Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation of Bacterial DNA Template by Boiling and Effect of Immunoglobulin G as an Inhibitor in Real-Time PCR for Serum Samples from Patients with Brucellosis

ABSTRACT Real-time PCR is a widely used tool for the diagnosis of many infectious diseases. However, little information exists about the influences of the different factors involved in PCR on the amplification efficiency. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of boiling as the DNA preparation method on the efficiency of the amplification process of real-time PCR for the diagnosis of human brucellosis with serum samples. Serum samples from 10 brucellosis patients were analyzed by a SYBR green I LightCycler-based real-time PCR and by using boiling to obtain the DNA. DNA prepared by boiling lysis of the bacteria isolated from serum did not prevent the presence of inhibitors, such as immunoglobulin G (IgG), which were extracted with the template DNA. To identify and confirm the presence of IgG, serum was precipitated to separate and concentrate the IgG and was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. The use of serum volumes above 0.6 ml completely inhibited the amplification process. The inhibitory effect of IgG in serum samples was not concentration dependent, and it could be eliminated by diluting the samples 1/10 and 1/20 in water. Despite the lack of the complete elimination of the IgG from the template DNA, boiling does not require any special equipment and it provides a rapid, reproducible, and cost-effective method for the preparation of DNA from serum samples for the diagnosis of brucellosis.
The representer theorem for Hilbert spaces: a necessary and sufficient condition

The representer theorem is a property that lies at the foundation of regularization theory and kernel methods. A class of regularization functionals is said to admit a linear representer theorem if every member of the class admits minimizers that lie in the finite dimensional subspace spanned by the representers of the data. A recent characterization states that certain classes of regularization functionals with differentiable regularization term admit a linear representer theorem for any choice of the data if and only if the regularization term is a radial nondecreasing function. In this paper, we extend such result by weakening the assumptions on the regularization term. In particular, the main result of this paper implies that, for a sufficiently large family of regularization functionals, radial nondecreasing functions are the only lower semicontinuous regularization terms that guarantee existence of a representer theorem for any choice of the data.
An auditory analog of the Stroop Test.

: With use of a tape-recorded auditory method of stimulus presentation, 112 undergraduates were required to identify the tonal concepts of high and low when these concepts were symbolically coded both in terms of high and low pitches of voice and by the spoken words "high" and "low. " Trials consisted of 44-item sequential identifications of the concepts. Results were consistent with those in other realms. With use of a speeded accuracy criterion, findings were that Ss could identify the concepts faster from word symbols than from pitch symbols and faster from the two types of symbol information correctly matched than from either component type alone. More interference was produced when half of the symbols on a trial were mismatched and the other half matched than when all of the symbols were mismatched. Interference effects in both directions were found, but there was a larger interference of words on pitch than of pitch on words.
Elevated left atrial pressure estimated by Doppler echocardiography is a key determinant of mitral valve tenting in functional mitral regurgitation

Background Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) may occur in patients with reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and has been associated with excess valvular tenting only in patients with reduced LVEF. This study aimed at identifying the predictors of FMR and to determine whether or not they are different in patients with reduced versus preserved LVEF. Methods 190 consecutive patients free of congenital or primary valvular disease had a comprehensive echocardiographic assessment of LV remodelling and function, diastolic function and FMR severity. Results 112 patients had depressed LVEF (<50%) and 78 had preserved LVEF. FMR was present in 30 patients with preserved LVEF and in 65 with reduced LVEF. Higher E/Ea, E/A and larger mitral tenting were independent predictors of FMR regardless of LVEF. The mitral tenting area was an independent predictor of FMR severity in patients with reduced or preserved LVEF (p = 0.04 and p = 0.0045) in addition to E/A (p = 0.0007), E/Ea (p = 0.004) in patients with reduced and preserved LVEF, respectively. Higher E/Ea was independently associated with larger mitral tenting in patients with reduced and preserved LVEF. Mitral tenting area was linearly related to E/Ea (r = 0.30, p<0.0001) and E/A (r = 0.43, p<0.0001) and LA enlargement (r = 0.54, p<0.0001) after having paired 96 patients with and without FMR on indices of LV remodelling. Conclusions In both patients with preserved and reduced LVEF, mitral tenting that leads to FMR is mainly determined by both mitral tethering forces—that is, displacement of papillary muscles and by pushing forces—that is, increased left atrial pressure. This study underscores that LV preload is a key determinant of FMR.
New Optimal Current Control Methods for Energy-Efficient and Wide Speed-Range Operation of Hybrid-Field Synchronous Motor

This paper proposes new practical optimal current control methods for a newly emerging class of synchronous motors with hybrid rotor fields by both permanent magnet and winding. In a practical situation with limited voltage, the extensively used permanent-magnet synchronous motor hardly achieves an ideal performance in an energy-efficient manner due to its constant magnet field, which simultaneously allows both low-speed high-torque and wide speed-range operations. The hybrid-field synchronous motors (HFSMs) are potential candidates that can achieve the ideal performance as practical motors with controllable hybrid rotor field. HFSMs can dynamically control the rotor flux according to the operation requirements by the low-speed, high-torque, and wide speed-range operations, etc. For the HFSMs, the same torque can be produced by a variety of stator and rotor currents due to the nonlinearity between the torque and the currents. Produced losses and required voltages depend upon the associated currents. Consequently, in the situation that current control systems are well constructed, appropriate determination of a set of stator and rotor current commands plays a key role to achieve the ideal performance in an energy-efficient manner. The proposed methods determine the current commands corresponding to a given torque command such that the total winding copper losses due to the stator and rotor currents can be minimized if the exact currents associated with the torque command exist; the best approximate torque can be produced if no exact associated currents exist, which is, of course, under the circumstance of a voltage limitation. The determined current commands are optimal in the sense of energy efficiency or degree of approximation under voltage limitation. New recursive algorithms searching the optimal current solution in real-time are also given as parts of the methods. The proposed methods are analytical but practical, whose usefulness is verified through experiments.
Phylogenetic analysis of bovine herpesvirus 1 isolated in Croatia.

In the present study, we report the detection, isolation, molecular characterisation and phylogenetic analysis of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) in nasal swabs, sera and tissue samples derived from naturally infected cattle. In the spring of 2008, clinical symptoms of the respiratory disease were observed in three Croatian dairy herds. Nasal swabs and sera were collected on the 5th and 27th days after appearance of symptoms. A tissue sample (lungs) from an eight week old calf was also collected. Specifi c antibodies against BoHV-1 were not found in sera samples collected after the fi rst sampling, but all sera samples were positive after the second sampling. The cytopathic effect on the bovine embryo kidney (BEK) cells was visible after 72 hours for the nasal swab samples, and after 48 hours for the lung tissue sample. Sensitive PCR assays specifi c for BHV-1 glycoproteins gB and gC were also performed. All nasal swab samples and the lung sample were positive with both sets of PCR primers. The gC PCR product obtained from one sample from each farm as well as from the lung sample DNA were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of gC gene sequence clustered our isolates with BoHV subtype 1.1.
Female Pattern Hair Loss

Context: Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) also known as female androgenetic alopecia is a common condition afflicting millions of women that can be cosmetically disrupting. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for obtaining optimal outcome. This review addresses the clinical presentation of female pattern hair loss, its differential diagnosis and treatment modalities. Evidence Acquisition: A) Diffuse thinning of the crown region with preservation of the frontal hairline (Ludwig’s type) B) The “Christmas tree pattern” where the thinning is wider in the frontal scalp giving the alopecic area a triangular shaped figure resembling a christmas tree. C) Thinning associated with bitemporal recession (Hamilton type). Generally, FPHL is not associated with elevated androgens. Less commonly females with FPHL may have other skin or general signs of hyperandrogenism such as hirsutism, acne, irregular menses, infertility, galactorrhea and insulin resistance. The most common endocrinological abnormality associated with FPHL is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Results: The most important diseases to consider in the differential diagnosis of FPHL include Chronic Telogen Effluvium (CTE), Permanent Alopecia after Chemotherapy (PAC), Alopecia Areata Incognito (AAI) and Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA). This review describes criteria for distinguishing these conditions from FPHL. Conclusions: The only approved treatment for FPHL, which is 2% topical Minoxidil, should be applied at the dosage of 1ml twice day for a minimum period of 12 months. This review will discuss off-label alternative modalities of treatment including 5-alfa reductase inhibitors, antiandrogens, estrogens, prostaglandin analogs, lasers, light treatments and hair transplantation.
Performance of a turbo-coded CDMA system in a mobile satellite channel

The bit error rate (BER) performance of a turbo-coded code-division multiple-access (CDMA) system operating in a satellite channel is analysed and simulated. The system performance is compared for various constituent decoders, including maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) and Max-Log-MAP algorithms, and the soft-output Viterbi algorithm. The simulation results indicate that the Max-Log-MAP algorithm is the most promising among these three algorithms in overall terms of performance and complexity. It is also shown that, for fixed code rate, the BER performance is improved substantially by increasing the number of iterations in the turbo decoder, or by increasing the interleaver length in the turbo encoder. The results in this paper are of interest in CDMA-based satellite communications applications. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Highly Specific Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Rescues Laminin from Proteolysis and Neurons from Apoptosis in Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Neuronal cell death occurs during many neurodegenerative disorders and stroke. The aberrant, excessive activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-9, contributes directly to neuron apoptosis and brain damage (Rosenberg et al., 1996; Asahi et al., 2001; Gu et al., 2002; Horstmann et al., 2003). We determined that MMP-9 degrades the extracellular matrix protein laminin and that this degradation induces neuronal apoptosis in a transient focal cerebral ischemia model in mice. We also determined that the highly specific thiirane gelatinase inhibitor SB-3CT blocks MMP-9 activity, including MMP-9-mediated laminin cleavage, thus rescuing neurons from apoptosis. We conclude that MMP-9 is a highly promising drug target and that SB-3CT derivatives have significant therapeutic potential in stroke patients.
Author attribution using a graph based representation

Authorship attribution is the task of determining the real author of a given anonymous document. Even though different approaches exist in literature, this problem has been barely dealt with by using document representations that employ graph structures. Actually, most research works in literature handle this problem by employing simple sequences of n words (n-grams), such as bigrams and trigrams. In this paper, an exploration in the use of graphs for representing document sentences is presented. These structures are used for carrying out experiments for solving the problem of Authorship attribution. The experiments that are presented here attain approximately a 79% of accuracy, showing that the graph-based representation could be a way of encapsulating various levels of natural language descriptions in a simple structure.
An investigation of subjective and objective sleepiness, performance and mood in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and shift-workers

Regardless of aetiology, constant sleep disruption results in wide-ranging negative consequences in sleepiness, psychomotor and driving performance, and mood. Individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and those engaged in the tumultuous routine of shift-work experience reduced sleep and poorer sleep quality which is likely to render these consequences more pronounced. This study aimed to compare subjective and objective sleepiness, psychomotor performance, simulated driving performance and mood disturbances in OSA patients, shift-workers and control participants. This study also aimed to determine what relationships exist between subjective and objective sleepiness, performance and mood for the three groups and to obtain the correlates of accident risk based on a history of reported accidents in the preceding three years.
Revisiting Trypanosoma rangeli Transmission Involving Susceptible and Non-Susceptible Hosts

Trypanosoma rangeli infects several triatomine and mammal species in South America. Its transmission is known to occur when a healthy insect feeds on an infected mammal or when an infected insect bites a healthy mammal. In the present study we evaluated the classic way of T. rangeli transmission started by the bite of a single infected triatomine, as well as alternative ways of circulation of this parasite among invertebrate hosts. The number of metacyclic trypomastigotes eliminated from salivary glands during a blood meal was quantified for unfed and recently fed nymphs. The quantification showed that ~50,000 parasites can be liberated during a single blood meal. The transmission of T. rangeli from mice to R. prolixus was evaluated using infections started through the bite of a single infected nymph. The mice that served as the blood source for single infected nymphs showed a high percentage of infection and efficiently transmitted the infection to new insects. Parasites were recovered by xenodiagnosis in insects fed on mice with infections that lasted approximately four months. Hemolymphagy and co-feeding were tested to evaluate insect-insect T. rangeli transmission. T. rangeli was not transmitted during hemolymphagy. However, insects that had co-fed on mice with infected conspecifics exhibited infection rates of approximately 80%. Surprisingly, 16% of the recipient nymphs became infected when pigeons were used as hosts. Our results show that T. rangeli is efficiently transmitted between the evaluated hosts. Not only are the insect-mouse-insect transmission rates high, but parasites can also be transmitted between insects while co-feeding on a living host. We show for the first time that birds can be part of the T. rangeli transmission cycle as we proved that insect-insect transmission is feasible during a co-feeding on these hosts.
The Consistency of Defi nitions of Successful Aging Provided by Older Men : The Manitoba Follow-up Study *

In the absence of a universally agreed-upon defi nition of successful aging, researchers increasingly look to older adults for layperson views of aging and defi nitions of successful aging. To use lay defi nitions in studies of aging, however, researchers must address the defi nitions’ consistency. In 2004, surviving members of the Manitoba Follow-up Study male cohort (mean age: 83 years) were asked twice for their defi nition of successful aging. A consistency category was assigned based on the similarity of themes in each of 654 pairs of defi nitions. At least half of the main themes were similar in 70 per cent of the defi nition pairs; 80 per cent of respondents repeated at least one theme. Positive or negative health events in the four-week interval between defi nitions and specifi c respondents’ characteristics did not vary across consistency categories. This evidence for consistency supports our continued reliance on lay defi nitions of successful aging. * The authors sincerely acknowledge the 60-year ongoing contribution of the 3,983 members of the Manitoba Follow-up Study cohort. We gratefully acknowledge the invaluable assistance of the research staff Madge Biddell and Barbara Masterman, and clinical staff Drs. T. Edward Cuddy and Leon Michaels. The Manitoba Follow-up Study is funded by the Manitoba Health Research Council and by an operating grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR MOP-67019). Manuscript received: / manuscrit reçu : 06 / 06 / 09 Manuscript accepted: / manuscrit accepté : 21 / 07 / 09 Mots clés : coherence , vues profanes , vieillards , vieillissement réussi
Autonomous Kernel Based Models for Short-Term Load Forecasting

The application of support vector machines to forecasting problems is becoming popular, lately. Several comparisons between neural networks trained with error backpropagation and support vector machines have shown advantage for the latter in different domains of application. However, some difficulties still deteriorate the performance of the support vector machines. The main one is related to the setting of the hyperparameters involved in their training. Techniques based on meta-heuristics have been employed to determine appropriate values for those hyperparameters. However, because of the high nonconvexity of this estimation problem, which makes the search for a good solution very hard, an approach based on Bayesian inference, called relevance vector machine, has been proposed more recently. The present paper aims at investigating the suitability of this new approach to the short-term load forecasting problem.
Network Distance Prediction based on Network Coordinate System

Network coordinates provide a practical and efficient way to estimate latencies among hosts in the network. In this paper, we study the problem of designing and implementing a network coordinate system (NCS). To combine advantages from both Vivaldi and GNP algorithms, we propose our network coordinate system. We implement such a system on PlanetLab test-bed all over the world. Network distances can be predicted based on our network coordinate system. By performing experiments on PlanetLab, we show that NCS can predict network distances quickly and accurately. We believe that our system is a viable step to provide a network service of distance prediction in the Internet
The Performance of Serial Turbo Codes Does Not Concentrate

Minimum distances and maximum likelihood error probabilities of serial turbo codes with uniform interleaver are analyzed. It is shown that, for a fraction of interleavers approaching one as the block-length grows large, the minimum distance of serial turbo codes grows as a positive power of their block-length, while their error probability decreases exponentially fast in some positive power of their block-length, on sufficiently good memoryless channels. Such a typical code behavior contrasts the performance of the average serial turbo code, whose error probability is dominated by an asymptotically negligible fraction of poorly performing interleavers, and decays only as a negative power of the block-length. The analysis proposed in this paper relies on precise bounds of the minimum distance of the typical serial turbo code, whose scaling law is shown to depend both on the free distance of its outer constituent encoder, which determines the exponent of its sub-linear growth in the block-length, and on the effective free distance of its inner constituent encoder. The latter is defined as the smallest weight of codewords obtained when the input word of the inner encoder has weight two, and appears as a linear scaling factor for the minimum distance of the typical serial turbo code. Hence, despite the lack of concentration of the maximum likelihood error probability around its expected value, the main design parameters suggested by the average-code analysis turn out to characterize also the performance of the typical serial turbo code. By showing for the first time that the typical serial turbo code's minimum distance scales linearly in the effective free distance of the inner constituent encoder, the presented results generalize, and improve upon, the probabilistic bounds of Kahale and Urbanke, as well as the deterministic upper bound of Bazzi, Mahdian, and Spielman, where only the dependence on the outer encoder's free distance was proved.
A multiphase theory for spreading microbial swarms and films

Bacterial swarming and biofilm formation are collective multicellular phenomena through which diverse microbial species colonize and spread over water-permeable tissue. During both modes of surface translocation, fluid uptake and transport play a key role in shaping the overall morphology and spreading dynamics. Here we develop a generalized two-phase thin-film model that couples bacterial growth, extracellular matrix swelling, fluid flow, and nutrient transport to describe the expansion of both highly motile bacterial swarms, and sessile bacterial biofilms. We show that swarm expansion corresponds to steady-state solutions in a nutrient-rich, capillarity dominated regime. In contrast, biofilm colony growth is described by transient solutions associated with a nutrient-limited, extracellular polymer stress driven limit. We apply our unified framework to explain a range of recent experimental observations of steady and unsteady expansion of microbial swarms and biofilms. Our results demonstrate how the physics of flow and transport in slender geometries serve to constrain biological organization in microbial communities.
Dietary fish oil supplementation affects serum fatty acid concentrations in horses 1

Thirteen horses of Thoroughbred or Standardbred breeding were used to study the effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on blood lipid characteristics. Horses were assigned to either fish oil (n = 7) or corn oil (n = 6) treatment groups for 63 d. The fish oil contained 10.8% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 8% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Each horse received timothy hay and a mixed-grain concentrate at rates necessary to maintain BW. Oil (corn or fish) was topdressed on the concentrate daily at a rate of 324 mg/ kg of BW. The n-6:n-3 ratio was approximately 3.6:1 for horses receiving the corn oil diet and 1.4:1 for horses receiving the fish oil diet. Horses were exercised 5 d/ wk during the study. Before supplementation, there was no difference in the concentrations of any serum fatty acids between the 2 treatment groups. The mean basal concentrations of EPA and DHA on d 0 were 0.04