Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AmpC, oprD Expression Analysis in β-lactam Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates 1 from a Tertiary Level Hospital in Ecuador

espanolLos mecanismos innatos y adquiridos de resistencia a los antibioticos en Pseudomonas representan un reto para los medicos que buscan una quimioterapia oportuna y eficaz. Esto es par- ticularmente importante en las areas de cuidados intesnsivos de los hospitales. Este estudio esta dirigido a lograr una comprension a nivel molecular de dos de los mas importantes mecanismos de resistencia a los farmacos en Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cien aislados clinicos de Pseudomonas aeruginosa se obtuvieron de un hospital de tercer nivel en Quito, Ecuador. Se analizo la expresion de ampC y oprD mediante PCR cuantitativa en tiempo real. Se realizo una comparacion entre los perfiles de expresion ampC y oprD y los fenotipos obtenidos en la prueba de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana (AST), con mas del 50% de los aislados con perfiles concordantes para la expresion ampC y oprD. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la expresion ampC y oprD podria proporcionar informacion util sobre mecanismos de resistencia molecular en cepas que estan circulando en Ecuador. Sin embargo, los estudios a mayor escala pueden aclarar los mecanismos de resistencia a los farmacos para establecer el tratamiento adecuado. EnglishInnate and acquired antibiotic resistance mechanisms in Pseudomonas present a challenge for clini- cians looking for timely and effective chemotherapy. This is particularly important in critical care hospital settings. This study is aimed at achieving a deeper understanding of two of the most important drug resistance mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the molecular level. One hundred clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were obtained from a tertiary level hospital in Quito, Ecuador. Expression of ampC and oprD was analysed through quan- titative real-time PCR assays. A comparison between the ampC and oprD expression profiles and the phenotypes in antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was conducted, with more than 50% of the isolates having concordant profiles for both ampC and oprD expression. Our results suggest that ampC and oprD expression might provide useful information about molecular resistance mechanisms in strains which are circulating in Ecuador. However, larger scale studies could clarify drug resistance mechanisms in order to guide targeted treatment.
Trends in Annual Survival of Steller’s Eiders Molting at Izembek Lagoon on the Alaska Peninsula, 1993–2006

Izembek Lagoon, located on the Alaska Peninsula, is an important molting area for the Pacific population of Steller's Eiders (Polysticta stelleri) and was the site of consistent banding effort during 1993 - 20 06. We used Pradel mark-recapture models to estimate annual survival and population growth rates for adult Steller's Eiders molting at Izembek Lagoon. We designed 32 models that included effects of sex and year on survival, recapture rate, and seniority, as well as potential trends in survival and seniority. The top model incorporated a two-phase trend (1993 - 9 8, 1999 - 2 003) in survival and seniority for each sex and fully sex- and year-specific recapture rates. Average annual adult survival was estimated at 0.86 (SE = 0.030) for females and 0.87 (SE = 0.018) for males. Average annual population growth rates since 1998 were estimated to be approximately 1.0 for both sexes. A brief warming event in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (1997 - 9 8) coincided with the lowest estimates of annual survival, while a subsequent return to cooler conditions in the Bering Sea coincided with the highest estimates and an increasing trend in annual survival.
Radical Post-humanism

This article uses the work of Friedrich Kittler to address the ways in which media technologies underpin and structure the basis of ‘human’ existence and understanding. Kittler’s ‘media materialism’ is explored through four main influences: the information theory of Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver, the media analysis of Marshall McLuhan, the psychoanalytic theory of Jacques Lacan, and Michel Foucault’s work on power and discourse. These figures are used, in turn, to draw into question the materiality of information technology, and, following this, to develop a post-human approach to media analysis. The final section of this article considers the challenges such an approach poses to the humanistic bias of mainstream sociology and media studies.
Price Bundling in Online Travel Markets: An Exploratory Study

PRICE BUNDLING IN ONLINE TRAVEL MARKETS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY SEPTEMBER 2007 JINHOO KIM, B.A., SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY M.S., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor David C. Bojanic Price bundling, offering two or more separate products/services together in a single package at a different price from the sum of the components’ prices, is one of the most prevalent marketing practices in many industries, including hospitality and travel. Virtually all types of firms in the hospitality and travel industry, from suppliers such as hotels and airlines to intermediaries such as travel agents, are encouraging customers to purchase travel “packages” rather than a single component of travel. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the practice of price bundling by online travel agents is associated with actual monetary savings to consumers. Conventional economics theories generally assume that price bundling results in consumer savings in comparison with purchasing the same component products separately, and this is what travel agents are highlighting in their advertisements for selling travel packages. This study also investigated whether the magnitude of bundle discounts vary by four relevant variables such as travel agent, destination city, hotel class, and the timing of purchase.
Electron cyclotron heating during ECRH-assisted pre-ionization in a tokamak

In this research, we investigate electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) for low-energy electrons analytically and numerically, which is applicable to ECRH-assisted plasma start-up in a tokamak. From the previous experimental studies, it is well known that the first harmonic ECRH is more effective than the second harmonic ECRH. In this work, we develop an analytic model of ECRH in the start-up process and present comparisons of efficiency between the first harmonic and the second harmonic. It is found that electrons gain a large amount of energy from the waves at the first harmonic resonance up to several hundred electronvolts. However, electrons gain a large amount of energy from the waves only up to ∼10 eV and the energy gain starts decreasing afterwards at the second harmonic resonance. When seed electrons are heated from room temperature to a temperature far above the ionization energy, the seed electrons can bring about an avalanche of electrons. Thus, pre-ionization with the second harmonic can be delayed since electrons need more time to be heated up to the breakdown temperature due to the slow heating speed compared with the first harmonic ECRH.
Partitioned Particle Swarm Optimization

The particle swarm optimization (PSO) is a population-based optimization method inspired by flocking behavior of birds and human social interactions. So far, numerous modifications of PSO algorithm have been published, which make the PSO method more complex. Several improved PSO versions succeed in keeping the diversity of the particles during the searching process, but at the expense of convergence speed. This paper is aimed at increasing the rate of convergence and diversity of solutions in the population via two easy techniques: (a) Applying improved acceleration coefficients (b) Dividing search space into blocks. In particular, the second technique is efficient in the case of functions with optimal design variables situated in the one block. Hence, instead of proposing more complex variant of PSO, a simplified novel technique, called Partitioned Particle Swarm Optimizer (PPSO), has been proposed. In order to find optimal coefficients of this method, an extensive set of experiments were conducted. Experimental results and analysis demonstrate that PPSO outperforms nine well-known particle swarm optimization algorithms with regard to global search.
Comparative study on s-LPS and bp26 based iELISA for human brucellosis

Brucellosis is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by members of the genus Brucella and remains a serious cause of human illness fromlivestock. Presently used sero-diagnostic tests depend upon the smooth lipopolysaccharide (sLPS), which cross react with other GramÂÂnegative bacteria resulting in lowspecificity. To overcome this, several recombinant outer membrane proteins (OMP) have been tried as diagnostic antigen (s) in ELISA. In the present study, the ORF (753 bp product) of BP 26 protein was amplified fromBrucella suis strain 1330, cloned in pET32a vector and expressed in BL21 E.coli hostcell. The expressed protein was purified by Ni-NTAcolumn and characterized by SDS-PAGE andWestern blot analysis. The purified recombinant protein (rbp26) antigen was tested in indirect ELISA (iELISA) and specificity was checked with E. coli (O157 H7), 17 salmonella and five Yersinia entericolitica reference sera. Further, rbp26 based standardized ELISA was evaluated with serum samples (n=626) collected fromrisk group individuals (veterinarians) using two conjugates IgM and IgG for diagnosis of brucellosis. Comparative evaluation of the developed assay with RBPT and sLPS based ELISA was carried out. In RBPT, 60 (9.5%) and in sLPS antigen based iELISA-IgM36 (5.75%) and iELISA-IgG 122 (19.48%) were positive, respectively.Whereas in rbp26 based ELISA 18 (2.87%) and 66 (10.54%) were positive in IgM and IgG ELISA, respectively.
RF ENZ Dielectric Waveguide

Recently, it has been shown possible to tunnel the flow of EM energy trough a slab (or a rod) made out of an ENZ material, transversal dimension of which can be arbitrarily smaller than a wavelength. Here, a complementary structure (a dielectric slab of subwavelength thickness), embedded within an ENZ metamaterial) is analyzed. Numerical results revealed behaviour similar to the behaviour of an ordinary dielectric waveguide, but with considerably longer guiding wavelength (for a fixed width of a core slab). Numerical analysis is complemented by the measurements on the RF scaled replica of an ENZ waveguide, operating in 4 GHz frequency band.
Popularity functions for Portugal

The paper analyses the political and economic determinants of the Portuguese political entities’ popularity, following Veiga (1998), the only published study on popularity functions for Portugal. After a description of the recent evolution and structure of the Portuguese political system, popularity functions are estimated for the Assembly, Government, Prime Minister, and President, using OLS, ARIMAX and SUR with AR components. Strong evidence is fou nd in favor of the responsibility hypothesis, with inflation and, especially, unemployment affecting popularity levels. Results support the existence of popularity erosion over consecutive terms and of honeymoon effects. Ideological issues or support in pa rliament do not seem to be taken into account in the evaluations of incumbents’ economic performance.
RAPD analysis of genetic diversity among Lithuanian populations of Impatiens glandulifera.

In some Asian countries, the seeds of Himalayan balsam or policeman’s helmet, Impatiens glandulifera Royle are harvested as a food source. First introduced to Europe in 1838–1839, I. glandulifera quickly became a garden favourite and later on a prodigious weed. Nowadays I. glandulifera is highly invasive in almost whole Europe and occurs in various habitats. So far, little has been known about the genetic diversity of I. glandulifera in the Baltic region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability of Lithuanian populations of I. glandulifera differing in geography or habitats by the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), using 8 primers. At the species level, all DNA bands (188) were polymorphic. Among populations of I. glandulifera genetic parameters ranged in the following intervals: 40–56% of polymorphic DNA bands, 0.115–0.165 for Nei’s gene diversity, 0.179–0.255 for Shannon’s information index. Pairwise genetic distances between populations ranged in the interval 0.088–0.259. AMoVA showed significant genetic differentiation of I. glandulifera populations in Lithuania (ΦPT = 0.511, p ≤ 0.01). Percentage of polymorphic DNA bands (generated by RAPD primers) of the populations correlated negatively with the site’s mean temperature for vegetation season (r = −0.535, p < 0.015). only for one population (Palanga population located near the Baltic sea) out of 20, significant relations were found between this population genetic and geographic distances to the other populations (r = −0.755, p < 0.001). Genetic distance-based cluster analyses for 400 individuals indicated 4 major groups of populations, among which there was no clear geographical pattern. our RAPD analyses indicate multiple introduction of this species in Lithuania. Presumably several different ways of invasion of I. glandulifera took place: natural run and predisposing it intentional and unintentional dispersal by human.
Financialization of Agricultural Commodity Markets: Do Financial Data Help to Forecast Agricultural Prices?

The dramatic rise in commodity index investment have made many market analysts and researchers believe that commodity markets have undergone a financialization process that forged a closer link between commodity and financial markets. I empirically test whether this hypothesis is true in a forecasting context by using high-frequency financial data to forecast monthly US corn prices. Specific financial series examined include the Baltic Dry Index, the US exchange rate, the Standard and Poor’s 500 market index, the 3-month US Treasury bill interest rate, and crude oil futures prices. Using a recently developed statistical model that deals with mixed-frequency data, I find that while some improvements may be made when including high-frequency financial data in the forecasting model, the improvements in mean-squared prediction error and directional accuracy using such models are minimal, and that models generated from random walk and autoregressive models perform satisfactory well compared to more complicated models.
EXPERIMENTAL PHENOMENOLOGY AND PHENOMENOLOGICAL PSYCHOPHYSICS: THE PERCEPTIONS OF CONTRARIES

By dealing with the issue of whether spatial contraries (high/low, large/small, wide/narrow, and long/short) are unidimensional, it will be shown how the initial definition of Phenomenological Psychophysics (Kubovy & Gephstein 2002) can be further developed to match both the requirements of a phenomenological criterion used in the selection of stimuli and the application of methods for the quantification of the constructs studied.
Agricultural commodity futures and stock market: evidence from RSS3 Futures in Thailand

This study aims to examine the role of RSS3 Futures as the hedge for stock market in Thailand. The data is collected from May 28, 2004 until December 31, 2015, which includes totally 2,833 trading days. The results show that there is no relationship between RSS3 Futures and the stock market implying that RSS3 Futures can be the hedge for stock market in general. However, RSS3 Futures is not the candidate for safe haven of stock market because it shows no hedge property during the period of extremely negative stock returns. The result implies investors in Thailand, especially stock investors, should consider adding RSS3 Futures in their optimal portfolio because it clearly shows that RSS3 Futures can help in diversifying the risk, especially during the periods of stock market downturn.
An Enhanced Feedback-Base Downlink Packet Scheduling Algorithm for Mobile TV in WIMAX Networks

With high speed access network technology like WIMAX, there is the need for efficient management of r adio resources where the throughput and Q os requirements for Multicasting Broadcasting Services (MBS) for example TV are to be met. An enhanced feedback-base downlink Packet scheduling algorithm that can be used in IEEE 802.16d/e networks for mobile TV “one way traffic”(MBS) is needed to support many users utilizing multiuser diversity of the broadband of WIMAX systems where a group of users(good/worst channels) share allocated resources (bandwidth). This paper proposes a WIMAX framework feedback-base (like a channel-awareness) downlink packet scheduling algorithm for Mobile TV traffics in IEEE806.16, in which network Physical Timing Slots (PSs) resource blocks are allocated in a dynamic way to mobile TV subscribers based on the Channel State information (CSI) feedback, and then considering users with worst channels with the aim of improving system throughput while system coverage is being guaranteed. The algorithm was examined by changing the PSs bandwidth allocation of the users and different number of users of a cell. Simulation results show our proposed algorithm performed better than other algorithms (blind algorithms) in terms of improvement in system throughput performance. /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:. 0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Doi : 10.12777/ijse.5. 1.55-62 [ How to cite this article : Oyewale , J. and , Juan , L.X. (2013). An Enhanced Feedback-Base Downlink Packet Scheduling Algorithm for Mobile TV in WIMAX Networks . International Journal of Science and Engineering , 5(1),55-62. Doi: 10.12777/ijse.5. 1.55-62 ]
A Chandra X-ray study of the young star cluster NGC 6231: low-mass population and initial mass function

NGC6231 is a massive young star cluster, near the center of the Sco OB1 association. While its OB members are well studied, its low-mass population has received little attention. We present high-spatial resolution Chandra ACIS-I X-ray data, where we detect 1613 point X-ray sources. Our main aim is to clarify global properties of NGC6231 down to low masses through a detailed membership assessment, and to study the cluster stars' spatial distribution, the origin of their X-ray emission, the cluster age and formation history, and initial mass function. We use X-ray data, complemented by optical/IR data, to establish cluster membership. The spatial distribution of different stellar subgroups also provides highly significant constraints on cluster membership, as does the distribution of X-ray hardness. We perform spectral modeling of group-stacked X-ray source spectra. We find a large cluster population down to ~0.3 Msun (complete to ~1 Msun), with minimal non-member contamination, with a definite age spread (1-8 Myrs) for the low-mass PMS stars. We argue that low-mass cluster stars also constitute the majority of the few hundreds unidentified X-ray sources. We find mass segregation for the most massive stars. The fraction of circumstellar-disk bearing members is found to be ~5%. Photoevaporation of disks under the action of massive stars is suggested by the spatial distribution of the IR-excess stars. We also find strong Halpha emission in 9% of cluster PMS stars. The dependence of X-ray properties on mass, stellar structure, and age agrees with extrapolations based on other young clusters. The cluster initial mass function, computed over ~2 dex in mass, has a slope Gamma~-1.14. The total mass of cluster members above 1 Msun is 2280 Msun, and the inferred total mass is 4380 Msun. We also study the peculiar, hard X-ray spectrum of the Wolf-Rayet star WR79.
Correlation Between CHA2DS2-VASc Score and Atrial Thrombus in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Cardioversion

Introduccion Los pacientes con fibrilacion auricular representan un grupo de riesgo para el desarrollo de complicaciones tromboembolicas, con consecuencias devastadoras cuando afectan el sistema nervioso central. El rendimiento de los indices de riesgo para predecir eventos clinicos se ha evaluado en numerosas publicaciones, mientras que su relacion con la presencia de trombo en la auricula izquierda o su orejuela se ha explorado menos. Recientemente se ha propuesto la utilizacion del indice conocido con el acronimo CHA2DS2-VASc para la estratificacion de riesgo cardioembolico. Objetivo Evaluar la prevalencia de trombo en la auricula izquierda y su relacion con las variables del indice CHA2DS2-VASc y la funcion sistolica del ventriculo izquierdo en pacientes con fibrilacion auricular que seran sometidos a cardioversion electrica. Material y metodos Se efectuo un registro prospectivo de los antecedentes clinicos de pacientes con fibrilacion auricular de tiempo indeterminado o > 48 horas, a los que se les realizo un eco transesofagico previo a una cardioversion electrica. Se analizo la relacion de las variables que conforman el indice CHA2DS2-VASc y del puntaje total para predecir trombo en el eco transesofagico. Se evaluo ademas un modelo que resulto de sumar al CHA2DS2-VASc un puntaje segun la funcion sistolica del ventriculo izquierdo: normal = 0, deterioro leve = 1, moderado = 2, grave = 3. Resultados Se incluyeron 129 pacientes con edad media de 70 ± 12 anos, de los cuales 21 (16%) presentaron trombo. Este hallazgo fue mas prevalente en pacientes con factores de riesgo, pero alcanzo nivel de significacion solo para insuficiencia cardiaca y diabetes. Se observo un incremento progresivo del riesgo de trombo en relacion con el CHA2DS2-VASc (3,6 ± 1,6 con trombo vs. 2,7 ± 1 sin trombo; p = 0,024, area bajo la curva ROC = 0,65). La asociacion se ve reforzada cuando se incluye la funcion sistolica del ventriculo izquierdo (p = 0,006, area bajo la curva ROC = 0,69). Un puntaje de CHA2DS2-VASc < 2 no garantizo la ausencia de trombos. Conclusiones El puntaje CHA2DS2-VASc desarrollado para predecir riesgo clinico de fenomenos embolicos tambien se asocia con la presencia de trombo en pacientes con fibrilacion auricular de tiempo indeterminado. El agregado de la funcion sistolica del ventriculo izquierdo al puntaje total podria mejorar la capacidad predictiva.
Invisible water, visible impact: How unsustainable groundwater use challenges sustainability of Indian agriculture under climate change

India is one of theworld’s largest food producers,making the sustainability of its agricultural systemof global significance. Groundwater irrigation underpins India’s agriculture, currently boosting crop production by enough to feed 170million people. Groundwater overexploitation has led to drastic declines in groundwater levels, threatening to push this vital resource out of reach formillions of small-scale farmers who are the backbone of India’s food security. Historically, losing access to groundwater has decreased agricultural production and increased poverty.We take amultidisciplinary approach to assess climate change challenges facing India’s agricultural system, and to assess the effectiveness of large-scale water infrastructure projects designed tomeet these challenges. Wefind that even in areas that experience climate change induced precipitation increases, expansion of irrigated agriculture will require increasing amounts of unsustainable groundwater. The large proposed national river linking project has limited capacity to alleviate groundwater stress. Thus, without intervention, poverty and food insecurity in rural India is likely toworsen.