Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to ruminant and equine hosts involves SaPI‐carried variants of von Willebrand factor‐binding protein

Staphylococci adapt specifically to various animal hosts by genetically determined mechanisms that are not well understood. One such adaptation involves the ability to coagulate host plasma, by which strains isolated from ruminants or horses can be differentiated from closely related human strains. Here, we report first that this differential coagulation activity is due to animal‐specific alleles of the von Willebrand factor‐binding protein (vWbp) gene, vwb, and second that these vwb alleles are carried by highly mobile pathogenicity islands, SaPIs. Although all Staphylococcus aureus possess chromosomal vwb as well as coagulase (coa) genes, neither confers species‐specific coagulation activity; however, the SaPI‐coded vWbps possess a unique N‐terminal region specific for the activation of ruminant and equine prothrombin. vWbp‐encoding SaPIs are widely distributed among S. aureus strains infecting ruminant or equine hosts, and we have identified and characterized four of these, SaPIbov4, SaPIbov5, SaPIeq1 and SaPIov2, which encode vWbpSbo4, vWbpSbo5, vWbpSeq1 and vWbpSov2 respectively. Moreover, the SaPI‐carried vwb genes are regulated differently from the chromosomal vwb genes of the same strains. We suggest that the SaPI‐encoded vWbps may represent an important host adaptation mechanism for S. aureus pathogenicity, and therefore that acquisition of vWbp‐encoding SaPIs may be determinative for animal specificity.
Does using alprazolam during outpatient flexible cystoscopy decrease anxiety and pain?

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of pre-operative alprazolam medication on anxiety and pain in flexible cystoscopy for bladder cancer follow-up. METHODS A total of 86 male patients who had flexible cystoscopy for bladder cancer follow-up at 6th and 9th months were included in the study. A visual analog scale (VAS) pain score and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used. The 6th (VAS-1)and 9th (VAS-2) month pain scores and 6th month STAI score (STAI-1) and, 9th month STAI score before (STAI-2a) and after alprazolam (0.5 mg) intake (STAI-2b) were compared. RESULTS The mean age was 66.49±12.45 years. Patients were grouped by age≤65 (Group-1) and age≥66 (Group-2). Mean VAS score for VAS-1 and VAS-2 were 2.66±0.96 and 2.44±1.05, respectively (p=0.007). The mean VAS-1 and VAS-2 scores in Group 1 were 3.0±1.05 and 2.73±1.18, respectively (p=0.009). The mean VAS-1 and VAS-2 scores in Group 2 were 2.36±0.77 and 2.17±0.86 respectively (p=0.031). The differences between mean anxiety scores were all statistically significant. All STAI (1, 2a, and 2b) and VAS (1 and 2) scores in Group-1 were statistically significantly higher than Group-2. Increasing STAI score is associated with a statistically significant increase in the VAS scores in the 0.50 and 0.75 quantiles (p=0.021 and p=0.039, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Using alprazolam before flexible cystoscopy reduces both anxiety (STAI-1 vs STAI-2b) and pain (VAS-1 vs VAS-2). Previous cystoscopy experience reduces anxiety (STAI-2a vs. STAI-2b). Elderly patients have less anxiety and pain scores than younger patients in flexible cystoscopy.
Results From a Prospective, International, Epidemiologic Study of Invasive Candidiasis in Children and Neonates

Background: Candida species are the third most common cause of pediatric health care–associated bloodstream infection in the United States and Europe. To our knowledge, this report from the International Pediatric Fungal Network is the largest prospective, multicenter observational study dedicated to pediatric and neonatal invasive candidiasis. Methods: From 2007 to 2011, we enrolled 196 pediatric and 25 neonatal patients with invasive candidiasis. Results: Non-albicans Candida species predominated in pediatric (56%) and neonatal (52%) age groups, yet Candida albicans was the most common species in both groups. Successful treatment responses were observed in pediatric (76%) and neonatal patients (92%). Infection with Candida parapsilosis led to successful responses in pediatric (92%) and neonatal (100%) patients, whereas infection with Candida glabrata was associated with a lower successful outcome in pediatric patients (55%). The most commonly used primary antifungal therapies for pediatric invasive candidiasis were fluconazole (21%), liposomal amphotericin B (20%) and micafungin (18%). Outcome of pediatric invasive candidiasis was similar in response to polyenes (73%), triazoles (67%) and echinocandins (73%). The most commonly used primary antifungal therapies for neonatal invasive candidiasis were fluconazole (32%), caspofungin (24%) and liposomal amphotericin B (16%) and micafungin (8%). Outcomes of neonatal candidiasis by antifungal class again revealed similar response rates among the classes. Conclusions: We found a predominance of non-albicans Candida infection in children and similar outcomes based on antifungal class used. This international collaborative study sets the foundation for large epidemiologic studies focusing on the unique features of neonatal and pediatric candidiasis and comparative studies of therapeutic interventions in these populations.
Global diffusion of telecommunications innovations: a cross-cultural review

One of the major limitations in diffusion studies has been their focus on only a single product in a single market. This paper recognises this limitation and analyses the diffusion of several products: internet, ISDN, personal computers and wireless subscriptions across 103 countries worldwide. The diffusion of each product in each country is modelled by employing and assessing the Bass diffusion model. The results indicate that diffusion coefficients vary significantly across products and countries. Wealth is the most important predictor of market potential in poor countries, whereas the amount of international communication is more significant in rich countries. The innovation and imitation coefficients are higher in late-adopter countries, providing support for the lead-lag effect.
Emotion dysregulation and coping drinking motives in college women.

OBJECTIVES To examine emotion dysregulation as a predictor of coping drinking motives, alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related problems among college women. METHODS In the cross-sectional study, 424 college women completed confidential surveys assessing the variables of interest. RESULTS Structural equation models suggest an indirect relationship between emotion dysregulation and alcohol variables. Emotion dysregulation predicted drinking coping motives, and drinking motives predicted both alcohol-related problems and heavy drinking. CONCLUSIONS In college women, interventions which target emotion dysregulation may indirectly reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems via a decrease in coping drinking motives. Implications for future research will be discussed.
Are Pyrodinium Blooms in the Southeast Asian Region Recurring and Spreading? A View at the End of the Millennium

Abstract Pyrodinium bahamense (var. compressum) has been the only dinoflagellate species that has caused major public health and economic problems in the Southeast Asian region for more than 2 decades now. It produces saxitoxin, a suite of toxins that cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). A serious toxicological problem affecting many countries of the world, mild cases of this poisoning can occur within 30 minutes while in extreme cases, death through respiratory paralysis may occur within 2–24 hrs of ingestion of intoxicated shellfish. Blooms of the organism have been reported in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines and Indonesia. The ASEAN-Canada Red Tide Network has recorded 31 blooms of the organism in 26 areas since 1976 when it first occurred in Sabah, Malaysia. As of 1999, the most hard hit country has been the Philippines which has the greatest number of areas affected (18) and highest number of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) cases (about 1995). Malaysia has reported a total of 609 PSP cases and 44 deaths while Brunei has recorded 14 PSP cases and no fatalities. Indonesia, on the other hand has a record of 427 PSP cases and 17 deaths. Studies on ecological/environmental impacts of these blooms have not been done in the region. Estimates of economic impacts have shown that the loss could be up to USD 300 000 day−1. Most of the data and information useful for understanding Pyrodinium bloom dynamics have come from harmful/toxic algal monitoring and research that have developed to different degrees in the various countries in the region affected by the organism's bloom. Regional collaborative research and monitoring efforts can help harmonize local data sets and ensure their quality and availability for comparative analysis and modeling. Temporal patterns of the blooms at local and regional scales and possible signals and trends in the occurrence/recurrence and spread of Pyrodinium blooms could be investigated. Existing descriptive and simple predictive models of Pyrodinium blooms can be improved and refined to help in the management of the wild harvest and aquaculture of shellfish in a region where the people are dependent on these resources for their daily food sustainance and livelihood.
Offshore Hedge Funds: Survival and Performance 1989-1995

We examine the performance of the off-shore hedge fund industry over the period 1989-1995 using a database that includes both defunct and currently operating funds. The industry is characterized by high attrition rates of funds, low covariance with the U.S. stock market, evidence consistent with positive risk-adjusted returns over the time, but little evidence of differential manager skill.
Wastewater Reuse as Means to Optimize the Use of Water Resources in the West Bank

Abstract The increase in demand for the limited raw water resources in the Palestinian Territories has led to the proposals for use of treated wastewater as one alternative for alleviating water shortages and for optimizing the use of water resources. Wastewater reuse is a multi-discipline and important element of water resources development. Wastewater usage releases high quality water for drinking and other purposes. Quantitative, economic, and social aspects related to wastewater reuse in the West Bank are discussed. Through analyses of the estimated cost and expected water quantities, the paper investigates the economic feasibility of wastewater reuse. Social acceptance is elicited by means of questionnaires, which have been applied to farmers and inhabitants in different areas of the West Bank. Wastewater reuse can compensate for about 10 percent of irrigated agriculture, which contributes 35 percent of the total value of the Palestinian agricultural sector. The paper presents an analysis of the main aspects of wastewater reuse and defines an approach to the beneficial use of wastewater as a component that should be considered in the strategy for the overall management of water resources in the Palestinian Territories.
Integrating simulation-based optimization, lean, and the concepts of industry 4.0

Nowadays, due to the need of innovation and adaptation for the mass production of customized goods, many industries are struggling to compete with the manufacturing sector emerging in different countries around the world. The understanding and implementation of different improvement techniques is necessary in order to take part in the so-called fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0. This paper investigates how two well-known improvement approaches, namely lean and simulation-based optimization, can be combined with the concepts of Industry 4.0 to improve efficiency and avoid moving production to other countries. Going through an industrial case study, the paper discusses how such a combination could be carried out and how the different strengths of the three approaches can be utilized together. The case study focuses on how the efficiency of a production site can be increased and how Industry 4.0 can support the improvement of the internal logistics on the shop floor.
[Optimization of acupoint application scheme in the treatment of bronchial asthma based on the orthogonal design method].

OBJECTIVE To study the primary and secondary factors of the allergic history, the frequency of acupoint application and the time of acupoint application in the treatment of bronchial asthma and optimize its scheme. METHODS Eighty patients of bronchial asthma were selected as the subjects in the orthogonal trial. The herbal medicines were the empirical formula of acupoint application (prepared at the ratio as 2:2:1:1:1:1:1:1:1 of semen brassicae, rhizome corydalis, unprocessed radix kansui, asarum sieboldii, ephedra, semen lepidii, syzygium aromaticum, cortex cinnamomi and fructus gleditsiae) and used on bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Xinshu (BL 15), Geshu (BL 17) and Shenshu (BL 23). Firstly, two groups were divided according to allergic history (40 cases with allergic history and 40 cases without allergic history), and then four subgroups were divided on the basis of the two main groups, 10 cases in each one. Through studying three factors and two levels, i.e. allergic history (Factor A:AⅠ:with allergic history; AⅡ:without allergic history), the frequency of acupoint application (Factor B:BⅠ:4 times; BⅡ:10 times, in which, in the group of 4-time applications, the application was given once every 10 days; in the group of 10-time applications, the application was given once every 4 days); and the time of application (Factor C:CⅠ:4 h; CⅡ:8 h), the optimal scheme was screened on the basis of the attack frequency before and after treatment and the score of the asthma quality life questionnaire (AQLQ) before treatment and 6 months after treatment in the patients of each group. RESULTS ① The orthogonal trial indicated that the best optimal scheme was AⅠBⅡCⅠ, meaning the patients with allergic history were treated with acupoint application for 10 times, remained for 4 h. ②Factor B (frequency of acupoint application) and C (time of acpoint application) were the significant influential factors of AQLQ scores (both P<0.05). ③The comparison of the attack frequency and AQLQ score before and after treatment in all of the patients showed that the different combinations of factor levels induced the different impacts on the asthma attack frequency and AQLQ scores. Except in the group No.1 and the group No.5, the improvements were all significant in the rest groups, indicating the significant differences (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Acupoint application reduces apparently the attack frequency of asthma in the patients and improves the living quality. The primary and secondary relationship among the allergic history, the frequency of acupoint application and the time of acupoint application for the impacts on the therapeutic effects are:the frequency of acupoint application > the time of acupoint application > the allergic history. The best optimal scheme is AⅠBⅡCⅠ, meaning the patients with allergic history are treated with acupoint application for 10 times, remained for 4h.
Regulatory T Cells Prevent Angiotensin II–Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice

To test the hypothesis that adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Tregs) may dose-dependently inhibit the formation of angiotensin II–induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in apolipoprotein E knockout mice, we established an animal model of abdominal aortic aneurysm by angiotensin II infusion in apolipoprotein E knockout mice. Then mice received different treatment with PBS, low-dose Tregs, high-dose Tregs, or CD25-depleting PC61 antibody. Histopathologic analysis showed that the incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm was 80%, 76%, 27%, and 71% in the PBS, low-dose Tregs, high-dose Tregs, and PC61 groups, respectively. Tregs treatment markedly decreased macrophage and CD4+ T-cell infiltration and preserved the medial smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, Tregs decreased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9, increased the expression of anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-&bgr;, and suppressed apoptosis and oxidative stress. In vitro, Tregs inhibited the response of human aortic smooth muscle cells to angiotensin II and reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, MMP-2 and MMP-9, possibly by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-&kgr;B and extracellular signal-regulate kinase 1/2. In addition, Tregs downregulated macrophage type 1–related genes and upregulated macrophage type 2–related genes. However, Tregs-mediated effects were largely reversed by disrupting cell–cell contact or using neutralizing antibodies against interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-&bgr;. Adoptive transfer of Tregs dose-dependently prevents angiotensin II–induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in apolipoprotein E knockout mice. The mechanisms may involve declined proinflammatory cytokine expression and MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels and enhanced anti-inflammatory cytokine expression, which is mediated by direct cell–cell contact and soluble mediators.
Visual path following by an omnidirectional mobile robot using 2d visual servoing

This paper presents the simulation of path following by an autonomous omnidirectional mobile robot with an onboard monocular camera. The control of the mobile robot for performing the aforementioned task is done with a 2D visual servoing by considering point features. Artificial landmarks are supposed to be placed in the robot's navigation environment. We performed this simulation in two ways. In the first way, we considered only the 3D positions of the visual features and the model of the monocular camera in order to determine the images of the visual features needed for the mobile robot control. In the second way, the 3D navigation environment of the robot (walls, floor, landmarks … etc.) is modeled by a virtual reality model. Thanks to MATLAB's “Virtual Reality” toolbox, it is possible to move the viewpoint and capture the watched scenes. The visuals features are extracted by processing the captured images. The first simulation is a simplification of the second since the image processing step for extracting the visual features is omitted. However, the second simulation is closer to the practical problem of mobile robot visual control. The first simulation that is admissible in many cases does not allow easy modeling of occultation problems. Also, we focused in this paper on the optimization of the execution time of the control program; by proposing a solution based on the position error threshold of the landmarks image with respect to the reference image.
Product Repression of Alkane Monooxygenase Expression in Pseudomonas butanovora

ABSTRACT Physiological and regulatory mechanisms that allow the alkane-oxidizing bacterium Pseudomonas butanovora to consume C2 to C8 alkane substrates via butane monooxygenase (BMO) were examined. Striking differences were observed in response to even- versus odd-chain-length alkanes. Propionate, the downstream product of propane oxidation and of the oxidation of other odd-chain-length alkanes following β-oxidation, was a potent repressor of BMO expression. The transcriptional activity of the BMO promoter was reduced with as little as 10 μM propionate, even in the presence of appropriate inducers. Propionate accumulated stoichiometrically when 1-propanol and propionaldehyde were added to butane- and ethane-grown cells, indicating that propionate catabolism was inactive during growth on even-chain-length alkanes. In contrast, propionate consumption was induced (about 80 nmol propionate consumed · min−1 · mg protein−1) following growth on the odd-chain-length alkanes, propane and pentane. The induction of propionate consumption could be brought on by the addition of propionate or pentanoate to the growth medium. In a reporter strain of P. butanovora in which the BMO promoter controls β-galactosidase expression, only even-chain-length alcohols (C2 to C8) induced β-galactosidase following growth on acetate or butyrate. In contrast, both even- and odd-chain-length alcohols (C3 to C7) were able to induce β-galactosidase following the induction of propionate consumption by propionate or pentanoate.
An Examination of the Relationship between Online Travel Agents and Hotels

Although traditional travel agents have played an important role as proxies enabling travelers to make connections with hotels, the emergence of the internet has changed the traditional relationship between hotels and travel agents. Instead of a traditional agent–principal relationship, online travel agents (OTAs) seem to act as more than just intermediaries and more as business partners or vendors. Scholars have previously observed troubled, if not hostile, relationships between hotels and OTAs. This article reports a case study analyzing online comments on the 2009 feud between Choice Hotels International and Expedia.com. This analysis identified eight themes in three overall categories: the background to the feud (i.e., characteristics of the hotel industry, current business environment, Expedia’s business practices), the perspectives of hospitality industry professionals on the feud (i.e., wake-up call for hoteliers, Choice Hotels’ decision), and expectations concerning the nature of the relationship between hotels and OTAs (i.e., a symbiotic relationship between hotels and OTAs, experience of dealing with guests who book through OTAs and Expedia, and recommendations for hotels). Chief among the study’s conclusions is that hotels must find ways to make the most effective possible use of available technology and distribution channels, and perhaps even form consortia to share information about third-party distribution channels.
Noise detection in smartphone phonocardiogram

This paper presents a demo proposal of a standalone smartphone application that can automatically analyse the signal quality of PCG, as it is recorded on a low-cost smartphonebased digital stethoscope. Features, related to the inherent pattern of the autocorrelated signal envelope, have been used for classifying and discarding the noisy portions from a continuous PCG. Our application has been successfully deployed on Nexus 5 and tested on several clean and noisy PCG signals with sensitivity 78.91% and specificity 70.83%
Bandwidth Enhancement of Asymmetric Coplanar Waveguide (ACPW)-Fed Antenna Based on Composite Right/Left-Handed Transmission Line

A novel wideband antenna based on composite right/left-handed transmission line (CRLH-TL) is presented. The bandwidth enhancement of the antenna can be achieved when the zeroth-order and first-positive-order modes are closely spaced and merged together. The uniplanar asymmetric coplanar waveguide (ACPW) is adopted as the host transmission line. The ACPW structure not only offers the design freedom to implement the circuit parameters, but also overcomes the design constraint of the traditional CPW. The measured results show that the operating bandwidth is 1720 MHz (2.1–3.82 GHz), corresponding to approximately 58.1% fractional bandwidth. Owing to the characteristics of wide bandwidth, enhanced efficiency, and omnidirectional radiation, the proposed antenna is a good candidate for modern wireless communication systems (LTE, WLAN, WiMAX).
Point spread function engineering in confocal scanning microscopy

Confocal scanning microscopes are imaging systems that are mainly featured by their unique depth-discrimination capacity when imaging three-dimensional objects. Along the past few years, our research group has done several attempts to improve their axial resolution by means of the so-called point-spread-function (PSF) engineering method. That is, by designing diffractive elements that properly shape the PSF. Our PSF engineering techniques have been designed to work in the nonparaxial regime and are applied both to bright-field and single-photon fluorescence confocal microscopy, and also to more elaborated architectures like 4Pi confocal microscopy.