Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of nasal methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from international human and veterinary surgeons

Purpose. Nasal colonization with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is poorly described for surgeons, despite the increased exposure to nosocomial pathogens and at‐risk patients. This study investigated the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of 26 MRSA isolates cultured from the nares of an international cross‐sectional study of 1166 human and 60 veterinary surgeons. Methodology. All isolates were subjected to agr, spa and multilocus sequence typing, and the presence of 22 virulence factors was screened for by PCR. Additionally, biofilm‐forming ability, haemolytic activity, staphyloxanthin production and antibiotic resistance were determined. The genome of a rifampicin‐resistant MRSA was sequenced. Results. Approximately half of the isolates belonged to well‐described clonal lineages, ST1, ST5, ST8, ST45 and ST59, that have previously been associated with severe infections and increased patient mortality. Two of the three veterinarian MRSA belonged to epidemic livestock‐associated MRSA clonal lineages (ST398 and ST8) previously associated with high transmission potential between animals and humans. The isolates did not display any consistent virulence gene pattern, and 35% of the isolates carried at least one of the Panton‐Valentine leukocidin (lukFS‐PV), exfoliative toxin (eta) or toxic shock syndrome (tst) genes. Resistance to rifampicin was detected in one veterinarian isolate and was found to be due to three mutations in the rpoB gene. Conclusion. Surgeons occupy a critical position in the healthcare profession due to their close contact with patients. In this study, surgeons were found to be colonized with MRSA at low rates, similar to those of the general population, and the colonizing strains were often common clonal lineages.
Using Custom Fuzzy Thesaurus to Incorporate Semantic and Reduce Data Sparsity for Twitter Sentiment Analysis

Considerable research efforts have been devoted to Twitter sentiment analysis in recent years. Given the informal writing style of Twitter, there exists an endless variety of sound vocabulary, slogans, emoticons and special characters that can be used to express one's opinion in a maximum of 140-characters. This results in a sparsity problem making the training of machine learning classifiers from Twitter data a highly challenging task. In this work we propose using sentiment replacement of Twitter slogans and incorporating a fuzzy thesaurus for twitter sentiment classification in order to incorporate semantic as well as solve the sparsity problem. The experimental results show that the proposed method consistently outperforms the baselines in addition to some methods in the literature.
White Masculinity and the Navigation of Privilege: How White Men Attending College Both Use and Negate Privilege

ed by White men, this study focuses on the ways respondents created narratives based in powerblind ideologies as a means of distancing themselves from rewards of Whiteness they expect to gain in their futures. Powerblindness is an expansion of the colorblind racial ideology presented by Bonilla-Silva (2003), but the term “powerblind” is stronger for this study due to the ways respondents ignored or abstracted multiple types of discrimination and inequality, such as racial, gendered, or class inequities, and therefore is relied on more heavily throughout the text. This study details the various narrative contradictions these White men produce as they both claim that the U.S. is meritocratic, while also subtly showing their desire to maintain and benefit from their masculine, White privilege. Evidence for these claims are made in the analysis of the contradictions situated in respondents claims of meritocracy given their endowment of economic, racial, and gendered privilege. Next, I show the ways in which respondents used powerblind ideologies to maintain their beliefs in meritocracy, and then demonstrate how this promoted respondents to frame oppression as the agentic failure to abide by the tenants of the meritocratic ideology. From there, I present respondents’ anxieties around the promotion of workplace diversity, and finally situate the ways that respondents framed privilege given the abundance of the term in academic spaces.
Fatigue in multiple sclerosis: multidimensional assessment and response to symptomatic treatment

Sixty relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were selected on the basis of their score on the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and formed two groups: 40 patients (fatigued MS; MSf) scored above the 75th percentile of a previously assessed representative MS sample (100 patients), and 20 age- and sex-matched patients (nonfatigued MS patients; MSnf) scored below the 25th percentile. The patients underwent clinical evaluation (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)), further assessment of fatigue (Fatigue Impact Scale), scales evaluating depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI)) and neuropsychological tests. All patients were evaluated for muscle fatigability and central activation by means of a biomechanical test of sustained contraction; they also underwent somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The patients of the MSf subgroup were then randomized to one of the following two treatments: 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) 24 mg/day and fluoxetine (FLX) 20 mg/day. After a one-week titration this treatment proceeded for 8 weeks. At the end of the treatment, EDSS, fatigue and depression scores were further evaluated. At baseline, fatigue test scores consistently correlated with depression and cognitive test scores, but not with the fatigability test. Fatigue scores decreased in both treatment groups in a similar way. Due to the design of the study, this cannot be disjoined from a placebo effect. The changes of fatigue scores could not be predicted in the FLX group, whereas in the 4-AP group higher basal fatigability test scores were associated with greater reduction in fatigue scores.
"I Don't Know Why I'm Learning This": Preservice English Teachers' Engagement in a Language Development Course.

Despite the increase of English learners in the U.S. and of standards for linguistically responsive teaching practices, teacher education programs often fall short of preparing preservice teachers to teach diverse learners. In this case study, specifically designed to improve a pedagogical course on English language development, the researchers used qualitative methods to examine preservice English teachers’ perceptions of, and engagement in, instructional pedagogies that were designed to support their learning and apply to their current practicum experiences and teaching careers. Data were collected using observation, survey, and interview methods and were analyzed inductively. Findings indicate that preservice teachers were most engaged when course content was explicitly linked to their teaching experiences and least engaged when those connections were not made evident. The researchers argue that a lack of explicit connections between teacher preparation course content and K-12 classroom pedagogy influences preservice teachers’ perceptions of the value of course content to pedagogy and hinders their linguistically responsive preparedness to teach diverse learners. Implications for teacher preparation course design are proffered.
An isolated ZVS/ZCS flyback converter using the leakage inductance of the coupled inductor

This paper describes a simple and effective way to modify an existing hard-switched flyback power converter into a circuit with zero-voltage switching (ZVS) and zero-current switching (ZCS). The key improvement is to turn the unattractive features of the coupled inductor leakage inductance and snubber capacitor into attractive ones. The coupled inductor leakage inductance and snubber are used to form a quasi-resonant circuit to facilitate ZVS/ZCS of all power devices. The operating principles of the power converter and experimental results are presented.
Capacitor-Loaded Spoof Surface Plasmon for Flexible Dispersion Control and High-Selectivity Filtering

This letter proposes a new spoof surface plasmon transmission line (SSP-TL) using capacitor loading technique. This new SSP-TL features flexible and reconfigurable dispersion control and highly selective filtering performance without resorting to configuration change. Moreover, it requires much smaller linewidth than the conventional SSP-TL for achieving an extremely slow wave (or a highly confined field), which is quite useful for a compact system. To illustrate the design principle, several examples are designed within the frequency range of 2–8 GHz. Both numerical and experimental results are given in comparison with the conventional SSP-TL. It is demonstrated that the proposed technique provides a better performance in size reduction and dispersion reconfigurability.
Spontaneous activity regulates calcium‐dependent K+ current expression in developing ascidian muscle

1 In embryonic ascidian muscle, outward K+ currents develop in two stages: the initial expression of a slowly activating, voltage‐gated K+ current (IKv) near the time of neurulation is followed about 6 h later by a rapidly activating calcium‐activated K+ current (IK(Ca)). During this 6 h interval, inward Ca2+ currents (ICa) appear and the inward rectifier (IK(IR)), the sole resting conductance, is transiently downregulated. These events predict a period of spontaneous activity. The following experiments were designed to test this prediction and to examine the relevance of spontaneous activity for muscle cell development. 2 By recording activity in cell‐attached patches, we have found that muscle cells generate spontaneous action potentials during this 6 h window of time when IK(IR) is downregulated and outward K+ currents are slow. Action potentials occur at a mean frequency of 13.9 min−1. 3 When activity is blocked by the transient application of the Ca2+ channel blocker Cd2+, IK(Ca) fails to develop. This disruption is specific for IK(Ca): IK(IR) and ICa develop normally in activity‐blocked cells. Application of Cd2+ either before or after the window of activity has no effect. 4 The reappearance of IK(IR) and the development of IK(Ca) and the mature form of ICa are all prevented by transcription blockers, with a sensitive period corresponding to the period of activity. 5 These data show that, although the expression of three channel types depends on transcription during the period of spontaneous activity, only the development of IK(Ca) depends on activity.
TOR Mutations Confer Rapamycin Resistance by Preventing Interaction with FKBP12-Rapamycin (*)

The antifungal, immunosuppressive compound rapamycin arrests the cell cycle in G in both yeast cells and T-lymphocytes. Previous genetic studies in yeast identified mutations in three genes, FPR1 (FKBP12), TOR1, and TOR2, which confer rapamycin resistance, and genetic findings implicated the TOR proteins as direct targets of FKBP12-rapamycin. Consistent with this model, we find that modulating TOR1 and TOR2 expression alters rapamycin sensitivity. We describe several TOR2 mutations that confer rapamycin resistance. These mutations prevent FKBP12-rapamycin binding to TOR2, as assayed with the two-hybrid system. We find that TOR1 and the mammalian TOR homologue (mTOR) also bind FKBP12-rapamycin, and mutations corresponding to those in TOR2 similarly block FKBP12-rapamycin binding. We demonstrate that FKBP12 prolyl isomerase activity is not required for FKBP12-rapamycin binding to TOR and that a composite protein-drug surface contacts the TOR proteins. These studies confirm that the TOR proteins are direct targets of FKBP12-rapamycin, reveal that drug-resistant mutations prevent this association, and define structural features of these complexes.
Effect of nitric oxide modulation on systemic haemodynamics and platelet activation determined by P‐selectin expression

Summary. Inhibiting platelet and endothelial nitric oxide production favours platelet adhesion and aggregation, and arterial vasoconstriction. This study investigated the effect of NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME), a stereospecific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, on P‐selectin expression on platelets, platelet‐derived microparticles and platelet–leucocyte aggregates, and on soluble P‐selectin levels. Twelve healthy male volunteers were infused intravenously with L‐NAME and then with a 10% solution of either l‐ or d‐arginine. Blood pressure responses were recorded and whole blood and serum collected at baseline and after each infusion. P‐selectin expression was analysed in all samples by flow cytometry. Serum levels of soluble P‐selectin were batch analysed using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay at the end of the study. P‐selectin expression on platelets, platelet‐derived microparticles and platelet–leucocyte aggregates did not vary significantly from baseline levels following the infusion of L‐NAME or l‐ or d‐arginine. However, endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibition caused a marked elevation of arterial blood pressure (P < 0·01) that was restored to pretreatment values by l‐ but not d‐arginine. Serum levels of the soluble form decreased significantly (P = 0·001) following the infusion of l‐ and d‐arginine compared with samples taken at baseline and following L‐NAME infusion. In conclusion, inhibition of constitutive nitric oxide synthase in the endothelium and platelets produced significant increases in blood pressure but did not alter platelet membrane expression of P‐selectin.
Chikungunya virus and the safety of plasma products

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreaks were previously restricted to parts of Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. In 2007, however, the first autochthonous CHIKV transmission was reported in Europe. High‐level viremia, a mosquito vector that is also present in large urban areas of Europe and America, and uncertainty around the resistance of this Alphavirus toward physiochemical inactivation processes raised concerns about the safety of plasma derivatives. To verify the safety margins of plasma products with respect to CHIKV, commonly used virus inactivation steps were investigated for their effectiveness to inactivate this newly emerging virus.
Empowering Parents Through Classroom Participation

Educators are ever searching for strategies to increase student learning, and research has shown that meaningful parent participation in schools is an effective way to support academic and social-emotional growth in children. Many parents, however, do not participate in their children’s education for a variety of reasons, and the current research sought to determine whether inviting parents into a grade two classroom to support literacy centres empowered parents to be more active in all aspects of their child’s education. The author used a qualitative, case study design involving classroom observations and interviews with one teacher and four parent participants. From the interviews emerged six themes surrounding the benefits and challenges of classroom participation, including Making a Difference, Increased Understanding, Level of Comfort, Communication, Time Constraints, and Training Required. Results show that although the parents noted there were challenges to be overcome, each participant interview revealed that the process of participating in their child’s classroom empowered the parents to better understand the language and procedures of the school, and thereby more effectively support their children’s learning at home. These findings suggest that it is well worth the effort for schools to be purposeful in overcoming parents’ barriers to participation and in developing relationships of trust for the benefit of all learners. EMPOWERING PARENTS v Table of
An MIP Formulation for Joint Market-Clearing of Energy and Reserves Based on Ramp Scheduling

The day-ahead unit-commitment (UC)-based market-clearing (MC) is widely acknowledged to be the most economically efficient mechanism for scheduling resources in power systems. In conventional UC problems, power schedules are used to represent the staircase energy schedule. However, the realizability of this schedule cannot be guaranteed due to the violation of ramping limits, and hence conventional UC formulations do not manage the flexibility of generating units efficiently. This paper provides a UC-based MC formulation, drawing a clear distinction between power and energy. Demand and generation are modeled as hourly piecewise-linear functions representing their instantaneous power trajectories. The schedule of generating unit output is no longer a staircase function, but a smoother function that respects all ramp constraints. The formulation represents in detail the operating reserves (online and offline), their time deployment limits (e.g., 15 min), their potential substitution, and their limits according to the actual ramp schedule. Startup and shutdown power trajectories are also modeled, and thus a more efficient energy and reserves schedule is obtained. The model is formulated as a mixed-integer programming (MIP) problem, and was tested with a 10-unit and 100-unit system in which its computational performance was compared with a traditional UC formulation.
A three-bit threshold inverter quantization based CMOS flash ADC

This paper presents a simple and upfront design of a three-bit threshold inverter quantization (TIQ) based flash analog to digital converter (ADC) chip. This TIQ based ADC does not require any on-chip or off-chip reference voltage as needed in other ADCs. Switching voltage of an inverter can be set to a required input voltage by optimizing the width-ratio of the nMOS and pMOS transistors in CMOS technology. The chip was implemented and simulated in Cadence Virtuoso and the layout design of the ADC chip was accomplished in Cadence Layout Suite in AMI's C5 process.
On the distribution of the SINR in precoded multicarrier systems using linear MMSE equalization

To calculate the unconditional bit error probability directly, the Signal to Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) distribution of a communications system must be known. However, for precoded systems employing Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) equalization, a suitable distribution has not been found yet. In this paper, we propose, as an approximation for the SINR of a precoded multicarrier system employing linear MMSE equalization, the use of the lognormal distribution with the smallest Kullback-Leibler distance to the observed SINR distribution. Simulation results show that the lognormal distribution matches accurately the SINR distribution. The Bit Error Rate (BER) performances with analytical computations using the lognormal distribution are very close to Monte Carlo simulations, even for high SNR values.
Interleukin-17 and Prostaglandin E2 Are Involved in Formation of an M2 Macrophage-Dominant Microenvironment in Lung Cancer

Introduction: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are divided into M1 and M2 macrophages. M1 macrophages inhibit tumor growth, whereas M2 macrophages promote tumor growth and metastasis. The aim of this study was to examine the possible causes leading to the formation of an M2-macrophage–dominant tumor microenvironment in non–small-cell lung cancer. Methods: Forty-eight archived lung tumor samples were examined for the expression of interleukin-17 (IL-17) receptors, IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) and IL-17 receptor C (IL-17RC), and the number of TAMs using immunohistochemical staining. Twenty fresh lung tumors and matched normal lung tissues were examined for expression of IL-17, cyclooxygenase-2, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis. Macrophage-migration assays were performed using fresh lung tumor tissues and IL-17 as chemoattractants. Induction of M2-macrophage differentiation was analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: TAMs expressed IL-17RA and IL-17RC. Lung tumors expressed higher levels of IL-17, cyclooxygenase-2, and PGE2, compared with normal lung tissues. Lung tumor tissues attracted migration of mouse RAW264.7 macrophages and primary peritoneal macrophages through IL-17, which was mediated by IL-17RA and IL-17RC. IL-17 did not induce either M1- or M2-macrophage differentiation. However, human lung cancer A549 cells strongly induced M2-macrophage differentiation of RAW264.7 macrophages when the two cell lines were cocultured. The inductive factor secreted by A549 cells was identified to be PGE2. Conclusions: IL-17 recruits macrophages, and PGE2 induces M2-macrophage differentiation, hence the increased levels of IL-17 and PGE2 in lung cancer contribute to the formation of an M2-macrophage–dominant tumor microenvironment.
Threatened Miscarriage as a Predictor of Obstetric Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate prospectively the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome in women presenting with first-trimester threatened miscarriage. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed on 214 women presenting with bleeding in the first trimester and 214 asymptomatic age-matched controls. Main outcome measures included gestational age and weight at delivery and incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome. RESULTS: The first-trimester miscarriage rate, after confirmation of viability in the threatened miscarriage group, was 9.3%. Compared with controls, women presenting with threatened miscarriage were more likely to deliver prematurely, 5.6% compared with 11.9%, respectively, (relative risk 2.29, 95% confidence interval 1.4–4.6), and this was most likely to be between 34 and 37 weeks. They were also more likely to have preterm prelabor rupture of membranes, 1.9% compared with 7%, respectively, (relative risk 3.72, 95% confidence interval 1.2–11.2). Overall, there was no difference in mean birth weight and in the incidence of other obstetric complications between the 2 groups; however, women in the threatened miscarriage group were more likely to deliver neonates between 1,501 g and 2,000 g (P = .04). CONCLUSION: Women with threatened miscarriage in the first trimester are at increased risk of premature delivery, and this risk factor should be taken into consideration when deciding upon antenatal surveillance and management of their pregnancies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-0