Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Collaborative Advantage in Management

Today competitive advantage of a company is increasingly dependent on making relationship with customer, suppliers, and also dependent on the ability to establish collaborative advantage through participating into different collaborative processes. Thus, in this paper we try to present a review of collaborative advantage in strategic management. And we answer to these questions: • What is definition of collaboration? • What is strategic collaboration and what are its advantages? • Is there a framework for relationships and networks?
Ultrastructure of Rickettsia rhipicephali, a new member of the spotted fever group rickettsiae in tissues of the host vector Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Rickettsia rhipicephali is similar in ultrastructure to R. rickettsii while differing from other rickettsiae of the typhus group and of Q fever and others by its lack of a prominently reticulated cytoplasmic matrix and in the thickness of the inner osmophilic layer of the cell wall. In tissues of the tick vector Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. rhipicephali had a mean length and width of 1.2 and 0.46 micrometer, respectively. It possessed a trilaminar cell wall with an adhering capsule-like layer. The trilaminar cell wall was approximately 12 to 18 nm thick; its inner osmophilic layer was thicker than that previously reported for other rickettsiae. The capsule-like layer varied from 7 to 18 nm thick. The plasma membrane was similar in structure, measurement, and appearance to that of other reported rickettsiae. The cytoplasm appeared to be composed of a finely granular, amorphous, ground substance and randomly dispersed ribosomes and lacked a reticular matrix or nuclear fibrils. In massively infected salivary glands and ovarial tissues of its tick vector, R. rhipicephali produced a low degree of histopathology which does not appear to affect the engorgement and egg-laying process of the ticks.
Frequency of shifts over time in the profile of antidesmoglein antibodies in pemphigus vulgaris.

T he clinical features of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) are related to the presence and profile of antidesmoglein 3 (anti-dsg3) and antidesmoglein 1 (anti-dsg1) antibodies. Anti-dsg3 is associated with mucosal PV; the concurrent presence of anti-dsg3 and antidsg1, with mucocutaneous disease; and anti-dsg1 alone, with pemphigus foliaceus (PF). Shifts over time in the pattern of anti-dsg antibodies from that associated with PV to that seen in PF have been described in several case reports. How often these serologic shifts occur is unknown. The present study was conducted to examine the frequency and the types of shifts in the profile of antidsg3 and anti-dsg1 that occur in patients with PV.
CD56bright natural killer (NK) cells: an important NK cell subset

Human natural killer (NK) cells can be subdivided into different populations based on the relative expression of the surface markers CD16 and CD56. The two major subsets are CD56bright CD16dim/− and CD56dim CD16+, respectively. In this review, we will focus on the CD56bright NK cell subset. These cells are numerically in the minority in peripheral blood but constitute the majority of NK cells in secondary lymphoid tissues. They are abundant cytokine producers but are only weakly cytotoxic before activation. Recent data suggest that under certain conditions, they have immunoregulatory properties, and that they are probably immediate precursors of CD56dim NK cells. CD56bright NK cell percentages are expanded or reduced in a certain number of diseases, but the significance of these variations is not yet clear.
Decoupled Shading for Real‐time Heterogeneous Volume Illumination

Existing real‐time volume rendering techniques which support global illumination are limited in modeling distinct realistic appearances for classified volume data, which is a desired capability in many fields of study for illustration and education. Directly extending the emission‐absorption volume integral with heterogeneous material shading becomes unaffordable for real‐time applications because the high‐frequency view‐dependent global lighting needs to be evaluated per sample along the volume integral. In this paper, we present a decoupled shading algorithm for multi‐material volume rendering that separates global incident lighting evaluation from per‐sample material shading under multiple light sources. We show how the incident lighting calculation can be optimized through a sparse volume integration method. The quality, performance and usefulness of our new multi‐material volume rendering method is demonstrated through several examples.
Are readymade spectacles sufficient in developing countries?

of extraocular muscles on CT imaging of patients with IOID. The onset of IOID is usually rapid and associated with pain; it is often unilateral whereas TED is usually bilateral with a slower onset and no pain. Infliximab appears to be a useful adjunct in IOID. The duration of Infliximab use is not clear, and many patients appear to need long-term treatment. This case demonstrates that it can be used as a short initial course to control inflammation particularly as many immunomodulators are not effective immediately.
The Effectiveness of Cricoid Pressure for Occluding the Esophageal Entrance in Anesthetized and Paralyzed Patients: An Experimental and Observational Glidescope Study

BACKGROUND:In the last 2 decades, the effectiveness of cricoid pressure (CP) in occluding the esophageal entrance has been questioned. Recent magnetic resonance imaging studies yielded conflicting conclusions. We used real-time visual and mechanical means to assess the patency of the esophageal entrance with and without CP in anesthetized and paralyzed adult patients. METHODS:One hundred seven, nonobese ASA physical status I and II patients were recruited for the study. A cricoid force of 30 N was used. This force was standardized by using a weighing scale before application of CP in each patient. After oxygen administration, anesthetic induction, neuromuscular blockade, and establishment of manual ventilation with FIO2 = 1.0, the view of the glottis and esophageal entrance was visualized, and video recordings were obtained by using a Glidescope video laryngoscope. Attempts to insert 2 gastric tubes (GTs), size 12 and 20 F, into the esophagus were made by a “blinded” operator without and with CP, the timing of which was randomized. A successful insertion of a GT in the presence of CP was considered evidence of a patent esophageal entrance (ineffective CP), whereas an unsuccessful insertion of a GT was considered evidence of an occluded esophageal entrance (effective CP). After the attempts to insert the GTs were completed, tracheal intubation was performed while CP was applied. The position of the esophageal entrance in relation to the glottis (midline versus lateral) was assessed from the video recordings, with and without CP. RESULTS:We stopped the study when 79 patients (41 men and 38 women) qualified for and completed the study (2-sided Clopper-Pearson confidence interval (CI) 95% to 100%, n = 72). Advancement of either size GT into the esophagus could not be accomplished during CP in any patient but was easily done in all subjects when CP was not applied. This occurred whether the esophageal entrance was in a midline position or in a left or right lateral position relative to the glottis. Esophageal patency was visually observed in the absence of CP, whereas occlusion of the esophageal entrance was observed during CP in all patients. Without CP, the esophageal entrance was in a left lateral position in relation to the glottis in 57% ([95 % CI, 45%–68%)] of patients, at midline in 32% (CI, 22%–43%), and in a right lateral position in 11% (CI, 5%–21%). The position did not change with CP. CONCLUSIONS:The current study provides additional visual and mechanical evidence supporting a success rate of at least 95% by using a cricoid force of 30 N to occlude the esophageal entrance in anesthetized and paralyzed normal adult patients. The efficacy of the maneuver was independent of the position of the esophageal entrance relative to the glottis, whether midline or lateral.
Isolation of extracytoplasmic proteins from Serpulina hyodysenteriae B204 and molecular cloning of the flaB1 gene encoding a 38-kilodalton flagellar protein

Extracytoplasmic proteins were released from Serpulina (Treponema) hyodysenteriae (strain B204) by treatment of whole cells with a nonionic detergent (Tween 20). Centrifugation of the Tween 20-released proteins at 100,000 x g sedimented 10 major extracytoplasmic proteins with approximate molecular masses of 44, 43.5, 42, 39, 38, 34, 33.5, 33, 31, and 29 kDa. Treatment of the sedimented fraction with 6 M urea solubilized all of the proteins except the 39-kDa protein. Peptide sequences were obtained for the purified 42-, 39-, 38-, 34-, 31-, and 29-kDa proteins. The peptide sequences of the 42-, 38-, and 31-kDa proteins indicate that they likely are components of the periplasmic flagella. The amino-terminal peptide sequence of the 38-kDa protein was used to design an oligonucleotide probe and to clone an S. hyodysenteriae DNA fragment containing the gene encoding this protein. The predicted 290-amino-acid protein sequence derived from the cloned gene was highly homologous to those of several other bacterial flagellar proteins and is preceded by consensus sigma D nucleotide sequences found upstream of other flagellar genes. On the basis of its similarity to the FlaB proteins of other spirochetes, we propose to designate the cloned S. hyodysenteriae gene flaB1 and its encoded protein FlaB1. Vaccination of pigs with FlaB1 or its recombinant counterpart did not protect them from an experimental challenge.
Test/Retest Reproducibility of Color Doppler Imaging Assessment of Blood Flow Velocity in Orbital Vessels

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reproducibility of measures of blood flow velocities using color Doppler imaging (CDI) in orbital arteries. Patients and MethodsMeasures of peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, and resistive index were performed in a group of 15 normal tension glaucoma patients and in 15 healthy subjects using the Siemens Quantum 2000 CDI system with a 7.5 MHz linear probe. After each velocity measure in each vessel, the probe was removed and then replaced to repeat the measurement −2 min later. ResultsFor all subjects, the coefficients of reliability for measures of peak systolic velocity were 12% in the ophthalmic artery, 25% in the central retinal artery, and 19% in a short posterior ciliary artery. For end diastolic velocity, the coefficients were 6%, 11%, and 25%, respectively. The coefficients for resistive index were 4%, 11%, and 38%. ConclusionCDI produces highly reproducible measures in the ophthalmic artery. Measures in the central retinal artery are somewhat more variable but seem reasonably reproducible. Short posterior ciliary measurements were the most variable, suggesting that current methods for assessing these vessels may not be sufficiently reliable.
Work-Site-Based Influenza Vaccination in Healthcare and Non-Healthcare Settings

Abstract Objective: To better understand work-site–based programs for influenza vaccination. Design: Self-administered, mailed questionnaire. Setting: Healthcare and non-healthcare companies. Participants: Random sample of 2,000 members of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses. Results: The response rate was 55%, and 88% of the respondents were employed by companies sponsoring work-site influenza vaccination. Thirty-two percent of respondents worked for healthcare and healthcare-related services companies. Healthcare companies were more likely to sponsor worksite-based vaccination (94% vs 85%; P < .0001) compared with non-healthcare companies. Healthcare companies were also more likely to encourage vaccination of high-risk employees (70% vs 55%; P < .0001) and cover its cost (86% vs 61%; P < .0001). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with highly successful vaccination. Being a healthcare-related company (OR, 2.1; CI95 1.4–3.2; P < .0001), employers covering the vaccination cost (OR, 3.1; CI95, 1.4–6.6; P = .004), having more experience with work-site vaccination (OR, 1.6; CI95, 1.0–2.4; P = .036), and management encouraging vaccination (OR, 2.6; CI95, 1.4–4.9; P = .002) were associated with highly successful programs. Conclusions: Most of the occupational health nurses surveyed work for employers sponsoring work-site vaccination, and 32% were employed by healthcare and related services companies. Healthcare companies were more likely to sponsor worksite–based vaccination and to vaccinate most of their employees; however, only 18% had vaccination rates higher than 50%. Strategies need to be developed to increase vaccination rates so that benefits of vaccination can be realized by employers and employees.
Communication in road tunnels: Predicted performances of LTE precoding techniques

In the specific case of a tunnel environment, the objective of this paper is to study the performances, in terms of bit error rate, of different transmission schemes proposed in LTE for a single user downlink communication. Since the channel characteristics are quite different in a tunnel compared to an urban/rural environment, measured channel transfer functions in the 3.5 GHz band have been analyzed and used in a simulation tool of an LTE link to compare performances of precoding techniques and transmitting diversity schemes. The reference scenario is a communication between single transmitting/receiving antennas (SISO).
The interrelation between brain PO2 and NADH oxidation‐reduction state in the gerbil

The present investigation was aimed at studying the interrelation between hemodynamic, metabolic and oxygen tension in the brain of the gerbil exposed to various physiological and pathological conditions in the awake and anesthetized states. The hemodynamic and metabolic activities were evaluated by the DC fluorometer/reflectometer and were correlated to the pO2 values obtained by a surface electrode.
Fission Yeast Rho5p GTPase Is a Functional Paralogue of Rho1p That Plays a Role in Survival of Spores and Stationary-Phase Cells

ABSTRACT The Rho GTPase family and their effectors are key regulators involved in many eukaryotic cell functions related to actin organization and polarity establishment. Schizosaccharomyces pombe Rho1p is essential, directly activates the (1,3)-β-d-glucan synthase, and participates in regulation of cell wall growth and morphogenesis. Here we describe the characterization of the fission yeast Rho5p GTPase, highly homologous to Rho1p, sharing 86% identity and 95% similarity. Overexpression of the hyperactive allele rho5-G15V causes a morphological effect similar to that of rho1-G15V, but the penetrance is significantly lower, and overexpression of the dominant-negative allele rho5-T20N causes lysis like that of rho1-T20N. Importantly, overexpression of rho5+ but no other rho genes is able to rescue the lethality of rho1Δ cells. Shutoff experiments indicated that Rho5p can replace Rho1p, but it is not as effective in maintaining cell wall integrity or actin organization. rho5+ expression is hardly detected during log-phase growth but is induced under nutritional starvation conditions. rho5Δ cells are viable and do not display any defects during logarithmic growth. However, when rho1+ expression is repressed during stationary phase, rho5Δ cells display reduced viability. Ascospores lacking Rho5p are less resistant to heat or lytic enzymes than wild-type spores. Moreover, h90 mutant strains carrying the hyperactive rho5-G15V or the dominant-negative rho5-T20N alleles display severe ascospore formation defects. These results suggest that Rho5p functions in a way similar to, but less efficient than, Rho1p, plays a nonessential role during stationary phase, and participates in the spore wall formation.
An Intervention to Promote Breast Milk Production in Mothers of Preterm Infants

A pilot study was conducted to estimate the effects of a breast milk expression education and support intervention on breast milk production outcomes in mothers of very and extremely preterm infants. Forty mothers of hospitalized preterm infants (<30 weeks of gestation) were randomized to the experimental intervention or standard care for 6 weeks. Duration and frequency of breast milk expressions and volume of expressed breast milk were measured daily. Samples of breast milk were collected thrice during the study and analyzed for their lipid concentration. Mothers in the experimental group had a statistically significant higher duration of breast milk expression in min/day (p = .043). Differences observed between the two groups regarding the frequency of breast milk expression, volume of breast milk, and lipid concentration were not statistically significant. Results suggest that the experimental intervention may promote breast milk production in mothers of very and extremely preterm infants.
Cloninger's tridimensional theory of personality and psychopathology: applications to substance use disorders.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate studies that applied Cloninger's tridimensional theory of personality to substance abusers. METHODS Medline and PsychInfo data bases were searched for studies published between 1986 and mid-1995 that used the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). A supplemental manual search was conducted to identify additional evaluations of the tridimensional theory. Reports were reviewed if they included substance abusers or related tridimensional traits to substance use measures. RESULTS Factor analyses did not consistently support the tridimensionality of the TPQ. Novelty Seeking (NS) traits distinguished alcoholics from nonalcoholics, Type B and Type 2 alcoholics from their Type A and Type 1 counterparts, smokers from nonsmokers, and individuals (substance abusers and nonabusers) with and without antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Tridimensional traits independently predicted early onset alcohol abuse and serious delinquency in studies that did not employ the TPQ and were significantly associated with concurrent substance abuse among adolescents. Most studies that compared nonalcoholic youth with positive and negative family histories of alcoholism reported nonsignificant TPQ differences or very small effects. Few alcoholics, cigarette smokers or sons of alcoholics displayed Type 1 (low novelty seeking, high harm avoidance, high reward dependence) or Type 2 (high novelty seeking, low harm avoidance, low reward dependence) TPQ profiles, but rarely were levels of tridimensional traits determined by reference to established norms. CONCLUSIONS NS predicts early onset alcohol abuse and criminality and discriminates alcoholics exhibiting antisocial behavior and persons with ASPD from their nonantisocial counterparts. Findings for the Harm Avoidance (HA) and Reward Dependence TPQ subscales are much less consistent. Some support for the role of elevated HA in intensity of substance use has been adduced. At present, the utility of the TPQ for prevention or clinical purposes is not well established.
Studies of sigma D-dependent functions in Bacillus subtilis

Gene expression in Bacillus subtilis can be controlled by alternative forms of RNA polymerase programmed by distinct sigma factors. One such factor, sigma D (sigma 28), is expressed during vegetative growth and has been implicated in the transcription of a regulon of genes expressed during exponential growth and the early stationary phase. We have studied several functions related to flagellar synthesis and chemotaxis in B. subtilis strains in which sigma D is missing or is present at reduced levels. Previous studies showed that a null mutant, which contains a disrupted copy of the sigma D structural gene (sigD), fails to synthesize flagellin and grows as long filaments. We now show that these defects are accompanied by the lack of synthesis of the methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins and a substantial decrease in two autolysin activities implicated in cell separation. A strain containing an insertion upstream of the sigD gene that reduces the level of sigma D protein grew as short chains and was flagellated but was impaired in chemotaxis and/or motility. This reduced level of sigma D expression suggests that the sigD gene may be part of an operon. A strain containing an insertion downstream of the sigD gene expressed nearly wild-type levels of sigma D protein but was also impaired in chemotaxis and/or motility, suggesting that genes downstream of sigD may also be involved in these functions. Genetic experiments demonstrate that sigD is allelic to the flaB locus, which was initially isolated as a locus affecting flagellin expression (G. F. Grant and M. I. Simon, J. Bacteriol. 99:116-124, 1969).
Effect of Lowering the Dose of Varenicline on Alcohol Self-administration in Drinkers With Alcohol Use Disorders

Objectives:Varenicline (2 mg/d) has been shown to be efficacious in reducing alcohol consumption. A lower dose of varenicline may be effective in reducing alcohol use while minimizing the potential for side effects. Methods:This double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation examined the effect of varenicline (0, 1, 2 mg/d) on alcohol consumption in nontreatment-seeking adults meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for alcohol use disorders (N = 60). Following 7 days of medication pretreatment, participants were administered a low fixed dose of alcohol (0.3 g/dL), and subjective and physiologic responses were assessed. A 2-hour ad libitum alcohol self-administration period followed. We also explored relationships between plasma varenicline levels and consumption. Results:Overall, frequency and severity of adverse events were minimal. The 1 mg/d dose reduced the frequency of insomnia compared with the 2 mg/d dose. The 2 mg/d varenicline dose versus placebo reduced alcohol craving and showed limited effect on reduced alcohol consumption. Alcohol craving and consumption did not differ between the 1 mg/d varenicline dose versus placebo. Trough varenicline plasma levels greater than or equal to 3 ng/mL were associated with reduced drinking and levels greater than or equal to 5 ng/mL were associated with reduced heavy drinking. Conclusions:Overall, we found no evidence supporting an effect of 1 mg/d varenicline on craving or consumption, suggesting that doses of varenicline less than 2 mg/d may not be effective in reducing alcohol-related outcomes. Importantly, results suggest that higher plasma levels of varenicline may be needed to maximize the effect of varenicline on alcohol consumption and should be investigated in drinkers meeting criteria for alcohol use disorders.
ROV POSE AND SHAPE ESTIMATION OF TETHERED TARGETS WITHOUT FIDUCIALS

This paper presents an algorithm (SPEAR) for visually estimating the pose and shape of an underwater target without fiducials. The goal is to enable AUV/ROV stationkeeping with respect to targets about which nothing is known a priori. It will also enable relative positioning with respect to any face on the 3-D body. It uses a particle filter to simultaneously track the pose and reconstruct a 3-D point cloud model of the target, based on concepts from the SLAM community (in particular, the FastSLAM algorithm [1], [2]). The algorithm for target estimation is explained and applied to the case of monocular sensing. Results are given showing successful estimation of an underwater target’s pose along with the 3-D locations of features on the body, based on experiments conducted in Monterey Bay, California with the ROV Ventana and a tethered underwater target.