Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Growth of Natural Bacterial Isolates on Various Lignin-Related Compounds

Bacterial strains were isolated on the basis of their ability to proliferate in a minimal medium containing one of a series of lignin-related compounds as the sole carbon and energy source. These included the aromatic monomers guaiacol, vanillic and coumaric acids, a dimer and a trimer possessing the arylglycerol-β-aryl ether linkage, anisoin, and both the ether-soluble and -insoluble fractions of kraft lignin. The growth of the strains on each of these compounds was measured. The results showed that the metabolic properties of the strains varied according to the structure of the carbon sources used for their selection. Spectrophotometric tracings of the culture medium during the log phase of growth of one of the strains on the β-O-4 dimer revealed decomposition with the release of guaiacol.
Using quality of life measures in the clinical setting

This is the second in a series of five articles In modern medicine the traditional way of assessing change in patients has been to focus on laboratory or clinical tests. At its most simple this involves measuring pulse, blood pressure, and temperature, and carrying out physical examinations. At more complex levels it may include haematological analysis, computed tomography, radiography, organ function tests, genetic analysis, and other investigations. While these give important information about the disease, especially about chronic and progressive diseases, it is impossible to separate disease from an individual's personal and social context. No illness exists in a vacuum. One way of capturing the personal and social context of patients is to use quality of life measures.1 These are accepted as outcome measures in clinical research but are rarely used in routine clinical practice, despite the fact that Florence Nightingale was one of the first clinicians to insist on measuring the outcome of routine care to evaluate treatment.2 This article reviews the challenges of using quality of life measures in clinical practice including selecting appropriate measures, analysing data, providing feedback, interpreting results, and incorporating these measures into clinical decision making. Practical ways of resolving the tension between the need for approaches suitable in the clinical encounter and the highly individualised nature of quality of life are also examined. #### Summary points Using quality of life measures in clinical practice ensures that treatment and evaluations focus on the patient rather than the disease The measures are potentially useful in both the clinical encounter and in quality improvement They are not a substitute for measures of disease outcomes and may not always be the most appropriate patient centred outcome to assess Measures developed for research often cannot easily be used in clinical practice Measures that form an integral part of treatment planning …
Association between Preterm Birth and Vaginal Colonization by Mycoplasmas in Early Pregnancy

ABSTRACT To examine the association between colonization by two newly classified species of genital ureaplasmas (Ureaplasma parvum and U. urealyticum) in early pregnancy and subsequent late abortion or preterm birth at <34 weeks of gestation, four species of genital mycoplasmas—Mycoplasma genitalium, M. hominis, U. parvum, and U. urealyticum—as well as Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were examined by PCR-based methods in a prospective cohort study of 877 women with singleton pregnancies at <11 weeks of gestation. Antibiotics were used only in cases in which C. trachomatis and/or N. gonorrhoeae was detected. Multivariate logistic-regression analysis was used to assess independent risk factors after taking maternal low body weight and past history of preterm birth into account. M. genitalium, M. hominis, U. parvum, U. urealyticum, C. trachomatis, and N. gonorrhoeae were detected in 0.8%, 11.2%, 52.0%, 8.7%, 3.2%, and 0.1% of these 877 women, respectively. Twenty-one (2.4%) women experienced late abortion or preterm birth at <34 weeks of gestation. Three factors—detection of U. parvum in the vagina (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 8.5); use of antibiotics, such as penicillin and cefatrizine, for incidental inflammatory complications before 22 weeks of gestation (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.6 to 10.0); and past history of preterm birth (OR, 10.4; 95% CI, 2.7 to 40.5)—were independently associated with late abortion and preterm birth. In conclusion, vaginal colonization with U. parvum, but not U. urealyticum, is associated with late abortion or early preterm birth.
Reoperation for Persistent or Recurrent Hemifacial Spasm after Microvascular Decompression

OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome of reoperation for persistent or recurrent hemifacial spasm (HFS) after microvascular decompression (MVD). METHODS:Repeat MVD was performed on 13 patients with an HFS between June 1994 and May 2004. Patients who had compressing offending vessels identified on postoperative (prerevision) three-dimensional short-range magnetic resonance angiography were selected for repeat MVD. RESULTS:Six patients were found to have no improvement in HFS with the first MVD. All of these patients exhibited excellent improvement after the second MVD. In one patient who had mild improvement with the first MVD, but with more than 50% of remaining spasm, complete abolition of spasm occurred immediately after the second MVD. Six patients showed initial relief and subsequent aggravation of HFS after the first MVD. Of these patients, four had excellent results with the second MVD, one had a good result, and one had a fair outcome. Adverse effects after the second MVD were found in two patients (one patient with permanent mild facial weakness and one patient with hearing impairment). There was no serious morbidity associated with the second MVD. CONCLUSION:Our data suggest that repeat MVD of the facial nerve may be sufficient to resolve symptoms in selected patients with persistent or recurrent HFS. Additionally, three-dimensional short-range magnetic resonance angiography may help to identify the offending vessels and to select the patients with persistent or recurrent HFS.
Commentary: The Sandwich Technique to Preserve the Hypogastric Artery during EVAR

Compromise of the distal common iliac artery (CIA) represents a problem to the operator performing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of the abdominal aorta or/and the iliac arteries. Distal CIA landing zones need to be long enough to secure fixation and sealing. Among the most common techniques to prevent retrograde flow from the internal iliac artery (IIA) when an aortic endograft needs to be extended to the external iliac artery (EIA), coverage of the ostium or proximal embolization using coils or occluders is better tolerated than more extensive coil embolization with occlusion of the branches. The latter is accompanied by more frequent buttock claudication and other complications. Occlusion of one IIA is generally well tolerated, although some patients complain of temporary or permanent hip claudication. Bilateral IIA occlusion, however, is accompanied by higher incidences of buttock claudication and erectile dysfunction and sometimes life-threatening complications, such as colon ischemia. In a review of 634 patients in whom unilateral or bilateral hypogastric artery occlusions were performed, buttock claudication occurred in 28% of the patients and new erectile dysfunction in 17%. Differences in the incidence of complications were not statistically significant between unilateral or bilateral occlusions in this series. Every interventionist would agree that preservation of the IIAs when possible and affordable is desirable. Other methods of preserving the IIA are (1) surgical bypass or reimplantation of the IIA onto the EIA, (2) retrograde endograft implantation in the IIA from the EIA, or (3) antegrade implantation in the IIA from the proximal endograft; the latter 2 techniques need a femorofemoral bypass to restore flow to the ipsilateral common femoral artery. Placement of a side branch off the endograft in the IIA is a useful procedure but entails a somewhat complicated technique that cannot be performed in tortuous anatomy or when the CIA is ,18 mm in diameter. In addition, the device is expensive and not readily available. The technique presented by Dr. Lobato in this issue of JEVT represents a potential step forward in the preservation of IIA flow using readily available devices and a relatively simple procedure. Cost is also an issue, and the sandwich technique is less costly than a bifurcated iliac device. Cannulating the IIA from above, as needed for the sandwich technique, is relatively simple, and advancing an endograft from the upper extremity is not complicated. Sealing the commissural angles is apparently achievable using the sandwich technique as oversizing of the limbs and endografts in relation to the diameter of the main graft will produce tight apposition of the components. The 6-cm overlap of the covered stent with the limb of the aortic endograft in addition to the oversizing of the components could be enough to seal both the endograft and the covered stent. Obviously, long-term followup is needed to verify this assumption.
Physical fitness components associated with performance in a multiple-sprint test.

PURPOSE The 5-m repeat-sprint test (5-m RST) measures resistance to fatigue after repeated bouts of short-duration, high-intensity activity. This study determined the components of fitness associated with performance in 5-m RSTs. METHODS Speed (10-m and 40-m sprints), strength (bench press), agility, strength endurance (pull-ups and push-ups), and aerobic power (20-m shuttle-run test) were measured in male provincial- or national-level rugby (n = 110), hockey (n = 59), and soccer (n = 55) players. RESULTS Subjects with either high (HI) or low (LO) resistance to fatigue in the 5-m RST differed in body mass (76.9 +/- 11.6 kg vs 102.1 +/- 18.9 kg, HI vs LO, respectively, P < .001), agility (14.55 +/- 0.41 seconds vs 15.56 +/- 0.30 seconds, P < .001), bench press (86 +/- 20 kg vs 114 +/- 33 kg, P = .03), pull-ups (13 +/- 4 vs 8 +/- 5, P = .02), push-ups (56 +/- 12 vs 39 +/- 13, P = .002), and 20-m shuttle-run test (20-m SRT; 133 +/- 11 vs 87 +/- 12 shuttles, P < .001). Body mass, strength, and aerobic power were the best predictors of 5-m RST performance: 5-m RST = -1.274(mass) + 0.756(1RM bench press) + 2.053(number of 20-m SRT shuttles) + 549.409 (R2 = .66). CONCLUSIONS Performance in the 5-m RST is predicted best by a combination of factors including body mass, strength, and aerobic ability, rather than by any single component of fitness.
Selecting Map Projections in Minimizing Area Distortions in GIS Applications

Various software for Geographical Information Systems (GISs) have been developed and used in many different engineering projects. In GIS applications, map coverage is important in terms of performing reliable and meaningful queries. Map projections can be conformal, equal-area and equidistant. The goal of an application plays an important role in choosing one of those projections. Choosing the equal-area projection for an application in which area information is used (forestry, agriculture, ecosystem etc) reduces the amount of distortion on the area, but many users using GIS ignore this fact and continue to use applications with present map sheets no matter in what map projection it is. For example, extracting area information from data whose country system's map sheet is in conformal projection is relatively more distorted, compared to an equal-area projection one. The goal of this study is to make the best decision in choosing the most proper equal-area projection among the choices provided by ArcGIS 9.0, which is a popular GIS software package, and making a comparison on area errors when conformal projection is used. In this study, the area of parcels chosen in three different regions and geographic coordinates and whose sizes vary between 0.01 to 1,000,000 ha are calculated according to Transversal Mercator (TM, 3°), Universal Transversal Mercator (UTM, 6°) and 14 different equal-area projections existing in the ArcGIS 9.0 GIS software package. The parcel areas calculated with geographical coordinates are accepted as definite. The difference between the sizes calculated according to projection coordinates and real sizes of the parcels are determined. Consequently, the appropriate projections are decided for the areas smaller and equal than 1,000 ha and greater than 1,000 ha in the GIS software package.
Recent advances in corneal collagen cross-linking

Corneal collagen cross-linking has become the preferred modality of treatment for corneal ectasia since its inception in late 1990s. Numerous studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the conventional protocol. Our understanding of the cross-linking process is ever evolving, with its wide implications in the form of accelerated and pulsed protocols. Newer advancements in technology include various riboflavin formulations and the ability to deliver higher fluence protocols with customised irradiation patterns. A greater degree of customisation is likely the path forward, which will aim at achieving refractive improvements along with disease stability. The use of cross-linking for myopic correction is another avenue under exploration. Combination of half fluence cross-linking with refractive correction for high errors to prevent post LASIK regression is gaining interest. This review aims to highlight the various advancements in the cross-linking technology and its clinical applications.
Molecular Imaging of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Current Status and Future Directions

Through diagnostic imaging and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, nuclear medicine has earned a major role in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP NETs). GEP NETs are diagnosed fortuitously or on the basis of symptoms or hormonal syndrome. The functional tumor characteristics shown by radionuclide imaging allow for more accurate staging and treatment selection. Tumor grade helps determine which tracer should be selected. In the past, 111In-pentetreotide has been successful in well-differentiated (G1 and G2) tumors. However, PET/CT imaging with novel somatostatin analogs (e.g., 68Ga-DOTATOC, 68Ga-DOTATATE, 68Ga-DOTANOC, and 64Cu-DOTATATE) now offers improved sensitivity. 18F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine (18F-FDOPA) is another interesting radiopharmaceutical. 18F-FDOPA sensitivity is influenced by a tumor’s capacity to take up, decarboxylate, and store amine precursors. 18F-FDOPA sensitivities are highest in ileal NETs and may also be helpful in insulinomas. A high uptake of 18F-FDG with a low uptake of somatostatin analog usually indicates poorly differentiated tumors (G3). Starting from these principles, this article discusses theranostic approaches to GEP NETs, taking into account both primary and metastatic lesions.
A Sensor-Based Interaction for Ubiquitous Virtual Reality Systems

In this paper, we propose a sensor-based interaction for ubiquitous virtual reality (U-VR) systems that users are able to interact implicitly or explicitly with through a sensor. Due to the advances in sensor technology, we can utilize sensory data as a means of user interactions. To show the feasibility of the proposed method, we extend the Composar augmented reality (AR) authoring tool to add support for sensor-based interaction. In this way the user can write simple scripts to rapidly prototype interaction with virtual 3D contents through a sensor. We believe that the proposed method provides natural user interactions for U-VR systems.
Free Space Optical Communications via Optical Amplify-and-Forward Relaying

Fading and path loss are the major challenges in practical deployment of free space optical communication systems. In this paper, a cooperative free space communication via an optical amplify-and-forward relay is considered to deal with these challenges. We use photon counting approach to investigate the system bit error probability (BEP) performance and study the effects of atmospheric turbulence, background light, amplified spontaneous emission, and receiver thermal noise on the system performance. We compare the results with those of the multiple-transmitter (MT) system. The results indicate that the performance of the relay-assisted system is much better than that of the MT system in different cases considered. We show that there is an optimum place for the relay from the BEP point of view.
THE EFFECT OF AUREOMYCIN AGAINST BACTERIUM TULARENSE.

Method: A turbid suspension of B. tularense with a density of 4 on the McFarland scale (5) was prepared in tryptose phosphate broth from a 41 hour blood dextrose cystine agar culture. Aliquots of this suspension were added to equal volumes of broth, of aureomycin- HC1 100 micrograms per ml. in distilled water, and aureomycin 1000 micrograms per ml. in distilled water yielding final aureomycin concentrations of 0, 50, and 500 micrograms per ml. The initial pH of the broth was 7.2 and was not changed detectably by addition of aureomycin 50. micrograms per ml. It was reduced only to 7.05 by addition of 500 micrograms per ml. This is well within the pH range for maximal growth of B. tularense. The suspensions were incubated at 370 C. for four hours, after which tenfold serial dilutions in broth were made. a of two the McFarland (5). cul-tured on blood agar for and yielded no growth. serial dilutions in made. inoculated intraperitoneally serial and
Investigation into spatial audio quality of experience in the presence of accompanying video cues with spatial mismatch

This study investigates the metrics for spatial audio quality of experience (QoE) prediction, particularly considering the existence of video whose viewpoint may not match that of the auditory scene. Subjective tests were conducted for 5.1-channel audio quality evaluation following a previously developed testing and prediction methodology, with the addition of accompanying video cues and with the spatial correlation between audio and video as a new variable for the QoE prediction. The first experiment with a synthesized visual cue showed that the spatial mismatch between audio and video affects the perceived audio QoE. A prediction model of the QoE score was suggested through statistical analysis, using the audio-video angular mismatch as well as other known measurable low-level parameters. The model was validated through another set of subjective test using a captured real-life audiovisual content.
A 1.6Gb/s CMOS LVDS transmitter with a programmable pre-emphasis system

A 12 parallel low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) transmitter fabricated in 0.13 μm CMOS is presented. Each LVDS channel can operate over 1.6 Gb/s and includes a programmable pre-emphasis circuit designed to reduce the data-dependent jitter (DDJ) caused by different lengths of PCB traces. Experimental results of the fabricated LVDS confirm the correct operation of the programmable pre-equalization circuit. The power consumption and area per channel is less than 20 mW and 0.084 mm2, respectively.
Detection and Monitoring of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Renal Transplant Patients by Quantitative Real-Time PCR

Objectives: To establish a sensitive and specific real-time PCR for quantitation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in clinical specimens.Subjects and Methods: In a prospective study, CMV DNA was quantified in blood samples of 255 kidney recipients with and without CMV-related symptoms between the years 2000 and 2005 in Kuwait. In a selected group of patients, the effect of anti-CMV chemotherapy was monitored by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: The established qRT-PCR assay had a sensitivity to detect 30 CMV DNA copies. CMV DNA was detected in 54/255 (24%) patients; of these, 17 (31.5%) were asymptomatic, and 37 patients (68.5%) had symptomatic CMV infection. Sequential blood specimens were collected from all CMV-positive patients and tested by CMV pp65 antigenemia and qRT-PCR assays. There was a moderate positive correlation between the two assays (Pearson’s correlation = 0.52). The median CMV viral load measured by qRT-PCR was higher in symptomatic (6.5 × 104 copies/ml) than in asymptomatic (185copies/ml) patients (p = 0.001). The estimated cut-off value of CMV DNA for CMV symptoms/disease was ≧800 copies/ml of blood. Testing of sequential samples from patients treated with symptomatic CMV infection showed that the viral load was significantly reduced after 3 weeks of anti-CMV chemotherapy (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The reported qRT-PCR is a sensitive method for quantitation of CMV DNA in the blood of kidney recipients and can be useful in monitoring the efficacy of anti-CMV therapy.
Analysis of three-conductor baluns using the static capacitance matrix

A coupled, three-conductor TEM network is analyzed in the distributed frequency domain using its static capacitance matrix. The results of the analysis are applied to three specific narrowband baluns used to connect a dipole antenna to its unbalanced coaxial feed line. Although all these structures are narrowband in terms of input impedance, the balun action is theoretically frequency independent. Extensive input impedance and reflection coefficient measurements have been made on the three balun types discussed. Agreement with theoretical predictions varied from good to moderate. In most cases the theoretical model provided good engineering insight, particularly into balun sensitivity to the cross-sectional dimensions of transmission lines. Junction discontinuities are not taken into account in the model, and this is thought to be the major cause of discrepancies. <<ETX>>
Exploratory ECG analysis of driving events using wavelet band metrics

Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals obtained during driving simulations provide an indication of physiological response during complex driving tasks. The present study contributes to the literature on this response through the analysis of features in time-frequency representations, specifically, continuous wavelet transforms (CWTs). The main frequency band in the CWT of ECG signals, which corresponds to the heart rate, was analyzed using dispersion measures and complexity metrics (entropy and sample entropy). Results indicate that different driving conditions produce physiological responses that can be distinguished through features obtained from the CWT, which can be subsequently quantified and subjected to further statistical analysis, and used for exploring physiological responses to experimental conditions.