Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aspergillus vertebral osteomyelitis after simultaneous kidney–pancreas transplantation

Abstract: Aspergillus osteomyelitis is a rare complication of invasive aspergillosis after organ transplantation. This is the report of a 46‐year‐old man who underwent a simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation, complicated by an Aspergillus osteomyelitis and diskitis of the lumbar spine. Prompt diagnosis with needle biopsy, followed by antifungal therapy using caspofungin, a new antifungal agent recommended for the treatment of refractory aspergillosis, in combination with amphotericin B and an early surgical intervention led to clinical resolution of the infection. Reported cases of spinal aspergillosis after transplantation are reviewed in terms of clinical presentation, risk factors, therapeutic options, and outcome.
Productivity Growth and the Returns from Public Investment in R&D in Australian Broadacre Agriculture

Investment in R&D has long been regarded as an important source of productivity growth in Australian agriculture. Perhaps because research lags are long, current investment in R&D is monitored closely. Investment in R&D has been flat while productivity growth has remained strong, relative both to other sectors of the Australian economy and to the agricultural sectors of other countries. Such productivity growth, at a time when the decline in terms of trade facing Australian farmers has slowed, may have enhanced the competitiveness of Australian agriculture. The econometric results presented here suggest no evidence of a decline in the returns from research from the 15 to 40 per cent per annum range estimated by Mullen and Cox. In fact the marginal impact of research increases with research over the range of investment levels experienced from 1953 to 2000, a finding which lends support to the view that there is underinvestment in agricultural research. These results were obtained from econometric models which maintain strong assumptions about how investments in research and extension translate into changes in TFP. Hence some caution in interpreting the results is warranted.
Influence of stable iodine on the uptake of the thyroid – model vs. experiment

Summary Aim: The influence of physiological and pharmacological amounts of iodine on the uptake of radioiodine in the thyroid was examined in a 4-compartment model. This model allows equations to be derived describing the distribution of tracer iodine as a function of time. The aim of the study was to compare the predictions of the model with experimental data. Methods: Five euthyroid persons received stable iodine (200 μg, 10 mg). 1-123-uptake into the thyroid was measured with the Nal (Tl)-detector of a body counter under physiological conditions and after application of each dose of additional iodine. Actual measurements and predicted values were compared, taking into account the individual iodine supply as estimated from the thyroid uptake under physiological conditions and data from the literature. Results: Thyroid iodine uptake decreased from 80% under physiological conditions to 50% in individuals with very low iodine supply (15 μg/d) (n = 2). The uptake calculated from the model was 36%. Iodine uptake into the thyroid did not decrease in individuals with typical iodine supply, i.e. for Cologne 65-85 μg/d (n = 3). After application of 10 mg of stable iodine, uptake into the thyroid decreased in all individuals to about 5%, in accordance with the model calculations. Conclusion: Comparison of theoretical predictions with the measured values demonstrated that the model tested is well suited for describing the time course of iodine distribution and uptake within the body. It can now be used to study aspects of iodine metabolism relevant to the pharmacological administration of iodine which cannot be investigated experimentally in humans for ethical and technical reasons.
An Expert Database Design System Based on Analysis of Forms

A form model and an expert database system that analyzes instances of the form model to derive a conceptual schema are proposed. The form model describes the properties of form fields such as their origin, hierarchical structure, and cardinality. The expert database design system creates a conceptual schema by incrementally integrating related collections of forms. The rules of the expert systems are divided into six phases form selection; entity identification; attribute attachment; relationship identification; cardinality identification; and integrity constraints. The rules of the first phase use knowledge about the form flow to determine the order in which forms are analyzed. The rules in other phases are used in conjunction with a designer dialog to identify the entities, relationships, and attributes of a schema that represents the collection of forms. >
Experimental research on the determination of the coefficient of sliding wear under iron ore handling conditions

The handling of iron ore bulk solids maintains an increasing trend due to economic development. Because iron ore particles have hard composites and irregular shapes, the bulk solids handling equipment surface can suffer from severe sliding wear. Prediction of equipment surface wear volume is beneficial to the efficient maintenance of worn areas. Archard’s equation provides a theoretical solution to predict wear volume. To use Archard’s equation, the coefficient of sliding wear must be determined. To our best knowledge, the coefficient of sliding wear for iron ore handling conditions has not yet been determined. In this research, using a pin-on-disk tribometer, the coefficients of sliding wear for both Sishen particles and mild steel are determined with regard to iron ore handling conditions. Both naturally irregular and spherical shapes of particles are used to estimate average values of wear rate. Moreover, the hardness and inner structures of Sishen particles are examined, which adds the evidence of the interpretation of wear results. It is concluded that the coefficients of sliding wear can vary largely for both Sishen particle and mild steel. The wear rate decreases from transient- to steady-state. The average coefficient of sliding wear is capable of predicting wear with respect to long distances at the steady-state. Two types of sliding friction are distinguished. In addition, it is found that the temperature rise of the friction pairs has negligible influence on wear rate.
Basal Cell Carcinoma in Young Adults: Not More Aggressive than in Older Patients

Background: An increased incidence of sporadic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has been observed in young adults within the last years. It has been hypothesized that these BCC in younger subjects might be more aggressive compared to BCC in the elderly. Objective: To compare BCC recurrence rates between young and older patients. Methods: Retrospective study of patients under the age of 35 years (group 1) with previously untreated BCC and comparison with BCC in patients older than 35 years (group 2). Each patient in group 1 was matched with 2 patients in group 2. Results: 70 patients in group 1 and 140 patients in group 2 were included. The median follow-up was 76 months. In group 1, 13% of the BCC were of the morphea-like type and 9% in group 2 (p = 0.30), respectively. The 5-year recurrence rate was 4.6% in group 1 and 9.8% in group 2. They did not significantly differ between the two groups (log rank test p = 0.48). Conclusion: BCC in young patients are not more aggressive than in older patients.
New Experiments In Cross-Language Text Retrieval At NMSU's Computing Research Lab

In Cross-Language Text Retrieval, queries in one language retrieve documents in other languages. Query translation is the least expensive approach to the retrieval task when compared to full document translation. The simple combinatorial properties of vector-based text retrieval systems simplify the translation task enormously, reducing most translation to the correct substitution of equivalents from a bilingual lexicon or corpus. New experiments are presented on methods for selecting among potential equivalents from a bilingual lexicon, including one fully-automatic method that achieves 73.5% of the performance of a monolingual system operating on the same retrieval task
Parameterized Exercises in Java Programming: using Knowledge Structure for Performance Prediction

In this paper, we study the effect of using domain knowledge structure on predicting student performance with parameterized Java programming exercises. Domain knowledge structure defines connections between elementary knowledge items. While known to be beneficial in general, it has not been used to predict performance.We compare five different approaches for this purpose: Bayesian Knowledge Tracing (BKT), Performance Factor Analysis (PFA), and three dimensional Bayesian Probabilistic Tensor Factorization (3D-BPTF), that are not able to take into account knowledge structure; and four-dimensional Bayesian Probabilistic Tensor Factorization (4D-BPTF) and Feature-Aware Student Knowledge Tracing (FAST), that can take into account knowledge structure. We approach the problem using both topic-level and question-level Knowledge Components (KCs) and test the methods on a dataset of parameterized questions. Our work is the first in the field that models students’ behavior in a four dimensional tensor. Our experiments show that, when having only the knowledge-item-level information, all of the models work similarly in predicting student performance, but adding the topic-level information that integrates knowledge items changes the performance of these models in different directions.
Comparative performance of species richness estimation methods

In most real-world contexts the sampling effort needed to attain an accurate estimate of total species richness is excessive. Therefore, methods to estimate total species richness from incomplete collections need to be developed and tested. Using real and computer-simulated parasite data sets, the performances of 9 species richness estimation methods were compared. For all data sets, each estimation method was used to calculate the projected species richness at increasing levels of sampling effort. The performance of each method was evaluated by calculating the bias and precision of its estimates against the known total species richness. Performance was evaluated with increasing sampling effort and across different model communities. For the real data sets, the Chao2 and first-order jackknife estimators performed best. For the simulated data sets, the first-order jackknife estimator performed best at low sampling effort but, with increasing sampling effort, the bootstrap estimator outperformed all other estimators. Estimator performance increased with increasing species richness, aggregation level of individuals among samples and overall population size. Overall, the Chao2 and the first-order jackknife estimation methods performed best and should be used to control for the confounding effects of sampling effort in studies of parasite species richness. Potential uses of and practical problems with species richness estimation methods are discussed.
Dynamic memory - a theory of reminding and learning in computers and people

Dear readers, when you are hunting the new book collection to read this day, dynamic memory a theory of reminding and learning in computers and people can be your referred book. Yeah, even many books are offered, this book can steal the reader heart so much. The content and theme of this book really will touch your heart. You can find more and more experience and knowledge how the life is undergone.
Enantioselective resolution of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol catalyzed by lipases immobilized in starch films

Lipases from different sources and two mycelium-bound lipases, in a free or immobilized form, in ginger starch film were screened as biocatalysts in the reaction of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol (1) with vinyl acetate and other acylating agents. The effect of various reaction parameters in the resolution of (1) catalyzed by lipase from Burkholderia cepacia (BCL) immobilized in ginger starch film was evaluated (acyl donor type, alcohol:acyl donor molar ratio, temperature and organic solvent). The catalytic efficiency of BCL immobilized in polymeric blends of ginger starch and polyethylene oxide (PEO), in different compositions, was also studied. Vinyl acetate and iso-propenyl acetate furnished the highest conversion (9%) and enantiomeric excess (> 99%) of the (R)-ester. The alcohol:acyl donor molar ratio and temperature optimum were 1:1 and 28 oC, respectively. The mixture of n-hexane/glycerol (9:1 v:v) was the most adequate for this reaction (conversion 23%, E > 200). The ginger starch/PEO (7:3 m/m) blend was successfully reused six times consecutively.
An intuitive approach for quadruped robot trotting based on virtual model control

This article presents an intuitive approach based on virtual model control for quadrupedal dynamic locomotion, aiming at simple and robust trotting control. The controller consists of two main modules: stance phase virtual model control for full control of the robot body and swing phase virtual model control for control of swing legs. We combine the decomposed virtual model control with Raibert’s method to intuitively regulate the height, speeds and attitude of the body during stance phase, with special attention to the rotation about the body diagonal line. To unify the control law and further simplify the controller, virtual model control is also implemented for swing legs to follow the planned swing foot trajectories that are self-adapting depending on the speeds of the robot. Simulations including forward trotting, lateral push recover, and lateral travel are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our controller.
Development of the Colle-Salvetti correlation-energy formula into a functional of the electron density.

A correlation-energy formula due to Colle and Salvetti [Theor. Chim. Acta 37, 329 (1975)], in which the correlation energy density is expressed in terms of the electron density and a Laplacian of the second-order Hartree-Fock density matrix, is restated as a formula involving the density and local kinetic-energy density. On insertion of gradient expansions for the local kinetic-energy density, density-functional formulas for the correlation energy and correlation potential are then obtained. Through numerical calculations on a number of atoms, positive ions, and molecules, of both open- and closed-shell type, it is demonstrated that these formulas, like the original Colle-Salvetti formulas, give correlation energies within a few percent.
Evapotranspiration Estimate over an Almond Orchard Using Landsat Satellite Observations

California growers face challenges with water shortages and there is a strong need to use the least amount of water while optimizing yield. Timely information on evapotranspiration (ET), a dominant component of crop consumptive water use, is critical for growers to tailor irrigation management based on in-field spatial variability and in-season variations. We evaluated the performance of a remote sensing-based approach, Mapping Evapotranspiration at high Resolution with Internalized Calibration (METRIC), in mapping ET over an almond orchard in California, driven by Landsat satellite observations. Reference ET from a network of weather stations over well-watered grass (ETo) was used for the internal calibration and for deriving ET at daily and extended time period, instead of alfalfa based reference evapotranspiration (ETr). Our study showed that METRIC daily ET estimates during Landsat overpass dates agreed well with the field measurements. During 2009–2012, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.53 mm/day and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.87 were found between METRIC versus observed daily ET. Monthly ET estimates had a higher accuracy, with a RMSE of 12.08 mm/month, a R2 of 0.90, and a relatively small relative mean difference (RMD) of 9.68% during 2009–2012 growing seasons. Net radiation and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from remote sensing observations were highly correlated with spatial and temporal ET estimates. An empirical model was developed to estimate daily ET using NDVI, net radiation (Rn), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). The validation showed that the accuracy of this easy-to-use empirical method was slightly lower than that of METRIC but still reasonable, with a RMSE of 0.71 mm/day when compared to ground measurements. The remote sensing based ET estimate will support a variety of State and local interests in water use and irrigation management, for both planning and regulatory/compliance purposes, and it provides the farmers observation-based guidance for site-specific and time-sensitive irrigation management.
In Vivo Structure of Two Divergent Promoters at the Human PCNA Locus

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) synthesis is strictly regulated during the cell cycle. To investigate PCNA transcriptional regulation, we have analyzed protein-DNA interactions at the promoter region and in the first intron in quiescent fibroblasts and following serum stimulation. Twenty putative protein-binding sites, distributed in two divergent promoters at the PCNA locus, were identifiedin vivo by genomic footprinting. These elements bind transcription factors continuously throughout the cell cycle with the exception of one E2F consensus site, located in the first intron at position +583. This E2F site becomes strongly occupied 18 h after serum stimulation, implying that an E2F activator complex plays a role in activation of the PCNA gene at the onset of S phase. We detected a 500–600-base pair-long antisense transcript by Northern blot analysis. This RNA has no apparent coding capacity and is constitutively transcribed from a promoter located within the first intron. We suggest that silencing of the PCNA gene is accomplished through base pairing between sense pre-mRNA and antisense RNA. The binding of S phase-specific E2F complexes at the +583 element may help to overcome the negative effect of the antisense transcript, which results in up-regulation of PCNAexpression in proliferating cells.
Increased risk of toxoplasmic encephalitis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with pyrimethamine-related rash. ANRS 005-ACTG 154 Trial Group. Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA (ANRS-INSERM) and the NIAID-AIDS Clinical Trials Group.

Although drug-induced rash is frequent in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, rash due to pyrimethamine has not been described previously. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of pyrimethamine as primary prophylaxis for toxoplasmic encephalitis, the incidence of rash (per hundred patient-years) was 8.1 in the pyrimethamine group versus 1.5 in the placebo group (P < .0002). The 1-year incidence of toxoplasmic encephalitis after occurrence of rash was 37%, as compared with 9.6% in the pyrimethamine group without rash, with a 3.7 times higher risk for patients with pyrimethamine-induced rash (P = .001); the incidence was 13% in the placebo group. At the time of toxoplasmic encephalitis, pyrimethamine was successfully readministered to 80% of patients who discontinued it because of rash. Thus, pyrimethamine, when used for prophylaxis, does induce rash in HIV-infected patients. These patients are at higher risk for toxoplasmic encephalitis and should be carefully monitored for it.
Hypertension diagnosis using compound pattern recognition methods

The paper presents a hypertension type classificati on task where the decisions should be made only on the basis of blood pressure, general information and basis bi ochemical data. This problem has a great importance to the medical decision support systems, yet results achieved so f ar are not satisfactory. When the canonical approac hes tend to fail we should look for the compound pattern recognition sy stems, such as multiple classifiers systems. This a rticle presents the results of an experimental investigation of the poo l of compound classifiers which have their origin i n classifiers ensembles, random forest, and random subspace. Presented methods returned good, satisfactory results, outperforming canonical approaches for this problem.
ADC bandwidth optimization in coherent optical polarization multiplexing quadrature phase-shift keying system

Numerical simulations were conducted to study the performance of a 112Gbit/s coherent polarization multiplexing (PolMux) quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) system. We addressed the bit resolution, bandwidth of analog-to-digital converters (ADC) in the presence of all chromatic dispersion, polarization-mode dispersion and imperfect laser frequency offset. Both return-to-zero (RZ) and non-return-to-zero (NRZ) QPSK waveforms are taken into account, while the filter type of ADC is assumed to have a Gaussian frequency response. An ADC with 6-bit resolution is found to be sufficient for 112Gbit/s PolMux QPSK transmission. And simulation results show that the ratio of optimum bandwidth of ADC to symbol rate is 0.5 for both RZ- and NRZ-QPSK formats when the 1st-order Gaussian frequency response of ADCs is assumed.
Evaluation of Casting Shrinkage and Liquid Metal Fluidity of IN-713C Alloy

This paper presents the results of measurements of liquid metal fluidity and linear shrinkage of nickel alloy IN-713C in vacuum induction melting furnace Balzers VSG-2. Because of limited volume of the furnace chamber special models for technological trials were designed and constructed to fit in the mould of dimensions 170x95x100mm. Two different designs of test models were proposed: horizontal round rods and modified spiral. Preliminary studies were carried out for alloys Al-Si. Horizontal round rods test was useful for evaluation of fluidity of hypoeutectic silumin, however in case of nickel superalloy the mould cavity was completely filled in each test because of high required pouring temperature. Positive results were obtained from the modified spiral test for all alloys used in the research. Relationship between the linear shrinkage for the test rod and a specific indicator of contraction defined on a spiral was observed.
Simultaneous breakdown of multiple antibiotic resistance mechanisms in S. aureus

In previous studies, the oligo‐acyl‐lysyl (OAK) C12(ω7)K‐β12 added to cultures of gram‐positive bacteria exerted a bacteriostatic activity that was associated with membrane depolarization, even at high concentrations. Here, we report that multidrug‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains, unlike other gram‐positive species, have reverted to the sensitive phenotype when exposed to subminimal inhibitory concentrations (sub‐MICs) of the OAK, thereby increasing antibiotics potency by up to 3 orders of magnitude. Such chemosensitization was achieved using either cytoplasm or cell‐wall targeting antibiotics. Moreover, eventual emergence of resistance to antibiotics was significantly delayed. Using the mouse peritonitis‐sepsis model, we show that on single‐dose administration of oxacillin and OAK combinations, death induced by a lethal staphylococcal infection was prevented in a synergistic manner, thereby supporting the likelihood for synergism to persist under in vivo conditions. Toward illuminating the molecular basis for these observations, we present data arguing that sub‐MIC OAK interactions with the plasma membrane can inhibit proton‐dependent signal transduction responsible for expression and export of resistance factors, as demonstrated for β‐lactamase and PBP2a. Collectively, the data reveal a potentially useful approach for overcoming antibiotic resistance and for preventing resistance from emerging as readily as when bacteria are exposed to an antibiotic alone. —Kaneti, G. , Sarig, H. , Marjieh, I. , Fadia, Z. , Mor, A. , Simultaneous breakdown of multiple antibiotic resistance mechanisms in S. aureus. FASEB J. 27, 4834‐4843 (2013). www.fasebj. org