Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Community-Acquired Bacteremic Acinetobacter Pneumonia in Tropical Australia Is Caused by Diverse Strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, with Carriage in the Throat in At-Risk Groups

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter isolates from eight subjects with community-acquired Acinetobacter pneumonia (CAAP), a major cause of fatal community-acquired pneumonia in tropical Australia, were phenotypically and genotypically confirmed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis to be broadly diverse Acinetobacter baumannii strains. Wet-season throat carriage of A. baumannii was found in 10% of community residents with excess levels of alcohol consumption, the major at-risk group for CAAP.
Capacitance-voltage(C-V) characteristics of InGaAs/InAs/InGaAs quantum well MOSFET

In this work, the Capacitance-Voltage (C-V) characteristics of a In<sub>x</sub>Ga<sub>1-x</sub>As/InAs/In<sub>x</sub>Ga<sub>1-x</sub>As Quantum-Well (QW) MOSFET is investigated. 1D coupled Schrodinger-Poisson equations are solved self consistently by Finite Element Method (FEM) using COMSOL coupled with MATLAB to extract the charge density profile and Capacitance-Voltage profile. Effects of strain in the In<sub>x</sub>Ga<sub>1-x</sub>As/InAs/In<sub>x</sub>Ga<sub>1-x</sub>As Quantum-Well channel are also investigated. At the same time, effects of various device and process parameters like dielectric material, channel thickness and doping density on the C-V characteristics are also explored. The extracted C-V profile is also compared with the results obtained using SILVACO ATLAS.
Influence of Ar Pressure on the Magnetic Properties of Amorphous FeGaSiB Thin Films

Magnetostrictive amorphous FeSiB and FeGaSiB thin films thickness 50 nm have been grown by the co-sputtering-evaporation technique with a range of Ar pressure (4–<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8~\mu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>bar) to control the Ga percentage within the films and study their effect on the magnetic, structural, and magnetostriction properties. By X-ray diffraction, it was found that all the films had an amorphous structure and the only peaks were present for Si substrate. Using a magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometer, it was found that, for the FeSiB films, the anisotropy field <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$(H_{k}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) increased slowly as the pressure increased, while for the FeGaSiB films, the saturation field <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$(H_{s}) \approx 4000$ </tex-math></inline-formula> A/m for all pressures. For both the film sets, the coercive field <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$(H_{c})$ </tex-math></inline-formula> was less than 800 A/m. The magnetostriction constants <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$(\lambda _{s})$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of the FeSiB thin films increased with increasing pressure. While for the FeGaSiB films, the magnetostriction constant decreased with increasing the sputtering gas pressure, with the maximum <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda _{s} = 11.4$ </tex-math></inline-formula> ppm, at the lowest pressure <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4~\mu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>bar. Thus, it was determined that the addition of Ga atoms reduced the intrinsic stress within the films, while maintaining the amorphous morphology.
Simplified partially parallel DVB-S2 LDPC decoder architectural design based on FPGA

In this paper, a simplified partially parallel decoder architectural based on field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices for Digital Video Broadcasting-Satellite 2 low-density parity-check(DVB-S2-LDPC) codes has been presented. We introduce the current research status about decoder design for LDPC code and described the motivation of this paper in the first part. Then, we present the simulating results on parameter selection and architectural design. The primary contribution of this paper is summarized as follows: firstly, we proposed a novel and more efficient barrel shifter design. secondly, we optimized sub-modules architecture including: Bit Node Update, Check Node Update and combined and flexible data storage strategy so that this decoder can achieve both high data throughput and low resource-on-chip consumption.
Nocturnal sustained attention during sleep deprivation can be predicted by specific periods of subjective daytime alertness in normal young humans

In our 24‐h society, nocturnal sleep‐related accidents are common. Because all individuals are not equal in their responses to sleep loss, it is very important to identify predictors of vulnerability to sleep deprivation in normal subjects. We investigated the performance of a cognitive test of sustained attention, electroencephalogram theta/alpha power, subjective sleepiness, and two circadian markers (core temperature and melatonin) in 18 healthy men (nine morning types and nine evening types, 21.4 ± 1.9 years) during a 36‐h sleep deprivation in a constant routine protocol. Sleep need (self‐reported) and baseline sleep structure were also investigated. Nighttime performance impairment was defined as the difference between the mean nocturnal number of lapses (00:00–19:30 hours) and the mean diurnal number of lapses (07:30–20:30 hours) expressed as a percentage. Feeling fully alert in the morning just after awakening and/or sleepy in early afternoon were the only two factors (Multiple R > 0.80, >60% of explained variance) which better predicted the decrease in performances of nocturnal operational tasks requiring sustained attention.
A new robust iterative learning control algorithm for application on a gantry robot

In this paper a new robust steepest-descent algorithm for discrete-time iterative learning control is introduced for plant models with multiplicative uncertainty. A theoretical analysis of the algorithm shows that if a tuning parameter in the algorithm is selected to be sufficiently large, the algorithm will result in monotonic convergence if the plant uncertainty satisfies a positivity condition. This is a major improvement when compared to the standard steepest-descent algorithm, which lacks a mechanism for finding a balance between convergence speed and robustness. Experimental work on a gantry robot is performed to demonstrate that the algorithm results in near perfect tracking in the limit.
House Dust Mite-Specific Sublingual Immunotherapy Prevents the Development of Allergic Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Experimental Asthma

Background: Evidence regarding sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) efficacy and its good safety profile has been demonstrated with pollen and house dust mite (HDM) allergens in the treatment of airway allergies. In addition, the use of grass pollen presents a SLIT disease-modifying treatment for respiratory allergies. Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of HDM-based SLIT in mouse models of allergic airway inflammation and to gain insights into the involved local immunological mechanisms. Methods: Balb/c mice were sensitized/challenged with Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) extract and underwent Der f-SLIT in prophylactic and therapeutic settings. The SLIT efficacy was assessed using lung function measurements, analysis of local inflammatory responses by bronchoalveolar lavage cell differentiation and lung histology. Humoral and cellular responses were monitored by ELISA, cytokine bead array and flow cytometry analyses. Results: In a prophylactic setting, Der f-SLIT with 12 development units per dose reduced the eosinophil-dominated inflammatory response in the lung paralleled by a marked reduction in airway hyperresponsiveness. Local Th2 responses were prevented as demonstrated by significantly lower levels of IL-5 and IL-13. Additionally, SLIT-treated mice revealed a lower proportion of CD4-CD8- γδ cells and a higher frequency of CD8+CD25+IFNγ+ T cells in the lungs compared to sham-treated mice. In a therapeutic setting, Der f-SLIT also resulted in reduced inflammatory responses in the lung. Conclusion: The efficacy of Der f-SLIT was demonstrated in prophylactic and therapeutic conditions using experimental mouse models of HDM-induced airway inflammation. A potential role of a so far underestimated lymphocyte subpopulation was also indicated.
Sodium bicarbonate for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy: the efficacy of high concentration solution.

BACKGROUND The appropriate dose of sodium bicarbonate to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) has not been established. METHODS AND RESULTS To determine the efficacy of high-concentration sodium bicarbonate, 123 consecutive patients with renal dysfunction undergoing coronary angiography with/without intervention were administrated either high-concentration (group H: 833 mEq/L, n = 87) or low-concentration (group L: 160 mEq/L, n = 36) sodium bicarbonate at the rate of 3 mL/kg/h for 1 hour before the contrast exposure, and followed by 1 mL/kg/h for 7 hours. A total of 77 patients (group H, n = 54; group L, n = 23) without prophylactic continuous hemodiafiltration were analyzed in this study. Urine pH (n = 10 for each group and n = 5 for control) was increased by concentration and time-dependent manner in each group. Urine pH at 3 hours after administration of sodium bicarbonate was significantly higher in group H than group L and control (8.50 ± 0.94 vs 6.95 ± 1.17 vs 5.70 ± 0.97, respectively; P<.001). Incidence of CIN (0% vs 17.3%; P=.005) was lower in group H than group L. Percent change in creatinine within 48 hours was significantly lower in group H than group L (-2.65 ± 9.83% vs 9.14 ± 14.0%; P=.001). Percent change in estimated glomerular filtration rate within 48 hours was significantly higher in group H than group L (3.97 ± 11.8 vs -7.43 ± 13.3; P<.001). CONCLUSION Administration of a higher concentration of sodium bicarbonate was more effective for urine alkalization and prevention of CIN.
Pedicle Screw Pullout Strength: Correlation with Insertional Torque

This study was designed to correlate several parameters regarding pedicle screw bone/metal interface strength. The insertional torque measured during tapping and placement of pedicle screws was correlated with the bone mineral density of the vertebral body, the dimensions of the pedicle, the method of preparation of the pedicle, and the amount of load and number of cycles to failure of the bone/metal Interface, Thirty human cadaveric lumbar vertebrae Were instrumented will 6.5-mm pedicle screws. The maximum torque achieved during insertion was digitally recorded, A cyclic pedicle screw pullout test was performed. A linear correlation existed between both the insertional torque when tapping or when Inserting a screw and the number of cycles to ultimate pedicle screw pullout. An invorse linear relationship was found between the pedicle width and cycles to failure. There was no linear correlation found when comparing the number of cycles to failure to bone mineral density. These findings suggest that insertional torque is a good predictor of bone-metal interface failure Bone mineral density of the vertebral body was less effective as a predictor of failure. Smaller pedicle width correlated with increased insertional torque and cycles to failure. This may explain why patients with osteoporosis on radiography may still obtain stable fixation with pedicle screws. Other factors, such as pedicle dimensions and shape, affect screw purchase as much as vertebral body bone density, Insertional torque less than 4,0 inch-pounds led to early pedicle screw pullout. This study forms the basis for the authors' clinical use of an instrumented torque screw driver to measure insertional torque in the operating room.
Proportion of homosexual men who owe their sexual orientation to fraternal birth order: An estimate based on two national probability samples

Homosexuality in men correlates with an individual's number of older brothers, greater numbers of older brothers being associated with a greater probability of homosexuality. There are reasons to believe that this relationship is causal rather than merely statistical, that is, that older brothers produce the increase in the probability of homosexuality for later‐born males. It is possible, under this assumption, to estimate the proportion of homosexual men who can attribute their sexual orientation to their birth order among their brothers (fraternal birth order). This statistic, the population attributable fraction (PAF), was computed on the combined archival data of 2,256 heterosexual and 71 homosexual men examined in survey studies of sexual behavior in the UK and the USA. The PAF was 28.6%, with 95% confidence limits of 14.8% and 48.0%. These limits encompass the PAF of 15.1% previously estimated with a Canadian sample. The results indicate that the proportion of homosexual men whose sexual orientation is attributable to fraternal birth order constitutes a minority, but not a negligible minority, of all homosexual men. The fraternal birth order effect may reflect the progressive immunization of some mothers to Y‐linked antigens by each succeeding male fetus, and the concomitantly increasing effects of antimale antibodies on the sexual differentiation of the brain in each succeeding male fetus. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 16:151–157, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A factor analytical study report on mania from Nepal

Background and Objectives: Phenomenological studies on mood disorder are rare in Nepal which prompted us to undertake the current factor analytical study of mania. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study for which we did purposive sampling technique according to certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study sample consists of fifty patients, who fulfilled the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria for Manic Episode and/or Bipolar Affective Disorder-current episode mania. Tools used were ICD-10 Diagnostic Criteria for Research, Young's Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Principal component factor analysis was applied to the 35 symptoms taken from YMRS and BPRS. Results: Factor analysis revealed the presence of four main factors, which explained 51.082% of the total variance. These are “pure mania” which isolated 11 manic symptoms, “dysphoric mania” which isolated five depressive symptoms, “hostile mania” which isolated six symptoms, and the fourth factor, we called it “delirious mania,” isolated four symptoms. Conclusion: The identified factors and subtypes are a useful conceptualization of atypical features among patients with acute mania. Further validation studies are required to determine whether the identified subtypes are of clinical and theoretical importance.
Shape Factors and Cross-Sectional Risk

Galluccio and Roncoroni (2006) empirically demonstrate that cross-sectional data provide relevant information when assessing dynamic risk in fixed income markets. We put forward a theoretical framework supporting that finding based on the notion of "shape factors". We devise an econometric procedure to identify shape factors, propose a dynamic model for the yield curve, develop a corresponding arbitrage pricing theory, derive interest rate pricing formulae, and study the analytical properties exhibited by a finite factor restriction of rate dynamics that is cross-sectionally consistent with a family of exponentially weighed polynomials. We also conduct an empirical analysis of cross-sectional risk affecting US swap, Euro bond, and oil markets. Results support the conclusion whereby shape factors outperform the classical yield (resp. price) factors (i.e., level, slope, and convexity) in explaining the underlying fixed income (resp. commodity) market risk. The methodology can in principle be used for understanding the intertemporal dynamics of any cross-sectional data.
Considerations for Comprehensive Assessment of Genetic Predisposition in Familial Breast Cancer

About 10–15% of breast cancer cases are family related, classified as familial breast cancer. The disease was first reported in 1866 and determined to be an autosomal dominant genetic disease in 1971. Germline mutations in BRCA1 were discovered and deemed as the first genetic predisposition for the disease in 1994. By now, genetic predispositions for about 40% of familial breast cancer families have been identified. New molecular genetic approaches currently under development should accelerate the process to identify the full spectrum of genetic predispositions for the disease, thereby enabling a better understanding of the genetic basis of the disease and therein providing benefit to high‐risk patients.
An adaptive methodology to discretize and select features

A lot of significant data describing the behavior or/and actions of systems can be collected in several domains. These data define some aspects, called features, that can be clustered in several classes. A qualitative or quantitative value for each feature is stored from measurements or observations. In this paper, the problem of finding independent features for getting the best accuracy on classification problems is considered. Obtaining these features is the main objective of this work, where an automatic method to select features is proposed. The method extends the functionality of Ameva coefficient to use it in other tasks of machine learning where it has not been defined.
Conflation of Rhetorical Traditions: The Formation of Modern Chinese Writing Instruction

In his recent studies on classical Chinese text structures and contemporary Chinese composition textbooks, Andy Kirkpatrick claims that Mainland Chinese students are taught to write Chinese compositions in contemporary "Anglo-American" rhetorical style. This paper examines the historical formation of modern Chinese writing instruction and argues that the introduction of Western rhetoric into China in the beginning of the twentieth century did enrich modern Chinese rhetoric through, for example, Western scientific rhetoric(s); but more importantly, together with other historical forces, it helped to revitalize and retrieve the extremely rich Chinese rhetorical tradition in modern Chinese writing instruction.
Response to letter to editor: sacroiliac steroid injections do not predict ablation relief-not a surprise.

Dear Editor: On behalf of my colleagues, I wanted to thank Dr. Mel Cusi et al. for their interest in the findings from one of our recent studies of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain, which was presented in the 28th Annual Conference of AAPM ⇓. I appreciate their comments that support the conclusion of our study and provide a plausible explanation for our findings. Diagnosing SIJ pain remains a challenge largely due to the lack of specific and sensitive tests ⇓. It has been recognized that solitary provocative maneuvers have little diagnostic value. False negatives are common because large forces are needed to stress the joint due to the large size and the immobility of the SI interface. Also, false-positive tests can be …
Effects of MMIC-Design and GaAs Technology on mm-Wave Module Production Yield

mm-Wave Telecommunication and Radar modules for civil applications on the basis of GaAs-MMICs are now going into mass production with several thousand devices per year. As price for these modules is a very important factor for success and GaAs-MMICs are one of the cost driving factors an overall high production yield has to be achieved. Different measures are taken into account at EADS together with UMS and are described in this paper
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients treated with taxanes and platinum derivatives

Abstract Background. Chemotherapy with taxanes and platinum compounds has resulted in substantial survival benefits both in adjuvant and metastatic settings. However, as a side effect, such chemotherapy may cause peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) which may result in discontinuation of treatment, and if it persists after treatment completion, has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL). Results. Symptoms of CIPN are sensory, like pain, numbness, and tingling, typically located in the hands and feet. For oxaliplatin, there is an acute form of CIPN, resulting in paraesthesias in the mouth and throat during or shortly after the infusion triggered by exposure to cold. Risks factors for CIPN include preexisting neuropathy, either from treatment with other neurotoxic agents, or from comorbid conditions. The incidence of CIPN is related to dose per cycle, cumulative dose, and duration of infusion. While cisplatin-induced neuropathy is irreversible, CIPN induced by taxanes may persist for several years in about 30% of patients. Evidence from the literature is suggestive that CIPN is likely to be negatively associated with QoL. No agents have been identified to be recommended for the prevention of CIPN. For treatment of CIPN, the best available data supports a moderate recommendation for treatment with duloxetine and evidence is inconclusive regarding the use of tricyclic antidepressants (such as nortriptyline), gabapentin, and a compounded topical gel containing baclofen, amitriptyline HCL, and ketamine. Conclusion. Research is still needed to predict which patients are at high risk of developing CIPN during treatment and in whom CIPN will persist after completion of chemotherapy.
BReast Ecology Assessment in the STudy of local MicroFlora - Study Protocol.

INTRODUCTION Recent articles have described an endogenous breast flora, particularly in the nipple ducts, with potential implications in the outcome of aesthetic breast surgery. To characterize the ecology of the breast, we designed a study to assess the microbial species identified on the breast skin and parenchyma in patients undergoing breast surgical interventions. METHODS AFTER OBTAINING INFORMED CONSENT AND BACKGROUND DATA ON CONCURRENT DISEASES, PREVIOUS CONTACT WITH THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM AND PRIOR USE OF ANTIBIOTICS, SAMPLES ARE COLLECTED PREOPERATIVELY FROM THREE AREAS OF THE BREAST SKIN, BILATERALLY: the inframammary fold, the areola and the axilla, prior to decontamination. These samples will serve as positive controls and will aid in characterizing the normal breast skin flora. After preoperative decontamination, samples are again collected, to check for any residual bacterial flora and the nipple is sealed with Tegaderm (3M, USA) and betadine ointment, to reduce any putative bacterial load. Intraoperatively, samples are collected from: a) the incision line (dermal level): 1. superficially, 2. medium depth in the breast parenchyma, 3. deep parenchyma, and b) axillary parenchyma (where possible), together with a bioptic fragment. Postoperatively, a second nipple sample is collected. For secondary breast augmentation surgeries, capsular biopsy is also performed (where relevant), and the implants undergo sonication, to allow biofilm identification. In the laboratory, all samples are cultured on blood agar incubated with CO2, cystine lactose electrolyte deficient medium and Sabouraud gentamicin-chloramphenicol agar. For positive culture samples, the number of colonies and their morphologic characteristics are reported. Identification will be carried out with MALDI-TOF and VITEK (bioMérieux, France), yielding automated antibiotic sensitivity profiles. For all germs with sensitivity profiles differing from the wild-type strain, E-tests will be performed. Follow-up information on the postoperative evolution will be collected and analyzed for potential factors predictive of good evolution. DISCUSSION This study will provide important information about the microflora of the breast skin, its sensitivity profile, and the degree of contamination of the nipple ducts and parenchyma, if any, addressing a scientific hypothesis insufficiently explored so far.