Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Whole-Genome Sequence of the Human Pathogen Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 12 Strain 570-CO-H

ABSTRACT We present the genomic sequence of the human pathogen Legionella pneumophila serogroup 12 strain 570-CO-H (ATCC 43290), a clinical isolate from the Colorado Department of Health, Denver, CO. This is the first example of a genome sequence of L. pneumophila from a serogroup other than serogroup 1. We highlight the similarities and differences relative to six genome sequences that have been reported for serogroup 1 strains.
Characterization of SSR42, a Novel Virulence Factor Regulatory RNA That Contributes to the Pathogenesis of a Staphylococcus aureus USA300 Representative

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that is capable of producing an expansive repertoire of cell surface-associated and extracellular virulence factors. Herein we describe an S. aureus regulatory RNA, SSR42, which modulates the expression of approximately 80 mRNA species, including several virulence factors, in S. aureus strains UAMS-1 and USA300 (LAC) during stationary-phase growth. Mutagenesis studies revealed that SSR42 codes for an 891-nucleotide RNA molecule and that the molecule's regulatory effects are mediated by the full-length transcript. Western blotting and functional assays indicated that the regulatory effects of SSR42 correlate with biologically significant changes in corresponding protein abundances. Further, in S. aureus strain LAC, SSR42 is required for wild-type levels of erythrocyte lysis, resistance to human polymorphonuclear leukocyte killing, and pathogenesis in a murine model of skin and soft tissue infection. Taken together, our results indicate that SSR42 is a novel S. aureus regulatory RNA molecule that contributes to the organism's ability to cause disease.
Prosthodontic management of microstomia employing sectional impression tray

Prosthetic rehabilitation of microstomia patients presents difficulties at all stages as the maximal oral opening is smaller than the size of a complete denture. Such a condition may often result from the surgical treatment of orofacial cancer, cleft lip, trauma, burns, Plummer-Vinson syndrome or scleroderma. Microstomia frequently leads to several incapacitating sequelae such as the inability to masticate, speech problems, impaired delivery of oral hygiene or dental care, and psychological problems secondary to facial disfigurement. Several techniques have been described to use when either standard impression trays or the denture itself becomes too difficult to place and remove from the mouth. This article focuses on a novel fabrication of maxillary sectional trays that could enable easier and competent impression making in a patient with limited oral opening.
Identification of Ata, a Multifunctional Trimeric Autotransporter of Acinetobacter baumannii

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter baumannii has recently emerged as a highly troublesome nosocomial pathogen, especially in patients in intensive care units and in those undergoing mechanical ventilation. We have identified a surface protein adhesin of A. baumannii, designated the Acinetobacter trimeric autotransporter (Ata), that contains all of the typical features of trimeric autotransporters (TA), including a long signal peptide followed by an N-terminal, surface-exposed passenger domain and a C-terminal domain encoding 4 β-strands. To demonstrate that Ata encoded a TA, we created a fusion protein in which we replaced the entire passenger domain of Ata with the epitope tag V5, which can be tracked with specific monoclonal antibodies, and demonstrated that the C-terminal 101 amino acids of Ata were capable of exporting the heterologous V5 tag to the surface of A. baumannii in a trimeric form. We found that Ata played a role in biofilm formation and bound to various extracellular matrix/basal membrane (ECM/BM) components, including collagen types I, III, IV, and V and laminin. Moreover, Ata mediated the adhesion of whole A. baumannii cells to immobilized collagen type IV and played a role in the survival of A. baumannii in a lethal model of systemic infection in immunocompetent mice. Taken together, these results reveal that Ata is a TA of A. baumannii involved in virulence, including biofilm formation, binding to ECM/BM proteins, mediating the adhesion of A. baumannii cells to collagen type IV, and contributing to the survival of A. baumannii in a mouse model of lethal infection.
Genome Sequence of a Serotype b Non-JP2 Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Strain, ANH9381, from a Periodontally Healthy Individual

ABSTRACT Gram-negative Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans can be distinguished (based on the promoter structure of the leukotoxin operon) into JP2 and non-JP2 genotypes, with the former found to be more pathogenic than the latter. Here we report the first complete genome sequence of a serotype b non-JP2 strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans.
Discrepancy between coronary artery calcium score and HeartScore in middle-aged Danes: the DanRisk study

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is an independent and incremental risk marker. This marker has previously not been compared to the HeartScore risk model. Design: A random sample of 1825 citizens (men and women, 50 or 60 years of age) was invited for screening. Methods: Using the HeartScore model, the 10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular events based on gender, age, smoking, systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol was estimated. A low risk was defined as <5%. The CAC score was calculated from a non-contrast enhanced cardiac-CT scan and given in Agatston U. Results: A total of 1257 (69%) of the invited subjects were interested in the screening. Due to previous cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus, 101 were excluded. Of the remaining 1156, 47% were men and 53% women; one half were 50 years old and the other half 60 years old. A low HeartScore was found in 901 of which 334 (37%) had CAC. A high HeartScore was recorded in 251 of which 80 (32%) did not have any CAC. High HeartScores and CAC were significantly more common in males than females. Conclusions: CAC is common in healthy middle-aged Danes with a low HeartScore, and, on the contrary, high-risk subjects very frequently do not have CAC. The therapeutic and prognostic implications of these observations remain to be clarified.
Fis, an accessorial factor for transcriptional activation of the mar (multiple antibiotic resistance) promoter of Escherichia coli in the presence of the activator MarA, SoxS, or Rob

Transcription of the multiple antibiotic resistance marRAB operon increases when one of the sequence-related activators, MarA, SoxS, or Rob, binds to the "marbox" centered at -61.5 relative to the transcriptional start site. Previous deletion analyses showed that an adjacent upstream "accessory region" was needed to augment the marbox-dependent activation. To analyze the roles of the marbox and accessory regions on mar transcription, thirteen promoters, each with a different 5-bp transversion of the -96 to -32 sequence, were synthesized, fused to lacZ, and assayed for beta-galactosidase production in single-copy lysogens with appropriate genotypes. The accessory region is shown here to be a binding site for Fis centered at -81 and to bind Fis, a small DNA-binding and -bending protein, with a Kd of approximately 5 nM. The binding of MarA to the marbox and that of Fis to its site were independent of each other. MarA, SoxS, and Rob each activated the mar promoter 1.5-to 2-fold when it had a wild-type marbox but Fis was absent. In the presence of MarA, SoxS, or Rob, Fis further enhanced the activity of the promoter twofold provided the promoter was also capable of binding Fis. However, in the absence of MarA, SoxS, or Rob or in the absence of a wild-type marbox, Fis nonspecifically lowered the activity of the mar promoter about 25% whether or not a wild-type Fis site was present. Thus, Fis acts as an accessory transcriptional activator at the mar promoter.
Salmonella Host Cell Invasion Emerged by Acquisition of a Mosaic of Separate Genetic Elements, IncludingSalmonella Pathogenicity Island 1 (SPI1), SPI5, and sopE2

ABSTRACT Salmonella spp. possess a conserved type III secretion system encoded within the pathogenicity island 1 (SPI1; centisome 63), which mediates translocation of effector proteins into the host cell cytosol to trigger responses such as bacterial internalization. Several translocated effector proteins are encoded in other regions of the Salmonella chromosome. It remains unclear how this complex chromosomal arrangement of genes for the type III apparatus and the effector proteins emerged and how the different effector proteins cooperate to mediate virulence. By Southern blotting, PCR, and phylogenetic analyses of highly diverseSalmonella spp. , we show here that effector protein genes located in the core of SPI1 are present in allSalmonella lineages. Surprisingly, the same holds true for several effector protein genes located in distant regions of theSalmonella chromosome, namely, sopB(SPI5, centisome 20), sopD (centisome 64), andsopE2 (centisomes 40 to 42). Our data demonstrate thatsopB, sopD, and sopE2, along with SPI1, were already present in the last common ancestor of all contemporary Salmonella spp. Analysis ofSalmonella mutants revealed that host cell invasion is mediated by SopB, SopE2, and, in the case of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL1344, by SopE: a sopB sopEsopE2-deficient triple mutant was incapable of inducing membrane ruffling and was >100-fold attenuated in host cell invasion. We conclude that host cell invasion emerged early during evolution by acquisition of a mosaic of genetic elements (SPI1 itself, SPI5 [sopB], and sopE2) and that the last common ancestor of all contemporary Salmonella spp. was probably already invasive.
A Variable Curvature Continuum Kinematics for Kinematic Control of the Bionic Handling Assistant

We present a new variable curvature continuum kinematics for multisection continuum robots with arbitrarily shaped backbone curves assembled from sections with three degrees of freedom (DoFs) (spatial bending and extension, no torsion). For these robots, the forward kinematics and the differential forward kinematics are derived. The proposed model approach is capable of reproducing both the constant and variable backbone curvature in a closed form. It describes the deformation of a single section with a finite number of serially connected circular arcs. This yields a section model with piecewise constant and, thus, a variable section curvature. Model accuracy and its suitability for kinematic real-time control applications are demonstrated with simulations and experimental data. To solve the redundant inverse kinematics problem, a local resolution of redundancy at the velocity level through the use of the robot's Jacobian matrix is presented. The Jacobian is derived analytically, including a concept for regularization in singular configurations. Experimental data are recorded with Festo's Bionic Handling Assistant. This continuum robot is chosen for experimental validation, as it consists of a variable backbone curvature because of its conically tapering shape.
Effect of exercise training on vascular endothelial function in patients with stable coronary artery disease: a randomized controlled trial

Background: We aim to investigate the effect of exercise training on endothelial function and exercise capacity in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods and results: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted to determine the effects of an 8-week exercise training programme (n = 32) vs. controls (n = 32) on brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in patients with stable CAD. After 8 weeks, patients received exercise training had significant improvements in FMD (1.84%, p = 0.002) and exercise capacity (2.04 metabolic equivalents, p < 0.001) compared with controls. The change in FMD correlated inversely with baseline FMD (r = −0.41, p = 0.001) and positively with the increase in exercise capacity (r = 0.35, p = 0.005). After adjusting for confounders, every 1 metabolic equivalent increase in exercise capacity was associated with 0.55% increase in FMD. Furthermore, patients received exercise training had significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and decreased diastolic blood pressure and resting heart rate compared with controls. However, exercise training did not alter high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, oxidative stress measured as superoxide dismutase and 8-isoprostane, and CD34/KDR + endothelial progenitor cell count. Subgroup analysis showed that FMD was significantly improved only in CAD patients with baseline low exercise capacity (<median value of 7.65 metabolic equivalents, p = 0.004) but not in those with normal exercise capacity. Conclusion: Exercise training improved FMD and exercise capacity in stable CAD patients independent of the changes in inflammation, oxidative stress, or endothelial progenitor cells. The beneficial effects of exercise training on FMD and exercise capacity are inter-related, and more pronounced in those with baseline impaired exercise capacity.
Association of body composition and left ventricular dimensions in elite athletes

Background: Correction for body composition is recommended for appropriate interpretation of equivocally altered cardiac dimensions. We sought to investigate the impact of body composition on athletés heart. Methods: Left ventricular mass (LVM), septal wall thickness (SWT) and end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) were measured by echocardiography in 1051 elite athletes (26% female, aged 18–40 years) and in 338 sedentary controls matched for age, gender and body size. Body fat was determined by skinfold thickness measurements. Results: Normative ranges are provided for LVM, LVEDD and SWT scaled to body surface area (BSA), height, height2.7 and fat-free mass (FFM). The strongest correlation was found for FFM (r = 0.70; 0.64; 0.49; p < 0.001 each). LVM, LVEDD and SWT differed significantly (p < 0.05) between athletes of low, moderate and high dynamic disciplines. Correcting LVEDD for height2.7 eliminated these differences (p > 0.05), whereas LVM and SWT remained significantly increased in high dynamic athletes despite correction for body size. Gender differences were consistently eliminated by scaling LVEDD to FFM0.33 and SWT to BSA, but scaled LVM remained significantly increased in male athletes. Compared to sedentary controls, significant differences in LVEDD and SWT disappeared after correction for height2.7 and FFM, but LVM again remained significantly higher in athletes. Conclusions: Adaptation of left ventricular dimensions to exercise training is closely related to body composition, in particular to FFM. The normative ranges for LVEDD, SWT and LVM scaled to body size aid interpretation of equivocal alterations in elite athletes. However, the increase of LVM in particular reveals exercise-induced adaptations beyond these associations.
A microprocessor-based optical character recognition check reader

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) technology has widely been used for processing bank checks. Since the MICR character set is a special type font, and the ink is also readable by human being, optical approach can also be used. This report will describe the design of a low-cost, but highly accurate, microprocessor-based optical character recognition (OCR) check reader. The performance of our OCR reader is affected by a number of factors, mainly the noise generated by the lens system and the colour image at the check background. In this paper we describe how our software solution can alleviate these problems. As speed is another concern, special attention is paid to the design of recognition algorithm, such as the avoidance of floating point arithmetics, hardware limitations, etc.
Impact of healthy lifestyle on mortality in people with normal blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and C-reactive protein

Background: To investigate the impact of healthy lifestyle on cardiovascular risk and mortality in people without a history of cardiovascular disease and without elevation of lipid, blood pressure, or inflammatory markers. Design: Cohort study. Methods: Study of a diverse sample of adults in the NHANES III follow-up Mortality Survey, to determine the benefit of adhering to healthy lifestyle habits (five or more fruits and vegetables/day, regular exercise, or being non-obese (body mass index 18.5–29.9 kg/m2), no current smoking, moderate alcohol consumption) in adults without common cardiovascular risk factors such as elevated cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, LDL, cholesterol >130 mg/dl), inflammation (C-reactive protein, CRP, >3.0 mg/l, or hypertension (blood pressure >140/90 mmHg). Results: Of 11,841 participants, 14.9% were adherent to all five healthy habits. After controlling for age, race, and gender, individuals with lower LDL cholesterol (HR 6.33, 95% CI 2.80–14.30), low CRP (HR 3.48, 95% CI 2.23–5.41), or normal blood pressure (HR 2.87, 95% CI 1.58–5.20) and 0–1 healthy habits had significantly higher all-cause (shown) and cardiovascular mortality than people adhering to all five healthy habits. People without common risk factors and lacking only 1–2 of the healthy habits remained at higher risk of all-cause mortality. Conclusions: People without a history of cardiovascular disease who lack common cardiovascular risk factors remain at significantly greater risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality if they do not adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Strategies to encourage adopting healthy lifestyles should be implemented among individuals across all risk levels.
Dynamic Modeling of Bellows-Actuated Continuum Robots Using the Euler–Lagrange Formalism

In the previous decade, multiple useful approaches for kinematic models of continuum manipulators were successfully developed. However, dynamic modeling approaches needed for fast simulations and the development of model-based controller design are not powerful enough yet-especially for spatial manipulators with multiple sections. Therefore, a practicable lumped mass model similar to common dynamic models of rigid-link manipulators is needed, which can be used for simulations and model-based control design. The model incorporates mechanical interconnections of parallel and serially connected bellows and uses constant curvature kinematics and its analytical derivatives to balance forces and energies in a global reference frame. The parameters of the resulting model are identified with measurements before the simulation results are experimentally validated. The obtained dynamic model can be used to both simulate the manipulator dynamics and calculate the inverse dynamics needed for model-based controller design or path planning.
Obstetric ultrasound education for the developing world: A learning partnership with the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology

The ultrasound techniques in pregnancy e-learning project is an online resource commissioned and supported by the Education Committee of the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB). This currently consists of 10 e-learning sessions aimed at midwives and other health workers in developing countries where WFUMB has Educational Centres of Excellence, and in particular at those based mainly in rural communities at considerable distance from urban training centres. The project covers all of the basics of obstetric ultrasound such as fetal and maternal anatomy, ultrasound techniques, assessment in both early and late pregnancy, prediction of pregnancy complications and identification of common abnormalities that might interfere with delivery. The e-learning project complements a wider training programme which covers operator skills and machine controls, in order to minimise the time that the professional has to leave their rural, often poorly staffed, workplace to attend classroom-based courses in the city. Each session outlines often complex concepts using simple diagrams, interactive exercises and cine clips. Tips, tricks and best practice guidelines are provided in simple terms.
Parvovirus among Patients with Cytopenia of Unknown Origin in Brazil: a Case-Control Study

ABSTRACT The molecular prevalence of human parvovirus B19V (B19V) in bone marrow (BM) samples from 120 cases with cytopenias of unknown etiology was compared with that in samples from 45 BM donors (control group 1) and 120 oncohematological patients (control group 2) to determine the role that B19V genotypes may play in unexplained cytopenias. Of the 285 participants, the BM samples of 39 (13.7%) contained B19V DNA (21 with genotype 1, 5 with genotype 2, and 13 with genotype 3). The prevalences of B19V were similar between case and control subjects (15.0% versus 12.7%, respectively). Genotypes 2 and 3 were associated with older age and were detected in similar proportions between case and control group 2 subjects. The results of this study do not support a role for B19V genotype variants in the etiology of unexplained cytopenias.
Feasibility Studies of a New Event Selection Method to Improve Spatial Resolution of Compton Imaging for Medical Applications

A Compton imaging method for medical applications that includes new energy determination and data filtering techniques has been tested using several point sources with known emission lines. Using a prototype Compton camera, a distance-of-closest approach technique has been employed to determine the initial energy of the incoming <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\gamma }\text{s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and to ensure the reconstructed source position is within an acceptable distance from the known <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\gamma }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> source location. Further analysis is done by implementing a Compton line filtering technique, keeping only those interactions whose deposited energy in the first interaction matches the theoretical energy deposition predicted by the Compton equation. Using this new event filtering method, we see improvements in the full width at half maximum in the lateral profiles of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {\gamma }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> point sources of up to 70% over standard Compton imaging methods, as well as achievable spatial resolutions in the reconstructed images of better than 2 mm. In addition, this new Compton imaging method was able to reconstruct an extended source of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {\gamma }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> rays emitted during irradiation of a water tank with a clinical proton radiotherapy beam.
Fatal Invasive Infection with Fungemia Due to Microascus cirrosus after Heart and Lung Transplantation in a Patient with Cystic Fibrosis

ABSTRACT Scopulariopsis species are rarely but increasingly recognized as opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised patients. We report on a patient suffering from cystic fibrosis who developed disseminated fungal infection due to a rare Scopulariopsis species, Microascus cirrosus, after heart and lung transplantation. Despite antifungal combination therapy with voriconazole and caspofungin, the patient died 4 weeks after transplantation. Diagnostic difficulties and optimal management of disseminated Scopulariopsis/Microascus infections are discussed.