapy with respect to improved response or OS in intermediate- and high-grade advanced-stage NHL.
UnifiedViews: An ETL tool for RDF data management

We present UnifiedViews, an Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) framework that allows users to define, execute, monitor, debug, schedule, and share data processing tasks, which may employ custom plugins (data processing units) created by users. UnifiedViews differs from other ETL frameworks by natively supporting management of RDF data. In this paper, we (1) introduce UnifiedViews’ basic concepts and features, (2) demonstrate the maturity of the tool by presenting exemplary projects where UnifiedViews is successfully deployed, and (3) outline research projects and directions in which UnifiedViews is exploited. Based on our practical experience with the tool, we found that UnifiedViews contributes to simplifying the task for data providers to establish and maintain Linked Data publication processes.
Video-frame rate detection of position and orientation of planar motion objects using one-sided Radon transform

A new approach to the detection of the position and the orientation of planar motion objects based on one-sided Radon transform is presented. Detection of position and orientation of planar motion objects is a key to advanced object handling. First, one-sided Radon transform is introduced and its properties are investigated. Next, algorithms to detect planar motion of objects are constructed based on the properties of one-sided Radon transform. The algorithms are then implemented on a computer and are evaluated experimentally.
Pharmacological modification of sodium channels from the human heart atrium in planar lipid bilayers: electrophysiological characterization of responses to batrachotoxin and pentobarbital

Background and objective: To investigate the effects of barbiturates on batrachotoxin‐modified sodium channels from different regions of the human heart. Single sodium channels from human atria were studied and compared with existing data from the human ventricle and from the central nervous system. Methods: Sodium channels from preparations of human atrial muscle were incorporated into planar lipid bilayers in the presence of batrachotoxin, a sodium channel activator. The steady‐state behaviour of single sodium channels was recorded in symmetrical 500 mmol NaCl before and after the addition of pentobarbital 0.34‐1.34 mmol. Results: The batrachotoxin‐treated human atrial sodium channel had an average single‐channel conductance of 23.8 ± 1.6 pS in symmetrical 500 mmol NaCl and a channel fractional open time of 0.83 ± 0.06. The activation mid‐point potential was −98.0 ± 2.3 mV. Extracellular tetrodotoxin (a specific sodium channel blocking agent) blocked these channels with a k1/2 = 0.53 μmol at 0 mV. Pentobarbital reduced the time average conductance of single atrial sodium channels in a concentration‐dependent manner (ID50 = 0.71 mmol). In the same way, the steady‐state activation was shifted to more hyperpolarized potentials (−10.6 mV at 0.67 mmol pentobarbital). Conclusions: The properties of batrachotoxin‐modified sodium channels from human atrial tissue did not differ greatly from those described for ventricular sodium channels in the literature. Our data yielded no explanation for the observed functional diversity. However, cardiac sodium channels differ from those found in the central nervous system.