Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial Activity of High-Proportion Cefepime-Tazobactam (WCK 4282) against a Large Number of Gram-Negative Isolates Collected Worldwide in 2014

ABSTRACT Cefepime-tazobactam (WCK 4282) is currently under clinical development for use at a dosage of 2 g/2 g every 8 h. A total of 7,981 isolates were collected from 146 medical centers (39 countries) in 2014 as a part of the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program, and their susceptibilities to cefepime-tazobactam (with tazobactam at fixed concentrations of 4 and 8 μg/ml) were tested by a reference broth microdilution method. Isolates were mainly from patients with pneumonia (29.5%) and bloodstream infections (26.9%). Cefepime-tazobactam (with tazobactam at a fixed concentration of 8 μg/ml) and cefepime inhibited 96.9 and 87.9% of Enterobacteriaceae strains at ≤8 μg/ml. The activity of cefepime-tazobactam against Enterobacteriaceae strains was comparable to that of meropenem (96.7% of isolates were susceptible) and greater than that of piperacillin-tazobactam (87.7% susceptible). All Enterobacteriaceae species from the United States except Klebsiella pneumoniae had >99.0% of isolates inhibited by cefepime-tazobactam at ≤8/8 μg/ml. The prevalence of the extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-screening-positive phenotype was the highest among Escherichia coli isolates in China (66.3%) and among K. pneumoniae isolates (58.0%) in Latin America. Cefepime-tazobactam at ≤8/8 μg/ml inhibited 98.7 and 71.3% of ESBL-screening-positive phenotype E. coli strains and K. pneumoniae strains, respectively. Meropenem showed limited activity against ESBL-screening-positive phenotype K. pneumoniae strains (69.6% susceptible). Cefepime-tazobactam was active against Enterobacter spp. (MIC50 and MIC90, 0.06 and 0.5 μg/ml, respectively), including ceftazidime-nonsusceptible isolates (96.1% of isolates were inhibited by cefepime-tazobactam at ≤8/8 μg/ml). The activity of cefepime-tazobactam against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (82.4 and 91.6% of isolates were inhibited by cefepime-tazobactam at ≤8/8 and ≤16/8 μg/ml, respectively) was comparable to that of meropenem and piperacillin-tazobactam (79.2% susceptible). In summary, cefepime-tazobactam was highly active against P. aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae strains, including ESBL-screening-positive phenotype E. coli strains and ceftazidime-nonsusceptible Enterobacter spp. These results support the further clinical development of the cefepime-tazobactam combination.
Male body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptomatology: Moderating variables among men

Body dissatisfaction is recognized as a robust risk factor for eating disorders. Despite over 80% of college men being body dissatisfied, not all men report several levels of eating disorder symptoms. In this study, we examined poor impulse control, social anxiety and internalization of media ideals as potential moderators. Data collected from 405 college-aged men were analysed, using latent variable structural equation modelling approach. All variables investigated have been found to moderate the body dissatisfaction–eating disorder symptomatology, such that male body dissatisfaction was strongly related to men’s eating disorder symptomatology when each moderator was at its highest level. Practical implications are discussed.
Molecular β-Lactamase Characterization of Aerobic Gram-Negative Pathogens Recovered from Patients Enrolled in the Ceftazidime-Avibactam Phase 3 Trials for Complicated Intra-abdominal Infections, with Efficacies Analyzed against Susceptible and Resistant Subsets

ABSTRACT The correlation of the clinical efficacy of ceftazidime-avibactam (plus metronidazole) with that of meropenem was evaluated in subjects infected with Gram-negative isolates having characterized β-lactam resistance mechanisms from the complicated intra-abdominal infection (cIAI) phase 3 clinical trials. Enterobacteriaceae isolates displaying ceftriaxone and/or ceftazidime MIC values of ≥2 μg/ml and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates with ceftazidime MIC values of ≥16 μg/ml were characterized for extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) content. Enterobacteriaceae and P. aeruginosa isolates with imipenem and meropenem MIC values of ≥2 and ≥8 μg/ml, respectively, were tested for carbapenemase genes. The primary efficacy endpoint was clinical cure at test of cure (TOC) among the members of the microbiologically modified intention-to-treat (mMITT) population. A total of 14.5% (56/387) and 18.8% (74/394) of patients in the ceftazidime-avibactam and meropenem arms had isolates that met the MIC screening criteria at the baseline visit, respectively. CTX-M variants alone (29.7%; 41/138) or in combination with OXA-1/30 (35.5%; 49/138), most commonly, blaCTX-M group 1 variants (79/90; 87.8%), represented the β-lactamases most frequently observed among Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Among the patients infected with pathogens that did not meet the screening criteria, 82.2% showed clinical cure in the ceftazidime-avibactam group versus 85.9% in the meropenem group. Among patients infected with any pathogens that met the MIC screening criteria, clinical cure rates at TOC were 87.5% and 86.5% for the ceftazidime-avibactam and meropenem groups, respectively. Ceftazidime-avibactam had clinical cure rates of 92.5% to 90.5% among patients infected with ESBL- and/or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains at the baseline visit, while meropenem showed rates of 84.9% to 85.4%. The ceftazidime-avibactam and meropenem groups had cure rates of 75.0% and 86.7%, respectively, among patients having any pathogens producing AmpC enzymes. The efficacy of ceftazidime-avibactam was similar to that of meropenem for treatment of cIAI caused by ESBL-producing organisms. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01499290 and NCT01500239.)
Acute chest pain and acute coronary syndromes

Chest pain is a common symptom with up to 40% of the general population experiencing chest pain at some point in their lives. In the UK, up to 1% of GP consultations are due to chest pain. In secondary care, chest pain accounts for around 5% of visits to the emergency department with around 114 000 patients admitted each year with acute coronary syndromes. This article focuses on the clinical features that can help differentiate cardiac and non-cardiac chest pain, primary care management of suspected cardiac chest pain and the further management of acute coronary syndromes.
International Evaluation of MIC Distributions and Epidemiological Cutoff Value (ECV) Definitions for Fusarium Species Identified by Molecular Methods for the CLSI Broth Microdilution Method

ABSTRACT The CLSI epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs) of antifungal agents are available for various Candida spp. , Aspergillus spp. , and the Mucorales. However, those categorical endpoints have not been established for Fusarium spp. , mostly due to the difficulties associated with collecting sufficient CLSI MICs for clinical isolates identified according to the currently recommended molecular DNA-PCR-based identification methodologies. CLSI MIC distributions were established for 53 Fusarium dimerum species complex (SC), 10 F. fujikuroi, 82 F. proliferatum, 20 F. incarnatum-F. equiseti SC, 226 F. oxysporum SC, 608 F. solani SC, and 151 F. verticillioides isolates originating in 17 laboratories (in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and the United States). According to the CLSI guidelines for ECV setting, ECVs encompassing ≥97.5% of pooled statistically modeled MIC distributions were as follows: for amphotericin B, 4 μg/ml (F. verticillioides) and 8 μg/ml (F. oxysporum SC and F. solani SC); for posaconazole, 2 μg/ml (F. verticillioides), 8 μg/ml (F. oxysporum SC), and 32 μg/ml (F. solani SC); for voriconazole, 4 μg/ml (F. verticillioides), 16 μg/ml (F. oxysporum SC), and 32 μg/ml (F. solani SC); and for itraconazole, 32 μg/ml (F. oxysporum SC and F. solani SC). Insufficient data precluded ECV definition for the other species. Although these ECVs could aid in detecting non-wild-type isolates with reduced susceptibility to the agents evaluated, the relationship between molecular mechanisms of resistance (gene mutations) and MICs still needs to be investigated for Fusarium spp.
The PA Endonuclease Inhibitor RO-7 Protects Mice from Lethal Challenge with Influenza A or B Viruses

ABSTRACT Current influenza treatment relies on a single class of antiviral drugs, the neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs), raising concern over the potential emergence of resistant variants and necessitating the development of novel drugs. In recent years, investigational inhibitors targeting the endonuclease activity of the influenza acidic polymerase (PA) protein have yielded encouraging results, although there are only limited data on their in vivo efficacy. Here, we examined the antiviral potential of the PA endonuclease inhibitor RO-7 in prophylactic and therapeutic regimens in BALB/c mice inoculated with influenza A/California/04/2009 (H1N1)pdm09 or B/Brisbane/60/2008 viruses, which represent currently circulating antigenic variants. RO-7 was administered to mice intraperitoneally twice daily at dosages of 6, 15, or 30 mg/kg/day for 5 days, starting 4 h before or 24 or 48 h after virus inoculation, and showed no adverse effects. Prophylactic administration completely protected mice from lethal infection by influenza A or B virus. The level of therapeutic protection conferred depended upon the time of treatment initiation and RO-7 dosage, resulting in 60 to 100% and 80 to 100% survival with influenza A and B viruses, respectively. RO-7 treatment significantly decreased virus titers in the lung and lessened the extent and severity of lung damage. No PA endonuclease-inhibitor resistance was observed in viruses isolated from lungs of RO-7-treated mice, and the viruses remained susceptible to the drug at nanomolar concentrations in phenotypic assays. These in vivo efficacy results further highlight the potential of RO-7 for development as antiviral therapy for influenza A and B virus infections.
Restricted Boltzmann Machines and Deep Belief Networks on Sunway Cluster

Deep learning models have showed great potential in classification and recognition over the last decade. Deep Belief Networks (DBNs) have been applied in visual, voice fields due to their great feature presentation capability. However, there are a vast number of time consuming calculations in the training of DBNs. Many researches have accelerated the training of DBNs with good speedups on CPU, GPU, FPGA, etc. At the same time, the latest published Sunway(SW) many-core processor has high computing performance and dedicated heterogeneous architecture. This paper provides a DBNs training system on SW cluster and verifies SW cluster's applicability of training DBNs. We firstly optimize the Restricted Boltzmann Machines and Deep Belief Networks on Sunway processor, then build a parallelism model with linear topology to train DBNs on multiple processors. The system is implemented on the TaihuLight supercomputer and evaluated by training a DBN with 2.8 million parameters with MNIST dataset. Experimental results show that our system achieves considerable speedups on Sunway processors as compared with CPUs.
Experimental Evidence That Granulocyte Transfusions Are Efficacious in Treatment of Neutropenic Hosts with Pulmonary Aspergillosis

ABSTRACT Although polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are powerfully anti-Aspergillus, transfusion therapy remains controversial, with conflicting results, and experimental support has been lacking. We devised a pulmonary infection model in neutropenic BALB/c mice, used an antibacterial regimen to prevent confounding sepsis, and optimized PMN induction, purifications, and dose. Mice were given 150 mg/kg cyclophosphamide every 4 days and a gentamicin-vancomycin-clindamycin-imipenem regimen daily beginning 4 days before intranasal challenge with 5 × 105 Aspergillus conidia. This regimen produced leukopenia (∼10% of normal white blood cell [WBC] count; ≤10% PMNs) for 10 days, without bacterial superinfection. PMN donors given 100 μg/kg recombinant murine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for 10 days yielded 11 × 107 to 13.6 × 107 WBC/ml (81 to 87% PMNs). Infected mice were given PMN transfusions intravenously. In 2 experiments with up to 70% mortality of neutropenic controls, transfusion of 107 PMNs 1 and 4 days after challenge had negligible effects on peripheral WBC counts but improved survival (P = 0.007, 0.02), decreased lung CFU (P = 0.03, 0.005), and cleared infection in 28 to 50% of survivors. Transfusion of 5 × 106 PMNs showed partial protection. Transfusions given every other day did not improve protection. Our present results provide an experimental basis for enthusiasm for PMN transfusions in the therapy of aspergillosis in humans.
Plasmodium falciparum Genetic Diversity in Continental Equatorial Guinea before and after Introduction of Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy

ABSTRACT Efforts to control malaria may affect malaria parasite genetic variability and drug resistance, the latter of which is associated with genetic events that promote mechanisms to escape drug action. The worldwide spread of drug resistance has been a major obstacle to controlling Plasmodium falciparum malaria, and thus the study of the origin and spread of associated mutations may provide some insights into the prevention of its emergence. This study reports an analysis of P. falciparum genetic diversity, focusing on antimalarial resistance-associated molecular markers in two socioeconomically different villages in mainland Equatorial Guinea. The present study took place 8 years after a previous one, allowing the analysis of results before and after the introduction of an artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), i.e., artesunate plus amodiaquine. Genetic diversity was assessed by analysis of the Pfmsp2 gene and neutral microsatellite loci. Pfdhps and Pfdhfr alleles associated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance and flanking microsatellite loci were investigated, and the prevalences of drug resistance-associated point mutations of the Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, and Pfdhps genes were estimated. Further, to monitor the use of ACT, we provide the baseline prevalences of K13 propeller mutations and Pfmdr1 copy numbers. After 8 years, noticeable differences occurred in the distribution of genotypes conferring resistance to chloroquine and SP, and the spread of mutated genotypes differed according to the setting. Regarding artemisinin resistance, although mutations reported as being linked to artemisinin resistance were not present at the time, several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were observed in the K13 gene, suggesting that closer monitoring should be maintained to prevent the possible spread of artemisinin resistance in Africa.
Is there an independent association between burnout and increased allostatic load? Testing the contribution of psychological distress and depression

Burnout has been suggested to be related to depression. We examined the relationship between burnout and allostatic load, and whether this association is independent of psychological distress and depression. We measured burnout psychological distress, depression, and allostatic load in 3283 participants. Higher burnout (β = 0.06, p =0.003) and cynicism (β = 0.03, p = 0.031) and decreased professional efficacy (β = 0.03, p = 0.007) were related to higher allostatic load independent of age, sex, education, occupation and psychological distress. Depression, however, explained 60 percent of the association. Burnout is related to higher allostatic load, and this association partly overlaps with co-occurring depression.
Visual weight status misperceptions of men: Why overweight can look like a healthy weight

Overweight men often underestimate their weight status. Here, we examine whether underestimation occurs when visually judging the weight status of men and whether exposure to heavier body weights may be a cause of visual underestimation of male weight status. Participants systematically underestimated the weight status of overweight and obese men (Study 1) and participants reporting more frequent exposure to heavy male body weights were most likely to underestimate (Study 2). Experimental exposure to different body weights influenced underestimation of weight status (Study 3). Frequent exposure to heavier body weights may cause visual underestimation of the weight status of overweight men.
FPGA Implementation of the Multilayer Neural Network for the Speed Estimation of the Two-Mass Drive System

This paper presents a practical realization of a neural network (NN)-based estimator of the load machine speed for a drive system with elastic coupling, using a reconfigurable field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The system presented is unique because the multilayer NN is implemented in the FPGA placed inside the NI CompactRIO controller. The neural network used as a state estimator was trained with the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Special algorithm for implementation of the multilayer neural networks in such hardware platform is presented, focused on the minimization of the used programmable blocks of the FPGA matrix. The algorithm code for the neural estimator implemented in C-RIO was realized using the LabVIEW software. The neural estimators are tested: offline (based on the measured testing database) and online (in the closed-loop control structure). These estimators are tested also for changeable inertia moment of the load machine of the drive system with elastic joint. Presented results of the experimental tests confirm that the multilayer NN, implemented in the FPGA with the use of the higher level programming language, ensures a high-quality state variable estimation of the two-mass drive system.
“Champion” behavior in a community obesity reduction program: Feedback from peers

Current interventions to reduce obesity have limited success. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of successful champions (non health professional/community leaders) and to assess how these relate to acceptability ratings of an obesity reduction intervention—the Waist Disposal Challenge. A total of 200 peer participants completed questionnaires. Positive ratings of champions’ performance were significantly correlated with perceptions of the success and suitability of the Waist Disposal Challenge. The qualitative feedback concurred that the program prompted weight loss and was a positive social experience which resulted in actual behavioral changes. Selecting suitable champions is likely to influence the success of such community health programs.
Guest Editorial Special Section on Building Automation, Smart Homes, and Communities

Building automation is the key to sustainable, safe and comfortable buildings as well as to the integration of buildings into smart grids and with other external applications such as cloud computing. In a typical smart community scenario, various household appliances of multiple residential users are connected via a Home Area Network. HANs are further connected to the local power distribution network via smart meters, forming a LAN, where also renewables communicate. Methods are needed to design and integrate networks with hundred thousands of nodes in a cost-efficient way. The key to providing improved services in building automation is to process complex scenarios in an adequate way. Furthermore, building automation systems must be seen as dependable systems covering both safety and security aspects. The main objective of this Special Section is to bring the ideas of the worldwide research community into a common platform, to present the latest advances and developments.
Effectiveness of a multidimensional web-based intervention program to change Brazilian health practitioners’ attitudes toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a multidimensional (educational, affective and behavioural) web-based intervention to change healthcare practitioners’ attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population. It aimed to measure gender and sexual (GenSex) prejudice pre- and post-intervention in relation to sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 307 health practitioners from southern Brazil enrolled and completed the follow-up assessment. The intervention had significant effects, varying across traditionally high prejudiced groups. State- and street-level continuous prejudice reduction policies are suggested.
Brief report of virtual clinician research tools for tobacco dependence or dyslipidemia

Health avatars were created to deliver previously tested live interventions for tobacco dependence and cholesterol management. The exploratory aims were to develop and test whether the avatar can be reliably assessed for autonomy supportiveness using the Health Care Climate Questionnaire and estimate the mean changes in motivation variables and correlate the avatars’ autonomy supportiveness with the motivation variables and health outcomes. The avatars were found to be reliably assessed for autonomy supportiveness on the Health Care Climate Questionnaire. Autonomy support was positively correlated with the change in motivations and reduction in low-density lipoprotein. These findings suggest that health avatars may be tested in clinical trials.
Evolution of Oseltamivir Resistance Mutations in Influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) Viruses during Selection in Experimentally Infected Mice

ABSTRACT The evolution of oseltamivir resistance mutations during selection through serial passages in animals is still poorly described. Herein, we assessed the evolution of neuraminidase (NA) and hemagglutinin (HA) genes of influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) and A/Victoria/3/75 (H3N2) viruses recovered from the lungs of experimentally infected BALB/c mice receiving suboptimal doses (0.05 and 1 mg/kg of body weight/day) of oseltamivir over two generations. The traditional phenotypic and genotypic methods as well as deep-sequencing analysis were used to characterize the potential selection of mutations and population dynamics of oseltamivir-resistant variants. No oseltamivir-resistant NA or HA changes were detected in the recovered A/WSN/33 viruses. However, we observed a positive selection of the I222T NA substitution in the recovered A/Victoria/3/75 viruses, with a frequency increasing over time and with an oseltamivir concentration from 4% in the initial pretherapy inoculum up to 28% after two lung passages. Although the presence of mixed I222T viral populations in mouse lungs only led to a minimal increase in oseltamivir 50% enzyme-inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) (by a mean of 5.7-fold) compared to that of the baseline virus, the expressed recombinant A/Victoria/3/75 I222T NA protein displayed a 16-fold increase in the oseltamivir IC50 level compared to that of the recombinant wild type (WT). In conclusion, the combination of serial in vivo passages under neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) pressure and temporal deep-sequencing analysis enabled, for the first time, the identification and selection of the oseltamivir-resistant I222T NA mutation in an influenza H3N2 virus. Additional in vivo selection experiments with other antivirals and drug combinations might provide important information on the evolution of antiviral resistance in influenza viruses.