Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Legionella pneumophila in Cooling Towers: Fluctuations in Counts, Determination of Genetic Variability by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), and Persistence of PFGE Patterns

ABSTRACT The concentrations of Legionella pneumophila in cooling towers may vary considerably over short periods of time, producing significant fluctuations throughout the year. Despite genetic variability, in small geographical areas the same indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns may be shared among different cooling towers and persist over time.
Plasma digoxin concentrations and digoxin toxicity in hospital patients.

Studies were made on io8 subjects on routine oral maintenance digoxin therapy. Twenty-two were found to have eidene of digoxin toxicity. The range ofplasma digoxin concentrations in these subjects is recorded (1.38 SD+ o O77 ng/ml). The subjects with evidence of toxicity are shown to have significantly higher plasma digoxin concentrations (3.36 SD I2o ng/ml) though there is some overlap with the non-toxic group. The subjects with toxicity are shown to be substantially older and to have a much higher incidence of raised blood urea. The implications of these observations are discussed.
The myelodysplastic syndromes: current approaches to therapy.

PURPOSE To review the current therapeutic options for patients with the myelodysplastic syndromes. DATA IDENTIFICATION Studies reported between 1968 and September 1989 were identified through computer searches using MEDLINE and through extensive searching of bibliographies of identified articles. STUDY SELECTION All articles, abstracts, and reviews were evaluated, and those that contained therapeutic data were analyzed for response rates, survival, and toxicity. RESULTS OF DATA SYNTHESIS Therapies for the myelodysplastic syndromes have included hormones, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, and differentiating agents, including hematopoietic growth factors. With the exception of bone marrow transplantation, none is curative or increases survival. Hematopoietic growth factors are of interest for clinical trials, because they increase the number of neutrophils and, occasionally, the number of platelets in patients with the myelodysplastic syndromes. Nonetheless, hematopoietic growth factors are not without toxicity; most notably, they are associated with a risk for acceleration to acute myeloid leukemia, and their effect on survival remains unknown. CONCLUSIONS Standard therapy for the myelodysplastic syndromes is supportive care. When the disease progresses, patients with aggressive histologic or other poor-risk features should be considered for aggressive chemotherapy, with or without growth factors, or bone marrow transplantation. Patients with good prognostic features are candidates for therapy with growth factors or other potential differentiating agents. Carefully designed and conducted clinical trials that incorporate correlative laboratory science are essential to developing a more rational approach to therapy.
Construction of eukaryotic expression vectors encoding CFP-10 and ESAT-6 genes and their potential in lymphocyte proliferation.

BACKGROUND Mycobacterium (M.) bovis is the agent of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in a range of animal species, including humans. Recent advances in immunology and the molecular biology of Mycobacterium have allowed identification of a large number of antigens with the potential for the development of a new TB vaccine. The ESAT-6 and CFP-10 proteins of M. bovis are important structural and functional proteins known to be important immunogens. METHODS In the current study, the DNAs encoding these genes were utilized in the construction of pcDNA 3.1+/ESAT-6 and pcDNA3.1+/CFP-10 plasmids. After intramuscular injection of BALB/c mice with these plasmids, ESAT-6 and CFP-10 mRNA expression was assessed by RT-PCR. Mice were inoculated and boosted with the plasmids to evaluate their effects on lymphocyte proliferation. RESULTS Our results indicate the plasmids are expressed at the RNA level and can induce lymphocyte proliferation. CONCLUSION Further study is needed to characterize the effect of these antigens on the immune system and determine whether they are effective vaccine candidates against M. bovis.
Trending Challenges in Multi Label Classification

Multi label classification has become a very important paradigm in the last few years because of the increasing domains that it can be applied to. Many researchers have developed many algorithms to solve the problem of multi label classification. Nerveless, there are still some stuck problems that need to be investigated in depth. The aim of this paper is to provide researchers with a brief introduction to the problem of multi label classification, and introduce some of the most trending challenges.
Identification and Expression of the TREX1 and TREX2 cDNA Sequences Encoding Mammalian 3′→5′ Exonucleases*

The 3′→5′ exonucleases catalyze the excision of nucleoside monophosphates from the 3′ termini of DNA. We have identified the cDNA sequences encoding two 3′→5′ exonucleases (TREX1 and TREX2) from mammalian cells. The TREX1 and TREX2 proteins are 304 and 236 amino acids in length, respectively. Analysis of the TREX1 and TREX2 sequences identifies three conserved motifs that likely generate the exonuclease active site in these enzymes. The specific amino acids in these three conserved motifs suggest that these mammalian exonucleases are most closely related to the proofreading exonucleases of the bacterial replicative DNA polymerases and the RNase T enzymes. Expression of TREX1 and TREX2 inEscherichia coli demonstrates that these recombinant proteins are active 3′→5′ exonucleases. The recombinant TREX1 protein was purified, and exonuclease activity was measured using single-stranded, partial duplex, and mispaired oligonucleotide DNA substrates. The greatest activity of the TREX1 protein was detected using a partial duplex DNA containing five mispaired nucleotides at the 3′ terminus. No activity was detected using single-stranded RNA or an RNA-DNA partial duplex. Identification of the TREX1 and TREX2 cDNA sequences provides the genetic tools to investigate the physiological roles of these exonucleases in mammalian DNA replication, repair, and recombination pathways.
The design of a new X band antenna element

A micro-strip quasi-Yagi antenna is improved in this paper. The antenna unit for X band is designed. The number of the directors is increased in order to improve the gain of the antenna. The length of the directors, the width of the directors and the space of each directors are simulated and analyzed by the simulation software HFSS. The results show that: the bandwidth of the antenna is greater than 30%, the gain of the antenna is 3.57dB. The smaller size of the antenna is easy to design antenna array, and it has a good application.
Protein Selection Using mRNA Display

mRNA display is an in vitro technique that may be used to search natural or synthetic DNA libraries for the functional proteins and peptides they encode. mRNA‐displayed proteins are constructs in which a protein is covalently attached to the RNA that encodes it. This direct covalent association of phenotype (protein) and genotype (RNA) renders the protein directly amplifiable. This in turn allows successive cycles of selection, enrichment, and, optionally, mutagenesis, to be performed upon libraries of displayed proteins. At the end of this process, functional sequences will dominate the library; cloning and sequencing will reveal the identity of the selected functional proteins. mRNA display allows new functional proteins to be discovered without resorting to protein design. This unit describes generation of mRNA‐displayed proteins by the in vitro translation of mRNA display templates which are mRNA molecules 3'‐terminated in puromycin. Puromycin is a translation inhibitor that is able to enter the ribosome during translation and form a stable covalent bond with the nascent protein. This allows a stable covalent linkage to be formed between the mRNA display template and the protein it encodes, resulting in an mRNA‐displayed protein.
Comparison between direct transesterification of microalgae and hydrochar

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of microalgae is one of processes that can effectively remove moisture from microalgae. In addition, the hydrochar retains most of fatty acids from microalgae feedstock, and the content of fatty acids in hydrochar is doubled. This research concentrates on the comparison between direct transesterification of microalgae and hydrochar. The result shows that the biodiesel yields of hydrochar were higher than those of microalgae at the same reaction conditions due to the higher extraction rate of fatty acids from hydrochar. Finally, the amount of methanol and catalyst which is required for a given amount of microalgae can be reduced to a half through the direct transesterification of hydrochar.
Asthma and chemical hypersensitivity: prevalence, etiology, and age of onset

This study investigates asthma’s national prevalence and potential overlap with chemical hypersensitivity. It also examines asthma’s etiology, age of onset, and demographic characteristics. Data were collected from a geographically weighted random sample of the continental U.S. (1058 cases), in four seasonal cohorts (2005–2006). The study found that 12.9% of the sample report asthma, 11.6% report chemical hypersensitivity, and 31.4% of those with asthma report chemical hypersensitivity. Among asthmatics, 38% report irritation from scented products, 37.2% report health problems from air fresheners, and 13.6% report their asthma was caused by toxic exposure. Asthma cases affected each racial/ethic group in roughly the same proportion, with nearly 50% classified as childhood onset.
High femoral bone mineral density accretion in prepubertal soccer players.

PURPOSE To determine the effect of physical activity on bone mineral accrual during growth in prepuberal boys. METHODS Seventeen soccer players and 11 matched (physically active) control boys (Tanner 1-2, at the start of the study) were followed over a 3-yr period. Bone mineral content (BMC) and a real density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The maximal positive mechanical impulse (CJipos) and height jumped (Hj) during countermovement vertical jumps were assessed with a plate force. Additionally, 30-m running speed test (T30), 300-m run test (AC), and 20-m shuttle run test (MAP) were performed. RESULTS The soccer players attained better results in MAP and AC than the controls (P < 0.05). At the end of the follow-up, the controls increased their percentage of body fat in 11 units (P < 0.05) whereas it remained unchanged in the soccer players. Lean body mass increased with growth but more in the soccer players than in the controls (P < 0.05). The soccer players exhibited greater BMC in the legs and greater BMD in all bone-loaded regions at the end of the study (P < 0.05). During these 3 yr, the soccer players gained twice as much femoral neck and intertrochanteric BMC than the control group (P < 0.05) and increased their femoral neck BMD by 10% and their mean hip BMD by a third more than the control group (both P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the improvement in T30 and CJipos has predictive value for the enhancement of bone mass in growing boys. CONCLUSION Long-term soccer participation, starting at a prepubertal age, results in greater improvement of physical fitness, greater acquisition of bone mass and a lower accumulation of body fat.
Comparative Activities of Tigecycline and Other Tetracyclines against Nonfermenting Gram-Negative Bacilli, Excluding Acinetobacter spp

Tigecycline, a glycylcycline, is a semisynthetic derivative of minocycline with a broad spectrum of activity against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria ([2][1], [12][2], [16][3]). In the literature there are several publications concerning tigecycline activity, most of them related to Acinetobacter
An Acceptance Empirical Assessment of Open Source Test Tools

Software testing is one of the verification and validation activities of software development process. Test automation is relevant, since manual application of tests is laborious and more prone to error. The choice of test tools should be based on criteria and evidence of their usefulness and ease of use. This paper presents an acceptance empirical assessment of open source testing tools. Practitioners and graduate students evaluated five tools often used in the industry. The results describe how these tools are perceived in terms of ease of use and usefulness. These results can support software practitioners in the process of choosing testing tools for
Identification of Endolymphatic Hydrops in Ménière’s Disease Utilizing Delayed Postcontrast 3D FLAIR and Fused 3D FLAIR and CISS Color Maps

Objective The preferential delayed enhancement of the perilymphatic space enables detection of the non-enhancing endolymphatic hydrops present in patients with Ménière’s disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of delayed postcontrast 3D FLAIR images and a color map of fused postcontrast FLAIR and constructive interference steady state (CISS) images in the identification of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with clinically diagnosed Ménière’s disease. Study Design Case control, blinded study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients Ten patients with Ménière’s disease and five volunteer controls. Intervention Diagnostic. Main Outcome Measure Two neuroradiologists blinded to the clinical history independently evaluated for the presence of endolymphatic hydrops on the images of both inner ears for test and control subjects. Both the standard gray-scale FLAIR images and the fused color map images were independently reviewed. Results The gray-scale 3D FLAIR images demonstrated 68.2% sensitivity and 97.4% specificity, and the fused color map images demonstrated 85.0% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity in the identification of endolymphatic hydrops in Ménière’s disease. There was significant correlation between the gray-scale 3D FLAIR images and fused color map images with the categorization of involvement (p = 0.002). Inter-evaluator reliability was excellent (kappa = 0.83 for gray-scale images, kappa = 0.81 for fused color map). Conclusion Delayed 3D FLAIR and fused 3D FLAIR-CISS color map images of the inner ears after intravenous contrast administration are potentially useful diagnostic tools in the evaluation of patients with suspected Ménière’s disease.
[A comparison between the effects of albuterol and isoproterenol in bronchodilation test].

OBJECTIVE To compare albuterol with isoproterenol as a bronchodilator in pulmonary function test and their value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of asthma. METHODS Two groups (59 patients with asthma and 37 patients with COPD) were included in this study, and the patients of each group were randomly divided into 2 subgroups. The patients in the 2 subgroups inspired the two drugs in a cross-over by odd or even days. The pulmonary functions were evaluated. RESULTS The changing rates of pulmonary functions induced by the two drugs in the two groups were positively correlated (P < 0.005), The changing rates of FEV1, MMEF, Raw, sGaw induced by albuterol were higher than the ones induced by isoproterenol in patients with asthma(P < 0.02), however the changing rates of FVC and PEF in asthma cases and all the above parameters in COPD cases were not significantly different between the two drugs(P > 0.10). The comparison of positive case number between asthma and COPD cases induced by both drugs showed significant difference(P < 0.005); especially, when the positive rate of sGaw induced by albuterol in asthma cases reached 98%, the positive rates in COPD cases was generally much lower. CONCLUSION Bronchodilation test is a valuable diagnostic method for asthma. In this study, albuterol was superior to isoproterenol. The most sensitive index in bronchodilation test was sGaw, then in order, FEV1(92%), MMEF and Raw; the FVC and PEF were relatively insensitive.
Outcome of Medial Displacement Calcaneal Osteotomy for Correction of Adult-Acquired Flatfoot

Background: The results of medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy (MDCO) with flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon transfer were reviewed, as well as postoperative radiographic changes, to determine quantitative x-ray-based indications for MDCO with FDL tendon transfer in cases of adult-acquired flatfoot. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients, ages 42 to 71 years, underwent MDCO with FDL tendon transfer for stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Follow-up was 2.6 to 10.2 years. Preoperative and postoperative Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF), Foot Function Index, and SF-36 scores and physical and radiographic findings were compared. Eight measures of foot alignment were obtained from weight-bearing radiographs at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after surgery and every 6 months thereafter. Differences in scores and values over time were analyzed statistically. Results: Average JSSF scores improved from 59 preoperatively to 91.3 postoperatively (p < .001). The only x-ray parameters that improved significantly and showed maintenance of the surgical correction were the lateral talometatarsal (LTMT) and tibiocalcaneal (TBC) angles. With preoperative LTMT and TBC angles of >25° and >15°, respectively, correction was inadequate. Conclusions: It was concluded that indications for MDCO with FDL tendon transfer in cases of adult-acquired flatfoot are a preoperative LTMT angle of <25° and hindfoot coronal alignment (TBC angle) of <15°. Level of Evidence: IV, Case Series
QuatIdent: a web server for identifying protein quaternary structural attribute by fusing functional domain and sequential evolution information.

Many proteins exist in vivo as oligomers with various different quaternary structural attributes rather than as single individual chains. They are the structural bases of various marvelous biological functions such as cooperative effects, allosteric mechanism, and ion-channel gating. Therefore, with the avalanche of protein sequences generated in the postgenomic era, it is very important for both basic research and drug discovery to identify their quaternary structural attributes in a timely manner. In view of this, a powerful ensemble identifier, called QuatIdent, is developed by fusing the functional domain and sequential evolution information. QuatIdent is a 2-layer predictor. The 1st layer is for identifying a query protein as belonging to which one of the following 10 main quaternary structural attributes: (1) monomer, (2) dimer, (3) trimer, (4) tetramer, (5) pentamer, (6) hexamer, (7) heptamer, (8) octamer, (9) decamer, and (10) dodecamer. If the result thus obtained turns out to be anything but monomer, the process will be automatically continued to further identify it as belonging to a homo-oligomer or hetero-oligomer. The overall success rate by QuatIdent for the 1st layer identification was 71.1% and that for the 2nd layer ranged from 84 to 96%. These rates were derived by the jackknife cross-validation tests on the stringent benchmark data sets where none of proteins has > or =60% pairwise sequence identity to any other in a same subset. QuatIdent is freely accessible to the public as a web server via the site at http://www.csbio. sjtu.edu. cn/bioinf/Quaternary/ , by which one can get the desired 2-level results for a query protein sequence in around 25 seconds. The longer the sequence is, the more time that is needed.
Voice Pathology Identification: A Survey on Voice Disorder

In this paper an attempt is made to retrieve the relevant paintings based on the approach of the artist using Generalized Bivariate Laplacian Mixture Model (GBLMM). This article helps in understanding the outline of assorted artists and help as a means to categorize a scrupulous painting based on the style or the text ingrained within the images. To profile the artist style GBLMM is used. The projected model helps to discriminate the strokes of the artists and lend a hand in the classification of paintings. The proposed model is implemented using high resolution Chinese painting images.
Public Risk Perceptions and Preventive Behaviors During the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic

Abstract Objective This study examines the public perception of the 2009 H1N1 influenza risk and its association with flu-related knowledge, social contexts, and preventive behaviors during the second wave of the influenza outbreak in Arizona. Methods Statistical analyses were conducted on survey data, which were collected from a random-digit telephone survey of the general public in Arizona in October 2009. Results The public perceived different levels of risk regarding the likelihood and their concern about contracting the 2009 H1N1 flu. These measures of risk perception were primarily correlated with people of Hispanic ethnicity, having children in the household, and recent seasonal flu experience in the previous year. The perceived likelihood was not strongly associated with preventive behaviors, whereas the perceived concern was significantly associated with precautionary and preparatory behaviors. The association between perceived concern and precautionary behavior persisted after controlling for demographic characteristics. Conclusions Pandemic preparedness and response efforts need to incorporate these findings to help develop effective risk communication strategies that properly induce preventive behaviors among the public. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:145-154)
A MEMS device for fracture toughness measurement of 2D nano films under TEM imaging

This paper reports a transmission electron microscopy TEM-compatible MEMS device for the measurement of fracture toughness of 2D nano films. The MEMS device enables the creation of well-controlled electron-induced cracks in nano thin films, the measurement of film thickness, and tensile testing of films simultaneously all on chip. The device and techniques are applicable to the fracture toughness measurement of various types of nano films inside TEM.
Distributed quadratic stabilization of uncertain linear multi-agent systems

This paper considers the distributed quadratic stabilization problems of uncertain continuous-time linear multi-agent systems with undirected communication topologies. It is assumed that the agents have identical nominal dynamics while subject to different norm-bounded parameter uncertainties, leading to weakly heterogeneous multi-agent systems. A distributed controller is proposed, based on the relative states of neighboring agents and a subset of absolute states of the agents. It is shown that the distributed quadratic stabilization problem under such a controller is equivalent to the H∞ control problems of a set of decoupled linear systems having the same dimensions as a single agent. A two-step algorithm is presented to construct the distributed robust controller, which does not involve any conservatism and meanwhile decouples the feedback gain design from the communication topology. Furthermore, the distributed quadratic H∞ control problem of uncertain linear multi-agent systems with external disturbances is discussed, which can be reduced to the scaled H∞ control problems of a set of independent systems whose dimensions are equal to that of a single agent.
Global Trajectories of the Long-Term Decline of Coral Reef Ecosystems

Degradation of coral reef ecosystems began centuries ago, but there is no global summary of the magnitude of change. We compiled records, extending back thousands of years, of the status and trends of seven major guilds of carnivores, herbivores, and architectural species from 14 regions. Large animals declined before small animals and architectural species, and Atlantic reefs declined before reefs in the Red Sea and Australia, but the trajectories of decline were markedly similar worldwide. All reefs were substantially degraded long before outbreaks of coral disease and bleaching. Regardless of these new threats, reefs will not survive without immediate protection from human exploitation over large spatial scales.