Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consequences of VanE-Type Resistance on Efficacy of Glycopeptides In Vitro and in Experimental Endocarditis Due toEnterococcus faecalis

ABSTRACT The consequences on glycopeptide activity of low-level resistance to vancomycin due to VanE-type resistance were evaluated in vitro and in experimental endocarditis caused byEnterococcus faecalis BM4405 (MICs of vancomycin and teicoplanin: 16 and 0.5 μg/ml, respectively), its susceptible derivative BM4405-1, and susceptible E. faecalis JH2-2. After 24 h of incubation, vancomycin at 8 μg/ml was not active against E. faecalis BM4405 whereas it was bacteriostatic against strains BM4405-1 and JH2-2. Against all three strains, vancomycin at 30 μg/ml and teicoplanin at 8 or 30 μg/ml were bacteriostatic but bactericidal when combined with gentamicin. In rabbits with aortic endocarditis due to VanE-type resistant strain BM4405, treatment with a standard dose of vancomycin generated subinhibitory plasma concentrations (i.e., peak of 36.3 ± 2.1 μg/ml and trough of 6.0 ± 2.2 μg/ml) and led to no significant reduction in mean aortic valve vegetation counts compared to no treatment of control animals. In contrast, a higher dosing regimen of vancomycin (i.e., resulting in a peak of 38.3 ± 5.2 μg/ml and a trough of 15.0 ± 8.3 μg/ml), providing plasma concentrations above the MIC for the entire dosing interval, led to significant and similar activities against all three strains, which were enhanced by combination with gentamicin. Treatment with teicoplanin led to results similar to those obtained with vancomycin at a high dose. No subpopulations with increased resistance to glycopeptides were selected in vitro or in vivo. In conclusion, the use of a high dose of vancomycin was necessary for the treatment of experimental enterococcal endocarditis due to VanE-type strains.
Neural Fill : Content Aware Image Fill with Generative Adversarial Neural Networks

We explore the problem of content-aware image fill with convolutional neural networks. Given an image that is partially masked, our goal is to generate realistic-looking content to fill the masked parts of the image. This task is also sometimes referred to as image completion or image inpainting. We experiment with several different network architectures for the problem, and we observe our most compelling results with generative adversarial networks (GANs).
Main Memory XML Update Optimization: algorithms and experiments. (Optimisation des mises à jours XML pour les systèmes main-memory: implémentation et expériences)

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Main Memory XML Update Optimization: algorithms and experiments. Sahakyan Marina
Compartmentalization of Autocrine Signal Transduction Pathways in Sis-transformed NIH 3T3 Cells (*)

The transforming protein of simian sarcoma virus is homologous to the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) B-chain. Fibroblasts transformed with simian sarcoma virus constitutively produce a growth factor that stimulates the endogenous tyrosine kinase of PDGF receptors in an autocrine manner. Autophosphorylation of PDGF receptors upon ligand stimulation provides binding sites for Src homology 2 domains of intracellular signaling molecules, which thereby become activated. We have characterized the PDGF receptor-mediated signal transduction in NIH 3T3 cells transformed with a PDGF B-chain cDNA (Sis 3T3 cells) in the absence and presence of suramin, a polyanionic compound that quenches PDGF-induced mitogenicity and reverts the transformed phenotype of the Sis 3T3 cells. Our data show that in the presence of suramin the general level of tyrosine phosphorylation was decreased. Nevertheless, autophosphorylated receptors complexed with substrates persisted in the cells. Suramin had no effect on activation of phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase or on tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C- and GTPase-activating protein of Ras. On the other hand, kinase activation of Src and Raf-1, phosphorylation of protein- tyrosine phosphatase 1D/Syp and Shc, and complex formation with Grb2 were greatly diminished by suramin. A possible explanation for our findings is that different PDGF receptor-coupled signaling pathways are active in different structural or functional compartments in the cell. Those pathways that are not affected by suramin might elicit distinct cellular responses, which are not sufficient for growth and transformation.
Early virologic rebound in a pilot trial of ritonavir-boosted atanazavir as maintenance monotherapy.

To the Editor: Karlstrom et al have conducted a pilot clinical trial of boosted atazanavir monotherapy that put patients at unnecessary risk. First, they switched patients who were taking extremely simple regimens to boosted atazanavir monotherapy without knowing if patients were able to tolerate atazanavir and ritonavir. Second, they allowed patients who were receiving efavirenz or nevirapine to switch directly to boosted atazanavir monotherapy. The terminal half-life of nevirapine and efavirenz can be rather long, and both are potent inducers of atazanavir metabolism. In addition, the induction caused by nevirapine and efavirenz can persist for a number of days after these drugs are stopped. Because of this negative interaction, patients might have had low levels of atazanavir during the first 4 weeks that were missed by the researchers. Third, patients who took contraindicated medications such as ranitidine and lansoprazole were not immediately discontinued from the trial. It is quite dramatic that of the 5 observed failures, 4 occurred in patients who were switched from efavirenz and the other occurred in a patient who was switched from zidovudine plus lamivudine plus abacavir and who received ranitidine along with boosted atazanavir monotherapy. We have conducted 2 clinical trials of lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy for maintenance of HIV suppression. To minimize risk for patients, we first conducted a pilot study to rule out an unacceptable rate of resistance development. Results of this small trial were encouraging enough to allow us to conduct an adequately powered trial. Forty-eight–week efficacy and resistance outcomes in the OK04 trial compare favorably with other well-accepted simplification strategies. Given these results, we consider that the statement by Karlstrom et al that monotherapy studies of boosted protease inhibitors might be unethical is unfounded. This unfair suggestion might have a negative impact on investigators and patients still enrolled in properly designed monotherapy trials. We respectfully remind Kalstrom et al that such strong statements about unethical research should be reserved for trials in which there is at least some evidence that patients are put at risk that could have been easily avoided.
Microwave photonic links based on transistor lasers: Voltage modulation versus current modulation

A three-port microwave photonic S-parameter formalism is developed and applied to the small-signal analysis of the transistor laser. This is then used to investigate the relationship between slope efficiency and link gain for microwave photonic links based on transistor lasers, for the two distinct cases of collector-emitter voltage modulation and base current modulation.
NFAT directly regulates Nkx2‐5 transcription during cardiac cell differentiation

Background information. The transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T‐cell) family comprises important regulators in immuno‐responses and mouse embryonic development, including early cardiovascular and heart valve development. The mechanism involved, however, is not fully understood. Nkx2‐5 (NK2 transcription factor related, locus 5) is one of the earliest genes expressed in early cardiac progenitor cells and is essential for heart tube development by control of a subset of cardiac muscle‐specific genes. Previously we found that downregulation of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I caused severe cardiac deficiencies during heart tube development in Xenopus embryos associated with compromised Nkx2‐5 expression. However, the heart defects and Nkx2‐5 expression could be rescued by a constitutively activated NFAT, suggesting a possible link between NFAT and Nkx2‐5 during early heart development.
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurological disorder that selectively affects motor neurons of brain and spinal cord. Emerging evidence indicates an involvement of the serine/threonine-cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) in the pathogenesis. Deregulation of Cdk5 by its truncated co-activators, p25 and p29, contributes to neurodegeneration by altering the phosphorylation state of cytosolic and cytoskeletal proteins and, possibly, through the induction of cell cycle regulators. The present paper reviews these findings and proposes new perspectives to decipher the mechanisms of neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis induced by Cdk5.
Cardiovascular mortality in obstructive sleep apnea in the elderly: role of long-term continuous positive airway pressure treatment: a prospective observational study.

RATIONALE Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for cardiovascular death in middle-aged subjects, but it is not known whether it is also a risk factor in the elderly. OBJECTIVES To investigate whether OSA is a risk factor for cardiovascular death and to assess whether continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment is associated with a change in risk in the elderly. METHODS Prospective, observational study of a consecutive cohort of elderly patients (≥65 yr) studied for suspicion of OSA between 1998 and 2007. Patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) less than 15 were the control group. OSA was defined as mild to moderate (AHI, 15-29) or severe (AHI, ≥30). Patients with OSA were classified as CPAP-treated (adherence ≥ 4 h/d) or untreated (adherence < 4 h/d or not prescribed). Participants were monitored until December 2009. The end point was cardiovascular death. A multivariate Cox survival analysis was used to determine the independent impact of OSA and CPAP treatment on cardiovascular mortality. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS A total of 939 elderly were studied (median follow-up, 69 mo). Compared with the control group, the fully adjusted hazard ratios for cardiovascular mortality were 2.25 (confidence interval [CI], 1.41 to 3.61) for the untreated severe OSA group, 0.93 (CI, 0.46 to 1.89) for the CPAP-treated group, and 1.38 (CI, 0.73 to 2.64) for the untreated mild to moderate OSA group. CONCLUSIONS Severe OSA not treated with CPAP is associated with cardiovascular death in the elderly, and adequate CPAP treatment may reduce this risk.
DESTINY: A Comprehensive Tool with 3D and Multi-Level Cell Memory Modeling Capability

To enable the design of large capacity memory structures, novel memory technologies such as non-volatile memory (NVM) and novel fabrication approaches, e.g., 3D stacking and multi-level cell (MLC) design have been explored. The existing modeling tools, however, cover only few memory technologies, technology nodes and fabrication approaches. We present DESTINY, a tool for modeling 2D/3D memories designed using SRAM, resistive RAM (ReRAM), spin transfer torque RAM (STT-RAM), phase change RAM (PCM) and embedded DRAM (eDRAM) and 2D memories designed using spin orbit torque RAM (SOT-RAM), domain wall memory (DWM) and Flash memory. In addition to single-level cell (SLC) designs for all these memories, DESTINY also supports modeling MLC designs for NVMs. We have extensively validated DESTINY against commercial and research prototypes of these memories. DESTINY is very useful for performing design-space exploration across several dimensions, such as optimizing for a target (e.g. latency, area or energy-delay product) for a given memory technology, choosing the suitable memory technology or fabrication method (i.e. 2D v/s 3D) for a given optimization target, etc. We believe that DESTINY will boost studies of next-generation memory architectures used in systems ranging from mobile devices to extreme-scale supercomputers.
PARSE C ODING AND I TS F AST E NCODER

Sparse coding represents a signal by a linear combination of only a few atoms of a learned over-complete dictionary. While sparse coding exhibits compelling performance for various machine learning tasks, the process of obtaining sparse code with fixed dictionary is independent for each data point without considering the geometric information and manifold structure of the entire data. We propose Support Regularized Sparse Coding (SRSC) which produces sparse codes that account for the manifold structure of the data by encouraging nearby data in the manifold to choose similar dictionary atoms. In this way, the obtained support regularized sparse codes capture the locally linear structure of the data manifold and enjoy robustness to data noise. We present the optimization algorithm of SRSC with theoretical guarantee for the optimization over the sparse codes. We also propose a feed-forward neural network termed Deep Support Regularized Sparse Coding (Deep-SRSC) as a fast encoder to approximate the sparse codes generated by SRSC. Extensive experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of SRSC and Deep-SRSC.
Influence of UV irradiation and humidity on a low-cost ZnO nanoparticle TFT for flexible electronics

Nowadays, flexible and transparent electronics are receiving much attention in industry and research groups. Aiming at a suitable device for this technology, we present a low-cost and low-temperature integration process for ZnO nanoparticle thin-film transistors using a spray coating technique. An inverted coplanar structure with high-k gate dielectric filled with TiO2 nanoparticles is used as transistor template. The transistor's stability when exposed to dry air, wet air and ultra-violet irradiation is studied. Conjointly, a model for the observed effects based on the adsorption of oxygen and water molecules at the nanoparticle surface is proposed.
The NKp46 Receptor Contributes to NK Cell Lysis of Mononuclear Phagocytes Infected with an Intracellular Bacterium1

We used human tuberculosis as a model to investigate the role of NK cytotoxic mechanisms in the immune response to intracellular infection. Freshly isolated NK cells and NK cell lines from healthy donors lysed Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected monocytes to a greater extent than uninfected monocytes. Lysis of infected monocytes was associated with increased expression of mRNA for the NKp46 receptor, but not the NKp44 receptor. Antisera to NKp46 markedly inhibited lysis of infected monocytes. NK cell-mediated lysis was not due to reduced expression of MHC class I molecules on the surface of infected monocytes or to enhanced production of IL-18 or IFN-γ. NK cell lytic activity against M. tuberculosis-infected monocytes and NKp46 mRNA expression were reduced in tuberculosis patients with ineffective immunity to M. tuberculosis compared with findings in healthy donors. These observations suggest that 1) the NKp46 receptor participates in NK cell-mediated lysis of cells infected with an intracellular pathogen, and 2) the reduced functional capacity of NK cells is associated with severe manifestations of infectious disease.
Population Forecasting and Urban Planning Practice: A Case Study

In this case study of population forecasting and planning practice in South Yorkshire, a number of insights are given into the issues involved in the application of quantitative methods to policy analysis. It is suggested that the users of population forecasts typically question the validity of the data and the assumptions made about future trends rather than the form of the forecasting model itself. In the case study it is also demonstrated to what extent analysts have to account for the judgements they have made about these matters when the accuracy of their forecasts is challenged by parties with strong vested interests in the outcomes. In this way the constraints that are placed on analysts working within the planning process are highlighted, and attention is drawn to some of the advantages and disadvantages of their position.
Factors that Influence Prescribing Decisions

BACKGROUND Strategies to control the quality and cost of medication use are largely dependent on the ability to alter selection of medications. Previous models of prescribing behavior have focused on physicians. In the hospital setting, clinical pharmacists and formulary committee members are also key players in drug therapy decision-making. Differences between physicians, formulary committee members, and clinical pharmacists have not been compared. Knowledge of these differences could have importance in predicting the effectiveness of strategies designed to influence drug use in this setting. OBJECTIVE To describe and compare the opinions of physicians, clinical pharmacists, and formulary committee members with respect to key factors that influence medication prescribing in community hospitals. METHODS Physicians, clinical pharmacists, and formulary committee members were solicited to participate. A trained interviewer administered a standardized questionnaire designed to elicit opinions of participants regarding the importance of factors thought to influence drug prescribing. Responses were described using descriptive statistics, and differences between the groups were determined by post hoc analysis. RESULTS A total of 150 individuals participated in the study. Safety, effectiveness, formulary status, and restrictions on prescribing were considered highly influential by all participants. Physicians rated the availability of drug samples and personal experience higher (more influential on prescribing) than clinical pharmacists and formulary committee members. Clinical pharmacists and formulary committee members rated the influence of recommendations by clinical pharmacists, prescribing guidelines, and cost or cost comparisons higher than physicians. Factors that were drug-related or that involved policy-related programs tended to be more influential than indirect factors. CONCLUSIONS Those who seek to implement programs to alter medication use should recognize and employ factors that are most influential in the decision-making process. Further, it may be important to consider differences that exist between key participants in the medication use process.
Canine ureteral ectopia--a review. 1. Embryology and aetiology.

The embryological reasons for the possible appearance of ectopic ureters in dogs are discussed. Resume. On discute des raisons embryologiques pour l'apparition possible d'ureteres ecto-piques chez les cheins. Zusammenfassung. Die erabryologischen Griinde fur das mogliche Erscheinen von ektopischen Ureteren in Hunden wurde diskutiert.
Spreadsheet Visualisation to Improve End-user Understanding

Spreadsheets are an extremely common form of end-user programming that have many applications, from calculating student marks to accounting for global multinationals. Ways of studying the structure of a spreadsheet itself are normally constrained to the tools provided in the spreadsheet software. This paper explores new ways to visualise spreadsheets in a manner that is independent of the program they were created in, explains the technology involved, and presents examples of the visualisations that can be produced. The techniques involved in reading the spreadsheets also facilitate larger scale analysis of spreadsheets for performing corpus analysis.
Responses to human rhinovirus in CD45 T cell subsets isolated from tonsil

Isotypes of CD45 have been used extensively as markers of memory and naive populations of T cells in peripheral blood. In this study, T cells were isolated from human tonsil and their proliferative response against human rhinovirus was measured. Unexpectedly, equivalent responses were found among the CD4+CD45RA+ and CD4+CD45RO+ populations of T cells. This response requires MHC class II‐positive antigen‐presenting cells. The time course of the T cell response in vitro was that of a classical recall response, and no proliferative response to the virus could be detected in human cord blood. These results suggest that tonsils contain a significant population of CD45RA+ memory cells. The presence of this population may reflect ongoing stimulation with this common infectious agent, and the anatomical location of the T cells within the major lymphoid organ draining the naso‐pharyngeal epithelial surface.
On the Extension of Arabic Wordnet Named Entities and Its Impact on Question / Answering

Applying a semantic approach has improved performances in the context of the Arabic Question/Answering (Q/A) systems. This approach is based on the current release of the Arabic WordNet (AWN) ontology. The analysis of the results obtained in previous works has shown that extending the Named Entity (NE) content of this ontology is a promising technique in order to further improve performances. In this paper, we investigate through experimental results the impact of the AWN enrichment using the YAGO ontology which presents a large coverage in terms of NE.
Neomycin ototoxicity; report of a case.

Since streptomycin, with its salts, has demonstrated such tuberculostatic potential, many authors have cited its ototoxic propensity, viz.: Fowler and Seligman 1 ; Carr et al. 2 ; Shane and Laurie 3 ; Glorig 4 ; Heck, Lynch, and Graves, 5 etc. Now another "mycin," neomycin, primarily bactericidal, adds to this ototoxic incidence. Preservation of human life commands continued "mycin" use, even at the risk of hearing impairment. Detoxifying methods, will, I trust, in the future, permit continued use of the systemic therapeutic potential of neomycin. Waisbren avers that neomycin has the widest antibacterial spectrum of any of the antibiotics. It is primarily bactericidal. It is effective against many Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and virtually all strains of Micrococcus pyogenes. It is least effective against Proteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas species, and enterococci. However, it remains the best drug available against the Pseudomonas species. 6 As bacterial resistance to other antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents mounts,
Linking Operations , IT Investments , and Firm-level Performance : An Examination of the Acute Care Hospital Supply Chain

The supply chain of acute care hospitals consists of entities that interact to provide the tools, personnel, and information necessary for quality service to patients and seeks to maintain efficient operations. This paper examines the interplay between operational factors such as process coordination activities, IT investments that facilitate these activities, and firm-level financial performance. 800 US hospitals provide data that are analyzed to discern if information technology (IT) investments promote efficiencies in the internal supply chain. The findings suggest that IT investments in back office and clinical applications improve process coordination activities used to measure internal supply chain operations, which in turn contribute to firm-level financial performance. Most telling is that these expenditures in IT and efficiency improvements do not come at the expense of quality.