Dihydropteroate synthase gene mutations in Pneumocystis and sulfa resistance

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) remains a major cause of illness and death in HIV-infected persons. Sulfa drugs, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and dapsone are mainstays of PCP treatment and prophylaxis. While prophylaxis has reduced the incidence of PCP, its use has raised concerns about development of resistant organisms. The inability to culture human Pneumocystis, Pneumocystis jirovecii, in a standardized culture system prevents routine susceptibility testing and detection of drug resistance. In other microorganisms, sulfa drug resistance has resulted from specific point mutations in the dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene. Similar mutations have been observed in P. jirovecii. Studies have consistently demonstrated a significant association between the use of sulfa drugs for PCP prophylaxis and DHPS gene mutations. Whether these mutations confer resistance to TMP-SMX or dapsone plus trimethoprim for PCP treatment remains unclear. We review studies of DHPS mutations in P. jirovecii and summarize the evidence for resistance to sulfamethoxazole and dapsone

development of a deep convolutional neural network to predict grading of canine meningiomas from magnetic resonance images

Abstract An established deep neural network (DNN) based on transfer learning and a newly designed DNN were tested to predict the grade of meningiomas from magnetic resonance (MR) images in dogs and to determine the accuracy of classification of using pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted (T1W), and T2-weighted (T2W) MR images. The images were randomly assigned to a training set, a validation set and a test set, comprising 60%, 10% and 30% of images, respectively. The combination of DNN and MR sequence displaying the highest discriminating accuracy was used to develop an image classifier to predict the grading of new cases. The algorithm based on transfer learning using the established DNN did not provide satisfactory results, whereas the newly designed DNN had high classification accuracy. On the basis of classification accuracy, an image classifier built on the newly designed DNN using post-contrast T1W images was developed. This image classifier correctly predicted the grading of 8 out of 10 images not included in the data set

Identification of a cell population model for algae growth processes

The growth process of a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cell population is modelled with experimental data obtained in a batch reactor. To describe the growth process of this culture, the Droop model, extended by cell population balance model, is considered. On the basis of available measurements and the mathematical model, an optimization problem is defined in order to determine the kinetic parameter values for the growth functions of the Droop model and the cell division parameters of the cell population balance model

Usability Characteristics Assessment Protocol Applied to eTouch Ultrasound User-defined workflow Optimization Tool

AbstractThe Ultrasound (US) examination time reduction is an increasing compelling request in sonographer's everyday life. The increased number of patients and the cost reduction are two opposite forces, which can lead the sonographer to work faster without caring about scanning posture. The numerous repeated actions performed can easily lead to Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD). The analysis of those problems has driven to the definition and implementation of eTouch tool: user-defined Macros appositively created, automatically and sequentially saved and performed in real time by pressing a button. The present work investigates ergonomics and usability performances of a portable US system (MyLabAlpha, Esaote S.p.A., Italy) by using eTouch as well as the classical manual interface in two clinical applications (Abdominal and Vascular). performed by a skilled sonographer on a healthy subject. is. Upper-body kinematic and muscle activation of the sonographer's left arm were recorded through an optoelectronic system (SmartDx400, BTS Spa, Italy) and a multi-channel Wireless Superficial Electromyography (SEMG, Freemg300, BTS Spa, Italy). The number of keystrokes used during the manual procedure was more than 3 times higher than the one with eTouch. This difference implied a reduction of US execution time when using eTouch in comparison with manual use of about 30%. Results of the upper-body kinematic showed that the arm was extended for less time intervals when using eTouch, whereas during the manual procedure there was a greater activation of the deltoid, responsible for the elevation of the shoulder and thus the extension of the arm. SEMG analysis showed that eTouch allowed a significant reduction of muscular activation, especially for the anterior deltoideus. Our findings showed that eTouch is recommendable for decreasing WRMSD risk

Linear and nonlinear Granger causality analysis of turbulent duct flows

This research focuses on the identification and causality analysis of coherent structures that arise in turbulent flows in square and rectangular ducts. Coherent structures are first identified from direct numerical simulation data via proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), both by using all velocity components, and after separating the streamwise and secondary components of the flow. The causal relations between the mode coefficients are analysed using pairwise-conditional Granger causality analysis. We also formulate a nonlinear Granger causality analysis that can account for nonlinear interactions between modes. Focusing on streamwise-constant structures within a duct of short streamwise extent, we show that the causal relationships are highly sensitive to whether the mode coefficients or their squared values are considered, whether nonlinear effects are explicitly accounted for, and whether streamwise and secondary flow structures are separated prior to causality analyses. We leverage these sensitivities to determine that linear mechanisms underpin causal relationships between modes that share the same symmetry or anti-symmetry properties about the corner bisector, while nonlinear effects govern the causal interactions between symmetric and antisymmetric modes. In all cases, we find that the secondary flow fluctuations (manifesting as streamwise vorticial structures) are the primary cause of both the presence and movement of near-wall streaks towards and away from the duct corners

Dataspaces: Concepts, Architectures and Initiatives

Despite not being a new concept, dataspaces have become a prominent topic due to the increasing availability of data and the need for efficient management and utilization of diverse data sources. In simple terms, a dataspace refers to an environment where data from various sources, formats, and domains can be integrated, shared, and analyzed. It aims to provide a unified view of heterogeneous data by bridging the gap between different data silos, enabling interoperability. The concept of dataspaces promotes the idea that data should be treated as a cohesive entity, rather than being fragmented across different systems and applications. Dataspaces often involve the integration of structured and unstructured data, including databases, documents, sensor data, social media feeds, and more. The goal is to enable organizations to harness the full potential of their data assets by facilitating data discovery, access, and analysis. By bringing together diverse data sources, dataspaces can offer new insights, support decision-making processes, and drive innovation. In the context of European Commission-funded research projects, dataspaces are often explored as part of initiatives focused on data management, data sharing, and the development of data-driven technologies. These projects aim to address challenges related to data integration, data privacy, data governance, and scalability. The goal is to advance the state of the art in data management and enable organizations to leverage data more effectively for societal, economic, and scientific advancements. It is important to notice that while dataspaces offer potential benefits, they also come with challenges. These challenges include data quality assurance, data privacy and security, semantic interoperability, scalability, and the need for appropriate data governance frameworks. Overall, dataspaces represent an approach to managing and utilizing data that emphasizes integration, interoperability, and accessibility. The concept is being explored and researched to develop innovative solutions that can unlock the value of data in various domains and sectors

Thiophene-benzoquinones: synthesis, crystal structures and preliminary coordination chemistry of derived anilate ligands

2,5-Bis(thiophene) and 2,5-bis(ethylenedioxy-thiophene) (EDOT) derivatives of 3,6-diethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (para isomers) were prepared by Stille coupling between the 2,5-dibromo-3,6-diethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone precursors and (n-Bu)(3)Sn-R (R = 2-thiophenyl or 3,4-ethylenedioxy-2-thiophenyl) reagents. In a parallel series of experiments 2,6-bis(thiophene) and 2,6-EDOT-3,5-diethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (meta isomers) were synthesized by the same strategy. The four compounds were structurally characterized. The thiophene derivatives show essentially planar conformation thanks to the conjugation and establishment of S center dot center dot center dot O 1,5-nonbonded interactions, while in the EDOT derivatives the thiophene moieties are twisted with respect to the benzoquinone ring because of the steric hindrance. TD-DFT calculations were performed on both para and meta thiophene isomers in order to explain the differences observed in the UV-Vis absorption spectra. The 2,5-derivatives are valuable precursors for thiophene containing anilate (An) ligands, as the first examples of electron rich substituent based anilates. The Cu(II) complex [Cu(Th(2)An)(tbbpy)]center dot 2H(2)O (Th(2)An = thiophene-anilate; tbbpy = 4,4\u27-bis(tert-butyl)-2,2\u27-bipyridine) was isolated and structurally characterized. The metal center lies within a square planar coordination geometry, while the ligands engage in a set of intermolecular contacts