Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Quantum II and Rapid E identification systems

A total of 492 clinical isolates from the family Enterobacteriaceae were tested in the API 20E, Rapid E, and Quantum II identification systems. Discrepant identifications among these three systems were resolved by repeat testing in the identification systems or use of conventional biochemical tests. Of these isolates, 94.1% were correctly identified with the API 20E and Rapid E systems, and 97.0% were correctly identified with the Quantum II system. An additional 48 non-Enterobacteriaceae isolates were tested with the Quantum II system, and 83.3% were correctly identified. The majority of incorrect identifications with the Rapid E and Quantum II systems were caused by a single aberrant biochemical reaction. Reproducibility of the biochemical reactions obtained with these two systems was evaluated by testing 40 organisms in triplicate. Identical biocodes for all three tests were obtained for 10 organisms with the Quantum II system and for 19 organisms with the Rapid E system. Reproducibility of the Quantum II test results was improved with a subsequent modification of the photometer of this system. Both the Rapid E and Quantum II systems were inexpensive and were technically easy to inoculate and interpret.
Exposure to Immigration in the News: The Impact of Group-Level Emotions on Intergroup Behavior

Numerous empirical investigations demonstrate that exposure to the stereotypic and oftentimes threatening portrayals of race/ethnicity in the media predict a wide range of unfavorable intergroup outcomes. The current study extends this work by experimentally examining the role of emotions in this process. Specifically, a 2 (Immigration Threat: Present/Absent) × 2 (Ingroup Emotion Endorsement: Present/Absent) + 1 (Control Group) experimental design tests the influence of exposure to immigration news stories on group-level emotions and intergroup behaviors. Findings indicate that exposure to threatening immigration news coverage indirectly influences intergroup outcomes through group-level emotions. Exposure to immigration news indirectly produces active and passive harming behaviors through feelings of contempt. These results provide an important first step in understanding a broader array of media-related intergroup processes and effects.
Variation in Apoptosis Profiles in Radiation-Induced Genomically Unstable Cell Lines

Abstract Nagar, S. , Smith, L. E. and Morgan, W. F. Variation in Apoptosis Profiles in Radiation-Induced Genomically Unstable Cell Lines. Radiat. Res. 163, 324–331 (2005). Delayed reproductive cell death or lethal mutations in the survivors of irradiated cells is a well-characterized end point associated with radiation-induced genomic instability. Although the mechanism for this delayed lethality has not been identified, it is thought to be a means of eliminating cells that have sustained extensive damage, thus preventing tissue disruption after radiation exposure. In this study we have tested the hypothesis that delayed reproductive cell death in chromosomally unstable GM10115 clones is due to persistently increased levels of apoptosis. Evidence for differences in apoptosis in two representative genomically unstable clones after irradiation is presented. In addition, one of the unstable clones was found to have abnormal levels of apoptosis after radiation exposure. An understanding of apoptosis in genomically unstable clones may provide insight into the maintenance of genomic instability and the mechanism by which genomically unstable cells evade cell death, potentially contributing to carcinogenesis.
A learning approach for single-frame face super-resolution

This paper presents a new learning approach for single-frame face super-resolution (SR). The aim of face SR is to estimate the missing high-resolution (HR) information from a single low-resolution (LR) face image by learning from training samples in the database. A commonly encountered issue in conventional face SR methods is that when the given LR image is a new face significantly different from those in the database, the quality of the reconstructed HR face is usually unsatisfactory. To alleviate this difficulty, we develop a new method to perform face SR based on principal component analysis (PCA) and locally linear embedding (LLE). The reconstructed HR face is able to preserve standard facial features and detailed local information through a residue prediction method using manifold learning. Experimental results show that the proposed method is effective in performing single-frame face SR.
[Characterization of focal liver lesions with contrast-enhanced low MI real time ultrasound and SonoVue].

PURPOSE SonoVue is a new microbubble ultrasound contrast agent that for the first time allows continuous real time examination during the different phases of contrast enhancement using low transmission power, expressed as mechanical index (MI). This study investigates whether low MI real time phase inversion imaging with SonoVue can improve the characterization of focal liver lesions in comparison to unenhanced sonography and power Doppler sonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-three patients with 35 malignant and 28 benign liver lesions were studied with unenhanced ultrasound (US) including B-mode and power Doppler, followed by contrast-enhanced al MI (0.1 - 0.3) real time phase inversion US during arterial, portal-venous and delayed liver phase (> 2 min after injection). Findings of the scans obtained before and after administration of contrast agent were compared with each other and with reference examinations (biopsy, MRI, CT or intraoperative US). RESULTS The number of correctly diagnosed lesions increased from 41 (65%) without contrast agent to 58 (92%) with contrast agent (p < 0.001). The differentiation of malignant from benign lesions improved from 43 (68 %) to 60 (95 %, p < 0.001). After administration of the contrast agent, all 35 malignant lesions were correctly recognized and 3 of the 28 benign lesions were misclassified. All 27 metastases showed little or no enhancement on portal-venous and delayed phase imaging, independent of their arterial features. All 6 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) enhanced markedly during arterial phase and 5 showed less contrast uptake than normal liver in the late phase. Ten of 11 hemangioma displayed arterial peripheral nodular enhancement followed by progressive centripetal fill-in. Nine of 11 focal nodular hyperplasias (FNHs) showed profuse arterial enhancement (5 with a transient "spokewheel") and contrast uptake similar to normal liver thereafter. One FNH showed a subtle central scar. CONCLUSION Low MI real time US with SonoVue markedly improves the characterization of focal hepatic lesions in comparison with unenhanced sonography.
Sustainability of community engagement – in the hands of stakeholders?

Purpose – The current gap in the field of community engagement is evaluation and measurement of the impacts on the stakeholders, mainly the community being engaged with. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This paper discusses the need to consider the stakeholder's perspective and their involvement in a community engagement initiative, or in any social program. The authors begin by debating the most common evaluation techniques used, followed by re-introducing stakeholder evaluation to the field of community engagement. Findings – The evaluation using the stakeholders’ approach will not only create a holistic evaluation process, but will also assist in fostering a sense of ownership of the community engagement program. Originality/value – Community engagement is given much importance nowadays in Malaysia, especially in line with institutes of higher learning's tripartite mission, the third mission being the ability to engage with communities. It is not surprising because .
Legislative Effects of Electoral Mandates

Data has been taken from the Hungarian National Assembly, where the mandate type (single member district (SMD) vs. party list or proportional representation (PR)) changes for a number of legislators each term, to explore whether and how such changes lead to changes in legislators’ voting behavior. When the electoral system under which a legislator was elected changes from PR to SMD, then the rate at which the legislator defects against the party line of voting increases significantly. Contrary to expectations, when the electoral system changes from SMD to PR, there is no significant change in the voting behavior of legislators. Additional robustness tests confirm these results. The lasting influence of reputations and habits may account for the asymmetric results.
Rural Identities and the Politics of Planning: The Case of a Midwestern Destination County

This article explores how contemporary dimensions of place and identity influence rural land use politics in a Midwestern amenity destination. Qualitative interviews with community leaders were used to probe negative responses to new planning legislation. The interviews revealed that responses to the legislation took root in leaders' different experiences and relationships to their community. Building from previous research related to place and rural identity, a rural identity typology is constructed to model how distinct identities can be born from opposing migration experiences and orientations toward rural culture. Because these disparate place identities can ultimately align against policy, it is argued that they have direct implications for land use planning in amenity communities. More broadly, by using ethnographic methods the article contrasts individual identity from group identity in order to differentiate rural identities in land use politics from what might be understood at the group level as rural identity politics.
Protamine reduces whole blood platelet aggregation after cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract Objectives: Platelet dysfunction is an important cause of postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery. Protamine is routinely used for reversal of heparin after cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP), but may affect platelet aggregation. We assessed changes in platelet function in relation to protamine administration. Design: Platelet aggregation was analyzed by impedance aggregometry before and after protamine administration in 25 adult cardiac surgery patients. Aggregation was also studied after in vitro addition of heparin and protamine. The activators adenosine diphosphate (ADP), thrombin receptor activating peptide-6 (TRAP), arachidonic acid (AA) and collagen (COL) were used. Results: Platelet aggregation was reduced by approximately 50% after in vivo protamine administration; ADP 640 ± 230 (AU*min, mean ± SD) to 250 ± 160, TRAP 939 ± 293 to 472 ± 260, AA 307 ± 238 to 159 ± 143 and COL 1022 ± 350 to 506 ± 238 (all p < 0.001). Aggregation was also reduced after in vitro addition of protamine alone with activators ADP from 518 ± 173 to 384 ± 157 AU*min p < 0.001, and AA 449 ± 311 to 340 ± 285 (p < 0.01) and protamine combined with heparin (1:1 ratio) with activators ADP to 349 ± 160 and AA to 308 ± 260 (both p < 0.001); and COL from 586 ± 180 to 455 ± 172 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Protamine given after CPB markedly reduces platelet aggregation. Protamine added in vitro also reduces platelet aggregation, by itself or in combination with heparin.
High Performance Work Systems and Employee Experience of Work in the Service Sector: The Case of Aged Care

In spite of the growing body of research on high performance work systems (HPWS), there is little evidence on their application in the service sector. It is commonly argued, however, that occupational segmentation in services is a barrier to HPWS. Analysis of data from aged-care workers indicates that: HPWS have positive outcomes for workers; highly skilled nurses are no more likely than lowly skilled personal care workers to be subject to HPWS; and in some cases, HPWS are associated with more positive outcomes for low-skilled than high-skilled workers. These findings suggest that HPWS may well be widely applicable in service settings.
Minimal requirements for the nuclear localization of p27(Kip1), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor.

p27(Kip1) is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, and its nuclear localization is a prerequisite for it to function as a cell cycle regulator. In the present study, the minimal requirement for the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of p27(Kip1) was determined by analyzing the localization of various mutants of p27(Kip1) tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) in HeLa cells and porcine aortic endothelial cells. Wild-type p27(Kip1) exclusively localized into nucleus, while GFP alone localized in both cytosol and nucleus. A comparison of various truncation mutants revealed residues 153-166 to be the minimal region necessary for nuclear localization. However, a fusion of this region to GFP showed cytoplasmic retention in addition to nuclear localization, thus suggesting that some extension flanking this region is required to achieve a full function of NLS. The site-directed mutation of the full-length p27(Kip1) therefore showed that four basic residues (K153, R154, K165, R166), especially R166, play a critical role in the nuclear localization of p27(Kip1).
The Big, the Bad, and the Average: Hedonic Prices and Inverse Demand for Baltic Cod

ABSTRACT The price of fish depends on quality attributes such as size and freshness. In turn, quality attributes are related to fishery management. This article presents a hedonic analysis where attribute prices of size and quality ratings are estimated for the Swedish Baltic cod fishery. Using information from 5,307 landing days, hedonic inverse demand functions are estimated with a random coefficient (RC) model. Results show that there are price premiums for larger sizes of cod and for cod with the highest quality rating. Results also show that own-quantity and cross-quantity effects are small and negative for most attributes. Thus, there is an indication that the management of a fish stock that changes the quantity of attributes will also change the prices of attributes, although the price effect is small in the case of Swedish Baltic cod. JEL Codes: D21, Q22.
A Comparative Study of Topical Mitomycin C, Cyclosporine, and Bevacizumab after Primary Pterygium Surgery

Purpose To compare the recurrence rates and complications associated with instillation of topical mitomycin C, cyclosporine, and bevacizumab after primary pterygium surgery. Methods Between July 2013 and June 2014, we performed surgery using the bare sclera method on 132 eyes (132 patients) with primary pterygium. We randomly selected 33 eyes (33 patients) and treated them with artificial tears four times a day for three months, 29 eyes (29 patients) were treated with topical 0.02% mitomycin C four times a day for five days, 34 eyes (34 patients) were treated with topical 0.05% cyclosporine four times a day for three months, and 36 eyes (36 patients) were treated with topical 2.5% bevacizumab four times a day for three months after surgery. We prospectively determined the recurrence rates of pterygium and complications at the six-month follow-up examination. Results At six months after surgery, the recurrence rates in each group were as follows: 45.5% (15 eyes) in the control group, 10.3% (three eyes) in the mitomycin C group, 20.6% (seven eyes) in the cyclosporine group, and 41.7% (15 eyes) in the bevacizumab group (p = 0.004). No serious complications, except subconjunctival hemorrhages, were observed in any group. Conclusions Groups receiving topical 0.02% mitomycin C and 0.05% cyclosporine after surgery showed lower recurrence rates than the control group; however, no difference in recurrence rate was observed between the control group and the group receiving topical 2.5% bevacizumab after surgery.
Determinants of Water Conservation Intention in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria

Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, has faced frequent water shortages during the past decade, but little effort has been made to encourage or implement water conservation among household water users. We employ the theory of planned behavior (TBP) as a theoretical framework in evaluating determinates of intention to implement a set of specific water conservation behaviors among Blagoevgrad residents. In addition to the TPB variables, we consider the effects of sociodemographics, environmental attitudes, information possession, and concern over future shortages on water conservation intention. The analysis is based on 728 questionnaires collected during the summer of 2003. The TPB variables all showed positive and significant correlation with water conservation intention. Self-perceived knowledge of climate change was also significantly related to intention. Environmental attitudes and concern over future shortages were significant but relatively weak determinants.
Bolus fluorouracil and leucovorin with oxaliplatin as first-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE A phase II trial investigated the activity and toxicity of a bolus administration schedule of oxaliplatin, fluorouracil (5-FU), and leucovorin (LV) therapy in patients with untreated advanced colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-five patients in this multicenter, open, nonrandomized study received oxaliplatin 130 mg/m(2) on the first day of each course and 5-FU and LV 350 mg/m(2) and 20 mg/m(2), respectively, as a daily bolus for 5 days, every 21 days, for a maximum of six courses. RESULTS Partial responses occurred in 18 patients, giving an intent-to-treat response rate of 40.0%. Median time to response was 12.7 weeks; median duration of response was 18.4 weeks. Median progression-free survival was 5.9 months; median survival was 14 months. The independent prognostic factors for improved overall survival were good performance status and negative carcino-embryonic antigen blood level. Incidences of adverse effects were reduced after the 5-FU dose was reduced to 300 mg/m(2). Reversible neurologic toxicity occurred in 44.4% of patients. CONCLUSION Bolus administration of oxaliplatin, 5-FU, and LV as first-line therapy for untreated advanced colorectal cancer is efficacious and safe. In addition to a more favorable safety profile, the 300 mg/m(2) dosage offered improved dose-intensity compared with the initial dosage.
Climate Change and Agriculture: The Policy Challenge for the 21st Century? Changement climatique et agriculture : le défi du 21ème siècle pour l’action publique? Klimawandel und Landwirtschaft: Die politische Herausforderung für das 21. Jahrhundert?

Summary Climate Change and Agriculture: The Policy Challenge for the 21st Century? Climate change will have significant impacts on agriculture. Farmers and the agri-food supply chain will have to adapt, while at the same time providing food for a growing population. Agriculture can be expected to contribute to meeting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, although the sector did not figure significantly at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009. The ongoing or expected international climate change, food security and trade commitments present both challenges and opportunities for the agri-food sector, as agriculture is one of the few sectors that can contribute to both mitigation and sequestration of carbon emissions. Accounting for agriculture’s carbon footprint is a key issue given the possibility of including agriculture in greenhouse gas reduction commitments. However, the range and variability of estimates, and the complexity and uncertainty of accounting for indirect land use change remain to be resolved. Policies will play a role in enhancing the ability of agriculture to adapt to climate change, in reducing greenhouse gases, while contributing to other environmental goals. There is an urgent need to consider whether an international agreement would be the channel to enable appropriate national policy actions to be taken in the context of a global framework to reduce emissions from agriculture in the most efficient and least-cost manner.
An Overview of Dependence in Cross-Section, Time-Series, and Panel Data

In this overview we present a summary of the contents of a collection of latest papers to deal with several aspects of dependence in time-series, cross-section and panels. These papers are collected in this special issue of Econometric Reviews. They include spatial models which usually account for dependence across geographic space as well as social interaction across individuals, see the papers by Baltagi et al. (2013), Liu and Lee (2013), and Drukker et al. (2013). Also factor models, popular in macroeconomics to account for dependence among countries, see the papers by Chudik and Pesaran (2013) and Huang (2013). 1 Additionally, a poolability test for large dimensional semiparametric panel data models with cross-section dependence is proposed by Jin and Su (2013),2 and a tour de force on what lessons one learns from panel unit root tests and how deceptive inference can be under cross-section dependence is reviewed by Westerlund and Breitung (2013).
Spain as an Actor in European and International Climate Policy: From a Passive to an Active Laggard?

Based on an analysis of the role of Spain in European and international negotiations on climate change, the article argues that Spain is no longer a mere passive and reluctant ‘taker’ of European Union environmental policy. Rather, it is developing a more active role in the defence of its (perceived) national interests. In addition, the article maintains that the process of Europeanization is not necessarily promoting convergence between Spanish and European policies, but may have even militated against it.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CALIBRATION OF TRAFFIC SIMULATION MODELS

The recent emphasis on utilising advanced technologies to make more efficient use of existing transportation infrastructure, coupled with the continuing advances in desktop computing technologies, has created an environment in which traffic simulation models have the potential to provide a cost-effective, objective, and flexible approach for assessing design and management alternatives. However, the models must be demonstrated to be valid, and they must be adequately calibrated for local conditions. While the processes of verification, validation and calibration are certainly not new, based on the lack of literature on this topic, it appears that the application of these processes to traffic simulation models is not well defined. This paper examines the issues related to primarily the calibration of traffic simulation models. It attempts to answer, or at least clarify, several key questions, including the following: What is model calibration? What measures of performance should be used in calibration? and When is a model adequately calibrated? The discussion of these questions stems from the goal of obtaining model results that are seen as credible, reliable, and useful, particularly by people who are not modellers. The distinct roles and responsibilities of model developers and model users are discussed. Examples are provided to illustrate the model calibration process.