Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Emergence of fluoroquinolones as the predominant risk factor for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea: a cohort study during an epidemic in Quebec.

BACKGROUND Since 2002, an epidemic of Clostridium difficile-associated-diarrhea (CDAD) associated with a high case-fatality rate has involved >30 hospitals in the province of Quebec, Canada. In 2003, a total of 55% of patients with CDAD at our hospital had received fluoroquinolones in the preceding 2 months. It has been suggested that massive use of proton pump inhibitors might have facilitated this epidemic. METHODS To delineate the risk of CDAD associated with specific classes of antibiotics and whether this is modulated by concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors and other drugs altering gastric acidity or gastrointestinal motility, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized in a teaching hospital in Sherbrooke, Canada, during the period of January 2003 through June 2004. We obtained data on 7421 episodes of care corresponding to 5619 individuals. Patients were observed until they either developed CDAD or died or for 60 days after discharge from the hospital. Adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) were calculated using Cox regression. RESULTS CDAD occurred in 293 patients. Fluoroquinolones were the antibiotics most strongly associated with CDAD (AHR, 3.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.65-4.47). Almost one-fourth of all inpatients received quinolones, for which the population-attributable fraction of CDAD was 35.9%. All 3 generations of cephalosporins, macrolides, clindamycin, and intravenous beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors were intermediate-risk antibiotics, with similar AHRs (1.56-1.89). Proton pump inhibitors (AHR, 1.00, 95% CI, 0.79-1.28) were not associated with CDAD. CONCLUSIONS Administration of fluoroquinolones emerged as the most important risk factor for CDAD in Quebec during an epidemic caused by a hypervirulent strain of C. difficile.
Distribution of human herpesvirus-8 sequences throughout the spectrum of AIDS-related neoplasia

Objective:AIDS frequently associates with certain malignancies, including Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and anogenital neoplasia. In this study we aimed to define the frequency of infection by human herpesvirus (HHV)-8 throughout the spectrum of AIDS-related neoplasia in Europe. Design:A tumour panel representative of the distinct types of AIDS-related neoplasms was tested for the presence of HHV-8 DNA sequences. Autologous uninvolved tissues were also tested in selected cases. Methods:The presence of HHV-8 DNA sequences was assayed by a combination of polymerase chain reaction followed by oligohybridization and Southern blot hybridization of genomic DNA with an HHV-8-specific probe. Results:HHV-8 sequences were detected in 100% of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (all 35 cases). Among AIDS-related NHL, HHV-8 sequences selectively clustered with body-cavity-based lymphomas (BCBL; all three cases), although they were consistently negative in small non-cleaved cell lymphomas (none in 18 cases), diffuse large cell lymphomas (none in seven), or anaplastic large cell lymphomas (none in three). No HHV-8 sequences were found in cases of anogenital neoplasia (out of 14) or Hodgkin's disease (out of three). HHV-8 DNA sequences were also positive in the uninvolved skin of all six AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma patients, but not in the circulating lymphocytes of a BCBL patient. Positivity for HHV-8 sequences occurred in patients belonging to all major AIDS risk categories. Conclusions:These data confirm that HHV-8 sequences associate at high frequency with selected types of AIDS-related neoplasia, namely Kaposi's sarcoma and BCBL, although they are consistently absent in other types of AIDS-NHL and AIDS-related anogenital neoplasia.
Pengaruh Diversifikasi Operasi, Diversifikasi Geografis, Leverage dan Struktur Kepemilikan terhadap Manajemen Laba(Studi pada Perusahaan Manufaktur yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia Tahun 2009-2010)

This study aims to examine the influence of operation diversification, geographic diversification, leverage and ownership structure towards earnings management in manufacturing companies. Two types of diversification are studied: operation diversification and geographic diversification. Leverage measured by ratio between total debt and total assets. Ownership structure comprises four aspects: concentrated ownership, foreign ownership, institutional ownership and managerial ownership. Earnings management measured by discretionary accruals, which is counted using modified Jones model. This study uses documentary method from ICMD and annual reports of manufacture companies. This study utilizes data from 72 manufacturing companies listed at Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) in 2009 until 2010. Multiple regression technique is used for the data analysis. The result of this study indicates geographic diversification, leverage, concentrated ownership and institutional ownership have significant influence in earnings management. Higher geographic diversification and institutional ownership might decrease earnings management. Meanwhile, increase of leverage and concentrated ownership might raise earnings management. The study didn’t find significant effect of operation diversification, foreign ownership and managerial ownership towards earnings management.
GSHOT: a Global Descriptor from SHOT to Reduce Time and Space Requirements

This work was supported by the European FEDER funds, the Spanish Ministry of Economising and the Valencia Regional Government through the research projects DPI 2015-68087R and PROMETEO 20/3/085, as well as the pre-doctoral grant BES-2013-062864.
Design and experiments of a torso mechanism for the ROBIAN biped robot

This paper deals with the design and the experiments of the upper part of the ROBIAN biped robot. The motivation of the ROBIAN project is related to the study of the human being locomotion system. The major application of ROBIAN prototype is the development of a real testing bed of active/passive prosthesis devices enhancing research on the human being locomotion mechanism handicaps. The analysis of the wrench six components exerted by the upper part of a virtual manikin on the locomotion apparatus leads to the identification of two coupling relations. Based on the dynamic equivalence concept between mechanisms, the ROBIAN torso mechanism is identified. This concept leads to a four degrees of freedom mechanism able to reproduce the dynamic effects of the upper limbs during the walking gait. The mechanism parameters are optimized with respect to several design criteria and constraints. Then the prototype is built and mounted on the ROBIAN locomotion apparatus through a six components force sensor. Experimental results presented in this paper validate the proposed approach. The experimental coupling coefficients are identified. The influence of the masses motion on the ZMP trajectory are also given, showing the effectiveness of the torso mechanism contribution during a walking gait.
Sequential model of phage PRD1 DNA delivery: active involvement of the viral membrane

DNA translocation across the barriers of recipient cells is not well understood. Viral DNA delivery mechanisms offer an opportunity to obtain useful information in systems in which the process can be arrested to a number of stages. PRD1 is an icosahedral double‐stranded (ds)DNA bacterial virus with an internal membrane. It is an atypical dsDNA phage, as any of the vertex spikes can be used for receptor recognition. In this report, we dissect the PRD1 DNA entry into a number of steps: (i) outer membrane (OM) penetration; (ii) peptidoglycan digestion; (iii) cytoplasmic membrane (CM) penetration; and (iv) DNA translocation. We present a model for PRD1 DNA entry proposing that the initial stage of entry is powered by the pressure build‐up during DNA packaging. The viral protein P11 is shown to function as the first DNA delivery protein needed to penetrate the OM. We also report a DNA translocation machinery composed of at least three viral integral membrane proteins, P14, P18 and P32.
Maternal vaginal microflora during pregnancy and the risk of asthma hospitalization and use of antiasthma medication in early childhood.

BACKGROUND Infants with wheezing and allergic diseases have a microflora that differs from that of healthy infants. The fetus acquires microorganisms during birth when exposed to the maternal vaginal microflora. It is therefore conceivable that the maternal vaginal microflora might influence the establishment of the infant flora and, as a consequence, the development of wheezing and allergic diseases. OBJECTIVE We sought to study the associations between the composition of the maternal vaginal microflora and the development of wheezing and asthma in childhood. METHODS We performed a population-based cohort study in Denmark. Vaginal samples for bacterial analysis were obtained during pregnancy. A total of 2927 women (80% of the invited women) completed the study and had 3003 live infants. Infant wheezing was assessed as one or more hospitalizations for asthma between 0 and 3 years of age. Asthma was assessed as use of 3 or more packages of antiasthma medication between 4 and 5 years of age. RESULTS Maternal vaginal colonization with Ureaplasma urealyticum during pregnancy was associated with infant wheezing (odds ratio [OR], 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2-3.6), but not with asthma, during the fifth year of life. Maternal colonization with staphylococci (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4-3.4) and use of antibiotics in pregnancy (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.6) were associated with asthma during the fifth year of life. CONCLUSION The composition of the maternal vaginal micro-flora might be associated with wheezing and asthma in the offspring up to 5 years of age.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Bean-Nodulating Sinorhizobium fredii Strain GR64

ABSTRACT Sinorhizobium fredii GR64 is a peculiar strain that is able to effectively nodulate bean but not soybean, the common host of S. fredii. Here we present the draft genome of S. fredii GR64. This information will contribute to a better understanding of the symbiotic rhizobium-plant interaction and of rhizobial evolution.
Enabling Humanitarian Use of Mobile Phone Data

Mobile phones are now ubiquitous in developing countries, with 89 active subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Though many types of population data are scarce in developing countries, the metadata generated by millions of mobile phones and recorded by mobile phone operators can enable unprecedented insights about individuals and societies. Used with appropriate restraint, this data has great potential for good, including immediate use in the fight against Ebola.
Ertapenem versus piperacillin-tazobactam for treatment of mixed anaerobic complicated intra-abdominal, complicated skin and skin structure, and acute pelvic infections.

BACKGROUND Anaerobes are an important component of many serious, deep tissue infections, especially complicated intra-abdominal (IAI), complicated skin and skin structure (SSSI), and acute pelvic (PI) infections. This study compares the efficacy of ertapenem, 1 g once a day, in the treatment of adults with anaerobic IAI, SSSI, and PI to piperacillin-tazobactam, 3.375 g every 6 hours. METHODS Three randomized, double-blind trials comparing ertapenem to piperacillin-tazobactam for treatment of IAI, SSSI, and PI were conducted. This subgroup analysis included 623 patients, whose baseline culture grew one or more anaerobic pathogens, from these three studies. RESULTS Anaerobes most commonly isolated were Bacteroides fragilis group (IAI) and peptostreptococci (SSSI and PI). The median duration of ertapenem and piperacillin-tazobactam therapy, respectively, in these subgroups was 6 and 7 days for IAI, 7 and 8 days for SSSI, and 4 and 5 days for PI. Cure rates for all evaluable patients with anaerobic infection were 89.3% (242/271) for ertapenem and 85.9% (220/256) for piperacillin-tazobactam (95% CI for the difference, adjusting for infection, -2.6% to 9.3%), indicating that the two treatments were equivalent. Cure rates by infection, for ertapenem and piperacillin-tazobactam, respectively, were as follows: IAI, 86.4% (133/154) and 82.4% (117/142); SSSI, 84.4% (27/32) and 82.4% (28/34); PI, 96.5% (82/85) and 93.8% (75/80). The frequency and severity of drug-related adverse experiences were comparable in both treatment groups. CONCLUSION In this subgroup analysis, ertapenem was as effective as piperacillin-tazobactam for treatment of adults with moderate to severe anaerobic IAI, SSSI, and PI, was generally well tolerated, and had a similar safety profile.
TSP 50 Encodes a Testis-Specific Protease and Is Negatively Regulated by p 53

Earlier studies suggested that TSP50 is a testis-specific gene that encodes a protein, which is homologous to serine proteases but differs in that threonine replaces serine in its catalytic triad. Most importantly, it was abnormally reactivated in many breast cancer biopsies tested. While further investigating its biochemical and cell biological natures, we found that TSP50 exhibited enzyme activity and was located in the endoplasmic reticulum and cytosol membrane. During our studies to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms related to its differential expression, we discovered a putative p53-binding site and several Sp1-binding sites in the TSP50 promoter, which led us to test if it was regulated by the p53 gene. We found that the p53 transgene negatively regulated the TSP50 promoter in diverse types of cell lines. This result was consistent with other observations: (a) p53 overexpression reduced endogenous TSP50 expression; and (b) breast cancer cell lines containing mutated p53 , such as MCF7/Adr, or normal p53 , such as MCF7, produced high or low levels of TSP50 transcripts, which was consistent with the fact that TSP50 promoter activity was much higher in MCF7/Adr than that in MCF7 cells. We also found that the quantity of Sp1 transcription factor was lower in MCF7/Adr than in MCF7 cells, which suggested that another mechanism (i.e., transcription factor modulation) was also involved in TSP50 differential expression. [Cancer Res 2007;67(3):1239–45]
An enhancement in security and copyright protection technique used for digital still image

Digital communication facilitates us to transmission of data from transmission station to receiver station. Digital data required different multimedia techniques for transferring and maintaining the quality of digital data. As we know that, digital data are in various formats like text, audio, video, image, graphics, and message or in animated format. During transmission of digital data through channel, digital data requires of security as well as copyright protection. In this paper, 2-D digital still image is used for experimental purpose. There are variety of techniques and algorithms which can provide security and copyright protection services. The combination of DWT and DCT digital watermarking technique is used to provide copyright protection service and security services can be provided by AES technique using 256 bits key. The Combination of digital image watermarking and AES technique provides authenticity, copyright protection, and security to digital image against different attacks like Cropping, Gaussian noise, Salt and pepper noise, JPEG compression, Median filtering and Rotation attack.
School time physical activity of students with and without autism spectrum disorders during PE and recess.

This study compared moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and students without disabilities during inclusive physical education and recess. Students (7-12 years) wore a uniaxial accelerometer in school for 5 consecutive school days. Results indicated a significant difference between settings, F(1,46) = 15.94, p < . 01, partial eta2 = 0.26, observed power = 0.97. Students with and without ASD spent a higher proportion of time in MVPA during physical education than during recess, relative to the amount of time spent in those settings. In addition, structured physical education offers opportunities to increase students' MVPA engagement.
Hybrid precoding performance in downlink mm-Wave massive MU-MIMO systems

In the last decade massive multiple-input multiple-output (massive-MIMO) systems operating at mm-wave frequencies has magnetized high interest from both academic researchers and industry development. Mm-Wave systems provide capacity and performance amendment. Achieving higher efficiency and better system performance precoding is being utilized in MIMO wireless communication systems operating at mm-wave frequencies. Since thousands of antennas employed at mm-Wave frequencies, radio frequency (RF) chains are required via mm-Wave MIMO in large numbers, yielding unaffordable hardware charges and high power consumption. To defeat the formerly mentioned drawbacks, there are some solutions for mm-Wave MIMO systems, like hybrid precoding and beam space MIMO. We evaluate the overall performance of these exclusive applied technologies together with their imperative principles, functions, advantages, capacities focal points, and portray challenges. We will draw some insights regarding how Multi-user large scale MIMO needs to be employed in the mm-Wave communication systems.
Chromosomal abnormalities in Philadelphia (Ph)-negative cells of patients with chronic myeloide leukemia treated with Imatinib (ST1571).

4-6 We present and discuss two cases of patients with Phpositive CML treated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib, who developed new chromosomal abnormalities in their Ph-negative cells. At diagnosis both patients (45 and 38 year-old women respectively for cases 1 and 2) were in chronic phase, with 100% Ph-positive cells and no other chromosomal abnormality. They began treatment with imatinib after being resistant to interferon-a with an initial dose of 400 mg/day, but case 1 suffered grade III neutropenia that prompted us to reduce dose to 300 mg/day. Initial evaluations showed a minor (20%) and a major (80%) cytogenetical response at three months respectively for cases 1 and 2. At six months case 1 had a complete cytogenetic response with the presence of two different cell lines: 7 of 26 were normal, and 19 of 26 were 45,XX,-7 (FISH negative for t(9;22) but BRC/ABL positive by RT-PCR). Case 2 maintained her major cytogenetic response and at 17 months three different cell lines were found: 1 of 18 metaphases was 46,XX,t(9;22), 6 of 18 were 46,XX and 11 of 18 were 46,XX,t(2;15)(q37.3;q21.3). After a total follow-up of 11 and 21 months, both patients continue in major cytogenetic response with bone marrow studies showing slight signs of dyserythropoiesis and less than 4% of blasts for case 1 and normal morphology for case 2. The first question to address is whether the treatment with imatinib may have induced these cytogenetic findings. The incidence was 2 cases from a cohort of 50 patients with CML treated with imatinib, being intolerant or refractory to interferon-a. A recent communication in the 2001 ASH meeting from investigators of Hammersmith Hospital in London, described the emergence of two different new chromosomal abnormalities (del(5)(q15q33) and trisomy 8) in Ph-negative cells from a cohort of 43 CML patients treated with Imatinib. As in our cases, these patients were in major cytogenetic response and showed no clinical progression during their short follow-up. Moreover, we performed a retrospective review of the cytogenetic follow-up of our previous CML patients treated with hydroxyurea, interferon-a, interferon-a plus cytarabine or allogeneic stem cell transplantation finding no chromosomal abnormalities in any Ph-negative cell line, even after patients had achieved complete cytogenetic or molecular responses. We can conclude from these preliminary data that the incidence of cytogenetic abnormalities in Ph-negative cells may be
Prevalence and Patterns of Injury Sustained During Military Hand-to-Hand Combat Training (Krav-Maga).

BACKGROUND Krav-Maga (KM) is a unique Israeli hand-to-hand combat system, designed to teach soldiers self-defense in true-to-life situations. With the increase in military Israel Defense Force (IDF) units participating in KM training in recent years, the number of injuries incurred in KM has also increased. The purpose of our report is to describe the prevalence and pattern of these injuries. METHODS Instances of KM injury were taken from IDF patients' computerized clinical records over a 1-year period. Data pertaining to the type, location, and severity of the injury, as well as data relating to soldier's gender and age were collected from the charts. "Moderate" injury was defined as injury necessitating absence from military activity for more than 1 week; "major" injury was defined as injury necessitating surgical intervention. FINDINGS During the year 2014, 916 soldiers complaining of 946 traumatic injuries sustained during KM training were evaluated in IDF clinics. The vast majority of injuries (95%) occurred in male soldiers, and most injured soldiers (92%) were between the ages of 18 and 22. The upper limbs were the most frequently injured body parts, with the fingers, hands, and wrists being the most involved regions (31%) followed by the shoulder (16%). Injury severity was mild in most cases. However, 64 soldiers (6.7%) were moderately injured and major injuries necessitating surgical treatment occurred in 33 cases (3.5%). DISCUSSION KM involves both striking and grappling elements, and we assume that injuries result from both fighting forms. With striking styles, such as boxing and kickboxing, hand and wrist are the prevalent injury locations; with grappling styles such as wrestling, strain and sprain injuries of large joints are most prevalent. Head and neck injuries, a major concern in martial arts sports, were not identified as significant problems in KM. To minimize participant injury, preventative measures should focus on improving protective equipment, especially of the hand, as well as warm up and training technique modifications, and shoulder strengthening exercises.
Low-SNR Capacity of Parallel IM-DD Optical Wireless Channels

The capacity of parallel intensity-modulation and direct-detection optical wireless channels with total average intensity and per-channel peak intensity constraints is studied. The optimal intensity allocation at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is derived, leading to the capacity-achieving ON–OFF keying distribution. Interestingly, while activating the strongest channel is optimal if 1) the peak intensity is fixed, this is not the case if 2) the peak intensity is proportional to the average intensity. The minimum average optical intensity per bit is also studied, and is characterized for case 1) where it is achievable at low SNR. However, in case 2), the average optical intensity per bit grows indefinitely as SNR decreases, indicating that lower optical intensity per bit can be achieved at moderate SNR than low SNR.