Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human bocavirus infection in young children with acute respiratory tract infection in Lanzhou, China†

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a recognized human parvovirus associated with acute respiratory tract infection. However, HBoV has yet to be established as a causative agent of respiratory disease. In this study, the epidemiological and virological characteristics of HBoV infection were studied in children with acute respiratory tract infection in China. In total, 406 children younger than 14 years of age with acute respiratory tract infection were included in this prospective 1‐year study. HBoV was detected in 29 (7.1%) of the 406 children. No clear seasonal fluctuation was observed in infection rates of HBoV. Of the 29 children infected with HBoV, 16 (55.2%) were coinfected with other respiratory viruses, most commonly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Viral coinfection with HBoV did not affect the severity of the respiratory disease (P = 0.291). The number of HBoV genome copies ranged from 5.80 × 102 to 9.72 × 108 copies/ml in nasopharyngeal aspirates among HBoV‐positive specimens by real‐time PCR, and neither coinfection nor the severity of disease correlated with the viral load (P = 0.148, P = 0.354, respectively). The most common clinical features were cough and acute upper respiratory infection, and acute bronchopneumonia. Additionally, the NP‐1 gene of HBoV showed minimal sequence variation. These data suggest that HBoV is frequent in young children with acute respiratory tract infection in Lanzhou, China, and RSV is the most common coinfecting virus. There was no apparent association between the viral load of HBoV and coinfection or disease severity. The NP‐1 gene was highly conserved in HBoV. J. Med. Virol. 82:282–288, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Flexible Nonlinear Inference to Okun’s Law for Turkish Economy in the Last Decade

The study applies the flexible nonlinear inference approach of James D. Hamilton (2001) to investigate the relationship between cyclical components of unemployment and output in the Turkish economy where the unemployment rate remains at double digits despite the relatively stable economic environment over the last decade. The paper shows that economic expansion and contraction terms have an asymmetric effect on cyclical unemployment in Turkey. Moreover, the study identifies a specific range for the output gap level at which jobless growth pattern occurs in the Turkish economy. According to our findings, contrary to standard literature, cyclical component of unemployment does not decrease even though cyclical component of output is positive and increases in the middle stages of the upswing phase of the economy. This result may also indicate that the employers are reluctant to extend employment and alter into informalization for reasons such as over-valued domestic currency, surplus labour force and/or any rigid regulatory frameworks in the middle stages of the expansion phase of the economy. However, they become eager to expand employment and renounce informalization only after a certain rate of economic growth is achieved.Keywords: Okun’s Law, Flexible nonlinear inference, Jobless growth, Turkey.JEL: C50, E24. Fleksibilni nelinearni zakljucak Okunovog zakona o Turskoj ekonomiji u poslednjoj deceniji Istraživanje primenjuje fleksibilni pristup nelinearnog zakljucivanja Jamesa D. Hamiltona (2001) za istraživanje odnosa između ciklicnih komponenti nezaposlenosti i proizvodnje u Turskoj ekonomiji gde stopa nezaposlenosti ostaje dvostruka cifra uprkos relativno stabilnom ekonomskom okruženju tokom poslednje decenije. Rad pokazuje da uslovi ekonomske ekspanzije i kontrakcije imaju asimetricni efekat na ciklicnu nezaposlenost u Turskoj. Stavise, istraživanje identifikuje specifican opseg za proizvodni jaz na kojem se odvija obrazac rasta nezaposlenosti u Turskoj ekonomiji. Prema nasim nalazima, suprotno standardnoj literaturi, ciklicna komponenta nezaposlenosti se ne smanjuje, iako je ciklicna komponenta proizvodnje pozitivna i povecava se u srednjim fazama ekspanzije privrede. Ovaj rezultat takođe može ukazivati na to da poslodavci nisu spremni da zaposljavaju i prihvate neformalizam iz razloga kao sto su precenjena domaca valuta, visak radne snage i/ili bilo kakvi rigidni regulatorni okviri u srednjoj fazi ekspanzije ekonomije. Međutim, oni žele da zaposljavaju i odustanu od formalizma tek nakon postizanja određene stope ekonomskog rasta. Kljucne reci: Okunov zakon, fleksibilno nelinearno zakljucivanje, rast nezaposlenosti, Turska.
Percutaneous peripheral interventions in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND coronary artery disease (CAD) is often accompanied by peripheral artery disease. There are patients who are disqualified from surgical approach in the treatment of limb ischaemia due to many comorbidities including severe CAD. AIM to examine whether multilevel intervention (peripheral and coronary) in patients with multi-vessel CAD (MVD) carries a higher in-hospital and long-term risk in comparison to patients with a single vessel disease (SVD). METHODS data on consecutive patients with peripheral artery disease and CAD (acute coronary syndrome) were gathered in our department from January 2003 till June 2009. All patients included in the study had peripheral and coronary angioplasty performed during the same index hospital stay. Patients were divided into two groups: those with SVD and those with MVD in coronary angiography. RESULTS there were 116 patients included in the study - 56 patients in the SVD group and 60 patients in the MVD group. The frequency of major adverse cerebrovascular and cardiac events during long-term follow up tended to be higher in patients with MVD, however the difference did not reach statistical significance (MVD vs SVD: 13.3% vs 3.6%, p = 0.061). There were significantly more major adverse peripheral events such as repeat percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, stroke/transient ischaemic attack and lower limb amputation in the MVD group than in the SVD patients (20% vs 1.8%, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS percutaneous angioplasty of lower limb arteries in patients with MVD seems to be an effective and relatively safe method of treatment of patients with disseminated atherosclerosis and an alternative to surgical treatment.
Young Adults’ Contextualization of Environmental and Sustainability Issues: A Critical Issue for Environmental Education Intervention

As soon as decision makers are expected to make differences towards sustainable future, young adults’ ability to make informed and sound decisions is considered essential towards securing our planet. This study provides an insight into young adults’ knowledge of key environment and sustainability issues. To answer the key research questions, data were obtained using a qualitative phenomenographic research approach and collected through 18 face-to-face in-depth interviews with research participants. The findings of this study suggest that young adults lived experiences that play a huge role in their level of awareness of topical environmental and sustainability issues critical to humanity’s future on earth.
Effects of Antibiotics on Shiga Toxin 2 Production and Bacteriophage Induction by Epidemic Escherichia coli O104:H4 Strain

ABSTRACT The role of antibiotics in treatment of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infections is controversial because of concerns about triggering hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) by increasing Shiga toxin (Stx) production. During the recent large EHEC O104:H4 outbreak, antibiotic therapy was indicated for some patients. We tested a diverse panel of antibiotics to which the outbreak strain is susceptible to interrogate the effects of subinhibitory antibiotic concentrations on induction of stx2-harboring bacteriophages, stx2 transcription, and Stx2 production in this emerging pathogen. Ciprofloxacin significantly increased stx2-harboring phage induction and Stx2 production in outbreak isolates (P values of <0.001 to <0.05), while fosfomycin, gentamicin, and kanamycin insignificantly influenced them (P > 0.1) and chloramphenicol, meropenem, azithromycin, rifaximin, and tigecycline significantly decreased them (P ≤ 0.05). Ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol significantly upregulated and downregulated stx2 transcription, respectively (P < 0.01); the other antibiotics had insignificant effects (P > 0.1). Meropenem, azithromycin, and rifaximin, which were used for necessary therapeutic or prophylactic interventions during the EHEC O104:H4 outbreak, as well as tigecycline, neither induced stx2-harboring phages nor increased stx2 transcription or Stx2 production in the outbreak strain. These antibiotics might represent therapeutic options for patients with EHEC O104:H4 infection if antibiotic treatment is inevitable. We await further analysis of the epidemic to determine if usage of these agents was associated with an altered risk of developing HUS.
Equilibrium Securitization with Diverse Beliefs

We study the effects of diverse beliefs on equilibrium securitization. We provide a simple characterization of the optimal securities. Pooling and tranching of assets emerges in equilibrium as a consequence of traders’ diverse beliefs about asset returns. Under risk neutrality, the issuer of securities tranches the asset pool, and traders sort among the tranches according to their beliefs. We show how the traders’ disagreement about the correlation of asset returns is a key factor in determining which assets are pooled.
A Multicenter Open-Label Experience on the Response of Psoriasis to Adalimumab and Effect of Dose Escalation in Non-Responders: The Aphrodite Project

There is much evidence to show the efficacy of adalimumab, a human monoclonal antibody targeting tumour necrosis factor-alpha, in the treatment of plaque psoriasis. In this open-label experience, 147 high-need patients suffering from plaque psoriasis, with a mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) of 18.8, and concomitant psoriatic arthritis (PsA) received subcutaneous injections of 40 mg of adalimumab every other week (EOW). This was actually the dosage regimen recommended for PsA, as the drug had not then been approved for psoriasis at the time of the patients' enrolment. At week 12, an improvement of at least 50% of the PASI (PASI-50) was observed in 111 (77%) patients. Continuation of treatment in responders with adalimumab 40 mg EOW led to a sustained response, with the PASI-50 achieved by 97% of patients in the as-treated analysis at week 24 (PASI-75 in 82% and PASI-90 in 45% out of 109 patients who received EOW injections up to week 24). Thirty subjects who failed to attain the PASI-50 response at week 12 were treated with adalimumab 40 mg every week for a further 12 weeks. At week 24, 80% of these patients obtained a PASI-50 response after dose escalation. Tolerability was good in the majority of patients. Only two patients discontinued treatment because of an adverse event (repeated flu-like episodes and a pleuropericarditis of unknown origin, respectively).
The Mucocutaneous Manifestations Associated with Celiac Disease in Childhood and Adolescence

Abstract: This study was performed to detect the prevalence of mucocutaneous manifestations of celiac disease in childhood and adolescence and to investigate the relationship between these findings and duration of disease and a gluten‐free diet. The study included 55 children and adolescents with a mean age of 10.0 ± 4.61 years (2–19 years). Mucocutaneous manifestations were evaluated with respect to age, gender, duration of illness, and of gluten‐free diet and compliance with this diet. Cutaneous, mucosal, nail, and hair findings were detected in 74.5%, 27.3%, 20.0%, and 7.3% of patients, respectively. The most prevalent dermatologic diagnosis was xerosis (69.1%). No significant relationship was detected between the cutaneous findings and the duration of illness (p > 0.05). However, the duration was longer in patients with mucosal findings compared to those without mucosal findings (p < 0.05). It was found that all patients without cutaneous findings were on a strict gluten‐free diet (p < 0.05). Ours is one of the few studies describing skin findings in children with celiac disease. We believe that both pediatricians and dermatologists should be aware of the various mucocutaneous manifestations of celiac disease, because a careful skin, mucosa, nail, and hair examination may lead to a diagnosis of celiac disease, particularly in atypical presentations.
NASA Faked the Moon Landing—Therefore, (Climate) Science Is a Hoax

Although nearly all domain experts agree that carbon dioxide emissions are altering the world’s climate, segments of the public remain unconvinced by the scientific evidence. Internet blogs have become a platform for denial of climate change, and bloggers have taken a prominent role in questioning climate science. We report a survey of climate-blog visitors to identify the variables underlying acceptance and rejection of climate science. Our findings parallel those of previous work and show that endorsement of free-market economics predicted rejection of climate science. Endorsement of free markets also predicted the rejection of other established scientific findings, such as the facts that HIV causes AIDS and that smoking causes lung cancer. We additionally show that, above and beyond endorsement of free markets, endorsement of a cluster of conspiracy theories (e.g., that the Federal Bureau of Investigation killed Martin Luther King, Jr.) predicted rejection of climate science as well as other scientific findings. Our results provide empirical support for previous suggestions that conspiratorial thinking contributes to the rejection of science. Acceptance of science, by contrast, was strongly associated with the perception of a consensus among scientists.
Altered bone metabolism in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Aim: Data on bone homoeostasis of children infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), at the time of the gain in bone mass, are very rare. To determine possible alterations in bone metabolism, 13 prepubertal vertically HIV‐infected children were studied. Methods: Viral load, CD4 count, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), growth hormone, insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I), IGF binding protein‐3 (IGFBP‐3), acid‐labile subunit (ALS), IGFBP‐3 proteolysis, osteocalcin in blood and N‐terminal telopeptide of type I collagen in urine were determined. Lumbar spine bone mineral density was examined by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Results: Low osteocalcin levels were found in all patients. Low IGF‐I was found in only six children, who had low CD4 count and high IL‐6 levels, with normal levels of IGFBP‐3 and ALS, absent IGFBP‐3 proteolysis and decreased bone mineral density, irrespective of viral load or growth.
Visuospatial Asymmetries Arise from Differences in the Onset Time of Perceptual Evidence Accumulation

Healthy subjects tend to exhibit a bias of visual attention whereby left hemifield stimuli are processed more quickly and accurately than stimuli appearing in the right hemifield. It has long been held that this phenomenon arises from the dominant role of the right cerebral hemisphere in regulating attention. However, methods that would enable more precise understanding of the mechanisms underpinning visuospatial bias have remained elusive. We sought to finely trace the temporal evolution of spatial biases by leveraging a novel bilateral dot motion detection paradigm. In combination with electroencephalography, this paradigm enables researchers to isolate discrete neural signals reflecting the key neural processes needed for making these detection decisions. These include signals for spatial attention, early target selection, evidence accumulation, and motor preparation. Using this method, we established that three key neural markers accounted for unique between-subject variation in visuospatial bias: hemispheric asymmetry in posterior α power measured before target onset, which is related to the distribution of preparatory attention across the visual field; asymmetry in the peak latency of the early N2c target-selection signal; and, finally, asymmetry in the onset time of the subsequent neural evidence-accumulation process with earlier onsets for left hemifield targets. Our development of a single paradigm to dissociate distinct processing components that track the temporal evolution of spatial biases not only advances our understanding of the neural mechanisms underpinning normal visuospatial attention bias, but may also in the future aid differential diagnoses in disorders of spatial attention. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The significance of this research is twofold. First, it shows that individual differences in how humans direct their attention between left and right space reflects physiological differences in how early the brain starts to accumulate evidence for the existence of a visual target. Second, the novel methods developed here may have particular relevance to disorders of attention, such as unilateral spatial neglect. In the case of spatial neglect, pathological inattention to left space could have multiple underlying causes, including biased attention, impaired decision formation, or a motor deficit related to one side of space. Our development of a single paradigm to dissociate each of these components may aid in supporting more precise differential diagnosis in such heterogeneous disorders.
What Is Going on with Natural Killer Cells in HIV Infection?

Natural killer (NK) cells represent 10–15% of circulating lymphocytes and are important mediators of both natural and adaptive immunity. They participate in immune surveillance against malignancies and virus infection and are involved in the complex immune responses of transplantation, autoimmune diseases and immunosuppression. They can also mediate physiological regulation of hematopoiesis, homeostasis of reproduction and placentation. In recent years new advances have been achieved in understanding the mechanisms whereby NK cells exert their cytotoxic and regulatory roles. Here, we review the physiology of NK cells with special attention to its role in HIV infection.
Statin Use and Functional Outcome after Tissue Plasminogen Activator Treatment in Acute Ischaemic Stroke

Background: Preliminary findings suggest that statins may have a neuroprotective effect in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. This study investigated whether patients prior on statin therapy and treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for acute ischaemic stroke have a better functional outcome than statin-naïve patients. Methods: In a prospective observational cohort study of 476 acute ischaemic stroke patients treated with tPA we investigated the relationship between prior statin use and functional outcome at 3 months, the occurrence of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (SICH) and early in-hospital mortality. Ischaemic stroke subtypes were defined according to the TOAST classification. Favourable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score ≤2. Results: Of the 476 patients included, 98 (20.6%) used a statin at stroke presentation. In the entire cohort, 45.6% of patients had a favourable outcome with no difference between patients with or without statin therapy (45.9 vs. 45.5%, p = 0.94). In the multivariable analysis, statin use was not associated with favourable outcome (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.6–1.9, p = 0.87). In none of the different stroke subtype groups was statin use associated with favourable outcome. Finally, statin use was not an independent risk factor of SICH or of early in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Prior statin therapy in patients with acute ischaemic stroke treated with tPA is not associated with a more favourable outcome, and this is independent of stroke subtype.
Ethnic pluralism, immigration and entrepreneurship

ABSTRACT This paper considers the effects of immigration and ethnicity on entrepreneurship, distinguishing between the individual traits and the environmental characteristics. It looks beyond the resource-opportunity framework and occupational choice: culture and values matter. Yet, instead of assigning the latter to specific ethnic features, they are related here to both immigration and to the social environment defined by the share of immigrants, and by ethnic diversity. Empirical evidence provided in this paper is based on Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) UK data, 2003–13. Having more immigrants in the locality enhances entrepreneurship. With an increase in ethnic diversity the likelihood of being engaged in start-up activity decreases then increases.
Interactions between Mytilus haemocytes and different strains of Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor: role of kinase‐mediated signalling

Marine bivalves accumulate large amounts of bacteria from the environment (mainly Vibrionaceae and coliforms). Although persistence of different bacteria in bivalve tissues largely depends on their sensitivity to the bactericidal activity of circulating haemocytes and haemolymph soluble factors, the mechanisms involved in bacteria–host cell interactions in these invertebrates are largely unknown. In the mussel Mytilus, differences in interactions between haemocytes and different Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae strains [E. coli MG155, a wild‐type strain carrying type 1 fimbriae, and its unfimbriated derivative, AAEC072 Δfim; V. cholerae O1 El Tor biotype strain N16961, carrying the mannose‐sensitive haemagglutinin (MSHA), and its MSHA mutant] lead to differences in bactericidal activity in the presence of serum. Here we show that different bacteria induced distinct patterns of phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), in particular of the stress‐activated MAPKs involved in the immune response. Differences in phosphorylation of PKC‐like proteins were also observed. The results support the hypothesis that, like in mammalian host cells, different bacteria can modulate the signalling pathways of mussel haemocytes. The lower anti‐bacterial activity towards the mutant E. coli strain and wild‐type V. cholerae compared with wild E. coli may result from a reduced capacity of activating MAPKs. Moreover, the mutant V. cholerae strain that was the most resistant to the haemocyte bactericidal activity induced downregulation of cell signalling and showed the strongest effect on lysosomal membrane stability, evaluated as a marker of bivalve cell stress. These data suggest that certain bacteria could evade the bactericidal activity of mussel haemocytes through disruption of the host signalling pathways.
Protection by LPS-induced inhibitory CD11b(+) cells on corneal allograft.

OBJECTIVE It is widely reported that CD11b(+)Gr1+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells can cause allograft tolerance in mice and human, however, little is known on the therapy role in chronic transplantation rejection. In this paper, their role in corneal transplantation was studied for the first time. METHOD Inhibitory CD11b(+) cells were obtained by murine LPS-induced septic model. Phenotype, endocytosis, antigen presenting ability, and T cell suppression assays were performed by flow cytometry analysis. The suppressive ability in vivo was analyzed by targeting allogeneic corneal transplantation. RESULTS LPS was intraperitoneally injected into C57BL/6 mice, the percentage of CD11b(+) Gr1+ cells was increased in mice spleen, blood, and bone marrow, respectively. Compared with control mice, Ly6C, TLR2, and MHC-11 expression were higher in LPS treated mice. CD11b(+) Gr1+ cells could inhibit allogenic corneal reaction in vivo after adoptive transfer, in consistent with an observation of inhibition effect on the antigen presenting cells (APCs) and CD4+ T cells proliferation in vitro. CONCLUSION CD11b(+) cells induced by LPS could function as inhibitory APCs, suppress CD4+ T cells proliferation and improve corneal allograft survival. Predictly, its application for cells transfer therapy in clinic in the further.