Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of Mycobacterium gordonae from culture by the Gen-Probe Rapid Diagnostic System: evaluation of 218 isolates and potential sources of false-negative results

The Mycobacterium gordonae Rapid Diagnostic System (Gen-Probe, Inc., San Diego, Calif.) was evaluated for sensitivity and specificity as well as for its application in the mycobacteriology laboratory. An 125I-labeled cDNA probe complementary to rRNA was employed. Hybridization of greater than or equal to 10% was considered positive. A total of 218 mycobacterial isolates, including 159 isolates of M. gordonae, were tested. Under optimum conditions, the specificity and sensitivity of the probe were 100 and 98.7%, respectively. A number of discrepancies were observed between the probe and conventional biochemical results in one laboratory. Further studies, designed to resolve these discrepancies, revealed a number of potential technical pitfalls. Hybridization incubation temperatures that varied from the manufacturer's recommended optimum, culture suspensions below the density of a no. 1 McFarland nephelometer standard, and extended storage times of culture suspension all adversely affected the final hybridization values. Additionally, it was determined that in one laboratory incorrect functioning of the sonicator caused false-negative hybridization values. The manufacturer's recommendations should be strictly followed, and the performance of the sonicator should be checked on a scheduled basis. Results show that the probe will allow fast and accurate identification of M. gordonae, thus eliminating time-consuming biochemical testing of this organism.
Variables of patient‐controlled analgesia

Variables of patient controlled analgesia A.F. Merry, FFARCS H. Owen, MD, M.T. Kluger, FCAnaes and J.L. Plummer, PhD Epidural diamorphine for the obstetric patient E.M. McGrady, FFARCS and A.G. Davis, FFARCS J.D. Stevens Two incidents of complete failure of OAV 7750 ventilators M.J. Spittal, FCAnaes, S.J. Hunter, FCAnaes and D.C. Laidlow, FCAnaes R. Davies Ohmeda 9ooo syringe pump E. Sherry, FCAnaes Does an acute pain service require a high dependency
Multi-objective switching tracking control for a flexible air-breathing hypersonic vehicle

This article proposes a multi-objective switching tracking control scheme for the longitudinal motion of a flexible air-breathing hypersonic vehicle (FAHV). First, the linear parameter varying (LPV) model of the FAHV can be obtained by using Jacobian linearization approach. Second, for less conservative controller design purpose, the flight envelope is divided into smaller subregions, a family of mixed H2/LQR controllers are designed, and each of them is suitable for a specific parameter subspace, the mixed H2/LQR controllers are then switched in order to guarantee the closed-loop FAHV system to be asymptotically stable and satisfy specified performance indexes. The resulting multi-objective controller is found by solving a convex constraint problem which can be efficiently solved using available linear matrix inequality (LMI) techniques. In this method, we also take the gain variation of the controller into account due to parametric uncertainties of flight condition and the errors which existed in modeling. Finally, numerical simulations based on hypersonic vehicle nonlinear system have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Randomized trial of ‘intelligent’ autotitrating ventilation versus standard pressure support non‐invasive ventilation: Impact on adherence and physiological outcomes

Effective non‐invasive ventilation (NIV) therapy is dependent on optimal ventilator settings to maximize clinical benefit and patient tolerance. Intelligent volume‐assured pressure support (iVAPS) is a hybrid mode of servoventilation, providing constant automatic adjustment of pressure support (PS) to achieve a target ventilation determined by the patient's requirements. In a randomized crossover trial, we tested the hypothesis that iVAPS, with automated selection of ventilator settings, was non‐inferior to standard PS ventilation, with settings determined by an experienced health‐care professional, for controlling nocturnal hypoventilation in patients naive to NIV.
[Clinical findings in autosomal recessive syndrome of blue cone hypersensitivity].

BACKGROUND Intrafamilial variability of the syndrome of night blindness, maculopathy, and enhanced S-cone hypersensitivity was examined. PATIENTS AND METHODS Siblings with a history of night blindness and reduced visual acuity were examined clinically, psychophysically, electroretinographically (ERG), and electro-oculographically (EOG). RESULTS The siblings had had night blindness since early childhood and reduced visual acuity since the age of 20 years. Ophthalmoscopy showed degenerative, pigmented changes and subretinal spots, while one sibling had cystic lesions in the fovea. Scotopic ERG showed no rod-driven responses, while large, slow waveforms were detected in response to bright flashes. Photopic ERG induced responses similar in time, amplitude, and configuration to those of the dark-adapted ERG. The b-wave configuration was unchanged in response to chromatic stimuli. However, photopic ERG was more sensitive to blue and white than to red stimuli. The light peak on EOG was reduced. CONCLUSIONS The enhanced S-cone sensitivity syndrome was expressed to a different degree of severity and probably inherited in an autosomal recessive mode. These unusual ERG findings may be due to a depressed rod system and an increased number of S-cone photoreceptors, postreceptoral circuits, and S-cone sensitive ganglion cells.
Prospective randomized trial comparing mitomycin, cisplatin, and protracted venous-infusion fluorouracil (PVI 5-FU) With epirubicin, cisplatin, and PVI 5-FU in advanced esophagogastric cancer.

PURPOSE We report the results of a prospectively randomized study that compared the combination of epirubicin, cisplatin, and protracted venous-infusion fluorouracil (PVI 5-FU) (ECF) with the combination of mitomycin, cisplatin, and PVI 5-FU (MCF) in previously untreated patients with advanced esophagogastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Five hundred eighty patients with adenocarcinoma, squamous carcinoma, or undifferentiated carcinoma were randomized to receive either ECF (epirubicin 50 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks, cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks and PVI 5-FU 200 mg/m(2)/d) or MCF (mitomycin 7 mg/m(2) every 6 weeks, cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks, and PVI 5-FU 300 mg/m(2)/d) and analyzed for survival, response, toxicity, and quality of life (QOL). RESULTS The overall response rate was 42.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 37% to 48%) with ECF and 44.1% (95% CI, 38% to 50%) with MCF (P =.692). Toxicity was tolerable, and there were only two toxic deaths. ECF resulted in more grade 3/4 neutropenia and grade 2 alopecia, but MCF caused more thrombocytopenia and plantar-palmar erythema. Median survival was 9.4 months with ECF and 8.7 months with MCF (P =.315); at 1 year, 40.2% (95% CI, 34% to 46%) of ECF and 32.7% (95% CI, 27% to 38%) of MCF patients were alive. Median failure-free survival was 7 months with both regimens. Global QOL scores were better with ECF at 3 and 6 months. CONCLUSION This study confirms response, survival, and QOL benefits of ECF observed in a previous randomized study. The equivalent efficacy of MCF was demonstrated, but QOL was superior with ECF. ECF remains one of the reference treatments for advanced esophagogastric cancer.
Shaping of Elastic Sheets by Prescription of Non-Euclidean Metrics

The connection between a surface's metric and its Gaussian curvature (Gauss theorem) provides the base for a shaping principle of locally growing or shrinking elastic sheets. We constructed thin gel sheets that undergo laterally nonuniform shrinkage. This differential shrinkage prescribes non-Euclidean metrics on the sheets. To minimize their elastic energy, the free sheets form three-dimensional structures that follow the imposed metric. We show how both large-scale buckling and multiscale wrinkling structures appeared, depending on the nature of possible embeddings of the prescribed metrics. We further suggest guidelines for how to generate each type of feature.
Cognitive Fit: An Empirical Study of Information Acquisition

From a broad perspective, our research can be viewed as investigating the fit of technology to task, the user's view of the fit between technology and task, and the relative importance of each to problem-solving or decision-making performance. The technology investigated in this research is the mode of information presentation. Although there has been a considerable amount of research into problem solving using graphs and tables, until recently the circumstances in which each is more effective have been largely unresolved. Recent research has suggested that performance benefits accrue when cognitive fit occurs, i.e., when factors such as the problem representation and problem solving tools match the characteristics of the task. In this paper, we investigate the effects of the basic paradigm of cognitive fit and extensions to the paradigm in a laboratory experiment that examined the nature of subjects' mental representations as well as problem-solving performance. The experiment, using 128 MBA students in .
Fabrication of through-silicon-via (TSV) by copper electroplated in an electrolyte mixed with supercritical carbon dioxide

In this study we have performed complete filling of through-silicon vias (TSVs) by supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2)-enabled Cu electroplating process for applications in 3D ICs. The sc-CO2 technique makes use of the special features of supercritical fluids, which combine benefits of different states of matter. The effects of different supercritical pressure and current density parameters were investigated, discussed, and the results were compared to traditional electroplating method containing additives, a common practice in PCB industry. Results showed that the best quality structure for this study was achieved at 2000 psi and 3 A/dm2, which could withstand a current of 10 A before burnout, without the addition of any additives or surfactants and a relatively short electroplating time of 3 hours was also found.
Activation of Lysosomal Function During Dendritic Cell Maturation

In response to a variety of stimuli, dendritic cells (DCs) transform from immature cells specialized for antigen capture into mature cells specialized for T cell stimulation. During maturation, the DCs acquire an enhanced capacity to form and accumulate peptide–MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class II complexes. Here we show that a key mechanism responsible for this alteration was the generalized activation of lysosomal function. In immature DCs, internalized antigens were slowly degraded and inefficiently used for peptide loading. Maturation induced activation of the vacuolar proton pump that enhanced lysosomal acidification and antigen proteolysis, facilitating efficient formation of peptide–MHC class II complexes. Lysosomal function in DCs thus appears to be specialized for the developmentally regulated processing of internalized antigens.
Evidence of active nerve cell degeneration in the substantia nigra of humans years after 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine exposure

This report provides the first detailed neuropathological study of 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐induced parkinsonism in humans. All 3 subjects self‐administered the drug under the impression it was “synthetic heroin” and subsequently developed severe and unremitting parkinsonism, which was L‐dopa responsive, at least in the earlier stages of illness. Survival times ranged from 3 to 16 years. Neuropathological examination revealed moderate to severe depletion of pigmented nerve cells in the substantia nigra in each case. Lewy bodies were not present. In Patients 1 and 2, there was gliosis and clustering of microglia around nerve cells. Patient 3 had a similar picture and also showed large amounts of extraneuronal melanin. These findings are indicative of active, ongoing nerve cell loss, suggesting that a time‐limited insult to the nigrostriatal system can set in motion a self‐perpetuating process of neurodegeneration. Although the mechanism by which this occurs is far from clear, the precedent set by the cases could have broad implications for human neurodegenerative disease.
Clasificación Textual Basada en Términos Jerárquicos

Ante la inmensa cantidad de documentos manejados hoy en día por cualquier organización se usan clasificadores como solución idónea, ya que pretendemos automatizar. El grupo de investigación está desarrollando una base de conocimiento en ingeniería de control, base de conocimientos que se utilizará en el diseño de sistemas soporte en el diseño de controladores. Para tal fin, y con el objetivo de facilitar la educción y evolución de la base de conocimientos, se planteó implementar técnicas para la generación automática bien de ontologías, instancias de la base de conocimientos, o reglas del dominio. El presente artículo muestra el trabajo realizado para la consecución del clasificador de textos necesario para implementar las técnicas antes mencionadas.
Two novel MEMS actuator systems for self-aligned integrated 3D optical coherent tomography scanners

Two novel MEMS actuator systems (a torsional one and a deflecting one) for a new self-aligned integrated 3D optical coherent tomography (OCT) scanner are reported. These new systems, with a footprint of 2.5mm×2.5 mm each, provide a χ and y scanning range of 730 μm (tilting range of 8°) with an average power consumption of 150 mW. As the device integrates a silicon collimating micro lens, an optical waveguide and a MEMS actuator system on a single chip, it provides a considerable decrease in optical losses thanks to the intrinsic alignment obtained during fabrication, while significantly reducing the complexity and time that assembly and packaging of separate components demand, therefore making fully integrated, miniaturized 3D OCT scanners feasible.
Climate change and physical disturbance cause similar community shifts in biological soil crusts

Significance In drylands worldwide, where plant cover is sparse, large amounts of the ground surface are covered by specialized organisms that form biological soil crusts (biocrusts). Biocrusts fix carbon and nitrogen, stabilize soils, and influence hydrology. Extensive physical disturbance from livestock/human trampling and off-road vehicles is known to destroy biocrusts and alter ecosystem function. More recent work also indicates that climate change can affect biocrust communities. Contrary to our expectations, experimental climate change and physical disturbance had strikingly similar impacts on biocrust communities, with both promoting a shift to degraded, early successional states. These results herald ecological state transitions in drylands as temperatures rise, calling for management strategies that consider risks from both physical disturbances and climate change. Biological soil crusts (biocrusts)—communities of mosses, lichens, cyanobacteria, and heterotrophs living at the soil surface—are fundamental components of drylands worldwide, and destruction of biocrusts dramatically alters biogeochemical processes, hydrology, surface energy balance, and vegetation cover. Although there has been long-standing concern over impacts of physical disturbances on biocrusts (e.g., trampling by livestock, damage from vehicles), there is increasing concern over the potential for climate change to alter biocrust community structure. Using long-term data from the Colorado Plateau, we examined the effects of 10 y of experimental warming and altered precipitation (in full-factorial design) on biocrust communities and compared the effects of altered climate with those of long-term physical disturbance (>10 y of replicated human trampling). Surprisingly, altered climate and physical disturbance treatments had similar effects on biocrust community structure. Warming, altered precipitation frequency [an increase of small (1.2 mm) summer rainfall events], and physical disturbance from trampling all promoted early successional community states marked by dramatic declines in moss cover and increases in cyanobacteria cover, with more variable effects on lichens. Although the pace of community change varied significantly among treatments, our results suggest that multiple aspects of climate change will affect biocrusts to the same degree as physical disturbance. This is particularly disconcerting in the context of warming, as temperatures for drylands are projected to increase beyond those imposed as treatments in our study.
Distribution of the cadherin‐catenin complex in normal human thyroid epithelium and a thyroid carcinoma cell line

E‐cadherin is the major cell‐cell adhesion molecule expressed by epithelial cells. Cadherins form a complex with three cytoplasmic proteins, α‐, β‐, and γ‐catenin, and the interaction between them is crucial for anchoring the actin cytoskeleton to the intercellular adherens junctions. The invasive behavior of cancer cells has been attributed to a dysfunction of these molecules. In this study, we examined the distribution of the cadherin‐catenin complex in a Chinese human thyroid cancer cell line, CGTH W‐2, compared with that in normal human thyroid epithelial cells. In the normal cells, using immunofluorescence staining, E‐cadherin and α‐, β‐, and γ‐catenin were found to be localized at the intercellular junction and appeared as 135, 102, 90, and 80 kD proteins on Western blots. In CGTH W‐2 cells, no E‐cadherin and γ‐catenin immunoreactivity was detected by immunofluorescence or Western blotting; α‐ and β‐catenin were detected as 102 and 90 kD proteins on blots but gave a diffuse cytoplasmic immunofluorescence staining pattern in most cells, while β‐catenin was also distributed throughout the cytoplasm in most cells but was found at the cell junction in some, where it colocalized with α‐actinin. The present data indicate that the loss of cell adhesiveness in these cancer cells may be due to incomplete assembly of the cadherin‐catenin complex at the cell junction. However, this defect did not affect the linkage of actin bundles to vinculin‐enriched intercellular junctions. J. Cell. Biochem. 70:330–337, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recurrent pregnancy losses and parental chromosome abnormalities: a review

Summary. A compilation of the cytogenetic results taken from 79 published surveys of couples with two or more pregnancy losses (comprising 8208 women and 7834 men) showed an overall prevalence of major chromosome abnormalities of 2.9%. This is five to six times higher than that of the general adult population. In every group of chromosome abnormalities in the parents a predominance of female to male affected was noted (2:1). Approximately 50% of all chromosome abnormalities detected were balanced reciprocal translocations, 24% were Robertsonian translocations, 12% were sex chromosomal mosaicisms in females, and the rest consisted of inversions and other sporadic abnormalities. Parents with two or more idiopathic pregnancy losses should be karyotyped to aid in management and counselling. When a translocation or other abnormality (e.g. X chromosomal mosaicism) predisposing to an abnormal zygote is found, prenatal diagnosis is indicated in future pregnancies. Even when parental karyotypes are normal, prenatal diagnosis should be considered in subsequent pregnancies of parents with two or more pregnancy losses because of the high incidence of chromosome abnormalities in spontaneous abortions. For the same reason, if a single previous pregnancy loss is known to have been chromosomally aneuploid, parental karyotypes may have to be examined (depending upon the finding in the pregnancy loss), and prenatal diagnosis should also be considered in subsequent pregnancies.
Combining Afferent Stimulation and Mirror Therapy for Improving Muscular, Sensorimotor, and Daily Functions After Chronic Stroke: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

ObjectiveMirror therapy (MT) combined with mesh glove (MG) afferent stimulation (MT + MG) has been suggested as an effective intervention for motor recovery in patients with stroke. This study aimed to further determine the treatment effects of the MT + MG approach on muscular properties, sensorimotor functions, and daily function. DesignThis was a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Forty-eight participants with chronic stroke were recruited from medical centers and were randomly assigned to the MT, MT + MG, and MT with sham MG stimulation (MT + sham) groups. The intervention consisted of 1.5 hrs/day, 5 days/wk for 4 wks. Primary outcomes were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and muscular properties (muscle tone and stiffness). Secondary outcomes included measures of sensorimotor and daily functions. ResultsCompared with the MT and MT + sham groups, the MT + MG group demonstrated improved muscular properties. The MT + MG and MT + sham groups showed greater improvement in manual dexterity and daily function than the MT group did. No beneficial effects on the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and other sensorimotor outcomes were found for the MT + MG group. ConclusionsAlthough no significant group differences were found in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, MT + MG induced distinctive effects on muscular properties, manual dexterity, and daily function.
An alternative PII protein in the regulation of glutamine synthetase in Escherichia coli

The PII protein has been considered pivotal to the dual cascade regulating ammonia assimilation through glutamine synthetase activity. Here we show that PII, encoded by the glnB gene, is not always essential; for instance upon ammonia deprivation of a glnB deletion strain, glutamine synthetase can be deadenylylated as effectively as in the wild‐type strain. We describe a new operon, glnK amtB, which encodes a homologue of PII and a putative ammonia transporter. We cloned and overexpressed glnK and found that the expressed protein had almost the same molecular weight as PII, reacted with polyclonal PII antibody, and was 67% identical in terms of amino acid sequence with Escherichia coli PII. Like PII, purified GlnK can activate the adenylylation of glutamine synthetase in vitro, and, in vivo, the GlnK protein is uridylylated in a glnD‐dependent fashion. Unlike PII, however, the expression of glnK depends on the presence of UTase, nitrogen regulator I (NRI), and absence of ammonia. Because of a NRI and a σN (σ54) RNA polymerase‐binding consensus sequence upstream from the glnK gene, this suggests that glnK is regulated through the NRI/NRII two‐component regulatory system. Indeed, in cells grown in the presence of ammonia, glutamine synthetase deadenylylation upon ammonia depletion depended on PII. Possible regulatory implications of this conditional redundancy of PII are discussed.
Epigenetic epidemiology: Promises for public health research

Epigenetic changes underlie developmental and age related biology. Promising epidemiologic research implicates epigenetics in disease risk and progression, and suggests epigenetic status depends on environmental risks as well as genetic predisposition. Epigenetics may represent a mechanistic link between environmental exposures, or genetics, and many common diseases, or may simply provide a quantitative biomarker for exposure or disease for areas of epidemiology currently lacking such measures. This great promise is balanced by issues related to study design, measurement tools, statistical methods, and biological interpretation that must be given careful consideration in an epidemiologic setting. This article describes the promises and challenges for epigenetic epidemiology, and suggests directions to advance this emerging area of molecular epidemiology. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 55:171–183, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.