Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diversity of Sccmec types in Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Spp. Causing Hospital-Associated Infections

The determination of SCCmec types among staphylococcal strains causing infections in the hospital environment is crucial for understanding the basis of genetic transfer, tracking the emergence and dispersion routes of the strains involved, and defining control strategies. The aim of this study was to determine the SCCmec types of methicillin-resistant (MR) Staphylococcus spp. causing hospital-associated infections and to compare the diversity of SCCmec types between Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) clinical MR isolates. SCCmec types were assessed via a PCR-based scheme using sets of primers targeting the ccr and mec complexes and other structures. The results revealed differences in the distribution of SCCmec types between the analyzed S. aureus and CoNS isolates. SCCmec types II, III and IV were evenly distributed among the S. aureus strains. Among the CoNS isolates, the SCCmec types occurred in different proportions: the highest frequency was observed for SCCmec IV, followed by type III, while type V, which was absent from the S. aureus strains, occurred in a lower percentage of the CoNS strains. A number of isolates could not be categorized and were designated as non-typable (NT). The frequency of NT isolates was higher among the S. aureus strains than the CoNS strains, but the difference was not statistically significant (p-value = 0.2485). We hope that this study will contribute to improving the understanding of the molecular epidemiology of SCCmec types among hospital infection-associated S. aureus and CoNS strains in the study region.
Creditor Financing and Overbidding in Bankruptcy Auctions: Theory and Tests

We present unique empirical tests for auction overbidding using data from Sweden's auction bankruptcy system. The main creditor (a bank) can neither bid in the auction nor refuse to sell in order to support a minimum price. However, we argue that the bank may increase its expected revenue by financing a bidder in return for a joint bid strategy, and we show that the optimal coalition bid exceeds the bidder's private valuation (overbidding) by an amount that is increasing in the bank's ex ante debt impairment. We find that bank-bidder financing arrangements are common, and our cross-sectional regressions show that winning bids are increasing in the bank-debt impairment as predicted. While, in theory, overbidding may result in the coalition winning against a more efficient rival bidder, our evidence on post-bankruptcy operating performance fails to support such allocative inefficiency effects. We also find that restructurings by bank-financed bidders are relatively risky as they have greater bankruptcy refiling rates, irrespective of the coalition's overbidding incentive.
Are Image-Agnostic Universal Adversarial Perturbations for Face Recognition Difficult to Detect?

High performance of deep neural network based systems have attracted many applications in object recognition and face recognition. However, researchers have also demonstrated them to be highly sensitive to adversarial perturbation and hence, tend to be unreliable and lack robustness. While most of the research on adversarial perturbation focuses on image specific attacks, recently, image-agnostic Universal perturbations are proposed which learn the adversarial pattern over training distribution and have broader impact on real-world security applications. Such adversarial attacks can have compounding effect on face recognition where these visually imperceptible attacks can cause mismatches. To defend against adversarial attacks, sophisticated detection approaches are prevalent but most of the existing approaches do not focus on image-agnostic attacks. In this paper, we present a simple but efficient approach based on pixel values and Principal Component Analysis as features coupled with a Support Vector Machine as the classifier, to detect image-agnostic universal perturbations. We also present evaluation metrics, namely adversarial perturbation class classification error rate, original class classification error rate, and average classification error rate, to estimate the performance of adversarial perturbation detection algorithms. The experimental results on multiple databases and different DNN architectures show that it is indeed not required to build complex detection algorithms; rather simpler approaches can yield higher detection rates and lower error rates for image agnostic adversarial perturbation.
Health Care Productivity

IN ALL OF THE INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES, a high fraction of gross domestic product (GDP), ranging from approximately 7 percent in the United Kingdom to 14 percent in the United States, is devoted to health care. In recent years policymakers have been forced to try to trim health care benefits or other social services, and the health care systems of almost all the industrial countries have come under significant pressure to control expenditures and improve performance. Although each nation's health care system operates with a mixture of regulation and market mechanisms, there are great differences among them. And these differences suggest that policymakers could learn important lessons by comparing performances across countries. Thus far, however, no single system is recognized as being the most productive or as having achieved the right blend of competition and regulation. No system provides the paradigm for others. Some observers of the U.S. health care system argue that aggregate data indicate poor performance. Figure 1 shows aggregate spending data for Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States; with the highest level of GDP and the largest fraction of spending, the United States spends much more per capita on health than the other two countries. Figure 2 provides a simple aggregate performance measure. Average life expectancy at birth in the United States is lower than in Germany and the United Kingdom, although, as the figure also shows,
The effect of harvest period on the total uptake of metals by willows and poplars

The development and evaluation of environmental technologies for the removal of metals from contaminated soils is a high priority research. Results from pot experiments showed sufficient extraction capacity by several plants, fast growing trees becoming due to their easy biomass valorization among the most required. The evaluation of pot experiments in field conditions is lacking. Field experiments were set up on anthropogenically medium contaminated soil by Cd and Pb in 2008 and 2009 to evaluate the remediation potential of harvested mature trees and to take into account autumn harvest containing trunks, twigs and leaves as well. The results showed that first harvest after four years was about three fold lower than the second one after another two years. The metal contents in trunks and twigs adversely correlated with the yield. Biomass yield was more important for the metal removal, the remediation factor reached up to 1 % in the second harvest in case of Cd and willow, for Pb was negligible 0.001 % for both plants. Autumn harvest including leaves showed twice more higher Cd removal than winter one in case of willows, differences for Pb were lower for both plants.
The evolutionary history of Drosophila buzzatti. XXVI. Macrogeographic patterns of inversion polymorphism in New World populations

Inversion polymorphisms in the second and fourth chromosomes of the cactophilic Drosophila buzzatti in the native distribution range of the species are described. Over 5,000 flies from 26 localities were scored revealing interesting geographic structuring of arrangement frequencies. Multiple regression and partial correlation approaches showed that the frequencies of second and fourth chromosome arrangements vary clinically along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients and to a lesser extent with longitude. Although many non selective explanations can account for this pattern, its resemblance to the clinal pattern described in recently established Australian populations of Drosophila buzzatii, strongly suggests a selective explanation. Additionally, the correlated variation observed between the frequencies of arrangements 2St on the second chromosome and 4St on the fourth suggests a pattern of interchromosomal association, which, when considering the vast area surveyed, might be explained as the result of epistatic interactions. The analysis of population structure revealed a significant regional pattern, concordant with previously described phytogeographic regions. F‐statistics showed that the patterns of variation were different not only between the second and fourth chromosomes, but also between second chromosome arrangements, suggesting that selective differentiation might have contributed to population structure.
CHANGES IN TESTICULAR HISTOMORPHOLOGY AND SERUM TESTOSTERONE CONCENTRATION OF HELMETED GUINEA FOWL ( NUMIDA MELEAGRIS ) DURING DIFFERENT REPRODUCTIVE PHASES IN PAKISTAN

The objective of this study was to peruse the annular variations in testicular histomorphology and serum testosterone of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) during different reproductive phases viz., resting, progression and peak breeding in Pakistan. Thirty healthy male birds were slaughtered: samples of testes were stained with H&E and histometric analysis was made with Image J®. Serum testosterone was measured by radioimmunoassay. Results revealed significantly (P<0.01) greater values of weight, volume, length, width, thickness and circumference of testes during peak breeding as compared to other phases. Histometric parameters like diameter of seminiferous tubules and its lumen, thickness of germinal epithelium and diameter of leydig cells showed significantly (P<0.01) higher values during peak breeding than other phases. Conversely, thickness of testicular capsule and percentage area of interstitial cells were significantly (P<0.01) higher during resting in contrast to progression and peak phases. Serum testosterone showed significantly (P<0.01) higher value (4.60±0.44) during peak breeding which declined significantly (P<0.01) in progression (1.73±0.19) and resting (0.62±0.07) phases. Moreover, all histomorphometric changes were positively correlated while percentage area of interstitial cells and thickness of testicular capsule were negative with hormonal profile during each phase. In conclusion, different reproductive phases influence annular testicular histomorphology and hormonal profile. Peak breeding activity of this bird is coincided with the increased steroid hormone synthesis under suitable circumstances.
Effect of macrophage specific over-expression of murine liver X receptor-α (LXR-α) on atherosclerosis in LDL-receptor deficient mice

Background: The nuclear liver X receptor-α (LXR-α) has been implicated in the regulation of intracellular cholesterol homeostasis and atherosclerosis susceptibility by up-regulating proteins involved in reverse cholesterol transport. Previous atherosclerosis studies were based on knockout mouse models of LXR and treatment of mice with LXR agonists. The aim of the present study was to test whether increased expression of LXR-α might result in an improvement of cholesterol homeostasis and reduction of atherosclerosis. Methods and Results: To address this question, we generated mice with macrophage specific over-expression of mouse LXR-α under the control of a chicken lysozyme genomic DNA construct. Macrophages from transgenic mice indeed showed significantly elevated expression levels of the LXR-target genes (ABCA1) compared to nontransgenic controls. To assess the effect of the transgene on atherosclerosis susceptibility, mice were crossed onto the LDL-receptor deficient background. Plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDLand HDL-cholesterol concentrations were not significantly different between transgenic animals and non-transgenic controls. However, lesion area at the brachiocephalic artery (BCA) was significantly reduced (-83%, p=0.02) in male LXR-α transgenic mice. This was associated with a significantly increased cholesterol efflux to acceptor-free media (+24%, p=0.002) and ApoA1 containing media (+20%, p<0.0001) from macrophages of transgenic animals, thus providing a potential mechanism for the reduction of atherosclerosis. Conclusions: Our data show for the first time that transgenic over-expression of LXR-α using a macrophage-specific gene expression construct has significant anti-atherogenic
Effects of Aryl-Hydrocarbon Ligands on Dendritic Cell Maturation

Aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a cytosolic receptor found in many cells, including immune cells, and its function has been implicated in metabolic and transcriptional control of immune regulation. In the present study we have investigated the effect of the AhR-ligands, FICZ, I3C, curcumin, quercetin and the ligands precursor tryptophan, on bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (BMDC) maturation and immuno-stimulatory or immuno-suppressive phenotypes. We find that immature and mature BMDC express intracellular AhR. Treatment of BMDC with AhR-ligands during LPS-induced BMDC maturation had no significant effect on the expression of MHC class II, CD40 and CD86, with the exception of I3C which suppressed CD40 expression by BMDC at high doses. However, all AhR-ligands significantly enhanced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-12p40, TNF-α, and IL-1β. In contrast, only the AhR-ligands FICZ and I3C increased IL-10 and TGF-β secretion. Tryptophan, curcumin, and quercetin significantly suppressed IL-10 secretion without affecting TGF-β secretion. Finally, FICZ and I3C significantly enhanced the expression of the tolerogenic DC enzyme, indoleamine-2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO), while tryptophan, curcumin and quercetin did not change IDO expression. These results suggest that FICZ and I3C can promote a tolerogenic BMDC phenotype consistent with suppression of immune responses by enhancing the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines and increasing IDO expression. In contrast, tryptophan, curcumin and quercetin can promote an immuno-stimulatory BMDC phenotype, secreting elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, which could help in skewing T cell responses towards the development of effector CD4 and CD8 T cell subsets.
Smallest nonparametric tolerance regions

We present a new, natural way to construct nonparametric multivariate tolerance regions. Unlike the classical nonparametric tolerance intervals, where the endpoints are determined by beforehand chosen order statistics, we take the shortest interval, that contains a certain number of observations. We extend this idea to higher dimensions by replacing the class of intervals by a general class of indexing sets, which specializes to the classes of ellipsoids, hyperrectangles or convex sets. The asymptotic behavior of our tolerance regions is derived using empirical process theory, in particular the concept of generalized quantiles. Finite sample properties of our tolerance regions are investigated through a simulation study. Real data examples are also presented.
Emerge of non-albicans Candida species; evaluation of Candida species and antifungal susceptibilities according to years

Background: Fungal infections have become frequently identified causative agents of nosocomial infections in the recent years, leading to more common use of empirical antifungal therapies. It results in increased development of drug-resistant fungal strains and resistance. In this study, we aimed to identify the Candida species isolated from various clinical samples and examine annual distribution of susceptibility to antifungals to keep a track of local resistance rates and guide treatment planning. Methods: A total number of 169 Candida isolates, which were isolated in the samples obtained from the patients during a period of five years. Fungal identification and antifungal susceptibility tests were performed using VITEK® 2 automated system and using the mass spectrometry (Maldi-TOF). Results: Of the strains isolated, 91 (53.5%) were identified as C. albicans, 33 (19.5%) as C. parapsilosis, 15 (8.8%) as C. glabrata, 14 (8.2%) as C. tropicalis, 5 (2.9%) as C. kefyr, 5 (2.9%) as C. famata, 2 (1.1%) as C. lipolytica, 1 (0.5%) as C. guilliermondii, and 1 (0.5%) as C. dubliniensis. Antifungal susceptibility analyses showed that there were seven strains (4.1%) resistant to each of amphotericin B, fluconazole and flucytosine, two strains resistant to voriconazole (1.1%) and one strain resistant to caspofungin (0.5%). The annual distribution of the isolation rates showed that both C. albicans and nonalbicans species became more frequently isolated over years. All drug-resistant strains were found to emerge within the past one-year period. Conclusion: Both C. albicans and non-albicans species have become more frequently isolated within the recent years, while all of the resistant strains developed within the past one-year period. In addition to previous studies, our study results are of utmost importance, as they likely to contribute to the local monitoring of the resistance rates as well as planning or tailoring empirical therapies.
RAPD and ERIC - PCR typing of virulent Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from children with acute diarrhoea

A total of 40 A. hydrophila strains were isolated from stool samples from children suffering from gastroenteritis. Haemolysin was considered as the major criteria for the selection of the strains for the molecular typing study. Eight diarrhoeal isolates were randomly selected and analysed for their genetic profiling. Non haemolytic diarrhoeal strains and environmental strains were also included. A greater heterogeneity among the clinical and environmental isolates of A. hydrophila has been demonstrated by RAPD and ERIC-PCR methods. The strains revealed a clear clonal structure. On this basis, we came to a conclusion that all the isolates of A. hydrophila having genetically heterogenous
Vedolizumab therapy in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease – case report

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term, which includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) – chronic inflammatory bowel diseases with unknown etiology. Disease is commonly thought to be caused by combination of immunological, genetic and environmental factors. Most often diagnosis of IBD is established among young, 15-29 years old people, but the age of diagnosis is systematically reduced. Treatment plan depends on phase of disease, symptoms intensity and patient age. The main type of treatment are enteral nutrition, pharmacological therapy and finally surgical intervention in case of insufficient response. Until now, in pediatric patients U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved biologic agents, infliximab and adalimumab as CD treatment and infliximab only as UC treatment. Currently new biological agents are being studied as part of effective and safe IBD therapy in children. Particular attention is now given to vedolizumab which is already used and approved as part of IBD treatment algorithm in adults. Purpose of this article is to present two cases in which vedolizumab was used in CU as well as CD therapy in pediatric patients.
Capital Budgeting and Cost Evaluation Techniques : A Conceptual Analysis

Capital budgeting decisions are crucial to a firm's success for several reasons. Firstly, capital expenditures typically require large outlays of funds. Secondly, firms must ascertain the best way to raise and repay these funds. Thirdly, most capital budgeting decisions require a long-term commitment. Finally, the timing of capital budgeting decisions is important. When large amounts of funds are raised, firms must pay close attention to the financial markets because the cost of capital is directly related to the current interest rate or investor’s expected rate of return. This Published paper focuses on advances in Capital Budgeting Techniques theory through and practical. Also its impact in the decisions of the investment while focusing on evaluation practices such as risk and uncertainty but not considering the numerically appraising of the principles of investment. The sensitivity analysis of capital budgeting depends on a number of uncertain independent variables which may have some impacted on the investment results. The positive value of the investment appraisal is value added to the firm, and it can be enhanced return for the shareholders. The success of the project is assessed on stage post completion audit with proper stage by stage completed.
Methods of Quantification and Characterization of Coccidian Oocysts

Coccidiosis is a major economic and health risk in the poultry industry. The oocysts of the causative agent of coccidiosis are excreted in animal feces and must be ingested by a new host for a new infection to begin. These oocysts are microscopic and very similar between species. The ability to quantify and identify the oocysts that are causing the illness is important to controlling this disease. My research first compares methods of quantifying oocysts of domestic turkeys for their ease of use and accuracy. Next, I attempt to identifying novel oocysts from a different turkey species by morphological and molecular approaches. Of the four methods of oocysts isolation and quantification that I compared (Standard Sugar Flotation, Standard Dilution, Hemocytometer, and Howard-Mold counting slide) the Standard Dilution provided the most accuracy relative to the time invested. I attempted morphological identification of oocysts in from the host Meleagris ocellata and found that length and width of the oocysts overlapped with those of known coccidian species from domestic turkey. My efforts to obtain molecular descriptions of the oocysts from M. ocellata, were not successful, but I report on five means of DNA extractions that I attempted.
The diversity and community dynamics of hazelwood lichens and bryophytes along a major gradient of human impact

Background: Oceanic hazelwoods in western Scotland are hypothesised to be unmanaged post-glacial relicts, representing an unusual type of old-growth forest habitat in Europe. They are characterised by an exceptionally high epiphytic diversity, including their status as ‘hotspots’ for indicators of woodland ecological continuity. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of climate, pollution and management on the occurrence of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes on Corylus avellana. Methods: Thirteen hazelwood study sites were systematically sampled along a climate, pollution and management gradient in Britain. Epiphyte composition and richness were examined in a strict hierarchical framework, and compared against site-, stool- and stem-scale environmental predictors. Results: The study showed that along the gradient from ‘clean-air’ relict sites to ‘polluted’ coppiced sites: (i) epiphytic local stem-scale diversity declined, (ii) there was a loss of late-successional species including foliose cyano- and tripartite lichens and bryophytes and (iii) stem sizes were reduced, providing a further limit to the accumulation of species richness within a site. Conclusions: Relict hazelwoods in western Scotland are confirmed as an example of the most intact epiphyte communities. In particular, we show that the transition to coppicing can be clearly linked to ecological processes causing species loss.