Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards the early detection of &bgr;-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae by MALDI-TOF MS analysis

Objectives Development of a novel MALDI-TOF MS-based method for the rapid detection of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Methods The method was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity and turnaround time regarding the antibiotic used (cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefpodoxime or cefepime) and the performance of the automated MBT STAR-BL software (Bruker Daltonik GmbH, Germany) relative to qualitative interpretation of spectra for detecting β-lactamase resistance by MALDI-TOF MS (Bruker Daltonik) in a collection of 11 isogenic Escherichia coli control strains expressing different β-lactamases. Finally, for clinical validation, β-lactamase activity was determined under previously evaluated conditions in 100 clinical isolates previously characterized by PCR and sequencing. Results Clinical validation of the assay showed 100% sensitivity and specificity for detecting β-lactam resistance in 30 min by measuring hydrolysis of ceftriaxone (0.50 mg/mL) with the automated MBT STAR-BL software. Regarding the antibiotics evaluated, ceftriaxone yielded 70% more positive results than cefotaxime, 80% more than ceftazidime and 20% more than cefpodoxime, with 100% specificity. Cefepime revealed 100% sensitivity, but only 27% specificity. For the same incubation time, the automated software yielded on average 41% more positive results in relation to detecting resistance than qualitative interpretation of spectra. Conclusions Our clinical validation of the method proved it to be highly reliable, simple to perform and time saving, transforming β-lactam resistance detection by MALDI-TOF MS into a ready-to-use technique in clinical laboratories.
Authenticating Aggregate Queries over Set-Valued Data with Confidentiality

With recent advances in data-as-a-service (DaaS) and cloud computing, aggregate query services over set-valued data are becoming widely available for business intelligence that drives decision making. However, as the service provider is often a third-party delegate of the data owner, the integrity of the query results cannot be guaranteed and is thus imperative to be authenticated. Unfortunately, existing query authentication techniques either do not work for set-valued data or they lack data confidentiality. In this paper, we propose authenticated aggregate queries over set-valued data that not only ensure the integrity of query results but also preserve the confidentiality of source data. As many aggregate queries are composed of multiset operations such as set union and subset, we first develop a family of privacy-preserving authentication protocols for primitive multiset operations. Using these protocols as building blocks, we present a privacy-preserving authentication framework for various aggregate queries and further optimize their authentication performance. Security analysis and empirical evaluation show that our proposed privacy-preserving authentication techniques are feasible and robust under a wide range of system workloads.
Positive Feedback between Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plants Influences Plant Invasion Success and Resistance to Invasion

Negative or positive feedback between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and host plants can contribute to plant species interactions, but how this feedback affects plant invasion or resistance to invasion is not well known. Here we tested how alterations in AMF community induced by an invasive plant species generate feedback to the invasive plant itself and affect subsequent interactions between the invasive species and its native neighbors. We first examined the effects of the invasive forb Solidago canadensis L. on AMF communities comprising five different AMF species. We then examined the effects of the altered AMF community on mutualisms formed with the native legume forb species Kummerowia striata (Thunb.) Schindl. and on the interaction between the invasive and native plants. The host preferences of the five AMF were also assessed to test whether the AMF form preferred mutualistic relations with the invasive and/or the native species. We found that S. canadensis altered AMF spore composition by increasing one AMF species (Glomus geosporum) while reducing Glomus mosseae, which is the dominant species in the field. The host preference test showed that S. canadensis had promoted the abundance of AMF species (G. geosporum) that most promoted its own growth. As a consequence, the altered AMF community enhanced the competitiveness of invasive S. canadensis at the expense of K. striata. Our results demonstrate that the invasive S. canadensis alters soil AMF community composition because of fungal-host preference. This change in the composition of the AMF community generates positive feedback to the invasive S. canadensis itself and decreases AM associations with native K. striata, thereby making the native K. striata less dominant.
A Vulnerability Assessment Method in Industrial Internet of Things Based on Attack Graph and Maximum Flow

To solve the low attack path quantification degree and complex path finding in the industrial Internet of Things, a vulnerability assessment method based on attack graph and maximum flow is proposed. The method takes into account the factors influencing the attack behavior and relationship between network nodes. The attack risk is calculated by common vulnerability scoring system, which increases the attack path quantification degree. The maximum loss flow describes the attack path, evaluates the network vulnerability by maximum loss flow and loss saturation and represents the vulnerability relevance. Avoiding the repeat calculation and obtaining the potential key vulnerability path fast, the augmented road algorithm is used to find optimal attack path within global path. The result shows that the method is feasible and can evaluate the vulnerability and risk path objectively.
Improved thermal performance of face mask using phase change material

The purpose of this work is to develop a mathematical model to study the thermal performance of a cloth face mask in which phase change material (PCM) is encapsulated as compared to a cloth mask alone. The thermal performance is assessed by the ability to reduce heat loss and water vapor transfer from the exhaled air to inhaled air as well as to reduce the potential for condensation in the mask fabric layers. The mathematical model incorporated all the complex transport mechanisms of heat and moisture, including the realistic breathing pattern for the air passing through the fabric. The core assumption of the model of non-local-thermo-equilibrium was validated by performing experiments on a common cotton cloth mask. The model predicted well the experimentally measured air temperature through a cotton cloth mask during sudden changes in thermal inflow conditions. The validated model was used to perform a parametric study to determine environmental conditions and PCM material characteristics for the enhanced performance of the cloth mask. It was found that a considerable increase in the reclaiming of sensible and latent energy was reached for the same ambient conditions by the introduction of PCM with melting temperature of 22℃ and PCM mass fraction of 20%. Furthermore, the incorporation of PCM allows inhalation of colder outdoor conditions with a high range of relative humidity without condensation at ambient temperatures lower than 12℃, which is not possible without PCM. For higher temperatures than 12℃, the introduction of PCM enlarged the possible range of relative humidity reached without condensation.
Modulation of task‐related cortical connectivity in the acute and subacute phase after stroke

The functional relevance of cortical reorganization post‐stroke is still not well understood. In this study, we investigated task‐specific modulation of cortical connectivity between neural oscillations in key motor regions during the early phase after stroke. EEG and EMG recordings were examined from 15 patients and 18 controls during a precision grip task using the affected hand. Each patient attended two sessions in the acute and subacute phase (median of 3 and 34 days) post‐stroke. Dynamic causal modelling (DCM) for induced responses was used to investigate task‐specific modulations of oscillatory couplings in a bilateral network comprising supplementary motor area (SMA), dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) and primary motor cortex (M1). Fourteen models were constructed for each subject, and the input induced by the experimental manipulation (task) was set to inferior parietal lobule (IPL). Bayesian model selection favoured a fully connected model. A reduced coupling from SMA and intact M1 in the γ‐band (31–48 Hz) to lesioned M1 in the β‐band (15–30 Hz) was observed in patients in the acute phase compared to controls. Behavioural performance improved significantly in the subacute phase, while an increased positive coupling from intact PMd to lesioned M1 and a less negative modulation from lesioned M1 to intact M1 were observed for patients compared to controls both from the γ‐band to the β‐band. We infer that the observed differences in cross‐frequency cortical interactions are important for functional recovery.
Work System Assessment to Facilitate the Dissemination of a Quality Improvement Program for Optimizing Blood Culture Use: A Case Study Using a Human Factors Engineering Approach

BACKGROUND Work system assessments can facilitate successful implementation of quality improvement programs. Using a human factors engineering approach, we conducted a work system assessment to facilitate the dissemination of a quality improvement program for optimizing blood culture use in pediatric intensive care units at 2 hospitals. METHODS Semistructured face-to-face interviews were conducted with clinicians from Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital and University of Virginia Medical Center. Interview data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS Blood culture-ordering practices are influenced by various work system factors, including people, tasks, tools and technologies, the physical environment, organizational conditions, and the external environment. A clinical decision-support tool could facilitate implementation by (1) standardizing blood culture-ordering practices, (2) ensuring that prescribing clinicians review the patient's condition before ordering a blood culture, (3) facilitating critical thinking, and (4) empowering nurses to communicate with physicians and advocate for adherence to blood culture-ordering guidelines. CONCLUSION The success of interventions for optimizing blood culture use relies heavily on the local context. A work system analysis using a human factors engineering approach can identify key areas to be addressed for the successful dissemination of quality improvement interventions.
Molecular mechanism to target the endosomal Mon1-Ccz1 GEF complex to the pre-autophagosomal structure

During autophagy, a newly formed double membrane surrounds its cargo to generate the so-called autophagosome, which then fuses with a lysosome after closure. Previous work implicated that endosomal Rab7/Ypt7 associates to autophagosomes prior to their fusion with lysosomes. Here, we unravel how the Mon1-Ccz1 guanosine exchange factor (GEF) acting upstream of Ypt7 is specifically recruited to the pre-autophagosomal structure under starvation conditions. We find that Mon1-Ccz1 directly binds to Atg8, the yeast homolog of the members of the mammalian LC3 protein family. This requires at least one LIR motif in the Ccz1 C-terminus, which is essential for autophagy but not for endosomal transport. In agreement, only wild-type, but not LIR-mutated Mon1-Ccz1 promotes Atg8-dependent activation of Ypt7. Our data reveal how GEF targeting can specify the fate of a newly formed organelle and provide new insights into the regulation of autophagosome-lysosome fusion.
Predicted vitamin D status and colon cancer recurrence and mortality in CALGB 89803 (Alliance)

Background Observational studies suggest that higher levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D) are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer and improved survival of colorectal cancer patients. However, the influence of vitamin D status on cancer recurrence and survival of patients with stage III colon cancer is unknown. Patients and methods We prospectively examined the influence of post-diagnosis predicted plasma 25(OH)D on outcome among 1016 patients with stage III colon cancer who were enrolled in a National Cancer Institute-sponsored adjuvant therapy trial (CALGB 89803). Predicted 25(OH)D scores were computed using validated regression models. We examined the influence of predicted 25(OH)D scores on cancer recurrence and mortality (disease-free survival; DFS) using Cox proportional hazards. Results Patients in the highest quintile of predicted 25(OH)D score had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for colon cancer recurrence or mortality (DFS) of 0.62 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44-0.86), compared with those in the lowest quintile (Ptrend = 0.005). Higher predicted 25(OH)D score was also associated with a significant improvement in recurrence-free survival and overall survival (Ptrend = 0.01 and 0.0004, respectively). The benefit associated with higher predicted 25(OH)D score appeared consistent across predictors of cancer outcome and strata of molecular tumor characteristics, including microsatellite instability and KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, and TP53 mutation status. Conclusion Higher predicted 25(OH)D levels after a diagnosis of stage III colon cancer may be associated with decreased recurrence and improved survival. Clinical trials assessing the benefit of vitamin D supplementation in the adjuvant setting are warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00003835.
Surfactants in cloud droplet activation: mixed organic-inorganic particles

Abstract. Organic compounds with surfactant properties are commonly found in atmospheric aerosol particles. Surface activity can significantly influence the cloud droplet forming ability of these particles. We have studied the cloud droplet formation by two-component particles comprising one of the organic surfactants sodium octanoate, sodium decanoate, sodium dodecanoate, and sodium dodecyl sulfate, mixed with sodium chloride. Critical supersaturations were measured with a static diffusion cloud condensation nucleus counter (Wyoming CCNC-100B). Results were modeled from Kohler theory applying three different representations of surfactant properties in terms of surfactant surface partitioning and reduced droplet surface tension. We here confirm previous results for single-component organic surfactant particles, that experimental critical supersaturations are greatly underpredicted, if reduced surface tension is used while ignoring the effects of surface partitioning in droplets. Furthermore, disregarding surfactant properties by ignoring surface partitioning and assuming the constant surface tension of pure water can also lead to significant underpredictions of experimental critical supersaturations. For the mixed particles comprising less than 50% by mass of surfactant, this approach however still provides a good description of the observed droplet activation. A comprehensive account for surfactant properties, including both surface tension reduction and effects of surface partitioning in activating droplets, generally predicts experimental critical supersaturations well.
Perturbations of MicroRNA Function in Mouse Dicer Mutants Produce Retinal Defects and Lead to Aberrant Axon Pathfinding at the Optic Chiasm

Background During development axons encounter a variety of choice points where they have to make appropriate pathfinding decisions. The optic chiasm is a major decision point for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons en route to their target in order to ensure the correct wiring of the visual system. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to the class of small non-coding RNA molecules and have been identified as important regulators of a variety of processes during embryonic development. However, their involvement in axon guidance decisions is less clear. Methodology/Principal Findings We report here that the early loss of Dicer, an essential protein for the maturation of miRNAs, in all cells of the forming retina and optic chiasm leads to severe phenotypes of RGC axon pathfinding at the midline. Using a conditional deletion approach in mice, we find in homozygous Dicer mutants a marked increase of ipsilateral projections, RGC axons extending outside the optic chiasm, the formation of a secondary optic tract and a substantial number of RGC axons projecting aberrantly into the contralateral eye. In addition, the mutant mice display a microphthalmia phenotype. Conclusions Our work demonstrates an important role of Dicer controlling the extension of RGC axons to the brain proper. It indicates that miRNAs are essential regulatory elements for mechanisms that ensure correct axon guidance decisions at the midline and thus have a central function in the establishment of circuitry during the development of the nervous system.
Rietveld X-Ray Diffraction Data Analyses for Magnesium Titanate Powders Produced by Mg and Ti Mixing in HCl

Syntheses of MgTiO3 powders produced by Mg and Ti powders mixing in HCl have been conducted. The raw materials were Mg and Ti powders with Mg-to-Ti mass ratios of 1,16: 2 and 1,18: 2 weighed in gram. MgCl2 + TiCl4 solutions were made by independently dissolving the metal powder with HCl followed by mixing with time variation for 2 and 4 hrs. The mixtures were dried in air at 80°C and then calcined at 800°C for 1 hr. Formation of MgTiO3 is evident from qualitative x-ray diffraction (XRD) data analysis. The calcined 2h-mixing sample contained the desired titanate phase but with the presence of rutile and periclase. Mixing up to 4 hours followed by calcination eliminates the periclase with a slight rutile leftover. Employment of Rietveld method for relative-weight-fraction phase composition showed that the latter sample exhibits MgTiO3 purity up to 99,6%.
A novel model uses metabolic and volumetric parameters to predict less invasive lung adenocarcinomas†

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to develop a prediction model for less invasive lesions of pathological Stage IA adenocarcinomas. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated 121 lesions from 114 patients with pathological Stage IA adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery after fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and high-resolution computed tomography. Less invasive lesions were adenocarcinoma in situ and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma. The 3D parameter, solid tumour ratio, was the volume ratio of the solid part to the whole tumour. The 2D parameter was the consolidation-to-tumour ratio. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography was the metabolic parameter. A volumetric analysis programme semiautomatically measured these 3 parameters. The cut-off values were 0.5, 0.125 and 1.0 for the consolidation-to-tumour ratio, solid tumour ratio and SUVmax, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to select the prediction model parameters. RESULTS There were 34 (28.1%) less invasive lesions. A consolidation-to-tumour ratio <0.5 was an insignificant predictive factor for less invasive lesions in the multivariable analysis. The prediction model had a total score of 3 points: 1 point for SUVmax <1.0 and 2 points for the solid tumour ratio <0.125. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in this model was 0.86 (95% confidence interval 0.78-0.94). The total score indicated 89.5% probability of possessing less invasive lesions. CONCLUSIONS The solid tumour ratio and SUVmax effectively predicted less invasive lesions in early-stage lung adenocarcinomas. The prediction model generated by volumetric and metabolic parameters showed higher predictive power in this clinical setting.
Parent Discrepancies in Ratings of Child Behaviors Following Wartime Deployment.

Researchers have shown that parents often disagree in their ratings of their children's behavior, and that these discrepancies are typically related to child and family characteristics (e.g., child's age, parent psychopathology). Few studies, however, have examined discrepancies in how mothers and fathers rate child behavior during a stressful family context such as a parent's wartime deployment. The present study of 174 military families (children aged 6 to 11 years; 54.0% female) examined whether family factors (parental sense of control, marital satisfaction) and contextual risk factors related to a parent's wartime deployment (number and length of deployments, battle experiences, and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms) were associated with discrepancies in how mothers and fathers rated internalizing and externalizing behaviors in their children. Using a latent congruency model, our results showed that when parents self-reported higher levels of PTSD symptoms, both mothers, β = -. 33, p = . 021, and fathers, β = . 41, p = . 026, tended to also report higher levels of internalizing symptoms in their child, relative to what their spouse reported. In comparison to mothers, fathers also tended to report higher levels of child externalizing symptoms, β = . 44, p = . 019. Our findings may help clinicians understand how parent mental health within a stressful family context relates and/or informs a parent's ratings on assessments of his or her child's internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
Suppressive role exerted by microRNA-29b-1-5p in triple negative breast cancer through SPIN1 regulation

MiR-29 family dysregulation occurs in various cancers including breast cancers. We investigated miR-29b-1 functional role in human triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) the most aggressive breast cancer subtype. We found that miR-29b-1-5p was downregulated in human TNBC tissues and cell lines. To assess whether miR-29b-1-5p correlated with TNBC regenerative potential, we evaluated cancer stem cell enrichment in our TNBC cell lines, and found that only MDA-MB-231 and BT-20 produced primary, secondary and tertiary mammospheres, which were progressively enriched in OCT4, NANOG and SOX2 stemness genes. MiR-29b-1-5p expression inversely correlated with mammosphere stemness potential, and miR-29b-1 ectopic overexpression decreased TNBC cell growth, self-renewal, migration, invasiveness and paclitaxel resistance repressing WNT/βcatenin and AKT signaling pathways and stemness regulators. We identified SPINDLIN1 (SPIN1) among predicted miR-29b-1-5p targets. Consistently, SPIN1 was overexpressed in most TNBC tissues and cell lines and negatively correlated with miR-29b-1-5p. Target site inhibition showed that SPIN1 seems to be directly controlled by miR-29b-1-5p. Silencing SPIN1 mirrored the effects triggered by miR-29b-1 overexpression, whereas SPIN1 rescue by SPIN1miScript protector, determined the reversal of the molecular effects produced by the mimic-miR-29b-1-5p. Overall, we show that miR-29b-1 deregulation impacts on multiple oncogenic features of TNBC cells and their renewal potential, acting, at least partly, through SPIN1, and suggest that both these factors should be evaluated as new possible therapeutic targets against TNBC.
Keramische Hohlfaser- und Kapillarmembranen

Ceramic hollow fibre membranes open up new horizons in the chemical and the biotechnological process technology. In this report, the authors outline the state-of-the-art technology and describe in detail an economically favourable wet spinning process for the fabrication of alumina hollow fibre membranes. These porous hollow fibres can be used for microfiltration or as support for other selective layers. The coating of the hollow fibres is demonstrated using layers suitable for some fluid and gas separation applications.