Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Clinical and Molecular Characterization of Human Metapneumovirus in Children With Acute Respiratory Infection in China

Background: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a newly discovered paramyxovirus, has been associated with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). However, the prevalence and molecular characteristics of HMPV in China are still unclear. Methods: A total of 661 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) specimens were collected from 661 children with ARTIs between December 2006 and November 2008. Specimens were screened for HMPV by reverse transcription-polymerase reaction. All positive amplification products were confirmed by sequencing. Results: HMPV was detected in 45 patients (6.80%) of the 661 children. The HMPV-infected patients were from 29 days to 9 years of age. A high incidence of HMPV infection (84.4%) was observed during the winter-spring season. Of the 45 HMPV-positive patients, 25 (55.6%) were co-infected with other respiratory viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most common additional respiratory virus. The most common clinical diagnosis was bronchopneumonia (57.8%) and cough (88.9%) was the most common clinical symptom. Phylogenetic analysis of the F gene revealed that 80% of the HMPV detected were A2, 2.2% were A1, and 17.8% were B1. Statistical analyses showed that sex, ages, seasons, and severity of the disease did not correlate with HMPV genotype (P = 0.986, 0.347, 0.660, 0.252), but viral coinfection with HMPV increased hospitalization rates (P = 0.005). Conclusions: HMPV was frequently detected in the pediatric patients with ARTI in China. RSV was the most common coinfection virus and coinfection increased hospitalization rates. All HMPV subgroups except B2 cocirculated and there was no association found between HMPV genotypes and severity of disease.
Organization of the dorsocaudal neostriatal complex: A retrograde and anterograde tracing study in the domestic chick with special emphasis on pathways relevant to imprinting

In the forebrain of domestic chicks, a network of distinct regions is crucially involved in auditory and visual filial imprinting. Among these areas, a distinct part of the dorsocaudal neostriatal complex (dNC complex), termed neostriatum dorsocaudale (Ndc), was recently discovered by its enhanced metabolic activity during the presentation of auditory and visual imprinting stimuli. Since there is evidence that the dNC complex consists of several distinct functional subareas, we investigated the neural connections of different parts of the dNC complex by retro‐ and anterograde pathway tracing. Special emphasis was put on the connections of the dNC complex with other imprinting relevant regions in the rostral telencephalon, such as the mediorostral neostriatum/hyperstriatum ventrale (MNH) and the intermediate and medial part of the hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV). By anterograde and multiple retrograde pathway tracing, we found that the dNC complex may at least be subdivided into three major constituents. The most medial part of the dNC complex, termed neostriatum dorsale (Nd), is characterized by strong reciprocal connections with the neostriatal part of the MNH and by its auditory related inputs, including those from the output layers L1 and L3 of field L, and the shell region of the thalamic n. ovoidalis. The Ndc, which occupies the central aspects of the dNC complex, is mainly characterized by reciprocal connections with the ectostriatal belt (Ep) and the adjacent neostriatum (N). Furthermore, Nd and Ndc receive strong thalamic input from the n. dorsolateralis posterior (DLP), both project to the IMHV, and both are reciprocally connected with the archistriatum intermedium (AI). The most lateral aspect of the dNC complex, termed Ndl, is characterized by afferents from the neostriatum frontale, pars trigeminalis (NFT), and by the lack of a thalamic input. Results indicate that the dNC complex comprises distinct subregions, which are characterized by their specific afferents from parasensory areas of different sensory modalities. These different subregions may be integral components of a general pattern of sensory processing in the avian telencephalon. The strong interconnections between Nd, Ndc, and MNH as well as IMHV may constitute essential parts of auditory and visual imprinting circuits. J. Comp. Neurol. 395:380–404, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Desiccation Resistance Among Subpopulations of Anopheles gambiae s.s. From Selinkenyi, Mali

ABSTRACT Certain forms of Anopheles gambiae s.s. actively maintain malaria transmission in the driest areas and months of the year because of considerable drought tolerance. We monitored desiccation resistance of F1 offspring of both the M and S forms of field-collected An. gambiae s.s. Our results indicate that the geographic cline in the distribution of the two forms, as observed in Mali, corresponds to a physiological difference in response to arid environments. In addition, female mosquitoes survived significantly longer than males, enhancing the vector competence for the malaria parasite. Our study supports a genetic link to the drought tolerance phenotype, a phenotype with important consequences to malaria transmission in many places in Africa.
Macroeconomic effects of increased wage flexibility in EMU

We analyse the macroeconomic effects of a more flexible wage setting process in the euro area. Reducing wage rigidities leads to far greater volatility in nominal wages, which ultimately translates into somewhat higher output and consumption volatility, while employment volatility is hardly affected. Even though volatility increases, the persistence of shocks is significantly reduced, which improves welfare of the union as a whole. We can show in a counterfactual analysis that, with lower wage rigidities, real GDP in the rest of the euro area would be higher and the unemployment rate lower compared to recent levels.
Urban vulnerability and adaptation to heatwaves: a case study of Graz (Austria)

ABSTRACT The increasing frequency of heatwaves, particularly in urban contexts, is one of the perceptible consequences of climate change. A city’s vulnerability to these heatwaves must be determined to develop proper adaptation measures. This article addresses the vulnerability of a medium-sized city in Central Europe, Graz, to heatwaves. Based on secondary data and primary data gathered from expert interviews, we identified certain determinants of vulnerability for the city: temperature, proportion of open and green spaces to developed areas, construction period of buildings, distribution of age and poverty risk, adaptation strategies used, and risk perception levels assessed for decision makers in the city administration. Certain city districts can be classified as particularly vulnerable. A high level of risk perception was detected among all decision makers and some adaptation measures have already been enacted. In particular, inter-organizational collaboration in adaptation networks works effectively. A deficit in efficient communication between researchers, policy makers, and members of the public was perceived to be the main barrier. This case study exemplifies the assessment of a city’s vulnerability to heatwaves on the basis of particular determinants and can be applied to many other cities. Policy relevance The method applied revealed potential improvements and opportunities on the policy level. Strong networks for climate change adaptation are most effective if regular meetings take place, allowing trust and friendship to grow between decision makers. More target-group-oriented information is needed. Emergency organizations, in particular, need more information, because the perception of heatwave risks has only been based thus far on personal experiences. By establishing a central authority, more information could be provided on heatwaves in cities. The need to raise the perception of members of the population and motivate them to take personal responsibility during disasters was emphasized by interviewed decision makers. This can be supported by providing advice during heatwaves through newspapers, TV, and radio. People in risk groups and their relatives could be trained in workshops. City areas that are at high risk should be marked on maps to make relevant information more tangible for decision makers.
MARTIAL ARTS MARKET DEMAND: TEST AND VALIDATION OF A MODEL ON THE BRAZILIAN JUDO CONTEXT

Objetivo: Aprofundar o conhecimento dos fatores que determinam e explicam as razoes e as intencoes dos consumidores e dos praticantes de judo, investigando como suas demandas estao relacionadas a beneficios percebidos, restricoes, valor, satisfacao e comprometimento dos membros do esporte. Originalidade/lacuna/relevância/implicacoes: Testou-se um modelo teorico que especifica as relacoes direta e indiretamente entre a demanda de mercado e os beneficios, as restricoes e o valor percebidos, bem como a satisfacao e o comprometimento do praticante de judo com as artes marciais em um pais e esporte diferentes do estudo original. Principais aspectos metodologicos: Realizou-se um levantamento com 328 judocas em academias brasileiras. Os dados coletados foram analisados pelo software PLSmart a partir do metodo dos Minimos Quadrados Parciais. Sintese dos principais resultados: Constatou-se que a demanda de mercado afeta positivamente o valor e os beneficios percebidos e a satisfacao e o comprometimento dos membros no judo. Verificou-se tambem que os beneficios percebidos afetam positivamente o valor percebido o qual afeta positivamente a satisfacao, aumentando assim o comprometimento do praticante de judo. Principais consideracoes/conclusoes: Os resultados deste estudo reforcam as relacoes propostas no estudo original de Kim, mostrando forca no poder explicativo da teoria subjacente. Mas ha tambem algumas peculiaridades como os beneficios percebidos com a pratica do judo e as restricoes intrapessoais que desencorajam o envolvimento no judo. Finalmente, este artigo reforca a afirmacao de Sheth (2011) de que o marketing se modifica de acordo com o contexto no qual esta inserido, neste caso, no judo e no Brasil.
Genetically decreased vitamin D and risk of Alzheimer disease

Objective: To test whether genetically decreased vitamin D levels are associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) using mendelian randomization (MR), a method that minimizes bias due to confounding or reverse causation. Methods: We selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are strongly associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels (p < 5 × 10−8) from the Study of Underlying Genetic Determinants of Vitamin D and Highly Related Traits (SUNLIGHT) Consortium (N = 33,996) to act as instrumental variables for the MR study. We measured the effect of each of these SNPs on 25OHD levels in the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos; N = 2,347) and obtained the corresponding effect estimates for each SNP on AD risk from the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project (N = 17,008 AD cases and 37,154 controls). To produce MR estimates, we weighted the effect of each SNP on AD by its effect on 25OHD and meta-analyzed these estimates using a fixed-effects model to provide a summary effect estimate. Results: The SUNLIGHT Consortium identified 4 SNPs to be genome-wide significant for 25OHD, which described 2.44% of the variance in 25OHD in CaMos. All 4 SNPs map to genes within the vitamin D metabolic pathway. MR analyses demonstrated that a 1-SD decrease in natural log–transformed 25OHD increased AD risk by 25% (odds ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.51, p = 0.021). After sensitivity analysis in which we removed SNPs possibly influenced by pleiotropy and population stratification, the results were largely unchanged. Conclusions: Our results provide evidence supporting 25OHD as a causal risk factor for AD. These findings provide further rationale to understand the effect of vitamin D supplementation on cognition and AD risk in randomized controlled trials.
The Impact of Close Monitoring on Creativity and Knowledge Sharing: The Mediating Role of Leader‐Member Exchange

We examine the influence of supervisors' close monitoring on employees' creativity and knowledge sharing, both of which are important to the enhanced performance and survival of organizations in this era of uncertainty and change. We also identify the mechanism through which supervisors' close monitoring affects employees' creativity and knowledge sharing. A survey was conducted with military officers in South Korea, among whom supervisor–employee interactions occur daily. A regression analysis of 163 supervisor-employee dyads shows that supervisors' close monitoring has a negative impact on employees' creativity and knowledge sharing; a mediation test using a bootstrapping methodology shows that supervisors' close monitoring has a significantly negative indirect impact on employees' creativity and knowledge sharing with leader-member exchange (LMX) as the mediator. Our theoretical contribution is to provide an improved understanding of the relationships among the variables. We also offer a practical implication because our findings show that supervisors' close monitoring may hinder employees' creativity and knowledge sharing by undermining LMX.
The impact of the information search variables, time pressure and involvement, on buying behaviour in a three-dimensional hypermedia computer-mediated environment

The Internet has the potential (through enormous computing and data processing capabilities and the overcoming of the physical retail constraints of limited time and space) to change the way that modern-day business is being conducted. The potential of the Internet is, however, not always translated into actual retail sales. Currently product information on Web sites is mainly, with a few exceptions, of a two-dimensional nature. This study specifically investigates aspects of consumer behaviour within a three-dimensional hypermedia environment, as opposed to the two-dimensional environment. The role of a sub-set of consumer behaviour variables ( time pressure and consumer involvement ), as potential barriers to the more frequent use of a three-dimensional Computer-Mediated Environment (CME) as an alternative retail-shopping environment, is empirically assessed. In broad terms the objective of this study was to assess whether manipulating information availability in a CME environment influences consumers’ online shopping behaviour. The results show that there is a negative relationship between shopping time pressure on the one hand and the time spent shopping on the other hand, in an Internet shopping environment without price and information displays (p < 0.05); an Internet shopping environment with only price displays (p < 0,01) and an Internet shopping environment with only product information displays (p < 0,001). There is, however, no relationship between time pressure and consumer involvement regardless of the information available to the Internet shopper.
Distribution and Genetic Diversity of Bacteriocin Gene Clusters in Rumen Microbial Genomes

ABSTRACT Some species of ruminal bacteria are known to produce antimicrobial peptides, but the screening procedures have mostly been based on in vitro assays using standardized methods. Recent sequencing efforts have made available the genome sequences of hundreds of ruminal microorganisms. In this work, we performed genome mining of the complete and partial genome sequences of 224 ruminal bacteria and 5 ruminal archaea to determine the distribution and diversity of bacteriocin gene clusters. A total of 46 bacteriocin gene clusters were identified in 33 strains of ruminal bacteria. Twenty gene clusters were related to lanthipeptide biosynthesis, while 11 gene clusters were associated with sactipeptide production, 7 gene clusters were associated with class II bacteriocin production, and 8 gene clusters were associated with class III bacteriocin production. The frequency of strains whose genomes encode putative antimicrobial peptide precursors was 14.4%. Clusters related to the production of sactipeptides were identified for the first time among ruminal bacteria. BLAST analysis indicated that the majority of the gene clusters (88%) encoding putative lanthipeptides contained all the essential genes required for lanthipeptide biosynthesis. Most strains of Streptococcus (66.6%) harbored complete lanthipeptide gene clusters, in addition to an open reading frame encoding a putative class II bacteriocin. Albusin B-like proteins were found in 100% of the Ruminococcus albus strains screened in this study. The in silico analysis provided evidence of novel biosynthetic gene clusters in bacterial species not previously related to bacteriocin production, suggesting that the rumen microbiota represents an underexplored source of antimicrobial peptides.
Individual Match Playing Time During the Season Affects Fitness-Related Parameters of Male Professional Soccer Players

Silva, JR, Magalhães, JF, Ascensão, AA, Oliveira, EM, Seabra, AF, and Rebelo, AN. Individual match playing time during the season affects fitness-related parameters of male professional soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 25(10): 2729–2739, 2011—The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of an entire season on physical fitness parameters (PFPs) in male professional soccer players (N = 18). Performance in 5- and 30-m sprint (T5 and T30), countermovement jump (CMJ), agility (T-test), knee extensor (KE) and knee flexor (KF) isokinetic strength, hamstrings/quadriceps strength ratio (H/Q) and bilateral differences (BDs), and Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test 2 (YYIE2) was evaluated in 4 moments (E1–E4) throughout the season. Individual match playing time was quantified. Significant improvements in CMJ and YYIE2 from E1 to E2 were observed (p < 0.05–0.01). The T30 improved from E2 to E3 (p < 0.01). The CMJ decreased from E2 to E3 and E4, and YYIE2 from E2 to E4 (p < 0.05). There were increments in the H/Q ratio and Agility from E1 and E2 to E3 and E4 (p < 0.05–0.01). Significant correlations were found in all evaluation points between different PFPs and between changes in strength parameters and agility, T5 and T30, CMJ, and YYIE2 (p < 0.05–0.001). Influence of individual match playing time was correlated to changes in T5 (E1 to E3; r = −0.705), KE nondominant leg (KEND; E2 to E3; r = 0.786), and KF (E3 to E4; r = 0.575–0.590). The interrelationship between muscle strength (e.g., KE), sprint (e.g., T5), and jump abilities (CMJ) suggests the importance of muscle strength and power training for soccer. This study suggests that the systematic participation of the players in soccer matches favors the increase and maintenance of soccer players KE and KF muscle strength and sprint ability (T5). Thus, given the unique demands of actual match play, coaches should try to incorporate a competitive friendly match in the weekly training cycle of nonstarter players.
Carfilzomib Interacts Synergistically with Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Mantle Cell Lymphoma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Interactions between the proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib and the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors vorinostat and SNDX-275 were examined in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells in vitro and in vivo. Coadministration of very low, marginally toxic carfilzomib concentrations (e.g., 3–4 nmol/L) with minimally lethal vorinostat or SNDX-275 concentrations induced sharp increases in mitochondrial injury and apoptosis in multiple MCL cell lines and primary MCL cells. Enhanced lethality was associated with c-jun-NH,-kinase (JNK) 1/2 activation, increased DNA damage (induction of λH2A.X), and ERK1/2 and AKT1/2 inactivation. Coadministration of carfilzomib and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI) induced a marked increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and G2–M arrest. Significantly, the free radical scavenger tetrakis(4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (TBAP) blocked carfilzomib/HDACI-mediated ROS generation, λH2A. X formation, JNK1/2 activation, and lethality. Genetic (short hairpin RNA) knockdown of JNK1/2 significantly attenuated carfilzomib/HDACI-induced apoptosis, but did not prevent ROS generation or DNA damage. Carfilzomib/HDACI regimens were also active against bortezomib-resistant MCL cells. Finally, carfilzomib/vorinostat coadministration resulted in a pronounced reduction in tumor growth compared with single agent treatment in an MCL xenograft model associated with enhanced apoptosis, λH2A. X formation, and JNK activation. Collectively, these findings suggest that carfilzomib/HDACI regimens warrant attention in MCL. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(9); 1686–97. ©2011 AACR.
Pediatric Graves' Disease: Outcome and Treatment

UNLABELLED Graves' disease treatment in children and adolescents includes antithyroid drugs (ATD), 131I (RI) or subtotal thyroidectomy (CX), all of which present beneficial effects and disadvantages. OBJECTIVE To review our experience in the management of pediatric patients with Graves' disease considering the therapeutic strategies used. PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinical and biochemical data of 116 children (23 boys) aged 11.2 +/- 3.7 years at diagnosis were reviewed. Outcome and remission were evaluated and persistency at 10 years calculated with Kaplan Meier analysis. RESULTS Initially 113/116 patients received ATD, two RI and one CX. After 10 years of follow up, 38 remitted with ATD, 23 were persistently hyperthyroid with ATD, 38 received RI, one underwent CX, and 13 were lost to follow up. The cumulative proportion with persistent hyperthyroidism at 10 years was 31%. CONCLUSIONS ATD, although the first choice of treatment, was long-lasting and achieved a low remission rate at 10 years of follow up. Conversely, RI was shown to be a safe, low cost, efficient and definitive alternative for Graves' disease treatment in children and adolescents.
Moving Beyond the Influence of Neighbors on Policy Diffusion: Local Influences on Decisions to Conduct Property Tax Reassessment in New York

Over the past few decades, research on policy adoption and diffusion has grown rapidly. Despite the relatively large number of publications, however, little attention has been paid to the important question of why a policy is differently implemented or diffused across governments. To answer this question and improve our understanding of local policy choice beyond widely cited neighboring influences, we closely examine the roles of three main policy actors—internal actors, external actors, and go-betweens—in the local policy diffusion process, drawing particularly upon property tax reassessment scenarios. In addition, we focus on nested institutional arrangements, including form of government and type of property tax assessor, that affect the policy decisions of internal actors. Using data on cities and towns in New York State for 1993-2010, we estimate event history models of property tax reassessment activities. Our findings reveal that regional interactions with neighbors that have already adopted the policy and top-down go-betweens through positive inducements can help facilitate property tax reassessment across municipalities. Reformed municipal governments in the council-manager form, along with appointed assessors, are also most likely to adopt reassessment policy frequently, compared with other institutional arrangements. Overall, this study advances the policy diffusion literature by exploring the roles of different influences through a more detailed, broader approach.