Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Three Rapid Methods for the Direct Identification of Staphylococcus aureus from Positive Blood Cultures

ABSTRACT Staphylococci represent the most commonly encountered blood culture isolates. Differentiating Staphylococcus aureus from coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) is important in guiding empirical therapy, especially since the majority of CoNS are contaminants. This study evaluated three rapid methods for the direct identification of S. aureus from blood cultures. A total of 157 patient blood cultures with gram stains showing gram-positive cocci in clusters were included. The following assays were evaluated: API RAPIDEC staph (API) (bioMerieux, Durham, N.C.), the tube coagulase test (TCT) read at 4 h, and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) (AdvanDx, Woburn, Mass.). All assays yielded results of S. aureus or non-S. aureus. The direct rapid results were compared to results obtained with isolated colonies using the AccuProbe Staphylococcus aureus Culture Identification Test (Gen-Probe, San Diego, Calif.). API, TCT, and PNA FISH exhibited sensitivities of 96, 84, and 99% and specificities of 99, 100, and 100%, respectively. Direct identification testing by any of these three assays yielded acceptable performance and timely results. This ability to accurately detect S. aureus in blood cultures gives the physician information with which to initiate or tailor antimicrobial therapy. Coupled with direct susceptibility testing of positive blood culture broths, the patient and institution may experience improved outcomes.
Porcine bladder acellular matrix (ACM): protein expression, mechanical properties

Experimentally, porcine bladder acellular matrix (ACM) that mimics extracellular matrix has excellent potential as a bladder substitute. Herein we investigated the spatial localization and expression of different key cellular and extracellular proteins in the ACM; furthermore, we evaluated the inherent mechanical properties of the resultant ACM prior to implantation. Using a proprietary decellularization method, the DNA contents in both ACM and normal bladder were measured; in addition we used immunohistochemistry and western blots to quantify and localize the different cellular and extracellular components, and finally the mechanical testing was performed using a uniaxial mechanical testing machine. The mean DNA content in the ACM was significantly lower in the ACM compared to the bladder. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical and western blot analyses showed that collagen I and IV were preserved in the ACM, but possibly denatured collagen III in the ACM. Furthermore, elastin, laminin and fibronectin were mildly reduced in the ACM. Although the ACM did not exhibit nucleated cells, residual cellular components (actin, myosin, vimentin and others) were still present. There was, on the other hand, no significant difference in the mean stiffness between the ACM and the bladder. Although our decellularization method is effective in removing nuclear material from the bladder while maintaining its inherent mechanical properties, further work is mandatory to determine whether these residual DNA and cellular remnants would lead to any immune reaction, or if the mechanical properties of the ACM are preserved upon implantation and cellularization.
Transcription mapping of human herpesvirus 8 genes encoding viral interferon regulatory factors.

The human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) genome contains four tandemly arranged genes encoding viral interferon regulatory factors (vIRF-1 to 4) located between genes 57 and 58. Transcript mapping techniques were employed to determine the sizes, ends and splicing patterns of mRNAs specified by these genes in HHV-8-infected cell lines untreated or chemically induced into the lytic growth cycle. Depending on the cell line used, vIRF-3 transcription was minimally or not induced (i.e. expressed with latent kinetics), whereas the other vIRFs were inducible (i.e. expressed with lytic kinetics). Each gene possessed its own promoter (or promoters) and polyadenylation sites, and all but vIRF-1 were spliced from two exons. vIRF-1 was transcribed in uninduced and induced cells from a single initiation site preceded by a TATA box, with the possible use of an additional TATA box and initiation site in uninduced cells. In induced cells, vIRF-2 was transcribed from a single major initiation site preceded by a TATA box, and vIRF-4 was expressed from two sites each preceded by a TATA box. Transcripts for these genes were insufficiently abundant in uninduced cells to map the 5'-ends. vIRF-3 lacks an obvious TATA box and exhibited heterogeneous 5'-ends in uninduced and induced cells. These data clarify and extend our understanding of the structure and transcription of the HHV-8 vIRF genes.
Essays on Environmental Policy Instruments, Emissions Leakage and Public Policy

This dissertation consists of three essays related to my research on environmental policy, emissions leakage, and public policy. In the first essay, I address how open economies respond to environmental policy instruments under uncertainty. I develop a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model for a small open economy (SOE) and evaluate the macroeconomic fluctuations in response to cap-and-trade, pollution tax, and emissions intensity standard under two shocks: productivity and terms of trade. My findings suggest that cap-and-trade policies are most effective in dampening macroeconomic volatility from productivity shock. However, under the terms of trade shock, pollution tax, and intensity target policies are as effective as the cap-and-trade policies in reducing the macroeconomic volatility of consumption and employment. The second essay addresses the effects of a general fall in service trade costs on emissions leakage. I develop a two-good (manufacturing and services) general equilibrium model of a SOE to evaluate emissions leakage from an emissions tax increase. Under free trade in manufacturing and no trade in services, no leakage occurs. Allowing for trade in services, a positive leakage is driven by income, output, and terms-of-trade effects. Calibrating the model to the Canadian macroeconomic data, I find that the emissions leakage is about 18 % lower when using trade friction levels estimated from the literature rather than assuming no trade frictions in services. In the third essay, using a data panel for American states from 1987 to 2010, I evaluate the effects of rainy day funds (RDFs) on state gross domestic product (GDP). RDFs are intended to smooth taxes and spending to alleviate fiscal stress during recessions.
First calculations of the total output of Latvia and Lithuania in the 1920s: a comparison

ABSTRACT The contemporary system of national accounts (SNA) framework is used to compare the methodologies and to adjust the findings to allow for cross-country comparisons of the very first calculations of the total economic output of Lithuania in 1924 by Albinas Rimka (1886–1944) and of Latvia in 1925 by Alfrēds Ceihners (1899–1987). Ceihners’ notion of national income corresponds to the SNA concept of gross national income (GNI), while Rimka measured net national income (NNI). Rimka’s estimate has a downward bias, because he applied a fixed capital depreciation rate that was too high and did not include the value of noncommercial public sector services.
c-Src-Mediated Phosphorylation of TRIP6 Regulates Its Function in Lysophosphatidic Acid-Induced Cell Migration

ABSTRACT TRIP6 (thyroid receptor-interacting protein 6), also known as ZRP-1 (zyxin-related protein 1), is a member of the zyxin family that has been implicated in cell motility. Previously we have shown that TRIP6 binds to the LPA2 receptor and associates with several components of focal complexes in an agonist-dependent manner and, thus, enhances lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced cell migration. Here we further report that the function of TRIP6 in LPA signaling is regulated by c-Src-mediated phosphorylation of TRIP6 at the Tyr-55 residue. LPA stimulation induces tyrosine phosphorylation of endogenous TRIP6 in NIH 3T3 cells and c-Src-expressing fibroblasts, which is virtually eliminated in Src-null fibroblasts. Strikingly, both phosphotyrosine-55 and proline-58 residues of TRIP6 are required for Crk binding in vitro and in cells. Mutation of Tyr-55 to Phe does not alter the ability of TRIP6 to localize at focal adhesions or associate with actin. However, it abolishes the association of TRIP6 with Crk and p130cas in cells and significantly reduces the function of TRIP6 to promote LPA-induced ERK activation. Ultimately, these signaling events control TRIP6 function in promoting LPA-induced morphological changes and cell migration.
Serum Phosphate and Calcium Should Be Primarily and Consistently Controlled in Prevalent Hemodialysis Patients

Mineral metabolism affects mortality in hemodialysis patients and is identified by imbalances in serum phosphate (P), calcium (Ca), and parathyroid hormone (PTH). We examined associations between annual mineral values (P, Ca, PTH) and mortality in a 3‐year cohort (Dec 2006–2009) of 128 125 hemodialysis patients using three models, that is, baseline, time‐dependent and time‐average Cox models. We also examined associations between achieved Japanese guideline targets (P: 3.5−6.0 mg/dL, corrected Ca 8.4−10.0 mg/dL, intact PTH 60−180 mg/dL) and all‐cause survival to elucidate which parameter should be controlled as a priority. High and low serum P (>6.0 or ≤3.5 mg/dL), high Ca (>9.5 mg/dL), higher PTH (>300 pg/mL) and lower PTH (≤60 pg/mL) were significantly associated with high mortality in all three models (P < 0.01). When we examined the association between combination of mineral targets and mortality, patients who achieved all targets simultaneously (20% of subjects, reference) showed lowest mortality. Those who achieved both P and Ca targets showed the same mortality as the reference group. Those who only met P target had a lower risk of death (hazard ratio = 1.17) compared to those that achieved Ca or PTH target (1.41, 1.47, respectively). As time of achieving P and Ca targets increased, all‐cause mortalities diminished incrementally, significantly. Mineral metabolism disorder would lead to high mortality in prevalent hemodialysis patients. Among mineral values, P would be the strongest predictor for high mortality. Consistent achievement of P and Ca targets would lead to good survival.
Implications of high-heeled shoes on body posture of adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To review studies regarding effects of high-heeled shoes on body posture of adolescents. DATA SOURCES The research was conducted in the Scopus, SciELO and PubMed databases between 1980 and 2011, searching for articles written in English and Portuguese with the following key-words: "posture", "center of gravity", and "high-heeled shoes". Among 55 retrieved articles, 20 were analyzed regarding posture of the spine and lower limbs, the center of gravity, and the effects of high-heeled shoes in the musculoskeletal system in adolescents. DATA SYNTHESIS Frequent use of high-heeled shoes leads to modification of the gravity center and body balance, which can lead to changes in the alignment of body segments. This has a negative impact on motor development of adolescents. In this phase, it is necessary to keep the posture in order to maintain the physiological growth and development of the musculoskeletal system. CONCLUSIONS High-heeled shoes in adolescents can lead to the development of postural disorders, among which stands out the forward head posture, lumbar hyperlordosis, pelvic anteversion, and knee valgus. The height and width of the heels are characteristics that exert most influence in the emergence of postural changes and body imbalance.
How start-ups successfully organize and manage open innovation with large companies

Purpose Open innovation in start-ups is a relatively unexplored field and studies focusing on collaborative innovation between start-ups with large companies seen from the former’s point of view are virtually inexistent. The authors address this gap in an exploratory study built on in-depth case studies. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how start-ups successfully organize and manage open innovation with large companies. The paper highlights common challenges and barriers faced by start-ups in adopting open innovation practices along with its benefits for them. Design/methodology/approach This is an exploratory study based on two case studies. The cases are diligently selected to examine two key forms of open innovation – inbound and outbound open innovation – in start-ups. Findings The paper provides an insight on how start-ups organize and manage open innovation activities with large companies and how it benefits them in overcoming liability of newness and smallness. The practices significantly differ from those followed in large companies. The paper highlights the advantages and challenges of inbound and outbound open innovation for start-ups. This paper also ascertains the crucial role of start-up manager for successful implementation of open innovation and shows how start-up’s managers with prior experience of working in/with a large company can proficiently deal with the larger counterpart in the innovation network. Research limitations/implications This research is based on exploratory case studies so the conclusions drawn from these two cases may be hard to generalize. The findings of the study could be used for further development of the theoretical framework. Future research, including quantitative studies, will be helpful in examining the conclusions and providing more in-depth understanding of open innovation in start-ups. Practical implications The paper includes several practical implications for the managers including the role start-up managers play in organizing and managing open innovation activities. Furthermore, this paper suggests how start-ups could orchestrate open innovation ecosystem. Originality/value The paper is a step forward in filling the literature gap about open innovation and start-ups with some definite implications for start-up managers. A lot is written about the collaboration between large firms and start-ups from a former’s point of view but the start-up’s perspective has been left unexplored.
The effect of internal factors and family influence on firms’ adoption of green product innovation

Purpose Little research has been conducted on the internal factors that drive green product (GP) innovation and how family influence affects firm adoption of GP innovation. This study aims to apply multiple perspectives to bridge this research gap, adopting the resource-based view (RBV) to examine what and how internal factors affect firm adoption of GP innovation, and using the behavioral theory of family firms to investigate whether family influence fosters or hinders firm adoption of GP innovation. Design/methodology/approach This study used a multichannel approach and adopted content analysis to collect and evaluate data on listed Taiwanese firms and used cross-sectional regression analysis to examine the effect of internal factors and family influence on firm adoption of GP innovation. Findings The results showed that the internal factors of green capabilities, R&D intensity and firm size significantly and positively affected firm adoption of GP innovation separately. Furthermore, the study found that family influence (ownership and control) significantly and negatively affects firm adoption of GP innovation separately. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to the academic research of innovation management, green management and family firms in several aspects, but also has some limitations. This study examined only the relationship between a firm’s internal factors and GP innovation. Future research might test the relationship between a firm’s internal factors and adoption of green process innovation. In addition, such research can explore how integrated internal and external factors influence firm adoption of GP innovation. Practical implications From the RBV, the internal factors of green capabilities, R&D intensity and firm size that can exert crucial effects on firm engage in firm’s adoption of GP innovation. This study suggests that top managers in family-influenced businesses should maintain appropriate commitment and support for fostering and facilitating firm GP innovation. Social implications From the RBV, this study examined how internal factors affect firm adoption of GP innovation. Moreover, based on the behavioral theory of family firms, this study further examined how family influence (ownership and control) affects firm adoption of GP innovation. This paper extended both perspectives to examine green issues. Originality/value From the RBV, this study examined how internal factors affect firms’ GP innovation. Moreover, based on institutional theory, this study further examines how a family firm moderates the relationship between a firm’s internal factors and GP innovation. The paper extended both perspectives to probe further the green issues.
Adolescent C57BL/6J (but not DBA/2J) mice consume greater amounts of limited-access ethanol compared to adults and display continued elevated ethanol intake into adulthood.

BACKGROUND Alcohol use is common during the adolescent period, a time at which a number of crucial neurobiological, hormonal, and behavioral changes occur (Spear, 2000). In order to more fully understand the complex interaction between alcohol use and these age-typical neurobiological changes, animal models must be utilized. Rodents experience a developmental period similar to that of adolescence. Although rat models have shown striking adolescent-specific differences in sensitivity to ethanol, little work has been done in mice despite the fact that the C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA2/J (D2) mice have been shown to markedly differ in ethanol preference drinking and exhibit widely different sensitivities to ethanol. METHODS The current study examined ethanol intake in adolescent and adult B6 and D2 mice using a limited access alcohol exposure paradigm called Drinking in the Dark (DID). Additionally, the effect of adolescent (or adult) ethanol exposure on subsequent adult ethanol intake was examined by re-exposing the mice to the same paradigm once the adolescents reached adulthood. We hypothesized that adolescent (P25-45) mice would exhibit greater binge-like alcohol intake compared to adults (P60-80), and that B6 mice would exhibit greater binge-like alcohol intake compared to D2 mice. Moreover, we predicted that relative difference in binge-like alcohol intake between adolescents and adults would be greater in D2 mice. RESULTS Adolescent B6 mice consumed more ethanol than adults in the DID model. There was no difference between adolescent and adult D2 mice. CONCLUSIONS This work adds to the literature suggesting that adolescents will consume more ethanol than adults and that this exposure can result in altered adult intake. However, this effect seems largely dependent upon genotype. Future work will continue to examine age-related differences in ethanol intake, preference, and sensitivity in inbred mouse strains.
Moderate Physical Activity Is Associated With Lower ApoB/ApoA-I Ratios Independently of Other Risk Factors in Healthy, Middle-Aged Men

Low-density lipoprotein is recognized as a primary vascular risk factor. However, recent data favor apolipoprotein (apo)B and apoA-I as risk factors with higher predictive values than conventional lipids. We investigated how leisure-time physical activity relates to the serum apoB/apoA-I ratio in middle-aged men. The results showed that compared with a sedentary lifestyle, moderate physical activity was associated with a decreased apoB/apoA-I ratio (1.01 ± 0.28 vs 0.87 ± 0.24, P < .05) and increased apoA-I levels (1.30 ± 0.20 g/L vs 1.43 ± 0.22 g/L, P < .05), whereas vigorous activity was required to observe a reduction in apoB levels (1.27 ± 0.28 g/L vs 1.14 ± 0.24 g/L, P < .05). A covariate analysis showed that leisure time physical activity was also associated with reduced apoB/apoA-I ratios after adjustment for smoking, systolic blood pressure and waist circumference. Importantly, this association was seen at moderate levels of physical activity, supporting the notion that some activity is better than none.
Life-Cycle Consumption and Portfolio Choice with an Imperfect Predictor

I study the effect of observable predictors that imperfectly predict conditional expected stock returns on optimal life-cycle consumption and portfolio choice in the presence of undiversifi able labor income risk. Investors filter the unobservable expected stock returns from realized predictive variables and stock returns. Young stockholders hold more conservative portfolios, better matching empirical observations, than models assuming a predictor perfectly delivering the conditional expected stock return or models assuming i.i. d. stock returns. Welfare losses from ignoring imperfect predictability can be substantial.
Molecular Correlates of High-Level Antifolate Resistance in Rwandan Children with Plasmodium falciparum Malaria

ABSTRACT Antifolate drugs have an important role in the treatment of malaria. Polymorphisms in the genes encoding the dihydrofolate reductase and dihydropteroate synthetase enzymes cause resistance to the antifol and sulfa drugs, respectively. Rwanda has the highest levels of antimalarial drug resistance in Africa. We correlated the efficacy of chlorproguanil-dapsone plus artesunate (CPG-DDS+A) and amodiaquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (AQ+SP) in children with uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum parasites with pfdhfr and pfdhps mutations, which are known to confer reduced drug susceptibility, in two areas of Rwanda. In the eastern province, where the cure rates were low, over 75% of isolates had three or more pfdhfr mutations and two or three pfdhps mutations and 11% had the pfdhfr 164-Leu polymorphism. In the western province, where the cure rates were significantly higher (P < 0.001), the prevalence of multiple resistance mutations was lower and the pfdhfr I164L polymorphism was not found. The risk of treatment failure following the administration of AQ+SP more than doubled for each additional pfdhfr resistance mutation (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01 to 5.55; P = 0.048) and each pfdhps mutation (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.21 to 3.54; P = 0.008). The risk of failure following CPG-DDS+A treatment was 2.2 times higher (95% CI = 1.34 to 3.7) for each additional pfdhfr mutation, whereas there was no association with mutations in the pfdhps gene (P = 0.13). The pfdhfr 164-Leu polymorphism is prevalent in eastern Rwanda. Antimalarial treatments with currently available antifol-sulfa combinations are no longer effective in Rwanda because of high-level resistance.
The penalty for random deployment in hexagonal lattice networks with perturbed interferers

Base station (BS) locations are usually modelled using one of two extremes: at one end is a deterministic, hexagonal, location model; while at the other is a random deployment following a Poisson point process (PPP). However, real-world networks follow neither extreme; as such, in this paper, we focus on a modified perturbed hexagonal lattice model that, in terms of regularity, lies in between the PPP and the perfect hexagonal lattice models. In our modified perturbed hexagonal lattice, the location of all interfering BSs, except for the serving BS under consideration, are perturbed. We provide a simple and tight upper bound on the average total interference in an interference-limited reuse-1 network. The bound is presented in the form of a polynomial in the distance from the serving BS and another polynomial in the normalized perturbation. The presented formulation is useful in obtaining simple analytical expressions for various network parameters such as SIR and/or coverage probability. As an added benefit, the formulations here quantify the loss in the coverage probability in moving from the perfect lattice model to a random BS deployment. We use simulations to illustrate the accuracy of the theory developed.