Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Airway Microbiota in Cystic Fibrosis: A Complex Fungal and Bacterial Community—Implications for Therapeutic Management

Background Given the polymicrobial nature of pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), it is essential to enhance our knowledge on the composition of the microbial community to improve patient management. In this study, we developed a pyrosequencing approach to extensively explore the diversity and dynamics of fungal and prokaryotic populations in CF lower airways. Methodology and Principal Findings Fungi and bacteria diversity in eight sputum samples collected from four adult CF patients was investigated using conventional microbiological culturing and high-throughput pyrosequencing approach targeting the ITS2 locus and the 16S rDNA gene. The unveiled microbial community structure was compared to the clinical profile of the CF patients. Pyrosequencing confirmed recently reported bacterial diversity and observed complex fungal communities, in which more than 60% of the species or genera were not detected by cultures. Strikingly, the diversity and species richness of fungal and bacterial communities was significantly lower in patients with decreased lung function and poor clinical status. Values of Chao1 richness estimator were statistically correlated with values of the Shwachman-Kulczycki score, body mass index, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (p = 0.046, 0.047, 0.004, and 0.001, respectively for fungal Chao1 indices, and p = 0.010, 0.047, 0.002, and 0.0003, respectively for bacterial Chao1 values). Phylogenetic analysis showed high molecular diversities at the sub-species level for the main fungal and bacterial taxa identified in the present study. Anaerobes were isolated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was more likely to be observed in association with Candida albicans than with Aspergillus fumigatus. Conclusions In light of the recent concept of CF lung microbiota, we viewed the microbial community as a unique pathogenic entity. We thus interpreted our results to highlight the potential interactions between microorganisms and the role of fungi in the context of improving survival in CF.
Severity of bias of a simple estimator of the causal odds ratio in Mendelian randomization studies

Mendelian randomization studies estimate causal effects using genetic variants as instruments. Instrumental variable methods are straightforward for linear models, but epidemiologists often use odds ratios to quantify effects. Also, odds ratios are often the quantities reported in meta‐analyses. Many applications of Mendelian randomization dichotomize genotype and estimate the population causal log odds ratio for unit increase in exposure by dividing the genotype‐disease log odds ratio by the difference in mean exposure between genotypes. This ‘Wald‐type’ estimator is biased even in large samples, but whether the magnitude of bias is of practical importance is unclear. We study the large‐sample bias of this estimator in a simple model with a continuous normally distributed exposure, a single unobserved confounder that is not an effect modifier, and interpretable parameters. We focus on parameter values that reflect scenarios in which we apply Mendelian randomization, including realistic values for the degree of confounding and strength of the causal effect. We evaluate this estimator and the causal odds ratio using numerical integration and obtain approximate analytic expressions to check results and gain insight. A small simulation study examines finite sample bias and mild violations of the normality assumption. For our simple data‐generating model, we find that the Wald estimator is asymptotically biased with a bias of around 10% in fairly typical Mendelian randomization scenarios but which can be larger in more extreme situations. Recently developed methods such as structural mean models require fewer untestable assumptions and we recommend their use when the individual‐level data they require are available. The Wald‐type estimator may retain a role as an approximate method for meta‐analysis based on summary data. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Female Travel Trends: A Look Back To The Future

Changes in trend patterns in travel behavior among women from 1993 through 2003 were examined to determine how and when travel behavior has changed. The marital status and age of women were examined to determine if these changes can be identifi ed. The travel behavior variables examined included US domestic travel, travel for pleasure, travel for business, foreign travel, frequent fl yer travel program participation, cruise ship travel, and second home ownership. A classifi cation system was developed to categorize the trend statistics and patterns. Travel participation was examined by number of households, participation rates, and market indexing. The specifi c research questions of this study were: 1) has female travel increased; 2) are there differences by household confi gurations (single vs. married) that affect women�s travel participation; and 3) when age is included in the household confi gurations for women, are travel trends in participation observed? Overall, four of seven travel variables experienced overall growth and of these four, two activities experienced substantial growth (foreign travel and frequent fl yer program participation). Two activities actually declined (pleasure and business travel), and one activity remained relatively unchanged over the period (second home ownership). These patterns of change in travel behavior were different by married and single households and by age categories. The number of single female households grew in three travel activities: US domestic, foreign, and substantially in frequent fl yer program travel participation. The number of married households grew for US domestic travel, but grew substantially for foreign, cruise ship, and frequent fl yer program participation. The impact of 9/11 was reviewed and the trends in travel by marital status and age found the largest substantial changes among married and single women ages 45 to 64. Substantial growth in frequent fl yer program participation was noted across all martial and age categories for women. Increases in selected travel pursuits among single female households were found and support does appear to exist for the evolution of the �solo female travel market. �
Linear Regularity for a Collection of Subsmooth Sets in Banach Spaces

Using variational analysis, we study the linear regularity for a collection of finitely many closed sets. In particular, we extend duality characterizations of the linear regularity for a collection of finitely many closed convex sets to the possibly nonconvex setting. Moreover, the sharpest linear regularity constant can also be dually represented under the subsmoothness assumption.
Association between hyper- and hypoglycaemia and 2 year all-cause mortality risk in diabetic patients with acute coronary events.

AIMS The study evaluated the associations between glycometabolic parameters at admission and during hospitalization and 2 year all-cause mortality risk in an unselected cohort of consecutive patients with diabetes admitted for unstable angina or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction to a university hospital during 1988-98. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 713 consecutive patients with diabetes were included. During 2 years of follow-up, 242 (34%) patients died. All analyses were retrospective using prospectively collected clinical data. The primary study endpoint was 2 year all-cause mortality collected from the Swedish cause-specific mortality register. In unadjusted analyses, high admission blood glucose (highest vs. lowest quartile: hazard ratio (HR) 2.66; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.83, 3.86) and hypoglycaemia recorded during hospitalization (hypoglycaemia vs. normal: HR 1.77; 95% CI 1.09, 2.86) were both significantly associated with increased 2 year all-cause mortality risk. These associations remained significant after multivariable adjustment. CONCLUSION In the setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) among patients with diabetes, hyperglycaemia on arrival and hypoglycaemia during hospitalization are both independently associated with worse adjusted all-cause 2 year mortality risk. These observations suggest that the avoidance of both hyper- and hypoglycaemia during ACS events may be of similar importance, and glucose modulation remains an important objective to address in future randomized trials.
Probiotics, Symptoms, and Gut Microbiota: What Are the Relations? A Randomized Controlled Trial in Subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Introduction. Knowledge of the mechanism of action of probiotics in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is imperfect. Objective. This trial aimed at discriminating between a direct effect on the gut wall and an indirect effect caused by modulation of the fecal microbiota. Design. Randomized, double-blind, crossover trial. Material and Methods. Patients with IBS were given one capsule of 1010 CFU L. plantarum MF 1298 or placebo once daily. Symptoms were registered (score 0–15) and feces collected at the end of each period. The gut microbiota was analyzed with 16S rRNA gene analyses and results reported as proportions of Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, and Lachnospiraceae and Simpson's D diversity score. Results. Sixteen participants (11 women) with a mean age of 50 years (SD 11) were available for the analyses. Intake of L. plantarum MF 1298 was associated with a significant aggravation of symptoms, but neither intake of L. plantarum MF 1298 nor symptoms were associated with the composition of the fecal microbiota (P values >0.10). Conclusions. The trial indicates that the symptomatic aggravation related to intake of L. plantarum MF 1298 was a direct effect of the microbe on the gut wall and not caused by changes in the fecal microbiota.
Mean platelet volume and its prognostic value in acute coronary syndrome complicated by cardiogenic shock.

BACKGROUND Elevated mean platelet volume (MPV) has been recently discussed as a predictor of death in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but the cut-off point of MPV in relation to poor prognosis has not been estimated so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate MPV and its prognostic value in ACS complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS). Such an analysis in patients with the most serious and fatal complication of ACS has not been performed inpreviously published research. METHODS Fifty three patients with ACS complicated by CS (age 68.9 ± 11.4, 49% women, 92% STEMI, 55% fatal CS) and 53 age- and gender-matched patients with uncomplicated ACS as a control group (age 69.1 ± 10.6, 49% women, 92% STEMI, 0% fatal) were included in our prospective study from 2010 to 2012. All the patients underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention. MPV was determined on admission (MPV1) and in consecutive two days of hospitalization (MPV2, MPV3). The blood sample was analyzed immediately after collection in EDTA tubes using an automatic blood counter. RESULTS MPV1 was similar in both groups (8.91 ± 1.11 fl vs. 8.57 ± 0.74 fl, NS). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in MPV value in fatal and nonfatal CS(8.90 ± 1.18 fl vs. 8.93 ± 1.05 fl, NS). CONCLUSIONS The above results suggest that MPV cannot be considered a predictor of poor in-hospital outcome in patients with ACS complicated by cardiogenic shock.
Spatial Discontinuity for the Impact Assessment of the EU Regional Policy: The Case of Italian Objective 1 Regions

The capacity of the Regional Policy of the European Union (EU) to reduce the gap between the core and the periphery of the Union is still controversial. This paper revisits the question by exploiting treatment effect methods with a spatial approach never previ ously applied to the analysis of this policy. The spatial discontinuity represented by the administrative boundaries between‘Objective 1’ and ‘non-Objective 1’ regions makes it possible to estimate the causal impact of the EU Regional Policy on Italian ‘Objective 1’ regions where the EU has addressed a large amount of resources over the past decades. By focusing on the sub-sample of municipalities contiguous to the ‘policy-change boundary ’and by matching them according to the segment of the boundary of which they belong, the ‘Spatial RDD' model shows that the EU Regional Policy produced a positive impact on employment levels. The positive impact is concentrated in a specific set of economic sectors directly relevant to the policy action. In addition, there is no evidence of any displacement of resources away from other non-treated regions.
Bi-capacities : towards a generalization of Cumulative Prospect Theory

Capacities [7], also known under the name of fuzzy measures [31], have become an important tool in decision making these last two decades, allowing to model the behaviour of the decision maker in a flexible way. Numerous works have been done in decision under risk and uncertainty, after the seminal work of Schmeidler [26], and in multicriteria decision making (see [15] for a general construction based on capacities).
Achievement motivation attributes of international students attending a postsecondary institution

Achievement Motivation Attributes of International Students Attending a Postsecondary Institution by Paula Chernoff Epstein Florida International University, 1996 Professor Douglas Smith, Major Professor The purpose of this study was to identify and compared the causal attributes of achievement motivation for academic success possessed by international students to those causal attributes of achievement motivation by other legal immigrant student groups attending a postsecondary institution. In this study, F-1 international students have obtained permission from the federal Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services to attend Miami-Dade Community College in Miami, Florida. There were two additional groups of students selected to participate in this study: Permanent Resident students and Others comprised of asylees, refugees and paroles, which are specific categories of legal immigrant students. From the observations of the investigator, international students were more successful at the institution as compared to the other two student groups as measured by such
Panic in the Loop: Chicago's Banking Crisis of 1932

Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Insiders of Business and Banking: Samuel Insull and Charles Dawes Chapter 2: The Fall of Insull Chapter 3: Insiders at the Reconstruction Finance Corporation Chapter 4: Insider Abuse at the Dawes Bank Chapter 5: Dawes Plays His Hand Chapter 6: Playing the Young Card Chapter 7: The Winners and Losers Conclusion Bibliographical Essay Abbreviations Used in the Notes Notes Select Bibliography Index
Learning by Observation: Insights from Williams Syndrome

Observing another person performing a complex action accelerates the observer’s acquisition of the same action and limits the time-consuming process of learning by trial and error. Observational learning makes an interesting and potentially important topic in the developmental domain, especially when disorders are considered. The implications of studies aimed at clarifying whether and how this form of learning is spared by pathology are manifold. We focused on a specific population with learning and intellectual disabilities, the individuals with Williams syndrome. The performance of twenty-eight individuals with Williams syndrome was compared with that of mental age- and gender-matched thirty-two typically developing children on tasks of learning of a visuo-motor sequence by observation or by trial and error. Regardless of the learning modality, acquiring the correct sequence involved three main phases: a detection phase, in which participants discovered the correct sequence and learned how to perform the task; an exercise phase, in which they reproduced the sequence until performance was error-free; an automatization phase, in which by repeating the error-free sequence they became accurate and speedy. Participants with Williams syndrome beneficiated of observational training (in which they observed an actor detecting the visuo-motor sequence) in the detection phase, while they performed worse than typically developing children in the exercise and automatization phases. Thus, by exploiting competencies learned by observation, individuals with Williams syndrome detected the visuo-motor sequence, putting into action the appropriate procedural strategies. Conversely, their impaired performances in the exercise phases appeared linked to impaired spatial working memory, while their deficits in automatization phases to deficits in processes increasing efficiency and speed of the response. Overall, observational experience was advantageous for acquiring competencies, since it primed subjects’ interest in the actions to be performed and functioned as a catalyst for executed action.
WHICH EFFECTIVE TAX RATE?

An effective tax rate for capital income may be calculated for average or for marginal income, and it may include only corporate taxes or the total of corporate, personal, and property taxes. This paper categorizes effective tax rates into four basic types, and it discusses eleven separate reasons to expect the effective tax on marginal investment to differ from the observed tax on the past or average investment. For each type of rate, we discuss its measurement and appropriate use. Even within one of these categories, there exist different kinds of effective tax rates with different interpretations. In particular, the effective tax on a marginal increase in the return to a given investment can be considerably greater than the effective tax on the marginal income from a new investment which receives new credits and deductions. While the former concept might be useful for measuring income flows, this paper argues that the latter concept is a better measure of the incentive to invest. This distinction is also used to reconcile part of the difference between the 37 percent effective total tax rate of King and Fullerton and the 66 percent effective total tax rate of Feldstein and Summers.
Efficacy of Adjuvant 5-Fluorouracil Therapy for Patients with EMAST-Positive Stage II/III Colorectal Cancer

Elevated Microsatellite Alterations at Selected Tetranucleotide repeats (EMAST) is a genetic signature found in up to 60% of colorectal cancers (CRCs) that is caused by somatic dysfunction of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) protein hMSH3. We have previously shown in vitro that recognition of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) within DNA and subsequent cytotoxicity was most effective when both hMutSα (hMSH2-hMSH6 heterodimer) and hMutSβ (hMSH2-hMSH3 heterodimer) MMR complexes were present, compared to hMutSα > hMutSβ alone. We tested if patients with EMAST CRCs (hMutSβ defective) had diminished response to adjuvant 5-FU chemotherapy, paralleling in vitro findings. We analyzed 230 patients with stage II/III sporadic colorectal cancers for which we had 5-FU treatment and survival data. Archival DNA was analyzed for EMAST (>2 of 5 markers mutated among UT5037, D8S321, D9S242, D20S82, D20S85 tetranucleotide loci). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated and multivariate analysis was used to determine contribution to risk. We identified 102 (44%) EMAST cancers. Ninety-four patients (41%) received adjuvant 5-FU chemotherapy, and median follow-up for all patients was 51 months. Patients with EMAST CRCs demonstrated improved survival with adjuvant 5FU to the same extent as patients with non-EMAST CRCs (P<0.05). We observed no difference in survival between patients with stage II/III EMAST and non-EMAST cancers (P = 0.36). There is improved survival for stage II/III CRC patients after adjuvant 5-FU-based chemotherapy regardless of EMAST status. The loss of contribution of hMSH3 for 5-FU cytotoxicity may not adversely affect patient outcome, contrasting patients whose tumors completely lack DNA MMR function (MSI-H).
Low-temperature transport through a quantum dot: The Anderson model out of equilibrium.

Abstract : The infinite-U Anderson model is applied to non-equilibrium transport through a quantum dot containing two spin levels weakly coupled to two leads. At low temperatures, the Kondo peak in the equilibrium density of states is split upon the application of a voltage bias. The split peaks, one at the chemical potential of each lead, are suppressed by non-equilibrium dissipation. In a magnetic field, the Kondo peaks shift away from the chemical potentials by the Zeeman energy, leading to an observable peak in the differential conductance when the non-equilibrium bias equals the Zeeman energy. Infinite-U Anderson model, Kondo peak, Zeeman energy, Low-temperature transport through a quantum dot, Kondo effect.
Current Understanding of Guanylin Peptides Actions

Guanylin peptides (GPs) family includes guanylin (GN), uroguanylin (UGN), lymphoguanylin, and recently discovered renoguanylin. This growing family is proposed to be intestinal natriuretic peptides. After ingestion of a salty meal, GN and UGN are secreted into the intestinal lumen, where they inhibit sodium absorption and induce anion and water secretion. At the same conditions, those hormones stimulate renal electrolyte excretion by inducing natriuresis, kaliuresis, and diuresis and therefore prevent hypernatremia and hypervolemia after salty meals. In the intestine, a well-known receptor for GPs is guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) whose activation increases intracellular concentration of cGMP. However, in the kidney of GC-C-deficient mice, effects of GPs are unaltered, which could be by new cGMP-independent signaling pathway (G-protein-coupled receptor). This is not unusual as atrial natriuretic peptide also activates two different types of receptors: guanylate cylcase A and clearance receptor which is also G-protein coupled receptor. Physiological role of GPs in other organs (liver, pancreas, lung, sweat glands, and male reproductive system) needs to be discovered. However, it is known that they are involved in pathological conditions like cystic fibrosis, asthma, intestinal tumors, kidney and heart failure, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.
Oxidative Neuroenergetics in Event-Related Paradigms

Energetic basis of neural activity provides a solid foundation for noninvasive neuroimaging with calibrated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Calculating dynamic changes in cerebral oxidative energy utilization (CMRO2) is limited by uncertainties about whether or not the conventional blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) model can be applied transiently using multimodal measurements of blood flow (CBF) and volume (CBV) that affect the BOLD signal. A prerequisite for dynamic calibrated fMRI is testing the linearity of multimodal signals within a temporal regimen, as assessed by signal strength (i.e., both intensity and width). If each hyperemic component (BOLD, CBV, CBF) is demonstrated to be linear with neural activity under various experimental conditions, then the respective transfer functions generated by deconvolution with neural activity should be time invariant and thus could potentially be used for calculating CMRO2 transients. Hyperemic components were investigated at 11.7 T in α-chloralose-anesthetized rats and combined with electrophysiological recordings of local field potential (LFP) and multiunit activity (MUA) from the cortex during forepaw stimulation, in which stimulus number and frequency were varied. Although relationships between neural activity and stimulus features ranged from linear to nonlinear, associations between hyperemic components and neural activity were linear. Specific to each hyperemic component, a universal transfer function (with LFP or MUA) yielded predictions in agreement with experimental measurements. The results identified a component of the BOLD signal that can be attributed to significant changes in CMRO2, even for temporal events separated by <200 ms.