Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bactericidal activity of herbal volatile oil extracts against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate the antibacterial activity of 10 volatile oils extracted from medicinal plants, including galangal (Alpinia galanga Linn.), ginger (Zingiber officinale), plai (Zingiber cassumunar Roxb.), lime (Citrus aurantifolia), kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix DC.), sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn.), tree basil (Ocimum gratissimum), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus DC.), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) against four standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and 30 clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MDR-A. baumannii). Materials and Methods: Agar diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were employed for the determination of bactericidal activity of water distilled medicinal plants. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) was used as positive control in this study. Results: The results indicated the volatile oil extracted from cinnamon exhibited potent antibacterial activity against the most common human pathogens, S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and A. baumannii. Most of volatile oil extracts were less effective against non-fermentative bacteria, P. aeruginosa. In addition, volatile oil extracted from cinnamon, clove, and tree basil possessed potent bactericidal activity against MDR-A. baumannii with MBC90 of 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: The volatile oil extracts would be useful as alternative natural product for the treatment of the most common human pathogens and MDR-A. baumannii infections.
Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Tasks: Relationship to Cognitive Function and Everyday Performance Assessments in Older Adults

Background: We live in a world where information is presented in a time-limited fashion and successful adaptation is dependent on time-limited responses. Slowed visual-processing speed is common among older adults. Its impact on everyday task performance is not clearly understood. Objective: The goal was to determine whether visual-processing speed, as well as memory and inductive reasoning, are independently associated with the time required by older adults to complete instrumental activities of daily living typical of everyday life. Methods: Five timed instrumental activities of daily (TIADL) tasks were administered to 173 older adults (ages 65–90 years) along with assessments of visual-processing speed, memory, and inductive reasoning. The dependent variable was the time required to perform the task (e.g., finding a telephone number, making change, finding and reading the ingredients on a can of food, finding food items on a shelf, reading instructions on medicine container). Medical and functional comorbidities known to affect task performance were measured in order to adjust for their impact on the dependent variable. Other measures of everyday task competence (Everyday Problems Test, Observed Tasks of Daily Living, questionnaire on IADL difficulties) were also administered in order to determine to what extent existing measures of everyday performance are associated with TIADL performance. Test-retest reliability of the TIADL score was assessed in a separate sample. Results: Although memory and reasoning were crudely related to the time needed to perform the TIADL tasks, only processing speed was independently associated with TIADL scores. Those older adults with slow processing speed were more likely to require longer times to complete everyday tasks. Previously developed measures of everyday task competence (e.g., Everyday Problems Test, Observed Tasks of Daily Living) based on accuracy scoring did not strongly predict TIADL performance. Conclusion: These results suggest a unique role for an everyday competence test that focuses on the timely completion of everyday tasks, rather than on an assessment of accuracy alone. TIADL measures may prove useful in evaluating the everyday effectiveness of cognitive interventions targeted at increasing information-processing speed.
What Drives China's Growth? Evidence from Micro-level Data

This paper discusses the sustainability of China fs rapid growth mainly based on the estimation of the corporate-level total factor productivity of Chinese listed firms. Since the 1980s, both capital accumulation and rapid technological progress -- measured as total factor productivity (TFP) -- have contributed to the high growth of the Chinese aggregate output. Should the prediction of the standard growth theory be correct, however, economic growth led by capital accumulation is not likely to be long lasting, hence we mainly focus on firm level TFP growth. As a result, we identify four channels that would continue to promote the TFP growth of the Chinese corporate sector at an aggregate level: (i) declining proportion of low-productivity state-owned enterprises, (ii) continuous influx of highly competent new start-ups, (iii) broad catching up trend among the laggards in the firm distribution, and (iv) innovation spawning R&D activities. These four channels would underpin the medium-term economic growth of the Chinese economy.
Apparently unrelated cytogenetic abnormalities among 462 probands referred for the detection of del(22q) by FISH.

Laboratory-based reports of the cytogenetic abnormalities detected during the course of testing for deletion del(22q) are scant. We report our findings from the testing with FISH of 462 patients suspected to have del(22q) between 1994 and 2000. Of these, 447 had a normal karyotype. An apparently unrelated cytogenetic abnormality was detected in 15 (3.2%). Two of these abnormalities involved reciprocal translocation with chromosome 22q and one of these showed del(22q) with FISH. The other abnormalities included sex chromosome aneuploidies and unbalanced rearrangements of various chromosomal segments. There was no commonality among these abnormalities and no correlation with other reported cases. Among those with a normal karyotype, an unexpected deletion of the control arylsulphatase A (ARSA) probe was found, providing a definite frequency of 1/262 for ARSA deletions among patients suspected to have del(22q). Of the 462 referrals, 48 (10%) had one or more additional diagnoses, and in this group, 4 (8%) had del(22q) and 2 (4%) had an apparently unrelated cytogenetic abnormality. The data highlight the importance of initial cytogenetic analysis in patients suspected of del(22q) and negates the use of interphase FISH screening by itself for del(22q). The finding of 3.2% unrelated cytogenetic abnormalities is noteworthy. FISH should be used in any structural rearrangement to ascertain if the relevant locus is deleted or not. The continued reporting of patients diagnosed with del(22q) found to have an unrelated cytogenetic abnormality will expand the phenotypic spectrum and possible gene mapping may refine phenotypic specificity.
Construction of nondefective adenovirus type 5 bearing a 2.8-kilobase hepatitis B virus DNA near the right end of its genome

A novel helper-free adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) vector system, which utilizes a cloning site 0.2 kilobase (kb) from the right end of the genome, has been developed. To construct a nondefective Ad5 bearing the 2.8-kb DNA fragment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) at this site, we deleted the 2.1-kb nonessential E3 fragment from cloned DNA covering the right one-fourth of the Ad5 genome (76 to 100 map units), inserted the HBV DNA into this site, ligated the recombinant DNA to the rest of the Ad5 genome, and transfected the ligated DNA into human embryo kidney cells. Most of the recovered virus clones had only the E3 deletion and no HBV insertion, suggesting that a homologous recombination occurs between transfected DNAs in these cells. The isolated Ad5 virus bearing the HBV DNA (Ad5-HBL) grew without helper virus in HeLa cells as efficiently as wild-type Ad5, although the 1.9-kb major E4 transcript was detected only poorly in the early phase in the Ad5-HBL-infected cells, suggesting that the HBV DNA inserted upstream of the E4 promoter reduces the E4 transcript. HBV mRNAs transcribed from the inserted DNA were at least as abundant as Ad5 early mRNAs in the late phase of Ad5-HBL infection, but the HBV surface antigen was barely detectable in the infected-cell lysate and culture medium. This result suggests that HBV mRNAs can be transcribed from the inserted genes but no protein can be translated from the HBV mRNAs, presumably because of the translational suppression of cellular mRNAs caused by adenovirus in its late phase.
Point and Density Forecasts in Panel Data Models

This dissertation develops econometric methods that facilitate estimation and improve forecasting performance in panel data models. The panel considered in this paper features large cross-sectional dimension (N) but short time series (T). It is modeled by a dynamic linear model with common and heterogeneous coefficients and cross-sectional heteroskedasticity. Due to short T, traditional methods have difficulty in disentangling the heterogeneous parameters from the shocks, which contaminates the estimates of the heterogeneous parameters. To tackle this problem, the methods developed in this dissertation assume that there is an underlying distribution of the heterogeneous parameters and pool the information from the whole cross-section together via this distribution. Chapter 2, coauthored with Hyungsik Roger Moon and Frank Schorfheide, constructs point forecasts using an empirical Bayes method that builds on Tweedie's formula to obtain the posterior mean of the heterogeneous coefficients under a correlated random effects distribution. We show that the risk of a predictor based on a non-parametric estimate of the Tweedie correction is asymptotically equivalent to the risk of a predictor that treats the correlated-random-effects distribution as known (ratio-optimality). Our empirical Bayes predictor performs well compared to various competitors in a Monte Carlo study. In an empirical application, we use the predictor to forecast revenues for a large panel of bank holding companies and compare forecasts that condition on actual and severely adverse macroeconomic conditions. In Chapter 3, I focus on density forecasts and use a full Bayes approach, where the distribution of the heterogeneous coefficients is modeled nonparametrically allowing for correlation between heterogeneous parameters and initial conditions as well as individual-specific regressors. I develop a simulation-based posterior sampling algorithm specifically addressing the nonparametric density estimation of unobserved heterogeneous parameters. I prove that both the estimated common parameters and the estimated distribution of the heterogeneous parameters achieve posterior consistency, and that the density forecasts asymptotically converge to the oracle forecast. Monte Carlo simulations and an application to young firm dynamics demonstrate improvements in density forecasts relative to alternative approaches. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Economics First Advisor Francis X. Diebold Second Advisor Frank Schorfheide This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn. edu/edissertations/2432
Manual work as predictor for disability pensioning with osteoarthritis among the employed in Norway 1971-1990.

BACKGROUND Manual work is reported to be a risk factor for becoming a disability pensioner due to osteoarthritis. This association may be due to covariation with other variables. We wanted to assess if manual work remained a risk factor after adjusting for number of hours worked, income, level of education, gender and marital status, and if the risk associated with manual work was equal in the 1970s and the 1980s. METHODS In a prospective study, data on all new disability pensioners with osteoarthritis in Norway during the two follow-up periods, 1971-1980 and 1981-1990, were analysed by logistic regression. The study include data on all subjects living in Norway and registered as 50-56 years old and employed either in the census collected in 1970 or in the census of 1980. RESULTS Manual workers have nearly twice the probability of becoming a disability pensioner with osteoarthritis compared to professionals after adjusting for part-time work, income, level of education, marital status and gender. Adjusted for other risk factors, the probability of becoming a disability pensioner with osteoarthritis was three times higher in the 1980s compared to the 1970s. CONCLUSION The relatively strong association between manual work and disability pensioning with osteoarthritis suggests difficulties in adjusting manual work patterns for a person with osteoarthritis, which may have increased during the study period as implied by the separate effect of the 1980s.
Publicness on Platforms: Tracing the mutual articulation of platform architectures and user practices

This chapter takes the exploration of the constitution and continuous transformation of online publics a step further by shifting the focus from publics as the outcome of processes of communication to publicness as a communicative process that follows specific trajectories. This approach is illustrated through case studies on the role particular social media platforms in two episodes of public contention. The first explores the Twitter communication in the year following the New Delhi gang rape protests of December 2012. And the second looks at the Kullena Khaled Said Facebook Page, which became a vital stage for the expression of public grievances in Egypt in 2010 and 2011. The exploration of these case studies demonstrates that there is substantial variation between trajectories of contentious publicness depending on how: platform architectures mediate relations of publicness, users adopt particular platform affordances, and affective ties that bind publics together are assembled and reassembled.
Testing for jumps in Japanese stock market under the financial crisis through high-frequency data

In this paper, we test jumps through high-frequency data by using three methods, Barndorﬀ-Nielsen and Shephard [6], Jiang and Oomen [9], and Lee and Mykland [10], for Nikkei225 and Japanese individual stocks in 2008 year. As we well know, we had the ﬁnancial crisis in 2008 year. Then from the testing results, we ﬁnd that there exist jumps in the Japanese markets. Next through Lee and Mykland test, we study jump-size and jump-frequency of Nikkei225 and individual stocks. In consequence, we have signiﬁcant diﬀerence of jump-size distributions of Nikkei225 between 2008 and 2009, but surprisingly no signiﬁcant diﬀerence of frequency distribution.
Training load monitoring in elite English soccer: a comparison of practices and perceptions between coaches and practitioners

ABSTRACT Purpose: To survey practices and perceptions of training load monitoring among soccer coaches and practitioners. Methods: A questionnaire assessed factors influencing training planning, training load practices, and training load feedback and usefulness. The questionnaire was distributed via email and as an online version (Bristol Online Survey Tool) to relevant staff working within elite English Soccer. Results: Respondents represented two groups; those involved with player tactical (coach, n = 94) or physical (practitioner, n = 88) preparation. Coaches worked predominantly with younger players at lower standing clubs while practitioners worked with older players at higher standard clubs. With exception for the influence of current match schedule in training planning, there was coach-practitioner agreement for all training planning questions. There was agreement on some purposes for training load monitoring (maximise fitness, evaluate training) but not others (enhance fitness, reduce injury). For load monitoring methods, the greatest proportion of coach answers was for coach perception (22%); whereas the greatest proportion of practitioner responses was for GPS (22%). Largely, load reports were perceived positively and 84.1% of respondents felt training load monitoring was beneficial to their club. Conclusion: This survey shows coaches and practitioners perceive training load monitoring as worthwhile, with differences in practices and perceptions likely reflecting club infrastructure.
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing 7-Day Triple, 10-Day Sequential, and 7-Day Concomitant Therapies for Helicobacter pylori Infection

ABSTRACT With the rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, the failure rate of the standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection is increasing. Sequential therapy and concomitant therapy have been recommended to replace standard triple therapy for H. pylori eradication in regions with high clarithromycin resistance. The aim of this prospective, randomized, and controlled study was to simultaneously assess the efficacies of 10-day sequential and 7-day concomitant therapies versus a 7-day standard triple therapy for treating H. pylori infection. Consecutive H. pylori-infected subjects were randomly assigned to a 7-day standard triple therapy (pantoprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin for 7 days), a 10-day sequential therapy (pantoprazole and amoxicillin for 5 days, followed by pantoprazole, clarithromycin, and metronidazole for a further 5 days), or a 7-day quadruple therapy (pantoprazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and metronidazole for 7 days). H. pylori status was confirmed 6 weeks after therapy. Three hundred seven H. pylori-infected participants were randomized to receive triple (n = 103), sequential (n = 102), or concomitant (n = 102) therapies. The eradication rates by an intention-to-treat analysis in the three treatment groups were 81.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 74.1% to 89.0%), 89.2% (95% CI, 83.2% to 95.2%), and 94.1% (95% CI, 89.5% to 98.7%). The seven-day concomitant therapy had a higher eradication rate than did the 7-day triple therapy (difference, 12.5%; 95% CI, 3.7% to 21.3%). There were no significant differences in the eradication rates between the sequential and standard triple therapies. All three treatments exhibited similar frequencies of adverse events (8.7%, 8.8%, and 13.7%, respectively) and drug compliance (99.0%, 98.0%, and 100.0%, respectively). In conclusion, the seven-day concomitant therapy is superior to the 7-day standard triple therapy for H. pylori eradication. Additionally, it is less complex than the 10-day sequential therapy because the drugs are not changed halfway through the treatment course. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT1769365.)
Exploration of the difference in results of economic submissions to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence by manufacturers and assessment groups

Objectives: A recent study showed that estimates of cost-effectiveness submitted to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) by manufacturers had significantly lower incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) than those submitted by university-based Assessment Groups. This study extends that analysis. Methods: Data were abstracted from relevant NICE documentation for thirty-two of eighty-two possible appraisals. Results: The results from the analysis showed that sources of the difference in ICERs appear to be the effectiveness estimates relating to the comparator technology and the cost estimates relating to the technology under evaluation. That is, manufacturers estimated lower average benefits for the comparator technology and lower costs relating to the technology under evaluation compared with estimates submitted by the Assessment Groups. Conclusions: These findings may be particularly important, given the introduction of the “Single Technology Appraisal. ” Considerable difficulties were encountered when undertaking this study, highlighting, above all else, the complexity of explaining why results from economic evaluations purporting to answer the same question diverge.
Preliminary characterization of acute aortic dissection in the mainland of China

Objective To explore the differences in the characteristics of acute aortic dissection (AAD) among less and more economically developed countries with various cultures and races. Data sources Reports from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) and the mainland of China (MC) were collected by searching the PubMed Database and the Chinese Journal Full‐text Database from January 2000 to March 2009. Study selection Those reports from IRAD and MC containing larger numbers of cases and complete patients’ information were selected, which focused on concrete issues of diagnosing or managing AAD were excluded if they were not able to reflect the overall characteristics of this condition. And the data from the article containing the largest number patients reported by the same medical center in MC were taken into statistics. Results AAD patients from MC were significantly younger than IRAD countries and the percentage of male patients in the Chinese group was higher than IRAD countries (80.7% vs. 68.6%, P <0.001). Patients in MC were less likely to present with typical symptoms and signs except for any focal neurological deficits. Different from the IRAD group, Chinese patients were prone to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to make the diagnosis of AAD (45.5% vs. 11.6%, P <0.001). The in‐hospital mortality was similar between 2 groups but only smaller proportion of AAD patients in MC underwent surgical or medical treatment. Conclusions The general characteristics of AAD patients in MC were shown and differences in some clinical variables between MC and IRAD groups still existed. Chin Med J 2011;124(11):1726–1730