Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Conference on ‘ Diet , gut microbiology and human health ’ Symposium 4 : Manipulating the microbiome : health and therapeutic opportunities Modulating the microbiota in in fl ammatory bowel diseases : prebiotics , probiotics or faecal transplantation ?

Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are the two major phenotypes of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) which constitute a spectrum of chronic, debilitating diseases characterised by a relapsing inflammation of the intestinal mucosal lining. Evidence from a variety of disciplines implicates the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of idiopathic IBD and their complications, including pouchitis. Many studies have reported a dysbiosis in IBD, characterised by a decrease in diversity, a decreased abundance of some dominant commensal members (such as Clostridium IV and XIVa) and an increase in detrimental bacteria (such as sulphate reducing bacteria and Escherichia coli). Therapies such as prebiotics and probiotics aim to selectively manipulate the intestinal microbiota and have been evaluated as an attractive therapeutic option with few side effects. The multispecies product VSL#3 was found effective in preventing and maintaining remission in pouchitis, whereas both VSL#3 and E. coli Nissle were effective in maintaining remission in UC. A more drastic approach to restore the composition of the microbiota and correct the underlying imbalance is a faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). FMT has been successfully applied to treat patients with even recalcitrant Clostridium difficile infection. Particularly in UC, the majority of studies suggest that FMT may be an effective treatment option although the evidence is still limited. It is anticipated that our increasing knowledge on the composition and function of the intestinal microbiota components will allow in the future for a better selection of highly performing bacteria with specific functions required for specific benefits.
Clostridium spiroforme drug susceptibility.

Clostridium spiroforme causes severe rabbit gastroenteritis with subseque ntly important production losses. Outbreaks are controlled with therapy but f ield data report frequent failures and suggest C. spiroforme being of high drug resistance. In order to establi sh whether therapy failure is due to intrinsic or acquired drug resistance, 30 field str ains of C. spiroforme were tested against spiramycin, amoxicillin, doxycycline, sulfadimethoxine, norflox acin, and tiamulin, respectively representative of the following classes of antimicrobials: macrolides , β-lactams antibiotics, second-generation tetracyclines, sulfonamides, quinolones and diterpe nes. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined with the agar diffusion method (NCCLS M1 1-A6 manual, 2004). Resulted MICs were: sulfadimethoxine MIC50: 256 μg/ml and MIC90: 256 μg/ml; spiramycin MIC50: 256 μg/ml and MIC90: 256 μg/ml; tiamulin MIC50: 64 μg/ml and MIC90: 128 μg/ml; norfloxacin MIC50: 32 μg/ml and MIC90: 32 μg/ml; amoxicillin MIC50: 0.063 μg/ml and MIC90: 0.063 μg/ml; doxycycline MIC50: 8 μg/ml and MIC90: 16 μg/ml. Among all antimicrobials tested, only doxycyc line showed MICs supposed to be of therapeutic efficacy. Results support the field hyp othesis of an extensive acquired resistance of C. spiroforme to antimicrobials and the presence of intrinsic re sistances of importance. Both findings suggest the necessity to give greater priority to p rophylaxis of enteritis caused by C. spiroforme by attempting to reduce risk factors rather than contr olling outbreaks by therapy. The ambitious and complex objective can be pursued by optimising tech nical management and by a prudent use of
The Purpose of Interbank Markets

This paper tests competing theories of interbank lending using 43 quarters (2002-2012) of confidential data on the German banking sector and interbank market. It shows that banks use the interbank market for liquidity co-insurance as traditionally assumed. However, the importance of the liquidity management function is higher for regionally-focused credit cooperatives and savings banks than for private commercial banks. A distinct effect for private banks is identified; for private banks, increases in interbank liabilities are shown to correlate with a proxy for the bailout probability of banks. The paper thus offers empirical support for an emerging literature on strategic behaviour in interbank markets and highlights the need to extend the traditional model of liquidity co-insurance.
Evidence‐Based Recommendations for the Assessment and Management of Sleep Disorders in Older Persons

Institute on Aging (NIA; Contracts 263 MD 9164 and 263 MD 821336); the InCHIANTI Follow-up 1 (2001-2003) was funded by the NIA (Contracts N.1-AG-1-1 and N.1AG-1-2111); the InCHIANTI Follow-up 2 and 3 studies (2004-2010) were financed by the NIA (Contract N01-AG5-0002) and supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIA, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland. Author Contributions: All of the authors took part in every aspect of this letter, including the design and preparation and writing of the letter. Sponsor’s Role: None.
The French Aerospace Sector Collaboration Network: Structural Dynamics And Firm Performance

The focus of this paper is on the link between network structure and the financial performance of the individual firm. Under the hypothesis that firms access diverse and valuable knowledge through collaboration we analyse how firms pick their collaborators and how knowledge flows impact the financial performance of the firm. \r\nFirst, the evolution of the structure of the collaboration network of the French aerospace sector is analysed between 1980 and 2013. The global structure is identified and, using an ERGM and clustering identification, the structure of the network is explained. Second, a panel regression identifies a link between the position of the individual firm inside the network and their financial performance.
AIS Electronic

The tradition on IS research has established the so called "iron triangle", the three dimensions that characterize the project management success (PMS) if it is delivered on time, within the budget and according to specifications. However, less attention has been given to the continuum characterized by deviations from the baseline from each of these three dimensions. This paper draws on the definition of the PMS continuum and analyzes four potential factors that may influence PMS: team, project manager, project, and portfolio. We develop hypotheses and test them in a hierarchical linear regression using a sample of 899 IS projects of a leading bank, collected between January, 2014 and December, 2015. Besides proposing and discussing a new continuous PMS indicator, we identify factors that influence IS PMS positively (project size, duration, postponement, and project manager formal power) and negatively (team size and team allocation dispersion). The results suggest guidance of team members’ allocation.
Do we need a vaccine against chikungunya?

Abstract During the last decade, the chikungunya (CHIKV) virus has expanded its range of activity, conquering new territories and becoming an important global health threat. In particular, the challenge represented by the recent emergence of CHIKV in the Americas has strengthened the need of a safe and effective vaccine. Although research on vaccines against CHIKV has been slow, a few vaccine candidates have been tested over the years. Inactivated and attenuated vaccine candidates have shown promising results in phase I/II trials, and engineered vaccines have proven to be safe and immunogenic in mouse and/or non-human primate models. Recently, a vaccine based on virus-like particles (VLP) has been successfully tested in a phase I trial. However, large phase I/II controlled trials, which are needed in order to provide evidence of vaccine efficacy, may be planned only under certain conditions. First, they should be conducted during epidemic periods, when a large number of cases occur, in order to ensure an adequate study power. Second, they are expensive and investments returns are not always guaranteed. To overcome this problem, public/private partnership and government support, the identification of target population groups for vaccination and the commitment of donor agencies are key factors for supporting both the development and the availability of vaccines against neglected tropical diseases like chikungunya.
Mass Media, Spin-Offs and Investor Behaviour: Role of the Wall Street Journal

This study investigates the impact that the dissemination, the semantic aspects of the news published between 2000 and 2013 in "The Wall Street Journal" (WSJ) and the attention level of investors produce on stock prices of companies involved in spin-off deals. The results of the empirical analysis developed through an event study on a sample of 179 listed companies demonstrate that: i) prominent newspapers can influence stock trends without even providing any new information; ii) publication of rumours is found to generate a supplementary-return in the symmetrical windows; iii) companies implementing spin-off operations and experimenting high investor attention levels demonstrate substantial first-day returns and under-performance of stocks in the long-term; iv) when it comes to the semantic aspect of the news, CAAR proves to be amplified around the announcement date when the press «speaks positively» of the operation.
Study on value creation and technology support of agricultural product brands

To carry out brand strategies for agricultural products is believed to be an effective way by which China can develop modern agriculture, optimize industrial structure, strengthen product competitiveness, boost industrial productivity, and increase farmers' income. The core competitive strength of agricultural product brands depends on their product quality and technology content. Its value creation is influenced by a number of links such as basic and auxiliary activities, each of which entails a related technology support. The technology support for agricultural product brands includes five elements: production, circulation, marketing, service and auxiliary, all of which interrelate and interact with one another to promote the brand value of agricultural products. China shall engage in the five aspects in order to advance the development of technology support in its agricultural product brands, e.g. idea innovation, personnel development, technological R&D promotion, functional coordination and compatible system establishment.
An Axial-Flux Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Generator for a Direct-Coupled Wind-Turbine System

This paper presents a unique axial-flux permanent-magnet synchronous generator (AFPMSG), which is suitable for both vertical-axis and horizontal-axis wind turbine generation systems. An outer-rotor design facilitates direct coupling of the generator to the wind turbine, while a coreless armature eliminates the magnetic pull between the stationary and moving parts. The design and construction features of the AFPMSG are reviewed. The flux-density distribution is studied, with the aid of a finite element software package, in order to predict the generated e.m. f. waveform. The performance equations of the AFPMSG are derived, and the condition for maximum efficiency is deduced, for both constant-speed and variable-speed operations. The experimental results, in general, confirm the theory developed
PRODUCT LINE DESIGN, EVOLUTION, AND PRICING

Firms usually design their product lines with products phased in and phased out in response to market or technology changes. This adaption of a product line has complicated implications on market demand and fracturing cost due to the coexistence of both competitive and complimentary relationship among different product models. This paper proposes a computational model to facilitate decision making regarding attribute determination, product line evolution and pricing. A logit discrete choice model is developed to estimate the purchase probability of a product model via the preferences on consumer attributes. An activity-based costing model is developed to estimate the manufacturing costs of a product line by aggregating the volume of components using bill of materials, and considering volume discounts and common overhead activities. Product line design is then formulated as a mixed integer non-linear programming problem with the objective to maximize expected profit by determining new products attributes, the existence of old products and the price for each product model. The proposed model is illustrated with an example of a mobile phone product line adaptation.
The study of the ovaries' state in local Bulgarian ewe's breeds by real-time ultrasonography

The aim of this study was the characterization of the ovaries' state in local Bulgarian ovine breeds at the moment of ovulation by real-time transrectal ultrasonography. It was observed 32 ewes of Bulgarian local breeds Karakachanska and West-Oldmountainous between 1,5 and 4 years old, housed under closely to their natural conditions. Ovaries were examined ultrasonically after estrus synchronization with the implantation of intravaginal sponges containing 45 mg of Cronolone over 14 days. The effect of age and breed on the variability of the ovary's size and preovulatory follicle's size was studied.
Strategic Revenue Sharing with Daily Deal Sites: A Competitive Analysis

Promoting through daily deal sites has become popular in the past few years. Groupon is perhaps the best known provider of these promotions (also known as online discount vouchers) to customers. Daily deals differ from traditional coupons on three important dimensions: (i) They are not offered to consumers directly by firms but are offered through an intermediary, (ii) the promotional depth offered by these localized promotions tends to be higher, and (iii) consumers prepay for the discount vouchers, and then the daily deals site reimburses the retailer a prespecified negotiated percentage of each paid voucher. In this study, we build a theoretical model to explore the profitability of undertaking a daily deals campaign by firms. Our analysis identifies the role of types of consumers in the market, relative bargaining power of the local firms, revenue sharing agreements, and market characteristics, such as degree of product substitutability and extent of competition, on the profitability attained through daily deal promotions. Surprisingly, when demand spillovers exist, an asymmetric outcome, with one firm offering an online discount voucher and the competing firm not offering an online discount voucher, is an equilibrium under some conditions. [Submitted: December 9, 2014. Revised: July 11, 2016. Accepted: August 16, 2016. ] Subject Areas: Daily Deals, Nash Bargaining, Pricing, and Promotions.
Analysis of a soft switching interleaved converter without output inductor

A soft switching interleaved converter with series-connected transformers is presented in this paper. Based on the operation behavior in the proposed converter, each transformer of the series-connected transformers can be operated as an inductor or a transformer. Therefore no output filter inductor is needed in the converter. Asymmetrical pulse-width modulation (APWM) scheme is adopted to control the output voltage at the desired value. Based on the output capacitance of power switches and the resonant inductance including the external inductance and transformer leakage inductance, the resonance can be achieved at the transition interval. Therefore, the zero voltage switching (ZVS) turn-on of power switches can be realized. The voltage stress of switches is limited to equal input voltage. The center-tapped rectifier is used at the transformer secondary side to achieve full-wave rectification. The interleaved PWM operation can reduce the ripple current on the output capacitor. These features make the proposed converter suitable for the dc-dc converter with high output current. The operation principles, steady state analysis and design equations of the proposed converter are provided in detail. Finally, experimental results for a 240 W (12 V/20 A) prototype are provided to verify the feasibility of the proposed converter.
A preliminary study of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by circumferential compression of the chest with use of a pneumatic vest.

BACKGROUND More than 300,000 people die each year of cardiac arrest. Studies have shown that raising vascular pressures during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can improve survival and that vascular pressures can be raised by increasing intrathoracic pressure. METHODS To produce periodic increases in intrathoracic pressure, we developed a pneumatically cycled circumferential thoracic vest system and compared the results of the use of this system in CPR (vest CPR) with those of manual CPR. In phase 1 of the study, aortic and right-atrial pressures were measured during both vest CPR (60 inflations per minute) and manual CPR in 15 patients in whom a mean (+/- SD) of 42 +/- 16 minutes of initial manual CPR had been unsuccessful. Vest CPR was also carried out on 14 other patients in whom pressure measurements were not made. In phase 2 of the study, short-term survival was assessed in 34 additional patients randomly assigned to undergo vest CPR (17 patients) or continued manual CPR (17 patients) after initial manual CPR (duration, 11 +/- 4 minutes) had been unsuccessful. RESULTS In phase 1 of the study, vest CPR increased the peak aortic pressure from 78 +/- 26 mm Hg to 138 +/- 28 mm Hg (P < 0.001) and the coronary perfusion pressure from 15 +/- 8 mm Hg to 23 +/- 11 mm Hg (P < 0.003). Despite prolonged unsuccessful manual CPR, spontaneous circulation returned with vest CPR in 4 of the 29 patients. In phase 2 of the study, spontaneous circulation returned in 8 of the 17 patients who underwent vest CPR as compared with only 3 of the 17 patients who received continued manual CPR (P = 0.14). More patients in the vest-CPR group than in the manual-CPR group were alive 6 hours after attempted resuscitation (6 of 17 vs. 1 of 17) and 24 hours after attempted resuscitation (3 of 17 vs. 1 of 17), but none survived to leave the hospital. CONCLUSIONS In this preliminary study, vest CPR, despite its late application, successfully increased aortic pressure and coronary perfusion pressure, and there was an insignificant trend toward a greater likelihood of the return of spontaneous circulation with vest CPR than with continued manual CPR. The effect of vest CPR on survival, however, is currently unknown and will require further study.
Organic carbon fluxes mediated by corals at elevated pCO2 and temperature

Increasing ocean acidification (OA) and seawater temperatures pose significant threats to coral reefs globally. While the combined impacts of OA and seawater temperature on coral biology and calcification in corals have received significant study, research to date has largely neglected the individual and combined effects of OA and seawater temperature on coral- mediated organic carbon (OC) fluxes. This is of particular concern as dissolved and particulate OC (DOC and POC, respectively) represent large pools of fixed OC on coral reefs. In the present study, coral-mediated POC and DOC, and the sum of these coral-mediated flux rates (total OC, TOC = DOC + POC) as well as the relative contributions of each to coral metabolic demand were determined for 2 species of coral, Acropora millepora and Turbinaria reniformis, at 2 levels of pCO2 (382 and 741 μatm) and seawater temperatures (26.5 and 31.0°C). Independent of tempera- ture, DOC fluxes decreased significantly with increases in pCO2 in both species, resulting in more DOC being retained by the corals and only representing between 19 and 6% of TOC fluxes for A. millepora and T. reniformis. At the same time, POC and TOC fluxes were unaffected by elevated temperature and/or pCO2. These findings add to a growing body of evidence that certain species of coral may be less at risk to the impacts of OA and temperature than previously thought.
Rates of intimate partner violence in the United States.

OBJECTIVES Estimates of intimate partner violence in the United States based on representative samples have relied on data from one person per household or limited numbers of indicators from both partners. The purpose of this study was to estimate nationwide rates of intimate partner violence with data from both couple members by using a standardized survey instrument, the Conflict Tactics Scale. METHODS A multistage probability sampling design was used to conduct separate face-to-face interviews in respondents' homes with both members of 1635 representative couples living in the 48 contiguous states. RESULTS Both partners' reports were used to estimate the following lower- and upper-bound rates: 5.21% and 13.61% for male-to-female partner violence, 6.22% and 18.21% for female-to-male partner violence, and 7.84% to 21.48% for any partner-to-partner violence. CONCLUSIONS High rates of intimate partner violence in the United States corroborate previous claims that the amount of intimate partner violence is substantial.
Systemic inflammatory host response to periodontopathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity: from experimental to clinical studies

Periodontal diseases are one of the most common complex infections in humans and many other mammals. Infectious agents causing periodontitis are primarily periodontopathogenic bacteria, but disease pathogenesis and progression are immune-mediated. Local inflammation is well characterized, and experimental animal models of periodontitis have also provided mostly consistent data on systemic inflammatory host response. However, the data from the clinical studies are more variable, especially when obtained from patients post treatment. The variation observed may be a result of the model employed or bacterial species tested with a particular emphasis on monoinfections as compared to coinfections and periodontitis, and individual host response. Experimental animal models also mostly lack the variable extent, severity of periodontitis, and the truly chronic nature of the naturally occurring chronic periodontitis. These shortcomings can at least in part explain some of the discrepancy between experimental and clinical data.
Unhedgeable Risk: How climate change sentiment impacts investment

Short-term shifts in market sentiment induced by awareness of future, as yet unrealised, climate risks could lead to economic shocks, causing substantial losses in financial portfolio value within timescales that are relevant to all investors. Factors, including climate change policy, technological change, asset stranding, weather events and longerterm physical impacts may lead to financial tipping points for which investors are not presently prepared. This research shows that changing asset allocations among various asset classes and regions, combined with investing in sectors exhibiting low climate risk, can offset only half of the negative impacts on financial portfolios brought about by climate change. Climate change thus entails “unhedgeable risk” for investment portfolios. While the response to action aimed at limiting warming below 2°C is shown to be negative in its short-term economic and financial impacts, the benefits of early action lead to significantly higher economic growth rates and returns over the long run, especially when compared to a worst-case scenario of inaction. The present study shows that certain types of portfolio benefit more than others. Even in the short run, the perception of climate change represents an aggregate risk driver that must be taken into consideration when assessing the performance of asset portfolios. Our analysis provides investors with a general guide to minimising their exposure to climate sentiment risk and has the potential to stimulate a constructive dialogue between investors, governments and regulators to examine the conditions necessary to build more resilient financial markets under unprecedented environmental change.