Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health and economic outcomes of vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

BACKGROUND The health and economic impact of vancomycin-resistant enterococci has not been quantified. METHODS A retrospective matched cohort study was conducted comparing the outcomes of patients with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (cases) with those of control subjects matched for length of hospital stay until inclusion in the cohort, hospital location, and calendar date. The propensity to be a vancomycin-resistant enterococci case was modeled based on patient characteristics, and included in multivariable models to adjust for confounding. Analyses included the following: (1) conditional logistic regression for mortality, surgery, intensive care unit admission, and discharge to long-term care; (2) linear regression for the logarithm of cost; and (3) accelerated failure time model for length of stay. RESULTS A total of 233 cases were compared with 647 controls. Groups were similar in age (mean, 62 years), sex (female, 47%), and length of stay before inclusion in the cohort (mean, 8.1 days), but differed in primary diagnosis and comorbidities, past infection or colonization with methicillin sodium-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Clostridium difficile, and treatment with cephalosporins or metronidazole. These variables were included in the propensity score, which had good to excellent prediction. Outcomes for cases vs controls and adjusted risks (relative risks [RRs]) were as follows: (1) case fatality rate, 17% vs 6% (RR, 2.13; P =.04); (2) length of stay after inclusion in the cohort, 15.1 vs 8.5 days (RR, 1.73; P<.001); (3) hospital costs, $52 449 vs $31 915 (RR, 1.40; P<.001); (4) surgery after inclusion in the cohort, 18% vs 10% (RR, 2.74; P =.001); (5) intensive care unit admission after inclusion in the cohort, 25% vs 14% (RR, 3.47; P<.001); and (6) transfer to an institution, 51% vs 35% (RR, 2.01; P =.001). CONCLUSION Compared with a matched hospital population, a population with vancomycin-resistant enterococci was associated with severe adverse outcomes: increased mortality, morbidity, and costs.
Households’ participation in and expenditure on recreation and tourism in Pakistan

ABSTRACT We employ Heckman selection models and Probit, OLS techniques to estimate the effect of socio-economic factors on household participation in and expenditure on recreation and tourism in Pakistan. Results show that income, education, region and women’s empowerment increase the probability of households in participation in on recreational and tourism while the number of adults and children in the households decreases probability. Similarly, household income and age of the household head positively but the number of adults and children negatively affect households’ expenditure on tourism. Strategies and policies in favor of low income and large families’ participation in tourism are recommended.
Arthroscopic Removal of Nodules of Synovial Chondromatosis of the Temporomandibular Joint

ABSTRACT In this report we describe a new method for removing nodules of TMJ synovial chondromatosis using arthroscopic surgery instead of open surgery. We used two steps during arthroscopy. In the first, we lavaged the cavity with sterile saline. In the next step, the second cannula was replaced with ethmoid forceps. Under arthroscopic guidance through the first cannula, all loose bodies were removed using the forceps. Since the loose bodies are not fragmented during this procedure, the time needed for removal is shortened. Based on this experience, we suggest the use of ethmoid forceps should be considered as an alternative procedure when nodules are unable to pass through the cannula by lavage with sterile saline.
Feedback in distance education.

Some tips, strategies, and techniques are presented for incorporating learner feedback into distance education courses. The most common form of learner feedback is immediate Knowledge of Response (KR). This general term can be delineated further as either Knowledge of Correct Response (KCR) or Knowledge of Incorrect Response (KIR). KCR is most useful for learning tasks that require a high level of automatic response such as vocabulary development and naming chemical structures. It also can be used for higher levels of learning. KIR occurs when the learner makes a response and knows only whether the response was correct or incorrect. If the learner was incorrect, the correct answer is not provided. Distant learners, as well as learners in a typical classroom, benefit from positive feedback, e.g., a few words written on the side of an assignment or a short note of encouragement. Personalized feedback tells students if they are performing satisfactorily and, if provided early in a course, can help reduce student attrition. If immediate feedback after an examination cannot be provided, every effort should be made to score and return the test as soon as possible before the student is expected to begin study on subsequent lessons. If this is not possible, a test review sheet could be mailed back upon receipt of the examination. Microcomputers are devices that can provide rapid and useful feedback, yet many methods that do not rely on computers can provide feedback. These include practice tests, small group exercises, and checklist response sheets. In addition to formally providing feedback after an assignment or examination, it is possible to use the principles of feedback by embedding questions and answers in text, audio, or video materials.
Reliability and sensitivity to change of a simplification of the Sharp/van der Heijde radiological assessment in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To determine the reliability and sensitivity to change of a simplified radiological scoring method [simple erosion narrowing score (SENS)] for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). SENS was compared to the Sharp/van der Heijde score (SHS) as a gold standard. METHODS Sets of seven radiographs of hands and feet were taken of 20 RA patients with a wide spectrum of radiological damage. For 14 patients, these seven radiographs were taken during a follow-up period of 5 yr, and for six patients during a follow-up of 10 yr. Each set of radiographs was scored twice by the same observer (DvdH). Erosions and joint space narrowing were scored with SHS (range 0-448) in 32 and 30 joints in the hands, respectively, and both in 12 joints in the feet. SENS gives a score of 1 if there is any erosion in a joint and also 1 if there is any narrowing in the joint (range 0-86). In each case, SENS was derived from SHS. To analyse data, generalizability theory and repeated measurements ANOVA were used. RESULTS The overall reliability coefficient was 0.81 for SHS and 0.80 for SENS. Intra-observer reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)] was 0.99 and 0.98 for SHS and SENS, respectively. The ICC for the sensitivity to change was 0.84 for SHS and 0.88 for SENS. The smallest detectable difference (SDD) could be determined for both methods. The presence of progression based on this SDD was very comparable between the two methods. CONCLUSION The measurement properties of SENS are good and comparable to SHS. This makes SENS suitable for use in clinical practice and in large (epidemiological) studies, especially in the first years of disease.
Light-Independent Phytochrome Signaling Mediated by Dominant GAF Domain Tyrosine Mutants of Arabidopsis Phytochromes in Transgenic Plants[W][OA]

The photoreversibility of plant phytochromes enables continuous surveillance of the ambient light environment. Through expression of profluorescent, photoinsensitive Tyr-to-His mutant alleles of Arabidopsis thaliana phytochrome B (PHYBY276H) and Arabidopsis phytochrome A (PHYAY242H) in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, we demonstrate that photoconversion is not a prerequisite for phytochrome signaling. PHYBY276H-expressing plants exhibit chromophore-dependent constitutive photomorphogenesis, light-independent phyBY276H nuclear localization, constitutive activation of genes normally repressed in darkness, and light-insensitive seed germination. Fluence rate analyses of transgenic plants expressing PHYBY276H, PHYAY242H, and other YGAF mutant alleles of PHYB demonstrate that a range of altered light-signaling activities are associated with mutation of this residue. We conclude that the universally conserved GAF domain Tyr residue, with which the bilin chromophore is intimately associated, performs a critical role in coupling light perception to signal transduction by plant phytochromes.
Induction to Teaching Program in Turkey: Attainments of Novice Teachers.

With the purpose of examining and identifying the attainments of novice teachers from in-class, in-school, and out-of-school activities during the process of being a novice teacher, in accordance with the views of novice teachers, mentor teachers, and administrators; this research is a qualitative research with a phenomenological design. The data of the study were collected through semi-structured interviews with 40 novice teachers, 43 mentor teachers and 5 school administrators. Content analysis was done in the analysis of the data. As a result of the research, it can be said that there are attainments related to teaching-learning process and non-scheduled activities within the scope of in-class applications; attainments related to work and operations of schools, and duties and responsibilities of the school administration within the scope of in-school activities; and as for out-of-school activities, attainments such as familiarization with relevant institutions, organizations and people, acknowledgement of the city culture, and sharing of knowledge and experiences with experienced people stand out as themes. Article visualizations:
Induction of c-fos mRNA in cerebral cortex by excitotoxin stimulation of cortical inputs: involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

In this study we have characterized the induction of c-fos mRNA in cerebral cortex in response to unilateral kainate injection into the nucleus basalis. This treatment is associated with an intense stimulation of the ascending pathway and the subsequent induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) enzyme activity and ODC mRNA in ipsilateral cerebral cortex which is sensitive to treatment with MK-801 and dihydropyridine antagonists. Unilateral injection of kainate into nucleus basalis caused a marked induction of c-fos mRNA in ipsilateral cortex which was detectable at 1 h, reached a maximal value at 8 h where c-fos mRNA levels were 16 times those in unoperated animals and then returned to control values by 24 h. However, the early induction of c-fos mRNA at 1 h was not related to a specific effect of kainate since at this time point, sham-operated animals also showed a significant increase in the level of c-fos mRNA in ipsilateral cerebral cortex. No significant induction of c-fos mRNA was detected in ipsilateral cortex in sham-operated animals at 4 and 8 h after injection of vehicle. Treatment with the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, MK-801 (3 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the response obtained at 4 h and 8 h after kainate injection by 73% and 55% respectively, but did not influence the level of c-fos mRNA induced at 1 h. Delaying administration of MK-801 by 30 min reduced the effectiveness of this treatment on the response obtained at 4 h. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Induction of cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein-Dependent Medium-Term Memory by Appetitive Gustatory Reinforcement in Drosophila Larvae

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been successfully used as a model animal for the study of the genetic and molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. Although most of the Drosophila learning studies have used the adult fly, the relative complexity of its neural network hinders cellular and molecular studies at high resolution. In contrast, the Drosophila larva has a simple brain with uniquely identifiable neural networks, providing an opportunity of an attractive alternative system for elucidation of underlying mechanisms involved in learning and memory. In this paper, we describe a novel paradigm of larval associative learning with a single odor and a positive gustatory reinforcer, sucrose. Mutant analyses have suggested importance of cAMP signaling and potassium channel activities in larval learning as has been demonstrated with the adult fly. Intriguingly, larval memory produced by the appetitive conditioning lasts medium term and depends on both amnesiac and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). A significant part of memory was disrupted at very early phase by CREB blockade without affecting immediate learning performance. Moreover, we also show that synaptic output of larval mushroom body neurons is required for retrieval but not for acquisition and retention of the larval memory, including the CREB-dependent component.
Effects of HfO2 trapping layer in Gd2O3 nanocrystal nonvolatile memory with multi-tunneling layers

Recently, nanocrystal (NC) memory such as gadolinium oxide NC (Gd<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>-NC) memory performed by the band-gap offset of a crystallized Gd<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>-NC dots surrounded by the amorphous Gd<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> dielectrics has been proposed [1–2]. The crystallization temperature was optimized and the excellent memory properties were obtained [2]. In addition, to improve the programming/erasing (P/E) and retention characteristics of future nonvolatile memory, the BE-SONOS with SiO<inf>2</inf>/SiN/ SiO<inf>2</inf> (ONO) tunneling layer has been proposed due to the suitable band engineering and large physical thickness [3]. In this paper, the novel Gd<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>-NC memory with HfO<inf>2</inf> charge trapping layer was investigated and multi-tunneling layer (Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>/IL-SiO<inf>2</inf>) was applied to further improve the performance. The charge storage characteristic was related to the charge trapping phenomenon of HfO<inf>2</inf> layer.
Propionibacterium acnes Types I and II Represent Phylogenetically Distinct Groups

ABSTRACT Although two phenotypes of the opportunistic pathogen Propionibacterium acnes (types I and II) have been described, epidemiological investigations of their roles in different infections have not been widely reported. Using immunofluorescence microscopy with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) QUBPa1 and QUBPa2, specific for types I and II, respectively, we investigated the prevalences of the two types among 132 P. acnes isolates. Analysis of isolates from failed prosthetic hip implants (n = 40) revealed approximately equal numbers of type I and II organisms. Isolates from failed prosthetic hip-associated bone (n = 6) and tissue (n = 38) samples, as well as isolates from acne (n = 22), dental infections (n = 8), and skin removed during surgical incision (n = 18) were predominately of type I. A total of 11 (8%) isolates showed atypical MAb labeling and could not be conclusively identified. Phylogenetic analysis of P. acnes by nucleotide sequencing revealed the 16S rRNA gene to be highly conserved between types I and II. In contrast, sequence analysis of recA and a putative hemolysin gene (tly) revealed significantly greater type-specific polymorphisms that corresponded to phylogenetically distinct cluster groups. All 11 isolates with atypical MAb labeling were identified as type I by sequencing. Within the recA and tly phylogenetic trees, nine of these isolates formed a cluster distinct from other type I organisms, suggesting a further phylogenetic subdivision within type I. Our study therefore demonstrates that the phenotypic differences between P. acnes types I and II reflect deeper differences in their phylogeny. Furthermore, nucleotide sequencing provides an accurate method for identifying the type status of P. acnes isolates.
The Molecular Basis of X‐Linked Severe Combined Immunodeficiency: The Role of the Interleukin‐2 Receptor γ Chain as a Common γ Chain, γc

X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency is characterized by severe and persistent infections from early life resulting from profound impairment of both cellular and humoral immune function. XSCID is characterized by an absence or diminished number of T cells and histologic evidence of hypoplastic and abnormal differention of the thymic epithelium. The discovery that this disease results from the mutations of the IL-2R gamma chain was surprising since IL-2-deficient mice and human SCID patients had milder phenotypes. This led to the speculation that IL-2R gamma would prove to be a common gamma chain, gamma c, which would play important roles in other cytokine receptors in addition to the IL-2 receptor. There is now compelling evidence to support a role in at least two other cytokine receptors, namely the IL-4 and IL-7 receptors. Thus, with inactivation of gamma c, multiple cytokine systems are simultaneously affected, resulting in the profoundly impaired phenotype of XSCID. It is possible and even likely that gamma c will be found to be a functional component of additional receptors as well. These findings have resulted in a significant improvement in our understanding of the pathophysiologic development of the defects in XSCID and also have important ramifications for prenatal and postnatal diagnosis, carrier female identification, and gene therapy for XSCID.
The association between funding by commercial interests and study outcome in randomized controlled drug trials.

BACKGROUND Previous studies limited to specific drugs or journal types have shown an association between the source of funding of research and the published results. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to determine the association between source of support of research and published outcomes of randomized controlled drug trials in general interest medical journals. METHODS Randomized controlled drug trials (n = 314) published in five general interest medical journals over a 2-year period were reviewed. Study outcome was classified as positive or negative. Support was classified as pharmaceutical industry or non-industry. Association between source of support and outcome was tested with the chi-squared statistic. RESULTS Positive findings were found in 77% of studies, negative findings in 20% and an uncertain outcome in 3%. Support from commercial sources was found in 68% of trials. Negative findings were found in 13% of industry-supported studies and in 35% of non-industry-supported studies (chi-squared = 18.36, P < 0.0001, odds ratio = 3.54, 95% confidence interval 1.90-6.62). CONCLUSIONS An association was found between the source of study support and the published outcome. Though the reason for this association cannot be determined from the data collected, future studies may clarify the importance of this finding for readers concerned with the relationship of funding bodies to the publication of research outcomes.
Google como empresa de negocios digitales: “Google Buscador” en el contexto de la Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (RSE)

En tiempos de globalizacion, el pensamiento que rige la actividad economica ha acentuado la exigencia a la empresa de incorporar las nuevas perspectivas de la Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (RSE) como una nueva vision del negocio. De este modo, desde la perspectiva de los stakeholders (grupos de interes), Google pone a disposicion de los usuarios en un ambito global su Innovacion Tecnologica ¨Google Buscador¨, colaborando en la obtencion de informacion general y contenidos tematicos curriculares que ayudan a la formacion y desarrollo tanto personal como profesional. En esta investigacion se desarrolla como ejemplo la Innovacion Tecnologica “Google Buscador”, sus atributos y funcionamiento desde la Teoria de los stakeholders. En la metodologia se trabajo con la Teoria Fundamentada a partir de la pregunta de investigacion ? Se pudiera considerar que la innovacion tecnologica “Google Buscador” cumple con los ambitos estrategicos de la responsabilidad social empresarial y al mismo tiempo genera oportunidades de negocio a sus usuarios? Se concluye que la empresa Google como negocio a traves de ¨Google Buscador¨ ofrece una de las innovaciones tecnologicas de mayor utilidad, relevancia e impacto en la generacion de nuevos negocios junto a su filosofia y valores de empresa socialmente responsable.
The EU’s collective securitisation of climate change

Abstract Climate change is a firmly established and prominent issue of concern for the European Union. The EU became a collective agent of securitisation over time, increasingly engaging in speech acts defining climate change as a threat. These speech acts have driven forward agreed European policy measures and have informed EU positions in international climate negotiations. This piece examines how climate change became securitised and traces the historical development of the EU as an agent of collective securitisation in this domain. It argues that the EU has become a more unified, collective actor over time, that it has engaged in recursive interaction with multiple (internal and external) audiences to drive the securitisation of climate change, and that a new securitised status quo had been achieved by the mid-to-late 2000s. This new status quo positions climate change as central to the EU’s security agenda.
Hybrid consensus for swarm systems with discrete-time communication: Time delay approach

Hybrid consensus problems among a group of continuous-time high-order agents with directed communication topology are investigated by a time delay approach, where each agent obtains the communication information from its neighboring agents only at discrete-time instants. Firstly, based on both the continuous-time state information of each agent and the discrete-time communication information with time-varying sampling interval of its neighboring agents, a hybrid discrete/continuous consensus protocol is designed. Secondly, hybrid consensus problems are transformed into simultaneous stabilization problems of multiple sampled control subsystems with low dimensions by the state space decomposition approach. Thirdly, by using the time delay approach and linear matrix inequality (LMI) theory, sufficient conditions for hybrid consensus and consensualization are presented, where four LMI constraints are only included. It should be pointed out that the hybrid consensus for high-order swarm systems depends on the gain matrices, the spectra property of the Laplacian matrix, and the maximum sampling interval. Moreover, the consensus function is determined when swarm systems achieve hybrid consensus. Finally, numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.