Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ex-vivo evaluation of alginate microparticles for Polymyxin B oral administration

A crosslinked alginate microparticle system for the targeting to the lymphatic system by Peyer's patches (PP) uptake was designed in order to improve the oral absorption of Polymyxin B (PMB). To verify mucoadhesion and PP uptake, microparticles labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) were prepared by spray-drying technique and crosslinking reactions with calcium ions and chitosan (CS), in vitro characterized and assayed by an ex vivo method. Microparticles showed a size less then 3 μm, an antibiotic loading level of 11.86 ± 0.70%, w/w, a sustained drug release behaviour in simulated gastro-intestinal (GI) fluids and a preserved biological activity throughout the manufacture. The ex vivo study was performed by a perfusion method on intestinal tracts of just sacrificed adult rats. The recovered samples were analysed by epifluorescence microscope for mucoadhesion and PP uptake and by microbiological analysis for antibiotic activity preservation, providing evidence of mucoadhesion at the level of both PP and non-PP epithelium, uptake by PP and PMB microbiological activity in PP tissue. Furthermore, the study revealed the involvement of transport pathways across villous enterocytes.
Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine 1121 Evolution and Mechanisms of Tigecycline Resistance in Escherichia coli

Linkevičius, M. 2015. Evolution and Mechanisms of Tigecycline Resistance in Escherichia coli. Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine 1121. 58 pp. Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. ISBN 978-91-554-9285-4. Antibiotic resistance is an ongoing global medical crisis and we are in great need of new antibacterial agents to combat rapidly emerging resistant pathogens. Tigecycline is one of few drugs that have been introduced into medicine during the last two decades. It is a broadspectrum third generation tetracycline that is active against multidrug-resistant bacteria that cause complicated infections. In this thesis I examined the development of tigecycline resistance in Escherichia coli and associated in vitro and in vivo fitness effects. Selections of spontaneous E. coli mutants revealed relatively high accumulation rates of changes in the multidrug efflux system AcrABTolC regulation network and in heptose biosynthesis and transport pathways important for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis. Both groups of mutations led to reduced susceptibility to tigecycline and slower growth compared to the wild-type bacteria. Additional in vitro fitness assays and in vivo competitions showed that LPS mutants were less fit than efflux mutants, providing a possible explanation for why up-regulation of multidrug efflux pumps is the main tigecycline resistance mechanism reported in clinical isolates. Tigecycline was designed to evade the two most common tetracycline resistance mechanisms conferred by Tet proteins, efflux and ribosomal protection. However, tigecycline is a substrate for the tetracycline modifying enzyme Tet(X). Screening of Tet protein mutant libraries showed that it is possible to select Tet mutants with minimal inhibitory concentrations of tigecycline that reach clinically relevant levels. Mutations in Tet proteins that permitted a better protection from tigecycline frequently exhibited reduced activity against earlier generations of tetracyclines, except for the Tet(X) enzyme mutants, which were better at inactivating all tested tetracyclines. This is particularly worrisome because different variants of Tet(X) have recently spread to multidrug-resistant pathogens through horizontal gene transfer. Therefore, Tet(X) mutants with improved activity threaten the medical future of tetracyclines. Multidrug resistance is easily disseminated through horizontally spreading conjugative plasmids. pUUH239.2 is an example of a successful conjugative plasmid that caused the first clonal outbreak of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Scandinavia. This plasmid was formed after rearrangements between two different plasmid backbones and it carries resistance genes to multiple antibiotic classes, heavy metals, and detergents.
Rent Extraction and Rent Creation in the Economic Theory of Regulation

The economic theory of regulation has advanced considerably since Stigler’s seminal piece explained government’s ability to create rents by cartelizing private producers.1 Because political action can redistribute wealth generally, it is now seen that private interest groups other than producers also have an incentive to organize, both to obtain the gains and to avoid the losses from a whole menu of government enactments.2 The configuration of winners and losers depends on many factors, and it changes as the underlying demands for and costs of regulation shift. New technology, for example, may render existing government regulations undesirable to their prior beneficiaries or make current regulations useful to groups previously not benefited. Finally, “government” itself has come to be treated, not as a unit, but as a complicated network of individuals, each with an incentive to maximize his own interest.
Finite-alphabet and decision-feedback based channel estimation for space-time coded OFDM systems

A novel blind channel estimation scheme is presented for space-time coded OFDM (STC-OFDM) systems. This scheme is composed of coarse channel estimation by exploiting the finite-alphabet property of information signals and fine channel estimation by using decision-directed method, which employs the priori knowledge of the transmitted signals other than the finite-alphabet property of mapping constellation. At the cost of a little more computational complexity, it achieves better performance than the competitive one. The scheme is tested with simulations and also compared with the subspace-based channel estimation
Optimization of airport operations : stand allocation, ground routing and runway sequencing. (Optimisation de la gestion des avions dans un aéroport : affectation aux points de stationnement, routage au sol et ordonnancement à la piste)

In this thesis, we address the optimization of aircraft ground operations at airports, focusing on three main optimization problems: the stand allocation, the ground routing between stands and runways, and the sequencing of take-offs and landings.These works result from a close collaboration with Amadeus. Our approaches have been tested and validated with real data from European airports.The stand allocation problem is formulated as a Mixed Integer Program (MIP). We show that finding an allocation plan respecting operational requirements is NP-Complete and we strengthen our model in several directions. We obtain better solutions than the literature withing reasonable computation times for an industrial application.The ground routing problem is modeled by a MIP formulation adapted from the literature. We show that the main indicators of the industry are in contradiction with the objective of reducing taxi times and therefore air pollution. We propose new indicators based on take-off times instead of push back times.Lastly, we focus on the integration of the runway sequencing with the ground routing. We highlight that a better integration allows to reduce taxi times while improving the management of the runway. We propose a sequential heuristic based on an innovative MIP formulation of the runway sequencing problem. This heuristic is shown to provide high quality solutions in reasonable computation times, unlike the exact approach from the literature.
The Clinical and Epidemiologic Features of Tropical Ulcer (Tropical Phagedenic Ulcer)

ABSTRACT: A comparative survey of patients with tropical ulcer has been carried out in Zambia, Gambia, Southern India and Papua New Guinea. The clinical features, socioeconomic background and nutritional correlates have been compared in 170 patients. In 96% of cases the condition occurred on the foot or lower leg. In only 70 instances did the ulcer last for over six months. There was one patient with a squamous cell carcinoma arising in situ from the ulcer margin. No significant differences in clinical features were seen in the countries surveyed. In all areas apart from southern India most cases were seen in the rural population and in children or teenagers. There was no correlation between the development of an ulcer and nutritional status found in this survey. Evidence is presented that there is an association between tropical ulcer and exposure to mud or slow moving fresh water.
Effectiveness of pediatric antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Responses to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children in resource-limited settings have recently been reported, but outcomes vary. We sought to derive pooled estimates of the 12-month rate of virologic suppression (HIV RNA, <400 copies/mL) and gain in CD4 cell percentage (DeltaCD4%) for children initiating ART in resource-limited settings. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published reports of HIV RNA and CD4 outcomes for treatment-naive children aged 0-17 years old by means of the Medline, EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database), and LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature) electronic databases and the Cochrane Clinical Trials Register. Pooled estimates of the reported proportion with HIV RNA <400 copies/mL and DeltaCD4% after 12 months of ART were derived using patient-level estimates and fixed- and random-effects models. To approximate intention-to-treat analyses, in sensitivity analyses children with missing 12-month data were assumed to have HIV RNA>400 copies/mL or DeltaCD4% of zero. RESULTS In patient-level estimates after 12 months of ART, the pooled proportion with virologic suppression was 70% (95% confidence interval [CI], 67%-73%); the pooled DeltaCD4% was 13.7% (95% CI, 11.8%-15.7%). Results from the fixed- and random-effects models were similar. In approximated intention-to-treat analyses, the pooled estimates decreased to 53% with virologic suppression (95% CI, 50%-55%) and to a DeltaCD4% of 8.5% (95% CI, 5.5%-11.4%). CONCLUSIONS Pooled estimates of reported virologic and immunologic benefits after 12 months of ART among HIV-infected children in resource-limited settings are comparable with those observed among children in developed settings. Consistency in reporting on reasons for missing data will aid in the evaluation of ART outcomes in resource-limited settings.
Couch kids: Correlates of television viewing among youth

The purpose of this study was to review the published empirical correlates of television/video viewing among youth (2 to 18 years). A descriptive semi-quantitative review was conducted based on 68 primary studies. Variables consistently associated with TV/video viewing were ethnicity (non-white +), parent income (-), parent education (-), body weight (+), between meal snacking (+), number of parents in the house (-), parents TV viewing habits (+), weekend (+) and having a TV in the bedroom (+). Variables consistently unrelated to TV/video viewing were sex, other indicators of socio-economic status, body fatness, cholesterol levels, aerobic fitness, strength, other indicators of fitness, self-perceptions, emotional support, physical activity, other diet variables, and being an only child. Few modifiable correlates have been identified. Further research should aim to identify modifiable correlates of TV/video viewing if interventions are to be successfully tailored to reduce this aspect of inactivity among youth.
Material for IntegratedMRF : Random Forest based Framework for integrating prediction from different data types 1 Predictive Models Heterogeneous Genomic Characterization Datasets Subtype 1 Ex : Gene Exp Subtype 2 Ex : Methylation Subtype

Random Forest regression refers to ensemble of regression trees where a set of T un-pruned regression trees are generated based on bootstrap sampling from the original training data. For selecting the feature for splitting at each node, a random set of m features from the total M features are used. The inclusion of the concepts of bagging (Bootstrap sampling for each tree) and random subspace sampling (node split selected from random subset of features) increase the independence of the generated trees and thus the averaging of the prediction over multiple trees has lower variance compared to individual regression trees.
A novel mutation in the erythrocyte protein 4.2 gene of Japanese patients with hereditary spherocytosis (protein 4.2Fukuoka)

Summary. Human erythrocyte protein 4.2 (band 4.2; pallidin) is a major membrane protein that comprises 5% of the total weight of the human erythrocyte membrane. Deficiencies of this protein have been observed in hereditary spherocytosis with anaemia, suggesting a role of protein 4.2 in erythrocyte stability and integrity. The molecular basis of this disorder remains unknown. As a first step in elucidating the pathogenesis of hereditary spherocytosis associated with protein 4.2 deficiency, we cloned and sequenced the erythrocyte protein 4.2 gene from a normal Japanese person. We prepared sets of oligonucleotide primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and determined nucleotide sequences of exons and exon‐intron boundaries of the protein 4.2 gene from three unrelated Japanese patients with hereditary spherocytosis due to a complete defect of protein 4.2, using PCR‐related techniques. Two patients were homozygous for a missense mutation in codon 142 with the Ala (GCT) → Thr (ACT) amino acid substitution that has been reported previously (protein 4.2NIPPON), whereas one patient was compound heterozygous for the same missense mutation in codon 142 and a guanine‐adenine transition in codon 119 that changes the codon for Trp (TGG) to the termination codon (TGA) (protein 4.2Fukuoka). No additional mutation was identified in other exons of the protein 4.2 genes. Dot‐blot hybridization with allele‐specific oligonucleotide probes showed that homozygosity for the missense mutation in codon 142 and compound heterozygosity for the codon 142 and the codon 119 mutations were related to protein 4.2 deficiency in the families. Although two alleles of missense mutation of the codon 142 were also detected in 100 alleles of healthy Japanese, results obtained in this study indicate that the two mutations described above are closely related to the pathogenesis of hereditary spherocytosis due to protein 4.2 defect.
Generation of Antibodies to the Signal Peptide of the MPT83 Lipoprotein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The mpt83 gene (Rv2873) encodes the exported MPT83 lipoprotein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The corresponding identical mpb83 gene of Mycobacterium bovis is expressed to varying extents in different substrains of M. bovis Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG), BCG Tokyo and BCG Moreau being high producers and BCG Danish 1331, a low producer of the MPB83 protein. Immunization with the 13‐mer N‐terminal part of the signal peptide of MPT83, MINVQAKPAAAASC, coupled to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) through the added C‐terminal cysteine resulted in rapid antibody formation monitored by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with free immunizing peptide on the solid phase. In ELISA, with four 20‐mer overlapping peptides covering the N‐terminal part of the MPT83 sequence, three polyclonal rabbit antisera reacted only with the N‐terminal peptide. Antigenic signal peptide could not be detected in sonicates of BCG Tokyo and BCG Moreau. After SDS‐PAGE and blotting, the antibodies reacted with sonicates of recombinant Escherichia coli containing the entire mpt83 gene including the signal sequence, but not with the 22 kDa form of native MPB83 purified from BCG culture filtrate. In partition chromatography the recMPT83 partitioned in the water phase while 26 kDa MPB83 in BCG culture filtrate partitioned in the lipid phase confirming that lipidation at the N‐terminal cysteine residue occurs after the splitting of the polypeptide chain by signal peptidase II.
Organization of the thalamostriatal projections in the rat, with special emphasis on the ventral striatum

The organization of the thalamic projections to the ventral striatum in the rat was studied by placing injections of the retrograde tracer cholera toxin subunit B in the ventral striatum and small deposits of the anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris‐leucoagglutinin (PHA‐L) in individual midline and intralaminar thalamic nuclei. In order to provide a complete map of the midline and intralaminar thalamostriatal projections, PHA‐L injections were also made in those parts of the intralaminar nuclei that project to the dorsal striatum. The relationship of thalamic afferent fibres with the compartmental organization of the ventral striatum was assessed by combining PHA‐L tracing and enkephalin immunohistochemistry.
Design of a Passive RFID System for Asset Tracking

This project focuses on the feasibility of utilizing the lower cost passive RFID technology to track electronic test equipment for Raytheon Company. Although developed for a specific storeroom at Raytheon Company’s Network Centric Division’s (NCD) laboratory in Goleta, California, the project concepts and design are applicable to many portal-based asset tracking systems. The first part of the project consisted of experimentally evaluating the reliability of passive versus active technologies and selecting the best commercially available hardware offering when applied to asset tracking. The second part of the project consisted of developing a complete asset tracking system. The primary goals of the project were to reduce efforts spent on paper-based processes and gain a better view of asset movement for a significantly lower cost than another division’s current active RFID system.
Lung Function Tests in Neonates and Infants with Chronic Lung Disease of Infancy: Functional Residual Capacity

This is the second paper in a review series that will summarize available data and discuss the potential role of lung function testing in infants and young children with acute neonatal respiratory disorders and chronic lung disease of infancy. The current paper addresses the expansive subject of measurements of lung volume using plethysmography and gas dilution/washout techniques. Following orientation of the reader to the subject area, we focus our comments on areas of inquiry proposed in the introductory paper to this series. The quality of the published literature is reviewed critically, and recommendations are provided to guide future investigation in this field. Measurements of lung volume are important both for assessing growth and development of lungs in health and disease, and for interpreting volume‐dependent lung function parameters such as respiratory compliance, resistance, forced expiratory flows, and indices of gas‐mixing efficiency. Acute neonatal lung disease is characterized by severely reduced functional residual capacity (FRC), with treatments aimed at securing optimal lung recruitment. While FRC may remain reduced in established chronic lung disease of infancy, more commonly it becomes normalized or even elevated due to hyperinflation, with or without gas‐trapping, secondary to airway obstruction. Ideally, accurate and reliable bedside measurements of FRC would be feasible from birth, throughout all phases of postnatal care (including assisted ventilation), and during subsequent long‐term follow‐up. Although lung volume measurements in extremely preterm infants were described in a research environment, resolution of several issues is required before such investigations can be translated into routine clinical monitoring. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nitric oxide and airway reactivity.

BACKGROUND Nitric oxide is a neurotransmitter of the inhibitory nonadrenergic noncholinergic mediation in the respiratory system. Its participation in the regulation of airways functions is determined by its level in the organism. MAIN PURPOSE We examined participation of nitric oxide in the changes of the airway reactivity evoked by toluene exposure as the source of the free radicals. The changes of nitric oxide level in the organism were evoked by administration of its indirect donor isosorbide dinitrate. Thiol groups were provided by administration of antioxidative mucolytic N-acetylcysteine. METHODS Used drugs--isosorbide dinitrate (5 mg/kg b.w.) and N-acetylcysteine (300 mg/kg b.w.) were administered intraperitoneally or by inhalation 30 minutes before each exposure to the toluene vapours. The control group was not treated with drugs. After toluene exposure (2 hours in each of 3 consecutive days) tracheal and lung strips smooth muscle reactivity to histamine was observed under in "in vitro" conditions. RESULTS The administration of isosorbide dinitrate decreased especially the lung strip smooth muscle reactivity to histamine. We revealed more expressive effect of the pretreatment with intraperitoneally administered isosorbide dinitrate in the comparison with inhalation. Simultaneous pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine intensified beneficial effect of isosorbide dinitrate probably by increasing of the intracellullary level of thiols. CONCLUSION In our experimental conditions possible participation of nitric oxide in changes of airways smooth muscle reactivity after exposure to the toluene follows from results, as well as the importance of thiol groups for the activity of its indirect donors. (Fig. 6, Tab. 3, Ref. 35.)
The arterial supply of the odontoid process of the axis.

A study has been carried out of the arterial supply of the odontoid process of the axis. Among the arterial sources there are paired anterior and posterior ascending arteries arising from the vertebral artery. Arteries penetrate into the odontoid process at its base from both the anterior and posterior ascending arteries. A transverse arterial arcade is formed above its top by the anastomosing anterior and posterior ascending arteries. In this investigation it was demonstrated that a branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery (from the external carotid artery) joined this arcade after passing through the canalis hypoglossi of the occipital condyle. Moreover, there were inferior and superior horizontal arteries apparently coming from the internal carotid artery, which supplied the odontoid process. It was shown that the superior horizontal arteries penetrated the anterior atlanto-occipital membrane and ran across to the supraodontoid arterial arcade. There were also arteries which reached into the odontoid .
O gerente-ciborgue: metáforas do gestor "pós-humano"

Este ensaio teorico tem por objetivo apresentar a metafora do gerente-ciborgue como um “instrumento” analitico capaz de apreender as recentes transformacoes ocorridas no mundo do trabalho, tomando como referencia o redirecionamento do conceito de “social”, que considera a coexistencia humana como constituida por elementos materiais. As fronteiras que antes demarcavam a divisao entre humanos e nao-humanos ja nao sao muito claras, pois os materiais representam elementos indispensaveis para a producao de acoes e desempenho de atividades no trabalho. Argumentamos que ampliar o escopo analitico para a participacao dos nao-humanos nas atividades dos gerentes permite a compreensao de recentes fenomenos que surgem no espaco de trabalho, principalmente aqueles vinculados a novas tecnologias. Concluimos que a analise das relacoes de trabalho, por meio da metafora do gerente-ciborgue, possibilita entender alguns aspectos criticos que esse trabalhador tem vivenciado, alem de se apresentar como uma lente de analise interessante para futuras investigacoes empiricas acerca das implicacoes e alteracoes que a participacao dos elementos nao-humanos gera nas atividades dos gerentes.