Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Diversity of Vibrio cholerae in Chesapeake Bay Determined by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Fingerprinting

ABSTRACT Vibrio cholerae is indigenous to the aquatic environment, and serotype non-O1 strains are readily isolated from coastal waters. However, in comparison with intensive studies of the O1 group, relatively little effort has been made to analyze the population structure and molecular evolution of non-O1 V. cholerae. In this study, high-resolution genomic DNA fingerprinting, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), was used to characterize the temporal and spatial genetic diversity of 67 V. choleraestrains isolated from Chesapeake Bay during April through July 1998, at four different sampling sites. Isolation of V. choleraeduring the winter months (January through March) was unsuccessful, as observed in earlier studies (J. H. L. Kaper, R. R. Colwell, and S. W. Joseph, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 37:91–103, 1979). AFLP fingerprints subjected to similarity analysis yielded a grouping of isolates into three large clusters, reflecting time of the year when the strains were isolated. April and May isolates were closely related, while July isolates were genetically diverse and did not cluster with the isolates obtained earlier in the year. The results suggest that the population structure of V. choleraeundergoes a shift in genotype that is linked to changes in environmental conditions. From January to July, the water temperature increased from 3°C to 27.5°C, bacterial direct counts increased nearly an order of magnitude, and the chlorophyll aconcentration tripled (or even quadrupled at some sites). No correlation was observed between genetic similarity among isolates and geographical source of isolation, since isolates found at a single sampling site were genetically diverse and genetically identical isolates were found at several of the sampling sites. Thus, V. cholerae populations may be transported by surface currents throughout the entire Bay, or, more likely, similar environmental conditions may be selected for a specific genotype. The dynamic nature of the population structure of this bacterial species in Chesapeake Bay provides new insight into the ecology and molecular evolution ofV. cholerae in the natural environment.
A Ku-K Dual-Band Compact Circular Corrugated Horn for Satellite Communications

The design of a compact dual-band circular corrugated horn for satellite services in the Ku/K-bands is presented in this letter. The horn geometry has been obtained by a suitable design approach, which leads to the definition of a good starting point that is subsequently refined by a rapidly converging optimization technique. The tight agreement between measured and simulated data validates the present design.
Development and Optimization of a High-Throughput Assay To Measure Neutralizing Antibodies against Clostridium difficile Binary Toxin

ABSTRACT Clostridium difficile strains producing binary toxin, in addition to toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB), have been associated with more severe disease and increased recurrence of C. difficile infection in recent outbreaks. Binary toxin comprises two subunits (CDTa and CDTb) and catalyzes the ADP-ribosylation of globular actin (G-actin), which leads to the depolymerization of filamentous actin (F-actin) filaments. A robust assay is highly desirable for detecting the cytotoxic effect of the toxin and the presence of neutralizing antibodies in animal and human sera to evaluate vaccine efficacy. We describe here the optimization, using design-of-experiment (DOE) methodology, of a high-throughput assay to measure the toxin potency and neutralizing antibodies (NAb) against binary toxin. Vero cells were chosen from a panel of cells screened for sensitivity and specificity. We have successfully optimized the CDTa-to-CDTb molar ratio, toxin concentration, cell-seeding density, and sera-toxin preincubation time in the NAb assay using DOE methodology. This assay is robust, produces linear results across serial dilutions of hyperimmune serum, and can be used to quantify neutralizing antibodies in sera from hamsters and monkeys immunized with C. difficile binary toxin-containing vaccines. The assay will be useful for C. difficile diagnosis, for epidemiology studies, and for selecting and optimizing vaccine candidates.
Anti-poverty competences in a multilevel government: an empirical analysis of citizens’ preferences in Europe

ABSTRACT This article aims to investigate individuals’ perceptions about institutions that should be primarily responsible for reducing or preventing poverty, which is a dramatic phenomenon that became a crucial issue in European countries over recent years. We propose an empirical analysis based on European survey data and investigate some citizens’-level and country-level variables that potentially affect individuals’ attitudes. Our results suggest that country-level economic and institutional characteristics do significantly affect individual preferences for the governance of anti-poverty policies.
Investigation of the Pulmonary Bioactivity of Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT) are a rather new and unexplored variety of carbon nanotubes. Previously conducted studies established that exposure to a variety of carbon nanotubes produced lung inflammation and fibrosis in mice after pharyngeal aspiration. However, the bioactivity of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT) has not been determined. In this study, the hypothesis that DWCNT would induce pulmonary toxicity was explored by analyzing the pulmonary bioactivity of DWCNT. To test this hypothesis, C57Bl/6 mice were exposed to DWCNT by pharyngeal aspiration. Mice underwent whole-lung lavage (WLL) to assess pulmonary inflammation and injury, and lung tissue was examined histologically for development of pulmonary disease as a function of dose and time. The results showed that DWCNT exposure produced a dose-dependent increase in WLL polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), indicating that DWCNT exposure initiated pulmonary inflammation. DWCNT exposure also produced a dose-dependent rise in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, as well as albumin levels, in WLL fluid, indicating that DWCNT exposure promoted cytotoxicity as well as decreases in the integrity of the blood–gas barrier in the lung, respectively. In addition, at 7 and 56 d postexposure, the presence of significant alveolitis and fibrosis was noted in mice exposed to 40 μg/mouse DWCNT. In conclusion, this study provides insight into previously uninvestigated pulmonary bioactivity of DWCNT exposure. Data indicate that DWCNT exposure promotes inflammation, injury, and fibrosis in the lung.
Sympathetic Nervous System Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Interstitial Cystitis: A Review of Case-Control Studies

Background Fibromyalgia often coexists and overlaps with other syndromes such as chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and interstitial cystitis. Chronic stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of these illnesses. The sympathetic nervous system is a key element of the stress response system. Sympathetic dysfunction has been reported in these syndromes, raising the possibility that such dysautonomia could be their common clustering underlying pathogenesis. Objective The objective of this study was to carry out a review of all published comparative case-control studies investigating sympathetic nervous system performance in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and interstitial cystitis. Methods Online databases PubMed and EMBASE were accessed using the following key words: autonomic (OR) sympathetic (AND) fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and interstitial cystitis. All entries up to December 10th 2012 were reviewed by 2 independent investigators searching for case-control studies in humans. The Method for Evaluating Research and Guidelines Evidence adapted to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network was used to rank the level of evidence contained in the selected articles. Results A total of 196 articles are included in this review. The most often used methods to assess sympathetic functionality were heart rate variability analysis, sympathetic skin response, tilt table testing, and genetic studies. The majority of studies (65%) described sympathetic nervous system predominance in these overlapping syndromes. In contrast, 7% of the studies found parasympathetic predominance. Conclusions This review demonstrates that sympathetic nervous system predominance is common in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and interstitial cystitis. This concordance raises the possibility that sympathetic dysfunction could be their common underlying pathogenesis that brings on overlapping clinical features. The recognition of sympathetic predominance in these 4 syndromes may have potential clinical implications. It may be worth exploring the use of nonpharmacological measures as well as drug therapies aimed to regain autonomic balance.
Managerial perspectives on the role of corporate social responsibility within the oil and gas industry in South East Asia

vii Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 1.0 Introduction. 1 1.1 Literature summary. 2 1.1.1 Literature on CSR.3 1.1.2 CSR in the oil and gas industry . 5 1.1.3 Research gaps identified.7 1.2 Research questions. 8 1.3 Significance of the research. 8 1.4 Methodology . 9 1.4. 1 Research paradigm . 10 1.4. 2 Sample . 10 1.4. 3 Survey instrument and data collection . 12 1.4. 4 Data analysis . 12 1.4. 5 Ethical implications . 13 1.5 Outline of the dissertation . 14 1.6 Delimitations, limitations and key assumptions . 14 Chapter 2: Literature Review. 16 2.0 Introduction. 16 2.1 An overview of the background on CSR. 17 2.2 Interpretations of CSR . 20 2.3 Mainstream theories and key models of CSR . 22 2.4 Research on CSR. 26 2.5 CSR and firm performance. 27 2.6 Literature on CSR and the oil and gas industry . 29 2.7 The increased relevance of CSR to oil and gas today . 34 2.8 Points of agreement and disagreement in the literature . 35 2.9 Key issues and gaps identified in literature on CSR implementation . 38
Leadership Construction in Intra-Asian English as Lingua Franca Decision-Making Meetings

In Asia, the English language serves as a lingua franca to connect people from various backgrounds for managerial synergy. In this study, we investigate leadership in a setting where English as lingua franca is used among Asian business professionals. Employing the notion of discourse, we use quantitative and qualitative analyses to identify how leadership emerges in meetings with multicultural participants, and how different types of leadership affect these decision-making meetings. We conclude that linguistic and contextual factors discursively construct different styles of leadership, and that these leadership styles lead to starkly different team outcomes. The overall result indicates that a business meeting is not a logical process leading to a rational decision, but rather an organic mix of contextual, linguistic, and leadership factors when English as lingua franca is used in multicultural participants.
Occurrence and self-treatment of diarrhea in a large cohort of Americans traveling to developing countries.

There is little information available regarding traveler's diarrhea that affects a large number of Americans who differ widely in age and travel destination, and little or no information exists on self-treatment. This paper describes the clinical features, self-treatment, and outcome of diarrhea in 784 (95% follow-up) Americans who traveled for < or = 90 days, and who received detailed pre-travel advice. Diarrhea was reported by 46%. Of these, 34% (n = 270) had traveler's diarrhea (TD) defined as > or = 3 unformed stools/day +/- enteric symptoms or < 3 stools/day with > or = 1 enteric symptom, and 11% (n = 88) had loose motions (LM). Diarrhea was often severe and nearly a quarter of people with TD experienced fever and vomiting and 35% were required to alter their plans. The duration of travel and the destination itself were the strongest influences on diarrhea. Most travelers treated the illness themselves, whether or not they had LM (72%) or TD (83%). Those with LM took an antimotility agent or bismuth subsalicylate alone more frequently than those with TD (71% versus 48%, P < 0.002). Conversely, antibiotics were taken more frequently by those with TD (47% versus 27%, P < 0.03). Overall, 83% indicated self-treatment was effective (91% with LM and 80% with TD). Diarrhea is common despite pre-travel advice. Because travelers usually treat themselves, they should be provided with clear instructions on appropriate self-treatment.
Coronary artery anomalies in adult patients.

BACKGROUND Coronary artery anomalies are discovered in less than 1% of angiography series. Since the number of angiographies and coronary bypass operations are increasing significantly every day, these anomalies are of clinical importance. MATERIAL/METHODS 58,023 coronary angiographies were performed in the cardiology clinic of our hospital from 1978 to 2001. Coronary artery anomalies were discovered in 257 of these cases (0.44%). The mean age of these patients was 51.9+/-11.4 years (18-82). 80% were male (n=207). RESULTS The circumflex artery (CXA) was the most frequently involved vessel (51.1%). Coronary arteries originating from the pulmonary artery were not encountered in our series due to the natural history of the disease. In 54 patients with coronary artery fistulae, 18 (33.3%) were closed by operation. Perioperative mortality was 5.5%. Acquired coronary artery fistulae or aneurysms due to trauma or inflammatory diseases are completely different entities and beyond the scope of this article. In 76 patients, open heart surgery was required for additional lesions, 57 of which were coronary artery bypass grafts. CONCLUSIONS Being usually asymptomatic, coronary artery anomalies are usually discovered incidentally in the adult population. These pathologies are important for practical purposes, especially for interventional cardiologists, radiologists and cardiac surgeons, who should be aware of these anatomical entities. LMCA originating from the right coronary system has been reported to result in sudden death and myocardial ischemia, so these mostly asymptomatic patients must be followed closely.
Cantabria First-Episode Schizophrenia Study: three-year follow-up

Background We present the findings from the three-year follow-up of all first episodes of schizophrenia occurring during a two-year period in Cantabria (in Spain). Aims (a) To describe the clinical characteristics of the illness from the early stages of the disease, and (b) to study the long-term psychosocial adjustment and psychopathological evolution of these patients, identifying predictors for the course of the illness. Method Of the original cohort of 86 patients, 76 (88.3%) were fully evaluated at three-year follow-up. Psychiatric assessment was performed (PSE–9 and SANS/SAPS). Social adjustment was evaluated using the Disability Assessment Schedule (DAS). Information regarding the clinical evolution and use of health resources was also gathered. Results The majority of patients with a first-contact diagnosis of schizophrenia failed to meet the criteria for a CATEGO diagnosis at follow-up. The SANS/SAPS assessments revealed a doubling in the proportion of patients with ‘negative schizophrenia’. The pattern of clinical course was also evaluated, with 24 (31.5%) of the patients having a good outcome. Being male and having low social class tended to be associated with poor clinical outcome. Conclusions The outcome of schizophrenia is less pessimistic than was originally thought.
Multiple β1 Integrins Mediate Enhancement of Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cytokine Secretion by Fibronectin and Type I Collagen1

Altered airway smooth muscle (ASM) function and enrichment of the extracellular matrix (ECM) with interstitial collagen and fibronectin are major pathological features of airway remodeling in asthma. We have previously shown that these ECM components confer enhanced ASM proliferation in vitro, but their action on its newly characterized secretory function is unknown. Here, we examined the effects of fibronectin and collagen types I, III, and V on IL-1β-dependent secretory responses of human ASM cells, and characterized the involvement of specific integrins. Cytokine production (eotaxin, RANTES, and GM-CSF) was evaluated by ELISA, RT-PCR, and flow cytometry. Function-blocking integrin mAbs and RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp)-blocking peptides were used to identify integrin involvement. IL-1β-dependent release of eotaxin, RANTES, and GM-CSF was enhanced by fibronectin and by fibrillar and monomeric type I collagen, with similar changes in mRNA abundance. Collagen types III and V had no effect on eotaxin or RANTES release but did modulate GM-CSF. Analogous changes in intracellular cytokine accumulation were found, but in <25% of the total ASM cell population. Function-blocking Ab and RGD peptide studies revealed that α2β1, α5β1, αvβ1, and αvβ3 integrins were required for up-regulation of IL-1β-dependent ASM secretory responses by fibronectin, while α2β1 was an important transducer for type I collagen. Thus, fibronectin and type I collagen enhance IL-1β-dependent ASM secretory responses through a β1 integrin-dependent mechanism. Enhancement of cytokine release from ASM by these ECM components may contribute to airway wall inflammation and remodeling in asthma.
The removal of rent control and its impact on search and mismatching costs: evidence from Oslo

ABSTRACT The removal of the Norwegian rent control in 1982 created a natural experiment that enabled us to investigate whether rent control affected the search and matching process in the private residential rental market in the Norwegian capital, Oslo. We collected and analysed data on ‘housing for rent’, ‘housing wanted’ and ‘housing exchange-wanted’ advertisements in Oslo covering a period from 1970 to 2008. We concluded that the use of newspaper listing services by potential tenants and landlords changed after the rent control removal. Our results indicate that it is more costly, in time and money, for a potential tenant to search for and to find a home under rent control. Moreover, our results indicate that rent control increases the probability of and the distance from the ideal dwelling, in size, standard and location, a potential tenant have to settle for.
Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) in Poland 2009-2010--study strengths, limitations and lessons learned.

OBJECTIVES A tobacco surveillance system is crucial for improving the planning and implementation of effective tobacco control policies. The purpose of the presented study was to describe a review of the process of implementation and methodological assumption of a Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in Poland. The study strengths and limitations are evaluated, as well as some recommendations given for further tobacco surveillance activities in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) was implemented in Poland between 2008-2010. The survey population selection process was based on a three-stage stratified geographically-clustered sample of a non-institutional population aged 15 years and over. Those who lived in institutions were not surveyed. The GATS questionnaire was very detailed and provides a significant amount of data. The filed work was preceded by several training sessions for all survey staff and the pretest. Questionnaires were administered in respondents' homes during the face-to-face interviews. RESULTS Of the 14,000 households selected for the survey, 8,948 (63.9%) households and 7,840 (93.9%) sampled individuals completed the interviews. The total survey response rate was 65.1%. CONCLUSIONS GATS was an important step towards obtaining representative, current data on the tobacco epidemic in Poland. Basic results of the study are currently available. More in-depth analysis will provide useful data for public health experts and policymakers to assign resources and establish health priorities. Unfortunately, competing targets and lack of awareness on the part of stakeholders still constrains the financial resources available to those undertaking tobacco control research in Poland. The circumscribed capacity to undertake multidisciplinary policy research limits both the quality and quantity of such studies. There is an urgent need to establish a nationally coordinated plan for surveillance of data collection, use, access and dissemination, with defined institutional roles for each of these functions and the funds dedicated to the research.
Reality television portrayals of Kavos, Greece: tourists behaving badly

ABSTRACT Reality television programmes are an increasingly ubiquitous element of popular culture. While other forms of popular culture’s impact on tourists’ perceptions of destination image have been considered in the extant literature, the impact of reality television is under-researched. This article provides a qualitative thematic analysis of televisual media portrayals of the tourist destination of Kavos, on the Greek island of Corfu, whose economy is almost solely reliant upon an increasingly short high-summer season. Reality television portrayals of tourist behavior have generated negative publicity about the resort’s image that may negatively affect potential tourists’ perceptions of Kavos as a destination.
The impact of migration and culture on suicide attempts of children and adolescents living in Istanbul

Abstract Background. Suicidal attempts are steadily increasing in societies with rapid urbanisation and dramatic social changes in places like Istanbul. Stress related to internal migration may increase suicidal behaviour. Aim. We investigated the impact of internal migration and culture on suicide attempts among youth in Istanbul. Methods. We retrospectively analysed the records of 210 children and adolescents, aged 6–18 years, who presented at the Emergency Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Pediatrics at Cerrahpaşa Medical School in Istanbul because of suicide attempts between January 2008 and December 2010. Results. The majority of patients (78.95%, N = 165) had a background of internal migration, mostly (65%, N = 136) originating from regions with large cultural differences compared with that of Istanbul. Noticeably, more migrants than non-migrants (18.8% vs. 6.8%) and more patients originating from regions with large cultural differences chose high-risk methods for suicide attempts (20.7% vs. 8.1%). Conclusion. Internal migration can be considered a serious risk factor for suicidal behaviour. Furthermore, the degree of cultural differences between the area of origin and the new environment can be of vital importance. Healthcare measures should, therefore, focus on internal migration as a risk factor for youth suicidal behaviour and provide assistance for appropriate resettlement and integration in countries with increased mobility.
Projections of lamprey spinal neurons determined by the retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase

The spinal cords of larval sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) and adult river lampreys (Ichthyomyzon unicuspis) were injected with horseradish peroxidase through a transection 1 cm caudal to the last gill. Some animals also had a spinal hemisection 1 cm caudal to the injection. After recovery periods of 1 to 52 days, the spinal cords were treated with diaminobenzidine and hydrogen peroxide, and the projections of various cell types determined in wholemount slides. From these observations the following conclusions were drawn.