Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ACINETOBACTER ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND FREQUENCY OF ESBL-PRODUCING STRAINS IN ICU PATIENTS OF NAMAZI HOSPITAL (2008-2009)

Background: Acinetobacter is a gram-negative pathogenic bacterium and an important cause of nosocomial infections especially in immunocompromised patients in the intensive care units. Reports of multi-drug resistant isolates have increased during the last decade. As a result of extensive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and high prevalence of ESBL producing bacteria especially in ICU ward, Acinetobacter infection is often difficult to treat. Objective: To determine the antibiotic resistance in Acinetobacter and detecting the prevalence of ESBL producing strains in ICU patients of Namazi Hospital in Shiraz (Iran). Methods: This study was carried our on 147 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter collected from ICU patients at Namazi Hospital during October to December (2008-2009). Antibiotic susceptibility test for isolated strains was performed using disk diffusion method. Also, isolation of ESBL Acinetobacter strains was accomplished using double disk synergy test. Findings: The highest antibiotic resistance among 147 Acinetobacter baumannii strains was found against ciprofloxacin, amikacin, and gentamicin. Regarding the results of initial screening tests, 44% of total samples were demonstrated to be ESBL positive Conclusion: Based on our data, the major reason for emergence of diverse ESBL strains was due to unjustified administration of broad spectrum cephalosporins. Accurate antibiotic susceptibility testing prior to administration of antibacterial agents for patients to reduce the high prevalence of ESBL strains is recommended.
Salmon lice infection in wild salmonids in marine protected areas: Comment on Serra-Llinares et al. (2014)

Serra-Llinares et al. (2014; Aquacult Environ Interact 5:1�16) analysed the asso - ciation between the estimated production of salmon louse copepodites in salmon farms and lice infection levels in wild salmonids. The authors argued that 41% of the variance observed in the number of salmon lice on wild fish is explained by lice production in nearby salmon farms. The correlation identified by Serra-Llinares et al. (2014; their Fig. 3) could, however, be explained by an effect of temperature variation in time and space, rather than a causal relationship between salmon farming and lice infection in wild salmonids.
Preschool developmental concerns and adjustment in the early school years: evidence from a Scottish birth cohort.

BACKGROUND Preschool language and behavioural difficulties impact on multiple domains of the child's early life and can endure into adulthood, predicting poor educational, social and health outcomes. Highlighting risk factors associated with poor outcomes following language and behavioural difficulties raised in early childhood may facilitate early identification and intervention. METHODS Data from the Growing Up in Scotland national birth cohort study were used. Language and behavioural difficulties were assessed at age four years using parent-reported language concerns and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Measures of adjustment were collated into four key outcome domains; attitude to school life, language & general development, behaviour and general health at age six years. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted in order to explore independent associations between language & behavioural difficulties at age four and adjustment to life circumstances at age six, whilst controlling for other risk factors. RESULTS Language difficulties at age four increased the odds of the child experiencing difficulty with language and general development, poorer health outcomes and behavioural difficulties at age six. Behavioural difficulties alone at age four were associated with increased odds of the child experiencing all of the aforementioned outcomes as well as difficulties in early school life. Lone parent family, low income and male gender were identified as risk factors for poorer outcomes in the domains measured. At age four, there was no additive effect found with the presence of behaviour difficulties on the relationship between language difficulties and language and developmental outcomes at six years. CONCLUSIONS This paper demonstrates language and behavioural difficulties are associated with poor social, educational, health and behavioural outcomes. Taking seriously parent-reported concerns and identifying risk factors could limit negative outcomes for the child, their family and society.
How retirement affects civic participation and well-being

Disclaimer/Complaints regulations If you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: http://uba.uva. nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible.
A note on the empirical Bayes heterogeneity variance estimator in meta‐analysis

This paper focuses on the empirical Bayes (EB) or Mandel‐Paule estimator of the heterogeneity variance in meta‐analysis, which was discussed by Morris and proposed in earlier publications by Mandel and Paule in an inter‐laboratory context. The relationship of the EB estimator to other heterogeneity variance estimators typically used in meta‐analysis is explored, and approximate variance estimators for the EB estimate of the heterogeneity variance are proposed based on the M‐estimation method. Statistical inference for the overall treatment effect using the EB estimator and the proposed standard errors is discussed using two example data sets from meta‐analysis applications.
Product Market Concentration, Financing Constraints, and Firms' Business Cycle Sensitivity

We study the effects of product market concentration and financing constraints, separately and jointly, on the business cycle sensitivity of firms' operations. We confirm that the sensitivity is higher for firms in industries with both a low concentration and a relatively even distribution of market power (truly competitive industries) and lower for firms in concentrated industries. Next, we find that financially constrained firms are in general more sensitive to the cycle, but they also have a less favorable exposure to leading downturn indicators (CP spread or bond spread). This suggests that constrained firms are the first to be affected by turnarounds in the business cycle, consistent with a financial accelerator effect. However we show that this effect of financing constraints is mostly present in truly competitive industries, and less so in concentrated industries. Lastly we find that financing constraints have a significant impact on competition mechanisms, proxied by the cross-sectional mean-reversion of company profitability.
Polarization and the growth of low-skill employment in Spanish Local Labor Markets

This paper analyses the long-term transformations of local labor markets in fifty Spanish provinces to identify the extent and the drivers of employment polarization. We find that the decline of ‘routine’ mid-skill jobs is strongly driven by technology adoption and, also, that it is a strong predictor of the expansion of low-skill service employment. These results are not specific to large metropolitan areas, and are robust to various controls and instrumental variables that account for long-term industry specialisation. We also find a positive, albeit small, local multiplier effect of high-skilled workers on the demand for non-tradable service jobs.
WRINKLED1 Regulates BIOTIN ATTACHMENT DOMAIN-CONTAINING Proteins that Inhibit Fatty Acid Synthesis1[OPEN]

WRINKLED1 regulates genes for fatty acid synthesis as well as inhibitors of fatty acid synthesis (BADCs) in a homeostatic mechanism. WRINKLED1 (WRI1) is a transcriptional activator that binds to a conserved sequence (designated as AW box) boxes in the promoters of many genes from central metabolism and fatty acid (FA) synthesis, resulting in their transcription. BIOTIN ATTACHMENT DOMAIN-CONTAINING (BADC) proteins lack a biotin-attachment domain and are therefore inactive, but in the presence of excess FA, BADC1 and BADC3 are primarily responsible for the observed long-term irreversible inhibition of ACETYL-COA CARBOXYLASE, and consequently FA synthesis. Here, we tested the interaction of WRI1 with BADC genes in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and found purified WRI1 bound with high affinity to canonical AW boxes from the promoters of all three BADC genes. Consistent with this observation, both expression of BADC1, BADC2, and BADC3 genes and BADC1 protein levels were reduced in wri1-1 relative to the wild type, and elevated upon WRI1 overexpression. The double mutant badc1 badc2 phenocopied wri1-1 with respect to both reduction in root length and elevation of indole-3-acetic acid-Asp levels relative to the wild type. Overexpression of BADC1 in wri1-1 decreased indole-3-acetic acid-Asp content and partially rescued its short-root phenotype, demonstrating a role for BADCs in seedling establishment. That WRI1 positively regulates genes encoding both FA synthesis and BADC proteins (i.e. conditional inhibitors of FA synthesis), represents a coordinated mechanism to achieve lipid homeostasis in which plants couple the transcription of their FA synthetic capacity with their capacity to biochemically downregulate it.
Very massive stars: a metallicity-dependent upper-mass limit, slow winds, and the self-enrichment of globular clusters

One of the key questions in Astrophysics concerns the issue of whether there exists an upper-mass limit to stars, and if so, what physical mechanism sets this limit? The answer to this question might also determine if the upper-mass limit is metallicity (Z) dependent. We argue that mass loss by radiation-driven winds mediated by line opacity is one of the prime candidates setting the upper-mass limit. We present mass-loss predictions (Ṁwind) from Monte Carlo radiative transfer models for relatively cool (Teff = 15 kK) very inflated massive stars (VMS) with large Eddington Γ factors in the mass range 102–103 M⊙ as a function of metallicity down to 1/100 Z∕Z⊙. We employed a hydrodynamic version of our Monte Carlo method, allowing us to predict the rate of mass loss (Ṁwind) and the terminal wind velocity (v∞) simultaneously. Interestingly, we find wind terminal velocities (v∞) that are low (100–500 km s−1) over a wide Z-range, and we propose that the slow winds from VMS are an important source of self-enrichment in globular clusters. We also find mass-loss rates (Ṁwind), exceeding the typical mass-accretion rate (Ṁaccr) of 10−3 M⊙ yr−1 during massive-star formation. We have expressed our mass-loss predictions as a function of mass and Z, finding log Ṁ = −9.13 + 2.1 log(M∕M⊙) + 0.74 log(Z∕Z⊙) (M⊙∕yr). Even if stellar winds do not directly halt & reverse mass accretion during star formation, if the most massive stars form by stellar mergers, stellar wind mass loss may dominate over the rate at which stellar growth takes place. We therefore argue that the upper-mass limit is effectively Z-dependent due to the nature of radiation-driven winds. This has dramatic consequences for the most luminous supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, and other black hole formation scenarios at different Cosmic epochs.
Edinburgh Research Explorer Evolution of parental care: phenotypic and genetic correlations between parent and offspring traits

The evolution of elaborate forms of parental care is an important topic in behavioral ecology, yet the factors shaping the evolution of complex suites of parental and offspring traits are poorly understood. Here, we use a multivariate quantitative genetic approach to study phenotypic and genetic correlations between parental and offspring traits in the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides . To this end, we recorded 2 prenatal traits (clutch size and egg size), 2 postnatal parental behaviors (direct care directed toward larvae and indirect care directed toward resource maintenance), 1 offspring behavior (begging), and 2 measures of breeding success (larval dispersal mass and number of dispersing larvae). Females breeding on larger carcasses provided less direct care but produced larger larvae than females breeding on smaller carcasses. Furthermore, there were positive phenotypic correlations between clutch size, direct, and indirect care. Both egg size and direct care were positively correlated with dispersal mass, whereas clutch size was negatively correlated with dispersal mass. Clutch size and number of dispersed larvae showed genetic variance both in terms of differences between populations of origin and significant heritabilities. However, we found no evidence of genetic variance underlying other parental or offspring traits. Our results suggest that correlations between suites of parental traits are driven by variation in individual quality rather than trade-offs, that some parental traits promote offspring growth while others increase the number of offspring produced, and that parental and offspring traits might respond slowly to selection due to low levels of additive genetic variance
Effects of lowly ionized ions on silicon K-shell absorption spectra

Context. In both astrophysical and laboratory plasmas, K-shell absorption spectra have become powerful diagnostic tools to investigate electron density and temperature. These spectra are also widely used to verify the opacity codes in laboratory settings. Aims. We report the effects of the low ionization silicon ions, namely from Si I to Si V, which have rarely been considered in previous models, on the K-shell silicon absorption spectra. Methods. The Si K-shell atomic data were calculated with the flexible atomic code, which is a fully relativistic atomic program with configuration interaction taken into consideration. Detailed level accounting models were employed to calculate the absorption spectra. Results. We calculate the Si absorption spectra in local thermodynamic equilibrium conditions with temperature and density ranges of 20−70 eV and ~10 20 cm -3 to ~10 22 cm -3 , respectively, and show the contributions of the lowly ionized ions to the K-shell absorption spectra of silicon. We also investigate the effects of the different atomic data on the absorption spectra. We find good agreement between our results and these from OPLIB. Conclusions. We find that the contributions from these lowly ionized ions cannot be neglected at relative low temperatures. Accurate experimental measurements are needed to benchmark the theoretical calculations.
MafB Is Important for Pancreatic β-Cell Maintenance under a MafA-Deficient Condition

The pancreatic-islet-enriched transcription factors MafA and MafB have unique expression patterns in β cells in rodents. MafA is specifically expressed in β cells and is a key regulatory factor for maintaining adult β-cell function, whereas MafB plays an essential role in β-cell development during embryogenesis, and its expression in β cells gradually decreases and is restricted to α cells after birth in rodents. ABSTRACT The pancreatic-islet-enriched transcription factors MafA and MafB have unique expression patterns in β cells in rodents. MafA is specifically expressed in β cells and is a key regulatory factor for maintaining adult β-cell function, whereas MafB plays an essential role in β-cell development during embryogenesis, and its expression in β cells gradually decreases and is restricted to α cells after birth in rodents. However, it was previously observed that MafB started to be reexpressed in insulin-positive (insulin+) β cells in MafA-deficient adult mice. To elucidate how MafB functions in the adult β cell under MafA-deficient conditions, we generated MafA and MafB double-knockout (A0B0) mice in which MafB was specifically deleted from β cells. As a result, the A0B0 mice became more vulnerable to diabetes under a high-fat diet (HFD) treatment, with impaired islet formation and a decreased number of insulin+ β cells because of increased β-cell apoptosis, indicating MafB can take part in the maintenance of adult β cells under certain pathological conditions.
Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) JMJD3 enhances invasiveness and migratory capacity of non-small cell lung cancer cell via activating EMT signaling pathway

– OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the expression of JMJD3 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to further study its association with clinical features and prognosis of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: was performed to examine the level of JMJD3 in 46 pairs of NSCLC tissues and para-can-cerous specimens. The relationship between JMJD3 level and clinical features of NSCLC and patients’ prognosis was analyzed. And JMJD3 expression in NSCLC cells was further verified by qRT-PCR. In addition, JMJD3 knockdown model was constructed using siRNA in cell lines including A549 and SPC-A1, and the effect of JMJD3 on the biological function of NSCLC cells was analyzed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell migration and invasive-ness assays. Lastly, Western blot was performed to explore the potential mechanism. RESULTS: In this investigation, qRT-PCR results indicated that JMJD3 expression in above-mentioned tumor tissues was conspic uously higher than that in normal tissues. In addition, compared with patients with low level of JMJD3, patients with high level of JMJD3 had a higher incidence of lymphatic metastasis and distant metastasis and a lower overall survival rate. Meanwhile, the proliferation, invasiveness and migratory capacity of cells in the sh-JMJD3 group was conspicuously decreased when compared with the cells in negative control group. Western Blot results indicated that the levels of key proteins in EMT signaling pathway such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, TGF-β, and MMP-9 were notably decreased in sh-JMJD3 group. Besides, the addition of TGF-β cytokines synergistically promoted the malignant progression of NSCLC induced by JMJD3. CONCLUSIONS: JMJD3 expression was found in NSCLC, which might be close relevant to NSCLC lymphatic or distant metastasis as well as patients’ poor prognosis. Therefore, we speculated that JMJD3 could promote invasiveness and migratory capacity of non-small cell lung cancer cells by activating EMT process.
Subordination signals improve the quality of social relationships in Verreaux's Sifaka: Implications for the evolution of power structures and social complexity.

OBJECTIVES Unidirectional dominance-related signals can be used to communicate submission (an immediate behavioral response) or subordination (the status of an established relationship). Subordination signals are defined as emitted during peaceful interactions and are hypothesized to be critical for the evolution of social complexity and robust power structures because they reduce uncertainty in social relationships. The chatter vocalization in Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) is a unidirectional submissive signal. I tested the hypothesis that chatter vocalizations can signal subordination and thereby reduce agonism in a dyad. MATERIALS AND METHODS I examined 780 chatters from 18 dyads collected over 881 observation hours on four groups of sifaka in Kirindy Forest, Madagascar. RESULTS Sifaka emitted 63% of chatters in the peaceful context. Peaceful chatters significantly predicted grooming rate, fighting rate, reconciliation, and proportion of wins in a dyad but did not predict time in proximity. Dyad-type significantly predicted the frequency of peaceful chatters, with intrasexual dyads exhibiting chatters in peaceful contexts more often than intersexual dyads. DISCUSSION Sifaka communicate both submission and subordination with chatter vocalizations. Subordination signaling increased tolerance and affiliation. It reduced conflicts and the probability dominant individuals usurped resources. Moreover, intrasexual power may be more institutionalized than intersexual power in sifaka. The finding of complex and cognitively demanding social communication in a lemur with low levels of cooperation (1) challenges previous assumptions that the evolution of social complexity is dependent on frequent triadic interactions and high levels of cooperation, and (2) highlights the need for taxonomic diversity in studies of social complexity.
Outcome of relapse in children and adolescents with B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma and mature acute leukemia: A report from the French LMB study

In order to describe relapsed B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma and mature acute leukemia in children/adolescents treated with the Lymphomes Malins B (LMB) regimen and their outcome in the rituximab era, relapses in the French LMB2001 study were reviewed.
Improving phylogenetic inference of microsporidian Nosema antheraeae among Nosema species with RPB1, α- and β-tubulin sequences

The microsporidian Nosema antheraeae is an intracellular parasite that infects the Chinese oak silkmoth, Antheraea pernyi . However, its phylogenetic position among the Nosema isolates is not yet clear. For a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships between Nosema species, the RPB1, α-tubulin and β-tubulin genes of N. antheraeae were sequenced and analyzed. These data showed that the N. antheraeae clade was a sister to the clade of Nosema bombycis and other lepidopteran-infecting Nosema spp. Moreover, even if their respective silkmoth hosts, A. pernyi and Bombyx mori , were known to be close relatives (both belong to superfamily, Bombycoidea ), N. antheraeae was not more closely related to N. bombycis than to other lepidopteran Nosema species. Therefore, the relationship between silkmoth-infecting Nosema species was not in accordance with the phylogeny of the silkmoth hosts; this might indicate that cospeciation have few influence on the silkmoth-infecting Nosema spp. Keywords : Nosema antheraeae, Nosema bombycis , RPB1, tubulin, phylogenetic
Influence of anthropogenic and natural factors on the mangrove soil of Indian Sundarbans wetland

Soil organic carbon, pH and salinity were monitored in mangrove ecosystem of Indian Sundarbans in five successive years (2006–2010). Samplings were carried out at 14 stations in four different depths (0.01-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30 and 0.30-0.40 m) during premonsoon period. High organic carbon load is observed in the stations of western Indian Sundarbans (mean = 1.02 Wt %) which are near to the highly urbanized city of Kolkata. The central and eastern sectors under the protected forest area show comparatively less soil organic carbon (mean = 0.64 Wt %). A unique spatial variability in soil salinity and pH was observed with lower values in the western and eastern sectors compared to central sector. Soil pH exhibited a lower value (7.47  0.071) in reserve forest zone (central and eastern sectors) compared to western sector (7.57  0.067). The soil salinity increased with depth, while organic carbon and pH decreased with depth in all the stations. The paper depicts the increase of soil organic carbon and pH due to anthropogenic activities in western Indian Sundarbans, which if continued may decrease the potential of Sundarban soil as carbon sink and make the soil highly saline. Hence curbing of anthropogenic activities may keep the soil characteristics ecologically safe.