Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A study on virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance pattern among enterococci isolated from various clinical specimens from a tertiary care hospital

Background: Enterococci, adult faeces commensal are important nosocomial pathogens . E. faecalis is the most common cause of infection, followed by E. faecium . In the past two decades, they have developed resistance to many commonly used antimicrobial agents. Understanding virulence factors and monitoring antimicrobial resistance among Enterococci is essential for controlling the spread of bacterial resistance and important for epidemiological surveillance within the hospital environment. The aim of the study is to evaluate antibiotic resistance and virulence factors exhibited by Enterococcus sp. Methods: One hundred consecutive isolates of Enterococci isolated from different clinical samples of patients attending AVMC and H, a tertiary care center at Pondicherry in a period of 20 months were included in the study. Enterococcus sp were identified as per standard conventional bacteriologic methods and detected for the production of virulence factors such as Hemolysin production, Gelatinase production. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out by disc diffusion method and MIC of vancomycin and teicoplanin was determined by E-test strips. Results: Among 100 Enterococcal isolates included in the study, 81% were E. faecalis and 19% were E. faecium which were isolated from urine (44%), Pus (51%) and others specimen (5%, which includes blood 80% and drain tube 20%). In this study, overall 15% of E. faecalis and 1% of E. faecium showed hemolysin production and Gelatinase was produced by 6% of E. faecalis and 4% of E. faecium . Majority of E. faecalis and E. faecium strains isolated in our study, had increased sensitivity were to be exhibited for Linezolid, Vancomycin followed by high level gentamycin and high degree of resistance to penicillin, ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazole. Analyzing the results of MIC of vancomycin and teicoplanin, 5 isolates were classified phenotypically as VanB phenotype that possess only moderate to high levels of vancomycin resistance and one isolate obtained from drain tube which showed MIC of vancomycin as 120µg/ml and teicoplanin 16µg/ml was grouped into VanA. Conclusions: Though the prevalence of vancomycin resistant Enterococcci (VRE) is very low in our study, yet regular monitoring of vancomycin resistance is very crucial for early detection, treatment, application of preventive and control measures and most importantly to check the spread of virulent multidrug resistant Enterococcus species.
Formulation and Evaluation of Fast Dissolving Oral Films of Diazepam

Oral films dissolve rapidly along with drug in mouth and majority of the drug is absorbed through buccal/oral mucosa in to systemic circulation avoiding first pass metabolism. The aim of present investigation was to formulate the Fast dissolving oral films (FDOF) of Diazepam an anti epileptic drug which is normally administered by intramuscular route or as rectal suppository in acute conditions of seizure emergencies. Oral films were prepared by solvent casting method using HPMC E3, E5, and E15 as a film formers and propylene glycol, PEG 400 as plasticizers and evaluated for mechanical properties, disintegration and in vitro dissolution. All formulations showed good mechanical properties and in vitro drug release. The optimized (F4A) Formulation (HPMC E5 and PEG 400) Exhibited drug release of 99.89% in 15 minutes which was significantly high when compared to marketed tablet valium (68.81%).
Multirating decision model validation: the relevance of the quality of the securitization issues

Rating enables the information asymmetry existing in the issuer-investor relationship to be reduced, particularly for issues with a high degree of complexity, as is the case of securitizations. However, there may be a serious conflict of interest between the issuer’s choice and remuneration of the agency and the credit rating awarded, resulting in lower quality and information power of the published rating. In this paper, we propose an explicative model of the number of ratings requested, by analyzing the relevance of the number of ratings to measure the reliability, where multirating is shown to be associated to the quality, size, liquidity and the degree of information asymmetry relating to the issue. Thus, we consider that the regulatory changes that foster the widespread publication of simultaneous ratings could help to alleviate the problem of rating model arbitrage and the crisis of confidence in credit ratings in general and in the securitization issues, in particular. KEYWORD: Credit rating agencies (CRAs), rating, securitization, rating shopping, rating model arbitrage
Trauma Symptomatology in Female Sex Workers: A Review of Recent Literature

Women involved in sex work face a unique set of life circumstances that both influence their decision to enter the industry and affect them throughout their profession. These individuals have higher rates of childhood physical and sexual abuse, as well as neglect and other forms of maltreatment. As sex workers, these individuals exist within a violent culture that is also rife with physical and sexual trauma. Because of the increase rates of violence that these women face, they are at a greater risk for posttraumatic stress disorder, dissociative disorders, substance abuse, and depression. This study reviews some of the literature to-date on the prevalence of both childhood and adult maltreatment in this study, and examines some of the trauma sequelae frequently seen in this population. Treatment implications and future directions for research are considered.
Evolutionary trends in the epithecate scleractinian corals

Adult stages of wall ontogeny of fossil and Recent scleractinians show that epitheca was the prevailing type of wall in Triassic and Jurassic corals. Since the Late Cretaceous the frequency of epithecal walls during adult stages has decreased. In the ontogeny of Recent epithecate corals, epitheca either persists from the protocorallite to the adult stage, or is replaced in post-initial stages by trabecular walls that are often accompanied by extra-calicular skeletal elements. The former condition means that the polyp initially lacks the edge zone, the latter condition means that the edge zone develops later in coral ontogeny. Five principal patterns in wall ontogeny of fossil and Recent Scleractinia are distinguished and provide the framework for discrimination of the four main stages (grades) of evolutionary development of the edge-zone. The trend of increasing the edge-zone and reduction of the epitheca is particularly well represented in the history of caryophylliine corals. We suggest that development of the edge-zone is an evolutionary response to changing environment, mainly to increasing bioerosion in the Mesozoic shallow-water environments. A glossary is given of microstructural and skeletal terms used in this paper.
The temporal cascade structure of reanalyses and global circulation models

The spatial stochastic structure of deterministic models of the atmosphere has been shown recently to be well modelled by multiplicative cascade processes; in this paper we extend this to the time domain. Using data from the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting's (ECMWF) reanalyses (ERA40) and two meteorological models (Global Forecast System and Global Environmental Multiscale), we investigate the temporal cascade structures of the temperature, humidity and zonal wind at various altitudes, latitudes and forecast times. First, we estimate turbulent fluxes from the absolute second‐order time differences, showing that the fluxes are generally very close to those estimated in space at the model dissipation scale; thus validating the flux estimates. We then show that temporal cascades with outer scales typically in the range 5–20 days can accurately account for the statistical properties over the range from 6 h up to 3–5 days. We quantify the (typically small) differences in the cascades from model to model, as functions of latitude, altitude and forecast time. By normalizing the moments by the theoretical predictions for universal multifractals, we investigate the ‘Levy collapse’ of the statistics somewhat beyond the outer cascade limit into the low‐frequency weather regime. Although due to finite size effects and the small outer temporal scale, the temporal scaling range is narrow (12–24 h up to 2–10 days), we compare the spatial and temporal statistics by constructing space‐time (Stommel) diagrams, finding space‐time transformation velocities of 450–1000 km day−1, comparable to those predicted based on the solar energy flux driving the system. This transition time‐scale corresponding to planetary size structures objectively defines the transition from usual weather to a low‐frequency weather regime with much lower variability. Finally, we discuss the implications for ensemble forecasting systems, stochastic parametrization and stochastic forecasting. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Stellar characterization of CoRoT/Exoplanet fields with MATISSE

The homogeneous spectroscopic determination of the stellar parameters is a mandatory step for transit detections from space. Knowledge of which population the planet hosting stars belong to places constraints on the formation and evolution of exoplanetary systems. We used the FLAMES/GIRAFFE multi-fiber instrument at ESO to spectroscopically observe samples of stars in three CoRoT/Exoplanet fields, namely the LRa01, LRc01, and SRc01 fields, and characterize their stellar populations. We present accurate atmospheric parameters, Teff, logg, [M/H], and [$\alpha$/Fe]\ derived for 1227 stars in these fields using the \matisse algorithm. The latter is based on the spectral synthesis methodology and automatically provides stellar parameters for large samples of observed spectra. We trained and applied this algorithm to \flames observations covering the Mg \textsc{i} b spectral range. It was calibrated on reference stars and tested on spectroscopic samples from other studies in the literature. The barycentric radial velocities and an estimate of the Vsini values were measured using cross-correlation techniques. We corrected our samples in the LRc01 and LRa01 CoRoT fields for selection effects to characterize their FGK dwarf stars population, and compiled the first unbiased reference sample for the in-depth study of planet metallicity relationship in these CoRoT fields. We conclude that the FGK dwarf population in these fields mainly exhibit solar metallicity. We show that for transiting planet finding missions, the probability of finding planets as a function of metallicity could explain the number of planets found in the LRa01 and LRc01 CoRoT fields. This study demonstrates the potential of multi-fiber observations combined with an automated classifier such as MATISSE for massive spectral classification.
Ab initio quantum Monte Carlo simulations of the uniform electron gas without fixed nodes

The uniform electron gas (UEG) at finite temperature is of key relevance for many applications in the warm dense matter regime, e.g. dense plasmas and laser excited solids. Also, the quality of density functional theory calculations crucially relies on the availability of accurate data for the exchange-correlation energy. Recently, new benchmark results for the N = 33 spin-polarized electrons at high density, r_s = r/a_B <= 4 and low temperature, have been obtained with the configuration path integral Monte Carlo (CPIMC) method [T. Schoof et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 130402 (2015)]. To achieve these results, the original CPIMC algorithm [T. Schoof et al., Contrib. Plasma Phys. 51, 687 (2011)] had to be further optimized to cope with the fermion sign problem (FSP). It is the purpose of this paper to give detailed information on the manifestation of the FSP in CPIMC simulations of the UEG and to demonstrate how it can be turned into a controllable convergence problem. In addition, we present new thermodynamic results for higher temperatures. Finally, to overcome the limitations of CPIMC towards strong coupling, we invoke an independent method|the recently developed permutation blocking path integral Monte Carlo approach [T. Dornheim et al., accepted for publication in J. Chem Phys., arXiv:1508.03221]. The combination of both approaches is able to yield ab initio data for the UEG over the entire density range, above a temperature of about one half of the Fermi temperature. Comparison with restricted path integral Monte Carlo data [E. W. Brown et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 146405 (2013)] allows us to quantify the systematic error arising from the free particle nodes.
Role of Transthoracic Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Patients with Retinal Vein Occlusion

Introduction: Retinal vein occlusion is a common vascular disorder disrupting vision. Two basic types of RVO are branch retinal vein occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Retinal vein occlusion is a multifactor process including systemic illness and local retinal factors.RVO may be associated with atherosclerotic risk factors. We analyzed the role of 2 dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for detecting the cardiac disease in patients with retinal veins occlusion. Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional study 70 recently diagnosed patients with RVO enrolled in the study. The clinical diagnosis of retinal vein occlusion and its type was confirmed by a vitreoretinal specialist. The Patients were then referred for performing complete TTE. Results: The prevalence of RVO increased with age, but did not vary by sex. The most frequent cardiovascular risk factor was hypertension. The findings of our study revealed that a variety of echocardiographic abnormalities may be presented in patients with RVO. Diastolic dysfunction was the most frequent echocardiographic finding and we found positive correlation between diastolic dysfunction with increasing age and the presence of hypertension. Other findings included mitral regurgitation (52.9%), mitral stenosis (2.9%), mitral annulus calcification (1.4%), mitral valve prolapse (8.6%), aortic insufficiency (22.9%), sclerotic aortic valve (27.1%), tricuspid regurgitation (45.7%), pulmonary insufficiency (8.6%), mild pulmonary hypertension (8.6%), and moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension (4.3%) Mild LVH (11.4%), Moderate LVH (8.6%). Abnormality on IAS was defined in these patients, including paten foramen ovale, lipomatosis IAS, exaggerated motion of IAS, and aneurysm of IAS. Conclusion: In our study, the most common echocardiographic finding was diastolic dysfunction which was compatible with the patients' age and the fact that the most prevalent risk factor was hypertension. Other findings were not more prevalent than general population.We think that a routine workup for structural heart diseases is unwarranted in these patients.
Broadband gigahertz dynamics of relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-xPbTiO3 single crystal probed by Brillouin scattering

The broadband gigahertz dynamics of a relaxor ferroelectric crystal 0.70Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-0.30PbTiO3 with a composition close to the starting point of the morphotropic phase boundary is studied by Brillouin scattering. The significant anomaly of the longitudinal acoustic (LA) mode is observed in the vicinity of the Curie temperature, TC = 500 K. Upon cooling, it starts below the Burns temperature, TB = 670 K, due to the interaction between the LA mode and dynamic polar nanoregions (PNRs). The broad central peak (CP) clearly appears below TB, and its intensity becomes a maximum at TC. The relaxation time, τCP, determined from the CP width, shows the typical critical slowing down of the order-disorder phase transition in the vicinity of TC. The size of a dynamic PNR significantly increases below the intermediate temperature, T* = 562 K.
Scaling allometric relationships in pure, crowded, even-aged stands: do tree shade-tolerance, repro-ductive mode and wood productivity matter?

Tree allometric relationships are likely to be influenced by species tolerance to shade, nutrient availability and plant ontogenetic origin. The aim of this paper was to test to what extent these factors affect the scaling exponents of two allometric relationships in pure, even-aged, canopy-closed forest stands: stem diameter (D) versus stem height (H) and versus stem density (N). Data were collected by tree species (Betula pendula, Fagus sylvatica and Quercus petraea), wood productivity class and reproductive mode (seed origin and sprouting stands) from published forest yield tables. Reduced major axis analysis was used to estimate the slopes of regression lines in the log-log space of H-D and D-N. The scaling exponent of the H-D relationship was significantly larger in birch than in beech stands (0.897 versus 0.745), and in low productivity, beech stands as compared with their high productivity counterparts (0.876 versus 0.745). However, no significant difference was detected between high stands and coppices of durmast oak. The scaling exponent of the D-N relationship was significantly larger in birch than in beech stands (-0.690 versus -0.558), in low than in high productivity beech stands (-0.694 versus -0.558), and in seed origin than in sprouting stands of durmast oak (-0.609 versus -0.580). We explained these results in terms of plant stem growth strategies and resource availability from a biomechanical perspective. Contrary to certain studies that have reported an invariant scaling relation between stem diameter and density across tree species and communities, but in accordance with other recent studies, we have brought new evidence on species-specific allometric scaling under self-thinning. In addition, we have revealed within-species variance of the scaling exponent of stem diameter-density relationship.
Extra-digestive Manifestations of Helicobacter pylori Infection – An Overview

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is well known as a group I human gastric cancer carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Although an exact causal relation‐ ship is unclear, H. pylori is expected to have been associated with non-digestive abnormal condition and/or diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis and cardiovascu‐ lar diseases, which have substantially lots of prior studies; adaptive immune response – related disorders, such as autoimmune thyroid diseases (ATDs), urticaria, atopy and asthma; and the other extra-digestive diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), migraine, anemia and hyperemesis gravidarum. This chapter overviews several groups of extra-digestive diseases by H. pylori infection and discusses the role of H. pylori in relation to the diseases in the viewpoint of causality.
Stock Market Development of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

Financial markets play important roles for economic growth as they facilitate the flow of resources to the most productive investment opportunities and help in terms of efficient allocation of credit in the economy. Recognizing the important roles of stock market on economic growth, prudential international institutions such as World Bank, IMF and ADB pursued stock market development programs for emerging markets in developing nations. Hence, this study sought to investigate the determinants of development in capital markets in the MENA region from the perspective of three countries Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. Secondary data for the ten years period of 1992-2012 were used to model the factors influencing the development of their stock markets. Using Correlation analysis it has been revealed that, macro-economic factors such as exchange rate, oil rent, income per capita, inflation, domestic savings and interest rate can be used to study development capital markets. The analysis also reported significant relationship between stock market development and some variables for some countries and irrelevant to others. The variations in results are explained by the economic and legal environment in every country and show some policy options. The findings are interesting in the sense that they provide variations of the determinants of the stock market development in the region. This would open area for research that is concerned with enhancing the collective development of the stock markets in the region through complementary and synergies.
Electron‐positron beams from terrestrial lightning observed with Fermi GBM

Terrestrial Gamma‐ray Flashes (TGFs) are brief pulses of energetic radiation observed in low‐earth orbit. They are associated with thunderstorms and lightning and have been observed both as gamma‐ray and electron flashes depending on the position of the spacecraft with respect to the source. While gamma‐ray TGFs are detected as short pulses lasting less than 1 ms, most TGFs seen by the Fermi Gamma‐ray Burst Monitor (GBM) with durations greater than 1 ms are, instead, the result of electrons traveling from the sources along geomagnetic field lines. We perform spectral analysis of the three brightest electron TGFs detected by GBM and discover strong 511 keV positron annihilation lines, demonstrating that these electron TGFs also contain substantial positron components. This shows that pair production occurs in conjunction with some terrestrial lightning and that most likely all TGFs are injecting electron‐positron beams into the near Earth environment.
Heterogeneous Firms, Globalisation and the Distance Puzzle

Despite the strong pace of globalization, the distance effect on trade is persistent or even growing over time (Disdier and Head, 2008). To solve this distance puzzle, we use the recently developed gravity equation estimator from Helpman, Melitz and Rubinstein (2008), HMR henceforth. Using three different data sets, we find that the distance coefficient increases over time when OLS is used, while the non-linear estimation of HMR leads to a decline in the distance coefficient over time. The distance puzzle thus arises from a growing bias of OLS estimates. The latter is explained by globalization more significantly reducing the downward bias from omitting zero trade flows than it reduces the upward bias from omitting the number of heterogeneous exporting firms. Furthermore, we show that including zero-trade flows cannot solve the distance puzzle when using HMR. The HMR estimates are strongly correlated with the time pattern in freight costs reported by Hummels (2007).
Small States and the Creation of Emu: Belgium and the Netherlands, Pace-Setters and Gate-Keepers

It is often argued that economic and monetary union (EMU) was created due to the efforts and interests of larger Member States. This article argues that the Belgian and Dutch contributions indicate that small countries played a significant role in the creation of EMU. Both countries wanted to create a zone of monetary stability in Europe and as such have led the process by example. However, their conceptions of monetary stability were different. Belgium, as a close ally of the Commission, played a pace-setting role, especially through creative and diplomatic proposals, whilst the Netherlands played the role of gate-keeper and important ally of the Germans. Following a framework developed by Helen Wallace, the article analyses how, and under what conditions, Belgium and the Netherlands played a role in the creation of EMU.