Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Among Hospital Employees: Prevalence, Duration, and Transmission to Households

Abstract Objective: To assess the prevalence and duration of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage among hospital employees and transmission to their households. Design: A point-prevalence survey of MRSA carriage (nasal swabbing) of staff and patients throughout the hospital; a prevalence survey of MRSA carriage in 2 medical wards, with carriers observed to estimate carriage duration; and evaluation of transmission to MRSA-positive workers' families. All MRSA isolates were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. During the study, no MRSA outbreak was detected among hospitalized patients. Setting: A 600-bed, public tertiary-care teaching hospital near Paris. Results: Sixty MRSA carriers were identified among 965 healthcare providers (prevalence, 6.2%; CL,, 4.7%-7.7%). Prevalence was higher in staff from clinical wards than from elsewhere (9.0% vs 2.1%; P < .0001). Identity of isolates from employees and patients varied from 25% in medical wards to 100% in the long-term-care facility. MRSA carriage was identified in 14 employees from 2 medical wards (prevalence, 19.4%; CI95, 10.3%-28.5%). Prevalence depended on the length of service in these wards. Transmission to households was investigated in 10 MRSA-positive workers' families and was found in 4. All isolates from each family were identical. Conclusions: Few data are available concerning the prevalence of MRSA carriers among hospital employees in the absence of an outbreak among patients. MRSA transmission between patients and employees likely depends on the frequency and duration of exposure to MRSA-positive patients and infection control measures employed. Frequent transmission of MRSA from colonized healthcare workers to their households was documented.
Structural requirements for high affinity ligand binding by estrogen receptors: a comparative analysis of truncated and full length estrogen receptors expressed in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells.

In order to better understand the structural requirements for effective high affinity binding of estrogens and antiestrogens by the human estrogen receptor (ER), a comparative study was undertaken in which we examined: 1) native ER from the MCF-7 ER-positive human breast cancer cell line; 2) full length ER expressed in yeast; 3) the ER hormone binding domain (amino acid residues 302-595) expressed in yeast; 4) a bacterially expressed protein A fusion product encoding a truncated ER (amino acid residues 240-595); and 5) a synthetic peptide encompassing amino acids 510-551 of the ER. The binding parameters studied included affinity, kinetics, structural specificity for ligands, and stability. Full length ER expressed in yeast was very similar to the MCF-7 ER in its affinity [dissociation constant (Kd), 0.35 +/- 0.05 nM], dissociation rate (t1/2, 3-4 h at 25 C), and structural specificity for both reversible and covalently attaching affinity ligands. While the truncated ER expressed in yeast was similar to MCF-7 ER in its specificity of ligand binding, it showed a slightly reduced affinity for estradiol (Kd, 1.00 +/- 0.17 nM). The bacterially expressed ER also had a lower affinity for estradiol (Kd, 1.49 +/- 0.16 nM), which may be due in part to an increase in the dissociation rate (t1/2, 0.5 h at 25 C). The attachment of covalent affinity ligands and structural specificity for a variety of reversible ligands was comparable in the bacterially expressed ER to that observed for the receptors expressed in MCF-7 cells and yeast. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
North Korea's Nuclear and Ballistic Missile Programs

This report discusses the rapid advancements North Korea has made in its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs since 2012. Despite the absence of any missile launch activity or nuclear tests in 2018 to date, previous tests and official North Korean statements suggest that North Korea is striving to build a credible regional nuclear warfighting capability that might evade regional ballistic missile defenses. Such an approach likely reinforces their deterrent and coercive diplomacy strategy--lending more credibility as it demonstrates capability--but it also raises serious questions about crisis stability and escalation control. Congress may further examine these advances' possible effects on U.S. policy.
Polarized FT-IR microscopy of calcified turkey leg tendon.

Polarized Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FT-IRM) was used to assess the orientation of mineral and matrix components of the normally calcified turkey leg tendon. Two groups of tendon, < 16 weeks of age (young) and > 60 weeks of age (old), were analyzed. Linear sequences from calcified, non-calcified, and transitional regions of the tendons were examined. Spectra collected in the "parallel polarization" mode were acquired with the electric vector of the infrared radiation parallel to the collagen fiber axis whereas spectra collected in the "perpendicular polarization" mode were acquired with the electric vector of the infrared radiation perpendicular to this axis. The v2 carbonate (850-890 cm-1) and v1, v3 phosphate (900-1180 cm-1) contours of the tendon mineral as well as the collagen amide I, II, and III bands of the extracellular matrix all displayed marked dichroism. The CO3(2-) ions substituted for PO4(3-) (878 cm-1, type B substitution) in the tendon mineral displayed parallel dichroism while the CO3(2-) ions substituted for OH (871 cm-1, type A substitution) in the tendon mineral displayed perpendicular dichroism. These orientational effects for both sites of carbonate substitution were greater in the older animals. The polarization properties of the v1, v3 phosphate contour were analyzed by use of an empirical anisotropy parameter (A), the value of which monitors the degree of orientation. This index significantly increased in the older animals indicating that aging produces a more highly oriented mineral. The amide I, II, and III contours of the collagen extracellular matrix also exhibited marked dichroism. The amide I component exhibits perpendicular dichroism while the amide II and III components exhibit parallel dichroism. The current study demonstrates the ability of polarized FT-IRM to assess the orientation of the mineral and matrix components of calcified tissue at the microscopic level.
Bifurcation and Spike Adding Transition in Chay-Keizer Model

Electrical bursting is an activity which is universal in excitable cells such as neurons and various endocrine cells, and it encodes rich physiological information. As burst delay identifies that the signal integration has reached the threshold at which it can generate an action potential, the number of spikes in a burst may have essential physiological implications, and the transition of bursting in excitable cells is associated with the bifurcation phenomenon closely. In this paper, we focus on the transition of the spike count per burst of the pancreatic β-cells within a mathematical model and bifurcation phenomenon in the Chay–Keizer model, which is utilized to simulate the pancreatic β-cells. By the fast–slow dynamical bifurcation analysis and the bi-parameter bifurcation analysis, the local dynamics of the Chay–Keizer system around the Bogdanov–Takens bifurcation is illustrated. Then the variety of the number of spikes per burst is discussed by changing the settings of a single parameter and bi-parameter. Moreover, results on the number of spikes within a burst are summarized in ISIs (interspike intervals) sequence diagrams, maximum and minimum, and the number of spikes under bi-parameter value changes.
The Legal and Political Battles over the Distribution of Emergency Contraception in Chile under the Presidencies of Ricardo Lagos (2000-2005) and Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010)

Contraception (EC) in Chile during the administrations of Ricardo Lagos (2000-2005) and Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010). For more than ten years, this policy process was marked by a series of political and legal battles at the centre of which were women’s sexual and reproductive rights. The legalisation and distribution of EC had the effect of alerting conservative and religious groups opposing EC for its alleged abortive effect. What could have been considered a minor policy issue by many political analysts became a particularly visible and influential issue, especially once Michelle Bachelet, Chile’s first female president, took power in 2006. Feminists, the Catholic Church, lawyers and doctors became the main players in front of tribunals supporting or opposing the public policy. The main concern of this research is to understand why the EC policy was such a contentious issue in Chile and elucidate which were the main factors affecting the advancement of this progressive social policy and its final gendered outcome. The central research question driving this study is what does the EC policy process tell us about the role of institutions in the advancement of women’s sexual and reproductive rights in Chile? The thesis shows that both formal and informal institutions played a major role in the policy environment in which feminist and sexual and reproductive health and rights advocates had to engage. The role of formal institutions such as the Constitutional Tribunal and the power held by the executive were matched by the power of informal institutions such as the consensus rule, the role of judges and informal lobbying by social actors, as well as the presence of the first female president. Bachelet’s profile as a doctor, feminist and woman mixed with her presidential power provides an important explanation to the positive outcome of the policy process.
The Role of human capital in pre-industrial societies: skills and earnings in eighteenth-century Castile (Spain)

Using the Ensenada Cadastre, a unique database on Castilian households circa 1750, we measure the effect of human capital on the structure of male labor earnings. Human capital is proxied by individual indicators of basic skills (literacy and numeracy) and of occupational skills. We employ a Mincerian regression approach and find that, on average, workers with greater skills earned more than otherwise similar workers with lesser skills. This finding is robust to the inclusion of additional controls for age, household composition, job characteristics, and place of residence. Estimated returns were larger for urban than for rural workers and were strongly heterogeneous across activity sectors. The richness of our data set reveals that higher-skilled workers not only reaped positive rewards in their main jobs but also were more likely to diversify and increase their earnings through “by-employment”. However, not all workers benefited to the same degree from increased human capital. Quantile regression analysis shows that earnings disparities between workers with different skills were much smaller at the lower than at the upper end of the earnings distribution. This evidence indicates that, in pre-industrial Castile, human capital contributed to earnings (and income) inequality.
Policy Trends in the States: 2016

In 2016, 18 states enacted 50 new abortion restrictions, bringing the number of new abortion restrictions enacted since 2010 to 338. Although state-level assaults on abortion access continued, 16 states took important steps in 2016 to expand access to other sexual and reproductive health services, adopting a total of 28 proactive measures.
Brain structure and function as mediators of the effects of amyloid on memory

Objective: The objective of this study was to test whether effects of β-amyloid (Aβ) pathology on episodic memory were mediated by metabolism and gray matter volume in the early stages of Alzheimer disease. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. We measured baseline Aβ (using florbetapir-PET), brain function (using fluorodeoxyglucose-PET), and brain structure (using MRI). A mediation analysis was performed to test whether statistical effects of Aβ positivity on cross-sectional and longitudinal episodic memory were mediated by hypometabolism or regional gray matter volume in cognitively healthy controls (CN, n = 280) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 463). Results: Lower memory scores were associated with Aβ positivity (CN, mildly; MCI, strongly), smaller gray matter volumes (CN, few regions, including hippocampus; MCI, widespread), and hypometabolism. Smaller volumes and hypometabolism mediated effects of Aβ in MCI but not in CN. The strongest individual regions mediated up to approximately 25%. A combination of brain structure and function mediated up to approximately 40%. In several regions, gray matter atrophy and hypometabolism predicted episodic memory without being associated (at p < 0.05) with Aβ positivity. Conclusions: Changes in brain structure and function appear to be, in part, downstream events from Aβ pathology, ultimately resulting in episodic memory deficits. However, Aβ pathology is also strongly related to memory deficits through mechanisms that are not quantified by these imaging measurements, and episodic memory decline is partly caused by Alzheimer disease–like brain changes independently of Aβ pathology.
An Assessment of Operational Loss Data and Its Implications for Risk Capital Modeling

A mathematical method based on a special dimensional transformation is employed to assess operational loss data from a new perspective. The procedure, which is formally known as the Buckingham (Pi) Theorem, is used broadly in the field of experimental engineering to extrapolate the results of tests conducted on models to prototypes. When applied to the operational loss data considered in this paper, the approach leads to a seemingly universal trend underlying the resulting distributions regardless of how the data set is divided (e.g., by event type, business line, revenue band). This dominating trend, which appears to also acquire a tail parameter of 1, could have profound implications for how operational risk capital is computed.
Is Being Breastfed as an Infant Associated with Adult Pulmonary Function?

Objective: Breastfeeding reduces the risk of asthma and respiratory infections in infants. Since respiratory infections are associated with reduced pulmonary function in adolescents, pulmonary function impairment may be carried into adulthood. Our aim was to determine whether a history of having been breastfed as an infant is a determinant of adult pulmonary function. Methods: We analyzed data from a general population sample of residents of Erie and Niagara Counties between September 1995 and December 1999. We calculated forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) prediction equations and used multiple linear regression models to study the association between having been breastfed as an infant and percentage predicted FEV1 (FEV1%) and percentage predicted FVC (FVC%) after adjustment for covariates. Results: Of 2305 subjects, 62% reported having been breastfed. After controlling for age, gender, weight, smoking status, pack-years of smoking, eosinophil counts and dietary factors, there was no association between having been breastfed (yes/no) and FEV1% or FVC% (regression coefficients 0.0049, p = 0.46 and 0.0055, p = 0.43, respectively). Conclusions: We did not find a strong or consistent association between having been breastfed as an infant and pulmonary function in adulthood.
Poor maternal nutrition followed by accelerated postnatal growth leads to telomere shortening and increased markers of cell senescence in rat islets

Low birth weight (LBW) followed by accelerated postnatal growth is associated with increased risk of developing age‐associated diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Gestational protein restriction in rats causes LBW, β‐cell dysfunction, and reduced longevity. These effects may be mediated by accelerated cellular aging. This study tested the hypothesis that LBW followed by rapid postnatal catch‐up growth leads to islet telomere shortening through alterations in antioxidant defense capacity, stress/senescence marker proteins, and DNA repair mechanisms at the gene expression level. We used our rat model of gestational protein restriction (recuperated offspring) and control offspring. Southern blotting revealed shorter (P<0.001) islet telomeres in recuperated animals compared to controls. This was associated with increased expression of peroxiredoxin 1 (P<0.05), peroxiredoxin 3 (P<0.01), and hemeoxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) (P<0.05), which are up‐regulated under stress conditions. MnSOD expression was significantly (P<0.05) decreased in recuperated offspring, suggesting partial impairment of mitochondrial antioxidant defenses. Markers of cellular senescence p21 and p16 were also increased (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively) in the recuperated group. We conclude that maternal diet influences expression of markers of cellular stress and telomere length in pancreatic islets. This may provide a mechanistic link between early nutrition and growth and type 2 diabetes. — Tarry‐ Adkins, J. L. , Chen, J. H. , Smith, N. S. , Jones, R. H. , Cherif, H. , Ozanne, S. E. Poor maternal nutrition followed by accelerated postnatal growth leads to telomere shortening and increased markers of cell senescence in rat islets. FASEB J. 23, 1521–1528 (2009)
Dental Pulp Cell Behavior in Biomimetic Environments

There is emerging recognition of the importance of a physiologically relevant in vitro cell culture environment to promote maintenance of stem cells for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine purposes. In vivo, appropriate cellular cues are provided by local tissue extracellular matrix (ECM), and these are not currently recapitulated well in vitro using traditional cultureware. We therefore hypothesized that better replication of the in vivo environment for cell culture and differentiation could be achieved by culturing dental pulp cells with their associated ECM. Primary dental pulp cells were subsequently seeded onto pulp-derived ECM-coated cultureware. While at up to 24 h they exhibited the same level of adherence as those cells seeded on tissue culture–treated surfaces, by 4 d cell numbers and proliferation rates were significantly decreased in cells grown on pulp ECM compared with controls. Analysis of stem cell and differentiation marker transcripts, as well as Oct 3/4 protein distribution, supported the hypothesis that cells cultured on ECM better maintained a stem cell phenotype compared with those cultured on standard tissue culture–treated surfaces. Subsequent differentiation analysis of cells cultured on ECM demonstrated that they exhibited enhanced mineralization, as determined by alizarin red staining and mineralized marker expression. Supplementation of a 3% alginate hydrogel with pulp ECM components and dental pulp cells followed by differentiation induction in mineralization medium resulted in a time-dependent mineral deposition at the periphery of the construct, as demonstrated histologically and using micro–computed tomography analysis, which was reminiscent of tooth structure. In conclusion, data indicate that culture of pulp cells in the presence of ECM better replicates the in vivo environment, maintaining a stem cell phenotype suitable for downstream tissue engineering applications.
Histological and steroidogenic changes in dominant ovarian follicles during oestradiol-induced atresia in heifers.

Histological and steroidogenic changes within dominant ovarian follicles (DFs) undergoing atresia following systemic administration of oestradiol benzoate (ODB) were characterized in beef heifers. At 5.6+/-0.1 days after the onset of oestrus, heifers received 1 mg ODB i.m. /500 kg body weight (ODB; n=15) or served as controls (n=15). Timing of treatment initiation was designated as hour (h) 0 on day (d) 0, and coincided with the presence of the DF of the first follicular wave (DF1). Within treatments, the DF1 was collected following ovariectomy in four animals at h 12, h 36 or after ultrasonic detection of a new wave (NW) of ovarian follicular development. In heifers of the NW groups (n=7 per treatment), blood samples were collected at intervals of 20 min for 12 h beginning at h-12, 0, 24 and 48 to characterize circulating LH patterns. Administration of ODB suppressed (P<0.01) mean concentrations of LH at h 24 and h 48 by preventing (P<0.05) the increase in LH pulse amplitude observed in controls, but had no effect on FSH. Follicular fluid (FF) concentrations of androgens and oestradiol were reduced at h 36 in the ODB-treated group. The diameter of the DF1 and the number of granulosa cell layers were also reduced in ODB-treated as compared with control heifers. Treatment differences were not observed in the proportion of apoptotic granulosa cells as assessed using the TUNEL assay method, and timing of a new wave of follicular development (d 4.6+/-0.2) was similar (P>0.1) among treatments. A prominent characteristic of oestradiol-induced atresia of the DF1 of the oestrous cycle in heifers was a loss in oestrogenic function associated with reduced LH support. However, the timing of new follicular development may be influenced by a factor(s) other than the status of the DF undergoing oestradiol-induced atresia.
A Truncated Human NKG2D Splice Isoform Negatively Regulates NKG2D-Mediated Function

Natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) is a stimulatory receptor expressed by NK cells and a subset of T cells. NKG2D is crucial in diverse aspects of innate and adaptive immune functions. In this study, we characterize a novel splice variant of human NKG2D that encodes a truncated receptor lacking the ligand-binding ectodomain. This truncated NKG2D (NKG2DTR) isoform was detected in primary human NK and CD8+ T cells. Overexpression of NKG2DTR severely attenuated cell killing and IFN-γ release mediated by full-length NKG2D (NKG2DFL). In contrast, specific knockdown of endogenously expressed NKG2DTR enhanced NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity, suggesting that NKG2DTR is a negative regulator of NKG2DFL. Biochemical studies demonstrated that NKG2DTR was bound to DNAX-activated protein of 10 kDa (DAP10) and interfered with the interaction of DAP10 with NKG2DFL. In addition, NKG2DTR associated with NKG2DFL, which led to forced intracellular retention, resulting in decreased surface NKG2D expression. Taken together, these data suggest that competitive interference of NKG2D/DAP10 complexes by NKG2DTR constitutes a novel mechanism for regulation of NKG2D-mediated function in human CD8+ T cells and NK cells.
Approximate Arbitrage-Free Option Pricing Under the SABR Model

The stochastic-alpha-beta-rho (SABR) model introduced by Hagan et al. (2002) provides a popular vehicle to model the implied volatilities in the interest rate and foreign exchange markets. To exclude arbitrage opportunities, we need to specify an absorbing boundary at zero for this model, which the existing analytical approaches to pricing derivatives under the SABR model typically ignore. This paper develops closed-form approximations to the prices of vanilla options to incorporate the effect of such a boundary condition. Different from the traditional normal distribution-based approximations, our method stems from an expansion around a one-dimensional Bessel process. Extensive numerical experiments demonstrate its accuracy and efficiency. Furthermore, the explicit expression yielded from our method is appealing from the practical perspective because it can lead to fast calibration, pricing, and hedging.