Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An epidemiological study of an outbreak of Q fever in a secondary school

SUMMARY Five cases of clinical Q fever were identified amongst students and staff of a Somerset secondary school between 23 October 1987 and 21 December 1987. Five goats which were kept at the school were found to have antibodies to Coxiella burnetii phase II. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the school in July 1988. A single CF test was used to identify evidence of prior infection, and a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on exposure variables and illness during 1987. Four hundred and ninety-nine eligible subjects took part in the study, and serological information was obtained from 461 of these. Eighty-seven subjects (18·9%) had CF titres of 20 or greater. It was estimated that only 1 in every 30 individuals with evidence of past C. burnetii infection had been recognized as a clinical case of Q fever. Antibody positive subjects were more likely to have been off school sick and to report having suffered chest pain than negative subjects. Contact with school animals, specifically cleaning the school poultry, collecting their eggs and visiting a school goat on the day of kidding, was associated with the presence of antibodies to C. burnetii. However a large proportion of the antibody positives (24·2%) had no known contact with the school animals. Spread of organisms, either wind-borne or in straw or manure, may have been responsible for the high prevalence of unexplained infection.
Enabling MPEG-7 structural and semantic descriptions in retrieval applications

The MPEG-7 standard supports the description of both the structure and the semantics of multimedia; however, the generation and consumption of MPEG-7 structural and semantic descriptions are outside the scope of the standard. This article presents two research prototype systems that demonstrate the generation and consumption of MPEG-7 structural and semantic descriptions in retrieval applications. The active system for MPEG-4 video object simulation (AMOS) is a video object segmentation and retrieval system that segments, tracks, and models objects in videos (e.g., person, car) as a set of regions with corresponding visual features and spatiotemporal relations. The region-based model provides an effective base for similarity retrieval of video objects. The second system, the Intelligent Multimedia Knowledge Application (IMKA), uses the novel MediaNet framework for representing semantic and perceptual information about the world using multimedia. MediaNet knowledge bases can be constructed automatically from annotated collections of multimedia data and used to enhance the retrieval of multimedia.
An evaluation of the Quality of 360-degree Assessment Instruments

Recently 360-degree assessment has become popular. It can be used as well for evaluating employee performance as for the evaluation of training transfer. The instruments used for this kind of assessment, where managers are evaluated by co-workers such as their supervisor, peers, subordinates and clients, should meet certain standards (e.g. psychometric and personnel evaluation standards). A checklist of standards will be presented on the basis of which 360-degree instruments are examined. In this study four 360-degree assessment instruments are examined. The outcomes of the study give insight into the qualities of a number of 360-degree instruments.
Noisy optimization problems - a particular challenge for differential evolution?

The popularity of search heuristics has lead to numerous new approaches in the last two decades. Since algorithm performance is problem dependent and parameter sensitive, it is difficult to consider any single approach as of greatest utility overall problems. In contrast, differential evolution (DE) is a numerical optimization approach that requires hardly any parameter tuning and is very efficient and reliable on both benchmark and real-world problems. However, the results presented in this paper demonstrate that standard methods of evolutionary optimization are able to outperform DE on noisy problems when the fitness of candidate solutions approaches the fitness variance caused by the noise.
JOB SEARCH EXPERIENCES: A WITHIN-PERSON EXAMINATION OF JOB SEARCH SELF-EFFICACY, BEHAVIORS, AND OUTCOME

Title of Document: JOB SEARCH EXPERIENCES: A WITHINPERSON EXAMINATION OF JOB SEARCH SELF-EFFICACY, BEHAVIORS, AND OUTCOME Songqi Liu, Doctor of Philosophy, 2011 Directed By: Dr. Mo Wang, Department of Psychology A dynamic self-regulatory perspective is useful to explain withinand between-person variations in job search behaviors (e.g., Barber, Daly, Giannantonio, & Phillips, 1994; Kanfer, Wanberg, Kantrowitz, 2001). However, few studies have incorporated models and designs appropriate for addressing when and why individuals are persistent in their job search activities. In addition, although goal orientation and attribution are highly relevant to self-regulation, previous studies on job search have not integrated these important constructs into the dynamic model of job search. Using data from college seniors in China, the current study advanced the understanding of the dynamic pathways leading to job search behaviors and number of job offers. Specifically, conceptualizing job search behaviors as guided by the employment goal and its sub-goal job search behavior goal, the current study differentiates employment self-efficacy from job search behavior self-efficacy. The data showed that at the within-person level, higher levels of perceived job search progress lead to more job search behaviors through enhanced levels of job search behavior self-efficacy. At the same time, higher levels of perceived job search progress could also lead to less job search behaviors through elevated employment self-efficacy. Finally, active job search behaviors were positively related to the number of job offers received by job seekers. The data also suggest that performance goal orientation and attribution moderated the within-person relationship between perceived job search progress and self-efficacy believes. These findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical implications to multiple goal theories regarding dynamic self-regulation processes and practical implications to employment interventions. JOB SEARCH EXPERIENCES: A WITHIN-PERSON EXAMINATION OF JOB SEARCH SELF-EFFICACY, BEHAVIORS, AND OUTCOME
Inhibitory Effect of Bacterial Attachment on Candidal Growth Due to Adherence with Mannose‐Sensitive Pili

A bacterial strain with affinity to Candida albicans was successfully obtained from a natural environment. An uncovered Petri dish containing a suspension of heat‐killed C. albicans cells was allowed to stand in a laboratory for several days. Some bacteria which had adhered to the candidal cells were tested for their ability to agglutinate the cells. A bacterial strain, designated later as CAB‐1, was found to agglutinate candidal cells through bridging by mannose‐sensitive pili. CAB‐1 showed similar bacteriological characteristics to those of Citrobacter freundii by ID test. The adherence of CAB‐1 to candidal cell was precisely presented by scanning electron microscopy. The inhibitory effect of CAB‐1 attachment to candidal cells on the growth of Candida was also preliminarily confirmed.
Deconvolution and Database Search of Complex Tandem Mass Spectra of Intact Proteins

Top-down proteomics studies intact proteins, enabling new opportunities for analyzing post-translational modifications. Because tandem mass spectra of intact proteins are very complex, spectral deconvolution (grouping peaks into isotopomer envelopes) is a key initial stage for their interpretation. In such spectra, isotopomer envelopes of different protein fragments span overlapping regions on the m/z axis and even share spectral peaks. This raises both pattern recognition and combinatorial challenges for spectral deconvolution. We present MS-Deconv, a combinatorial algorithm for spectral deconvolution. The algorithm first generates a large set of candidate isotopomer envelopes for a spectrum, then represents the spectrum as a graph, and finally selects its highest scoring subset of envelopes as a heaviest path in the graph. In contrast with other approaches, the algorithm scores sets of envelopes rather than individual envelopes. We demonstrate that MS-Deconv improves on Thrash and Xtract in the number of correctly recovered monoisotopic masses and speed. We applied MS-Deconv to a large set of top-down spectra from Yersinia rohdei (with a still unsequenced genome) and further matched them against the protein database of related and sequenced bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica. MS-Deconv is available at http://proteomics.ucsd. edu/Software.html.
Antimicrobial bacteriophage-derived proteins and therapeutic applications

Antibiotics have the remarkable power to control bacterial infections. Unfortunately, widespread use, whether regarded as prudent or not, has favored the emergence and persistence of antibiotic resistant strains of human pathogenic bacteria, resulting in a global health threat. Bacteriophages (phages) are parasites that invade the cells of virtually all known bacteria. Phages reproduce by utilizing the host cell's machinery to replicate viral proteins and genomic material, generally damaging and killing the cell in the process. Thus, phage can be exploited therapeutically as bacteriolytic agents against bacteria. Furthermore, understanding of the molecular processes involved in the viral life cycle, particularly the entry and cell lysis steps, has led to the development of viral proteins as antibacterial agents. Here we review the current preclinical state of using phage-derived endolysins, virion-associated peptidoglycan hydrolases, polysaccharide depolymerases, and holins for the treatment of bacterial infection. The scope of this review is a focus on the viral proteins that have been assessed for protective effects against human pathogenic bacteria in animal models of infection and disease.
Mechanistic insight into ligand binding to G-quadruplex DNA

Specific guanine-rich regions in human genome can form higher-order DNA structures called G-quadruplexes, which regulate many relevant biological processes. For instance, the formation of G-quadruplex at telomeres can alter cellular functions, inducing apoptosis. Thus, developing small molecules that are able to bind and stabilize the telomeric G-quadruplexes represents an attractive strategy for antitumor therapy. An example is 3-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-7-hydroxy-8-((4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl)methyl)-2H-chromen-2-one (compound 1), recently identified as potent ligand of the G-quadruplex [d(TGGGGT)]4 with promising in vitro antitumor activity. The experimental observations are suggestive of a complex binding mechanism that, despite efforts, has defied full characterization. Here, we provide through metadynamics simulations a comprehensive understanding of the binding mechanism of 1 to the G-quadruplex [d(TGGGGT)]4. In our calculations, the ligand explores all the available binding sites on the DNA structure and the free-energy landscape of the whole binding process is computed. We have thus disclosed a peculiar hopping binding mechanism whereas 1 is able to bind both to the groove and to the 3’ end of the G-quadruplex. Our results fully explain the available experimental data, rendering our approach of great value for further ligand/DNA studies.
Underpricing : The Moderator Effect of Venture Capital

This paper draws up on the companies that completed IPO in GEM to investigate the influence of R & D and technology on IPO underpricing, and venture capital (VC)’s moderator effect on this influence. We find that information asymmetry causes high-R & D and high-tech IPOs to become underpriced. VC can play the certification role to mitigate the positive correlation between technology and IPO underpricing, while VC cannot serve as a supervisor and therefore strengthen the positive correlation between R & D and IPO underpricing. More importantly, IPO underpricing decreases with the interaction between R & D expenditure and technology. Technology requirement reduces the underpricing of high-R & D IPOs. Accordingly, R & D spending reduces the underpricing of high-tech IPOs. Our result is more significant for the companies with VC background.
Relação entre Preços de Transferência e Conflito Organizacional em Empresas Descentralizadas

Este trabalho apresenta o resultado de estudo realizado para analisar as praticas de precos de transferencia utilizadas pelas empresas brasileiras, associando-as com o papel representado pelos conflitos organizacionais nas transacoes internas de uma empresa com estrutura organizacional descentralizada. Para isto, analisa-se o referencial teorico sobre o tema e sua repercussao no gerenciamento das atividades das unidades de negocio. O estudo mostra-se relevante porque os sistemas de precos de transferencia costumam influir no nivel de recompensas extrinsecas e intrinsecas de uma organizacao e, tambem, em sua distribuicao. Dado que o sistema de compensacao, que faz a medicao da atuacao gerencial, e dependente dos resultados das transacoes que ele realiza com as demais unidades, e, portanto, razoavel admitir que os precos de transferencia tambem possam influir como fatores motivadores positivos ou negativos nos criterios de valoracao das transferencias. O estudo permitiu inferir que ha muitas possibilidades de analise dos precos de transferencia em relacao aos efeitos de sua influencia na motivacao dos gerentes. Como resultado do estudo, concluiu-se que, no caso da amostra de empresas pesquisadas, nao existia nenhum sinal evidente de problemas de conflito organizacional, por causa dos sistemas de precos de transferencia utilizados por elas.
An update on food allergy

Purpose of review The present review serves to address food allergy, which is a common problem encountered by the general pediatrician. Between 4 and 6% of US children have an allergic reaction to at least one food, and the prevalence of some food allergies appears to be increasing. Recent findings A combination of genetic influences, characteristics of food antigen processing, and timing of food introduction may influence the development of food allergy. Avoidance of highly allergenic foods beyond 4–6 months may not be effective at preventing the development of food allergy in most children, and the effect of specific early introduction of allergenic foods is being investigated. Oral immunotherapy is under investigation but may be limited in future use by several factors, including a significant rate of allergic reactions. Summary Current management of food allergy focuses on accurate diagnosis, appropriate counseling regarding strict allergen avoidance with review of available educational resources, emergency preparedness, instruction on the use of self-injectable epinephrine, and ongoing surveillance for the possible development of tolerance.
The Paradox of Intensification Abstract Urban intensification as part of a smart growth strategy can facilitate low energy transport modes and reduce overall car use, with benefits to the global environment but evidence

Urban intensification as part of a smart growth strategy can facilitate low energy transport modes and reduce overall car use, with benefits to the global environment but evidence suggests the effect will be less than proportional. Hence, in locations where intensification occurs, greater concentrations of traffic tend to occur, and this worsens local environmental conditions. This phenomenon is defined below as the „paradox of intensification‟. The consequent challenges for planners and policymakers which arise are considered. The analysis suggests that a compromise involving limited intensification would merely redistribute the balance between the two sets of problems: global and local. It is concluded that urban intensification should be accompanied by more radical measures to constrain traffic generation within intensified areas.
Wearable Computing : A Review

The many opportunities offered by wearable computing have triggered the imaginations of designers and researchers in a wide variety of fields. The inevitability of computers and interfaces which are small enough to be worn on the human body has inspired the creation of devices and applications which can assist with specialised professional and personal activities, as well as aiding and augmenting everyday life in the modern world. In reality limitations imposed by factors such as battery life, processor power, display brightness, network coverage and form factor have conspired to delay the widespread introduction of wearable computers. Nevertheless over the past ten years there have been many successful implementations and, as the relentless miniaturisation of computing devices continues, an increasing number of viable applications are emerging. In this paper wearable computing applications are reviewed from the early aircraft maintenance and military designs; through current production models including designs for personal entertainment, communication and health monitoring; to prototype implementations for real world gaming and smart fashion textiles. The challenges presented by these applications are identified and discussed.
An Adaptive Motion-Onset VEP-Based Brain-Computer Interface

Motion-onset visual evoked potential (mVEP) has been recently proposed for EEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI) system. It is a scalp potential of visual motion response, and typically composed of three components: P1, N2, and P2. Usually several repetitions are needed to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of mVEP, but more repetitions will cost more time thus lower the efficiency. Considering the fluctuation of subject's state across time, the adaptive repetitions based on the subject's real-time signal quality is important for increasing the communication efficiency of mVEP-based BCI. In this paper, the amplitudes of the three components of mVEP are proposed to build a dynamic stopping criteria according to the practical information transfer rate (PITR) from the training data. During online test, the repeated stimulus stopped once the predefined threshold was exceeded by the real-time signals and then another circle of stimulus newly began. Evaluation tests showed that the proposed dynamic stopping strategy could significantly improve the communication efficiency of mVEP-based BCI that the average PITR increases from 14.5 bit/min of the traditional fixed repetition method to 20.8 bit/min. The improvement has great value in real-life BCI applications because the communication efficiency is very important.
Stiction failure of micro-structure in hermetic packaging

Hermetic packaging is introduced as a main mode for the MEMS (micro-electromechanical-system) device packaging. The reliability of micro-structures in hermetic packaging has become the most important part for the successful commercialization. With the decrease in the dimension and material processing, the ubiquitous surface effect between device and substrate has become more and more effective. Surface-micromachined structures formed by the wet etching of sacrificial layers are commonly plagued by problems of sticking to the substrate. The failure of devices according to the stiction has become a main factor of the MEMS reliability. In this paper, an experimental way is presented to analyze two important force of surface effect: capillary force and van der Waals force. The cantilever beam is used as a classic MEMS device, and the structure of beam is specially designed for the experiment. It can greatly reduce the capillary force in a vacuum environment, so the two forces are separated through two different environmental experiments. This paper simulates different packaging environments to separate capillary force from stiction force, and analyzes the composition of the stiction force. The experimental results and theoretical summary could provide a useful reference for the design and predict the stiction failure of micro-structures.
Heterogeneity of Platelet Functional Alterations in Patients With Filamin A Mutations

Objective—We examined platelet functions in 4 unrelated patients with filaminopathy A caused by dominant mutations of the X-linked filamin A (FLNA) gene. Methods and Results—Patients P1, P2, and P4 exhibited periventricular nodular heterotopia, heterozygozity for truncating FLNA mutations, and thrombocytopenia (except P2). P3 exhibited isolated thrombocytopenia and heterozygozity for a p.Glu1803Lys FLNA mutation. Truncated FLNa was undetectable by Western blotting of P1, P2, and P4 platelets, but full-length FLNa was detected at 37%, 82%, and 57% of control, respectively. P3 FLNa (p.Glu1803Lys and full-length) was assessed at 79%. All patients exhibited a platelet subpopulation negative for FLNa. Platelet aggregation, secretion, glycoprotein VI signaling, and thrombus growth on collagen were decreased for P1, P3, and P4, but normal for P2. For the 2 patients analyzed (P1 and P4), spreading was enhanced and, more markedly, in FLNa-negative platelets, suggesting that FLNa negatively regulates cytoskeleton reorganization. Platelet adhesion to von Willebrand factor under flow correlated with platelet full-length FLNa content: markedly reduced for P1 and P4 and unchanged for P2. Interestingly, von Willebrand factor flow adhesion was increased for P3, consistent with a gain-of-function effect enhancing glycoprotein Ib-IX-V/von Willebrand factor interaction. These results are consistent with a positive role for FLNa in platelet adhesion under high shear. Conclusion—FLNA mutation heterogeneity correlates with different platelet functional impacts and points to opposite regulatory roles of FLNa in spreading and flow adhesion under shear.
Polynomial Wolff Axioms and Multilinear Kakeya-type Estimates for Bent Tubes in R n

In this paper we consider the applicability of Guth and Zahl’s polynomial Wolff axioms to bent tubes. We demonstrate that Guth and Zahl’s multilinear bounds hold for tubes defined by low degree algebraic curves with bounded C-norms. To show this we give an exposition of their proof in a n-dimensional, k-linear context. In considering the ability to obtain linear bounds using the multilinear bounds we utilize the strategy of Guth and Bourgain. We find that the multilinear bounds obtained from Guth and Zahl’s technique break the inductive structure of this process and thus provide inferior bounds to the endpoint cases of Bennett, Carbery, and Tao’s multilinear bounds. We discuss future research directions, which could eventually remedy this, that improve multilinear bounds by adding the assumption that the collection of tubes lie near a k-plane.
FINAL REPORT : “ Coupling Sorption to Soil Weathering During Reactive Transport : Impacts of Mineral Transformation and Sorbent Aging on Contaminant Speciation and Mobility

Mineral Transformation and Sorbent Aging on Contaminant Speciation and Mobility” (DE-FG0206ER64191, 2/1/06-1/31/08 with one year no-cost extension). In addition to the five project PIs (Mueller, Chorover, O’Day, Um, Steefel), project personnel include postdoctoral associates Sunkyung Choi (UCM) and Aaron Thompson (UA), Ph.D. students Nelson Rivera (UCM) and Caleb Strepka (PSU), and research specialist Mary Kay Amistadi (UA).