Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship of MIC and Bactericidal Activity to Efficacy of Vancomycin for Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

ABSTRACT We attempted to find a relationship between the microbiological properties of bloodstream isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the efficacy of vancomycin in the treatment of bacteremia. Vancomycin susceptibility testing was performed, and bactericidal activity was determined for 30 isolates from 30 different patients with MRSA bacteremia for whom clinical and microbiological outcome data were available. The majority of these patients had been previously enrolled in multicenter prospective studies of MRSA bacteremia refractory to conventional vancomycin therapy. Logistic regression found a statistically significant relationship between treatment success with vancomycin and decreases in both vancomycin MICs (≤0.5 μg/ml versus 1.0 to 2.0 μg/ml; P = 0.02) and degree of killing (reduction in 1og10 CFU/milliliter) by vancomycin over 72 h of incubation in vitro (P = 0.03). For MRSA isolates with vancomycin MICs ≤ 0.5 μg/ml, vancomycin was 55.6% successful in the treatment of bacteremia whereas vancomycin was only 9.5% effective in cases in which vancomycin MICs for MRSA were 1 to 2 μg/ml. Patients with MRSA that was more effectively killed at 72 h by vancomycin in vitro had a higher clinical success rate with vancomycin therapy in the treatment of bacteremia (log10 < 4.71 [n = 9], 0%; log10 4.71 to 6.26 [n = 13], 23.1%; log10 > 6.27 [n = 8], 50%). We conclude that a significant risk for vancomycin treatment failure in MRSA bacteremia begins to emerge with increasing vancomycin MICs well within the susceptible range. Elucidating the mechanisms involved in intermediate-level glycopeptide resistance in S. aureus should begin by examining bacteria that begin to show changes in vancomycin susceptibility before the development of obvious resistance. Prognostic information for vancomycin treatment outcome in MRSA bacteremia may also be obtained by testing the in vitro bactericidal potency of vancomycin.
Mobile P2P Web Services using SIP

Telecommunication networks and the Internet are growing together. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) services which are originally offered by network providers, like telephony and messaging, are provided through VoIP and Instant Messaging (IM) by Internet service providers, too. The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is the answer of the telecommunication industry to this trend and aims at providing Internet P2P and multimedia services controlled by the network operators. The IMS provides mobility and session management as well as message routing, security, and billing. This article is a comprehensive version of a conference publication [1] and introduces a Mobile P2P Web Services framework which enables the creation of arbitrary P2P application on mobile devices within the IMS. The terminals are sharing and publishing a Web Service interface, which provides the capability of coupling arbitrary applications using Web Service technologies and the support of the {IMS} infrastructure. The concept, the necessary Web Service adaptations, and extension as well as the interworking of Web Services, {IMS} nodes, and protocols are described and proofed by an exemplary mobile chess game application. In addition, the performance of mobile P2P Web Services is evaluated by means of an analytical analysis.
Reduced oxygen tension attenuates differentiation capacity of human mesenchymal stem cells and prolongs their lifespan

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are capable of differentiating into bone, fat, cartilage, tendon and other organ progenitor cells. Despite the abundance of MSC within the organism, little is known about their in vivo properties or about their corresponding in vivo niches. We therefore isolated MSC from spongy (cancellous) bone biopsies of healthy adults. When compared with the surrounding marrow, a fourfold higher number of colony‐forming units was found within the tight meshwork of trabecular bone surface. At these sites, oxygen concentrations range from 1% to 7%. In MSC cultured at oxygen as low as 3%, rates for cell death and hypoxia‐induced gene transcription remained unchanged, while in vitro proliferative lifespan was significantly increased, with about 10 additional population doublings before reaching terminal growth arrest. However, differentiation capacity into adipogenic progeny was diminished and no osteogenic differentiation was detectable at 3% oxygen. In turn, MSC that had previously been cultured at 3% oxygen could subsequently be stimulated to successfully differentiate at 20% oxygen. These data support our preliminary finding that primary MSC are enriched at the surface of spongy bone. Low oxygen levels in this location provide a milieu that extends cellular lifespan and furthermore is instructive for the stemness of MSC allowing proliferation upon stimulation while suppressing differentiation.
Highly Reliable Resistive Switching Without an Initial Forming Operation by Defect Engineering

The effects of stack and defect engineering of metal-oxide layers on resistive switching uniformity were investigated to obtain resistive random access memory (ReRAM) with excellent switching reliability. Uniform switching, parameters, such as set voltage (Vset), reset voltage (Vreset), low-resistance state, high-resistance state, and retention characteristics, were significantly improved by stack and defect engineering. Furthermore, the initial forming operation, which is a nuisance, was removed to realize cross-point ReRAM.
LOW COST DEXTEROUS TELEOPERATION HUMANOID ROBOTIC HAND WITH WEARABLE REMOTE CONTROLLER

Humanoid robotic mechanisms are widely utilized to improve the efficiency and speed of industrial applications. The field is improving with the current tendency towards custom 3D printing and advancements in wearable technology. A method and an implementation to replicate the human finger movements in a vertical plane, using a robotic hand is presented in this paper. A wearable remote controller unit is designed to control the fingers of a 3D printed humanoid robotic hand which improves the dexterity. All five fingers of a human hand with natural bends are designed and implemented with the custom made 3D printed system. The wearable controller unit captures the moments of a real human hand and finger movements are communicated to the humanoid robotic hand. The implementation could be easily improved for applications in telepresence.
The anticonvulsant compound gabapentin possesses anxiolytic but not amnesic effects in rats

This report describes the effects of the antiepileptic agent gabapentin on anxiety and memory. Male Wistar rats received intraperitoneal administrations of gabapentin (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg), diazepam (1 mg/kg), saline or diazepam vehicle 30 minutes prior to experimental procedures. Animals were: (1) tested on step‐down inhibitory avoidance (footshock 0.3 mA) and habituation to an open‐field for memory assessment; and (2) submitted to the elevated plus‐maze to evaluate the potential anxiolytic effects of gabapentin. Animals treated with gabapentin showed a reduction in anxiety similar to the that observed in animals treated with diazepam. Memory was not affected by gabapentin in any of the tests, but was impaired by diazepam. The lack of effects of gabapentin on memory suggest a potential advantage of this drug over compounds with previously known anxiolytic property, which have amnesic effects at doses used for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Control of a remote laboratory by augmented reality

A variety of advanced learning technologies has emerged to enhance learning, promote hands-on experiences, and increase interest in engineering and technical education. The possibility of access to a superior education is on hands of a great number of students while the resources which are available do not increase in the same way, limiting the quality of the teaching, so, it is necessary to look for alternatives that insure an access to the resources of a way regular, monitored an efficient. The remote laboratories avoid these gaps, however the development of these laboratories is of a great cost and their application is very specific. The fact of adding virtual information to the observed results by the students increases the quantity of information, provides us a great absorption of the contents and an expansion of the case studies. That is why it is possible to add the answer to questions like why this happens, or what would happen if the conditions of the experiment were different. The augmented reality provides an easy way to control a remote laboratory, creating a realist, simple and practical interface from any place in the world. To achieve the objectives mentioned above, this document shows how you can control a remote laboratory with augmented reality.
Décision collective avec des réseaux {GAI}

Cet article aborde la prise de decision collective dans le contexte de la theorie de l'utilite multiattribut. Nous nous interessons ici aux cas ou l'ensemble d'alternatives a une structure combinatoire (definie comme le produit cartesien des valeurs des domaines d'un ensemble d'attributs) rendant necessaire l'utilisation de representations compactes de preferences. Nous supposons que les preferences des agents sont representees par une fonction d'utilite GAI (independance additive generalisee - de l'anglais Generalized Additive Independence ) sur le produit cartesien. Les fonctions GAI permettent une representation efficace des interactions entre attributs tout en gardant une certaine decomposabilite du modele. Nous traitons le probleme de l'agregation de preferences ou nous considerons differents criteres pour definir la notion de solution de compromis (max-min, min-max regret, normes ponderees de Tchebytcheff). Pour chacun de ces criteres d'agregation, nous proposons une procedure efficace pour la determination exacte de la solution optimale sur le produit cartesien. Nous presentons ensuite des resultats experimentaux qui montrent l'efficacite pratique de la procedure proposee.
Multiplicative functional for the heat equation on manifolds with boundary

By the Weitzenbock formula relating the Hodge–de Rham Laplacian and the covariant Laplacian for differential forms on a Riemannian manifold, the heat equation for differential forms is naturally associated with a matrix-valued Feynman– Kac multiplicative functional determined by the curvature tensor. The case of a closed manifold (without boundary) is well known and will be briefly reviewed below. In constrast, the case of manifolds with boundary is not well known, and for good reasons. Because the absolute boundary condition on differential forms is Dirichlet in the normal direction and Neumann in the tangential directions, the associated multiplicative functional is discontinuous and much more difficult to handle. Ikeda and Watanabe [6; 7] have dealt with this situation by using an excursion theory (for reflecting Brownian motion) that seems to have been created especially for this problem. In this paper we suggest a different approach that is based on an idea of approximation due to Airault [1]. This construction has the advantage that a key property of the multiplicative functional (i.e., the attendant Ito’s formula for this functional) follows almost automatically from the approximate multiplicative functional without resorting to excursion theory, thus greatly simplifying this part of the theory; see Theorem 3.7. Before coming to another and more important raison d’etre for the present work, we briefly review some relevant facts for a closed manifold. LetM be a compact, closed Riemannian manifold and let α0 be a 1-form onM. Consider the following initial value problem:  ∂α ∂t = 1 2 α,
New treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and the only major cause of mortality whose incidence is rising [1]. The WHO and World Bank predict that COPD will become the 5th commonest global cause of disability and the 3rd commonest cause of death in the world by 2020 [2]. Despite its enormous global importance, there has been relatively little research into COPD and it is the most underfunded disease in relation to the global burden of disease [3]. There is a major need to develop new treatments for COPD, as no currently available drug therapy reduces the relentless progression of the disease. There is a particular need to develop drugs that control the underlying inflammatory and destructive processes that underlie this disease. There have been few therapeutic advances in the drug therapy of COPD, in contrast to the enormous advances made in asthma management that reflect a much better understanding of the underlying disease [4-6]. Although COPD is commonly treated with drugs developed for asthma, this is often inappropriate as the inflammatory process in COPD differs markedly from that in asthma [7, 8]. Recognition of the global importance and rising prevalence of COPD and the absence of effective therapies has now led to a concerted effort to develop new drugs for this disease [9, 10]. Rational therapy depends on understanding the underlying disease process and there have been recent advances in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that may be involved. COPD involves a chronic inflammation in small airways and lung parenchyma, with the involvement of neutrophils, macrophages and cytotoxic (CD8+) T-lymphocytes. This inflammation results in fibrosis with narrowing of small airways (chronic obstructive bronchitis) and lung parenchymal destruction due to the action of various proteases, such as neutrophil elastase and matrix metalNew treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
A parametric investigation on the effects of inertia on the stability of power systems

The increase of non-synchronous generation sources on a power network are changing the system dynamics and this can lead to problems with stability. One of the contributions to the change in system dynamics is the variation in system inertia. By approximating a traditional stability metric, the critical clearing time (CCT) in an energetic framework we conduct a parametric investigation of the effect of inertia on power system stability. A set of solid three phase to ground faults are considered on a small but not trivial power system, the two-machine infinite bus network. The performance of the approximated CCT is compared to the true CCT.
Community engagement in sexual health and uptake of HIV testing and syphilis testing among MSM in China: a cross-sectional online survey

Abstract Introduction: HIV and syphilis testing rates remain low among men who have sex with men (MSM) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Community engagement has been increasingly used to promote HIV testing among key populations in high-income countries, often in settings with stronger civil society. This study aimed to assess socio-demographic, behavioural, and community engagement factors associated with HIV and syphilis testing among MSM in China. Methods: MSM ≥16 years old who had condomless sex in the past three months were recruited nationwide to complete a cross-sectional online survey in November 2015. Data were collected on socio-demographics, sexual behaviours, HIV testing, syphilis testing, and community engagement in sexual health. We defined community engagement in sexual health using six items assessing awareness and advocacy of sexual health programmes. The underlying factor structure of a 6-item community engagement scale was determined through exploratory factor analysis. Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions identified correlates of HIV and syphilis testing. Results: 1189 MSM were recruited. 54% (647/1189) of men had ever tested for HIV and 30% (354/1189) had ever tested for syphilis. Factor analysis suggested three levels of community engagement (minimal, moderate, and substantial) and this model explained 79.5% of observed variance. A quarter (26%, 312/1189) reported none to minimal engagement, over one half (54%, 644/1189) reported moderate engagement, and a fifth (20%, 233/1189) reported substantial engagement. Multivariable logistic regression showed that MSM with greater community engagement in sexual health were more likely to have ever tested for HIV (substantial vs. no engagement: aOR 7.91, 95% CI 4.98–12.57) and for syphilis (substantial vs. no engagement: aOR 5.35, 95% CI 3.16–9.04). Conclusions: HIV and syphilis testing are suboptimal among MSM in China. Community engagement may be useful for promoting testing in China and should be considered in intervention development and delivery. Further research is needed to better understand the role of LMIC community engagement in HIV interventions.
Location of Resistance Arteries

Thickening and narrowing of resistance arteries must, by definition, be key elements in the control of the cardiovascular system. However, the precise location of resistance arteries is difficult to establish. This is due to technical problems related to the small size of the vessels, to the measurement conditions disturbing the hemodynamics, and to the status of the animals while the measurements are being made. Furthermore, due to large data heterogeneity, previous studies do not give unequivocal information concerning the pressure profile in the vascular system, or the level of arterial diameter responsible for blood flow. Finally, and importantly, there is little evidence regarding the conscious state, which is thus a major limitation to understanding the mechanisms of blood distribution and the pathogenesis for disease processes such as genetic hypertension. This review first summarizes briefly the techniques which are available for identifying resistance arteries and the inherent technical limitations which are involved. The review then provides a critical assessment of the available data, both as regards measurement of local blood pressures and as regards control of peripheral resistance. The evidence suggests that, at least as regards rats and other small animals, feed arteries as well as more distal microvessels contribute to the maintenance and regulation of blood flow and resistance. Evidence from larger animals is however lacking, and it is thus unclear if resistance function should be based on arterial diameter or anatomic location. Furthermore, evidence concerning man is not available. We therefore conclude the review with suggestions for future research in this area.
Diagnostic par estimation de densité conditionnelle. Application à la surveillance du convertisseur catalytique d'une automobile

Cette these, realisee dans le cadre d'une convention CIFRE entre le groupe PSA Peugeot Citroen et le laboratoire Heudiasye (UMR CNRS 6599) de l'Universite de Technologie de Compiegne, a pour objet d'etudier l'apport de methodes de reconnaissance des formes pour le diagnostic embarque dans une automobile. L'application concerne le diagnostic des systemes de depollution (fonctions regroupees sous l'appellation On-Board Diagnosis) et plus specifiquement la surveillance du convertisseur ca analytique. L'approche retenue pour realiser une strategie de detection de defaillance est celle dite de "reconnaissance des formes", en opposition a une approche dite "a base de modele". Son avantage est de permettre de construire un systeme de decision reposant uniquement sur les donnees d'apprentissage. L'enjeu est alors double : s'affranchir de la dependance des parametres discriminants avec les parametres representant le point de fonctionnement du systeme et composer avec des donnees d'apprentissage incompletes. Pour cela, differentes techniques sont proposees : une option de rejet de distance sequentielle et une utilisation de la theorie du conditionnement pour representer les relations de dependance entre les deux types de parametres. Apres avoir presente quelques resultats theoriques, l'approche est ensuite appliquee au cas du convertisseur catalique en presentant des resultats obtenus sur les donnees d'apprentissage disponibles.
Preferences for the emergency department or alternatives for older people in aged care: a discrete choice experiment

Background To estimate the effect of factors that influence decisions to transfer residents of aged care facilities to an emergency department (ED) for acute medical emergencies. Design and Participants A discrete choice experiment with residents (N = 149), the relatives of residents (N = 137) and staff members (N = 128) of aged care facilities. Setting Aged care facilities in three Australian states. Outcome Measures Using random parameter logit models, parameter estimates and odds ratios were estimated, and resultant utility functions for ED and alternate care were constructed. Results All attributes (including waiting time, complication rates, symptom relief and time spent alone) significantly influence choice for accessing acute care. There is a strong overall preference for ED care (odds ratio 1.73, 95% confidence interval 1.57–1.92), but this varies by clinical scenario, being the strongest for pneumonia and weakest for wrist fracture. Relatives of residents were less tolerant of reductions in care quality than staff members or residents themselves. Conclusion Underlying preference for ED transfer of aged care facility residents in acute medical emergencies is strong and independent of commonly used quality of care measures.
De MS-zorgketen in Twente - Eindverslag van het onderzoek naar de informatiestromen in de MS-zorgketen

In samenwerking met Het Roessingh, centrum voor revalidatie, heeft de Universiteit Twente onderzocht welke bijdrage een verbetering van de informatievoorziening in de zorgketen kan leveren aan de verbetering van de kwaliteit van de zorg aan MS-patienten. Tevens is de vraag gesteld hoe een algemeen informatiemodel van een zorgketen eruit moet zien, zodat dit als basis kan dienen voor de ontwikkeling van een Elektronisch Patienten Dossier.Naast literatuuronderzoek en een startbijeenkomst zijn in het onderzoek zes MS-patienten en zeventien zorgverleners uit de MS-zorgketen geinterviewd.
Numerical solution of the Bloch equations provides insights into the optimum design of PARACEST agents for MRI

Paramagnetic lanthanide complexes that display unusually slow water exchange between an inner sphere coordination site and bulk water may serve as a new class of MRI contrast agents with the use of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) techniques. To aid in the design of paramagnetic CEST agents for reporting important biological indices in MRI measurements, we formulated a theoretical framework based on the modified Bloch equations that relates the chemical properties of a CEST agent (e.g., water exchange rates and bound water chemical shifts) and various NMR parameters (e.g., relaxation rates and applied B1 field) to the measured CEST effect. Numerical solutions of this formulation for complex exchanging systems were readily obtained without algebraic manipulation or simplification. For paramagnetic CEST agents of the type used here, the CEST effect is relatively insensitive to the bound proton relaxation times, but requires a sufficiently large applied B1 field to highly saturate the Ln3+‐bound water protons. This in turn requires paramagnetic complexes with large Ln3+‐bound water chemical shifts to avoid direct excitation of the exchanging bulk water protons. Although increasing the exchange rate of the bound protons enhances the CEST effect, this also causes exchange broadening and increases the B1 required for saturation. For a given B1, there is an optimal exchange rate that results in a maximal CEST effect. This numerical approach, which was formulated for a three‐pool case, was incorporated into a MATLAB nonlinear least‐square optimization routine, and the results were in excellent agreement with experimental Z‐spectra obtained with an aqueous solution of a paramagnetic CEST agent containing two different types of bound protons (bound water and amide protons). Magn Reson Med 53:790–799, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.