Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Population Pharmacokinetics of Polymyxin B in Obese Patients for Resistant Gram-Negative Infections

Polymyxin B is an effective but potentially nephrotoxic antibiotic that is commonly used to treat resistant Gram-negative infections. As a weight-based dosing drug, obese patients may be at a high risk of nephrotoxicity. However, the pharmacokinetics and dosing recommendations for this population are currently lacking. This study aimed to describe the polymyxin B population pharmacokinetics and to evaluate pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) target attainment for obese patients. This study included 26 patients (body mass index, BMI >30) who received polymyxin B for ≥3 days. The total body weight (TBW) ranged from 75 to 125 kg, and the BMI ranged from 30.04 to 40.35. A two-compartment model adequately described the data using Phoenix NLME software. Monte Carlo simulation was used to assess polymyxin B exposure and the probability of target attainment (PTA). As a result, body weight had no significant effect on polymyxin B pharmacokinetics. According to model-based simulation, adjusted body weight (ABW)-based regimens had a high probability of achieving optimal exposure with minimal toxicity risk by comparing TBW and ideal body weight (IBW)-based regimens. The fixed dose of 125 mg or 150 mg q12h had a high toxicity risk. PTA results showed that TBW, IBW, and ABW-based regimens had similar PTA values. Therefore, for obese patients, ABW-based regimens but with a daily dose <250 mg have a high likelihood of achieving an AUCss,24h of 50–100 mg h/L and attaining PK/PD targets with the MIC ≤0.5 mg/L.
Commentary: Large Acid-Evoked Currents, Mediated by ASIC1a, Accompany Differentiation in Human Dopaminergic Neurons

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated Na channels widely located in the peripheral and central nervous system (Waldmann et al., 1997; Krishtal, 2015). They are often associated with neurological disorders involving a decrease in extracellular pH, such as cerebral ischemia and epilepsy (Xiong et al., 2008; Kweon and Suh, 2013; Li et al., 2016). Additionally, these channels also contribute to cognitive functions such as learning, memory and synaptic plasticity (Chu and Xiong, 2012; Huang et al., 2015; Gobetto et al., 2021). While the functions of ASICs are often explored in murine models, few studies have investigated these channels in human cells and human cell lines (Sun et al., 2020; Xu et al., 2021). Recently, a study conducted by the Grunder laboratory has examined the function of ASICs in human dopaminergic cell lines (Neuhof et al., 2021). They have proposed that ASICs are responsible for the differentiation of LUHMES (Lund HumanMesencephalic) cells, a line of human cells capable of differentiating into dopaminergic-like neurons (Zuberek et al., 2018; Harischandra et al., 2019). LUHMES cells are often used as a model to investigate cellular mechanisms of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and are used to further understand the pathology of disorders involving these neurons, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) (Zhang et al., 2014; Smirnova et al., 2016; Tüshaus et al., 2021). Their results ultimately reveal LUHMES cells to be a promising model in studying the role of ASICs in neuronal differentiation.
Knowledge Shared is Power: Utilizing Knowledge Management Activities to Replicate Lean Sigma Best Practices

Lean Sigma programs produce localized gains within corporations. The knowledge generated by these local successes should be manipulated by the organization, so that the gains can be replicated, and savings multiplied across the organization. However, why does knowledge often fail to be successfully manipulated within an organization? This paper discusses a case study analysis in knowledge manipulation activities of a multi- national consumer products company through the lens of the Knowledge Management (KM) Ontology. We then identify and document common obstacles, and offer potential solutions. https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel. 2009.01. 008
The Political Ecology of Hedgerows and Their Relationship to Agroecology and Food Sovereignty in the UK

Hedgerows can make an important contribution to agroecological transitions and to an overall contribution to multifunctional agro-ecosystems with multiple benefits for biodiversity, climate change mitigation, soil health, human health, well-being, and livelihoods. Where such agroecological transition assumes the form of political agroecology, this can underpin transformation of the farming system towards food sovereignty. Current mismanagement of hedgerows is constraining the optimum delivery of ecosystem services by these important features of the British landscape. This mismanagement is, moreover, an integral part of a (capitalist) productivist degradation of the countryside that is contributing to the delivery of ecosystem disservices and is, therefore, antithetical to the adoption of agroecological production practises. Being contrary to the requirements of political agroecology, it is similarly antithetical to the requirements of food sovereignty. In response, this paper outlines what appears to be required, in policy and political terms, for the adoption of an agroecological and food sovereignty framework enabling the sustainable management of hedgerows and maximising their potential for ecosystem services delivery.
Internal eight‐band WWAN/LTE handset antenna using loop shorting strip and chip‐capacitor‐loaded feeding strip for bandwidth enhancement

A planar inverted‐F antenna (PIFA) with a loop shorting strip and a chip‐capacitor‐loaded feeding strip to achieve a small size yet wideband operation for eight‐band WWAN/LTE operation (698˜960/1710˜2690 MHz) in the mobile handset is presented.The antenna occupies a small no‐ground footprint of 15 × 35 mm2 on the main circuit board of the handset and is closely integrated with the surrounding system ground plane to achieve compact integration inside the handset. By applying the proposed shorting strip and feeding strip, a dual‐resonance excitation at about 800 MHz which forms the antenna's wide lower band to cover the LTE700/GSM850/900 operation is obtained. Further, the proposed shorting strip and feeding strip lead to the generation of additional higher‐order resonant modes to assist in forming a wide upper band for the antenna to cover the GSM1800/1900/UMTS/LTE2300/2500 operation. The proposed antenna also shows good radiation characteristics over the eight operating bands. The obtained SAR values of the antenna are well less than the limit of 1.6 W/kg for 1‐g head tissue for practical handset applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:1217–1222, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25983
Production and Composition of Group B Streptococcal Membrane Vesicles Vary Across Diverse Lineages

Although the neonatal and fetal pathogen Group B Streptococcus (GBS) asymptomatically colonizes the vaginal tract of ∼30% of pregnant women, only a fraction of their offspring develops invasive disease. We and others have postulated that these dimorphic clinical phenotypes are driven by strain variability; however, the bacterial factors that promote these divergent clinical phenotypes remain unclear. It was previously shown that GBS produces membrane vesicles (MVs) that contain active virulence factors capable of inducing adverse pregnancy outcomes. Because the relationship between strain variation and vesicle composition or production is unknown, we sought to quantify MV production and examine the protein composition, using label-free proteomics on MVs produced by diverse clinical GBS strains representing three phylogenetically distinct lineages. We found that MV production varied across strains, with certain strains displaying nearly twofold increases in production relative to others. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis of the proteomes revealed that MV composition is lineage-dependent but independent of clinical phenotype. Multiple proteins that contribute to virulence or immunomodulation, including hyaluronidase, C5a peptidase, and sialidases, were differentially abundant in MVs, and were partially responsible for this divergence. Together, these data indicate that production and composition of GBS MVs vary in a strain-dependent manner, suggesting that MVs have lineage-specific functions relating to virulence. Such differences may contribute to variation in clinical phenotypes observed among individuals infected with GBS strains representing distinct lineages.
Specific Posture-Stabilising Effects of Vision and Touch Are Revealed by Distinct Changes of Body Oscillation Frequencies

We addressed postural instability during stance with eyes closed (EC) on a compliant surface in healthy young people. Spectral analysis of the centre of foot pressure oscillations was used to identify the effects of haptic information (light-touch, EC-LT), or vision (eyes open, EO), or both (EO-LT). Spectral median frequency was strongly reduced by EO and EO-LT, while spectral amplitude was reduced by all “stabilising” sensory conditions. Reduction in spectrum level by EO mainly appeared in the high-frequency range. Reduction by LT was much larger than that induced by the vision in the low-frequency range, less so in the high-frequency range. Touch and vision together produced a fall in spectral amplitude across all windows, more so in anteroposterior (AP) direction. Lowermost frequencies contributed poorly to geometric measures (sway path and area) for all sensory conditions. The same subjects participated in control experiments on a solid base of support. Median frequency and amplitude of the spectrum and geometric measures were largely smaller when standing on solid than on foam base but poorly affected by the sensory conditions. Frequency analysis but not geometric measures allowed to disclose unique tuning of the postural control mode by haptic and visual information. During standing on foam, the vision did not reduce low-frequency oscillations, while touch diminished the entire spectrum, except for the medium-high frequencies, as if sway reduction by touch would rely on rapid balance corrections. The combination of frequency analysis with sensory conditions is a promising approach to explore altered postural mechanisms and prospective interventions in subjects with central or peripheral nervous system disorders.
A Fast, Visual, and Instrument-free Platform Involving Rapid DNA Extraction, Chemical Heating, and Recombinase Aided Amplification for On-Site Nucleic Acid Detection

The nucleic acid-based technique has been widely utilized in many fields including for on-site detection. However, traditional molecular detection techniques encounter limitations like relying on instruments, time consuming or complex operation, and cannot meet the demands of on-site testing. In this study, a rapid DNA extraction method (RDEM), recombinase aided amplification (RAA), and chemical heating packet (CHP) are integrated and termed as RRC platform for on-site detection of nucleic acid. For demonstration purposes, SHZD32-1 (a new transgenic soybean line from China) was detected using the novel platform to demonstrate its feasibility and capability for on-site detection. Using the RDEM, high-quality DNA appropriate for molecular detection was quickly extracted in 3–5 min. The heat energy generated by CHP was met the temperature requirements of RAA. Using the RRC platform, the whole detection process can be accomplished within only 30 min, and the results can be visually detected with glasses under blue light. No special or expensive instrument was needed for the detection process. This study provides a novel approach for on-site detection of nucleic acids besides providing valuable insight on related future research.
Lossless broad-band monolithic microwave active inductors

Lossless, broadband microwave active inductors are proposed for general-purpose use in microwave circuits. These active inductors operate in a wide frequency range with very low series resistance. They are composed of a common-source cascode FET and a feedback FET which is a common-gate FET or a common-gate cascode FET. The loss can be less than 1/8 the loss of the previously proposed active inductor. The inductance value can be controlled by the external control voltage. The configuration and performance of these devices are described. >
Analysis of power transformer dissolved gas data using the self-organizing map

Incipient faults in power transformers can degrade the oil and cellulose insulation, leading to the formation of dissolved gases. Even though established approaches that relate these dissolved gas information to the condition of power transformers are already developed, it is discussed in this paper that they still contain some limitations. In view of that, this paper introduces an alternative approach for the analysis of dissolved gas data, which can produce more convincing interpretation and fault diagnosis. The proposed approach, which is based on the data mining methodology and the self-organizing map, has been compared and validated using conventional interpretation schemes and real fault-cases, thereby proven to be capable of enhancing the condition monitoring of power transformers.
DRIVING FORWARD TECHNOLOGY'S IMPRINT ON MUSIC EDUCATION

This quotation from Winston Churchill is apposite for a chapter that seeks to draw together what has preceded it, amplify its themes, and use them to anticipate future dispositions towards the application of music technology in education settings. In many educational contexts around the world the use of music technologies has increased rapidly. As the previous chapters within this part of the handbook have considered, there have been significant pieces of research related to curriculum design, teacher pedagogy, and ways of learning with technology. Many of these have impacted on the work of music educators in positive ways. But this is not a time for self-congratulation or passive reflection. Outside the often-closeted world of education, technological developments continue to move forwards rapidly. Hardly a week goes by without comment in the international press about a new technological innovation or application related to the production, reception, or consumption of music in one form or another. Recently, issues such as the establishment of an agency for navigating online copyright issues for film and musical content has been discussed (Fitzsimmons, 2009), new systems to help train people to use prosthetic limbs using Guitar Hero (a OUP UNCORRECTED PROOF – FIRST-PROOF, 04/30/12, NEWGEN
Distribution of Immune Cells Including Macrophages in the Human Cochlea

Background: The human cochlea was earlier believed to lack capacity to mount specific immune responses. Recent studies established that the human cochlea holds macrophages. The cells appear to surveil, dispose of, and restore wasted cells to maintain tissue integrity. Macrophage activities are believed to be the central elements in immune responses and could swiftly defuse invading microbes that enter via adjacent infection-prone areas. This review updates recent human studies in light of the current literature and adds information about chemokine gene expression. Materials and Methods: We analyzed surgically obtained human tissue using immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, and multichannel super-resolution structured illumination microscopy. The samples were considered representative of steady-state conditions. Antibodies against the ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 were used to identify the macrophages. CD68 and CD11b, and the major histocompatibility complex type II (MHCII) and CD4 and CD8 were analyzed. The RNAscope technique was used for fractalkine gene localization. Results: Many macrophages were found around blood vessels in the stria vascularis but not CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes. Amoeboid macrophages were identified in the spiral ganglion with surveilling “antennae” projecting against targeted cells. Synapse-like contacts were seen on spiral ganglion cell bodies richly expressing single CXC3CL gene transcripts. Branching neurite-like processes extended along central and peripheral axons. Active macrophages were occasionally found near degenerating hair cells. Some macrophage-interacting T lymphocytes were observed between the scala tympani wall and Rosenthal's canal. CD4 and CD8 cells were not found in the organ of Corti. Conclusions: The results indicate that the human cochlea is equipped with macrophages and potentially lymphocytes, suggesting both an innate and adaptive immune capacity. A rich expression of fractalkine gene transcripts in spiral ganglion neurons suggest an essential role for auditory nerve protection, as has been demonstrated experimentally. The findings provide further information on the important role of the immune machinery present in the human inner ear and its potential to carry adverse immune reactions, including cytotoxic and foreign body responses. The results can be used to form a rationale for therapies aiming to modulate these immune activities.
The Architecture of Instant-Preview Virtual Printing Server for the Preview Affixation Signature under the Mobile Environment

The printing equipments of Information Technology (IT) have grown rapidly and diversely coping with heterogeneous requirements today, especially for those printers. but dot-matrix printers break those rules. Although laser-printers or inkjet printers ,etc. have become very popular and useful for printing issues. But the dot-printers are still not faded out from IT-users, especially for those commercial enterprises. The central characteristics are the carbon-papers that used for some formal and financial information printed on them to offer the customers, suppliers, users, official staffs to sign their signatures by their handwriting. Those carbon-papers printing with signature written one time can be divided over two copies with the same handwriting repeated automatically. Today, the laser-printers or inkjet-printers with high-technology can make printing colorful, high-quality, high-speed and multi-functions, but they are impossible to do the carbon-papers printing like the dot-matrix printers. The previous researches proposed in "Template Printing Script Language (TPSL)" and " Virtual Printing Server (VPS)" have solved the Template Printing (TP) problems in heterogeneous environments including heterogeneous OS version, hardware, different brand printers or different model printers. But there are some problems for mobile environment unsolved with template-printing problems. More and more users like to use mobile devices like mobile-phone or tablets PC equipped i-OS or Android-OS installed everywhere. Mobile applications working on the platform of i-OS or Android still meet the template printing requirements. If mobile-users sign their signatures on the template-printing papers like PC-users, the touch screen and writable characteristic of mobile devices become useless and unnecessary. The convenience, simplicity and mobility for mobile devices must enrich new functions based on the mentioned issues above. The study proposes an architecture to extend the Visual Printer Server (VPS) to facilitate the mobile-users to preview the results of the template-printing on mobile environment to confirm the correct information and to write signatures by using theirs mobile devices. Finally the Instant-Preview Virtual Printing Server (IPVPS) merges the mobile-users' signatures into the formal printing results and sends them back to the mobile-users.
Improved VCSEL structures for 10 gigabit-Ethernet and next generation optical-integrated PC-boards

We have investigated direct optical interconnection between processor ICs on chip-to-chip level using VCSELs and 2-D 17 cm long, 120 /spl mu/m diameter step-index polymer optical fiber (POF) bundles. Their bandwidth-length-product of 2 GHz/spl middot/m makes them well suited for low-cost high-speed parallel optical interconnects on a board level. We have demonstrated 10 Gbit/s PRBS NRZ data transmission over four channels of a POF array.
Comparative Genomic and Transcriptomic Analyses of CHHs and Their Putative Receptors in Scylla paramamosain, Portunus trituberculatus, and Eriocheir sinensis

Crustacean hyperglycemic hormone superfamily neuropeptides (CHHs) are typical crustacean eyestalk hormones that include the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH), moult-inhibiting hormone (MIH), vitellogenesis/gonad-inhibiting hormone (VIH/GIH) and mandibular organ-inhibiting hormone (MOIH), which are divided into two subfamilies: type I CHH (included CHH) and type II CHH (consisting of MIH, VIH/GIH, and MOIH). They are involved in various biological activities, such as metabolism, molting, reproduction, and osmotic regulation. Discovery of the ion transport peptide (ITP) in insects expanded the members of CHHs and revealed that CHHs are not restricted to crustaceans. In this study, we focused on three economically important crabs: the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain, the swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus, and the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. Their genomes, Pacbio full-length transcriptomic data as well as comparative RNA-seq data were obtained and used to analyze the genomic structures and expression patterns of CHHs and their putative receptors through bioinformatic methods. Two type I CHH members (CHH1 and CHH2) were identified, of which CHH1 had two splice variants, CHH1-v1 and CHH1-v2. One copy of type II CHH (MIH) was found in P. trituberculatus and E. sinensis. While most decapods, including S. paramamosain, have two copies of type II CHHs (MIH/VIH), these MIH/VIHs are adjacent to each other on the same chromosome. Besides type I and II CHH, ITP-like peptides have also been found in the three crabs, and they are mainly expressed in the eyestalk. Four, five, and three G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) were identified in S. paramamosain, P. trituberculatus, and E. sinensis, respectively, which might be putative CHH receptors. These GPCRs were divided into three groups. One group was composed of two contiguous genomic position GPCRs, and they were mainly expressed in the hepatopancreas. These findings provide a basis for further studies on CHHs receptor binding tests and on CHHs/GPCRs signaling pathways.
Automated-Horn Warning System for Highway-Railroad Grade Crossings: Evaluation at Three Crossings in Ames, Iowa

Traditionally, locomotive engineers begin sounding the train horn approximately one-quarter mile from the crossing to warn motorists and pedestrians approaching the intersection. To be heard over this distance, the train horn must be very loud. This combination of loud horns and the length along the tracks that the horn is sounded creates a large area adversely impacted by the horn noise. In urban areas, this area likely includes many nearby residents. The automated-horn system provides a similar audible warning to motorists and pedestrians by using two stationary horns mounted at the crossing. Each horn directs its sound toward the approaching roadway. The horn system is activated using the same track–signal circuitry as the gate arms and bells located at the crossing. Once the horn is activated, a strobe light begins flashing to inform the locomotive engineer that the horn is working. Horn volume data collected near the crossings clearly demonstrate the significant reduction of land area negatively impacted by using the automated horns. Residents overwhelmingly accepted the automated-horn systems and noted a significant improvement in their quality of life. Motorists preferred the automated-horn systems, and locomotive engineers rated these crossings slightly safer compared with the same crossings in the before (train horn) condition.