Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Burden of different beta-lactamase classes among clinical isolates of AmpC-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in burn patients: A prospective study

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common pathogens causing infections in burns, and shows increasing resistance to β-lactam antibiotics by producing different classes of beta-lactamases. It is also not unusual to find a single isolate that expresses multiple β-lactamase enzymes, further complicating the treatment options. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine the coexistence of different beta-lactamase enzymes in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa in the burn ward. Materials and Methods: A total of 101 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from the burn ward were identified and tested for the presence of different beta-lactamase enzymes (extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL), Amp C and metallo β-lactamases (MBL) from October 2006 to May 2009. In vitro susceptibility pattern of antipseudomonal antibiotics was done by the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: A total of 33 (32.7%) isolates were confirmed to be positive for AmpC beta-lactamase. Co-production of AmpC along with ESBL and MBL was reported in 24.5% and 45.5% isolates, respectively. A total of 12 (11.9%) isolates were resistant to three or more antibiotic classes (multidrug resistance). Imipenem and piperacillin/tazobactum showed high sensitivity, with 86.1% and 82.2%, respectively. Conclusion: This study reveals the high prevalence of multidrug- resistant P. aeruginosa producing beta-lactamase enzymes of different mechanisms in this region from burn patients. The emerging antimicrobial resistance in burn wound pathogens poses serious therapeutic challenge. Thus proper antibiotic policy and measures to restrict the indiscriminate use of cephalosporins and carbapenems should be taken to minimize the emergence of this multiple beta -lactamase producing pathogen.
FAULT DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION USING PARAMETER ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES

This paper focuses on the use of parameter estimation techniques for the implementation of real-time Fault Detection and Diagnosis schemes. A detailed analysis of the nonrecursive and recursive Least Squares methods is given in the context of the system diagnosis problem, and a procedure for performing fault detection and identification for multivariable systems is proposed. An application example from the field of aircraft control is considered, which illustrates the suitability of the Recursive Least Squares method with exponential weighting and constant forgetting factor for Fault Detection and Fault Identification / Estimation within complex applications.
Interactions among co-infecting parasite species: a mechanism maintaining genetic variation in parasites?

Individuals of free-living organisms are often infected simultaneously by a community of parasites. If the co-infecting parasites interact, then this can add significantly to the diversity of host genotype×parasite genotype interactions. However, interactions between parasite species are usually not examined considering potential variation in interactions between different strain combinations of co-infecting parasites. Here, we examined the importance of interactions between strains of fish eye flukes Diplostomum spathaceum and Diplostomum gasterostei on their infectivity in naive fish hosts. We assessed the infection success of strains of both species in single-strain exposures and in co-exposures with a random strain of the other species. Parasite infection success did not consistently increase or decrease in the co-exposure treatment, but depended on the combinations of co-infecting parasite strains. This disrupted the relative infectivity of D. spathaceum strains observed in single-strain exposures. The infection success of D. gasterostei strains was independent of exposure type. These results suggest that interactions among parasite species may be strain specific and potentially promote maintenance of genetic polymorphism in parasite populations.
Hermetic electronic packaging of an implantable brain-machine-interface with transcutaneous optical data communication

Future brain-computer-interfaces (BCIs) for severely impaired patients are implanted to electrically contact the brain tissue. Avoiding percutaneous cables requires amplifier and telemetry electronics to be implanted too. We developed a hermetic package that protects the electronic circuitry of a BCI from body moisture while permitting infrared communication through the package wall made from alumina ceramic. The ceramic package is casted in medical grade silicone adhesive, for which we identified MED2-4013 as a promising candidate.
The (Non)Necessity of Recursion in Natural Language Processing

The prima facie unbounded nature of natural language, contrasted with the finite character of our memory and computational resources, is often taken to warrant a recursive language processing mechanism. The widely held distinction between an idealized infinite grammatical competence and the actual finite natural language performance provides further support for a recursive processor. In this paper, I argue that it is only necessary to postulate a recursive language mechanism insofar as the competence/performance distinction is upheld. However, I provide reasons for eschewing the latter and suggest that only data regarding observable linguistic behaviour ought to be used when modelling the human language mechanism. A connectionist model of language processing—the simple recurrent network proposed by Elman—is discussed as an example of a non-recursive alternative and I conclude that the computational power of such models promises to be sufficient to account for natural language behaviour.
Consumer Perception and Insights on Fats and Fatty Acids: Knowledge on the Quality of Diet Fat

Background: Research indicates that consumers do not understand dietary fat, either the importance of the quality or the quantity of fats needed for health. Previous consumer surveys suggest the priority placed on fat in various nutrition communications (i.e., low fat or reduction in fats) has contributed to this confusion. Methods: This consumer study was carried out in 16 countries in two waves, investigating in total 6,426 subjects. The survey was conducted by phone, internet and face-to-face interviews, depending on the acceptable method for the population. Participants, aged 18–70 years, were the main family shopper. Results: Knowledge about fat is conflicted, including which fats have health benefits; 59% of respondents think fat should be avoided, 65% think a low-fat diet is a healthy diet and 38% claim to avoid foods containing fat. Respondents were aware of different types of fats but did not know which ones were healthier. Omegas have the greatest level of recognition but at the same time many people do not realize they are fats. Conclusions: Around half of consumers do not know whether fats are good or bad, meaning they do not know what to eat.
Lo Gin : August 20 0 8 D Esigning High -perfo R M a Nce Enterprise Wi -fi N E T Wo Rk S 41 Designing High-performance Enterprise Wi-fi Networks

in 2000. He then spent two years working at ACIRI, now called ICIR. He has been at Microsoft Research since April 2002.cant increase in the use of mobile computing devices such as laptops, PDAs, and Wi-Fi enabled phones in the workplace. As the usage of corporate 802.11 wireless networks (WLANs) grows, network capacity is becoming a significant concern. In this paper, we propose DenseAP, a novel architecture for increasing the capacity of enterprise WLANs using a dense deployment of access points (APs). In sharp contrast with wired networks , one cannot automatically increase the capacity of a WLAN by simply deploying more equipment (APs). To succeed in increasing capacity, the APs must be assigned the appropriate channels and power levels, and the clients must make intelligent decisions about which AP to associate with. Furthermore , these decisions about channels, power assignment, and associations must be based on a global view of the entire WLAN, rather than the local viewpoint of an individual client or AP. Given the diversity of Wi-Fi devices in use today, another constraint on the design of DenseAP is that it must not require any modification to Wi-Fi clients. We outline the challenges faced in solving these problems and the novel ways in which DenseAP addresses them. In a typical office environment, it is relatively easy to deploy a wired Ethernet network. These networks are generally well-engineered and over-provisioned. In contrast, deploying WLANs in enterprise environments is still a challenging and poorly understood problem. WLAN installers typically focus on ensuring coverage from all locations in the workplace, rather than the more difficult-to-measure properties such as capacity or quality of service. Thus, it is common for WLAN users to experience significant performance and reliability problems. The usage model for enterprise WLANs is currently undergoing a significant transformation as the " culture of mobility " takes root. Many employees now prefer to use their laptops as their primary computing platform, in both conference rooms and offices [12]. A plethora of handheld Wi-Fi enabled
Mobile games to foster the learning of history at archaeological sites

This paper presents a system designed to support young students learning history at an archaeological site, by exploiting mobile technology. The approach uses game-play, since it stimulates in young students an understanding of history that would otherwise be difficult to engender, helping players to acquire historical notions and making archaeological visits more effective and exciting. A strength of the system is that, by running on the visitors own cellular phones, it requires minimal investments and small changes to the existing site exhibition.
Dimensioning of 112G optical-packet- switching-based interconnects for energy-efficient data centers

We present the dimensioning of an optical packet switching network for energy-efficient intradata- center connections. Our approach relies on one or two interconnection stages derived from the timewavelength- interleaved network concept and relying on fast wavelength-tunable lasers.We compare several options by numerical simulation to increase the bit rate of the intra-data-center links up to 112 Gbit/s. The analysis focuses on pulse-amplitude modulation (4 and 8 PAM), where a pre-distortion mechanism is introduced and three types of optical receivers are taken into account. Possible dispersion of device characteristics is taken into account. The single-stage system should enable us to connect 48 servers using 8 PAM and semiconductor-optical amplifier (SOA)-PIN in conjunction with a 62.5 GHz grid. In the two-stage configuration, this number increases up to 1488.
Experiment Management and Analysis with perfbase

Achieving the desired performance with application software, middleware or operating system components on a parallel computer like a cluster is a complex task. Typically, a high-dimensional parameter space has to be reduced to a small number of core parameters, which influence the performance most significantly, but still a large number of experiments is necessary to determine how the best performance can be achieved. Keeping track of these experiments to derive the correct conclusions is a major task. This paper presents perfbase, a set of front end tools and an SQL database as backend, which together form a system for the management and analysis of the output of experiments. In this context, an experiment is an execution of an application or library on a computer system. The output of such an experiment are one or more text files containing information on the execution of the application. This output is the input for perfbase which extracts specified information to store it in the database and make it available for management and analysis purposes in a consistent, fast and flexible manner
Ultra-stretchable and skin-mountable strain sensors using carbon nanotubes–Ecoflex nanocomposites

Super-stretchable, skin-mountable, and ultra-soft strain sensors are presented by using carbon nanotube percolation network–silicone rubber nanocomposite thin films. The applicability of the strain sensors as epidermal electronic systems, in which mechanical compliance like human skin and high stretchability (ϵ > 100%) are required, has been explored. The sensitivity of the strain sensors can be tuned by the number density of the carbon nanotube percolation network. The strain sensors show excellent hysteresis performance at different strain levels and rates with high linearity and small drift. We found that the carbon nanotube–silicone rubber based strain sensors possess super-stretchability and high reliability for strains as large as 500%. The nanocomposite thin films exhibit high robustness and excellent resistance–strain dependency for over ∼1380% mechanical strain. Finally, we performed skin motion detection by mounting the strain sensors on different parts of the body. The maximum induced strain by the bending of the finger, wrist, and elbow was measured to be ∼ 42%, 45% and 63%, respectively.
Hashing strategies for the Cray XMT

Two of the most commonly used hashing strategies-linear probing and hashing with chaining-are adapted for efficient execution on a Cray XMT. These strategies are designed to minimize memory contention. Datasets that follow a power law distribution cause significant performance challenges to shared memory parallel hashing implementations. Experimental results show good scalability up to 128 processors on two power law datasets with different data types: integer and string. These implementations can be used in a wide range of applications.
PSYCHOBIOLOGICAL MODEL OF TEMPERAMENT AND CHARACTER: TCI

Cloninger developed a dimensional psychobiological model of personality that accounts for both normal and abnormal variation in two major components of personality, temperament and character. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) is a self-administered dimensional questioannaire constructed to assess the seven basic dimensions of personality. TCI maintains the strong theoretical and empirical support of previously developed psychobiological models while overcoming some of their limitations for clinical use. Cloninger’s model of personality has a tremendous potential to provide comprehensive insight into human personality at multiple levels of analysis, including including the genetics of personality, neurobiological foundations of behavior, the cognitive emotional structure and development of personality, the behavioral correlates of individual differences in personality dimensions, and the interactions of personality constellations with developmental factors in relation to the vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. Within emerging neuroimaging technology, Cloninger’s model of personality will provide novel opportunities for elucidating the characterization of neural correlates of personality, and enable a better understanding of normal and pathological states. In this article, both underlying theory and empirically valiated findings along with its potential use in in both general population and
Int-6, a highly conserved, widely expressed gene, is mutated by mouse mammary tumor virus in mammary preneoplasia

With a unique mouse mammary tumor model system in which mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) insertional mutations can be detected during progression from preneoplasia to frank malignancy, including metastasis, we have discovered a new common integration site (designated Int-6) for MMTV in mouse mammary tumors. MMTV was integrated into Int-6 in a mammary hyperplastic outgrowth line, its tumors and metastases, and two independent mammary tumors arising in unrelated mice. The Int-6 gene is ubiquitously expressed as a 1.4-kb RNA species in adult tissues and is detected beginning at day 8 of embryonic development. The nucleotide sequence of Int-6 is unrelated to any of the known genes in the GenBank database. MMTV integrates within introns of the gene in the opposite transcriptional orientation. In each tumor tested, this results in the expression of a truncated Int-6/long terminal repeat (LTR) chimeric RNA species which is terminated at a cryptic termination signal in the MMTV LTR. Since the nonrearranged Int-6 alleles in these tumors contain no mutations, we favor the conclusion that truncation of the Int-6 gene product either biologically activates its function or represents a dominant-negative mutation.
Activity In Vivo of Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Compounds Selected from a High Throughput Screening

Novel technologies that include recombinant pathogens and rapid detection methods are contributing to the development of drugs for neglected diseases. Recently, the results from the first high throughput screening (HTS) to test compounds for activity against Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigote infection of host cells were reported. We have selected 23 compounds from the hits of this HTS, which were reported to have high anti-trypanosomal activity and low toxicity to host cells. These compounds were highly purified and their structures confirmed by HPLC/mass spectrometry. The compounds were tested in vitro, where about half of them confirmed the anti-T. cruzi activity reported in the HTS, with IC50 values lower than 5 µM. We have also adapted a rapid assay to test anti-T. cruzi compounds in vivo using mice infected with transgenic T. cruzi expressing luciferase as a model for acute infection. The compounds that were active in vitro were also tested in vivo using this assay, where we found two related compounds with a similar structure and low in vitro IC50 values (0.11 and 0.07 µM) that reduce T. cruzi infection in the mouse model more than 90% after five days of treatment. Our findings evidence the benefits of novel technologies, such as HTS, for the drug discovery pathway of neglected diseases, but also caution about the need to confirm the results in vitro. We also show how rapid methods of in vivo screening based in luciferase-expressing parasites can be very useful to prioritize compounds early in the chain of development.
A Dynamic Phase Error Compensation Technique for Fast-Locking Phase-Locked Loops

This paper presents a fast-locking technique for phase-locked loops (PLLs). In the proposed technique, the polarity and magnitude of the phase error at the phase-frequency detector (PFD) input is continuously monitored during the locking process. The detected phase error is then coarsely compensated by dynamically changing the divide ratio of the frequency divider. The proposed method allows the PLL to maintain a small phase error throughout the frequency acquisition process, thereby reducing the settling time. To further enhance the locking speed, an auxiliary charge pump is employed to supply currents to the loop filter during the fast-locking mode to facilitate a rapid frequency acquisition. The proposed technique is incorporated in the design of a 5-GHz PLL. Fabricated in the TSMC 0.18-μm CMOS technology, the whole PLL dissipates 11 mA from a 1.8-V supply. The measured settling time is considerably improved over previous bandwidth-switching method. At 5.34 GHz, the phase noise measured at 1-MHz offset is -114.3 dBc/Hz, and the reference spurs at 10-MHz offset are lower than -70 dBc.
A high rejection low pass filter serve photonic bandgap (PBG) design

The proposed novel wideband PBG microstrip line that has defect tapered ground surface consisting of lowpass, bandstop and leaky wave characteristics, respectively. The simulated results with full wave electromagnetic analyses are in good agreement with those experimental data and the optimal structure of PBG bringing about the perturbation electromagnetic waves will be determined.
Social bookmarking and information seeking

There are two distinguishing characteristics of social bookmarking systems. The first is the use of keywords, or tags, that a user enters to describe the links he or she saves. These tags allow users to organize and display their collection with labels that are meaningful to them. Furthermore, multiple tags allow bookmarks to belong to more than one category, a limitation of the traditional hierarchically organized folders found in most Web browsers. The second significant characteristic of these social bookmark applications is the social nature of their use. While bookmark collections are personally created and maintained, they are also typically visible to others. As a result, users benefit by getting pointers to new information from others while at the same time getting a general sense of other people's interests.
A discrepancy in analyses of the MSCEIT - Resolving the mystery and understanding its implications: A reply to Gignac (2005)

G. E. Gignac (2005) reanalyzed the factor structure of the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and found results that differed from those the authors obtained initially. The authors tracked down the surprising sources of those discrepancies. G. E. Gignac’s hierarchical model of emotional intelligence appears promising, and the authors anticipate that further investigations of the MSCEIT factor structure may yield additional information.
Growth Suppression of Pre-T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells by Inhibition of Notch Signaling

ABSTRACT Constitutive NOTCH signaling in lymphoid progenitors promotes the development of immature T-cell lymphoblastic neoplasms (T-ALLs). Although it is clear that Notch signaling can initiate leukemogenesis, it has not previously been established whether continued NOTCH signaling is required to maintain T-ALL growth. We demonstrate here that the blockade of Notch signaling at two independent steps suppresses the growth and survival of NOTCH1-transformed T-ALL cells. First, inhibitors of presenilin specifically induce growth suppression and apoptosis of a murine T-ALL cell line that requires presenilin-dependent proteolysis of the Notch receptor in order for its intracellular domain to translocate to the nucleus. Second, a 62-amino-acid peptide derived from a NOTCH coactivator, Mastermind-like-1 (MAML1), forms a transcriptionally inert nuclear complex with NOTCH1 and CSL and specifically inhibits the growth of both murine and human NOTCH1-transformed T-ALLs. These studies show that continued growth and survival of NOTCH1-transformed lymphoid cell lines require nuclear access and transcriptional coactivator recruitment by NOTCH1 and identify at least two steps in the Notch signaling pathway as potential targets for chemotherapeutic intervention.