Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outbreak of Infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae Sequence Type 258 Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase 3 in an Intensive Care Unit in Italy

Gram-negative pathogens producing carbapenemases represent an alarming clinical threat with serious effects on patient outcomes ([3][1], [7][2]). In 2001, Yigit et al. ([11][3]) reported a novel β-lactamase termed “ K lebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase” (KPC-1) in North Carolina. KPC-producing
Trade-offs and Noise Tolerance in Signal Detection by Genetic Circuits

Genetic circuits can implement elaborated tasks of amplitude or frequency signal detection. What type of constraints could circuits experience in the performance of these tasks, and how are they affected by molecular noise? Here, we consider a simple detection process–a signal acting on a two-component module–to analyze these issues. We show that the presence of a feedback interaction in the detection module imposes a trade-off on amplitude and frequency detection, whose intensity depends on feedback strength. A direct interaction between the signal and the output species, in a type of feed-forward loop architecture, greatly modifies these trade-offs. Indeed, we observe that coherent feed-forward loops can act simultaneously as good frequency and amplitude noise-tolerant detectors. Alternatively, incoherent feed-forward loop structures can work as high-pass filters improving high frequency detection, and reaching noise tolerance by means of noise filtering. Analysis of experimental data from several specific coherent and incoherent feed-forward loops shows that these properties can be realized in a natural context. Overall, our results emphasize the limits imposed by circuit structure on its characteristic stimulus response, the functional plasticity of coherent feed-forward loops, and the seemingly paradoxical advantage of improving signal detection with noisy circuit components.
Low-complexity LDPC-coded iterative MIMO receiver based on belief propagation algorithm for detection

A low-complexity Multiple Input Multiple Output receiver based on Belief Propagation (MIMO-BP) detector associated with a Non-Binary Low Density Parity Check (NB-LDPC) decoder is proposed in this paper. Such detection and decoding algorithms are represented thanks to a larger Joint Factor Graph. Shuffle schedule is also applied to efficiently exchange information between the detector and the decoder. Actions are undertaken at the detector, decoder and the iterative receiver levels in order to reduce overall computational complexity. An important reduction in terms of operations per iteration is obtained with a negligible performance penalty. Then, EXtrinsic Information Transfer (EXIT) charts are used to find a schedule in terms of number of iterations to be performed for which the proposed receiver achieves error correction performance similar to that of a full-complexity iterative MIMO receiver.
Bio-Inspired Extreme Wetting Surfaces for Biomedical Applications

Biological creatures with unique surface wettability have long served as a source of inspiration for scientists and engineers. More specifically, materials exhibiting extreme wetting properties, such as superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces, have attracted considerable attention because of their potential use in various applications, such as self-cleaning fabrics, anti-fog windows, anti-corrosive coatings, drag-reduction systems, and efficient water transportation. In particular, the engineering of surface wettability by manipulating chemical properties and structure opens emerging biomedical applications ranging from high-throughput cell culture platforms to biomedical devices. This review describes design and fabrication methods for artificial extreme wetting surfaces. Next, we introduce some of the newer and emerging biomedical applications using extreme wetting surfaces. Current challenges and future prospects of the surfaces for potential biomedical applications are also addressed.
Cutaneous Cryptococcoma in a Patient on TNF-α Inhibition

An 87-year old Caucasian male with past medical history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic kidney disease presents with left hand erythema, pain, tenderness, induration and edema. Clinically, these hand findings began proximal to the metacarpo-phalangeal joints and extended to the distal wrist. He was noted to have ipsilateral axillary lymph node enlargement but denied any constitutional signs or symptoms. Laboratory markers of inflammation were poor prognostic indicators due to relatively active RA, the use of chronic daily glucocorticoids and weekly adalimumab use. Oral antibiotics were administered with limited success leading to a skin biopsy which reported a hematogenously disseminated fungal panniculitis; cultures grew Cryptococcus neoformans, however, serum cryptococcal antigen was negative. With initial fluconazole treatment, skin findings and lymphadenopathy improved gradually over the next six months. However, the patient’s improvement stagnated and his condition reverted back to the state of initial presentation.
Embedded security for Internet of Things

Internet of Things (IoT) consists of several tiny devices connected together to form a collaborative computing environment. IoT imposes peculiar constraints in terms of connectivity, computational power and energy budget, which make it significantly different from those contemplated by the canonical doctrine of security in distributed systems. In order to circumvent the problem of security in IoT domain, networks and devices need to be secured. In this paper, we consider the embedded device security only, assuming that network security is properly in place. It can be noticed that the existence of tiny computing devices that form ubiquity in IoT domain are very much vulnerable to different security attacks. In this work, we provide the requirements of embedded security, the solutions to resists different attacks and the technology for resisting temper proofing of the embedded devices by the concept of trusted computing. Our paper attempts to address the issue of security for data at rest. Addressing this issue is equivalent to addressing the security issue of the hardware platform. Our work also partially helps in addressing securing data in transit.
Movement and Action in Learning and Development: Clinical Implications for Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Introductory Commentary: A Theoretical Frameworks for Intervention with Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Interrelation of Action, Perception, and Cognition in Development: An Historical Perspective. The Central Role of Action in Typical and Atypical Development. Plasticity of Somatosensory and Motor Systems in Developing and Mature Primate Brains. Constructive Manipulatory Action and the Origin of Cognition in Human and Nonhuman Primates. The Event Basis of Conceptual and Language Development. The Integration of Expression into the Stream of Everyday Activity. From Action to Interaction as Primary Root of Development. Guided Interaction Therapy: Principles of Clinical Intervention. PROMPT: A Tactually Grounded Treatment Approach to Speech Production Disorders. The Multiple Faces of Clinical Efficacy. Potential Challenges to Clinical Practices and Research.
A Reciprocating Ledge Technique in Closing Wedge Osteotomy for Genu Valgum in Adolescents

Purpose. To describe a technique that preserves anterior and posterior alternate ledges in a closing wedge osteotomy. Methods. Five patients aged 14 to 19 years underwent a closing wedge osteotomy for genu valgum in 8 limbs using a reciprocating ledge technique. A unicortical wedge of bone was removed, with the anterior and posterior cortices spared. The anterior cortex at the proximal level and the posterior cortex at the distal level were cut through. With a wobbling action, the osteotomy site was rotated, and the distal fragment externally rotated. Manual force was applied to close the osteotomy site ensuring overlapping of the reciprocal ledges. The distal fragment was translated laterally to prevent club deformity. The osteotomy site was held with one or 2 staples. Stability was tested by flexion and extension of knee. Results. All 8 limbs attained bone union within 12 weeks, and full range of motion within a mean of 13 (range, 12–15) weeks. The mean correction of the tibiofemoral angle was 13°. At a mean follow-up of 12 months, all patients were pain-free and none developed club deformity. Conclusion. Sparing reciprocal ledges in a closing wedge osteotomy for genu valgum may increase stability in the flexion-extension axis, enable early range-of-motion exercises, and facilitate early bone union.
Review of the therapeutic management of Parkinson's disease. Report of a joint task force of the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) and the Movement Disorder Society‐European Section (MDS‐ES). Part II: late (complicated) Parkinson's disease

To provide evidence‐based recommendations for the management of late (complicated) Parkinson's disease (PD), based on a review of the literature. Complicated PD refers to patients suffering from the classical motor syndrome of PD along with other motor or non‐motor complications, either disease‐related (e.g. freezing) or treatment‐related (e.g. dyskinesias or hallucinations). MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and INAHTA database literature searches were conducted. National guidelines were requested from all EFNS societies. Non‐European guidelines were searched for using MEDLINE. Part II of the guidelines deals with treatment of motor and neuropsychiatric complications and autonomic disturbances. For each topic, a list of therapeutic interventions is provided, including classification of evidence. Following this, recommendations for management are given, alongside ratings of efficacy. Classifications of evidence and ratings of efficacy are made according to EFNS guidance. In cases where there is insufficient scientific evidence, a consensus statement (‘good practice point’) is made.
A Parallelized Pumpless Artificial Placenta System Significantly Prolonged Survival Time in a Preterm Lamb Model.

An artificial placenta (AP) is an arterio-venous extracorporeal life support system that is connected to the fetal circulation via the umbilical vasculature. Previously, we published an article describing a pumpless AP system with a small priming volume. We subsequently developed a parallelized system, hypothesizing that the reduced circuit resistance conveyed by this modification would enable healthy fetal survival time to be prolonged. We conducted experiments using a premature lamb model to test this hypothesis. As a result, the fetal survival period was significantly prolonged (60.4 ± 3.8 vs. 18.2 ± 3.2 h, P < 0.01), and circuit resistance and minimal blood lactate levels were significantly lower in the parallel circuit group, compared with our previous single circuit group. Fetal physiological parameters remained stable until the conclusion of the experiments. In summary, parallelization of the AP system was associated with reduced circuit resistance and lactate levels and allowed preterm lamb fetuses to survive for a significantly longer period when compared with previous studies.
The role of neurocognitive abilities in coping with adolescent relapse to alcohol and drug use.

OBJECTIVE Neurocognitive abilities are hypothesized to influence coping with temptations to relapse to alcohol and drug use. In particular, a moderator model was proposed whereby neurocognitive abilities moderate the influence of coping strategies on treatment outcome. METHOD Participants (N = 79) were consecutive admissions to inpatient alcohol and drug treatment centers in the San Diego, California. area, (age range = 14 to 18 years; 41% female). Treatment programs were abstinence focused, with an average inpatient stay of 5 weeks. Participants met DSM-III-R lifetime criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence and abuse or dependence of at least one other substance. Follow-up assessments were conducted 1 and 2 years following discharge, including a battery of neuropsychological tests, coping questionnaire, and detailed assessment of alcohol and other drug involvement. RESULTS The interaction between general intelligence and coping diversity significantly predicted alcohol and drug use 1 year later (F = 10.71, 1/72 df, p <.005, R2 change =.08), even when controlling for current use. Attention-coping and problem solving-coping interactions also significantly predicted outcome, but not above the intelligence-coping interaction. CONCLUSIONS Teens with poor neurocognitive abilities used little or no alcohol and drugs if good coping skills were evidenced, but used more alcohol and drugs if their coping skills were poor. This association between coping skills and outcome did not exist for teens with better neurocognitive abilities. Clinically, teens with poorer neurocognitive skills may maximally benefit from coping skills training programs, and neuropsychological evaluations may be particularly helpful in addressing these individual needs in treatment.
Dual Targeting of Insulin and Venus Kinase Receptors of Schistosoma mansoni for Novel Anti-schistosome Therapy

Background Chemotherapy of schistosomiasis relies on a single drug, Praziquantel (PZQ) and mass-use of this compound has led to emergence of resistant strains of Schistosoma mansoni, therefore pointing out the necessity to find alternative drugs. Through their essential functions in development and metabolism, receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) could represent valuable drug targets for novel anti-schistosome chemotherapies. Taking advantage of the similarity between the catalytic domains of S. mansoni insulin receptors (SmIR1 and SmIR2) and Venus Kinase Receptors (SmVKR1 and SmVKR2), we studied the possibility to fight schistosomes by targeting simultaneously the four receptors with a single drug. Methodology/Principal Findings Several commercial RTK inhibitors were tested for their potential to inhibit the kinase activities of SmIR1, SmIR2, SmVKR1 and SmVKR2 intracellular domains (ICD) expressed in Xenopus oocytes. We measured the inhibitory effect of chemicals on meiosis resumption induced by the active ICD of the schistosome kinases in oocytes. The IR inhibitor, tyrphostin AG1024, was the most potent inhibitory compound towards SmIR and SmVKR kinases. In vitro studies then allowed us to show that AG1024 affected the viability of both schistosomula and adult worms of S. mansoni. At micromolar doses, AG1024 induced apoptosis and caused schistosomula death in a dose-dependent manner. In adult worms, AG1024 provoked alterations of reproductive organs, as observed by confocal laser scanner microscopy. With 5 µM AG1024, parasites were no more feeding and laying eggs, and they died within 48 h with 10 µM. Conclusion/Significance IRs and VKRs are essential in S. mansoni for key biological processes including glucose uptake, metabolism and reproduction. Our results demonstrate that inhibiting the kinase potential and function of these receptors by a single chemical compound AG1024 at low concentrations, leads to death of schistosomula and adult worms. Thus, AG1024 represents a valuable hit compound for further design of anti-kinase drugs applicable to anti-schistosome chemotherapy.
Unbalanced Nested Component Error Model and the Value of Soil Insecticide and Bt Corn for Controlling Western Corn Rootworm

We describe four recently developed panel data estimators for unbalanced and nested data, a common problem for economic and experimental data. We estimate a western corn rootworm damage function with each estimator, including separate parameters for random effects from year, location, and experimental errors. We then use each estimator to assess the cost of the western corn rootworm soybean variant and the net benefit of soil insecticide and Bt corn for controlling this pest. At current prices, we find that soil insecticide generates a net loss ranging about $0.50-$3.25/ac, while Bt corn generates a net benefit ranging $2.50-$7.00/ac.
Multidimensional Geriatric Assessment: Back to the Future Preclinical Disability as a Risk Factor for Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Department of Geriatrics, Inselspital University of Bern Hospital, Switzerland. University Department of Geriatrics, Spital Netz Bern Ziegler, Bern, Switzerland. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland. Albertinen-Haus Geriatrics Centre, University of Hamburg, Germany. Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom. School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles. Langley Research Institute, Pacific Palisades, California.
Safety assessment and risk–benefit analysis of the use of azodicarbonamide in baby food jar closure technology: Putting trace levels of semicarbazide exposure into perspective – A review

The discovery of trace levels of semicarbazide (SEM) in bottled foods (especially baby foods) led to a consideration of the safety of this hydrazine compound by regulatory agencies worldwide. Azodicarbonamide, which is used in the jar-sealing technology known as Press On-Twist Off (or Push-Twist/PT) closures for the formation of a hermetic, plastisol seal, partially degrades with the heat of processing to form trace amounts of SEM. This review has evaluated the potential toxicological risks of resulting exposure to SEM and also the benefit of the PT technology (with azodicarbonamide) in the context of possible microbial contamination. It also considers the potential impact on infant nutrition if parents come to the conclusion that commercial baby foods are unsafe. SEM shows limited genotoxicity in vitro that is largely prevented by the presence of mammalian metabolic enzymes. Negative results were found in vivo in DNA alkaline elution, unscheduled DNA synthesis and micronucleus assays. This pattern is in contrast to the genotoxic hydrazines that also have been shown to cause tumours. Carcinogenicity studies of SEM are of limited quality, show a questionable weak effect in mice at high doses, which are not relevant to human exposure at trace levels, and show no effect in the rat. The IARC has assigned SEM as Group 3, ‘Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans’. Based on estimates of exposure to infants consuming baby foods (with the assumption of SEM levels at the 95th percentile of 20 ng g−1 in all of the consumed ‘ready-to-eat’ foods) compared with a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) in developmental toxicity studies, the margin of safety is more than 21 000. Since the risk of an adverse effect is negligible, it is clear that any theoretical risk is outweighed by the benefits of continuing use of the PT closure (with azodicarbonamide blowing agent) to ensure both the microbial integrity and availability of commercial baby foods as a valuable source of infant nutrition.
Structural and Functional Analysis of a Platelet-Activating Lysophosphatidylcholine of Trypanosoma cruzi

Background Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of the life-threatening Chagas disease, in which increased platelet aggregation related to myocarditis is observed. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent intercellular lipid mediator and second messenger that exerts its activity through a PAF-specific receptor (PAFR). Previous data from our group suggested that T. cruzi synthesizes a phospholipid with PAF-like activity. The structure of T. cruzi PAF-like molecule, however, remains elusive. Methodology/Principal findings Here, we have purified and structurally characterized the putative T. cruzi PAF-like molecule by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Our ESI-MS/MS data demonstrated that the T. cruzi PAF-like molecule is actually a lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), namely sn-1 C18:1(delta 9)-LPC. Similar to PAF, the platelet-aggregating activity of C18:1-LPC was abrogated by the PAFR antagonist, WEB 2086. Other major LPC species, i.e., C16:0-, C18:0-, and C18:2-LPC, were also characterized in all T. cruzi stages. These LPC species, however, failed to induce platelet aggregation. Quantification of T. cruzi LPC species by ESI-MS revealed that intracellular amastigote and trypomastigote forms have much higher levels of C18:1-LPC than epimastigote and metacyclic trypomastigote forms. C18:1-LPC was also found to be secreted by the parasite in extracellular vesicles (EV) and an EV-free fraction. A three-dimensional model of PAFR was constructed and a molecular docking study was performed to predict the interactions between the PAFR model and PAF, and each LPC species. Molecular docking data suggested that, contrary to other LPC species analyzed, C18:1-LPC is predicted to interact with the PAFR model in a fashion similar to PAF. Conclusions/Significance Taken together, our data indicate that T. cruzi synthesizes a bioactive C18:1-LPC, which aggregates platelets via PAFR. We propose that C18:1-LPC might be an important lipid mediator in the progression of Chagas disease and its biosynthesis could eventually be exploited as a potential target for new therapeutic interventions.
Profiles of verbal working memory growth predict speech and language development in children with cochlear implants.

PURPOSE Verbal short-term memory (STM) and working memory (WM) skills predict speech and language outcomes in children with cochlear implants (CIs) even after conventional demographic, device, and medical factors are taken into account. However, prior research has focused on single end point outcomes as opposed to the longitudinal process of development of verbal STM/WM and speech-language skills. In this study, the authors investigated relations between profiles of verbal STM/WM development and speech-language development over time. METHOD Profiles of verbal STM/WM development were identified through the use of group-based trajectory analysis of repeated digit span measures over at least a 2-year time period in a sample of 66 children (ages 6-16 years) with CIs. Subjects also completed repeated assessments of speech and language skills during the same time period. RESULTS Clusters representing different patterns of development of verbal STM (digit span forward scores) were related to the growth rate of vocabulary and language comprehension skills over time. Clusters representing different patterns of development of verbal WM (digit span backward scores) were related to the growth rate of vocabulary and spoken word recognition skills over time. CONCLUSION Different patterns of development of verbal STM/WM capacity predict the dynamic process of development of speech and language skills in this clinical population.
Adaptive Causal Models for Fault Diagnosis and Recovery in Multi-Robot Teams

This paper presents an adaptive causal model method (adaptive CMM) for fault diagnosis and recovery in complex multi-robot teams. We claim that a causal model approach is effective for anticipating and recovering from many types of robot team errors, presenting extensive experimental results to support this claim. To our knowledge, these results show the first, full implementation of a CMM on a large multi-robot team. However, because of the significant number of possible failure modes in a complex multi-robot application, and the difficulty in anticipating all possible failures in advance, our empirical results show that one cannot guarantee the generation of a complete a priori causal model that identifies and specifies all faults that may occur in the system. Instead, an adaptive method is needed to enable the robot team to use its experience to update and extend its causal model to enable the team, over time, to better recover from faults when they occur. We present our case-based learning approach, called LeaF (for learning-based fault diagnosis), that enables robot team members to adapt their causal models, thereby improving their ability to diagnose and recover from these faults over time