Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Jugular versus femoral short-term catheterization and risk of infection in intensive care unit patients. Causal analysis of two randomized trials.

RATIONALE When subclavian access is not possible, controversy exists between the internal jugular and femoral sites for the choice of central-venous access in intensive care unit patients. OBJECTIVES To compare infection and colonization rates of short-term jugular and femoral catheters. METHODS Using data from two multicenter studies, we compared femoral and internal jugular for the risks of catheter-related bloodstream infection, major catheter-related infection, and catheter-tip colonization. We also compared the rates of dressing disruption and skin colonization. We used marginal structural models with inverse probability of treatment weighting to adjust on indication bias. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We included 2,128 patients (2,527 catheters and 19,481 catheter-days). We found no difference in catheter-related bloodstream infection (internal jugular 1.0 vs. femoral 1.1 per 1,000 catheter-days; hazard ratio [HR], 0.63 [0.25-1.63]; P = 0.34), major catheter-related infection (internal jugular 1.8 vs. femoral 1.4 per 1,000 catheter-days; HR, 0.91 [0.38-2.18]; P = 0.34), and colonization (internal jugular 11.6 vs. femoral 12.9 per 1,000 catheter-days; HR, 0.80 [0.25-1.63]; P = 0.15). However, colonization was higher with femoral for female (HR, 0.39 [0.24-0.63]; P < 0.001) and, at the significance limit, catheter maintained for more than 4 days (HR, 0.73 [0.53-1.01]; P = 0.05). The absence of benefit of internal jugular before Day 5 was related to a higher skin colonization at the internal jugular site for catheters removed before Day 5. After the fourth day, dressing disruption became more frequent with femoral catheters and may explain the subsequent risk of catheter colonization. Differences in cutaneous and catheter colonization between internal jugular and femoral was suppressed by the use of chlorhexidine-impregnated dressings. CONCLUSIONS Femoral and internal jugular accesses lead to similar risks of catheter infection. Internal jugular might be preferred for female, nonchlorhexidine-impregnated dressings users, and when catheters are left in place more than 4 days. Both sites are acceptable when a subclavian approach is not feasible. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT00417235 and NCT01189682).
In vivo Selective Cytoskeleton Dynamics Quantification in Interphase Cells Induced by Pulsed Ultraviolet Laser Nanosurgery

We report on the manipulation of intracellular filaments using a nanosurgery system based on a subnanosecond pulsed UV laser optimized for the localized severing of biological polymers. By inducing artificial catastrophe of selected microtubules (MTs), we perform shrinkage‐rate measurements in interphase Ptk‐2 cells throughout the entire cell. We quantify the impact of two labeling methods and three fluorescent markers, showing a 25% faster depolymerization with Alexa‐488 tubulin compared with Rhodamine and yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) tubulins and a 20% higher variability induced by microinjection compared with stable transfection. Using EB3‐GFP as a tip marker, we establish a new protocol to measure shrinkage rate, growth rate and rescue frequency simultaneously with high temporal and spatial specificity in live cells. As our analysis shows, laser‐induced MT dynamics are physiologically relevant. The high statistical efficiency that the method offers in terms of numbers of measured events and therefore reduced standard deviations represents an important quantitative improvement in the measurement of dynamic instability parameters in vivo. We extend the application of the method by demonstrating induced dynamic behavior of actin‐stress fibers after severing. This new method enables the quantitative investigation of cytoskeleton dynamics in a local confinement.
On the Impact of Inflation and Exchange Rate on Conditional Stock Market Volatility: A Re-Assessment

This paper studies the impact of inflation and exchange rate on conditional stock market volatility. Sentana’s QGARCH model is generalized to include the asymmetries in inflation and exchange rate that are not allowed in linear GARCH (p, q) model of Bollerslev (1986). Nonlinear specifications of QGARCH model then show the significant relationship of inflation and exchange rate to conditional stock market volatility.
Aeromonas hydrophila in acute diarrheal disease: detection of enterotoxin and biotyping of strains

Eleven isolates of Aeromonas species from human stool cultures were found to produce enterotoxin activity as determined by assay of culture filtrates in rabbit intestinal loops and rabbit skin and on adrenal Y1 cells. Hemolysin(s) and a cytotoxic protein were found to interfere in all three assay systems but could be inactivated upon heating at 56 degrees C or by specific antihemolysin. Biotyping of each isolate was performed with a conventional test system and with API 50E and APIZYM kit systems (Analytab, Inc.). No single test of the more than 70 biochemical reactions investigated was found to correlate with enterotoxigenicity in the strains of Aeromonas hydrophila examined. All strains were found to belong to ideal phenotypes of A. hydrophila, but each strain possessed its own biochemical profile.
Provisioning Floral Resources to Attract Aphidophagous Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) Useful for Pest Management in Central Spain

ABSTRACT Noncrop plant communities present on the boundaries or within crop fields are essential for the maintenance of functional biodiversity, affecting beneficial insect numbers and ecological fitness. Habitat manipulation is an increasingly studied strategy aimed at enhancing natural enemies of agricultural pests by providing feeding and shelter resources. In this study, six plant species selected from preliminary work were tested for their potential attractiveness to four common aphidophagous hoverflies species. Potential attractiveness was evaluated through observation of hoverfly feeding visits to replicated flower plots distributed in a randomized design. The combination of the selected species covered a 2-mo full-bloom period. Sphaerophoria scripta L. and Sphaerophoria rueppellii (Wiedeman) were the dominant hoverflies present throughout the sampling period, whereas Eupeodes corollae (F.) and Episyrphus balteatus (DeGeer) visits were less abundant and appeared only in the early season. Potential attractiveness varied among plant species. Calendula arvensis L. and Coriandrum sativum L. were the most visited species. C. arvensis received a high number of visits throughout a long period, whereas the visits to Co. sativum were concentrated in a short blooming period. These results suggest that habitat management by using these plant speciesmay increase the abundance of hoverflies and could improve the biological control of aphid pests typical of spring-summer crops in open Mediterranean environments.
“Animal Welfare” Practices along the Food Chain: How Does Negative and Positive Information Affect Consumers?

This study analyzes the mitigating effect of positive brand information on animal welfare on consumers' perceptions, attitudes, and buying intentions for meat products when provided before a negative information shock related to the same issue. By tackling this question, this study integrates with the existing agricultural economics literature, which mainly analyzed consumers' willingness to pay for meat with the animal welfare attribute, and the marketing literature, which extensively studied the interaction of positive and negative information in similar but different settings. Data are collected from a convenience sample of 394 university students through an online survey on fast food chicken breast sandwiches. The latent growth model (LGM) used to analyze the data allows understanding how different segments of consumers dynamically change their perceptions and attitudes when affected by contrasting information. This analysis provides meat companies a tool to tailor their brand information to communicate more effectively to their stakeholders, to build and protect their brand from the risks of negative shocks, and ultimately to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.
Universal cements: dual activated and chemically activated

Abstract Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the bond strength of universal cements cured either dually or chemically only. Methods: Three cements were assessed using different types of application: dual activated (DA) or chemically activated (CA). In total 80 dentin blocks were used, obtained through the enamel wear of the lingual and buccal surfaces of bovine incisors. Standard cone-shaped cavity preparations were created using diamond burs. Subsequently, indirect restoration blocks were designed with Filtek Z350 (3M ESPE) composite resin. The teeth were divided into two groups (DA and CA) and then subdivided into four subgroups (n = 10) prior to cementation with the respective products: Duo-Link (Bisco); RelyX Ultimate (3M ESPE); Nexus 3 (Kerr) and conventional RelyX ARC (3M ESPE) as the control. The cementation in the PA group was applied following the manufacturer’s instructions. The CA group was cemented in a darkroom to avoid exposure to light. They were stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 24 h and submitted to the push-out test. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test (p < .05). Results: The greatest bond strength results were obtained for photoactivated universal cements. Conclusion: Chemical activation is not sufficient to ensure acceptable bond strength.
Assessment of soil erosion risk in a typical Mediterranean environment using a high resolution RUSLE approach (Portofino promontory, NW-Italy)

ABSTRACT Particularly the Liguria region in Northern Italy is highly affected by soil erosion processes. This study was conducted in the Portofino promontory in eastern Liguria, to predict potential annual soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Moreover, we evaluate the relative accuracy of the predictions at detailed scale, using high resolution spatial information for model calibration. The RUSLE factors were calculated for the study area based on terrain survey data and rain gauge measurements. The results were plotted on a 1:10,000 scale soil erosion map and subsequently compared with the European soil loss estimation method (RUSLE2015) developed by the European Joined Research Centre. This study shows that the RUSLE2015 model can be applied in a typical Mediterranean environment such as the Portofino promontory. However, the accuracy of the single factors we calculated using high resolution data sets might improve the results substantially and thus, also model efficiency.
Processes of Personality Development in Adulthood: The TESSERA Framework

The current article presents a theoretical framework of the short- and long-term processes underlying personality development throughout adulthood. The newly developed TESSERA framework posits that long-term personality development occurs due to repeated short-term, situational processes. These short-term processes can be generalized as recursive sequence of Triggering situations, Expectancy, States/State expressions, and Reactions (TESSERA). Reflective and associative processes on TESSERA sequences can lead to personality development (i.e., continuity and lasting changes in explicit and implicit personality characteristics and behavioral patterns). We illustrate how the TESSERA framework facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of normative and differential personality development at various ages during the life span. The TESSERA framework extends previous theories by explicitly linking short- and long-term processes of personality development, by addressing different manifestations of personality, and by being applicable to different personality characteristics, for example, behavioral traits, motivational orientations, or life narratives.
Effects of individual alpha rTMS applied to the auditory cortex and its implications for the treatment of chronic tinnitus

An increasing amount of studies apply repetetive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to treat chronic tinnitus, yet the neurophysiological impacts have remained largely obscure. Several studies show that endogenous brain rhythms may be enhanced via diverse brain stimulation techniques applying rhythmic stimulation. Here, we investigated in normal hearing participants whether application of rTMS (left auditory cortex) with an individualized alpha frequency was capable of increasing alpha activity in stimulated auditory regions in a sustained manner. Behavioral intensity discrimination performance worsened for the rTMS group as compared to Sham. Electroencephalography (EEG) data, however, clearly show that this functional inhibition is not accompanied by increases of auditory cortical alpha. Even though more pronounced power reductions for the rTMS group were observed at slower frequencies (delta to theta range) at stimulated and other sites of the left hemisphere, they were unrelated to behavioral changes. Our results also strongly suggest that the amount of power modulations at these slower frequencies is strongly dependent on pre‐rTMS power, thus supporting current state‐dependency notions. Strong relationships to behavioral changes were in particular observed for anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) beta power and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) beta connectivity. Moreover, these beta band measures were strongly inter‐related and when viewed together specifically sensitive to behavioral changes in the rTMS group. We conclude that currently alpha frequency rTMS is not a promising avenue for the treatment of chronic tinnitus and that beneficial effects could be mediated via nonauditory systems. Our study argues for the value of combined EEG‐TMS studies when investigating the impacts of rTMS. Hum Brain Mapp 35:14–29, 2014. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Cost of Fiscal Disunion in Europe and the New Model of Fiscal Federalism

*The sovereign debts crisis is a problem peculiar to the European Union caused by the fragility of the EMU, which was set up without a fiscal union nor a federal government. The aim of a monetary union is to remove the political risks – exchange rates and sovereign debt default – for internal financial transactions, as the US have done thanks to their federal constitution. In Europe, the financial crisis has caused a dangerous vicious debts-banks cycle, which can bring on the default of solvent but illiquid states of the EMU. The paper, after an analysis of the emergency measures approved or proposed, upholds that a new model of fiscal federalism is underway, based on the following principles: the relative autonomy of monetary policy from fiscal policy; hard budget constraints for every level of government; a limited transfer union; an autonomous federal budget. At present, the role of the EU budget is neglected. The author warns that a well-run monetary union cannot work smoothly without a federal budget. “The peculiar federal problem is this. The federal principle requires that the general and regional governments of a country shall be independent each of the other within its sphere, shall be not subordinate one to another but co-ordinate with each other. Now if this principle is to operate not merely as a matter of strict law but also in practice, it follows that both general and regional governments must each have under its own independent control financial resources sufficient to perform its exclusive functions. ”
Hypothesis Only Baselines in Natural Language Inference

We propose a hypothesis only baseline for diagnosing Natural Language Inference (NLI). Especially when an NLI dataset assumes inference is occurring based purely on the relationship between a context and a hypothesis, it follows that assessing entailment relations while ignoring the provided context is a degenerate solution. Yet, through experiments on 10 distinct NLI datasets, we find that this approach, which we refer to as a hypothesis-only model, is able to significantly outperform a majority-class baseline across a number of NLI datasets. Our analysis suggests that statistical irregularities may allow a model to perform NLI in some datasets beyond what should be achievable without access to the context.
Simulation of Glioma Growth and Morphology

Despite major advances in the study of glioma, the quantitative links between intratumor molecular/cellular properties, clinically observable properties such as morphology, and critical tumor behaviors such as growth and invasiveness remain unclear, hampering more effective coupling of tumor physical characteristics with implications for prognosis and therapy. Although molecular biology, histopathology, and radiological imaging are employed in this endeavor, studies are severely challenged by the multitude of different physical scales involved in tumor growth, i.e., from molecular nanoscale to cell microscale and finally to tissue centimeter scale. Consequently, it is often difficult to determine the underlying dynamics across dimensions. New techniques are needed to tackle these issues. Here, we address this multi-scalar problem by employing a novel predictive three-dimensional mathematical and computational model based on first-principle equations (conservation laws of physics) that describe mathematically the diffusion of cell substrates and other processes determining tumor mass growth and invasion. The model uses conserved variables to represent known determinants of glioma behavior, e.g., cell density and oxygen concentration, as well as biological functional relationships and parameters linking phenomena at different scales whose specific forms and values are hypothesized and calculated based on in-vitro and in-vivo experiments and from histopathology of tissue specimens from human gliomas. This model enables correlation of glioma morphology to tumor growth by quantifying interdependence of tumor mass on the microenvironment (e.g., hypoxia, tissue disruption) and on the cellular phenotypes (e.g., mitosis and apoptosis rates, cell adhesion strength). Once functional relationships between variables and associated parameter values have been informed, e.g. from histopathology or intra-operative analysis, this model can be used for disease $ Funding from NIH-NIGMS RO1 GM47368 (E.L.B.) + Partial funding from the National Science Foundation and National Cancer Institute *Partial funding from the National Science Foundation, Division of Mathematical Sciences. AC C EP TE D M AN U SC R IP T ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 2 diagnosis/prognosis, hypothesis testing, and to guide surgery and therapy. In particular, this tool identifies and quantifies the effects of vascularization and other cell-scale glioma morphological characteristics as predictors of tumor-scale growth and invasion.
Isolation and characterization of glucocorticoid- and cyclic AMP-induced genes in T lymphocytes

Glucocorticoids and cyclic AMP exert dramatic effects on the proliferation and viability of murine T lymphocytes through unknown mechanisms. To identify gene products which might be involved in glucocorticoid-induced responses in lymphoid cells, we constructed a lambda cDNA library prepared from murine thymoma WEHI-7TG cells treated for 5 h with glucocorticoids and forskolin. The library was screened with a subtracted cDNA probe enriched for sequences induced by the two drugs, and cDNA clones representing 11 different inducible genes were isolated. The pattern of expression in BALB/c mouse tissues was examined for each cDNA clone. We have identified two clones that hybridized to mRNAs detected exclusively in the thymus. Other clones were identified that demonstrated tissue-specific gene expression in heart, brain, brain and thymus, or lymphoid tissue (spleen and thymus). The kinetics of induction by dexamethasone and forskolin were examined for each gene. The majority of the cDNA clones hybridized to mRNAs that were regulated by glucocorticoids and forskolin, two were regulated only by glucocorticoids, and three hybridized to mRNAs that required both drugs for induction. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide resulted in the induction of all mRNAs that were inducible by glucocorticoids. Preliminary sequence analysis of four of the 11 cDNAs suggests that two cDNAs represent previously undescribed genes while two others correspond to the mouse VL30 retrovirus-like element and the mouse homolog of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core protein.
Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria species in raw milk and sausage in East Algeria

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that can cause Listeriosis in humans. The aim of this study is to isolate and enumerate L. monocytogenes and other Listeria species from raw milk and sausage samples collected in East Algeria. A total of 87 food samples were analyzed according to ISO 11290-1 and ISO 11290-2 methods. Of the samples examined, 10.34% were found to be positive for Listeria spp. Three species of Listeria were detected, in which L. innocua was the most commonly recovered species (66.67%) followed by L. seeligeri (22.22%) and L. monocytogenes (11.11%). The count for L. innocua ranged from 1.95 to 3.13 log10 (CFU g-1 or CFU ml-1), against 1.65 to 2.48 log10 (CFU g-1 or CFU ml-1) for L. seeligeri. L. monocytogenes contaminated sausage sample had enumeration results of 1.65 log10 (CFU g-1). The presence of Listeria in milk and sausage samples reflects the no control of hygienic practices.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors as a Risk Factor for Contrast-Induced Nephropathy

Background/Aims: The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of chronic angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor administration on the development of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Methods: A total of 230 patients with renal insufficiency and age ≧65 years were divided into two groups according to prior use of ACE inhibitors (ACE inhibitor group, n = 109; control group, n = 121). CIN was defined as an increase of ≧25% in creatinine over the baseline value within 48 h of angiography. Results: CIN occurred in 17 patients (15.6%) in the ACE inhibitor group and 7 patients (5.8%) in the control group (p = 0.015). Serum creatinine level increased from 1.34 ± 0.20 to 1.53 ± 0.27 mg/dl in the ACE inhibitor group and from 1.33 ± 0.18 to 1.45 ± 0.19 mg/dl in the control group (p < 0.001). Chronic ACE inhibitor administration was a risk indicator of CIN [odds ratio 3.37; 95% confidence interval 1.14–9.94; p = 0.028]. Multi-vessel coronary involvement (p = 0.001), hypoalbuminemia (p = 0.005), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.006), GFR ≤40 ml/min (p = 0.010), and congestive heart failure (p = 0.024) were other risk indicators of CIN. Conclusion: Chronic ACE inhibitor administration is a risk for developing CIN in elderly patients with renal insufficiency.