Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in urine samples from men and women by ligase chain reaction

The suitability of urine specimens from women and men for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infection by a ligase chain reaction (LCR)-based assay with plasmid primers was examined with a group of patients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Cervical specimens from 15 of 237 (6.3%) women tested positive for C. trachomatis by cell culture. Of the 25 (10.5%) female urine samples that tested positive by the plasmid-LCR assay, 13 were obtained from cervical culture-positive women. Nine of the 12 plasmid-LCR-positive urine samples from cervical culture-negative women were confirmed to be positive by a second LCR assay with primers based on chromosomal DNA. Urethral specimens from 24 of 258 (9.3%) men were positive for C. trachomatis infection by cell culture. Of the 25 (9.7%) urine samples that tested positive by plasmid-LCR, 20 were from culture-positive men. All five of the LCR-positive urine samples from culture-negative men were confirmed to be positive by the LCR with chromosomal DNA primers. Relative to cell culture, testing by plasmid-LCR analysis of male urine samples had a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 97.9%; after resolution of discordant samples, these values were 86.2 and 100%, respectively. In the study with women, the sensitivities of plasmid-LCR analysis of cervical and urine specimens in comparison with cervical cell culture were 93.3 and 86.7%, respectively. After resolution of discrepant samples, the sensitivities of the plasmid-LCR test for cervical swabs and female urine samples were 96.3 and 92.6%, respectively. These results indicate that the plasmid-LCR-based assay is a very reliable, sensitive, convenient test for the detection of C. trachomatis infection in female and male urine specimens.
Prototypes of Emerging Metropolitan Nanodistricts in the United States and Europe

In this paper, we explore nanotechnology research and commercialization at a regional level. The study identifies leading US and European prototype "nanodistricts" or metropolitan areas active in nanotechnology research over the 1990-2006 timeframe. We probe the factors underlying the emergence of these metropolitan areas through exploratory cluster analysis. We find that while most of the leading nanodistricts are found in locations that were prominent in previous rounds of emerging technologies, new geographic concentrations of nanotechnology research have also surfaced.
Phonetic Realization of Automatic (Downdrift) and Non-automatic Downstep in Akan

This paper deals with the question whether automatic and non-automatic downstep are distinct processes or can be regarded as the same phenomenon. Downstep is seen as a lowering of the pitch register, relatively to which tones are scaled. The distinction between the two types of downstep arises from differences in their tonal surface structure: In the case of automatic downstep a L(ow) tone intervening H(igh) tones triggers downstep (HLH); in the case of non-automatic downstep the L tone trigger is not realized phonetically (H! H, ! indicates downstep). Our controlled experimental data on downstep in Akan suggest that the degree of lowering is the same in both cases contrary to what has been claimed earlier in the literature.
Normal Values of Obstructive Hyponea in Children: Still Uncharted Waters?

We read with interest the study by Traeger et al. (‘‘Polysomnography Values in Children 2–9 Years Old: Additional Data and Review of the Literature’’), and would like to comment on a few areas. The studied population is one that underwent magnetic resonance imaging that turned out to be normal. We suspect that the population under study might include children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Out of 66 children, 17 had headache, a common symptom of OSAS, 5 had syncope, another symptom of OSAS, and 11 patients were obese, a well-known risk factor for OSAS. Fourteen patients had mild asthma, but the frequency of allergic rhinitis, a common coexisting condition with asthma, was not reported. This omission is not acceptable, as allergic rhinitis is a well-known risk factor for OSAS. Traeger et al. found males to have a significantly higher obstructive apnea index, but they did not explore the reason(s) behind this finding. Allergic rhinitis might be the reason, as more male children had allergic rhinitis, a risk factor for obstructive apnea. The use of a questionnaire to ensure that the population chosen did not have OSAS was not appropriate, as diagnosis of OSAS based on history and physical examination alone was proven to be inaccurate by a recent systematic review. The rather high prevalence of paradoxical breathing in the study by Traeger et al. also suggests that the population they studied was not normal. Using the same respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP) technology, Kohyama et al. demonstrated that paradoxical breathing occurred less than 1.1 times per hour in a group of subjects without desaturation and obstructive apnea after 3.3 years of age. This was much lower than what was reported by Traeger et al. At our own center, a piezo crystal sensor belt is also used, and we found much less paradoxical breathing in our group of children with snoring. The absence of a nasal pressure transducer for a semiquantitative assessment of air flow makes the hypopnea finding highly dubious. We agree with Traeger et al. that ‘‘they added to the current knowledge regarding arousals and awakening and periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS),’’ but we do not think that they added to the current knowledge of hypopneas and paradoxical breathing in normal children. Further studies with the right equipment are needed to define the normal range of obstructive hypopneas in a ‘‘truly’’ normal population of children.
Behavioural and biochemical studies in rats with N-methyl-D-aspartic acid and kainic acid [proceedings].

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Volatility Spillover Effects in Scandinavian Equity Markets

The mean and volatility spillover effects from the US and the aggregate European stock markets into individual Scandinavian equity markets are investigated by applying an EGARCH volatility-spillover model. Both the mean and volatility spillover effects from the US market are found to be significant. The European mean-spillover effects are small, negligible, and insignificant whereas the EU volatility-spillover effects are essential for all Nordic countries. In these four countries, the European effects are least significant. In Denmark and Norway, the local effects are most essential, followed by the US effects whereas the world influences are most significant in Sweden and Finland. The significance level of the world, regional, and local effects in Sweden and Denmark are neither changed by the formation of the OMX group, the 2008 financial crisis, nor the overall trend from 1995 until 2012. Although the two big events that had happened have increased the significance level of the impact from the US to Norway, but the general trend of the significant effects from the three markets (the US, EU, and the local) remains unaltered. In Finland, there is no significant change in spillover effect stemming from the occurrence of these two events, but the influences from the local effects are increasing over the sample period.
Examining the benefits of audience integration

This study investigates whether sharing of or commenting on online news enhances loyalty toward online news outlets. We identify two mediators of audience integration and loyalty: satisfaction and trust, which are measured by attitudinal attributions toward a news outlet. Loyalty is measured by frequently and exclusively using an online news outlet and an absent willingness to change to another online news outlet in the future. The relations between audience integration, satisfaction, trust, and loyalty are estimated with a mediation model. Results from an online survey with N = 1825 Swiss online news users reveal small but significant effects of sharing and commenting quantities on loyalty. Sharing tends to increase satisfaction, which in turn enhances loyalty. In contrast, commenting deteriorates satisfaction and trust, but directly improves loyalty. Overall, sharing and commenting slightly increase loyalty. In conclusion, sharing has a small, positive attitudinal relationship-building capacity for online news outlets, whereas commenting does not. Nonetheless, commenting features should not be abandoned by news outlets.
Resistance to extinction of human evaluative conditioning using a between‐subjects design

Two experiments were conducted to examine whether the resistance to extinction obtained in evaluative conditioning (EC) studies implies that EC is a qualitatively distinct form of classical conditioning (Baeyens, Eelen, & Crombez, 1995a) or whether it is the result of an nonassociative artefact (Field & Davey, 1997, 1998, 1999). Both experiments included between‐subjects control groups in addition to standard within‐subjects control conditions. In Experiment 1, only verbal ratings were measured in order to evaluate the effect of postacquisition CS‐only exposures on EC whereas in Experiment 2, verbal ratings and postextinction priming effects were measured. The results showed that the EC effects are demonstrable in a between‐subjects design and that the extinction procedure did not have any influence on the acquired evaluative value of CSs regardless of whether the verbal ratings or the priming effects were used as dependent variables. The present results provide evidence that EC is resistant to extinction and suggest an interpretation of EC as a qualitatively distinct form of associative learning.
Contrasting Phylogeographic Patterns in Mitochondrial DNA and Microsatellites: Evidence of Female Philopatry and Male-Biased Gene Flow Among Regional Populations of the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw (Psittaciformes: Ara ararauna) in Brazil

ABSTRACT. Comparing the patterns of population differentiation among genetic markers with different modes of inheritance can provide insights into patterns of sex-biased dispersal and gene flow. The Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) is a Neotropical parrot with a broad geographic distribution in South America. However, little is known about the natural history and current status of remaining wild populations, including levels of genetic variability. The progressive decline and possible fragmentation of populations may endanger this species in the near future. We analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control-region sequences and six microsatellite loci of Blue-and-yellow Macaws sampled throughout their geographic range in Brazil to describe population genetic structure, to make inferences about historical demography and dispersal behavior, and to provide insight for conservation efforts. Analyses of population genetic structure based on mtDNA showed evidence of two major populations in western and eastern Brazil that share a few lowfrequency haplotypes. This phylogeographic pattern seems to have originated by the historical isolation of Blue-and-yellow Macaw populations ∼374,000 years ago and has been maintained by restricted gene flow and female philopatry. By contrast, variation in biparentally inherited microsatellites was not structured geographically. Male-biased dispersal and female philopatry best explain the different patterns observed in these two markers. Because females disperse less than males, the two regional populations with well-differentiated mtDNA haplogroups should be considered two different management units for conservation purposes.
An improved OBT strategy for untuned continuous-time analog filters

This paper presents an enhanced Oscillation Based Test (OBT) scheme that performs a relative comparison between two oscillation frequencies, eliminating the need of a fixed reference and allowing in this way the application of the OBT technique to non tuned circuits. Indeed, the fact of dealing with untuned filters prevents careless application of the traditional OBT. This is because, as a consequence of the process parameters dispersion, the use of one unique and fixed reference oscillation frequency for evaluating the test results is no longer practical. In order to overcome this problem a new approach based on the relative comparison of two oscillation frequencies is proposed. For evaluating the effectiveness of the idea, catastrophic fault models at both, device and circuit level, have been adopted. The results are encouraging, despite the circuit complexity introduced for adapting the classical OBT to untuned filters. Although a Gm-C filter was used for the proof of concept herein presented, it results clear that this strategy can be applied to any kind of continuous-time analog filters like MOSFET-C or R-AO-C filters, among others.
Simplified path metric updating in the M algorithm for VLSI implementation

A VLSI structure for path metric updating in the M algorithm is presented. The architecture is based on the combination of a modified Batcher's (1968) odd-even merging network and a bitonic selection procedure. A feature of the trellis structure allows to replace an existing solution based on two 2M-item sorting operations by three M-item sorting operations with an additional one-layer bitonic merge. These three sorting networks and the bitonic merging procedure permit a reduction of up to 50% in hardware complexity.
Akt Switches TopBP1 Function from Checkpoint Activation to Transcriptional Regulation through Phosphoserine Binding-Mediated Oligomerization

ABSTRACT Our previous study showed that Akt phosphorylates TopBP1 at the Ser-1159 residue and induces its oligomerization. Oligomerization is required for TopBP1 to bind and repress E2F1 activity. However, the mechanism through which phosphorylation of TopBP1 by Akt leads to its oligomerization remains to be determined. Here, we demonstrate that binding between the phosphorylated Ser-1159 (pS1159) residue and the 7th and 8th BRCT domains of TopBP1 mediates TopBP1 oligomerization. Mutations within the 7th and 8th BRCT domains of TopBP1 that block binding to a pS1159-containing peptide block TopBP1 oligomerization and its ability to bind and repress E2F1 activities. The Akt-induced TopBP1 oligomerization is also directly demonstrated in vitro by size exclusion chromatography. Importantly, oligomerization perturbs the checkpoint-activating function of TopBP1 by preventing its recruitment to chromatin and ATR binding upon replicative stress. Hyperactivation of Akt inhibits Chk1 phosphorylation after hydroxyurea treatment, and this effect is dependent on TopBP1 phosphorylation at Ser-1159. Thus, Akt can switch the TopBP1 function from checkpoint activation to transcriptional regulation by regulating its quaternary structure. This pathway of regulation is clinically significant, since treatment of a specific Akt inhibitor in PTEN-mutated cancer cells inhibits TopBP1 oligomerization and causes its function to revert from promoting survival to checkpoint activation.
The Impact of Controlling Shareholder Diversification on the Firm

In this study we use direct estimates of the diversification of the largest shareholder in a firm to study the impact of shareholder diversification on the firm. Overall, we find that under diversified controlling shareholders value control very highly. However, there is limited evidence that the lack of diversification harms other shareholders. Controlling shareholders appear to use debt, dual class shares and corporate transactions to strategically trade off the private benefits of control and the drawback of poor portfolio diversification.
Nox 2 ds-Tat , A Peptide Inhibitor of NADPH Oxidase , Exerts Cardioprotective Effects by Attenuating Reactive Oxygen Species During Ischemia / Reperfusion Injury

Myocardial infarction is a form of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury that causes cardiac contractile dysfunction and cell death. I/R injury is mediated, in part, by decreased endothelial-derived nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in cell death. Cytokines released from I/R tissue activate G-protein coupled receptors that in turn stimulate NADPH oxidase to produce ROS. Thus, administration of a NADPH oxidase peptide inhibitor, Nox2ds-tat (formerly known as gp91ds-tat), may be a rational approach to attenuate I/R injury. Nox2ds-tat dose-dependently inhibited (10 μM 80 μM; n=5) phorbol 12-myristate13-acetate (n=21) induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte superoxide production up to 37 ± 7% (p<0.05; Fig. 3). Similarly, Nox2ds-tat dose-dependently attenuated I/R induced cardiac contractile dysfunction as evidenced by improved post-reperfused left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) which recovered up to 77 ± 7% (5 μM80 μM; p<0.05; n=6-7) of initial values (pre-ischemic values) at 45 min post-reperfusion when compared to control I/R hearts (n=14) that only recovered to 46 ± 6% from initial values for LVDP in isolated perfused rat hearts subjected to global I(30 min)/R(45 min) (Table 1). I/R control hearts exhibited an infarct size of 46 ± 2.1%, whereas I/R + Nox2ds-tat hearts exhibited infarct sizes of 30 ± 4% (5 μM), 15 ± 1.4% (10 μM), 23 ± 2.0% (40 μM), and 19 ± 1.6% (80 μM) (p<0.01 vs. control I/R hearts; Figure 4, Panel A-B). Regarding in vivo assessments, Nox2ds-tat (4.1 mg/kg, IV) significantly reduced blood H2O2 (1.4 μM) and increased endothelial-derived blood NO (127 nM) at 45 min reperfusion
The effect of rituximab on humoral and cell mediated immunity and infection in the treatment of autoimmune diseases

Depletion of B lymphocytes using the anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab has wide‐spread use in the treatment of patients with autoimmune disorders. As haematopoietic progenitor cells and only a fraction of differentiated plasma express CD20, the effect of rituximab on immune function appears to be minimal. However, hypogammagobulinaemia can occur with repeated doses and emerging data from large studies suggest a subtle increase in the risk of infection. Reactivation of latent JC virus, resulting in progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy, and hepatitis B virus, resulting in hepatoxicity, have been documented in patients receiving rituximab; although confounding effects of concomitant immunosuppressive therapies and immune dysregulation due to the underlying disease make causal associations of infections problematic. This review discusses the efficacy of B cell depletion therapy in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, the effect of B cell depletion on infection and immunity including the role of the B cell in autoimmunity, and identifies areas of controversy.
Water Sharing in Rural Africa : The Behavioral Relevance of Scarcity and Social Status

Making use of a repeated distribution game experiment, we investigate how African peasants distribute and enforce water access in irrigation schemes. Two questions are addressed. First, we investigate the influence of scarcity by comparing a treatment of abundant water availability with a treatment where water is insufficient for both players to reach a minimum production threshold. Second, we study to what extent social status influences distribution and enforcement of water access. For this, we complement the experimental data with data from a social status ranking exercise. JEL classification: D74, C93
Ownership Structure and The Performance of Quoted Companies in Nigeria

Following the Berle-Means thesis ( 1932) which implies that diffuse ownership adversely affects finn pe1jonnance, diverse researches have been carried out to obtain an empirical evidence to support or nullify their position. This work, seeks to find out whether the ownership structure of Nigerian finns results in systematic variations in their pe1jormance. For the purpose of this study, ownership structure was classified as inside or managerial ownership and outside ownership (those who are not directly involved in management). The objective of the study is to ascertain the influence of each of the classification onfirm 's pe1jonnance. The hypotheses were tested using datafor 20 Nigerian firms listed on the NSE. Empirical findings suggest that whereas a high level of inside ownership negatively but significantly relates to higher firms' performance, outside ownership was found to be positively and significantly related to firm performance
Circadian Preference and Sleep-Wake Regularity: Associations With Self-Report Sleep Parameters in Daytime-Working Adults

The aim of this study was to explore how interindividual differences in circadian type (morningness) and sleep timing regularity might be related to subjective sleep quality and quantity. Self-report circadian phase preference, sleep timing, sleep quality, and sleep duration were assessed in a sample of 62 day-working adults (33.9% male, age 23–48 yrs). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) measured subjective sleep quality and the Sleep Timing Questionnaire (STQ) assessed habitual sleep latency and minutes awake after sleep onset. The duration, timing, and stability of sleep were assessed using the STQ separately for work-week nights (Sunday–Thursday) and for weekend nights (Friday and Saturday). Morningness-eveningness was assessed using the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM). Daytime sleepiness was measured using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). A morning-type orientation was associated with longer weekly sleep duration, better subjective sleep quality, and shorter sleep-onset latency. Stable weekday rise-time correlated with better self-reported sleep quality and shorter sleep-onset latency. A more regular weekend bedtime was associated with a shorter sleep latency. A more stable weekend rise-time was related to longer weekday sleep duration and lower daytime sleepiness. Increased overall regularity in rise-time was associated with better subjective sleep quality, shorter sleep-onset latency, and higher weekday sleep efficiency. Finally, a morning orientation was related to increased regularity in both bedtimes and rise-times. In conclusion, in daytime workers, a morning-type orientation and more stable sleep timing are associated with better subjective sleep quality. (Author correspondence: asoehner@berkeley.edu)