Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genomic Variability of Haemophilus influenzae Isolated from Mexican Children Determined by Using Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus Sequences and PCR

ABSTRACT Genomic fingerprints from 92 capsulated and noncapsulated strains of Haemophilus influenzae from Mexican children with different diseases and healthy carriers were generated by PCR using the enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) sequences. A cluster analysis by the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages based on the overall similarity as estimated from the characteristics of the genomic fingerprints, was conducted to group the strains. A total of 69 fingerprint patterns were detected in theH. influenzae strains. Isolates from patients with different diseases were represented by a variety of patterns, which clustered into two major groups. Of the 37 strains isolated from cases of meningitis, 24 shared patterns and were clustered into five groups within a similarity level of 1.0. One fragment of 1.25 kb was common to all meningitis strains. H. influenzae strains from healthy carriers presented fingerprint patterns different from those found in strains from sick children. Isolates from healthy individuals were more variable and were distributed differently from those from patients. The results show that ERIC-PCR provides a powerful tool for the determination of the distinctive pathogenicity potentials of H. influenzae strains and encourage its use for molecular epidemiology investigations.
Hypoxia-inducible Protein Binding to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor mRNA and Its Modulation by the von Hippel-Lindau Protein*

Hypoxia induces an increase in the stability of the mRNA encoding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We have previously demonstrated that a 500-base region of the 3′-untranslated region of VEGF mRNA that is critical for stabilization of VEGF mRNA in an in vitro degradation assay forms a RNA-protein complex in a hypoxia-inducible fashion. We report here the identification of three adenylate-uridylate-rich RNA elements within this region that form an identical or closely related hypoxia-inducible RNA-protein complex. This complex is constitutively elevated in a tumor cell line lacking the wild type von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene and in which VEGF mRNA is constitutively stabilized. Furthermore, the glucose transporter-1 mRNA, which is also stabilized by hypoxia, forms a hypoxia-inducible RNA-protein complex with similar sequence and protein binding characteristics to that described for VEGF mRNA. Finally, RNA affinity purification and UV cross-linking were used to identify three proteins of 32, 28, and 17 kDa that are derived from this hypoxia-inducible RNA-protein complex.
Impairments in physical performance and cognitive status as predisposing factors for functional dependence among nondisabled older persons.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the processes underlying the development of functional dependence. We set out to determine whether impairments in physical performance and cognitive status contribute independently to the risk of functional dependence in nondisabled older persons. METHODS Among a probability sample of 1,103 community-living adults, aged 72 years and older, we evaluated the 945 subjects who reported no disability in the activities of daily living. Subjects underwent a comprehensive assessment, including physical performance and cognitive testing. RESULTS Among the 775 subjects alive with complete outcomes data, 221 (28.5%) developed dependence in activities of daily living at either the 1- or 3-year follow-up interview. The rates of functional dependence were 18%, 20%, 26%, and 50% (p < .001) and 18%, 23%, 31%, and 47% (p < .001), respectively, across quarters of worsening physical performance and cognitive status. Compared with subjects in the best group, those with the worst physical performance and cognitive status were more than five times as likely to develop functional dependence (67% vs 13%; p < .001). After adjustment for age, gender, number of chronic conditions, and housing stratum, the risk of functional dependence increased across quarters of both worsening physical performance (relative risks [RR] 1.0, 1.1, 1.3, 2.1) and cognitive status (RR 1.0, 1.3, 1.5, 2.0), independent of the effect of the other. Similar results were found for subjects who developed functional dependence at one year, for those who developed functional dependence at three years, and for the combined endpoint of functional dependence or death. CONCLUSIONS Impairments in physical performance and cognitive status contribute independently to the risk of functional dependence in nondisabled, community-living older adults. A better understanding of the processes underlying functional dependence may facilitate the design of effective and efficient strategies to prevent or slow functional decline.
Tibiofemoral Contact Mechanics after Serial Medial Meniscectomies in the Human Cadaveric Knee

Background There is no consensus regarding the extent of meniscectomy leading to deleterious effects on tibiofemoral contact mechanics. Hypothesis The meniscus aids in optimizing tibiofemoral contact mechanics, increasing contact area, and decreasing contact stress. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Twelve fresh-frozen human cadaveric knees each underwent 15 separate testing conditions—5 serial 20-mm posterior medial meniscectomy conditions (intact, 50% radial width, 75% radial width, segmental, and total meniscectomy) at 3 flexion angles (0°, 30°, and 60°)—under an 1800-N axial load. Tekscan sensors were used to measure total force and medial force, contact area, mean contact stress, and peak contact stress. Results All posterior medial meniscectomy conditions resulted in significantly decreased contact areas and increased mean and peak contact stresses compared with the intact state (P < .05). The changes in contact mechanics after segmental and total posterior medial meniscectomies were not statistically different (P > .05). Incremental changes in contact area and mean contact stress increased as more peripheral portions of the medial meniscus were removed, whereas peak contact stresses exhibited similar incremental changes throughout all meniscectomy conditions. Conclusions The meniscus is a crucial load-bearing structure, optimizing contact area and minimizing contact stress. Loss of hoop tension (ie, segmental meniscectomy) is equivalent to total meniscectomy in load-bearing terms. The peripheral portion of the medial meniscus provides a greater contribution to increasing contact areas and decreasing mean contact stresses than does the central portion, whereas peak contact stresses increase proportionally to the amount of meniscus removed. Clinical Relevance Because the degree of meniscectomy leading to clinically significant outcomes is unknown, a prudent strategy is to preserve the greatest amount of meniscus possible.
A conservative approach to sum rate maximization in asynchronous ad hoc networks using multi-carrier modulation schemes

This paper focuses on the resource allocation within an asynchronous ad hoc network that utilizes two different modulation techniques: orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) and filter bank based multicarrier (FBMC). More specifically, we investigate the problem of downlink sum rate maximization. The NP-hard formulation is first decomposed into two subproblems in order to decrease the computational complexity of the sum rate optimization problem. We propose a heuristic subcarrier allocation scheme followed by a centralized power allocation algorithm that iteratively solves the convex formulation obtained from a conservative approximation. Simulation analyses are provided to further validate the efficiency of our proposed algorithm and highlight the advantages, in terms of both convergence speed and spectral efficiency, of using FBMC over OFDM.
Speed and Current Control in Switched Reluctance Motor based on PID and Generalized Predictive Control

Traditional PID controllers have been largely employed for the control of industrial variable speed drives due to easy design and good performance they provide. In this paper, a simple PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) speed controller was applied in a switched reluctance motor (SRM) and implemented using dedicated Digital Signal Processor (DSP) with the current control based on Generalized Predictive Control (GPC). To perform the speed controller, the reference current is calculated and applied to SRM drive for obtain speed output. From the experimental results it is shown that the overall switched reluctance motor speed control system gives good transient and the steady state responses and tracks the motion profile given to the system.
Communication Requirement for Reliable and Secure State Estimation and Control in Smart Grid

System state estimation and control are important issues to ensure the stability and reliability of the smart grid system. In this paper, the problem of how to securely estimate the system state and control the smart grid is studied. In the setup studied, the sensor(s) and the controller communicate with each other through a wireless channel subjected to monitoring by an eavesdropper. The channel capacity requirement that ensures negligible information leakage to the eavesdropper about the system state and control messages is studied from the information theoretic perspective. Two scenarios with single sensor or multiple sensors are studied. Numerical simulations are used to evaluate the capacity requirement in typical configurations of the smart grid.
Structure of a Multifunctional Protein

Eukaryotic phosphatidylinositol transfer protein is a ubiquitous multifunctional protein that transports phospholipids between membrane surfaces and participates in cellular phospholipid metabolism during signal transduction and vesicular trafficking. The three-dimensional structure of the α-isoform of rat phosphatidylinositol transfer protein complexed with one molecule of phosphatidylcholine, one of its physiological ligands, has been determined to 2.2 Å resolution by x-ray diffraction techniques. A single β-sheet and several long α-helices define an enclosed internal cavity in which a single molecule of the phospholipid is accommodated with its polar head group in the center of the protein and fatty acyl chains projected toward the surface. Other structural features suggest mechanisms by which cytosolic phosphatidylinositol transfer protein interacts with membranes for lipid exchange and associates with a variety of lipid and protein kinases.
Immediate dental implant placement in the aesthetic zone

After pulling a tooth when aesthetics play a role, there is a tendency to place a dental implant immediately after pulling the tooth, preferably in combination with a temporary crown. This tendency is probably related to evolving society factors, with more demanding patients and a wish for an aesthetic and direct result. In two randomized clinical trials (80 patients in total) is the treatment outcome investigated of the immediate placed dental implants into major and minor bone defects after the tooth has been pulled. The number of operations was hereby reduced to 1 or 2 instead of 2 or 3, depending on the bony defect.The treatment outcome was expressed in different outcome measures. Outcome measures were the survival rate of implants, changes in hard and soft tissues around the implant, an objective assessment of the aesthetic result and the assessment by the patient himself. The most important conclusion is that immediate dental implant placement after pulling a tooth when aesthetics play a role, results in excellent short-term results (1-year results) with regard to the survival rate of the implants, the condition of soft and hard tissues around the implants, aesthetic measurements and patient-satisfaction. If this technique also leads to good long-term results has yet to be investigated.
CENTRAL BANK AND FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY OF IRELAND

This paper presents some new results on the e(cid:11)ects of technology shocks on hours worked based on structural VAR speci(cid:12)cations containing various measures of US productivity growth and hours. These speci(cid:12)cations can produce di(cid:11)erent answers depending on which sector of the economy is examined, which transformation of hours worked is used, and on how many lags are chosen for the VAR. However, it is shown that the re-sults from the stochastic trend speci(cid:12)cation used by Jordi Gal(cid:19)(cid:16) (1999) are robust across changes in data de(cid:12)nition and lag length, while the results from the per capita hours speci(cid:12)cation of Christiano, Eichenbaum, and Vigfusson (2003) are not. These results provide support for Gal(cid:19)(cid:16)’s (cid:12)ndings that technology shocks have a negative impact e(cid:11)ect on hours worked and that these shocks play a limited role in generating the business cycle.
Trends in Spam Products and Methods

Introduction In this paper we analyze a very large junk e-mail corpus which was generated by a hundred thousand volunteer users of the Hotmail e-mail service. We describe how the corpus is being collected and then discuss how both the products being advertised by spam and the specific exploits being used to avoid spam filters have changed over time. Every day we randomly select one message from the mail stream of each Hotmail volunteer and ask that user to classify it for us. Thanks to these users, we have been receiving tens of thousands of hand classified messages per day, every day for the past year – our database currently contains over ten million classified messages. In this paper we further analyze two samples of the spam from this data, one from early 2003, and one from early 2004. We categorized the spam by the type of product it is selling, and by the types of exploits it uses to avoid spam filters. We are aware of very few other large scale studies of spam. One is the FTC report on false claims in spam [1]. Our study differs by using data sets that were created by randomly sampling over the entire mail stream, rather than by relying on users to report e-mail that offended them; by reporting changes in spam data over time; and by reporting on more categories of spammer exploits. Another relevant large scale study is our analysis of the geographic origins of spam [2].
A neural network based controller for underwater robotic vehicles

Due to the enormous technological improvements obtained in the last decades it is possible to use robotic vehicles for underwater exploration. This work describes the development of a dynamic positioning system for remotely operated underwater vehicles based. The adopted approach is developed using Lyapunov Stability Theory and enhanced by a neural network based algorithm for uncertainty and disturbance compensation. The performance of the proposed control scheme is evaluated by means of numerical simulations.
Cerebral Circulation in Chronic Arterial Hypertension

Several new concepts have emerged recently regarding the effects of chronic hypertension on cerebral blood vessels. First, hypertrophy of large cerebral arteries in chronic hypertension attenuates increases in pressure of downstream vessels and protects the cerebral microvasculature. Second, In contrast to large cerebral arteries, which become less distensible during chronic hypertension, distensibility of cerebral arterioles increases during chronic hypertension despite hypertrophy of the arteriolar wall. Third, dilatation of cerebral blood vessels with disruption of the blood-brain barrier, and not vasospasm, appears to be the critical factor in the pathogenesis of hypertensive encephalopatby. This concept is supported by the finding that cerebral edema hi stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats is preceded by vasodilatation and disruption of the barrier. Fourth, alterations of endotbeuum-mediated dilatation may impair vasodilator responses in chronic hypertension and predispose to ischemia. Finally, chronic hypertension impairs dilatation of collateral blood vessels hi the cerebral circulation. The implication of this finding is that increased susceptibility to cerebral infarction in chronic hypertension may be related in part to compromised responses of the collateral circulation.
Academic Achievement and Course Taking Among Language Minority Youth in U.S. Schools: Effects of ESL Placement

English as a second language (ESL) is meant to provide a meaningful education for students learning English (ELLs); however, its effects remain largely unexplored. Using longitudinal, nationally representative data from the Educational Longitudinal Study, the authors estimate the effects of ESL placement on language minority (LM) adolescents’ college preparation and academic achievement. Findings indicate that LM students who most closely fit the EL profile (recent immigrant, relatively low English proficiency) experience positive math outcomes and null effects in other academic areas; however, LM students who fit this profile less well experience negative effects. Results suggest that although ESL placement may benefit students most in need and for a limited time after arrival, considerable caution is advised in students’ placement and retention in ESL.
E-Democracy und E-Voting für Auslandsbürger

Im Rahmen der Internationalen Rechtsinformatiktagung in Salzburg nimmt das Thema der Elektronischen Demokratie von Jahr zu Jahr immer groseren Raum ein. Folgende Vortrage aus dem interessanten Programm finden Sie in diesem Arbeitsbericht: - Nadja Braun (Schweizer Bundeskanzlei): E-Voting fur Auslandschweizer - Thomas Buchsbaum (BMaA): E-Stimmabgabe fur StaatsburgerInnen im Ausland: Theorie & Praxis - Robert Krimmer (Wirtschaftsuniversitat): Die Dimensionen der E-Democracy in Osterreich - Alexander Prosser (Wirtschaftsuniversitat): Die Infrastruktur fur die elektronische Stimmabgabe uber das Internet (Autorenref.)
Hepatitis B prevalence and infection control among dental health care workers in a community in South Korea.

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B vaccine and use of infection control procedures by dental health care workers in Taegu, South Korea. METHODS Information was obtained with a mailed questionnaire sent to 300 private dental practices. Surveys were received from 177 dentists, 104 dental hygienists, and 46 dental assistants. All dental health care workers were asked to donate a blood sample for analysis of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs). RESULTS Vaccination against hepatitis B virus was reported by 63 percent of the respondents. About 40 percent of all participants answered that they were anti-HBs positive, while another 43 percent did not know their status. About 89 percent of dentists reported that they wore a mask with all patients, while hygienists (13.6%) and assistants (13.0%) were less likely to do so. Reported use of gloves (4.5%) and protective eyewear (14%) with all patients was extremely low in every group. Among the 56 dentists who were tested for HBV markers, 23 did not receive the vaccine against hepatitis B, and 13 percent (3 of 23) were positive for HBsAg as carriers. CONCLUSIONS About 37 percent (120 of 327) of dental health care workers surveyed in this study in Korea did not receive the vaccine against HBV infection. Basic barrier techniques to prevent cross-contamination were not being used consistently. Nationwide guidelines for barrier techniques and hepatitis vaccinations should be developed and disseminated to dental personnel.
Transcriptome of Swarming Proteus mirabilis

ABSTRACT Swarming motility by the urinary tract pathogen Proteus mirabilis has been a long-studied but little understood phenomenon. On agar, a P. mirabilis colony grows outward in a bull's-eye pattern formed by consecutive waves of rapid swarming followed by consolidation into shorter cells. To examine differential gene expression in these growth phases, a microarray was constructed based on the completed genome sequence and annotation. RNA was extracted from broth-cultured, swarming, and consolidation-phase cells to assess transcription during each of these growth states. A total of 587 genes were differentially expressed in broth-cultured cells versus swarming cells, and 527 genes were differentially expressed in broth-cultured cells versus consolidation-phase cells (consolidate). Flagellar genes were highly upregulated in both swarming cells and consolidation-phase cells. Fimbriae were downregulated in swarming cells, while genes involved in cell division and anaerobic growth were upregulated in broth-cultured cells. Direct comparison of swarming cells to consolidation-phase cells found that 541 genes were upregulated in consolidate, but only nine genes were upregulated in swarm cells. Genes involved in flagellar biosynthesis, oligopeptide transport, amino acid import and metabolism, cell division, and phage were upregulated in consolidate. Mutation of dppA, oppB, and cysJ, upregulated during consolidation compared to during swarming, revealed that although these genes play a minor role in swarming, dppA and cysJ are required during ascending urinary tract infection. Swarming on agar to which chloramphenicol had been added suggested that protein synthesis is not required for swarming. These data suggest that the consolidation phase is a state in which P. mirabilis prepares for the next wave of swarming.
EPHX1 Gene Polymorphisms in Alcohol Dependence and their Distribution among the Indian Populations

Background: The microsomal epoxide hydrolase is a phase II enzyme of the biotransformation. The human epoxide hydrolase 1 (EPHX1) gene lies in the chromosomal region 1q42.1 and exhibits polymorphism. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been described in the coding region of the EPHX1 gene that produces two protein variants. Subjects and methods: A total of 604 samples belonging to 13 Indian populations were included in this study. Based on the DSM-IV criteria, 184 individuals from Kota population were classified into alcoholism cases (100) and controls (84). Genotypes of Tyr113His and His139Arg polymorphisms in the EPHX1 gene were determined using PCR and sequencing. Associations were tested using Pearson’s χ2 test and haplotype analyses. Results: We found significant association between EPHX1 gene Tyr113His polymorphism and alcoholism in the Kota population (T vs. C: OR = .615, 95% CI = .399–.949, p = .027; TT vs. CC + CT: OR = .536, 95% CI = .297–.969, p = .038). The very slow activity haplotype CA (113His–139His) was also found to be associated with alcohol dependence (p = .048). Analysis of additional populations demonstrated that the Tyr113His polymorphism significantly deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in four populations but only one population deviated for the His139Arg locus. All populations shared the four possible two-site haplotypes. Linkage disequilibrium between these two loci was not significant in any of the population studied. Conclusion: EPHX1 gene polymorphisms and haplotypes are associated with an increased risk for alcoholism in the Kota population. This is the first report from India that will serve as a template for future investigations of the prevalence of EPHX1 alleles in association with various clinical entities.