Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do Earnings Estimates Add Value to Sell-Side Analysts' Investment Recommendations?

Sell-side analysts change their stock recommendations when their valuations differ from the market's. These valuation differences can arise from either differences in earnings estimates or the non-earnings components of valuation methodologies. We find that recommendation changes motivated by earnings estimate revisions have a greater initial price reaction than the same recommendation changes without earnings estimate revisions: about 1.3% (-2.8%) greater for upgrades (downgrades). Nevertheless, the post-recommendation drift is also greater, suggesting that investors underreact to earnings-based recommendation changes. Implemented as a trading strategy, earnings-based recommendation changes earn risk-adjusted returns of 3% per month, considerably more than non-earnings-based recommendation changes. Evidence from variation in firms' information environment and analysts' regulatory environment suggests that recommendation changes with earnings estimate revisions are less affected by analysts' cognitive and incentive biases.
A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down… but platelet eNOS activity go up!

A lthough the endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) is present in platelets and platelet-derived NO can modulate platelet aggregation, as well as platelet recruitment and bleeding time, neither the mechanisms governing the activation of platelet eNOS nor the physiological consequences of enzyme activation have been well characterised.
THE PATIENT-PHYSICIAN RELATIONSHIP Physician Counseling About Exercise

DURING THE LAST DECADE, THE prevalence of obesity has increased substantially. Part of this rise has been attributed to increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Recent data suggest that most residents of the United States do not participate in regular physical activity at recommended levels. In addition to reducing obesity, regular physical activity has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Because there is strong evidence that exercise is beneficial, several organizations, including the US Preventive Services Task Force, recommend that physicians advise all patients seen in a primary care setting to increase physical activity, despite the limited available data on the effectiveness of counseling about exercise. However, physician surveys suggest that physicians generally counsel only a minority of patients. Physicians frequently cite time limitations as a reason for not counseling. Furthermore, physician specialty, personal fitness, and perceived success at advising patients are also correlated with physician counseling practices. The influence of patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on physiciancounselingpractice is less clear. Failure to communicate effectively about exercise, particularly with women, racial and ethnic minorities, and members of lower socioeconomic groups who are at high risk for weight gain and obesity, may be contributing to the increase in obesity in these groups. We used data from a nationally representative sample collected as part of the 1995 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to examine physician counseling about exercise and to identify factors associated with counseling.
Quantum Confinement and Host/Guest Chemistry: Probing a New Dimension

Nanoparticulate metals and semiconductors that have atomic arrangements at the interface of molecular clusters and "infinite" solid-state arrays of atoms have distinctive properties determined by the extent of confinement of highly delocalized valence electrons. At this interface, the total number of atoms and the geometrical disposition of each atom can be used to significantly modify the electronic and photonic response of the medium. In addition to teh novel inherent physical properties of the quantum-confined moieties, their "packaging" into nanocomposite bulk materials can be used to define the confinement surface states and environment, intercluster interactions, the quantum-confinement geometry, and the effective charge-carrier density of the bulk. Current approaches for generating nanostructures of conducting materials are briefly reviewed, especially the use of three-dimensional crystalline superlattices as hosts for quantum-confined semiconductor atom arrays (such as quantum wires and dots) with controlled inter-quantum-structure tunneling.
The relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract To explore the relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 557 newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients were recruited, including 397 T2DM patients without complication (DM group) as well as 160 T2DM patients complicated with DPN (DPN group). Student t test, Mann–Whitney U test, or &khgr;2 test was applied to the data of the 2 groups, including the levels of neutrophils and lymphocytes as well as the NLR values of peripheral blood and other biochemistry indexes; Pearson correlation analysis was used to calculate the correlation of NLR and detected factors; risk factors of DPN were estimated via logistic regression analysis and multivariate analysis. The values of triglyceride (TG), neutrophils, fasting insulin, urinary albumin, and 2 hour postglucose in DPN group were significantly higher than those of the DM group, whereas the number of lymphocytes of DPN group was considerably lower than that of the DM group (P < .05 respectively); NLR values were remarkably higher in DPN group compared with those of DM group (2.58 ± 0.50 vs 2.18 ± 0.61, P < .001); logistic regression analysis showed that NLR (P = .002, OR = 4.960, 95% CI = 1.843–13.349) was a risk factor of DPN. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that DPN was independently related to NLR (P = .002, OR = 4.960, 95% CI = 1.843–13.349). The ROC curve analysis confirmed that the optimal cut-off point, specificity, and sensitivity in diagnosing DPN by NLR were 2.13%, 48.1%, and 81.3% respectively. Our results showed that NLR is significantly correlated with DPN, which suggested that NLR may be an independent risk factor of DPN.
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections-implications in hospital infection control.

BACKGROUND A significant part of nosocomial infections are caused by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Nosocomial MRSA are known to be multidrug resistant and thus difficult to treat. METHODS A 2 year study was conducted between January 2001 and December 2002 at Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Hubli to assess the prevalence of MRSA and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern in various wards. RESULTS S. aureus was isolated from 714 patients, 283 (37.53%) of which exhibited methicillin resistance. Although these MRSA were multidrug resistant in all the wards, the problem was more severe in NICU and orthopedic wards. CONCLUSION The results highlight the need for effective implementation of infection control measures in the hospital. There is a need for the judicious use of antimicrobial agents in the hospital and outside as their indiscriminate use can exert pressure in selecting out MRSA and other multidrug resistant organisms.
What is Depression in Epilepsy?

Psychiatry, in terms of neuropsychiatry, has experienced an impressive revival in the field of neurology over the past two decades. This especially holds true for epileptology (Reynolds and Trimble, 2009). A large number of studies have addressed depressive and other affective disorders in patients with seizures. Depression is now widely acknowledged as a frequent psychiatric comorbidity of seizure disorders (Barry et al., 2008; LaFrance et al., 2008). Here we critically explore the concept of depression as a comorbidity in epilepsy (see also Hoppe and Elger, 2011). First, we address criteria which differentiate between transiently altered mood states and psychiatric mood disorders. We then show that depression in epilepsy provides a perfect model for the biopsychosocial etiology of depression and discuss related therapeutic approaches. Finally, we provide some general remarks on what is required to maintain or restitute emotional well-being in patients with therapy–refractory epilepsy.
Deployment and Performance of a Uav for Crop Spraying

Small, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) provide an opportunity for pesticide spray application in which the applicator can be displaced from close proximity of the spray discharge and in which the spray application can be made with highly targeted spatial resolution, particularly in challenging geographic terrain. In this project, a commercially manufactured UAS-mounted spray system was deployed in high-value specialty crops in California. The UAS used in this project was a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an associated ground control station that provided a means for remote piloting of the aircraft. The aircraft was a petrol-powered helicopter (RMAX, Yamaha Motor Co. USA, Cypress, CA USA) originally developed for spraying of rice fields in Asia. In this test, the primary experimental areas for spray deposition and performance assessment included a 0.61 ha block of Cabernet Sauvignon wine grapes located at the University of California Oakville Field Station in Napa County, CA USA. The block consisted of 42 rows, each 61 m long with a row spacing of 2.4 m. Depending on the spray method deployed, specifically, the swath width used and the flight pattern flown, the UAS spray application could achieve 2.0 to 4.5 ha/h work rates while applying volume rates of 14.0 to 39.0 L/ha. Spray deposition on the grape foliage increased with applied volume rate. In comparisons to ground-based sprays at 935 L/hr, deposition in the grape canopy from the UAS at 47 L/ha was similar.
Some physical, pomological and nutritional properties of kiwifruit cv. Hayward

In this research, several physical, pomological and nutritional properties that are important for the design of equipments for harvesting, processing, transportation, sorting, separation and packaging of kiwifruit cv. Hayward grown in the Black Sea region of Turkey were determined. The fruit characteristics ranged from 72.28g for average fruit weight, 59.41, 46.28 and 42.87mm for fruit length, width and thickness, 49.03mm for the geometric mean diameter, 0.825% for sphericity and 66.52cm3 for the volume of fruit, respectively. The bulk density, fruit density and porosity were determined as 575.27kg/m3, 1,093kg/m3 and 47.13%. The highest coefficient of static friction was obtained on plywood as 0.190, followed by polyethylene, rubber and galvanized steel sheet as 0.173, 0.163 and 0.158, respectively. The total soluble solid content, acidity, vitamin C, ash and total nitrogen content of kiwifruit cv. Hayward were 7.32%, 1.64%, 108mg/100g, 0.71g/100g and 0.84%, respectively. The fresh fruits have 1.09mg/100g total chlorophylls and flesh color data represented as L, a and b were 57.18, 17.25 and 37.46, respectively.
Positive and Negative Modulation of Virus Infectivity and Envelope Glycoprotein Incorporation into Virions by Amino Acid Substitutions at the N Terminus of the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Matrix Protein

ABSTRACT The matrix (MA) protein of the simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) is encoded by the amino-terminal region of the Gag precursor and is the component of the viral capsid that lines the inner surface of the virus envelope. Previously, we identified domains in the SIV MA that are involved in the transport of Gag to the plasma membrane and in particle assembly. In this study, we characterized the role in the SIV life cycle of highly conserved residues within the SIV MA region spanning the two N-terminal α-helices H1 and H2. Our analyses identified two classes of MA mutants: (i) viruses encoding amino acid substitutions within α-helices H1 or H2 that were defective in envelope (Env) glycoprotein incorporation and exhibited impaired infectivity and (ii) viruses harboring mutations in the β-turn connecting helices H1 and H2 that were more infectious than the wild-type virus and displayed an enhanced ability to incorporate the Env glycoprotein. Remarkably, among the latter group of MA mutants, the R22L/G24L double amino acid substitution increased virus infectivity eightfold relative to the wild-type virus in single-cycle infectivity assays, an effect that correlated with a similar increase in Env incorporation. Furthermore, the R22L/G24L MA mutation partially or fully complemented single-point MA mutations that severely impair or block Env incorporation and virus infectivity. Our finding that the incorporation of the Env glycoprotein into virions can be upregulated by specific mutations within the SIV MA amino terminus strongly supports the notion that the SIV MA domain mediates Gag-Env association during particle formation.
Cellular fatty acid composition as an adjunct to the identification of asporogenous, aerobic gram-positive rods

Cellular fatty acid (CFA) compositions of 561 asporogenous, aerobic gram-positive rods were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography as an adjunct to their identification when grown on blood agar at 35 degrees C. The organisms could be divided into two groups. In the first group (branched-chain type), which included coryneform CDC groups A-3, A-4, and A-5; some strains of B-1 and B-3; "Corynebacterium aquaticum"; Brevibacterium liquefaciens; Rothia dentocariosa; and Listeria spp. , the rods had sizable quantities of antiesopentadecanoic (Ca15:0) and anteisoheptadecanoic (Ca17:0) acids. Other species with these types of CFA included B. acetylicum, which contained large amounts of isotridecanoic (Ci13:0) and anteisotridecanoic (Ca13:0) acids. CFAs useful for distinguishing among Jonesia denitrificans, Oerskovia spp. , some strains of CDC groups B-1 and B-3, Kurthia spp. , and Propionibacterium avidum were hexadecanoic (C 16:0) acid, isopentadecanoic (Ci15:0) acid, and Ca15:0). The second group (straight-chained type), which included Actinomyces pyogenes; Arcanobacterium haemolyticum; C. bovis; C. cystitidis; C. diphtheriae; C. flavescens, "C. gentalium"; C. jeikeium; C. kutscheri; C. matruchotii; C . minutissimum; C. mycetoides; C. pilosum; C. pseudodiphtheriticum; "C. pseudogenitalium"; C. pseudotuberculosis; C. renale; CDC groups 1, 2, ANF-1, D-2, E, F-1, F-2, G-1, G-2, and I-2; C. striatum; "C. tuberculostearicum"; C. ulcerans; C. vitarumen; C. xerosis; and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, was typified by significant quantities of hexadecanoic (C16:0) and oleic acids (C18:cis9), with differences in the amounts of linoleic acid (C18:2), stearic acid (C18:0), an unnamed peak (equivalent chain length, 14.966), and small quantities of other known saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. CFA composition of these organisms was sufficiently discriminatory to assist in classification but could not be used as the sole means of identification.
A Review of New Understanding of the Role of Individual Structure within the Head of Dolphins in Formation of Biosonar Signal and Beam

In recent years a number of experiments and measurements associated mainly with the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and one with the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) have shed some interesting light on biosonar signal production and propagation in the head of the animals and the formation of the biosonar beam. In this short review, the results of these experiments will be taken together to increase our understanding of the subject and shed new light on the processes involved [1-4].
Changing Epidemiology of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases Pathogen of Urinary Tract

This review covers the recent findings on extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) pathogens, focusing on the epidemiology of infection due to this pathogen. Use of ESBL is growing rapidly and widely. CTX-M-15 producing ESBL Escherichia coli is the most commonly encountered in clinical practice. In general, ESBL infections are represented by urinary tract infections, but they can also cause fatal infections involving the vascular system and central nervous system. Because E. coli is a common colonizer of normal intestine, increasing prevalence of ESBL-producing pathogens is particularly troublesome. In a situation where ESBLs are disseminated in the community, the ideal control of this multidrug-resistant pathogen will be challenging. Precise data on the prevalence and risk factors of ESBL-producing microorganism are still undetermined. More epidemiological studies are needed for the question to be answered. In order to maximize efficiency of treatment, information on the trend of increasing numbers of ESBLs is also needed on persistence of ESBLs in carriers as well as better understanding of how antibiotic treatment and other risk factors affect their persistence and further dissemination. The global emergence of multidrug-resistant ESBL pathogen has recently led to critical treatment problems. Early detection, adequate antibiotic therapy, and effective prevention are necessary for achievement of a safe community.
A Study on the Effects of 40% Oxygen on Addition Task Performance in Three Levels of Difficulty and Physiological Signals

This study investigated the effect of 40% oxygen administration on addition task performance in three levels of difficulty and physiological signals, such as blood oxygen saturation and heart rate. The accuracy rates of the addition tasks were enhanced with 40% oxygen administration compared to 21% oxygen. As the difficulty level increased, the difference in the accuracy rate between 40% and 21% oxygen administration increased. When 40% concentration oxygen was supplied, blood oxygen saturation was increased and heart rate was decreased compared to that with 21% oxygen administration. A positive correlation was found between task performance and oxygen saturation level during the Task3 phase. This result suggests that 40% oxygen administration would lead to increases in addition task performance.
An accurate small-signal model for AlGaN-GaNHEMT suitable for scalable large-signal model construction

The validity of the proposed small-signal model (SSM) and the developed extraction method in for large GaN devices is investigated. Extraction of parasitic elements is performed for different size devices to show the scaling of these elements with the gate width. The model shows a very good result for describing the parasitic distributed effect, which is considerable for large devices.
The novel combination of sirolimus and bortezomib prevents graft-versus-host disease but maintains the graft-versus-leukemia effect after allogeneic transplantation

Background We have previously shown that bortezomib induces a depletion of alloreactive T cells and allows the expansion of T cells with suppressive properties. In the current study, we analyzed the potential synergistic effect of bortezomib in conjunction with sirolimus in order to reduce-graft-versus-host disease without hampering graft-versus-leukemia effect in the allogeneic transplant setting. Design and Methods We evaluated the effect of sirolimus, bortezomib or the combination of both in the proliferation and activation of in vitro stimulated T lymphocytes. Pathways involved in this synergy were also analyzed using Western blot assays. Finally, BALB/c mice receiving C57BL/6 allogeneic donor bone marrow with splenocytes were used to measure in vivo the effect of this novel combination on the risk of graft-versus-host disease. Results The combination of both drugs synergistically inhibited both activation and proliferation of stimulated T cells. Also, the production of Th1 cytokines (IFN γ, IL-2 and TNF) was significantly inhibited. This effect was due, at least in part, to the inhibition of Erk and Akt phosphorylation. In vivo, the combination reduced the risk of graft-versus-host disease without hampering graft-versus-leukemia effect, as shown in mice receiving graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis with sirolimus plus bortezomib being infused with tumor WEHI cells plus C57BL/6 donor BM and splenocytes. Conclusions The current study reveals a synergistic effect of the combination sirolimus and bortezomib to prevent graft-versus-host disease while maintaining the graft-versus-leukemia effect.
"Injury, illness, and work restriction in merchant seafarers".

BACKGROUND Research on seafarer medical conditions at sea is limited. This study describes the frequency and distribution of seafarer injury and illness at sea, and explores potential risk factors for resultant lost work. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study analyzed a telemedicine database of 3,921 seafarer medical cases between 2008 and 2011 using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. RESULTS There were over twice as many illness cases (n = 2,764, 70.5%) as injury (n = 1,157, 29.5%) cases. Disability was more often secondary to illness (n = 646, 54.3%), predominantly from gastrointestinal, dermatologic, and respiratory conditions. Logistic regression revealed age, rank, and worksite as potential risk factors for lost work. CONCLUSIONS This study emphasizes illness as a significant problem occurring in seafarers at sea. Future research should further elucidate risk factors for illness, as well as injury, to inform preventive measures and reduce seafarer disability.
To be or not to be sick and tired: Managing the visibility of HIV and HIV-related fatigue

This article takes a new direction in exploring HIV-related fatigue by adopting a qualitative interactionist approach. We analyse the social meanings attributed to fatigue among people living with HIV in France, the social gains and losses of its visibility and the social frames that condition its discursive and physical expression. The two-part methodology combines grounded theory analysis of 50 transcribed unstructured interviews conducted across France and participant observations within four HIV-related associations. Results reveal that the visibility of fatigue is in part dependent on the visibility of this stigmatized illness. The expression of fatigue is therefore closely linked with disclosure and concerns about HIV stigma. The degree to which HIV and HIV-related fatigue are rendered (in)visible also depends on structural factors including gender prescriptions, as well as context effects such as the type of social or ‘care’ relations involved in the social frame of interaction.
First occurrence of blaOXA-58 in Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from a clinical sample in Southern Brazil

This is the first report of an Acinetobacter baumannii from clinical origin carrying the blaOXA-58 gene in Brazil. The isolate included in this study was from a patient during an outbreak in Porto Alegre, RS, Southern Brazil, in 2007. It was resistant to most of the beta-lactams tested, it has also the blaOXA-65 gene and the ISAbal sequence located upstream to both blaOXA genes detected and it has a MIC of imipenem of 64 μg/mL.
A three-dimensional numerical research on probability characteristics of a crack hitting capsules for self-healing concrete

In self-healing concrete, healing agents (including the bacteria and nutrients for the bacteria) are often sealed in capsules to survive the mixing of concrete. When the crack occurs, these capsules can be damaged, the healing agents can be released and the chemical actions can be activated. This research mainly focuses on the probability characteristics of a crack hitting the capsules. To conduct the research, the meso-scale models for two kinds of capsules, i.e., spherical and tubular capsules, are established. Statistical analysis is conducted to estimate the hitting probability and the number of capsules damaged by a crack based on the meso-scale models. With the numerical method proposed in this research, it is possible to estimate the efficiency of the self-healing system, as well as optimize the proper usage of the capsules. An application of this numerical method in a bacterial self-healing concrete based on Liapor (a light weight aggregate) is also included.