A high automation degree is one of the most important features of data driven modeling tools and it should be taken into consideration in classification systems design. In this regard, constructive training algorithms are essential to improve the automation degree of a modeling system. Among neuro-fuzzy classifiers, Simpson's (1992) min-max networks have the advantage of being trained in a cons...

Mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDR) in chromosomal gyrA and parC genes and fluoroquinolone susceptibility profiles were investigated in quinolone-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolated from community and hospitalized patients in the Brazilian Southeast region. A total of 112 nalidixic acid-resistant enterobacterial isolates collected from 2000 to 2005 were investigat...

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the fluoroquinolone-resistant mechanism of 56 clinical cases of A baumannii infection from 23 non-tertiary hospitals, collected between 2004 and 2006. METHODS Susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution and Epsilometer test. Analyses of quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) were done by sequencing. The activity of the efflux pump was...

The ability to withstand mitochondrial damage is especially critical for the survival of postmitotic cells, such as neurons. Likewise, cancer cells can also survive mitochondrial stress. We found that cytochrome c (Cyt c), which induces apoptosis upon its release from damaged mitochondria, is targeted for proteasome-mediated degradation in mouse neurons, cardiomyocytes, and myotubes and in huma...

Vibrio parahaemolyticus causes seafood-borne gastroenteritis in humans. It is particularly important in Japan, where raw seafood is frequently consumed. Fluoroquinolone is one of the current drugs of choice for treating patients infected by V. parahaemolyticus because resistant strains are rarely found. To study a possible fluoroquinolone resistance mechanism in this organism, nucleotide sequen...

OBJECTIVE To determine the extent to which sociodemographic and geographic disparities exist in the use of postacute rehabilitation care (PARC) after stroke. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis of data for 2 years (2005-2006) from the State Inpatient Databases. SETTING All short-term acute-care hospitals in 4 demographically and geographically diverse states. PARTICIPANTS Individuals (age, ≥4...

3He spin filter is a useful neutron polarization device as polarizer and an analyzer in scattering experiments because of its capabilities to polarize neutrons broad energy range cover wide solid angle. We are developing filter, based on the Spin Exchange Optical Pumping (SEOP) for polarized at Materials Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) J-PARC. A gas-filling station was constructed J-PA...

strain with no parC mutations. This is consistent with previous findings that gyrA mutations are necessary for quinolone resistance, whereas parC mutations appear to be complementary, as resistant strains do not carry parC mutations alone. – 6 Some studies further suggest that additional parC mutations facilitate increasing levels of resistance, but our study did not support this. For example, ...

OBJECTIVES The increasingly recognized prevalence of first-step parC mutants in Streptococcus pneumoniae and the development of de novo resistance while on fluoroquinolone therapy are of concern. Previous work by our group demonstrated the ability of moxifloxacin, but not levofloxacin, to eradicate parC mutants. The objective of this experiment was to determine whether these fluoroquinolone ant...

The low prevalence of ciprofloxacin-resistant (Cp r) Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates carrying recombinant topoisomerase IV genes could be attributed to a fitness cost imposed by the horizontal transfer, which often implies the acquisition of larger-than-normal parE-parC intergenic regions. A study of the transcription of these genes and of the fitness cost for 24 isogenic Cp r strains was per...