Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Iconic Image in a Digital Age

Abstract This article investigates selected newspapers’ editorial mediations over contrasting perceptions regarding the significance of a controversial set of ‘iconic’ news photographs, namely images of Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian refugee, whose drowned corpse washed ashore in September, 2015. Specifically, this study examined individual editorial items, published by leading Danish, Canadian and British newspapers over a four-month period, engaging with and reflecting upon this imagery. Our analysis revealed several key deliberative features of editorial self-reflexivity, with three especially salient themes shown to be emergent across the coverage: a) instantaneousness and historical photographic precedents; b) social media’s perceived influence on photojournalism; and c) normative associations of affective qualities for this imagery. By elucidating these features of editorial self-reflexivity within a convergent digital media ecology, this article offers original insights into how and why the epistemic values governing visual communication are being reconsidered and redrawn under pressure from institutional imperatives.
PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN Markman, Tetlock / ACCOUNTABILITY AND COUNTERFACTUALS Accountability and Close-Call Counterfactuals: The Loser Who Nearly Won and the Winner Who Nearly Lost

This article links recent work on assimilative and contrastive counterfactual thinking with research on the impact of accountability on judgment and choice. Relative to participants who felt accountable solely for bottom-line performance outcomes, participants who were accountable for their decision-making process (a) had more pronounced differential reactions to clearly winning versus (winning but) nearly losing and to clearly losing versus (losing but) nearly winning; (b) were less satisfied with the quality of their decisions when they nearly lost and more satisfied with the quality of their decisions when they nearly won; and (c) invested less money into investments that nearly failed and more money into investments that nearly succeeded. This pattern is consistent with the hypothesis that process accountability amplified assimilative counterfactual thinking, whereas outcome accountability attenuated it. The evidence underscores the power of contextual features of the decision-making environment to shape key cognitive and affective consequences of upward and downward counterfactual comparisons.
ANTAGONISTIC ACTIVITY OF BACILLUS BACTERIA AGAINST FOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS

Bacillus bacteria have attracted the attention of scientists as promising probiotics because of their versatile antimicrobial activity and established health benefits on the host. In this study, seven Bacillus strains were identified and analyzed for antagonistic activity against broad spectrum of food borne pathogens. All strains were identified as B. subtilis, based on the results of morphological, biochemical characterization and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. B. subtilis strains demonstrated antagonistic activity against test-cultures of pathogens, including multiresistant strains. Reference Bacillus strains, derived from the commercial probiotics did not show antagonistic activity against tested strains of pathogens. Three the most active cultures were studied for production of biosurfactants. Crude biosurfactants were isolated and analyzed by oil spread test and inhibition activity against Salmonella, Shigella and Staphylococcus cultures. Biosurfactants from three tested B. subtilis strains gave positive oil spread test. Inhibition activity of biosurfactants was found only against Staphylococcus strains. Production of biosurfactants depended on the incubation conditions of Bacillus culture. Best results were obtained after cultivation of bacilli in starch broth at 30°C. The concentration of produced biosurfactant increased in time with growth of bacteria and reached the maximum at 30 hours of incubation.
Parental Autonomy Support and Career Well-Being

Self-determination theory (SDT) was used to explain the relation of parental autonomy support for making their own decisions and career well-being (i.e., more academic major satisfaction and less subjective career distress). Perceived academic competence and perceived volitional autonomy were posited to mediate the relation of mother’s and father’s autonomy support and career well-being in 113 university students. Perceived academic competence mediated the relation of father’s support and both indicators of career well-being. Perceived volitional autonomy mediated the relation of mother’s support and both indicators of career well-being. A bootstrap procedure yielded significant mediation effects of mother’s and father’s autonomy support on career well-being. Results are discussed in terms of SDT and career well-being.
Antimicrobial lock solutions as a method to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND Antimicrobial lock solutions may be an effective strategy to prevent catheter-associated infections. However, there remains concern about their efficacy and safety. METHODS To investigate the efficacy of antimicrobial lock therapy to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), we performed a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov, from the earliest date up to 31 December 2013. Studies were eligible if they were randomized controlled trials comparing antimicrobial lock solutions to heparin and if they provided an appropriate definition of infection. RESULTS The 23 included studies reported data on 2896 patients, who were predominantly adult patients undergoing hemodialysis (16/23 studies), but also adult and pediatric oncology patients, critically ill neonates, and patients receiving total parenteral nutrition. The use of antimicrobial lock solutions led to a 69% reduction in CLABSI rate (relative risk [RR], 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], .24-.40) and a 32% reduction in the rate of exit site infections (RR, 0.68; 95% CI, .49-.95) compared with heparin, without significantly affecting catheter failure due to noninfectious complications (RR, 0.83; 95% CI, .65-1.06). All-cause mortality was not different between the groups (RR, 0.84; 95% CI .64-1.12). Neither the type of antimicrobial solution nor the population studied, affected the relative reduction in CLABSIs, which also remained significant among studies reporting baseline infection rates of <1.15 per 1000 catheter-days, and studies providing data for catheter-related bloodstream infections. Publication and selective reporting bias are a concern in our study and should be acknowledged. CONCLUSIONS Antimicrobial lock solutions are effective in reducing risk of CLABSI, and this effect appears to be additive to traditional prevention measures.
Tau in cerebrospinal fluid: A potential diagnostic marker in Alzheimer's disease

Cerebrospinal fluid from 70 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 96 patients with non‐AD neurological diseases as well as 19 normal control subjects was surveyed by sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay to quantitate levels of the microtubule‐associated protein tau in cerebrospinal fluid. The tau level was significantly increased in AD patients as compared with that in patients with non‐AD neurological diseases and control subjects. Increased tau levels were found irrespective of age at onset, apolipoprotein E genotype, and clinical stage. Western blots of AD cerebrospinal fluid proteins revealed two to three tau‐immunoreactive bands with an apparent molecular mass between 50 and 65 kd consistent with phosphorylated cerebrospinal fluid tau. Taken together, our results suggest that cerebrospinal fluid tau might reflect the progressive accumulation of altered tau due to the progressive death of neurons in the AD brain, and that the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay of cerebrospinal fluid tau may prove to be a reliable and early diagnostic test for AD.
Productivity and unemployment: a scale-by-scale panel data analysis for the G7 countries

Abstract Does productivity growth increase or reduce unemployment? Theoretical and empirical analyses have generally provided mixed results. In this paper we analyze the empirical relationship between productivity and unemployment over different time frames using wavelet analysis. The scale-by-scale results from panel data and nonparametric regressions methods indicate that productivity-unemployment relationship is scale-dependent, that is changes over different time horizons. Specifically, productivity growth creates unemployment in the short and medium terms, but employment in the long run.
Health hazards posed by the consumption of artificially ripened fruits in Bangladesh

This review paper discusses the impact of chemicals used in fruits as ripening agent on fruit quality and consumers’ health. Chemicals and plants hormones are also being used in harvested fruits at the time of marketing in Bangladesh. Chemicals like acetylene, ethylene etc. are used for ripening immature fruits and thus promote their cosmetic quality. Sometimes fruit sellers ripen immature fruits artificially to meet the high demand and make high profit. During transportation, the naturally ripened fruits may become over ripen and inedible. Many fruit wholesalers make fruits ripen with calcium carbide and also treat those with formalin to protect against microbial attack and thus minimize financial loss. The fruits ripened with calcium carbide may develop uniform attractive surface color, but poor in flavor and the inside may remain unripe. Use of chemicals accelerates ripening, but affects the nutritional quality of fruits. Most of these chemicals are harmful for human health. It is necessary to build awareness among fruit producers, traders and consumers.
The Preservation of Fruit-juice Products, with Special Reference to Nutritional Value

The fruit-juice products with which this paper is concerned are all liquids, but their preservation is effected by various means. Some straight juices, e.g. apple and grape, can be filtered to a completely sterile condition; squashes which retain a proportion of the fruit tissue cannot be filtered, and must be preserved by other methods; some juices are particularly vulnerable to flavour alteration by heat and consequently pasteurization is not acceptable. In a review of this nature only the salient feature of each process can be given. As the preceding papers by Money (1947) and Baker (1947) have given considerable prominence to the chemical method which is common to the preservation of both fruit and vegetables and their juices, this paper will concentrate more especially on other widely used methods.
Heritability of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and related phenotypes in smokers.

RATIONALE Previous studies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have suggested that genetic factors play an important role in the development of disease. However, single-nucleotide polymorphisms that are associated with COPD in genome-wide association studies have been shown to account for only a small percentage of the genetic variance in phenotypes of COPD, such as spirometry and imaging variables. These phenotypes are highly predictive of disease, and family studies have shown that spirometric phenotypes are heritable. OBJECTIVES To assess the heritability and coheritability of four major COPD-related phenotypes (measurements of FEV1, FEV1/FVC, percent emphysema, and percent gas trapping), and COPD affection status in smokers of non-Hispanic white and African American descent using a population design. METHODS Single-nucleotide polymorphisms from genome-wide association studies chips were used to calculate the relatedness of pairs of individuals and a mixed model was adopted to estimate genetic variance and covariance. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In the non-Hispanic whites, estimated heritabilities of FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were both about 37%, consistent with estimates in the literature from family-based studies. For chest computed tomography scan phenotypes, estimated heritabilities were both close to 25%. Heritability of COPD affection status was estimated as 37.7% in both populations. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that a large portion of the genetic risk of COPD is yet to be discovered and gives rationale for additional genetic studies of COPD. The estimates of coheritability (genetic covariance) for pairs of the phenotypes suggest considerable overlap of causal genetic loci.
Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Acute Gastroenteritis in Children in Davidson County, Tennessee, United States: A Case-control Study

Background: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) is an important cause of acute gastroenteritis in children; however, there is limited information available on the epidemiology, phylogenetics, serotyping and antibiotic susceptibility of DEC in children in the United States. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular epidemiology of DEC among children with and without acute gastroenteritis in Davidson County, Tennessee. Methods: This prospective, frequency matched, case-control study recruited subjects 15 days to 17 years of age and detected DEC with polymerase chain reaction from stool samples. Additional testing was done to define phylogenetics and antibiotics resistance. Results: Among 1267 participants, 857 cases and 410 controls, 5.5% were positive for at least one subtype of DEC. Enteroaggregative E. coli [n = 32 (45%)] was the most common subtype followed by enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) [n = 30 (43%)], Shiga toxin-producing E. coli [n = 4 (6%)] and diffusely adherent E. coli [n = 4 (6%)]. No significant difference in prevalence of DEC was found between cases (5%) and controls (7%) [odds ratio: 0.66 (95% confidence interval: 0.4–1.07)], and results were similar when data were stratified by subtypes and adjusted for age, sex, race and ethnicity. Substantial diversity was found among DEC isolates in terms of phylotypes and serotypes, and a large proportion was resistant to, at least, one antibiotic. Conclusions: Enteroaggregative E. coli and enteropathogenic E. coli were frequently found in both cases and controls in this study population. DNA-based methods for detection of these subtypes need further investigation to help differentiate between pathogenic and colonizing strains.
Quasi-Open Sets in Bispaces

The notions of quasi-open sets, quasi-continuity, semi-open sets and quasiHausdorffness were studied in [4]. Here we study the same in more general structure of a bispace and investigate how far several results as valid in a bitopological space are affected in a bispace.
Ebola Virus VP35 Protein Binds Double-Stranded RNA and Inhibits Alpha/Beta Interferon Production Induced by RIG-I Signaling

ABSTRACT The Ebola virus (EBOV) VP35 protein blocks the virus-induced phosphorylation and activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3), a transcription factor critical for the induction of alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β) expression. However, the mechanism(s) by which this blockage occurs remains incompletely defined. We now provide evidence that VP35 possesses double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding activity. Specifically, VP35 bound to poly(rI) · poly(rC)-coated Sepharose beads but not control beads. In contrast, two VP35 point mutants, R312A and K309A, were found to be greatly impaired in their dsRNA-binding activity. Competition assays showed that VP35 interacted specifically with poly(rI) · poly(rC), poly(rA) · poly(rU), or in vitro-transcribed dsRNAs derived from EBOV sequences, and not with single-stranded RNAs (ssRNAs) or double-stranded DNA. We then screened wild-type and mutant VP35s for their ability to target different components of the signaling pathways that activate IRF-3. These experiments indicate that VP35 blocks activation of IRF-3 induced by overexpression of RIG-I, a cellular helicase recently implicated in the activation of IRF-3 by either virus or dsRNA. Interestingly, the VP35 mutants impaired for dsRNA binding have a decreased but measurable IFN antagonist activity in these assays. Additionally, wild-type and dsRNA-binding-mutant VP35s were found to have equivalent abilities to inhibit activation of the IFN-β promoter induced by overexpression of IPS-1, a recently identified signaling molecule downstream of RIG-I, or by overexpression of the IRF-3 kinases IKKε and TBK-1. These data support the hypothesis that dsRNA binding may contribute to VP35 IFN antagonist function. However, additional mechanisms of inhibition, at a point proximal to the IRF-3 kinases, most likely also exist.
Educational, employment, and social participation of young adult graduates from the paediatric Southern Cochlear Implant Programme, New Zealand

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to observe the education and vocational achievements and social participation of cochlear implant recipients as they graduate from a paediatric cochlear implant programme and identify any significant associations that might exist. Method: This study identified 56 patients from the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme (SCIP) who received cochlear implants before the age of 19 (paediatric) and are now over the age of 19 (adult). A questionnaire investigated their education, employment, and identity with the hearing and deaf communities. Also included were the satisfaction with life scale and Hearing Participation Scale (HPS). Subjects ranged in age from 19 to 32. Results: Twenty-six patients responded to the questionnaire, including one non-user. Twenty identified strongly or very strongly with the hearing community. There was weak evidence of a linear association between strong identity with the hearing community and a higher HPS score. No other statistically significant associations were detected. Interestingly, 12 out of 26 participants found employment through family. Conclusion: Positive outcome trends in education and employment were seen in this study although no statistical significance was achieved. There is a strong bias for those who use their cochlear implants regularly, and there are no data available for those who do not use their cochlear implants for comparison as only one non-user completed the survey, despite efforts to include this group. This study shows that there is perceived benefit in implantation for patients who use it regularly but further research is needed with a more diverse group of cochlear implant recipients.
The influence of light intensity on anatomical structure and pigment contents of Tradescantia pallida (Rose) Hunt. cv. purpurea Boom (Commelinaceae) leaves

The aim of this work was to study the effects of five different light intensities on the anatomical structure and on the pigment contents in leaves of Tradescantia pallida cv. purpurea. Once light intensity became lower, the thickness of leaf lamina and mesophyll were reduced. Adjustments in light-harvesting antenna size were observed: an increase in chlorophyll a + b/carotenoids ratio at low-light growth conditions. There was a strong positive linear correlation between the light intensity values and anthocyanin contents. Hence, T. pallida cv. purpurea acclimation to distinct environmental conditions might be related to its capacity of altering structurally and physiologically its phenotype.
The association of diabetes and tuberculosis: impact on treatment and post-treatment outcomes

One woe doth tread upon another's heel, So fast they follow. William Shakespeare. Hamlet. Act 1V Scene V11 We are approaching a day and age where the terms communicable and non-communicable diseases are taking on a new meaning. In the epidemiology and global public health space we track the top five causes of death to measure how well we are doing in combating illness.1 The idea that tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) share a synergistic relationship has been creating a growing stir around the world. This is so in the developed world where non-communicable diseases remain the leading cause of death and the developing world where the ‘diabesity’ epidemic is rapidly expanding to possibly overshadow the traditional killers from communicable disease.2 Of what relevance are these classifications in a patient unfortunate enough to have TB and DM? What, if anything, should we do differently in our clinics when a classical non-communicable illness like DM accelerates and amplifies the course of an age-old, communicable infection like TB? As the dreaded Mycobacterium grows deadlier with time, none of us want to see it develop new allies. The study published by Jimenez-Corona et al 3 in this edition of Thorax suggests we have reason to be concerned. It also needs to be lauded upfront for being a major effort at identifying, exploring and characterising the TB-DM connection. They present a 15 year prospective follow-up of this growing area of concern. Indeed in the years since they started collecting data, numerous reports have emerged addressing the same concept in India,4 Brazil5 and the US-Mexico border.6 The study by Jiminez-Corona has several merits worth noting. They followed a large sample size totalling 1262 patients with pulmonary TB (PTB), and found a high prevalence of …
Efficacy , safety and tolerability of levofloxacin versus ciprofloxacin in complicated typhoid fever

In this study, 137 patients treated for complicated typhoid fever were randomized to either intravenous levofloxacin 500 mg once daily (OD), which then switched to sequential oral 500 mg levofloxacin, or intravenous ciprofloxacin 400 mg twice daily (BID), which then switched to oral ciprofloxacin 500 mg BID in the same course of 10 days. Resolution of fever occurred on the average after 3.47 days of treatment in the levofloxacin group and 4.08 days of treatment in the ciprofloxacin group. A significant difference was obtained between the two groups. In both groups, there were cases of clinical relapse after typhoid fever treatment; one case (2%) in the levofloxacin group and three cases (4%) in the ciprofloxacin group. During treatment, one or more adverse events were reported in 8 out of 69 (11.6%) patients in the levofloxacin group as compared to 21 out of 68 (30.1%) patients in the ciprofloxacin group. Post treatment stool examination detected no carrier state in both groups of study. Compared to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin 500 mg daily, administered intravenously which then switched orally, for complicated typhoid fever, showed better clinical as well as laboratory outcomes and less occurrence of adverse reactions.
The design of inductance in AC side of grid-connected inverter in wind power generation

In wind power generation system the grid-connected inverter is essential device for energy conversion and transmission, of which the performance has a direct influence on the entire wind power generation system. The inductance of AC side affects the static and dynamic performance of the whole system when the grid-connected inverter is actively inverting. So the design of inductance of AC side is essential. The paper presents a new design method of the inductance of AC side based on steady-state power and transient current tracking, the designed inductance can meet demands of the wind power generation system. Simulation and experimental results verify the feasibility of the proposed designed method.