Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Presence of the Listeria tetracycline resistance gene tet(S) in Enterococcus faecalis

Two hundred thirty-eight tetracycline- and minocycline-resistant clinical isolates of Enterococcus and Streptococcus spp. were investigated by dot blot hybridization for the presence of nucleotide sequences related to tet(S) (first detected in Listeria monocytogenes BM4210), tet(K), tet(L), tet(M), tet(O), tet(P), and tet(Q) genes. The tet(S) determinant was found in 22 strains of Enterococcus faecalis, associated with tet(M) in 9 of these isolates and further associated with tet(L) in 3 of these strains. tet(M) was detected in all strains of Streptococcus spp. and in all but 10 isolates of Enterococcus spp. ; tet(L) was found in 93 enterococci and tet(O) was found in single isolates of E. faecalis and Streptococcus milleri. No hybridization with the tet(K), tet(P), and tet(Q) probes was observed. Transfer of tet(S) by conjugation to E. faecalis or to E. faecalis and L. monocytogenes was obtained from 8 of the 10 E. faecalis strains harboring only this tet gene. Hybridization experiments with DNAs of four donors and of the corresponding transconjugants suggested that tet(S) was located in the chromosome. These results indicate that the genetic support of tet(S) in E. faecalis is different from that in L. monocytogenes, where it is carried by self-transferable plasmids, and confirm the notion of exchange of genetic information between Enterococcus and Listeria spp. in nature.
Analysis of Genetic Variation of Two NADC30-like Strains of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in China

Background: NADC30-like strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus first appeared in Chinese swine herds in 2012. Objective and Method: To explore the possible genetic diversity of these strains, we sequenced and analyzed the complete genomes of two NADC30-like strains. These isolates shared 95.4% homology with NADC30. Result: The two strains displayed a discontinuous deletion of 131 amino acids in NSP2, mutations of amino acids in GP3 and GP5, and a 3-nucleotide deletion in the 3′ untranslated region. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the two isolates formed a new branch and clustered in a subgroup with NADC30 isolates from North America. Conclusion: We conclude that the above two NADC30-like strains may have been introduced from North America to China, where they acquired new genetic diversity.
ModelCVS A Semantic Infrastructure for Model-based Tool Integration

With the rise of model-driven software development, more and more development tasks are being performed on models. A rich variety of modeling tools is available supporting different tasks, such as model creation, model simulation, model checking, and code generation. Seamless exchange of models among different modeling tools increasingly becomes a crucial prerequisite for effective software development processes. Due to lack of interoperability, however, it is often difficult to use tools in combination, thus the potential of model-driven software development cannot be fully utilized – unless we find some scalable way of integration. We are aiming at providing a semantic infrastructure for model-based tool integration, enabling to facilitate any tool appropriate for the modeling task at hand. The key innovations provided are a set of scalable architectural model integration patterns supported by a highlevel metamodel integration language, thus going beyond existing low-level model transformation approaches. Ontology-based metamodel integration considerably lowers the manual effort required for tool integration, enabling a novel synergic use of technologies from the model engineering and ontology engineering domains. An open knowledge base for tool integration captures essential knowledge about modeling languages and tools in terms of ontologies, fostering reuse within and beyond the scope of this project. These innovations will be realized within the ModelCVS prototype and case study. The core of the system will be based on a versioning system such as CVS, thus providing a looselycoupled and well-proofed integration architecture. Transparent transformation of models between different tools’ languages and exchange formats, as well as versioning capabilities exploiting the rich syntax and semantics of models represent the key functionalities of ModelCVS. In this way, ModelCVS will serve as both, a research vehicle and testbed for exploring applications of semantic technologies in model-based tool integration and a prototype for a succeeding industrial product.
Occupation-related squatting, kneeling, and heavy lifting and the knee joint: a magnetic resonance imaging-based study in men.

OBJECTIVE We examined the relation between occupational exposures to frequent squatting/kneeling and/or heavy lifting with cartilage morphology, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), at the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints in men and determined which compartments are most affected. METHODS We evaluated 192 men with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). The more symptomatic knee was imaged using MRI. Cartilage was scored using the Whole Organ MRI Score semiquantitative method at the medial and lateral tibiofemoral joint and patellofemoral joint. Occupational exposures to frequent squatting, kneeling, and/or heavy lifting were assessed using a validated questionnaire. RESULTS Among the 192 men [mean (+/- standard deviation) age 69 +/- 9 yrs, body mass index (BMI) 30.8 +/- 4.7 kg/m(2)], those reporting occupational exposure to squatting/kneeling alone, heavy lifting alone, both squatting/kneeling and heavy lifting, or none of these activities numbered 7, 40, 47, and 98, respectively. Compared with men with no occupational exposure to these activities, and following adjustment for age, BMI, and history of knee injury or surgery, we found that men reporting occupational exposures to both squatting/kneeling and heavy lifting had a modest increased risk for worse cartilage morphology scores at the patellofemoral joint [odds ratio (OR) 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1 to 3.2] and medial tibiofemoral joint (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.9, 3.0), although the latter did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION Men with frequent occupational squatting/kneeling and heavy lifting have a greater likelihood for worse cartilage morphology scores at the patellofemoral joint. These findings add support to the important role of biomechanical loading on the pathogenesis of knee OA, particularly patellofemoral OA.
Maternofetal outcome of asymptomatic bacteriuria among pregnant women in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Introduction Asymptomatic bacteriuria has been reported to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. This study sought to determine the prevalence and complications of asymptomatic bacteriuria amongst parturient in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Methods The study was a prospective cohort study involving 220 eligible antenatal attendees. Urine culture and sensitivity was conducted for each participant and the fetomaternal outcome between affected and unaffected women were compared and p value <0.05 was considered significant. Results Sixty-five of the participants had asymptomatic bacteriuria giving a prevalence of 29.5%. Twenty-three (35.4%) cultures yielded Klebsiella spp while Fifty-eight (89%) of the cultured organisms were sensitive to Nitrofurantoin. There was no statistical difference in the rate of prelabour rupture of membranes, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, birth asphyxia and low birth weight between affected and unaffected women. Conclusion Contrary to widely held view, there was no significant increase in adverse pregnancy outcome amongst affected women.
The Relative Roles of Passive Surface Forces and Active Ion Transport in the Modulation of Airway Surface Liquid Volume and Composition

Two hypotheses have been proposed recently that offer different views on the role of airway surface liquid (ASL) in lung defense. The “compositional” hypothesis predicts that ASL [NaCl] is kept low (<50 mM) by passive forces to permit antimicrobial factors to act as a chemical defense. The “volume” hypothesis predicts that ASL volume (height) is regulated isotonically by active ion transport to maintain efficient mechanical mucus clearance as the primary form of lung defense. To compare these hypotheses, we searched for roles for: (1) passive forces (surface tension, ciliary tip capillarity, Donnan, and nonionic osmolytes) in the regulation of ASL composition; and (2) active ion transport in ASL volume regulation. In primary human tracheobronchial cultures, we found no evidence that a low [NaCl] ASL could be produced by passive forces, or that nonionic osmolytes contributed substantially to ASL osmolality. Instead, we found that active ion transport regulated ASL volume (height), and that feedback existed between the ASL and airway epithelia to govern the rate of ion transport and volume absorption. The mucus layer acted as a “reservoir” to buffer periciliary liquid layer height (7 μm) at a level optimal for mucus transport by donating or accepting liquid to or from the periciliary liquid layer, respectively. These data favor the active ion transport/volume model hypothesis to describe ASL physiology.
Knowledge, belief, and strategic interaction: The dynamics of belief systems: Foundations versus coherence theories

1. The PROBLEM OF belief revision In this article I want to discuss some philosophical problems one encounters when trying to model the dynamics of epistemic states. Apart from being of interest in themselves, I believe that solutions to these problems will be crucial for any attempt to use computers to handle changes of knowledge systems. Problems concerning knowledge represen tation and the updating of such representations have become the focus of much recent research in artificial intelligence (AI). Human beings perpetually change their states of knowledge and belief in response to various cognitive demands. There are several different kinds of belief changes. The most common type occurs when we learn some thing new — by perception or by accepting the information provided by other people. This kind of change will be called an expansion of a belief State. Sometimes we also have to revise our beliefs in the light of evidence that contradicts what we had earlier mistakenly accepted, a process which will here be called a revision of a belief state. And sometimes, for example when a measuring instrument is malfunctioning, we discover that the reasons for some of our beliefs are invalid and so we have to give up those
Context-based predictive lossless coding for hyperspectral images

A cluster-based lossless compression algorithm for hyperspectral images is presented. Clustering is carried out on the original data according to the vectors spectra, and it is used to set up multiple contexts for predictive lossless coding. Low-order prediction is performed using adaptive Linear Least Squares (LLS) estimation which exploits the additional information provided by clustering. Prediction errors are then entropy-coded using an adaptive arithmetic coder also driven by data clusters. The proposed scheme is used to losslessly code a set of AVIRIS hyperspectral images. Comparisons with the JPE-GLS, JPEG-2000 and the clustered DPCM coding algorithms are given.
Subjektives Erleben einer affektorientierten Intervention in kritischen Dialogsituationen der HCI

Die in der Mensch-Computer-Interaktion (HCI) entstehenden Nutzeremotionen erfahren im Zuge der Entwicklung individuell angepasster technischer Systeme eine immer groser werdende Berucksichtigung. Um auf gerade in kritischen Dialogsituationen haufig prasente negative Emotionen einzuwirken, konnen systemseitig affektorientierte Interventionen eingesetzt werden. Dieser Ansatz wurde schon mehrfach als effektiv nachgewiesen und bildet die Grundlage dieser Studie, in der Probanden eine alltagliche Planungsaufgabe in Zusammenarbeit mit einem simulierten Companion-System bewaltigten. In Wizardof- Oz-Experimenten wurde den Probanden in einer kritischen Dialogsituation eine empathische und interpretative Hilfe zur Verfugung gestellt. In anschliesenden Nutzerinterviews wurden die Probanden unter Zuhilfenahme des Interpersonal Process Recall nach ihrem Erleben der nach psychotherapeutischen Wirkprinzipien entworfenen affektorientierten Intervention befragt. Mit der Anwendung dieser qualitativen Forschungsmethodik wurden die bisherigen Ansatze zur Untersuchung systemseitiger Interventionen um eine Komponente subjektiver Sinnzuschreibung erweitert und so Einsichten in das Erleben und die Konzeptualisierungen der Probanden bezuglich der Intervention gewonnen. Funf abgeleitete Themen geben Hinweise auf zu berucksichtigende Gestaltungsprinzipien empathischer Nutzerunterstutzungen. Dabei wurde sowohl die Wichtigkeit der Beachtung etablierter Usability Prinzipien als auch die Wichtigkeit der individuellen Angepasstheit systemseitiger Interventionen deutlich.
Adaptive WTA With an Analog VLSI Neuromorphic Learning Chip

In this paper, we demonstrate how a particular spike-based learning rule (where exact temporal relations between input and output spikes of a spiking model neuron determine the changes of the synaptic weights) can be tuned to express rate-based classical Hebbian learning behavior (where the average input and output spike rates are sufficient to describe the synaptic changes). This shift in behavior is controlled by the input statistic and by a single time constant. The learning rule has been implemented in a neuromorphic very large scale integration (VLSI) chip as part of a neurally inspired spike signal image processing system. The latter is the result of the European Union research project Convolution AER Vision Architecture for Real-Time (CAVIAR). Since it is implemented as a spike-based learning rule (which is most convenient in the overall spike-based system), even if it is tuned to show rate behavior, no explicit long term average signals are computed on the chip. We show the rule's rate-based Hebbian learning ability in a classification task in both simulation and chip experiment, first with artificial stimuli and then with sensor input from the CAVIAR system
Interaction of acetylcholine and endothelin-1 in the modulation of pulmonary arterial pressure

ObjectiveThe study was designed to investigate the effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on pulmonary circulation with special regard to mediators that could be involved in the mediation of ACh-induced effects. ACh has been reported to induce either vasodilation or vasoconstriction in the pulmonary circulation of different species. DesignProspective experimental study in rabbits. SettingExperimental laboratory in a university teaching hospital. SubjectsSixty-six adult rabbits of either sex. InterventionsThe experiments were performed on 66 isolated and ventilated rabbit lungs that were perfused with a cell- and plasma-free buffer solution. ACh was injected in various concentrations after pulmonary artery preconstriction and in untreated lungs. Measurements and Main ResultsPulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and lung weight gain were monitored continuously. Perfusate samples were taken intermittently to determine endothelin-1 (ET-1), thromboxane A2 (TXA2), and prostacyclin (PGI2) concentrations. ACh in final dosages from 10−5 to 10−2 M (n = 6 each) was injected into the pulmonary artery of lungs treated with U46619 to induce pulmonary arterial hypertension or was injected into untreated lungs. To analyze the potential mechanisms of action, ACh (10−5 M) was administered in additional experiments after pretreatment with either ETA receptor antagonist BQ123 (10−6 M; n = 6) or the cyclooxygenase inhibitor diclofenac (10 &mgr;g/mL; n = 6). In preconstricted pulmonary vessels, ACh (10−3 and 10−2 M) initially induced a PAP rise for 10 mins followed by a sustained decrease. In untreated lungs, ACh induced an immediate dose-dependent increase in PAP, requiring as long as 30 mins to return to predrug levels. Simultaneously, significantly elevated TXA2 and PGI2 levels were observed. Furthermore, ET-1 was detected in the perfusate, which was free from ET-1 before ACh administration. Pretreatment with BQ123 reduced substantially the ACh (10−5 M)-induced PAP increase and the release of TXA2 and PGI2. At 5 mins, the PAP maximum was reduced from 18.5 ± 3.2 mm Hg to 9.9 ± 0.65 mm Hg by BQ123 pretreatment (p < .01). An inhibition of PAP increase was also observed after diclofenac pretreatment (11.6 ± 0.4 mm Hg at 5 mins;p < .05). Inhibitory effects at 5 mins were significantly more pronounced in the BQ123 group compared with the diclofenac group. ConclusionsThe effects of ACh on the pulmonary circulation of isolated rabbit lungs depend on ACh concentration and the basal tone of the arterial vasculature. In lungs with a normal pulmonary vascular resistance, ACh administration causes vasoconstriction via the release of ET-1 and TXA2, whereas vasodilation is induced in preconstricted pulmonary vessels.
Integrated Software and Sensor Health Management for Small Spacecraft

Despite their size, small spacecraft have highly complex architectures with many sensors and computer-controlled actuators. At the same time, size, weight, and budget constraints often dictate that small spacecraft are designed as single-string systems, which means that there are no or few redundant systems. Thus, all components, including software, must operate as reliably. Faults, if present, must be detected as early as possible to enable (usually limited) forms of mitigation. Telemetry bandwidth for such spacecraft is usually very limited. Therefore, fault detection and diagnosis must be performed on-board. Further restrictions include low computational power and small memory. In this paper, we discuss the use of Bayesian networks (BNs) to monitor the health of on-board software and sensor systems, and to perform advanced on-board diagnostic reasoning. Advanced compilation techniques are used to obtain a compact SSHM (Software and Sensor Health Management) system with a powerful reasoning engine, which can run in an embedded software environment and is amenable to V&V. We successfully demonstrate our approach using an OSEK-compliant operating system kernel, and discuss in detail several nominal and fault scenarios for a small satellite simulation with a simple bang-bang controller.
Write Tutor

The article addresses the technical principles of a new interactive Robotic device, called Write Tutor, and gives an overview of its application. In spite of the various measures and efforts taken in terms of improving literacy rate we still have a major section of the population who are not able to read and write. The Write Tutor, a completely autonomous device can teach children and people of any age group the art of writing. The mechanism is programmed with speech recognition system and makes the user write what he speaks holding his wrist. It also can make you draw pictures in the graphical mode. The Write tutor also has built-in modules to teach reading and writing simultaneously using its on board display. The workspace is designed enabling the user to write on a sheet size varying from a post card to an A4 sheet. Therefore the Write Tutor is a low cost device that can be programmed to teach people in different languages, people who are physically challenged, autistic and dyslexic children and children in elementary schools.
Digital breast tomosynthesis versus full-field digital mammography: comparison of the accuracy of lesion measurement and characterization using specimens

Background Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is one of the new techniques being developed to overcome the inherent limitations of mammography caused by superimposed structures in a 2D projection. Purpose To compare the diagnostic performances of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and full-field digital mammography (FFDM) for lesion characterization and size measurement using breast specimens. Material and Methods Out of 156 women scheduled for surgery, we included in our study 114 women, each of whom had a single, breast lesion. Three breast radiologists independently evaluated the DBT and FFDM performance regarding the breast specimens obtained during surgery. Each reader measured the lesion size, and then categorized the probability of malignancy using the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data system (BI-RADS). After both reading sessions, the readers selected the preferred modality of either FFDM or DBT in lesion characterization. We also analyzed the radiologists’ evaluation performance in patients with dense versus fatty breasts when using DBT and FFDM. Results The imaging findings of 84 cancers and 30 benign lesions, all of which had been pathologically proven, were reviewed. The size evaluation determined by DBT was more accurately correlated with that found by pathology (P = 0.001 for fatty breasts and <0.001 for dense breasts) than that determined by FFDM. The correlation coefficients of DBT and FFDM to the pathologically determined lesion size were 0.90 and 0.89, respectively (P < 0.001). Compared with the pathologically determined lesion size, the size determined by both imaging modalities was overestimated. Overall, assessment of the probability of malignancy by DBT and FFDM did not differ significantly (P = 0.07); however, in dense breast, DBT was more strongly correlated with the pathology determination than FFDM (P = 0.03). Conclusion DBT may be superior to FFDM for determining the preoperative size measurement of breast lesions irregardless of their parenchymal density. Particularly in dense breasts, DBT was more useful for differentiating the lesion malignancy rate.
Fetal facial standard plane recognition via very deep convolutional networks

The accurate recognition of fetal facial standard plane (FFSP) (i.e., axial, coronal and sagittal plane) from ultrasound (US) images is quite essential for routine US examination. Since the labor-intensive and subjective measurement is too time-consuming and unreliable, the development of the automatic FFSP recognition method is highly desirable. Different from the previous methods, we leverage a general framework to recognize the FFSP from US images automatically. Specifically, instead of using the previous hand-crafted visual features, we utilize the recent developed deep learning approach via very deep convolutional networks (DCNN) architecture to represent fine-grained details of US image. Also, very small (3×3) convolution filters are adopted to improve the performance. The evaluation of our FFSP dataset shows the superiority of our method over the previous studies and achieves the state-of-the-art FFSP recognition results.
Toward a Robust data fusion for document retrieval

This paper describes an investigation of signal boosting techniques for post-search data fusion, where the quality of the retrieval results involved in fusion may be low or diverse. The effectiveness of data fusion techniques in such situation depends on the ability of the fusion techniques to be able to boost the signals from relevant documents and reduce the effect of noise that often comes from low quality retrieval results. Our studies on Malach spoken document collection and HARD collection have demonstrated that CombMNZ, the most widely used data fusion method, does not have such ability. We, therefore, developed two versions of signal boosting mechanisms on top of CombMNZ, which result in two new fusion methods called WCombMNZ and WCombMWW. To examine the effectiveness of the two new methods, we conducted experiments on Malach and HARD document collections. Our results show that the new methods can significantly outperform CombMNZ in combining retrieval results that are low and diverse. When the tasks are to combine retrieval results that are in similar quality, which have been the scenarios that CombMNZ are applied often, the two new methods still can obtain often better, sometimes significantly, fusion results.