Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intestinal calcium and bile salts facilitate germination of Clostridium difficile spores

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is an anaerobic gram-positive pathogen that is the leading cause of nosocomial bacterial infection globally. C. difficile infection (CDI) typically occurs after ingestion of infectious spores by a patient that has been treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. While CDI is a toxin-mediated disease, transmission and pathogenesis are dependent on the ability to produce viable spores. These spores must become metabolically active (germinate) in order to cause disease. C. difficile spore germination occurs when spores encounter bile salts and other co-germinants within the small intestine, however, the germination signaling cascade is unclear. Here we describe a signaling role for Ca2+ during C. difficile spore germination and provide direct evidence that intestinal Ca2+ coordinates with bile salts to stimulate germination. Endogenous Ca2+ (released from within the spore) and a putative AAA+ ATPase, encoded by Cd630_32980, are both essential for taurocholate-glycine induced germination in the absence of exogenous Ca2+. However, environmental Ca2+ replaces glycine as a co-germinant and circumvents the need for endogenous Ca2+ fluxes. Cd630_32980 is dispensable for colonization in a murine model of C. difficile infection and ex vivo germination in mouse ileal contents. Calcium-depletion of the ileal contents prevented mutant spore germination and reduced WT spore germination by 90%, indicating that Ca2+ present within the gastrointestinal tract plays a critical role in C. difficile germination, colonization, and pathogenesis. These data provide a biological mechanism that may explain why individuals with inefficient intestinal calcium absorption (e.g., vitamin D deficiency, proton pump inhibitor use) are more prone to CDI and suggest that modulating free intestinal calcium is a potential strategy to curb the incidence of CDI.
Phoning in sick? An overview of employee stress in call centres

This paper reviews three studies that examine the main causes of employee stress and well‐being in call centres. All three studies were conducted by the author and his colleagues and reveal that employee well‐being in call centres is associated with: effective job design; performance monitoring that is not perceived to be intense and which aims to develop employees; supportive management; and, supportive human resource practices. Furthermore, levels of well‐being in call centres are shown to compare favourably to other forms of work. The studies challenge the image of call centres as “electronic sweatshops” and question the idea that call centre work is inevitably stressful. It is argued that managers have a choice in how to organise call centre work and can take steps to actively design employee stress out of call centre work. Practical recommendations on how to reduce employee stress in call centres are discussed.
Effects of immigration on labour markets and government budgets: the case of the Netherlands

Employing methods extracted from the literature, in combination with data on the Dutch economy, we assess the impact of immigration on the labour market and the public sector in the Netherlands. Additional labour supply due to immigration will have only a limited positive effect on the total income of natives, though redistribution between native groups is relatively large. The long run fiscal impact of immigrants will only be positive if their labour market performance at least equals that of natives. We conclude that selective labour immigration may contribute to the economic well-being of the host country. However, large-scale immigration of labour is not considered to be effective in alleviating the financial burden of ageing in the Netherlands.
The relationship between transformational leadership, perceived leader effectiveness and teachers’ job satisfaction

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the link between transformational/transactional/passive-avoidant leadership behaviors, teachers’ perceptions of leader effectiveness and teachers’ job satisfaction. In this context, the paper also examines the conceptual model underlying the scales of the most widely used instrument in research on transformational leadership, the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). The theoretical framework for this investigation is that of the full range model of leadership. Design/methodology/approach – An adapted version of the MLQ was administered to a sample of 438 secondary school teachers in the Republic of Cyprus. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used in the analysis of the data. Findings – The results provide support for a three-factor structure model consisting of transformational, transactional and passive-avoidant forms of leadership, representing three distinct components of leadership behavior. Teachers’ perceptio.
Backstage with the Knowledge Boys and Girls: Goffman and Distributed Agency in an Organic Online Community

An institutionally independent organic online learning community (OOLC) founded and populated by London cabbies-in-training, more commonly known to the world and to themselves as `Knowledge Boys and Girls', is described here. Qualitative discourse analysis of message board transcripts and interviews with members was undertaken in an effort to elucidate benefits that accrue to OOLC members. Goffman's theory of region behaviour is enlisted to explain why frank, collegial and sometimes confessional interactions with peers might take place in such an online venue. This article suggests that through such candid interactions among peers, learners create a back-region that allows participants to compare themselves with one another, cultivate friendships and practise for high-stakes assessments. OOLC members take advantage of the pseudonymity provided by their electronic social space to engage in behaviours that, if they occurred in a front-region, might invite damage to a learner's reputation as a pre-service cabbie. The online community BR becomes a sanctuary of sorts for taking social and academic risks, one where potential adverse consequences are few and benefits are legion.
Carbon Stocks and Carbon Stock Changes in the Tree Biomass of Germany's Forests

Summary:Carbon stocks and annual carbon stock changes in the tree biomass of German forests have been estimated. Data bases are inventory results (data of the Federal Forest Inventory and additional data sources, especially the “Forest Fund Database”), yield tables for modelling increment, and literature analyses (measurement results of biomass components in forests). Species-specific regression estimations have been developed and applied to allow separate estimation of carbon content in small wood (branches and twigs), needles, and roots. The carbon stock of German forests amounts to 2249 Mio. t C. Nearly half of this stock (1081 Mio. t C) is fixed in trees. The annual net increment of the trees (aboveground and belowground) accounts for about 15 Mio. t C per year. The carbon storage per hectare in Germany is up to 120–190 t C/ha, depending on age class and tree species.Zusammenfassung:Basierend auf Inventurergebnissen (Daten der Bundeswaldinventur sowie verschiedener Datenspeicher, insbesondere des Datenspeichers Waldfonds) und gestützt auf Ertragstafelangaben für die Zuwachsschätzung sowie auf eine Literaturauswertung zu empirischen Meßergebnissen von Biomassekomponenten im Wald wurden der Kohlenstoffvorrat der Bäume und dessen jährliche Veränderung in den Wäldern Deutschlands berechnet. Baumartenspezifische Regressionsschätzungen wurden zur separaten Berücksichtigung von Ästen und Zweigen, Nadeln sowie Wurzeln entwickelt und angewendet. Als Wachstumsmodelle wurden Ertragstafeln herangezogen. Der Kohlenstoffvorrat im Wald in Deutschland beträgt 2.249 Mio. t C, davon sind mit 1.081 Mio. t C etwa die Hälfte in Bäumen gebunden. Der ober- und unterirdische jährliche Nettozuwachs der Bäume liegt bei ca. 15 Mio. t C. Der Kohlenstoffvorrat je Hektar in Deutschland erreicht je nach Altersklasse und Baumart bis zu 120–190 t C/ha.
POG 00046 Facilitators and Regulators: Vulnerability to Postnatal Disturbance

A model is postulated delineating two basic orientations towards mothering: the ‘Facilitator’ adapts to her baby, spontaneously interpreting his/her needs. the ‘Regulator’ promotes the baby's adaptation by establishing a routine and regulated predictability.It is suggested that this dichotomy reflects different underlying approaches to motherhood, the baby and self-appraisal. Postnatal disturbance differs in chronology, nature and psychosocial precipitating factors for the two groups.Data from a questionnaire survey of mothers revealed significant differences between Facilitators and Regulators in their work patterns, shared care-taking and self-esteem.
Influence of vitamin A on wound healing in rats with femoral fracture.

Groups of healthy wounded rats with and without comminuted femoral fractures, and maintained on nutritionally complete commercial rat chow with and without supplemental vitamin A, were studied. The test wounds were standard dorsal skin incisions and s.c. polyvinyl alcohol sponge implants. In some experiments the rats were pair-fed; the rats with femoral fracture not receiving supplemental vitamin A were the lead group for determining food allowanced. In other experiments, the rats were allowed food ad libitum. We found that wound healing of rats with femoral fracture was increased when supplemental vitamin A was given, but the supplemental vitamin A did not completely obviate the adverse effects of fracture. The ratio of the breaking strengths of the skin incisions after formalin fixation to the breaking strengths of the incisions in the fresh state was higher in the unsupplemented rats, supporting the results of our earlier experiments that vitamin A increases the rate of collagen cross-linking.
Interpersonal Liking From Bivariate Attitude Similarity

There exists robust evidence for attitude similarity as a major cause of interpersonal liking, but previous research has ignored the case of similarity in attitudinal ambivalence or indifference. Whereas extensions of Heider’s balance theory predict that people are indifferent toward other’s ambivalence versus indifference, Byrne’s reinforcement theory of attraction predicts that people prefer interaction partners that match their own degree of ambivalence and indifference. Furthermore, Shafir’s principle of compatibility predicts preferences for ambivalent over indifferent partners in a choosing mode and the reverse in a rejecting mode. In a within-participants experiment (N = 42), the authors found that regardless of decision mode, (a) ambivalent individuals preferred ambivalent partners over indifferent ones and (b) indifferent individuals preferred indifferent partners over ambivalent ones, thus supporting reinforcement theory. The experiment provides the first evidence of interpersonal sensitivity to gradations of neutral attitudes.
POTENTIATION BY ALDOSTERONE OF VASOPRESSIN‐INDUCED CALCIUM KINETICS IN VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

1. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of aldosterone on arginine vaso‐pressin (AVP)‐induced Ca2+ kinetics in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The pre‐incubation of cells with 1 X 10−6 mol/L aldosterone for 24 h did not affect the basal cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) but enhanced the AVP‐induced mobilization of [Ca2+]i (1 X 10−8 mol/L AVP; 287 vs 401, 1 X 10−6 mol/L AVP; 430 vs 714 nmol/L).
A Comparison of Vowel Production by Children with Multichannel Cochlear Implants or Tactile Aids: Perceptual Evidence

Objective: To examine changes in perceived vowel production accuracy over time in prelingually deafened children who use a multichannel cochlear implant(Nucleus 22 channel) or a multichannel tactile aid (Tactaid 7) and to compare the levels of perceived vowel production accuracy attained by the two device groups. Design: The subjects were participants in longitudinal studies of the effects of sensory aids on the development of perceptual, speech, and language skills. As part of these studies, imitative vowel productions were elicited and transcribed before each child received their sensory aid and at 6 mo intervals thereafter. Data for the current study was obtained from the predevice interval and a later interval (postdevice) that was an average of 1.8 yr after the subjects received their respective devices. The subjects' vowel productions were judged for accuracy in matching an imitative model and for correctness of vowel features (height and place). Within‐group analyses were completed to determine if vowel production scores improved over the course of the study for each device group. Between group comparisons were performed to examine differences in mean scores at each interval. Results: Before receiving their multichannel devices, the two groups of subjects demonstrated similar imitative vowel production skills. After an average of 1.8 yr of device use, the cochlear implant subjects demonstrated significantly improved production of diphthongs and all vowel categories except low vowels. The Tactaid 7 subjects demonstrated significant improvement only in the production of diphtongs. Thus, cochlear implant recipients' vowel production skills were found to be significantly better than those of the Tactaid 7 users after a comparable amount of device experience. Conclusions: The vowel production gains of the cochlear implant subjects were similar in amount to those noted in other studies of children who use the Nucleus multichannel cochlear implant and further confirm the potential of this device for improved speech production in prelingually deafened children. The differences between the performance of the two groups demonstrate that vowel production skills improved to a greater degree through use of a multichannel cochlear implant than through use of the Tactaid 7.
Evidence-based research, epidemiology and alcohol policy: a critique

To demand ‘evidence-based medicine’ and ‘evidence-based research’ has become almost a dogma for researchers and policy-makers in Western cultures. A critical analysis shows that the original intention of the term ‘evidence-based’ was to aim to use the best existing evidence (emphasising that research should be planned and interpreted in a methodologically correct way), while recognising that, in some areas, experimental research would be neither sensible nor feasible. However, as the paradigm has become established, three dubious and commonly coexisting additional connotations have become prominent in practice: ‘proven beyond doubt’, ‘exclusively relying on experimental research’ and ‘any conclusions based on empirical data’. Drawing on examples from renowned publications that demand an ‘evidence-based alcohol policy’, this article argues that much of what is presented as ‘evidence-based policy’ should more appropriately be labelled ‘policy-based evidence’.
The significance of subtyping tardive dyskinesia: a study of prevalence and associated factors

Synopsis The prevalence of tardive dyskinesia (TD) in 137 Nigerian psychiatric patients was 27%. There were no differences in the prevalence rate between patients with affective disorder and those with schizophrenia. There were also no significant differences between the sexes but a trend for the more severe forms of dyskinesia to be commoner in females was noticed. Demographic, clinical and treatment variables were investigated for association with TD and each of its two putative subsyndromes: orofacial and appendicular dyskinesias. Two cases of severe and persistent tardive dystonia, associated with orofacial TD, were seen in two young adults, one with relatively short exposure to neuroleptics. After initial univariate screening, multivariate statistical methods revealed that different factors were associated with each of the two subsyndromes. While length of hospitalization correlated significantly with orofacial dyskinesia, cumulative duration of exposure to high-potency neuroleptics and number of ECTs received were significantly associated with appendicular TD. Neither age nor sex correlated with either of the subsyndromes. The findings confirm and extend previous observations suggesting that these dyskinesias may involve different pathophysiological mechanisms.
Urinary tract infections in acute psychosis.

OBJECTIVE Schizophrenia is associated with increased infections across the lifespan. We previously found an association between urinary tract infection (UTI) and acute nonaffective psychosis. The aims of this study were to explore further the relationship between UTI and acute psychosis, including associated clinical features. METHOD We identified by chart review subjects aged 18-64 years who were hospitalized between January 2010 and April 2012 for an acute episode of DSM-IV nonaffective psychosis (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychosis not otherwise specified, or delusional disorder; n =134), affective psychosis (bipolar or major depressive disorder with psychotic features; n = 101), or alcohol detoxification (n = 105), and we recruited healthy controls (n =39). Urinary tract infection was defined as positive leukocyte esterase and/or positive nitrites on urinalysis and ≥ 5-10 leukocytes/high-powered field on urine microscopy. RESULTS The prevalence of UTI was 21% in nonaffective psychosis, 18% in affective psychosis, 12% in alcohol use disorders, and 3% in controls. After controlling for potential confounders, UTI was almost 11 times more likely in subjects with nonaffective psychosis than controls (OR = 10.7; 95% CI, 1.4-83.2; P =.02) and almost 9 times more likely in subjects with major depressive disorder with psychotic features than controls (OR = 8.9; 95% CI, 1.1-71.4; P = .04). There were no associations between clinical characteristics and UTI in acute psychosis. CONCLUSIONS We replicated and extended an association between an UTI and acute psychosis. Findings suggest that infections appear relevant to the etiopathophysiology of relapse and increased premature mortality risk in the psychoses. The results also highlight the potential importance of monitoring for comorbid UTI in relevant patient populations.
Gallows humour in social work practice: An issue for supervision and reflexivity

Abstract This article suggests that the use of ‘gallows’ humour to deal with stress in social work is a common occurrence. By exploring possibly less obviously repugnant forms of behaviour than racism and sexism, such as the relating of an incident which casts a client in an unfavourable or comical light, the social psychological perspective employed here offers subtleties of understanding additional to those in the sociological arena related to racism. Using evidence from a qualitative study of social workers' self perceptions, arguments for and against its use are examined. It is suggested on the one hand that there is an inherent potential for disadvantaging service users by using gallows humour as a coping mechanism, and on the other hand, it is argued that workers' unresolved stress also has a negative impact on service users. Reflexive practice and supervision are proposed as moderators of the negative effects of gallows humour, and the article suggests that improvements to practice may be a possible effect of reflection on gallows humour
Is work affecting my health? Appraisals of how work affects health as a mediator in the relationship between working conditions and work-related attitudes

This study investigates the role of appraisals by employees of how work is affecting their health, or could end up affecting it in the future. The study tests a model of health appraisals as a mediator of the effect of demands and control on employee attitudes (job satisfaction, organizational commitment and turnover intentions). This was investigated in a sample of employees in a Swedish white-collar organization, who participated in three waves of a longitudinal study conducted in 2007, 2008 and 2009; a final sample of 292 employees participated at all three waves. The results indicate that employee appraisals of how work affects their health have an important role in how working conditions relate to subsequent work-related attitudes. The study supports the importance of including employee appraisals when studying the effects of working conditions.
Beyond the Separate Democratic Peace

This article argues that the balance of evidence and argument supports a shift from the conventional `separate democratic peace' position that liberal states are peace prone only in relations with other liberal states to the view that they are also more peace prone in relations with non-liberal states than usually thought. The article reviews a range of recent empirical studies that either support or are consistent with this turn and also critiques a number of existing democratic peace theories. Those theories that maintain the view that democracies are peace prone in general are criticized for failing to differentiate the circumstances in which liberal states do and do not go to war. Those theories supporting the predominant `separate' democratic peace position are criticized for failing to explain why liberal states should be peace prone only in relations with other liberal states. The force of this argument challenges scholars to re-specify the extent (and limitations) of liberal state peace proneness and to develop a theoretical explanation of this broader but more complex relationship between liberal states and peace.
Stochastic MPC for real-time market-based optimal power dispatch

We formulate the problem of dynamic, real-time optimal power dispatch for electric power systems consisting of conventional power generators, intermittent generators from renewable sources, energy storage systems and price-inelastic loads. The generation company managing the power system can place bids on the real-time energy market (the so-called regulating market) in order to balance its loads and/or to make profit. Prices, demands and intermittent power injections are considered to be stochastic processes and the goal is to compute power injections for the conventional power generators, charge and discharge levels for the storage units and exchanged power with the rest of the grid that minimize operating and trading costs. We propose a scenario-based stochastic model predictive control algorithm to solve the real-time market-based optimal power dispatch problem.
Teen Court Referral, Sentencing, and Subsequent Recidivism: Two Proportional Hazards Models and a Little Speculation

This study extends literature on recidivism after teen court to add system-level variables to demographic and sentence content as relevant covariates. Interviews with referral agents and survival analysis with proportional hazards regression supplement quantitative models that include demographic, sentencing, and case-processing variables in a database of 648 youths participating in an Illinois teen court over an 8-year period. Findings suggest that sentencing and referral-based models support an interpretation in which judgment of the offender’s character is central, and post hoc analysis points to possible net-widening effects for certain teen court youths.