Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Lon protease links nucleotide metabolism with proteotoxic stress

During stress all cells must maintain proteome quality while sustaining critical processes like DNA replication. In bacteria, the Lon protease is the central route for degradation of misfolded proteins. Here, we show that in Caulobacter crescentus Lon controls dNTP pools during stress through degradation of the transcription factor CcrM. We find that elevated dNTP/NTP ratios in Δlon cells protects them from deletion of otherwise essential dTTP-producing pathways and shields them from lethality of hydroxyurea, known to catastrophically deplete dNTPs. Increased dNTP production in Δlon results from higher expression of ribonucleotide reductase driven by increased CcrM. We show that misfolded proteins can stabilize CcrM by competing for limiting protease and Lon-dependent control of dNTPs improves fitness during protein misfolding conditions. We propose that linking dNTP production with the availability of Lon allows Caulobacter to maintain replication capacity when misfolded protein burden increases, such as during rapid growth or unanticipated proteotoxic stress. Highlights dCTP deaminase (DCD) is dispensable when Lon protease is absent due to increased dNTP pools. Stabilization of the Lon substrate CcrM transcriptionally upregulates ribonucleotide reductase, affording protection against hydroxyurea. Misfolded proteins can competitively inhibit CcrM degradation by the Lon protease. Titration of protein quality control is a mechanism that allows cells to respond to stresses that lack dedicated signal response pathways.
The biblatex-nejm Package Modification of Biblatex for New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)

This package is a contributed Biblatex style. The idea base on a question at Stack Exchange. The package itself only redefine existing macros and use some of the Biblatex options. This package doesn’t provide some new feature. If you want to use additional feature you can use the options and commands of the package Biblatex itself. Please submit all feedback, issues, and pull requests to the official repository: https://github.com/marcodaniel/biblatex-nejm
Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of bacterial isolates from sputum samples of admitted patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Tripura: a hospital record-based study

Background: Antibiotics are frequently used for various infectious diseases e.g., acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI). But, injudicious use of antibiotics often leads to antibiotic resistance which is an emerging problem. The objective of this study was taken up to analyse the antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of pathogens isolated from the sputum samples of admitted patients suffering from ALRTI in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods: It is a hospital record-based study with a sample size of 393. Results: Klebsiella (52.16%) was the most common organism followed by Acinetobacter (13.49%) and Pseudomonas (13.23%) isolated from the sputum sample. Imipenem, piperacillin/tazobactam combination and gentamicin was sensitive against Klebsiella and Pseudomonas and the association were statistically significant. Acinetobacter was resistant to ceftriaxone. Conclusions: The commonest pathogens isolated from the sputum samples were Klebsiella followed by Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. Imipenem, piperacillin/tazobactam combination and gentamicin was sensitive against Klebsiella and Pseudomonas.
High-Efficiency SiC-Based Isolated Three-Port DC/DC Converters for Hybrid Charging Stations

This article proposes a novel isolated three-port dc/dc converter based on a series resonant converter and a dual active bridge (DAB) converter for electric-vehicle charging stations with fast and slow charging functions. With this three-port structure, the proposed converter has fewer components, which results in lower system cost and volume compared with separate charger systems. A simple control method using phase-shift and frequency modulations was developed to control the output power of the fast and slow charging ports simultaneously. An optimal phase-shift angle was also derived to minimize the transformer current for when only the DAB converter is operated for slow charging. To verify the converter operation, a 5-kW SiC-based prototype with a power density of 2.74 kW/dm3 was built and tested with an input voltage of 600 V. A high-efficiency performance over a wide output voltage range has been achieved, and the peak efficiency is 98.2% at the rated conditions.
Innovative MirrorSAR Concept for Multi-Static HRWS

DLR funded a phase 0/A study High-Resolution Wide-Swath (HRWS) at Airbus DS DLR/HR provided mission concept, analysis and performance of HRWS extension by 3 Rx satellites This allows for DEM acquisition with unprecedented accuracy DLR owned approach MirrorSAR is the basis for the Extension Presentation is about MirrorSAR in context of HRWS
Cocaine Use and Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in Caucasians

Objective: Cocaine remains among the most commonly used and trafficked illicit drug in the world, and its use increases myocardial demand from elevated heart rate and blood pressure, and causes coronary vasospasm leading to myocardial infarction (MI). Surrogate markers for atherosclerosis of sub-clinical coronary artery disease (CAD) are often used to assess the presence of atherosclerosis in high-risk patients. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) as a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis is an independent predictor of future cardiovascular (CV) events and is routinely used in clinical studies. The objective of this preliminary study is to provide the baseline information on the presence of subclinical CAD in Caucasians with chronic cocaine use disorder using CIMT as a surrogate marker. Method: The study inclusion criteria included: a) Caucasian adult, 18 yrs and older with cocaine use disorder, as defined in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5); and b) able to understand and sign the consent form (provided in English only). 40 participants were selected using convenient sampling, approached, and screened. Result: The mean LDL (low density lipoprotein), HDL (high density lipoprotein), and total cholesterol of the participants were within normal ranges. The mean right CIMT was 0.57 mm (± 0.01) and left CIMT was 0.59 mm (± 0.1). CIMT was found to be associated with route administration (p=0.0036) and smoking route had a significant positive association with the CIMT. Discussion: This study’s preliminary findings of no association between chronic cocaine use and sub-clinical CAD measured by CIMT in asymptomatic, young-to-middle-aged adult Caucasian cocaine users are new and in order to support these findings, larger prospective studies are warranted.
The content of apoptosis mediators in children with anemia of inflammation acquired on the background of acute bacterial diseases of respiratory organs

Aim . Determine the activity of apoptosis processes in young children with anemia of inflammation acquired on the background of acute bacterial diseases of respiratory organs. Material and methods . The content of caspase-7 and caspase-9 was identified in blood serum of 87 kids by the method of immunoenzyme assay. Main group included 57 kids with acute bacterial diseases of the respiratory tract (38 patients had acute bacterial bronchitis, 19 - pneumonia). The main group was divided into two subgroups. The first subgroup included 27 children with developed anemia of inflammation acquired on the background of acute bacterial disease of the respiratory tract. Second subgroup - 30 children with acute bacterial diseases of the respiratory tract without anemia. Experimental group - 10 children with iron deficiency anemia without symptoms of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. The control group was represented by 20 conditionally healthy children. Results . The presence of pneumonia in children was accompanied by the highest numbers of caspase-9 (14.8 ± 1.8 ng/ml), which was almost 3 times higher than the control group (5.82 ± 0.58 ng/ml). The levels of the studied enzyme were 1.6 times lower in patients with bacterial bronchitis (8.34 ± 0.90 ng/ml), which was significantly higher (P 0.05) (0.38 ± 0.03 ng/ml and 0.32 ± 0.02 ng/ml), and children of the 1 st subgroup (0.27 ± 0.02 ng/ml) showed its significant decrease. Conclusions . Anemia of inflammation in children with acute bacterial diseases of respiratory organs is accompanied by the activation of apoptosis, which, obviously, is inefficient due to the nature of the active necrotic processes acquired on the background of acute inflammation.
A geochemical and biostratigraphic approach to investigating regional changes in sandstone composition through time; an example from Paleocene–Eocene strata, Taranaki Basin, New Zealand

Abstract A geochemical and biostratigraphic approach has been applied to investigate the spatial and stratigraphic variability of Palaeogene sandstones from key wells in Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. Chronostratigraphic control is predominantly based on miospore zonation, while differences in the composition of Paleocene and Eocene sandstones are supported by geochemical evidence. Stratigraphic changes are manifested by a significant decrease in Na2O across the New Zealand miospore PM3b/MH1 early Eocene zonal boundary, at approximately 53.5 Ma. The change in Na2O is associated with a decrease in baseline concentrations of many other major (MnO, CaO, TiO2) and trace elements, and is interpreted to reflect a significant change in sandstone maturity. Paleocene sandstones are characterized by abundant plagioclase (albite and locally Na–Ca plagioclase), significant biotite and a range of heavy minerals, while Eocene sandstones are typically quartzose, with K-feldspar dominant over plagioclase, low mica contents and rare heavy minerals comprising a resistant suite. This change could reflect a change in provenance from local plutonic basement during the Paleocene Epoch to relatively quartz- and K-feldspar-rich granitic sources during Eocene time. However, significant quartz enrichment of Eocene sediment was also likely due to transportation reworking/winnowing along the palaeoshoreface and enhanced chemical weathering, driven in part by long-term global warming associated with the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum. The broad-ranging changes in major-element composition overprint local variations in sediment provenance, which are only detectable from the immobile trace-element geochemistry.
A Case of Hodgkin Lymphoma Developed in an Ataxia-telangiectasia Patient

Ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is characterized by cerebellar ataxia, progressive immunodeficiency, radiation sensitivity, telangiectasia, and predisposition to malignancy. AT patients have a 100-fold increased risk for the development of lymphoid malignancies. It is important to consider AT in a child with pre-existing ataxia, or lymphoid malignancy that was diagnosed at a younger age than expected. This consideration avoids the confusion between ataxia development and toxicity from chemotherapy. Hodgkin ’s lymphoma (HL) is usually treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Unfortunately, when treated with conventional doses of radiotherapy, AT patients invariably experience devastating necrosis of their normal tissues. Therefore, a new treatment protocol for patients with HL in AT must be established. In this paper, we report the case of an 8-year-old female patient with HL in AT who was treated with chemotherapy. This patient was also treated with brentuximab (which targets CD30) for salvage therapy after the disease
Model averages sharpened into Occam’s razors: Deep learning enhanced by Rényi entropy

Abstract Ensemble methods of machine learning combine neural networks or other machine learning models in order to improve predictive performance. The proposed ensemble method is based on Occam’s razor idealized as adjusting hyperprior distributions over models according to a Rényi entropy of the data distribution that corresponds to each model. The entropy-based method is used to average a logistic regression model, a random forest, and a deep neural network. As expected, the deep leaning machine more accurately recognizes handwritten digits than the other two models. The combination of the three models performs even better than the neural network when they are combined according to the entropy-based method or according to methods that average the log odds of the classification probabilities reported by the models. Which of the best ensemble methods to choose for other applications may depend on the loss function that quantifies prediction performance and on a robustness consideration.
Contradictions concerning care: Female surgeons' accounts of the repression and resurfacing of care in their profession

Surgery is a high‐status, distinctly embodied, profession, dominated by men and saturated with masculine ideals of individual heroism, manual skill and detachment. In this study, we focus on exploring how surgery both represses, but also requires, caring work, creating gendered contradictions for the women that enter its ranks. Based on interviews with eighteen female surgeons from Australia and New Zealand, we apply a ‘rationality of caring work’ lens to explore how they experienced these contradictions through training, socialization and in everyday interactions. Our findings show inter‐related mechanisms whereby female surgeons are required to become more independent and self‐reliant than comparable men, but also make up for the systemic lack of care shown to junior staff and students. In particular, their pregnancy and motherhood challenge the ideal of the detached, independent, heroic agent. We conclude by discussing how a ‘rationality of caring’ lens could help unpack the gendered contradictions women experience in other elite professions.
Telecoupling through tomato trade: what consumers do not know about the tomato on their plate

Non-technical abstract A large share of our food comes from international supply food chains that are difficult to trace. Therefore, consumers are not aware of their environmental and social effects. We analysed the tomato supply system for Germany. Tomatoes consumed in Germany are produced either in The Netherlands by Polish workers and using large amounts of energy, or in Spain by West African workers and depleting the aquifer. The analysis shows the long-distance effects of food consumption that should be considered when designing strategies for a sustainable global food system. Comparable results can be expected for other food products traded around the world. Technical abstract The environmental and social effects caused by global food trade are not evident for consumers. We use the telecoupling framework to trace these effects between consumer and producer regions. In Europe, Germany is the largest consumer of tomatoes, which are mainly imported from The Netherlands and southeast Spain. The use of agricultural resources is markedly different in the two production regions due to different local contexts and production systems. Tomatoes from southeast Spain require fewer resources per area of greenhouses, but more resources per kilogram of tomatoes produced compared with production in The Netherlands. However, both tomato production areas require the same amount of labour per kilogram of tomatoes. The workers in the greenhouses in both production regions are mainly immigrants, but their labour conditions are quite different due to the difference in application of international labour agreements. If Germany would start producing their own tomatoes in order to reduce distant effects, the local effects in Germany would be large in the context of Germany's current national resources use and CO2 emission patterns. This study highlights the notion that taking distant indirect effects of consumption into consideration is crucial when designing global strategies that aim to achieve a more sustainable and fair global food system.
Characteristics of diabetes prevention translation programs targeted towards African American populations through the lens of the CDC's recognition program

Reducing type 2 diabetes (T2D) is currently of public health significance since diabetes is considered to be a major national epidemic in the United States. While diabetes affects all racial/ethnic groups, African Americans are disproportionately diagnosed with T2D when compared to Non-Hispanic whites. With such pronounced disparities, it is crucial that effective interventions are critically developed and examined for their impact on populations considered to be at high risk for T2D. The CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) aims to reduce diabetes incidence rates by working with public and private partners to translate the effective and evidence-based lifestyle intervention for individuals with prediabetes into community settings. In order to ensure the standardization and fidelity of translated programs, the CDC created the Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program (DPRP). The DPRP highlights standard guidelines that are considered key components of the DPP curriculum and offers organizations/programs implementing the intervention an opportunity to be nationally recognized. Many individuals aiming to translate the DPP for their targeted populations use current research as a guide for program development and implementation. However, the DPRP’s standard guidelines have not been assessed systematically for translational research components and outcomes of published studies. This thesis, therefore, aimed to understand the characteristics of translational research through the lens of the DPRP. Two previously published systematic reviews were analyzed for this article. The first systematic review explored DPP translational research among the general population, whereas the second systematic review explored translations of the DPP specifically among African American populations. Overall, the results indicate that for both systematic reviews, only 15.4% of the articles met all of the assessed DPRP variables. However, studies among the general population were more likely to meet curriculum components, short-term weight loss goals and program eligibility requirements when compared to studies among African Americans. In conclusion, this thesis highlights the importance of assessing and reporting the DPRP standards in translational DPP research, particularly studies among racial and ethnic minorities. Assessing standard guidelines in research may increase the number of nationally recognized DPP programs that are translated and implemented into high-risk communities, hence, making a broader public health impact.
Opto-Acoustic Technique for Residual Stress Analysis

Residual stress analysis based on co-application of acoustic and optical techniques is discussed. Residual stress analysis is a long-standing and challenging problem in many fields of engineering. The fundamental complexity of the problem lies in the fact that a residual stress is locked into the material and therefore hidden inside the specimen. Thus, direct measurement of residual stress in a completely nondestructive fashion is especially difficult. One possible solution is to estimate residual stress from the change in the elastic constant of the material. Residual stress alters the interatomic distance significantly large that the elastic constant is considerably different from the nominal value. From the change in the elastic constant and knowledge of the interatomic potential, it is possible to estimate the residual stress. This acoustic technique (acoustoelasticity) evaluates the elastic modulus of the specimen via acoustic velocity measurement. It is capable of determining the elastic modulus absolutely, but it is a single-point measurement. The optical technique (electronic speckle pattern interferometry, ESPI) yields full-field, two-dimensional strain maps, but it requires an external load to the specimen. Co-application of the two techniques compensates each other ’ s shortfalls.
Non-Euclidean Neural Representation Learning of Words, Entities and Hierarchies

In recent years, some of the greatest breakthroughs in machine learning have been achieved by neural networks and deep learning methods. These non-linear models with potentially millions of parameters are all about finding “good” representations, meaning generic or task dependent features. The underlying conjecture, also known as the “manifold assumption”, is that the intrinsic dimensionality of the input data is much lower compared to the input feature space dimension. In this thesis, we investigate several problems associated with embeddings and deep learning methods, focusing on natural language processing (NLP) and graph embedding applications. Popular neural network or embedding methods assume data have Euclidean structure and, thus, employ Euclidean geometry in the embedding space. For example, semantic similarity is typically geometrically modeled via the standard Euclidean distance or its positive semi-definite (PSD) inner product. However, this has been theoretically and empirically shown to exhibit a significant information loss or distortion for many types of real data [Bro+17]; [DP10]; [Kri+10]; [NK17]; [RH07]; [Wil+14], e.g. for data with non-PSD pairwise similarities. So, what geometry offers a better inductive bias for the data of interest? In this dissertation, we focus on a particular large class of data with non-Euclidean latent anatomy, namely tree-like, hierarchical or exhibiting power-law distributions. Such data are provably [De +18a]; [Gro87]; [Kri+10] best embedded in a fixed dimensional space of constant negative curvature that exhibits exponential volume growth, i.e. the hyperbolic space. Recently, [De +18a]; [NK17] have learned embeddings of undirected graphs and adapted some linear and nonlinear dimensionality reduction methods in this geometry. However, there still remains a large demand for generalizing popular Machine Learning (ML) techniques and Euclidean models, while matching their state-of-the-art results on various downstream tasks. Alleviating this gap between Euclidean and hyperbolic geometry in ML is one main goal of this thesis. Our first contribution is a novel and principled method for embedding directed acyclic graphs in the hyperbolic space. We advocate