Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Legionnaires' disease is not uncommon in Croatia].

Legionella pneumophila has been relatively frequent pathogen of pneumonias worldwide. It causes 2-15% of pneumonias requiring hospitalization. It appears sporadically and in outbreaks, and frequently as hospital-acquired infection. The main aim of this study is to show the permanent presence of Legionnaires' disease in our country. In the 9-year period (1986-94), 42 patients were treated in the University Hospital of Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic" in Zagreb. The disease was diagnosed every year, and only one patient came from an outbreak, while all other cases of pneumonia were sporadic ones of pneumonia from the community. There were 40 males and only two women. Most of the patients (14) were in aged 30-39 yrs. There were six times more patients during summer and fall than in winter and spring time (36:6), and the highest number was in July (10). In 17 (40.5%) patients exposure to some potential sources of infection was recorded. Provocative factors i.e. underlying chronic diseases have been reported in 13 patients. There were 33 (78.6%) smokers, and 15 patients consumed greater quantities of alcoholic drinks. Legionnaires' disease affects also previously healthy persons as well as those without recognized provocative factors.
Oral Contraceptive Use, Caffeine Consumption, Field-Dependence, and the Discrimination of Colors

We attempted to validate laboratory research which indicated that single doses of oral contraceptives (OCs) and caffeine affect the ability to discriminate colors (Böhme & Böhme, 1985). We did this in a nonlaboratory setting by surveying habitual use of OCs and caffeine by 43 female college students and relating that information to their performance on the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Test. When field-dependence, conceptualized as an indirect measure of sensitivity of the nervous system and previously shown to be strongly related to color discrimination, was included in the analyses, the results supported Böhme and Böhme's findings, For Trays 2 and 3 of the 100-Hue Test (yellow through blue of the color spectrum), higher caffeine consumption among OC users was related to poorer color discrimination, whereas, among non-users of OCs, it was related to better performance. Study design limitations do not permit attribution of causation to either caffeine or OCs at this time.
An Empirical Study on the Relationship between Accounting Conservatism and Asset Impairment Recognition: Evidence from Companies in Taiwan

In this study, we investigate the impact of the conservatism of a company’s financial statements on management’s motivation to recognize asset impairment, and the impact of accounting conservatism on prior period impairment losses and gains on impairment reversal. The empirical results showed that a higher accounting conservatism level can reduce management manipulation for recognized more impairment losses in the prior period and then more gains on impairment reversal. That is, a higher level of accounting conservatism can reduce prior period impairment losses, recognized by managers, to make reserves to facilitate the recognition of gains on impairment reversal in a later period, to apparently ‘improve’ earnings.
Host cell-dependent alterations in envelope components of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 virions

In addition to gp41 and gp120, an array of cell adhesion molecules is present on the envelope of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). To examine the role of the host cell in the acquisition of these molecules by virions, both laboratory-adapted and primary isolates were sequentially passaged into different host cells. Viruses obtained from the various host cells were examined for the presence of 10 different cell-derived molecules by a virus binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Virus progeny raised in peripheral blood mononuclear cells expressed most of the adhesion molecules tested, with the level of LFA-1 being the highest. When viruses were passaged into CEM-SS or SupT1 cells, the expression of most of the adhesion molecules on the virus envelope was lost. In contrast, when viruses were passaged into MT2 cells, the virus progeny bore high levels of LFA-3, ICAM-1, and major histocompatibility complex classes I and II. These studies demonstrate for the first time the host cell dependence of the adhesion molecule profile present on the envelope of primary isolates of HIV-1. The presence of several adhesion molecules that have not previously been identified as components of the envelope of either laboratory or primary isolates is also described. In addition, we show that the adhesion molecule profile of the virions is acquired, or lost, within one passage and is maintained with subsequent passages in the same cell type.
Validation of the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for stroke by exploring the patient’s perspective on functioning in everyday life: a qualitative study

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core sets are short procedures to record and provide information on health. However, further validation is needed. The aim of this study was to validate the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for stroke by exploring the patient’s living at home and receiving outpatient rehabilitation perspective on functioning in everyday life. Qualitative interviews of 22 patients with previous stroke in Finland were analyzed using the content analysis method: functional concepts that described the participants’ perspective on functioning in everyday life were extracted from the interview transcripts and linked to ICF categories using ICF linking rules. Extracted functional concepts from 372 meaning units were linked to 115 of the 166 categories included in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for stroke and to six additional ICF categories. Thirty-eight concepts could not be linked to the ICF categories. Sixty-eight percent of the second-level ICF categories in the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for stroke were validated. In total, 28 of 36 categories added to the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for stroke from the Core Sets for patients with neurological conditions in the acute and early postacute phases were not confirmed in this sample of individuals with stroke living in their homes.
Intellectual functioning and the long-term course of schizophrenia-spectrum illness

Background Recent neurodevelopmental models of schizophrenia, together with substantial evidence of neurocognitive dysfunction among people with schizophrenia, have led to a widespread view that general cognitive deficits are a central aspect of schizophrenic pathology. However, the temporal relationships between intellectual functioning and schizophrenia-spectrum illness remain unclear. Method Longitudinal data from the Copenhagen High-Risk Project (CHRP) were used to evaluate the importance of intellectual functioning in the prediction of diagnostic and functional outcomes associated with the schizophrenia spectrum. The effect of spectrum illness on intellectual and educational performance was also evaluated. The sample consisted of 311 Danish participants: 99 at low risk, 155 at high risk, and 57 at super-high risk for schizophrenia. Participants were given intellectual [Weschler's Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)/Weschler's Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)] assessments at mean ages of 15 and 24 years, and diagnostic and functional assessments at mean ages 24 and 42 years. Results Intellectual functioning was found to have no predictive relationship to later psychosis or spectrum personality, and minimal to no direct relationship to later measures of work/independent living, psychiatric treatment, and overall severity. No decline in intellectual functioning was associated with either psychosis or spectrum personality. Conclusions These largely negative findings are discussed in the light of strong predictive relationships existing between genetic risk, diagnosis and functional outcomes. The pattern of predictive relationships suggests that overall cognitive functioning may play less of a role in schizophrenia-spectrum pathology than is widely believed, at least among populations with an evident family history of schizophrenia.
Mice Deficient in MyD88 Develop a Th2-Dominant Response and Severe Pathology in the Upper Genital Tract following Chlamydia muridarum Infection

MyD88, a key adaptor molecule required for many innate immunity receptor-activated signaling pathways, was evaluated in a Chlamydia muridarum urogenital tract infection model. Compared with wild-type mice, MyD88 knockout (KO) mice failed to produce significant levels of inflammatory cytokines in the genital tract during the first week of chlamydial infection. MyD88 KO mice developed a Th2-dominant whereas wild-type mice developed a Th1/Th17-dominant immune response after chlamydial infection. Despite the insufficient production of early inflammatory cytokines and lack of Th1/Th17-dominant adaptive immunity, MyD88 KO mice appeared to be as resistant to chlamydial intravaginal infection as wild-type mice based on the number of live organisms recovered from vaginal samples. However, significantly high numbers of chlamydial organisms were detected in the upper genital tract tissues of MyD88 KO mice. Consequently, MyD88 KO mice developed more severe pathology in the upper genital tract. These results together have demonstrated that MyD88-dependent signaling pathway is not only required for inflammatory cytokine production in the early phase of host response to chlamydial infection but also plays a critical role in the development of Th1/Th17 adaptive immunity, both of which may be essential for limiting ascending infection and reducing pathology of the upper genital tract by chlamydial organisms.
Comparison of one-step RT-PCR and a nested PCR for the detection of canine distemper virus in clinical samples.

OBJECTIVE To develop a rapid and sensitive method for the detection of canine distemper virus (CDV) by nested PCR using clinical specimens. DESIGN A nested PCR was developed, compared to a one-step RT-PCR and validated. PROCEDURE Two sets of specific primers for a one-step RT-PCR and a nested PCR, targeting a 640 bp fragment and a 297 bp fragment, respectively, were selected from the highly conserved region of the nucleocapsid protein (NP) gene of CDV. The nested PCR and the one-step RT-PCR were used to amplify a part of the CDV NP gene of a CDV vaccinal strain and samples of urine, blood, nasal discharge and saliva from 29 dogs suspected of suffering CD. RESULTS Both the one-step RT-PCR and the nested PCR reacted with the CDV vaccinal strain, but not with canine parvovirus. The expected 640 bp fragment of the NP gene was detected in 11/22 (50.0%) blood, 10/20 (50.0%) urine, 5/25 (20.0%) saliva and 6/27 (22.2%) nasal swab samples by one-step RT-PCR, whereas the nested PCR amplified an expected 297 bp fragment of the NP gene in 18/22 (81.8%) blood, 15/20 (75.0%) urine, 14/25 (56%) saliva and 19/27 (70.3%) nasal swab samples. CONCLUSION The nested PCR detected CDV in blood, urine, nasal swab and saliva more frequently than did the one-step RT-PCR. Therefore, this assay should be a useful aid to antemortem diagnosis of CDV infections in dogs.
A two-stage approach for estimating the parameters of an age-group epidemic model from incidence data

Age-dependent dynamics is an important characteristic of many infectious diseases. Age-group epidemic models describe the infection dynamics in different age-groups by allowing to set distinct parameter values for each. However, such models are highly nonlinear and may have a large number of unknown parameters. Thus, parameter estimation of age-group models, while becoming a fundamental issue for both the scientific study and policy making in infectious diseases, is not a trivial task in practice. In this paper, we examine the estimation of the so-called next-generation matrix using incidence data of a single entire outbreak, and extend the approach to deal with recurring outbreaks. Unlike previous studies, we do not assume any constraints regarding the structure of the matrix. A novel two-stage approach is developed, which allows for efficient parameter estimation from both statistical and computational perspectives. Simulation studies corroborate the ability to estimate accurately the parameters of the model for several realistic scenarios. The model and estimation method are applied to real data of influenza-like-illness in Israel. The parameter estimates of the key relevant epidemiological parameters and the recovered structure of the estimated next-generation matrix are in line with results obtained in previous studies.
The impact of higher education on entrepreneurial intention and human capital

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of higher education on the emergence of entrepreneurial intention (EI) and human capital (HC) as a component of intellectual capital (IC) that strongly influences the entrepreneurial process. ,On the basis of a literature review, a theoretical model that is focused on the theory of planned behaviour was defined to verify the impact of higher education on the development of EI and HC. To this end, the structural equation modelling methodology was applied to two samples of students and academics, which differ each other in terms of both education level and specific characteristics of entrepreneurship education activities. ,The main results show that there are significant differences between the two considered samples. In particular, the level and specific characteristics of entrepreneurial education are the key factors for the development of EI and HC. ,The research may be of relevance for universities and policy makers. Universities must devote more attention to training and practice-oriented entrepreneurial courses and collateral activities (projects, initiatives, actions), both for students (first mission) and academic aspiring entrepreneurs (third mission) to encourage the emergence of EI and HC formation. For policy makers, this study suggests the need to define policy guidelines and frameworks to support universities’ educational programmes and activities to strengthen the entrepreneurial process, so that they can be consistent with the EU and national entrepreneurship policies. ,This explorative research intends to contribute to the scientific debate by filling the knowledge gap that is due to the very limited number of studies that analyse whether and how EI can mediate the relationship between higher education and HC as an IC component.
An OspA antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting North American isolates of Borrelia burgdorferi in larval and nymphal Ixodes dammini

An antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for detecting North American isolates of Borrelia burgdorferi in larval, nymphal, and adult ticks. The assay uses an anti-OspA monoclonal antibody (H5332) for antigen capture and biotin-labelled polyclonal sera with streptavidinhorseradish peroxidase for signal generation. The assay recognized 15 of 15 North American B. burgdorferi isolates and did not cross-react with spirochete antigens of Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia turicatae, Borrelia coriaceae, or Borrelia parkeri, or with tick antigens of Ixodes dammini, Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes pacificus, Ixodes cookei, Ixodes angustus, or Ambylomma americanum. The assay, with a sensitivity of less than 150 spirochetes, can detect infections in larval, nymphal, and adult ticks. In addition to fresh ticks, B. burgdorferi infections in ticks stored frozen, dried, or in 70% ethanol can be determined with the assay.
Forecasting Excess Returns of the Gold Market: Can We Learn from Stock Market Predictions?

Abstract As some recent studies have shown empirically, future gold price fluctuations are especially difficult to forecast. Against this background, this study evaluates the forecasting power of three approaches that have been applied successfully in a stock market prediction context: 1) technical indicators, 2) diffusion indices, and 3) economically motivated restrictions in predictive regressions. The results are evaluated using statistical and economic evaluation criteria over the entire data sample, as well as separately for expansive and recessive business cycles. We observe that none of the three prediction techniques leads to better forecasts of gold excess returns. The forecast power of fundamental predictor variables is not only highly regime-dependent, but also dependent on the selected economic evaluation criterion. Future gold forecast studies should address these issues.
Comparative loss and maturation of peripheral blood dendritic cell subpopulations in African and non-African HIV-1-infected patients

ObjectivesTo quantify the percentage of the two major subpopulations of blood dendritic cells (DC) in HIV-1-seropositive Ugandan individuals infected with non-clade B viruses and compare this with that seen in clade B HIV-1 infected non-African individuals. DC maturation/activation status was also investigated via the expression of CD86. MethodsThe percentage of blood DC was quantified by using flow cytometry. DC were identified as the lineage (CD3, CD14, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD56)-negative, HLA-DR-positive population and the two major subpopulations were differentiated by CD11c expression. ResultsThe percentage of blood DC was reduced significantly in HIV-1-seropositive African individuals when compared with controls (0.21 and 0.39% respectively). A similar reduction was also seen in non-African patients residing in the UK (0.19% compared with 0.36% for controls). However, there was no selective loss in either CD11c-positive or CD11c-negative subpopulations. The percentage of blood DC expressing CD86 was significantly greater in HIV-1-seropositive individuals when compared with controls and the increased expression was largely confined to CD11c-negative DC. ConclusionsAfricans infected with non-clade B HIV-1 showed similar reductions in the percentage of blood DC to non-Africans infected with clade B viruses. There was no selective loss of either DC subpopulation, suggesting that the ability of DC to acquire and present antigens or to produce interferon-α may both be impaired in HIV-1 infection.
Terpenes from the Soft Corals of the Genus Sarcophyton: Chemistry and Biological Activities

This review covers structural diversity and biological activities of terpenes from soft corals of the genus of Sarcophyton, reported from 1995 to July, 2011. During this period, besides undefined species, 16 species of the genus Sarcophyton, from different geographical areas, had been chemically examined. Two hundred and five terpenes had been isolated from this genus, including eleven sesquiterpenes, 165 diterpenes, 29 biscembranoids, some of which had novel skeletons. They exhibited various biological features, such as antifeedant, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, and antifouling activities.
Ethnic gaps in child education outcomes in Vietnam: an investigation using Young Lives data

ABSTRACT There are large gaps in child education outcomes between the Kinh majority and non-Kinh minorities in Vietnam. This paper seeks to understand the reasons for these ethnic gaps. The examination employs Probit and multilevel regression models, and associated decomposition techniques. The results show that Vietnam’s ethnic gap in school enrolment is mostly attributable to household characteristics such as household expenditure and father’s education. Gaps in schooling progress and performance are explained by a broader set of variables such as child, household, commune, school, and peer characteristics.
Federal transfers, inequality, and redistribution: Contrasting theories and empirical evidence for five Latin American cases

ABSTRACT Does federalism encourage inequality? Or, do transfers from the central government augment redistribution? This research examines whether variation in the institutional structures as well as the mechanisms and criteria for the distribution of fiscal resources in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico affect interregional and interpersonal inequality. Using descriptive statistics and regression models for original panel data from these five cases between 1983 and 2013, the study finds that a more progressive redistributive capacity of the central government is statistically associated with improvements in interregional as well as interpersonal equity, challenging the conventional view that federalism reinforces inequality. The article discusses these findings and others from competing arguments, and explores their implications for the discussion on inequality and redistribution in developing nations.
For which cancer types can neuron-specific enolase be clinically helpful in Turkish patients?

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels in patients with prostate cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, lung cancer and peripheral nerve tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS NSE levels were determined by ELISA in the sera of 100 prostate cancer, 47 Hodgkin lymphoma, 35 lung cancer and 35 peripheral nerve tumor patients and also in 132 healthy controls. RESULTS The median levels of serum NSE were elevated in patients with lung cancer (p=0.018) and peripheral nerve tumors (p=0.008). NSE levels in prostate cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma patients were higher than the controls but there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that NSE may be applied in routine to gain insight about the clinical statuses of various cancer patients, but more studies are needed to determine the organ specificity.
The Employment and Output Effects of Short-Time Work in Germany

We study the employment and output effects of the short-time work (STW) policy in Germany between 2009 and 2010. This intervention facilitated reductions in hours worked per employee with the goal of preventing layoffs. Using confidential German micro-level data we estimate a search model with heterogeneous multi-worker firms as a basis for policy analysis. Our findings suggest that STW can prevent increases in unemployment during a recession. However, the policy leads to a decrease in the allocative efficiency of the labor market, resulting in significant output losses. These effects arise from a reduction in the vacancy filling rate resulting from the policy intervention.
A Kitchen with too Many Cooks: Factors Associated with Hospital Profitability

In this paper, we carefully investigate previous literature to extract 10 relevant factors to explain the hospital profitability and build an econometrically well-specified model of explaining hospital profitability that does not suffer from omitted variable bias. Then we provide empirical evidence to a common belief that the objective function of a hospital varies with the type of hospital. We identified distinct objective functions for three types of hospitals: for-profit hospitals are driven by the overarching agreed-upon goal of profit maximization for shareholders; government hospitals, which are often the insurers of last resort, are obliged to put the public interest over profit objectives; nonprofit hospitals, which are legally prohibited from distributing profits, occupy the middle ground between for-profit and government hospitals. The results of this paper suggest that the ownership type should determine the factors on which hospitals focus and hence are useful to hospital management and academic researchers.