Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GES Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases in Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates in Belgium

ABSTRACT During a PCR-based surveillance study of β-lactam resistance, 125 multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were obtained from 18 hospitals in Belgium from January 2008 to December 2009. Nine GES-positive A. baumannii isolates were detected at 6 Belgian hospitals. DNA sequencing of the blaGES genes identified GES-11, GES-12, and a novel variant GES-14, which differs from GES-11 by a single amino acid substitution (Gly170Ser). All index isolates were travel associated and originated from patients transferred from Turkey (n = 2), Egypt (n = 2), and Palestinian territories (Gaza) (n = 2). A nosocomial outbreak involving three additional patients occurred in a burn unit at a single hospital. No clonal relatedness could be established between the 6 index isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis. Three different alleles (the plasmid-located blaGES-11 and blaGES-12 and a likely chromosomally located novel variant blaGES-14) were detected as part of a class 1 integron, also including the aac6′Ib and dfrA7 genes. Restriction analysis of plasmids suggests a common origin for the plasmids bearing blaGES-11 and blaGES-12. Cloning of the blaGES genes in Escherichiacoli identified GES-14 as hydrolyzing imipenem, while GES-12 showed the highest specific activity against ceftazidime. This report highlights the emergence of various blaGES-like genes, especially those conferring carbapenem resistance in A. baumannii and its importation in Western Europe from Middle Eastern countries.
Testing for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies

The most common reason to request a test for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) is to diagnose Wegener’s granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis and to monitor inflammatory activity in these diseases. Several retrospective and prospective studies have suggested that the demonstration of ANCA lacks sensitivity and specificity, but these series have detected ANCA with neutrophil-indirect immunofluorescence alone, have used a disease classification that did not describe microscopic polyangiitis and have included patients with inactive disease. The ‘International Consensus Statement on Testing and Reporting ANCA’ has been developed to optimize the clinical relevance of ANCA testing by the adoption of standardized testing and reporting procedures. International collaborative efforts continue to focus on improving the tests for ANCA.
Numerical Simulation with Finite Volume of Dynamic Liquid-Vapor Phase Transition

The present work investigates the simulation of phase transition in compressible ﬂuids. We postulate a local and instantaneous equilibrium with respect to phasic pressures, temperatures and chemical potentials when both phases are present. This hypothesis leads to the deﬁnition of an equilibrium equation of state (EOS) for the two-phase medium. While this thermodynamical assumption is classical, there is no explicit expression of the equilibrium EOS in the general case. We propose simple means to approximate this EOS when both phases are governed by a "Stiffened Gas" EOS. Then we provide an implementation of this method within a Finite-Volume numerical scheme thanks to a two-step relaxation strategy.
Proportional hazards under Conway–Maxwell-Poisson cure rate model and associated inference

Cure rate models or long-term survival models play an important role in survival analysis and some other applied fields. In this article, by assuming a Conway–Maxwell–Poisson distribution under a competing cause scenario, we study a flexible cure rate model in which the lifetimes of non-cured individuals are described by a Cox’s proportional hazard model with a Weibull hazard as the baseline function. Inference is then developed for a right censored data by the maximum likelihood method with the use of expectation-maximization algorithm and a profile likelihood approach for the estimation of the dispersion parameter of the Conway–Maxwell–Poisson distribution. An extensive simulation study is performed, under different scenarios including various censoring proportions, sample sizes, and lifetime parameters, in order to evaluate the performance of the proposed inferential method. Discrimination among some common cure rate models is then done by using likelihood-based and information-based criteria. Finally, for illustrative purpose, the proposed model and associated inferential procedure are applied to analyze a cutaneous melanoma data.
Birth size, infant weight gain, and motor development influence adult physical performance.

PURPOSE Adult physical performance is recognized as a marker of both current physical capacity and future health. The aim of the study was to examine the independent influences of birth weight, infant weight gain, and infant motor development on a variety of adult physical performance outcomes, in terms of muscular strength, muscular endurance, and aerobic fitness. METHODS The study population consisted of 4304 individuals from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC 1966) with anthropometry measured at birth and at 1 yr. Infant motor development at age 1 yr was assessed by parentally reported age at first walking supported and standing unaided. At follow-up, aged 31 yr, muscle strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer, muscle endurance was measured using a timed trunk extension test, and aerobic fitness was estimated from heart rate immediately after a standardized step test. RESULTS Birth weight was positively associated with muscle strength and aerobic fitness at age 31 yr, and these associations were independent of adult body size (P < 0.001). Greater infant weight gain between 0 and 1 yr was associated with lower muscle endurance (P = 0.004) and poorer aerobic fitness (P = 0.002); these associations seemed to be mediated by adult body size. Independent of infant birth weight and adult body size (height and weight), earlier infant motor development was associated with greater adult muscle strength (P < or = 0.001), muscle endurance (P < 0.001), and aerobic fitness (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Higher birth weight, lower infant weight gain, and earlier infant motor development independently predict higher levels of adult physical performance for muscle strength, muscle endurance, and aerobic fitness at age 31 yr.
Test anxiety components: Comparison of different measures

Abstract The purpose of the study was twofold: To investigate the structure of the test anxiety construct. and to compare the psychometric properties of rating scales versus questionnaire scales of test anxiety. The intercorrelations among fourteen test anxiety measures, representing the one-, two-and four-dimensional models were examined as well as the correlations between those scales and eight measures of test-related perceptions. The sample consisted of 172 undergraduate and graduate students of education. The results indicated that the underlying structure of the test anxiety construct consists of four primary factors. It was noted that the pattern of the relationships among the test anxiety measures remained intact when the broader context, which included also test-related perceptions, was studied. Based on the intra- and intercorrelations among the test anxiety and the test-related perceptions, a speculative causal model for explaining the effect of test anxiety on performance was suggested. The fi.
Predicting the progression of cervical precursor lesions by human papillomavirus genotyping: A prospective cohort study

Only a subset of cervical precursor lesions progress to cervical cancer and because of the lack of the predictive markers, it cannot be ascertained which lesions will progress or not. To estimate the risk of disease progression associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes, we followed 570 Japanese women with cytological LSIL (low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) and histological CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) grade 1–2 lesions (479 CIN 1; 91 CIN 2) at 3 to 4 month intervals for a mean follow‐up period of 39.1 months. At entry, we detected HPV DNA in cervical samples by polymerase chain reaction‐based methodology. Over the period of follow‐up period, 46 lesions progressed to CIN 3 while 362 regressed to normal cytology. Women with multiple HPV infections were more likely to have persistent lesions (hazard ratio [HR] for regression, 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42–1.02; p = 0.07); however, multiple infections did not increase the risk of progression (HR for progression, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.37–2.94; p = 0.94). After adjusting for CIN grade and women's age, HRs for progression to CIN 3 (vs. women with low‐risk types or negative for HPV DNA) varied markedly by HPV genotype: type 16 (11.1, 95% CI: 1.39–88.3); 18 (14.1, 0.65–306); 31 (24.7, 2.51–243); 33 (20.3, 1.78–231); 35 (13.7, 0.75–251); 52 (11.6, 1.45–93.3); 58 (8.85, 1.01–77.6); other high‐risk types (4.04, 0.47–34.7). HPV 45 was not detected in our study subjects. The cumulative probability of CIN 3 within 5 years was 20.5% for HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 52 and 58; 6.0% for other high‐risk types; 1.7% for low‐risk types (p = 0.0001). In conclusion, type‐specific HPV testing for women with LSIL/CIN 1–2 lesions is useful for identifying populations at increased or decreased risk of disease progression.
Prospects for WSI: a manufacturing perspective

A manufacturing cost model that describes the relationships among characteristics of modern manufacturing processes, investment costs to achieve these characteristics, and basic IC parameters, including both die size and minimum feature size, is used to explain major trends in the past 20 yr of microelectronics. Results from this model indicate that it is not possible to continue progress in microelectronics through minimizing feature size, that the drive toward larger dies will gain momentum and lead gradually toward wafer-scale integration (WSI), and that manufacturing costs will keep WSI from becoming practical in the immediate future. Active-substrate flip-chip multichip modules (MCMs) are presented as an alternative that may provide both the performance gain and cost efficiency required. <<ETX>>
Isolation and Abundance of Unicellular Cyanobacteria From Mosquito Development Sites

The genus composition of cyanobacteria (particularly Chroococcus sp.) and their abundance in mosquito breeding sites at Lake Mogan (Ankara, Turkey) increased from August to September. Six unicellular cyanobacteria that had different morphological properties were isolated and succesfully cultivated. According to the mode of division, these six strain were classified as the represantatives of subgroup 1 (order Choroococcales). One of the isolates was identified as Synechococcus sp. and one as Gloeocapsa sp. , and four were identified as Synechocystic sp. One of the four Synechocystis spp. was shown to be capable of heterotrophic growth.
Dementia-related work activities of home care nurses and aides: Frequency, perceived competence, and continuing education priorities

ABSTRACT An understanding of the specific dementia learning needs of home care staff is needed to plan relevant continuing education (CE) programs and supports. The study’s objective was to examine frequency and perceived competence in performing 20 dementia-related work activities, and identify CE priorities among home care staff. A cross-sectional survey of all home care staff in a primarily rural health region was used to gather data. Of 111 eligible staff, 82 participated (41 nursing aides, 41 nurses/case managers). To explore the relationship between activity frequency (F) and competence (C), the proportion of nurses and aides in four quadrants for each activity was examined: (1) low F-low C, (2) low F-high C, (3) high F-low C, and (4) high F-high C. Nurses/case managers were significantly more likely than aides to regularly perform 11 activities and to report high competence in 9 activities (p < .05); aides were more likely to assist with two activities (personal care and daily living activities). Thus, nurses/case managers performed a broader range of activities and reported higher competence overall. The top CE topic for both groups was recognizing differences between dementia subtypes, but rankings for most activities varied by group. Aides’ CE priorities indicated a desire to develop competence in low frequency-low competence activities, suggesting an expanded role in supporting dementia patients and their families. Nurses’ CE priority topics were in the high F-high C quadrant, indicating a need to further develop competence in these activities. Findings have implications for planning CE programming for home care providers.
Melding the objective and subjective sides of leadership: Communication and social judgments in decision‐making groups

This examination tests whether “inferential” models are capable of predicting group members' leadership—relevant judgments and evaluations of one another after a group discussion. Results in samples of both standing and zero‐history groups showed that judgments of communicative behaviors strongly predicted judgments of the communicator's traits and that both behavioral and trait judgments strongly predicted leadership evaluations. However, measures of actual communication were poor predictors of trait judgments and leadership evaluations and were generally unrelated with judgments of these behaviors. These findings imply that leadership‐relevant judgments and evaluations are largely implicit—theory based and only tangentially associated with actual behavioral performances.
Clinical reasoning of Indonesian medical students as measured by diagnostic thinking inventory

Introduction: Clinical reasoning skill is one of the most important skills for a good physician. A number of instruments have been developed to measure this skill, including the Diagnostic Thinking Inventory (DTI). Several studies have been carried out to measure its reliability and validity; however, evidence of its construct validity is still limited. This study aims to explore the construct validity of the DTI and to measure the clinical reasoning skills of Indonesian medical students. Method: The subjects were 1135 medical students and 60 general practitioners. They were asked to complete the Indonesia version of DTI. Results: Overall reliability of the DTI was . 74 and . 50 for the flexibility in thinking scale and . 70 for the evidence of knowledge structure scale. A one way unrelated ANOVA showed that there were significant differences in the DTI score (F = 7.097, p = .000), flexibility of thinking subscale (F = 6.111, p = .000), and the evidence of knowledge structure subscale (F = 5.306, p = .000) with the scores increasing over the period of medical training and practical experiences. The biggest proportion of subjects in all groups reached the highest level (scored between 171-246/level 5). Conclusion: This study has shown the construct validity of DTI in a different linguistic context. It also has shown the level of clinical reasoning skills of Indonesian medical students varied with year of study.
Development and evaluation of positive psychology interventions for Australian adolescents

Youth consultation methods were integrated in the current thesis to create and test two school-based positive psychology interventions (PPIs) for adolescents. A literature review explored methodological and conceptual considerations in the application of positive psychology with adolescents (Publication 1). An exploratory study of 114 adolescents (aged 14 to 17) compared the relative contributions of key positive psychology variables (i.e., strengths use, hope, gratitude, pleasure, engagement, and meaning) to positive (i.e., life satisfaction, positive affect); and negative (i.e., negative affect, depression, and anxiety) indictors of mental health (Publication 2). As expected, positive psychology variables were significant predictors of all mental heath outcome variables. Specific findings from multiple regression analyses were that gratitude and strengths use were consistent predictors of negative mental health indicators; whereas hope and gratitude were significant predictors of life satisfaction, and hope, strengths use and engagement were significant predictors of positive affect. Two separate qualitative youth consultation processes (i.e., phone interviews with 28 adolescents and online questionnaires with 57 adolescents) were conducted. Adolescents’ recommendations on how to make mental health programs appealing and engaging were explored using NVivo thematic analysis and critically discussed (Publication 3). Subsequently, adolescents’ ideas were combined with extant research to develop two adolescent focused PPIs. The first PPI, the full life intervention, was a holistic, multi-component intervention that integrated activities aimed at cultivating hope, gratitude, strengths, pleasure, engagement, and meaning. The second PPI, the simple pleasures intervention, focused on exploring and savouring life’s simple pleasures. A school-based randomised controlled trial with 90 adolescents aged 14 to 17 was used to test the effectiveness of the two PPIs relative to a usual care control condition (Publication 4). Repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that participants allocated to all conditions reported decreased anxiety and stress post intervention. However, contrary to expectations, no significant improvements in well-being or symptoms of depression were evident. This research provides preliminary support for the application of PPIs in youth and school settings but underscores the need for more refined and systemic approaches that target multiple environments (i.e., family, school climate, community) in adolescents’ lives.
HIV testing trends among gay men in Scotland, UK (1996–2005): implications for HIV testing policies and prevention

Objective: To examine trends in the HIV testing behaviour of gay men in Scotland over a 10-year period. Methods: Seven cross-sectional surveys in commercial gay venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh (1996–2005). 9613 men completed anonymous, self-completed questionnaires (70% average response rate). Results: Among 8305 respondents included in these analyses, HIV testing increased between 1996 and 2005, from 49.7% to 57.8% (p<0.001). The proportion of men who had tested recently (in the calendar year of, or immediately before, the survey) increased from 28.4% in 1996 to 33.2% in 2005, when compared with those who have tested but not recently, and those who have never tested (adjusted odds ratio 1.31, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.52). However, among ever testers, there was no increase in rates of recent testing. Recent testing decreased with age: 31.3% of the under 25, 30.3% of the 25–34, 23.2% of the 35–44 and 21.2% of the over 44 years age groups had tested recently. Among men reporting two or more unprotected anal intercourse partners in the previous year, only 41.4% had tested recently. Conclusions: HIV testing among gay men in Scotland increased between 1996 and 2005, and corresponds with the Scottish Government policy change to routine, opt-out testing in genitourinary medicine clinics. Testing rates remain low and compare unfavourably with near-universal testing levels elsewhere. The limited change and decline across age groups in recent HIV testing rates suggest few men test repeatedly or regularly. Additional, innovative efforts are required to increase the uptake of regular HIV testing among gay men.
An Investigation of Students Attitude and Motivation toward Online Learning

This study investigated students’ attitudes and motivations toward online learning. Students in the online course, Introduction to the Visual Arts, were asked to complete questionnaires administered during the first and last week of the online course. A group of questions on Attitude was asked on both surveys. Questions on Interest, Self-management, and Locus of Control were asked only at the beginning of the course. The end of class survey included questions on Study Process Approach. Students in the study were found to have a strong internal Locus of Control. A significant correlation was found between a more internal locus of control and relying on surface strategies for learning. Another significant result was found on the Attitude preand post-course comparison regarding missing interaction with other students and getting more information through an online course. Generally, students’ attitude toward online learning was more positive during the last week of the course than in the first week. The study showed that this online course provided a sufficient amount of student to instructor interaction, a high amount of student to material interaction, and a low amount of student to student interaction.
Exploring intrinsic and extrinsic reading motivation among very good and very poor readers

Background: Research examining the relationship between reading skill and reading motivation has typically been carried out among children with a wide range of reading abilities. There is less research focusing on children who excel in reading or who are attaining very low reading scores. Purpose: To examine whether there were differences between children identified as excellent or very poor readers in the relationship between their levels of reading skill and intrinsic and extrinsic reading motivation. Sample: In total, 1811 children (aged seven to 13 years) were tested, with good readers (top 10%; n = 194) or poor readers (bottom 10%; n = 188) identified within the group. Design and Methods: All children completed a reading assessment and reading motivation questionnaire in their classroom; good and poor readers were selected based on their scores in the standardised reading test. Results: In the full sample, children's intrinsic reading motivation and reading efficacy correlated with their reading skill whereas their extrinsic reading motivation did not. After co-varying for differences in group composition, good and poor readers differed significantly in levels of intrinsic reading motivation and reading efficacy but not extrinsic reading motivation. Among the good readers, only extrinsic reading motivation correlated significantly with reading skill, whilst among the poor readers, no aspects of motivation correlated significantly with reading skill. Overall, poor readers’ intrinsic and extrinsic reading motivations were more closely correlated. Conclusions: The relationship between reading motivation and reading skill may not be as straightforward as is commonly thought; extrinsic motivation and not intrinsic motivation was associated with variation in reading skill among children with excellent reading scores.