Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections are the Treatment Options?

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacilli creates a challenge in the treatment of nosocomial infections. While the pharmaceutical pipeline is waning, two revived old antibacterials (colistin and fosfomycin), a newer one (tigecycline) and an ‘improved’ member of an existing class (doripenem) are the only therapeutic options left. The class of polymyxins, known since 1947 and represented mostly by polymyxin B and polymyxin E (colistin), has recently gained a principal role in the treatment of the most problematic MDR Gram-negative pathogens (such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia). Future prospective studies are needed to answer important clinical questions, such as the possible benefit of combination with other antimicrobials versus monotherapy, the efficacy of colistin in neutropenic hosts and the role of inhaled colistin. As new pharmacokinetic data emerge, clarification of the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) profile of colistin as well as appropriate dosing seems urgent, while development of resistance must be carefully monitored. Fosfomycin tromethamine, a synthetic salt of fosfomycin discovered in 1969, has regained attention because of its in vitro activity against extendedspectrum b-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae and MDR P. aeruginosa. Although in use for decades in oral and parenteral formulations for a variety of infections without significant toxicity, its clinical utility in MDR infections remains to be explored in future studies. Tigecycline, the first representative of the new class of glycylcyclines, holds promise in infections from MDR K. pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae carbapenemase [KPC]- and ESBL-producing strains) and Enterobacteriaceae with various mechanisms of resistance. The in vitro activity of tigecycline against A. baumannii makes it a tempting option, as it is currently the most active compound against MDR strains along with colistin. However, the usual minimum inhibitory concentration values of this pathogen are approximately 2m g/L and compromise clinical outcomes based on PK/PD issues. Its advantageous penetration into various tissues is useful in infections of the skin and soft tissues as well as intra-abdominal infections (official indications), whereas low serum concentrations compromise its use in bloodstream infections. Therefore, prospective studies with dose escalation are urgently needed,
Performance Comparison of Bio-based Thermal Insulation Foam Board with Petroleum-based Foam Boards on the Market

A process is described for developing bio-based foam board using state of the art freeze-casting technology. The bio-based thermal insulation foam board was produced starting from wood-based cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) water suspensions. Its performance properties were compared to the current products on the market: Foamular® 150 (F150), Styrofoam™ brand square edge insulation (SF), and GreenGuard® XPS (GG). The bio-based foam board’s density was 0.1 g/cm3 with an 8.16% coefficient of variation (CV), which was higher than F150’s density (0.03 g/cm3 with 0.35% CV), SF’s density (0.04 g/cm3 with 3.79% CV), and GG’s density (0.04 g/cm3 with 0.03% CV). The insulation value (R-value) was determined as 3.14 (1.47% CV) for bio-based thermal insulation foam board, 4.37 (0.39%) for F150, 4.43 (0.39%) for GG, and 5.59 (1.55%) for SF. The mechanical performance of the bio-based thermal insulation foam board was lower than those of the current products on the market, so that it requires further enhancement before potential commercialization. However, being among the first nanocellulose thermal insulation foam boards currently available, it still has great potential for use in building systems.
Transforming Spaces: A Framework for the Identification and Analysis of Adolescents’ No-Go Areas in Vienna

The availability and usability of public space in urban fabric is important for adolescents, as they can use these places in the absence of parental control or impacts from school. Nevertheless, several studies point out, that particular public places often have a negative connotation for young people. The project Transforming Spaces identifies adolescents’ negatively associated places in Vienna, and the motives behind those perceptions, by applying a participatory multi-perspective research approach. Participatory GIS-methods are used to locate these No-Go areas and to analyse their spatial distribution. Interviews, focus groups, and artistic approaches are applied to identify and reflect the motives of negative perceptions. Furthermore the comparison of an external view on negatively associated places with an internal view should help to reduce barriers and to transform subjective spatial connotations. This paper presents the methodological framework of the project and discusses challenges as well as benefits of the selected multi-methodological approach.
Dimensions of Inequality in Canada

In this paper, we document some features of the distribution of income, consumption and wealth in Canada using survey data from many different sources. We find that wage and income inequality has increased substantially over the last 30 years, but that much of this rise was offset by the tax and transfer system. As a result, the rise in consumption inequality has been relatively mild. We also document that wealth inequality has remained fairly stable since 1999. A comparison of our results - obtained using confidential data - suggests that while some aspects of inequality are well captured by publicly available data, others paint a drastically different picture.
Street Earnings and Board Independence

We examine the characteristics of Street Earnings and board independence to understand how board structure shapes disclosure. We find that when boards contain fewer independent directors, exclusions from Street Earnings (1) have more predictive ability for future earnings, suggesting that the excluded expenses are less transitory, (2) are increasingly likely to occur in quarters when Street Earnings exceed analyst expectations but GAAP earnings do not, indicating that managers are more likely to use Street Earnings to meet the analyst forecast, (3) have a significantly stronger association with subsequent returns, indicating that the excluded expenses are less transparent as investors are slow to price their future earnings implications, and (4) are more strongly related to the intensity of insider trading activity. We obtain these results despite tests demonstrating that analysts reverse more management exclusions as boards become less independent. Overall, our results suggest that board independence is associated with the quality of voluntary earnings-related disclosure.
Simulation of Potassium Transport in Carbonate Aquifer

Sophisticated prediction of aquifer performance requires numerical simulation. To date, no comprehensive simulation has been reported on groundwater modeling. Most available simulators are not applicable for fractured aquifer, and do not account for contaminant leaching and degradation, particularly in the vadose zone. Consequently, studying contaminant transport in a fractured or vuggy formation offers a forthidable challenge. This paper addresses the problem of contaminant transport in carbonate aquifer, in the presence of fractures. Most of aquifers in UAE are of limestone or carbonate origins. A series of experiments was conducted using potassium nitrate as the contaminant. Dynamic adsorption and desorption tests were carried out using both homogeneous and fractured formation models. Initial modeling and experiments were carried out for a range of initial concentration values. The concentration at the outlet was measured with the Flame Ionization technique. A numerical model was developed using the surface excess theory, combined with a non-Fickian dispersion coefficient. Numerical results agreed favorably with experimental results. It was found that the non-Fickian model was necessary for modeling fracture flow results and with this version, there was no need to use the dual porosity/dual permeability formulation. Strong dependence of adsorption on initial concentration was observed and was justified with the numerical model.
On the relationship between ordinary thin sets and full-thin sets

Abstract In this work we demonstrate that if Ω ⊂ Rn (n ≧ 3) is either a half space or a unit ball, and if E ⊂ ω then E is an ordinary thin set at a boundary point of Ω (including the point at infinity if Ω is a half space) if and only if it is a full-thin set at the corresponding Kuramochi boundary point of Ω. The case for n = 2 has already been considered in an earlier work. 1980 Mathematics subject classification (Amer. Math. Soc.): 31 B 05.
Synoptic-Statistical Approach to Regional Downscaling of IPCC Twenty-First-Century Climate Projections: Seasonal Rainfall over the Hawaiian Islands*

A linear statistical downscaling technique is applied to the projection of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) climate change scenarios onto Hawaiian rainfall for the late twenty-first century. Hawaii’s regional rainfall is largely controlled by the strength of the trade winds. During the winter months, disturbances in the westerlies can produce heavy rainfall throughout the islands. A diagnostic analysis of sea level pressure (SLP), near-surface winds, and rainfall measurements at 134 weather observing stations around the islands characterize the correlations between the circulation and rainfall during the nominal wet season (November‐April) and dry season (May‐October). A comparison of the base climate twentieth-century AR4 model simulations with reanalysis data for the period 1970‐2000 is used to define objective selection criterion for the AR4 models. Six out of 21 available models were chosen for the statistical downscaling. These were chosen on the basis of their ability to more realistically simulate the modern large-scale circulation fields in the Hawaiian Islands region. For the AR4 A1B emission scenario, the six analyzed models show important changes in the wind fields around Hawaii by the late twenty-first century. Two models clearly indicate opposite signs in the anomalies. One model projects 20%‐30% rainfall increase over the islands; the other model suggests a rainfall decrease of about 10%‐20% during the wet season. It is concluded from the six-model ensemble that the most likely scenario for Hawaii is a 5%‐10% reduction of the wet-season precipitation and a 5% increase during the dry season, as a result of changes in the wind field. The authors discuss the sources of uncertainties in the projected rainfall changes and consider future improvements of the statistical downscaling work and implications for dynamical downscaling methods.
Stereotype threat, self-affirmation, and women's statistics performance

STEREOTYPE THREAT, SELF-AFFIRMATION, AND WOMEN’S STATISTICS PEFORMANCE by Blanca Tapia Stereotype threat (fear of confirming a negative group stereotype that in turn can inhibit academic performance) has been implicated in the gender gap observed in the field of mathematics. Even though stereotype threat depresses women’s performance, there has been much research reporting various interventions that ameliorate its negative effects. The current study investigated stereotype threat specifically in statistics—an unexplored area in the research literature —and the alleviating effects of self-affirmation. Participants in three conditions (control, stereotype threat, stereotype threat + affirmation) completed a statistics test. In both stereotype threat conditions participants were given a verbal prime to induce stereotype threat, but only the stereotype threat + affirmation condition was given the affirmation task. The predictions that stereotype threat would depress women’s statistics performance and that self-affirmation would minimize stereotype threat were not supported. How a performance expectation relates to a successful stereotype threat prime was discussed as are study limitations and directions for future research.
Simulations of the Jefferson Lab FEL using the new electromagnetic wiggler

After successfully lasing at 10 kW of average power at a wavelength of 6 µm, a new electromagnetic wiggler has been installed at Jefferson Lab, which will be used to achieve high power at shorter wavelengths. Wavefront propagation simulations are used to predict system performance for weak-field gain and steady-state extraction, as the bunch charge, pulse length, electron beam radius, Rayleigh length, and mirror output coupling are varied.
An investigation of base flow control by wall pressure analysis in a suddenly expansion nozzle

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation conducted at supersonic Mach number of 1.25 through a converging–diverging nozzle for diameter-ratio of 1.6. The experiments were conducted at different level of expansion viz. for correctly expanded and under expanded cases and, for length-to-diameter ratio of 10 to 1. From the results it is found that the flow remains attached with the suddenly expanded duct even for L/D = 1 for both with and without control cases. For some combination of the NPR and L/D ratio the flow field in the duct becomes oscillatory which; indicates that the flow in the duct is dominated by the waves however, it remained same even when the control in the form of micro jets are activated. Hence, the control does influence the flow in the duct wall. It is also seen that when the jets are under expanded the control becomes effective; however, with further increase in the level of under expansion they do not give the desired result. Hence, there seems to be a limiting value of level of expansion which will give desired result and at Mach 1.25, this value is Pe/Pa = 1.5.
The Coexistence of Degree-Premium and High-Dropout Rates in the Uruguayan Secondary Education: An Incentives Problem

Although participation rates in the educational system might look impressive for a Latin American country, educational outputs are not that great. Uruguay is characterized by educational gaps and high drop-out rates in the secondary education. In our work we first explore the returns to schooling in Uruguay. In the course of our analysis, we use quantile regression models that are more suitable than ordinary least squares (OLS) for countries where heterogeneity within the labour force in terms of earnings and the impact of individual characteristics on earnings is significant. In particular we test the hypothesis of the existence of a degree premium for those individuals that complete the secondary education (12 years of education). As we find evidence that allows us to confirm the existence of the degree premium, we make conjectures and present a possible explanation that links the evidence between the existence of degree premium, educational gaps and dropouts. The rationale is that since only the completion of the secondary degree will generate a clear economic benefit, many individuals will exit the educational system as they find difficulties in the transit along the secondary level. In other words, the completion of the entire secondary stage might be seen as a long haul race and Uruguayan youngsters end up exiting the process when they are still far from the end. To cope with the estimation problem of unobservable household or children characteristics, this investigation employs an instrumental variable (IV) strategy both for two-stage least squares (TSLS) and quantile regression (QTE).
Breakwaters under construction exposed to oblique waves

A new series of physical model tests were conducted to analyse the behaviour of a breakwater core when it becomes exposed to wave attack. The emphasis of this research was on the measured influence of a wide stone grading on both the deformation of a breakwater trunk and the occurring longshore transport. This behaviour was investigated for both head-on and oblique waves using two different wave loads. The findings were compared to the currently available formulas and the validity of these formulas for the tested range of parameters was (re)checked. In general a clear distinction was found in the processes between tests with narrow grading and wide grading. It turned out that both the parameters describing the two-dimensional deformation and the longshore transport show an increase for wider grading.
Resolution of a fixed point problem by an incremental method and application in nonlinear elasticity

Dans cet article, nous resolvons un probleme de point fixe en montrant que la solution est la valeur au point 1 de la solution d'une equation differentielle appropriee. Cette approche est alors appliquee en elasticite non lineaire au probleme de traction pure avec charge vive. La solution est approchee par une methode incrementale. Le nombre de linearisations successives est considerablement reduit comparativement a la methode presentee dans [19]
Mechanical behavior of recycled lightweight concrete using EVA waste and CDW under moderate temperature

Muitos beneficios podem ser obtidos com o aproveitamento de residuos na producao de materiais para construcao, como a reducao do custo dos componentes construtivos, a reducao do consumo de energia e a diminuicao do uso de recursos naturais. Alem do aproveitamento do proprio residuo de construcao e demolicao (RCD), a industria da construcao civil pode tambem incorporar residuos de outras industrias, como o residuo de etileno acetato de vinila (EVA) da industria calcadista. O EVA e um residuo proveniente do excedente do processo de producao de solas de sapatos e pode ser utilizado, apos moagem, como agregado para producao de concreto. Neste trabalho, concretos reciclados foram produzidos com utilizacao de RCD e EVA, em substituicao ao agregado graudo natural. O objetivo foi avaliar a influencia do uso destes agregados reciclados sobre o comportamento mecânico do concreto sob compressao direta, em temperatura ambiente e apos ser submetido a temperaturas moderadas (50, 70 and 100o C). Foram produzidas quatro misturas com diferentes teores de substituicao, em volume, do agregado natural pelo reciclado (0, 50%EVA, 50%RCD e 25%EVA-25%RCD) e duas relacoes agua-cimento (0,49 e 0,82). A partir dos ensaios de compressao direta foi possivel avaliar a influencia do agregado reciclado sobre a resistencia a compressao, modulo de elasticidade e coeficiente de Poisson. O efeito da temperatura foi avaliado tambem sobre o comportamento tensao-deformacao dos concretos. Os resultados demonstram que e possivel utilizar agregados provenientes de RCD e EVA para produzir concretos leves e que a mistura com 50%EVA apresentou, de forma mais acentuada, reducao do modulo de elasticidade com o aumento da temperatura.
Hydrous Phase Relations and Trace Element Partitioning Behaviour in Calcareous Sediments at Subduction-Zone Conditions

We report the results of experiments on two natural marine sediments with different carbonate contents (calcareous clay: CO2 ¼ 6� 1 wt %; marl: CO2 ¼ 16� 2 wt %) at subduction-zone conditions (3 GPa, 750–1200 � C). Water (7–15 wt %) was added to the starting materials to simulate the effects of external water addition from within the subducting slab. The onset of melting is at 760 � Ci n water-rich experiments; melt becomes abundant by 800 � C. In contrast, the onset of melting in published, water-poor experiments occurs at variable temperatures with the production of significant melt fractions being restricted to more than 900 � C (phengite-out). The different solidus temperatures (Tsolidus) can be ascribed to variable fluid XH2O [H2O/(CO2 þ H2O)], which, in turn, depends on bulk K2O, H2O and CO2. Partial melts in equilibrium with residual garnet, carbonate, quartz/coesite, epidote, rutile, kyanite, phengite, and clinopyroxene are granitic in composition, with substantial dissolved volatiles. Supersolidus runs always contain both silicate melt and solute-rich fluid, indicating that experimental conditions lie below the second critical endpoint in the granite–H2O–CO2 system. Carbonatite melt coexists with silicate melt and solute-rich fluid above 1100 � C in the marl. The persistence of carbonate to high temperature, in equilibrium with CO2-rich hydrous melts, provides a mechanism to both supply CO2 to arc magmas and recycle carbon into the deep Earth. The trace element compositions of the experimental glasses constrain the potential contribution of calcareous sediment to arc magmas. The presence of residual epidote and carbonate confers different trace element characteristics when compared with the trace element signal of Ca-poor marine sediments (e.g. pelagic clays). Notably, epidote retains Th and light rare earth elements, such that some melts derived from calcareous sediments have elevated Ba/Th and U/Th, and low La/SmPUM, thereby resembling fluids conventionally ascribed to altered oceanic crust. Our results emphasize the importance of residual mineralogy, rather than source lithology, in controlling the trace element characteristics of slab-derived fluids.
"We're all individuals": Group norms of individualism and collectivism, levels of identification, and identity threat

Three studies were conducted to investigate the power of group norms of individualism and collectivism to guide self-definition and group behavior for people with low and high levels of group identification. Study 1 demonstrates that in an individualist culture (North America), those who identify highly with their national identity are more individualist than low identifiers. In contrast, in a collectivist culture (Indonesia) high identifiers are less individualist than low identifiers. Study 2 manipulates group norms of individualism and collectivism, and shows a similar pattern on a self-stereotyping measure: High identifiers are more likely to incorporate salient group norms prescribing individualism or collectivism into their self-concept than low identifiers. Study 3 replicates this effect and shows that high identifiers conform more strongly to group norms, and self-stereotype themselves in line with the salient norm than low identifiers when their group is threatened. Hence, the findings suggest that when there is a group norm of individualism, high identifiers may show individualist behavior as a result of conformity to salient group norms.