Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary genomics of Staphylococcus aureus: Insights into the origin of methicillin-resistant strains and the toxic shock syndrome epidemic

An emerging theme in medical microbiology is that extensive variation exists in gene content among strains of many pathogenic bacterial species. However, this topic has not been investigated on a genome scale with strains recovered from patients with well-defined clinical conditions. Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen and also causes economically important infections in cows and sheep. A DNA microarray representing >90% of the S. aureus genome was used to characterize genomic diversity, evolutionary relationships, and virulence gene distribution among 36 strains of divergent clonal lineages, including methicillin-resistant strains and organisms causing toxic shock syndrome. Genetic variation in S. aureus is very extensive, with ≈22% of the genome comprised of dispensable genetic material. Eighteen large regions of difference were identified, and 10 of these regions have genes that encode putative virulence factors or proteins mediating antibiotic resistance. We find that lateral gene transfer has played a fundamental role in the evolution of S. aureus. The mec gene has been horizontally transferred into distinct S. aureus chromosomal backgrounds at least five times, demonstrating that methicillin-resistant strains have evolved multiple independent times, rather than from a single ancestral strain. This finding resolves a long-standing controversy in S. aureus research. The epidemic of toxic shock syndrome that occurred in the 1970s was caused by a change in the host environment, rather than rapid geographic dissemination of a new hypervirulent strain. DNA microarray analysis of large samples of clinically characterized strains provides broad insights into evolution, pathogenesis, and disease emergence.
The storage of mackerel (Scomber scombrus). Development of histamine and rancidity.

A method for estimating histamine in spoiling mackerel is given and the results for fish stored at ambient temperature, in ice and frozen storage are reported. Peroxide values are also reported for mackerel that has been processed in a number of different ways and stored at −14, −21 and −29°C for up to 1 1/2 years. The possibility of histamine being the causative agent of disorders from eating spoilt mackerel is discussed.
Prevalence of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate in Rural North-Central Guatemala

Objective To estimate the number of new cases of cleft lip and cleft palate in the department (state) of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, in 2012. Design Cross-sectional survey of midwives from communities identified through a two-stage cluster-sampling process. Midwives were asked how many babies they had delivered in the past year and how many of those newborns had various types of birth defects, as illustrated in pictures. Setting Indigenous Mayan communities in rural north-central Guatemala. Participants Midwives (n = 129) who had delivered babies in the previous year. Main Outcome Measure Reports of babies born with cleft lip and cleft palate. Results A 1-year prevalence rate of 18.9 per 10,000 for cleft lip and 4.7 per 10,000 for cleft palate was estimated for Alta Verapaz. None of the cases of cleft lip also had cleft palate. Conclusion The indigenous communities in north-central Guatemala might have a relatively high cleft lip prevalence rate compared with the global average.
Characterizing World Market Integration Through Time

International asset pricing models suggest that barriers to portfolio flows and availability of market substitutes affect the degree and time variation of world market integration. We use GARCH-in-mean methodology to assess the evolution in market integration for eight emerging markets over the period 1977–2000. Our results suggest that while local risk is still a relevant factor in explaining time variation of emerging market returns, none of the countries appear to be completely segmented. We find that there are substantial crossmarket differences in the degree of integration. The evolution toward more integrated financial markets is apparent although at times we do observe reversals. In addition, we provide clear evidence on the impropriety of directly using correlations of market-wide index returns as a measure of market integration. Finally, financial market development and financial liberalization policies play important roles in integrating emerging markets.
Roles for calcium signaling in structural plasticity and pathology in the hippocampal system

The mechanisms controlling neuroarchitectural dynamics in the hippocampal system during developmental and adult plasticity and in pathological conditions are considered. It is proposed that intracellular calcium is a key transducer of both adaptive and maladaptive changes in the neuroarchitecture of hippocampal circuitry in response to an array of environmental signals. The signaling systems considered include those of the excitatory amino acid glutamate, growth factors, and amyloid precursor proteins. The influence of these signaling systems on neuronal survival and plasticity are intimately linked to their effects on cellular calcium homeostasis. Inap-propriate modulation of these signaling systems disrupts calcium homeostasis and may thereby result in the destruction of hippocampal circuits in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), epilepsy, and stroke.
Comparison of the kinetics of S‐S bond, secondary structure, and active site formation during refolding of reduced denatured hen egg white lysozyme

To investigate the role of some tertiary interactions, the disulfide bonds, in the early stages of refolding of hen lysozyme, we report the kinetics of reoxidation of denatured and reduced lysozyme under the same refolding conditions as those previously used to investigate the kinetics of regain of its circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence, and activity. At different stages of the refolding, the oxidation of the protein was blocked by alkylation of the free cysteines with iodoacetamide and the various oxidation states present in the samples were identified by electrospray‐mass spectrometry. Thus, it was possible to monitor the appearance and/or disappearance of the species with 0 to 4 disulfide bonds. Using a simulation program, these kinetics were compared with those of regain of far‐UV CD, fluorescence, and enzymatic activity and were discussed in terms of a refined model for the refolding of reduced hen egg white lysozyme.
Prognostic Implications of the Difference Between Left Ventricular Ejection Fractions After Stress and at Rest in Addition to the Quantification of Myocardial Perfusion Abnormalities Obtained With Gated SPECT

Background The prognostic significance of the difference between poststress and at rest left ventricular ejection fraction (&Dgr;LVEF) in patients sent for diagnostic myocardial perfusion study (MPS) is not well characterized. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the ability of &Dgr;LVEF in further risk stratifying these patients in addition to the severity/extent of myocardial perfusion abnormalities expressed as the total perfusion deficit at stress (sTPD), according to the type of stress used. Methods and Results Two-day 99mTc-MIBI MPS after stress and rest were obtained for 507 patients subdivided according to the type of stress used, sTPD values, and &Dgr;LVEF. Subsequent cardiac events were determined through a standardized questionnaire applied 1, 2, and 6 years after MPS. Independent of the type of stress used, the 6-year event rate with progressive perfusion and functional abnormalities combined was significant for total events, all-cause death, cardiac death, and revascularization but not for myocardial infarct. When &Dgr;LVEF decreased by more than −10%, only those individuals with sTPD of 5% or less had increased 6-year total event rates [5.9% vs 15% for those submitted to treadmill test (P < 0.001) and 8.3% vs 19% when submitted to pharmacological stress (P = 0.001)]. An sTPD greater than 5% was the only variable predictive of total events when multivariate analysis was applied (P < 0.001 for treadmill exercise and P = 0.033 for dipyridamole). Conclusions Estimation of &Dgr;LVEF in addition to sTPD seems to improve risk stratification for future events when &Dgr;LVEF decreases by more than −10% for those individuals with normal or near-normal myocardial perfusion (sTPD ⩽ 5%). An sTPD greater than 5% was a better prognostic indicator of future events when compared with &Dgr;LVEF for individuals with greater perfusion abnormality at stress.
In vivo reduction of amyloid-β by a mutant copper transporter

Cu ions have been suggested to enhance the assembly and pathogenic potential of the Alzheimer's disease amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. To explore this relationship in vivo, toxic-milk (txJ) mice with a mutant ATPase7b transporter favoring elevated Cu levels were analyzed in combination with the transgenic (Tg) CRND8 amyloid precursor protein mice exhibiting robust Aβ deposition. Unexpectedly, TgCRND8 mice homozygous for the recessive txJ mutation examined at 6 months of age exhibited a reduced number of amyloid plaques and diminished plasma Aβ levels. In addition, homozygosity for txJ increased survival of young TgCRND8 mice and lowered endogenous CNS Aβ at times before detectable increases in Cu in the CNS. These data suggest that the beneficial effect of the txJ mutation on CNS Aβ burden may proceed by a previously undescribed mechanism, likely involving increased clearance of peripheral pools of Aβ peptide.
An HVS-Directed Neural-Network-Based Image Resolution Enhancement Scheme for Image Resizing

In this paper, a novel human visual system (HVS)-directed neural-network-based adaptive interpolation scheme for natural image is proposed. A fuzzy decision system built from the characteristics of the HVS is proposed to classify pixels of the input image into human perception nonsensitive class and sensitive class. Bilinear interpolation is used to interpolate the nonsensitive regions and a neural network is proposed to interpolate the sensitive regions along edge directions. High-resolution digital images along with supervised learning algorithms are used to automatically train the proposed neural network. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed new resolution enhancement algorithm can produce a higher visual quality for the interpolated image than the conventional interpolation methods.
Pregnancy as a window of opportunity for HIV prevention: effects of an HIV intervention delivered within prenatal care.

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine whether an HIV prevention program bundled with group prenatal care reduced sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence, repeat pregnancy, sexual risk behavior, and psychosocial risks. METHODS We conducted a randomized controlled trial at 2 prenatal clinics. We assigned pregnant women aged 14 to 25 years (N = 1047) to individual care, attention-matched group care, and group care with an integrated HIV component. We conducted structured interviews at baseline (second trimester), third trimester, and 6 and 12 months postpartum. RESULTS Mean age of participants was 20.4 years; 80% were African American. According to intent-to-treat analyses, women assigned to the HIV-prevention group intervention were significantly less likely to have repeat pregnancy at 6 months postpartum than individual-care and attention-matched controls; they demonstrated increased condom use and decreased unprotected sexual intercourse compared with individual-care and attention-matched controls. Subanalyses showed that being in the HIV-prevention group reduced STI incidence among the subgroup of adolescents. CONCLUSION HIV prevention integrated with prenatal care resulted in reduced biological, behavioral, and psychosocial risks for HIV.
Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention for Women

Physical activity is associated with health and reduced mortality risk, yet only15% ofU.S. adults achieve adequate activity. This study is an experimental repeated measures nested design randomizing two similar rural communities to investigate the effectiveness of the Heart and Soul Physical Activity Program (HSPAP) (Peterson, 2002) in promoting physical activity in midlife women (n =42) aged 35 to 65 years. The HSPAP, an innovative church-based health promotion intervention, is conceptualized in social support and designed to increase physical activity, energy expenditure (EE), and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 max), measured over time. A significant interaction (p < .001) was found for EE in one HSPAP group increasing their EE by 1,010 kcals/week. HSPAP participants increased their VO2 max level by 75% (p < .001) and 10%; comparison groups stayed the same or declined 16%. Study results provide preliminary support for the HSPAP intervention as an effective treatment to improve physical activity levels in sedentary, rural, midlife women.
Why Be Smoke-Free? A Qualitative Study of Smoke-Free Restaurant Owner and Manager Opinions

This qualitative study captured the opinions of the owners and managers of smoke-free restaurants. The purpose of this study, initiated by local citizens who were members of a group called Healthy Alamance, was to identify the motivations and experiences of restaurant owners and managers who had committed to smoke-free indoor environments. Telephone interviews were attempted with all 80 owners/managers of smoke-free restaurants in Alamance County, North Carolina, and 87.5% of these restaurant owners/managers completed the interview. The investigators isolated economic factors, customer demands and considerations, and environmental issues as the three principal categories describing smoke-free restaurant owners’ and managers’ motivations for becoming smoke free. The results from this study can be used to assist communities working toward the development of a smoke-free restaurant campaign.
Population-based threshold models describe weed germination and emergence patterns across varying temperature, moisture and oxygen conditions

Summary 1. Opportunities for diversifying the management of weedy populations may be enhanced through accurate predictions of seedling emergence, because the timing and success of control measures often hinges on the timing of weed emergence. We used population-based threshold models to establish the temperature, moisture and oxygen conditions for optimum germination of herbicide-resistant and -susceptible Echinochloa phyllopogon, a weed of temperate paddy rice, and applied them to predict emergence from field soil. 2. We combined hydrothermal time for germination, accounting for within-population variation in base water potentials (Ψb), with thermal time for early seedling growth to predict the quantity and proportional size of the emergence flushes that constitute final recruitment. 3. Emergence in field soils was reduced by moisture stress and flooding, especially for the resistant population. In all populations, germination rates increased between 9� 5 and 31 °C, Ψb was <� 1� 0 MPa, and there was no sensitivity to oxygen supply. 4. Synthesis and applications. Population-based threshold models produced physiologically meaningful germination parameters, which are useful in defining the environmental constraints to germination, and predicting Echinochloa phyllopogon germination and emergence in field soils. By exploring the effects of temperature, water stress and flooding on germination and emergence, we predict irrigation regimes for optimising recruitment and the timing of weed control.
The selective noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor reboxetine has an early onset of antidepressant action

INTRODUCTION: Most antidepressants take several weeks to demonstrate a therapeutic effect. We examined the time to onset of action of reboxetine, a unique selective noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor (selective NRI). METHODS: In a multinational, multicentre, double-blind, parallel-group study, 56 inpatients with major depression were randomized to receive placebo or reboxetine titrated to 10 mg/day for 6 weeks. Efficacy was principally assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. RESULTS: Reboxetine was associated with a significantly greater reduction in mean HAM-D total score from baseline to last assessment when compared with placebo. The effect of reboxetine separated from placebo at day 10 (P=0.006), indicated an early onset. In accordance with this observation, individual HAM-D item scores early showed significant improvements among patients treated with reboxetine when compared with those who received placebo: mood improved by day 10 (P=0.004), insomnia and interest in work and daily activities by day 14 (P=0.006 and 0.003, respectively) and somatic symptoms and anxiety by day 21 (P<0.001 in both cases). CONCLUSION: Reboxetine is an effective antidepressant with an early onset of action. Depressed mood is relieved first, followed by an improvement in interest in daily activities.
Instructor personality matters for student evaluations: Evidence from two subject areas at university

BACKGROUND Instructors are under pressure to produce excellent outcomes in students. Although the contribution of student personality on student outcomes is well established, the contribution of instructor personality to student outcomes is largely unknown. AIM This study examined the influence of instructor personality (as reported by both students and instructors themselves) on student educational outcomes at university. SAMPLE AND METHOD Mathematics and psychology university students (N = 515) and their instructors (n = 45) reported their personality under the Big Five framework. RESULTS Multilevel regressions were conducted to predict each outcome from instructor personality, taking into account the effects of student gender, age, cognitive ability, and personality, as well as instructor gender and age. Student-reports of instructor personality predicted student evaluations of teaching but not performance self-efficacy or academic achievement. Instructor self-reports did not predict any of the outcomes. Stronger associations between student-reports and the outcomes than instructor self-reports could be explained by students providing information on both the predictor and the outcome variables, as well as a greater number of raters providing information on instructor personality. Different domains of the instructor Big Five were important for different element of student evaluations of teaching. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the importance of studying instructor personality, especially through other-reports, to understand students' educational experiences. This has implications for how tertiary institutions should use and interpret student evaluations.
Automated Semantic Annotations of Tourism Resources Based on Geospatial Data

Web 2.0 applications, now common in the tourism domain, make it easy to share travel related experiences and opinions, thus, leading to the creation of enormous amounts of user generated content. This type of tourist information must, however, be preprocessed by structuring and aggregating it in order to avoid overwhelming users. In this article we, therefore, propose a knowledge-based approach that exploits spatial proximity to annotate resources with qualitative semantic concepts for tourism products, such as proximity to a lake or opportunities for specific sporting activities. Finally, the article describes the successful prototypical implementation of the proposed technique and provides insight into a practical usage scenario
Vertical and Horizontal Agency Problems in Private Firms: Ownership Structure and Operating Performance

Abstract We investigate how ownership structure influences operating performance and implied agency costs. Our sample includes over 42,000 U.K. private and public firms. We document several new results of considerable economic significance relating to i) horizontal agency costs arising from unequal ownership within private firms, ii) amplification of agency costs from joint presence within the same firm of horizontal agency problems and vertical agency problems arising from separation of ownership and control, iii) mitigation in agency costs wrought by a second large shareholder, iv) impact of complex ownership structures, and v) agency cost differences between public firms and comparable private firms.
Synchronous Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer in Young Women: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND Young women with endometrial cancer (EC) have an increased risk of synchronous ovarian cancer. The prognosis of women with synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancer (SEOC) is good. A high proportion of affected women have hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer syndrome (HNPCC). CASE PRESENTATION We present the case of a 45-year-old woman with histologically proven endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium (pT1B, G2, R0 without lymphovascular space invasion). She underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Final histology revealed a synchronous bilateral endometrioid ovarian cancer (pT1A, G2, R0). HNPCC analysis by immunohistochemistry showed no microsatellite instability in MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, and PMS2. No adjuvant therapy was administered, clinical follow-up with regular gynecological examinations was recommended. In a systematic literature review, 2,904 cases of women with SEOC were identified with 1,035 (36%) of them being premenopausal or <50 years of age. The proportion of women with SEOC among all reported EC cases was 842/23,498 (3%) and the proportion of young women with SEOC among all reported EC cases was 261/23,498 (1%). In summary, microsatellite instability and subsequent mutations in mismatch repair genes compatible with HNPCC were identified in 6/15 (40%) women analyzed. The mean recurrence-free and overall survival times of young women with SEOC were 1.9 (min 0.2, max 3) and 4.0 (min 0.2, max 22.1) years, respectively. CONCLUSION Young women with EC have a high risk of synchronous ovarian cancer. Thus, in young women with EC, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or careful histological assessment of both ovaries are recommended in order to confirm or rule out SEOC. HNPCC testing should be offered to all women.
Kin Recognition in two Species of Cellar Spiders, (Pholcidae), and its Effects on Inter- and Intra-Specific Predation of Spiderlings

Abstract. Intraguild predation and cannibalism are important behaviors that provide resources and influence interactions between different predators. Cannibalistic species should have a mechanism to identify offspring and suppress predation. We tested this hypothesis using two nonnative species of pholcid spiders in Ohio, Pholcus phalangioides and Pholcus manueli. In the laboratory we allowed females of both species to produce clutches. Once hatched the spiderlings were separated from their mother for 1 h and then reintroduced to the mother, a conspecific, or were introduced to an heterospecific adult female. The proportion of prey items consumed was recorded. Pholcus phalangioides predation patterns were consistent across species, but P. manueli feed on P. phalangioides young at twice the rate of young conspecifics, treating heterospecific young similar to control crickets. Further, mothers did not prey on their own young. These results highlight an important biological difference between the two species and indicate that intraguild predation may play an important role in interactions between the two species.