Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Community acquired respiratory and gastrointestinal viral infections: challenges in the immunocompromised host

Purpose of review Newer molecular diagnostic techniques have advanced the field of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases, particularly with respect to characterizing the role that community acquired viruses play in the clinical course and outcomes of the immunocompromised host. This review will examine recent studies describing the impact of adenovirus, rhinovirus, hepatitis E and norovirus in the course of solid organ and stem cell transplant recipients, as well as their epidemiology and implications for infection prevention and control. Recent findings Adenovirus transmission is poorly understood; recent studies increasingly point to reactivation of latent infection in the immunocompromised host. Rhinovirus shedding can persist for weeks after acute viral infection, complicating hospital infection control policies. Hepatitis E is increasingly recognized as a potential pathogen in the stem cell and solid organ transplant population, and should be considered in the work-up for unexplained liver function test abnormalities. Similar to rhinovirus, norovirus shedding from the gastrointestinal tract may persist for months in the immunocompromised host; infected patients are at a higher risk for transmitting norovirus compared with infected healthcare workers. Summary Additional studies are needed, particularly with respect to transmission, for these community acquired viral infections, which often have devastating consequences in the immunocompromised patient population.
A Minimal Share Market Model with Stochastic Volatility

The paper describes a continuous time share market model with a minimal number of factors. These factors are powers of Bessel processes. The asset prices are formed by ratios of the factors and have consequently leptokurtic return distributions. In this framework stochastic volatility with properties that are similar to those actually observed arises naturally. The model generates for the market index the well-known leverage effect due to negative correlation between the index and its volatility. It also incorporates possible default of an asset and thus models credit risk.
Escritório de gerenciamento de projetos (PMO) como estratégia de customização de soluções na indústria eletroeletrônica.

This work has objective a Model Project Management Office that makes possible the differential attendance to customers. In view of the expansion and globalization of the market, associated to the competitive of the companies seeking to attend the customers, more and more demanding at the qualities of products added to their individualized interests, came up the necessity to fit the production for the consumer’s personalization. This modeling was structured from a Case Study by an exploratory research and attempted source the Bematech Solution in Commercial Automation, enterprise of great importance at the hardware segments, that presented itself proper for study, according to its period of growth and the purpose to extend its presence in the market. Today, its commercial activities are turned toward the attendance of small and average retail companies, through a net of resale distribution regionally. This procedure, that is efficient for the segment, limits the magnifying of the market required by the company. In planning carried out by the company, it was defined the specter of consumers, trying to attend the great retails with the proposing of customized solutions, from a mass producing line of products. This research, therefore, presents how to frame a new Business Unit based on the knowledge on an office of Project Management Office (PMO), as element to provide the Customization of Solutions for each customer’s exclusive attendance. Words Keys: Mass Customizacao, Project Management Office (PMO), Modeling business-oriented
Sex-specific associations between thyrotropin and serum lipid profiles.

BACKGROUND Population-based studies investigating the sex-specific association between thyrotropin (TSH) levels and serum lipid concentrations are scarce. We examined the association between TSH and total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides in men and women from the general population. Furthermore, the association with TSH outside and within the reference range and lipid levels was studied. METHODS Individual data of 13,571 men and women without lipid medication of four population-based studies conducted in Western European adults were pooled for cross-sectional analyses. The association between TSH levels and lipid concentrations were analyzed by calculating sex-specific multivariable median regression models. RESULTS In the pooled population, serum TSH levels were significantly positively associated with triglyceride values in men and with total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride values in women. In the pooled male population, low serum TSH levels (<3.0 mIU/L) were significantly associated with lower total cholesterol, while high serum TSH levels (≥ 3.0 mIU/L) were associated with higher triglyceride values. In the pooled female population, low serum TSH levels were significantly associated with lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. High TSH levels were associated with higher total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the pooled female population. In both sexes, serum TSH levels within the reference range (0.3-3.0 mIU/L) were significantly positively associated with triglyceride concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Increasing levels of TSH were associated with a less favorable lipid profile in both men and women from the general population. In both sexes, TSH levels within the reference range were significantly positively associated with triglyceride concentrations.
Autism – an evolving concept

Background The rapid increase in research endeavour has not kept pace with the advent of well-publicised theories and treatments for autism. Aims To explore some of the newer developments in biological research into autism. Method A review of recent publications and presentations. Results The concept is shifting from the narrow perception of aloof autism, described by Kanner, to a wider one that includes a spectrum extending to a broader, subclinical phenotype. The genetic basis has been established; now we need to discover the location and interaction of the relevant sites. There is considerable interest in the bowel as a pathogenetic agent, particularly in the effects of exogenous opioids and multiple viral infection (the latter posing a public health problem). Also of concern is the role of (potentially treatable) epilepsy, analogous to the Laudau-Kleffner syndrome. Conclusions In the absence of a cure, the implementation of ideas will continue to outstrip factual evidence. Clinicians are challenged by the availability of information (and misinformation), particularly on the internet.
Trade Union Merger Strategies: Purpose, Process, and Performance

As Trade Union membership has declined, merger and amalgamation have been prominent features in strategies of revitalization. Yet, there is very little systematic, empirical research into their effects on unions or the wider union movement. This ground-breaking study fills this gap with its in-depth analysis of British unions' mergers since 1978.
Characterization of flip-chip interconnection for high speed digital transmission

This paper presents RF characterization of flip-chip interconnection in complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) and glass-integrated-passive-device (GIPD) substrates by means of on-wafer scattering parameter (S-parameter) measurements, with high-speed digital transmission performance evaluations. The off-chip calibration is done firstly to shift the measured reference plane to the probe tips using the commercial impedance standard substrate (ISS) with line-reflect-match (LRM) method. Then the L-2L deembedding technique is applied for the two GIPD transmission lines to extract the RF characteristics of GIPD probe pads and transmission lines. Finally the designed thru-reflect-line (TRL) calibration standards in the CMOS chip are measured for resolving the flip-chip interconnection characteristics with the previous acquired GIPD parameters. The extracted data in two-port S-parameter are thereby simulated in time-domain to observe the high-speed digital transmission performance in eye-diagram representation. The shown result indicates the transmission speed in 40 Gbps works well in this flip-chip interconnection case.
Enhancer functions in U3 of Akv virus: a role for cooperativity of a tandem repeat unit and its flanking DNA sequences

cis-Acting transcriptional control elements in the U3 region of the murine retrovirus Akv were analyzed in mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells by using a transient expression vector system based upon a complete long terminal repeat with linked flanking sequences. Deletion analysis pointed to the essential role of sequences within the 99-base-pair direct repeats, and a fragment encompassing the two repeats was found to possess orientation-independent enhancer activity when positioned either upstream or downstream of the transcriptional unit. Removal of one copy of the 99-base-pair repeat led to a reduction in activity of about 2.5-fold when located in an intact U3 environment but to reductions of up to 2 orders of magnitude when placed in other sequence contexts. Our studies of enhancer functions in the presence of one versus two copies of the tandem repeat point to duplicate functions of repeat sequences and sequences flanking the repeat region and emphasize the complex overall organization of this U3 region.
EFFECTS OF STOTT ’ S PILATES VERSUS YOGIC EXERCISE IN FIBROMYALGIA PATIENTS : A PILOT STUDY

1250 Original Article EFFECTS OF STOTT’S PILATES VERSUS YOGIC EXERCISE IN FIBROMYALGIA PATIENTS: A PILOT STUDY Ashika Tanna *1, Soumik Basu 2, Kajal Anadkat 3. *1 M.P.T. Orthopaedics, YTTC, Assistant Professor, School of Physiotherapy, R.K. University, Tramba, Gujarat, India. 2 M.P.T. in Sports Sciences, Assistant professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College and Research Institute, Pimpri, Pune, India. 3 M.P.T. Musculoskeletal and Sports Science, Assistant Professor, School of Physiotherapy, R.K. University, Tramba, Gujarat, India.
A bandwidth reconfigurable planar antenna for WLAN/WiMAX applications

A bandwidth reconfigurable planar antenna for WLAN/ WiMAX applications is proposed. The proposed antenna consists of a rectangular radiation patch with a narrow vertical slot and an L-shaped slot, a ground plane and a microstrip feed-line. Two PIN diodes are attached in the middle of the L-shape slot. They are used to control the current flow on the radiation patch. Therefore, the bandwidth reconfigurability is enabled by switching the operating states of PIN diodes. The impedance bandwidth ranges from 22% to 78%. The agreement between simulated and measured results validates the proposed design.
Studies on the structure and function of the mammalian testis IV. Steroid metabolism in vitro by isolated interstitium and seminiferous tubules of rat testis after heat sterilization

A study has been carried out on the metabolism of [7α-3H] pregnenolone and [4-14C] progesterone by the interstitium and seminiferous tubules isolated from the testes of normal rats and those in which the germ cells were destroyed by exposing the scrotum to a temperature of 43°C for 30 min. No difference was found between the ability of the interstitium of the experimentally treated rats to metabolize the radioactive substrates as compared with that of normal animals. Similarly, no change was found in various androgen dependent features (mass of accessory sex organs and fructose levels of the coagulating glands) in the experimentally treated rats as compared with the controls. In the seminiferous tubules of the heat-treated animals the metabolism of progesterone in vitro was significantly increased as compared with that found in the tubules of normal rats in vitro due mainly to a much greater production of 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one. There was no significant difference in the relative proportions of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone obtained from the incubations of heat-treated tubules as compared with the normal (control) tissue. It is concluded that within the seminiferous tubules, the Sertoli cells are the principal site of the enzymes responsible for the metabolism of pregnenolone and progesterone in vitro to androgens and to 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one. The possible biological significance of the enhanced production of 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one is discussed.
The Effects of Health Benefit Use on Organizational and Union Commitment among Full and Part-Time Retail Employees

ii LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES v CHAPTER ONE: Introduction 1 Purpose of the Current Study 1 Literature Review 3 Employee Benefits 3 Employee Work Status 9 Commitment 11 CHAPTER TWO: Method 24 Participants and Design 24 Measures 24 CHAPTER THREE: Results 27 CHAPTER FOUR: Discussion 33 Discussion of Findings 33 Hypotheses 1a-d 33 Hypotheses 2a-b 35 Hypotheses 3a-d 36 Limitations 37 Implications and Future Research 38 Conclusion 42 FIGURES AND TABLES 43 APPENDICES 55
Comparative advantages of public and private health care providers in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has made tremendous progress in the social indicators over the past two decades. However, enormous challenges still lie ahead in the areas of equity, quality, governance and accessibility of services to the poor and vulnerable groups, which may impede the achievement of many of the Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) related Millennium Development Goals. Diversification of service provision through non-public provider is a key strategic pillar in the government's next program towards the development and implementation of a transparent, competitive and pro-poor HNP service delivery system. The study outlines issues for national policy formulation on contracting-out certain health services at certain administrative/facility levels. Most significantly, it recommends that contracting-out should be adopted only when it has been shown that society can be made better off by doing so and when proper legal and institutional arrangements for commissioning HNP services to non-public providers are in place.
A Novel Peptidoglycan Cross-linking Enzyme for a β-Lactam-resistant Transpeptidation Pathway*

The β-lactam antibiotics remain the most commonly used to treat severe infections. Because of structural similarity between the β-lactam ring and the d-alanyl4-d-alanine5 extremity of bacterial cell wall precursors, the drugs act as suicide substrates of the dd-transpeptidases that catalyze the last cross-linking step of cell wall assembly. Here, we show that this mechanism of action can be defeated by a novel type of transpeptidase identified for the first time by reverse genetics in aβ-lactam-resistant mutant of Enterococcus faecium. The enzyme, Ldtfm, catalyzes in vitro the cross-linking of peptidoglycan subunits in a β-lactam-insensitive ld-transpeptidation reaction. The specificity of Ldtfm for the l-lysyl3-d-alanine4 peptide bond of tetrapeptide donors accounts for resistance because the substrate does not mimic β-lactams in contrast to d-alanyl4-d-alanine5 in the pentapeptide donors required for dd-transpeptidation. Ldtfm homologues are encountered sporadically among taxonomically distant bacteria, indicating that ld-transpeptidase-mediated resistance may emerge in various pathogens.
DESTINATION BRANDING PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT FOR PRACTITIONERS

While academic interest in destination branding has been gathering momentum since the field commenced in the late 1990s, one important gap in this literature that has received relatively little attention to date is the measurement of destination brand performance. This paper sets out one method for assessing the performance of a destination brand over time. The intent is to present an approach that will appeal to marketing practitioners, and which is also conceptually sound. The method is underpinned by Decision Set Theory and the concept of Consumer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE), while the key variables mirror the branding objectives used by many destination marketing organisations (DMO). The approach is demonstrated in this paper to measure brand performance for Australia in the New Zealand market. It is suggested the findings provide indicators of both i) the success of previous marketing communications, and ii) future performance, which can be easily communicated to a DMO’s stakeholders.
The tennis stroke: An EMG analysis of selected muscles with rackets of increasing grip size

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of different racket grip sizes on the muscle activity of the forearm and shoulder. Telemetry EMG was used to assess the muscle activity of the anterior deltoid and the forearm extensor muscles during the forehand and backhand strokes of tennis in a selected group of test subjects. The EMG activity of the subjects' anterior deltoid muscle and the forearm extensor muscle group was recorded with the subjects using racket grip sizes of 4¼, 4½, 4 3/4 inches. A specific pattern of sequence phasing was seen in all subjects, and amplitude ratio between the muscles was constant. Changes in grip size demonstrated a change in amplitude of both the anterior deltoid and the forearm extensor muscle group.
Constitutive Ion Fluxes and Substrate Binding Domains of Human Glutamate Transporters (*)

Application of L-glutamate activates ionic currents in voltage-clamped Xenopus oocytes expressing cloned human excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs). However, even in the absence of L-glutamate, the membrane conductance of oocytes expressing EAAT1 was significantly increased relative to oocytes expressing EAAT2 or control oocytes. Whereas transport mediated by EAAT2 is blocked by the non-transported competitive glutamate analog kainate (K = 14 μM), EAAT1 is relatively insensitive (K > 3 mM). Substitution of a block of 76 residues from EAAT2 into EAAT1, in which 18 residues varied from EAAT1, conferred high affinity kainate binding to EAAT1, and application of kainate to oocytes expressing the chimeric transporter blocked a pre-existing monovalent cation conductance that displayed a permeability sequence K > Na > Li choline. The results identify a structural domain of glutamate transporters that influences kainate binding and demonstrate the presence of a constitutive ion-selective pore in the transporter.
Captura de peixes ornamentais marinhos no estado do Ceara

The ornamental marine fishes trade is expanding worldwide and, in Brazil, Ceara State appears as the major producer and exporter of marine species. This paper describes the capture of ornamental marine fishes in Ceara, handling methods, keeping and transport, and also identifying some of the fishing areas used by the vessels based on harbors in Fortaleza. Four journeys and 21 dives were monitored on the supplying boats as well as the production of 11 unloading procedures at the exporting companies between July and December, 1998. The catching occurred within 9 and 13 nautical miles, at depths ranging from 16 to 25 m, in gravel and rocky bottoms. The boat crew was composed by the captain, the “mangueireiro” (the hose manager – who controls the air compressor and air supply to the diver) and two divers. Fishing gear included, besides the diving equipment with a compressor, a small mesh casting-net and a large jug to keep the captured specimens. At the 11 monitored loading procedures, 12 species were collected, representing only 16% of the total number of species exported by the state of Ceara. The species Holacanthus ciliaris and Pomacanthus paru represented respectively 59.1% and 28.4% of the total of 1,564 fish caught. These results showed that both species are the most important in the local production, and that the companies possibly receive the production from other states for exportation.
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factors as adjunctive therapy for diabetic foot infections.

BACKGROUND G-CSF increases the release of neutrophil endothelial progenitor cells from the bone marrow, and improves neutrophil functions, which are often impaired in people with diabetes. OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of adjunctive G-CSF compared with placebo or no growth factor added to usual care on rates of infection, cure and wound healing in people with diabetes who have a foot infection. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (Searched 16/3/09); the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, issue 1 2009); Ovid MEDLINE (1950 to March Week 1 2009); Ovid EMBASE (1980 to 2009 Week 11); EBSCO CINAHL (1982 to March Week 2 2009); LookSmart's Find Articles (January 1990 to January 2008); conference proceedings and references lists in the included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effect of adding G-CSF to usual care in people with a diabetic foot infection. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Three review authors independently assessed trial eligibility, methodological quality and extracted data. Relative risk (RR), or for continuous outcomes, mean differences (MD), with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. In the case of low or no heterogeneity studies were pooled using a fixed-effect model. MAIN RESULTS We identified and included five eligible trials with a total of 167 patients. The investigators administered various G-CSF preparations, at different doses and for different durations of time. Adding G-CSF did not significantly affect the likelihood of resolution of infection or wound healing, but it was associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of lower extremity surgical interventions (RR 0.37; 95 % CI 0.20 to 0.68), including amputation (RR 0.41; 95 % CI 0.18 to 0.95). Moreover, providing G-CSF reduced the duration of hospital stay (MD, -1.40 days; 95 % CI, -2.27 to -0.53 days), but did not significantly affect the duration of systemic antibiotic therapy (MD, -0.27 days; 95 % CI, -1.30 to 0.77 days). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The available evidence is limited, but suggests that adjunctive G-CSF treatment in people with a diabetic foot infection, including infected ulcers, does not appear to increase the likelihood of resolution of infection or healing of the foot ulcer. However, it does appear to reduce the need for surgical interventions, especially amputations, and the duration of hospitalisation. Clinicians might consider adding G-CSF to the usual treatment of diabetic foot infections, especially in patients with a limb-threatening infection, but it is not clear which patients might benefit.
Board compensations in the media industry: Global elite networks and financialization

Over the last two decades media industry boards have contained some of the most well-paid positions in the world. In terms of board compensation, top media companies with the highest paid boards compare with industrial and financial conglomerates that are several times their market size. These high earnings are aligned mainly with stock performance, as opposed to salaries. However, this article argues that high earnings are not aligned with the real economy and are ethically dubious in the context of a democracy. High compensations have evolved in parallel with a process of financialization that lies at the core of the economy and pervades all productive sectors. This article examines how corporate media executives have become part of the global elite and provides up-to-date data on board remuneration in the American and European media industries.