Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predominance of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus -ST88 and new ST1797 causing wound infection and abscesses.

INTRODUCTION Although there has been a worldwide emergence and spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), little is known about the molecular epidemiology of MRSA in Tanzania. METHODOLOGY In this study, we characterized MRSA strains isolated from clinical specimens at the Bugando Medical Centre, Tanzania, between January and December 2008. Of 160 S. aureus isolates from 600 clinical specimens, 24 (15%) were found to be MRSA. Besides molecular screening for the Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes by PCR, MRSA strains were further characterized by Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) and spa typing. RESULTS Despite considerable genetic diversity, the spa types t690 (29.1%) and t7231 (41.6%), as well as the sequence types (ST) 88 (54.2%) and 1797 (29.1%), were dominant among clinical isolates. The PVL genes were detected in 4 isolates; of these, 3 were found in ST 88 and one in ST1820. Resistance to erythromycin, clindamicin, gentamicin, tetracycline and co-trimoxazole was found in 45.8%, 62.5%, 41.6%, 45.8% and 50% of the strains, respectively. CONCLUSION We present the first thorough typing of MRSA at a Tanzanian hospital. Despite considerable genetic diversity, ST88 was dominant among clinical isolates at the Bugando Medical Centre. Active and standardized surveillance of nosocomial MRSA infection should be conducted in the future to analyse the infection and transmission rates and implement effective control measures.
Neurophysiological analysis of schizophrenia based on dysfunction of the glutamatergic system using a tripartite synapse model

Schizophrenia is a severe chronic psychiatric disorder and its pathology is still not completely known. However, up to now several different theories have been proposed to describe the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Hypofunction of NMDA receptors (NMDAR) and inactivated astrocytes are among important glutamatergic theories explaining the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. On the other hand, it has been suggested that pharmacological manipulation of presynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) may help to treat and improve some symptoms of schizophrenia. In this paper we propose a mathematical model at the synaptic level to investigate glutamatergic hypothesis of schizophrenia. In the proposed model, we described mathematically a single tripartite synapse that is consisted of one presynaptic and one postsynaptic neuron and a glial component that is the astrocyte. The proposed model describes different details of a tripartite synapse during glutamate release. To the best of our knowledge, at the moment this is the most extended mathematical model developed to describe the details of a tripartite synapse to this extend. Simulation results of the proposed model indicate that hypofunction of NMDAR might be caused by excessive amount of glutamate in the synaptic cleft. The increased amount of glutamate, in final analysis, can be caused by inactive astrocyte. The increased amount of glutamate in synaptic cleft may cause serious disturbances in NMDAR current and electrophysiological behavior of the postsynaptic neuron. Given these results, we suggest that manipulation of glutamate receptors on astrocyte may be a suitable strategy in the treatment of schizophrenia. Of course, other approaches that help to improve the function of glutamate transmission or use agonists of mGluRs or NMDARs might be also useful. Our simulation results also suggest that the mentioned theories about pathophysiology of schizophrenia are interrelated and the increased rate of clearance of glutamate from the synaptic cleft can partly compensate for disorders caused by the impaired astrocyte.
The impact of visible dental decay on social judgements: comparison of the effects of location and extent of lesion.

BACKGROUND Previous research has established that people can make social judgements about someone else based on the condition of that person's teeth. The characteristics of visible tooth decay, with respect to the effect on such social judgements, have not, however, been subject to extensive investigation. This study sought to determine whether the position of visible decay and/or the extent of the lesion are determining factors in such social judgements of each other. METHOD In a between subjects design, 100 young people were randomly divided into 4 groups of 25 and each group shown a differently computer-modified photograph of the same person. Extent and location of the lesion were varied systematically. Participants were asked to rate the person in the photograph with respect to intellectual ability, social competence and psychological adjustment. The scores from those questions were analysed with one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) then Tukey's HSD where ANOVA revealed significant differences. RESULTS The data confirmed previous studies that have shown that poor dental condition is highly correlated with perceived poor social performance and intellectual ability. Further, the data showed that with respect to the constructs of intellectual ability, extraversion and care for one's personal appearance, a more central position of caries is more predictive of poor social judgements than just the presence of visible decay, or even twice the amount of decay. We discuss the possible evolutionary and ontological reasons for making social judgements that are influenced by a person's dental health as well as considering the implications of our findings for dentists.
Pain and quality of life of cancer patients: a multi-center study in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE To identify the association between Quality Of Life (QOL) and pain intensity, and the magnitude of change of pain scores that have a clinically significant impact on patients' QOL. DESIGNS Multi-center; prospective cohort study. MATERIAL AND METHOD Patients suffering from cancer pain were recruited from seven university hospitals and three tertiary care centers in Thailand. The FACT-G and the Brief Pain Inventory were used to assess QOL and cancer pain severity, respectively, at study entry and at two-week follow-up. RESULTS Five-hundred-and-twenty patients were recruited with a mean age of 52. The majority (76%) reported two sites of pain with 80% being treated at either step 2 or 3 (WHO guidelines of pain management). After two weeks, the average level of maximum pain was reduced from 6.6 to 4.8 (mean difference = -1.8, p < 0.001) and the QOL was improved from 58.6 to 61.0 (mean difference = 2.4, p < 0.001). There was a high correlation between the average change of pain intensity and QOL scores (rs = -0.42, p < 0.001). The results show that changes of pain scores of at least three points (3 out of 10) were required for a minimal important difference of FACT-G scores, indicating a significant change on patients' QOL. Pain deterioration had slightly more impact on QOL than pain improvement. A 3-point pain deterioration impaired QOL 10.3 points while 3-point reduction increased QOL only 7.6 points. CONCLUSION The present findings suggest the importance of pain management. The change of pain scores of at least three points (out of 10 points) had statistical and clinical significance to patients' QOL.
Use of an Australian Quality of Life Tool in Patients with COPD

Abstract COPD is a leading chronic disease, increasing globally. Given this condition's irreversible and progressive nature, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is increasingly a primary end-point in COPD management. We evaluated several HRQOL tools with a primary goals of (1) investigating how the generic Assessment Quality of Life (AQOL) functions compared to the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF36) and the St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ); and (2) considering the extent to which clinical disease severity, as measured by the BODE index, predicts variation in HRQOL reports. Methods: 134 consecutive patients entering a pulmonary rehabilitation program were recruited. Participants completed two generic measures of HRQOL (SF36 and AQOL) and one disease specific measure (SGRQ). The clinical severity of COPD was assessed using a composite global COPD severity score, BODE. Results: Significant associations were demonstrated between AQOL and both the SF36 (r = .68) and SGRQ (r = –.60). BODE significantly predicted AQOL scores (R = –.31); mMRC (R = –.36) and 6MWD (R = .39) were stronger contributors to these predictions than were FEV1 or BMI. Conclusions: This study establishes convergent validity between AQOL, and the SF36 and SGRQ in patients with COPD. For future studies wishing to examine HRQOL from a generic perspective, we have shown that during cross-sectional analyses AQOL performs similarly to the SF36. In addition we identified that the clinical severity of COPD, as assessed by BODE, significantly influences reports of quality of life made using AQOL. The components of BODE that most strongly contributed to predicting HRQOL were dsypnea and exercise tolerance.
Detailed analytical modelling of fractional-slot concentrated-wound interior permanent magnet machines for prediction of torque ripple

The standard dq model of interior permanent magnet machines is based on the assumption of sinusoidal machine parameters. This assumption is flawed especially when a fractional-slot concentrated-wound stator is utilized. In order to address this deficiency, in this paper the non-sinusoidal machine parameters are modelled in the abc-system. An extended dq-model is then proposed based on the derived non-sinusoidal machine parameters. New parameters are introduced in the proposed model and experimental tests are described for their determination. Based on the proposed extended dq-model, detailed equations for the average torque and torque ripple are proposed that specify the parameters involved in the production of different torque components. The proposed extended dq-model is used to predict the performance of a prototype fractional-slot concentrated-wound interior permanent magnet machine.
A prezygotic transmission distorter acting equally in female and male zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata

The two parental alleles at a specific locus are usually inherited with equal probability to the offspring. However, at least three processes can lead to an apparent departure from fair segregation: early viability selection, biased gene conversion and various kinds of segregation distortion. Here, we conduct a genome‐wide scan for transmission distortion in a captive population of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) using 1302 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) followed by confirmatory analyses on independent samples from the same population. In the initial genome‐wide scan, we found significant distortion at three linked loci on chromosome Tgu2 and we were able to replicate this finding in each of two follow‐up data sets [overall transmission ratio = 0.567 (95% CI = 0.536–0.600), based on 1101 informative meioses]. Although the driving allele was preferentially transmitted by both heterozygous females [ratio = 0.560 (95% CI = 0.519–0.603)] and heterozygous males [ratio = 0.575 (95% CI = 0.531–0.623)], we could rule out postzygotic viability selection and biased gene conversion as possible mechanisms. Early postzygotic viability selection is unlikely, because it would result in eggs with no visible embryo and hence no opportunity for genotyping, and we confirmed that both females and males heterozygous for the driving allele did not produce a larger proportion of such eggs than homozygous birds. Biased gene conversion is expected to be rather localized, while we could trace transmission distortion in haplotypes of several megabases in a recombination desert. Thus, we here report the rare case of a prezygotically active transmission distorter operating equally effectively in female and male meioses.
A study on an intrusion detection technique protecting Web server

Aiming at the web attacks, this paper presented a program-based intrusion detection system to protect Web server based on the analysis of data source and intrusion detection technique. Then, it extended to the object of safety specification and data source so as to meet the requirements to protect Web server. In conclusion, as a new intrusion detection technology, it can be applied to detect attacks against the Web server vulnerabilities effectively.
Accurate Camera Registration in Urban Environments Using High-Level Feature Matching

We propose a method for accurate camera pose estimation in urban environments from single images and 2D maps made of the surrounding buildings’ outlines. Our approach bridges the gap between learning-based approaches and geometric approaches: We use recent semantic segmentation techniques for extracting the buildings’ edges and the façades’ normals in the images and minimal solvers [14] to compute the camera pose accurately and robustly. We propose two such minimal solvers: one based on three correspondences of buildings’ corners from the image and the 2D map and another one based on two corner correspondences plus one façade correspondence. We show on a challenging dataset that, compared to recent state-of-the-art [1], this approach is both, faster and more accurate.
Low rates of background canopy-gap disturbance in a seasonally dry forest in the Yucatan Peninsula with a history of fires and hurricanes

Isolated canopy gaps involving one to several trees occur continuously and frequently in many moist and wet neotropical forests (sensu Holdridge et al.1971), shaping tree community structure through a shifting mosaic of patches of high resource availability for small and young trees (Denslow 1980). Though there are few relevant data (Jans et al. 1993), forests with significant seasonal drought are expected to have lower rates of canopy-gap formation (gaps ha-1 γ-1), smaller gap sizes, and, thus, lower rates of canopy disturbance (%γ-1, see review in Whigham et al. 1999). At the extreme, very dry tropical forests do not appear to fit the gap-phase dynamics concept (Swaine et al. 1990).
Child care and the well-being of children.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate studies of child care with specific attention to the impact of age at entry and amount, quality, and type of care on children's adaptive functioning. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and the SAGE Full-Text Collection. STUDY SELECTION The review considers correlational and experimental research conducted throughout the world that includes an adequate description of the type of care provided. Main Exposures Amount, quality, and type of child care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Language, cognitive and social competence, achievement, behavioral problems, relationships with parents, communicable illnesses, and asthma. RESULTS Children who began care early in life and were in care 30 or more hours a week were at increased risk for stress-related behavioral problems. Elevated risk was more likely if they had difficulties interacting with peers or had insensitive parents. Children in day care centers had higher language scores and early school achievement, especially if they came from disadvantaged backgrounds and the centers offered high-quality care. Attending arrangements with 6 or more children increased the likelihood of communicable illnesses and ear infections, albeit those illnesses had no long-term adverse consequences. CONCLUSIONS Child care is a multidimensional phenomenon. Guidance on when to place a child in nonparental care and what kind of care to use is complicated because of the multiplicity of sometimes offsetting effects on children. Child care experiences interact with experiences at home and the child's own characteristics, and research indicates that the quality of child care matters.
Structuring Software Measurement - Metrication in the Context of Feedback Loops

This paper presents results of a case study in a software engineering department of a large industrial company. This software engineering department struggles with the monitoring and control of the performance of software projects. The current measurement processes doesnât provide adequate and sufficient information to both project and organisational management. Based on an analysis of the current measurement processes four guidelines for measurement process improvement have been proposed. Following these guidelines a three-level feedback loop has been developed and been implemented. This multi-level feedback loop distinguishes measurement, analysis and improvement on respectively the project, the multi-project and the organisational level. In the context of this feedback loop new âprocess orientedâ metrics have been identified in collaboration with project and organisational management. Preliminary results show that these âprocess orientedâ metrics, i.e. regarding different types of effort deviations, provide useful insights in the performance of software projects for managers on the different levels of the implemented feedback loops.
Hierarchical Text Generation and Planning for Strategic Dialogue

End-to-end models for goal-orientated dialogue are challenging to train, because linguistic and strategic aspects are entangled in latent state vectors. We introduce an approach to learning representations of messages in dialogues by maximizing the likelihood of subsequent sentences and actions, which decouples the semantics of the dialogue utterance from its linguistic realization. We then use these latent sentence representations for hierarchical language generation, planning and reinforcement learning. Experiments show that our approach increases the end-task reward achieved by the model, improves the effectiveness of long-term planning using rollouts, and allows self-play reinforcement learning to improve decision making without diverging from human language. Our hierarchical latent-variable model outperforms previous work both linguistically and strategically.
Control of distributed energy storage systems in residential microgrids

With the penetration of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) generations, problems of degraded power quality and voltage oscillations are caused by unpredictable solar energy in residential microgrid. To alleviate such problems, the employment of distributed battery energy storage (BES) has been proposed and widely studied. However, with the present low renewable feed-in tariffs in many countries, microgrid users are discouraged to install expensive BES if they are not allowed to make energy-trading with the BES. In this paper, a residential microgrid power market is proposed to encourage the energy-trading of users with BES. As excessive energy-trading can exacerbate rather than alleviating the afore-mentioned problems associated with intermittent solar energy, a dissipativity-based distributed control approach is developed to coordinate individual users to achieve desirable microgrid-wide performance.
The Drosophila melanogaster tropomyosin II gene produces multiple proteins by use of alternative tissue-specific promoters and alternative splicing

The structure of the Drosophila melanogaster tropomyosin II (TmII) gene has been determined by DNA sequencing of cDNA clones and the genomic DNA coding for the gene. Two overlapping transcriptional units produce at least four different tropomyosin isoforms. A combination of developmentally regulated promoters and alternative splicing produces both muscle and cytoskeletal tropomyosin isoforms. One promoter is a muscle-specific promoter and produces three different tropomyosin isoforms by alternative splicing of the last three 3' exons. The second promoter has the characteristics of a housekeeping promoter and produces a cytoskeletal tropomyosin isoform. Several internal exons along with a final 3' exon are alternatively spliced in the cytoskeletal transcript. The intron-exon boundaries of the TmII gene are identical to the intron-exon boundaries of all vertebrate tropomyosin genes reported, but are very different from the intron-exon boundaries of the D. melanogaster tropomyosin I gene. The TmII gene is the only reported tropomyosin gene that has two promoters and a quadruple alternative splice choice for the final exon. Models for the mechanism of D. melanogaster tropomyosin gene evolution are discussed.
Focused Libraries of 16‐Substituted Estrone Derivatives and Modified E‐Ring Steroids: Inhibitors of 17ß‐Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1

17β‐Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17β‐HSD1), an oxidoreductase which has a preferential reductive activity using NADPH as cofactor, converts estrone to estradiol and is expressed in many steroidogenic tissues including breast and in malignant breast cells. As estradiol stimulates the growth and development of hormone‐dependent breast cancer, inhibition of the final step of its synthesis is an attractive target for the treatment of this disease. The parallel synthesis of novel focused libraries of 16‐substituted estrone derivatives and modified E‐ring pyrazole steroids as new potent 17β‐HSD1 inhibitors is described. Substituted 3‐O‐sulfamoylated estrone derivatives were used as templates and were immobilised on 2‐chlorotrityl chloride resin to give resin‐bound scaffolds with a multi‐detachable linker. Novel focused libraries of 16‐substituted estrone derivatives and new modified E‐ring steroids were assembled from these immobilised templates using solid‐phase organic synthesis and solution‐phase methodologies. Among the derivatives synthesised, the most potent 17β‐HSD1 inhibitors were 25 and 26 with IC50 values in T‐47D human breast cancer cells of 27 and 165 nm, respectively. Parallel synthesis resulting in a library of C5′‐linked amides from the pyrazole E‐ring led to the identification of 62 with an IC50 value of 700 nM. These potent inhibitors of 17β‐HSD1 have a 2‐ethyl substituent which will decrease their estrogenic potential. Several novel 17β‐HSD1 inhibitors emerged from these libraries and these provide direction for further template exploration in this area. A new efficient diastereoselective synthesis of 25 has also been developed to facilitate supply for in vivo evaluation, and an X‐ray crystal structure of this inhibitor is presented.
Production of chiral R-3-hydroxyalkanoic acids and R-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid methylesters via hydrolytic degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesized by pseudomonads.

A novel and efficient method for the production of enantiomericaly pure R-3-hydroxyalkanoic acids and R-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid methylesters was developed. The described method is based on hydrolysis of poly(hydroxyalkanoate) copolymers synthesized by Pseudomonas putida. The polymer was isolated via solvent recovery and hydrolyzed by acid methanolysis. The obtained 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid methylester mixture was distilled into several fractions with an overall yield of 96.6% (w/w). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the fractions showed that 3-hydroxyhexanoic-, 3-hydroxyoctanoic-, 3 hydroxydecanoic-, and 3-hydroxydodecanoic acid methylesters were enriched to purities exceeding 96 mol%, with distillation yields of 99.9, 99.8, 88.4, and 56.8% (w/w), respectively. Subsequent saponification of the purified methylester fractions yielded the corresponding 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids, which were recovered up to 92.8% (w/w). Chiral gas chromatography analysis confirmed that both 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid and 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid methylester are present in the R-form at a very high enantiomeric excess (>99.9%).
Numerical simulation of the long-term cooling process applied to a storage tank with an internal gas flue

The transient cooling of a fluid initially at rest, inside a storage tank with an internal gas flue submitted to heat losses to the ambient is studied. In order to identify the relevant non-dimensional groups that define the transient natural convection phenomenom that occurs, a nondimensional analysis is carried out. A parametric study by means of several numerical simulations led to correlate the Nusselt number to feed simplified models based on global balances.