bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparing Distributions by using Dependent Normalized Random-Measure Mixtures
Authors: Griffin J. E. , Kolossiatis M. , Steel M. F. J. 
Published: February 2013

SummaryA methodology for the simultaneous Bayesian non-parametric modelling of several distributions is developed. Our approach uses normalized random measures with independent increments and builds dependence through the superposition of shared processes. The properties of the prior are described and the modelling possibilities of this framework are explored in detail. Efficient slice sampling methods are developed for inference. Various posterior summaries are introduced which allow better understanding of the differences between distributions. The methods are illustrated on simulated data and examples from survival analysis and stochastic frontier analysis.
Fast BivariateP-Splines: The Sandwich Smoother
Authors: Xiao Luo , Li Yingxing , Ruppert David 
Published: February 2013

SummaryWe propose a fast penalized spline method for bivariate smoothing. Univariate P-spline smoothers are applied simultaneously along both co-ordinates. The new smoother has a sandwich form which suggested the name ‘sandwich smoother’ to a referee. The sandwich smoother has a tensor product structure that simplifies an asymptotic analysis and it can be fast computed. We derive a local central limit theorem for the sandwich smoother, with simple expressions for the asymptotic bias and variance, by showing that the sandwich smoother is asymptotically equivalent to a bivariate kernel regression estimator with a product kernel. As far as we are aware, this is the first central limit theorem for a bivariate spline estimator of any type. Our simulation study shows that the sandwich smoother is orders of magnitude faster to compute than other bivariate spline smoothers, even when the latter are computed by using a fast generalized linear array model algorithm, and comparable with them in terms of mean integrated squared errors. We extend the sandwich smoother to array data of higher dimensions, where a generalized linear array model algorithm improves the computational speed of the sandwich smoother. One important application of the sandwich smoother is to estimate covariance functions in functional data analysis. In this application, our numerical results show that the sandwich smoother is orders of magnitude faster than local linear regression. The speed of the sandwich formula is important because functional data sets are becoming quite large.
Affect‐as‐Information about Processing Styles: A Cognitive Malleability Approach
Authors: Isbell Linda M. , Lair Elicia C. , Rovenpor Daniel R. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractOver the past three decades research has overwhelmingly supported the notion that positive affect promotes global, abstract, heuristic information processing whereas negative affect promotes local, detailed, and systematic processing. Yet despite the weight of the evidence, recent work suggests that such a direct relationship may be highly tenuous. In line with the affect‐as‐information account, we maintain that affective cues are adaptive and serve to provide individuals with information about their current psychological environment. We argue that these cues do not directly produce specific processing styles, but instead confer value on whatever processing inclination is dominant at the time. Positive affect (e.g., happiness) tends to promote reliance on currently dominant processing inclinations, whereas negative affect (e.g., sadness) tends to inhibit such reliance. Thus the impact of affect on processing is highly malleable and depends on both the type of processing that is currently active and the information provided by affective cues.
Identifying with Our Desires
Authors: Miller Christian 
Published: February 2013

AbstractA number of philosophers have become convinced that the best way of trying to understand human agency is by arriving at an account of identification. My goal here is not to criticize particular views about identification, but rather to examine several assumptions which have been widely held in the literature and yet which, in my view, render implausible any account of identification that takes them on board. In particular, I argue that typically identification does not involve either reflective consideration of our mental states or endorsement of those states. If it did, we would rarely be agents.
Who Uses Intermediaries in International Trade? Evidence from Firm‐level Survey Data
Authors: Abel‐Koch Jennifer 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe present paper uses data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey conducted in Turkey in 2005 to shed light on the firms that use intermediaries in international trade. It lends robust empirical support to recent theories which suggest that indirect exporters are mostly small firms that are not profitable enough to cover the high fixed costs of building an own distribution network abroad. Manufacturers who develop new products are more likely to use trade intermediaries, as are firms that produce low‐quality goods. In contrast, neither foreign ownership nor credit constraints are correlated with the choice of export mode. Moreover, firms that rely on trade intermediaries to sell their goods abroad also do so to source their foreign inputs, implying that the role of intermediaries in facilitating trade may be larger than previous studies suggest.
The Extensive and Intensive Margins of Exports: The Role of Innovation
Authors: Chen Wei‐Chih 
Published: February 2013

AbstractAn important prediction of trade theories is that innovation can improve a country’s export performance. Using data on patents granted by the US as a proxy for innovation and data on manufacturing exports from 105 countries over the period 1975–2001, I investigate the extent to which innovation increases the number of products traded (the extensive margin) and the export value of each product (the intensive margin). The empirical results show that (i) innovation has a positive and significant effect on both the extensive and intensive margins. The intensive margin contributes 70 per cent of the effect, and the extensive margin accounts for 30 per cent. (ii) The effect of innovation on exports is stronger for low‐income countries than for high‐income countries. (iii) More innovative countries export greater quantities and charge higher prices, suggesting that innovation increases the product quality of exports.
The Use and Abuse of Export Subsidies: Evidence from Colombia
Authors: Helmers Christian , Trofimenko Natalia 
Published: February 2013

Abstract(12033) Christian Helmers and Natalia TrofimenkoWe evaluate the impact of firm‐specific export subsidies on exports in Colombia. Using a two‐step selection model, we predict firm‐specific subsidy amounts that can be explained by the characteristics that determine firms’ eligibility for government support and its amount. Drawing on the accounts of the discretionary allocation of subsidies in developing countries, we interpret the discrepancy between the predicted and the observed subsidy amounts as a proxy for a firm's ties to government officials. Controlling for observable and unobservable firm characteristics as well as persistence in exporting, we find that although, in general, subsidies exhibit a positive impact on export volumes, this impact is diminishing in subsidy size and in the degree of a firm's connectedness.
The standard conjectures for holomorphic symplectic varieties deformation equivalent to Hilbert schemes ofK3 surfaces
Authors: Charles François , Markman Eyal 
Published: February 2013

AbstractWe prove the standard conjectures for complex projective varieties that are deformations of the Hilbert scheme of points on aK3 surface. The proof involves Verbitsky’s theory of hyperholomorphic sheaves and a study of the cohomology algebra of Hilbert schemes of K3 surfaces.
-constraints for the total descendant potential of a simple singularity
Authors: Bakalov Bojko , Milanov Todor 
Published: February 2013

AbstractSimple, or Kleinian, singularities are classified by Dynkin diagrams of type $ADE$. Let $\mathfrak {g}$ be the corresponding finite-dimensional Lie algebra, and $W$ its Weyl group. The set of $\mathfrak {g}$-invariants in the basic representation of the affine Kac–Moody algebra $\hat {\mathfrak {g}}$ is known as a $\mathcal {W}$-algebra and is a subalgebra of the Heisenberg vertex algebra $\mathcal {F}$. Using period integrals, we construct an analytic continuation of the twisted representation of $\mathcal {F}$. Our construction yields a global object, which may be called a $W$-twisted representation of $\mathcal {F}$. Our main result is that the total descendant potential of the singularity, introduced by Givental, is a highest-weight vector for the $\mathcal {W}$-algebra.
Immunization with Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Serotype 3 and Lipopolysaccharide Modulates Lung and Liver Inflammation during a Virulent Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection in Mice
Authors: Restori Katherine H. , Kennett Mary J. , Ross A. Catharine 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACTVaccination reduces morbidity and mortality from pneumonia, but its effect on the tissue-level response to infection is still poorly understood. We evaluated pneumonia disease progression, acute-phase response, and lung gene expression profiles in mice inoculated intranasally with virulent Gram-positiveStreptococcus pneumoniaeserotype 3 (ST 3) with and without prior immunization with pneumococcal polysaccharide ST 3 (PPS3) or after coimmunization with PPS3 and a low dose of lipopolysaccharide (PPS3+LPS). Pneumonia severity was assessed in the acute phase at 5, 12, 24 and 48 h postinoculation (p.i.) and in the resolution phase at 7 days p.i. Primary PPS3-specific antibody production was upregulated, and IgM binding to pneumococci increased in PPS3-immunized mice. Immunizations with PPS3 or PPS3+LPS decreased bacterial recovery in the lung and blood at 24 and 48 h and increased survival. Microarray analysis of whole-lung RNA revealed significant changes in the acute-phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) levels between noninfected and infected mice, and these changes were attenuated by immunization. SAA transcripts were higher in the liver and lungs of infected controls, and SAA protein was elevated in serum but decreased in PPS3-immunized mice. Thus, during a virulent pneumonia infection, prior immunization with PPS3 in an IgM-dependent manner as well as immunization with PPS3+LPS attenuated pneumonia severity and promoted resolution of infection, concomitant with significant regulation of cytokine gene expression levels in the lungs and acute-phase proteins in the lungs, liver, and serum.
Cell-Mediated and Humoral Immune Responses after Immunization of Calves with a Recombinant Multiantigenic Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Subunit Vaccine at Different Ages
Authors: Thakur Aneesh , Aagaard Claus , Stockmarr Anders , Andersen Peter , Jungersen Gregers 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACTNeonates and juvenile ruminants are very susceptible to paratuberculosis infection. This is likely due to a high degree of exposure from their dams and an immature immune system. To test the influence of age on vaccine-induced responses, a cocktail of recombinantMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisproteins (MAP0217, MAP1508, MAP3701c, MAP3783, and MAP1609c/Ag85B) was formulated in a cationic liposome adjuvant (CAF01) and used to vaccinate animals of different ages. Male jersey calves were divided into three groups that were vaccinated at 2, 8, or 16 weeks of age and boosted twice at weeks 4 and 12 relative to the first vaccination. Vaccine-induced immune responses, the gamma interferon (IFN-γ) cytokine secretion and antibody responses, were followed for 20 weeks. In general, the specific responses were significantly elevated in all three vaccination groups after the first booster vaccination with no or only a minor effect from the second booster. However, significant differences were observed in the immunogenicity levels of the different proteins, and it appears that the older age group produced a more consistent IFN-γ response. In contrast, the humoral immune response is seemingly independent of vaccination age as we found no difference in the IgG1 responses when we compared the three vaccination groups. Combined, our results suggest that an appropriate age of vaccination should be considered in vaccination protocols and that there is a possible interference of vaccine-induced immune responses with weaning (week 8).
Changes in Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 19A Invasive Infections in Children from 1993 to 2011
Authors: Hulten Kristina G. , Kaplan Sheldon L. , Lamberth Linda B. , Barson William J. , Romero José R. , Lin Philana Ling , Bradley John S. , Givner Laurence B. , Tan Tina Q. , Hoffman Jill A. , Mason Edward O. 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

Among 594
Streptococcus pneumoniae
serotype 19A invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) isolates collected from 1993 to 2011, we identified 85 sequence types by multilocus sequence typing. CC320 was associated with multidrug resistance and reduced susceptibility to penicillin and ceftriaxone and still predominated among declining serotype 19A IPD isolates following PCV13 introduction.
Quantification of Viral Loads Lower than 50 Copies per Milliliter by Use of the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Test, Version 2.0, Can Predict the Likelihood of Subsequent Virological Rebound to >50 Copies per Milliliter
Authors: Álvarez Estévez Marta , Chueca Porcuna Natalia , Guillot Suay Vicente , Peña Monge Alejandro , García García Fernando , Muñoz Medina Leopoldo , Vinuesa García David , Parra Ruiz Jorge , Hernández-Quero Jose , García García Federico 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

After 1 year of follow-up, patients on HAART with a baseline viral load (VL) of <20 copies/ml showed significantly lower odds of virological rebound to two consecutive VLs of >50 copies/ml than those with baseline VLs of 20 to 39 and 40 to 49 (
P
< 0.001). The time to virological rebound was also significantly shorter (
P
< 0.001) for the groups with baseline VLs of 20 to 39 and 40 to 49.
Varicella-Like Cutaneous Toxoplasmosis in a Patient with Aplastic Anemia
Authors: Zimmermann Stefan , Hadaschik Eva , Dalpke Alexander , Hassel Jessica C. , Ajzenberg Daniel , Tenner-Racz Klara , Lehners Nicola , Kapaun Annette , Schnitzler Paul 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

A 60-year-old patient with aplastic anemia presented with vesicular varicella-like skin lesions on her face, arms, legs, back, and abdomen. However, diagnosis for herpetic infection was negative. Findings of a skin biopsy led to a tentative histologic diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, and infection with
Toxoplasma gondii
was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and PCR. Cutaneous toxoplasmosis is a rare finding in immunocompromised patients and might mimic other infectious diseases, and vesicular lesions associated with toxoplasmosis have not been reported previously.
Controlled Multicenter Evaluation of a Bacteriophage-Based Method for Rapid Detection of Staphylococcus aureus in Positive Blood Cultures
Authors: Bhowmick T. , Mirrett S. , Reller L. B. , Price C. , Qi C. , Weinstein M. P. , Kirn T. J. 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

Staphylococci are a frequent cause of bloodstream infections (BSIs). Appropriate antibiotic treatment for BSIs may be delayed because conventional laboratory testing methods take 48 to 72 h to identify and characterize isolates from positive blood cultures. We evaluated a novel assay based on bacteriophage amplification that identifies
Staphylococcus aureus
and differentiates between methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
(MSSA and MRSA, respectively) in samples taken directly from signal-positive Bactec blood culture bottles within 24 h of positive signal, with results available within 5 h. The performance of the MicroPhage KeyPath MRSA/MSSA blood culture test was compared to conventional identification and susceptibility testing methods. At four sites, we collectively tested a total of 1,165 specimens, of which 1,116 were included in our analysis. Compared to standard methods, the KeyPath MRSA/MSSA blood culture test demonstrated a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 91.8%, 98.3%, 96.3%, and 96.1%, respectively, for correctly identifying
S. aureus
. Of those correctly identified as
S. aureus
(
n
= 334), 99.1% were correctly categorized as either MSSA or MRSA. Analysis of a subset of the data revealed that the KeyPath MRSA/MSSA blood culture test delivered results a median of 30 h sooner than conventional methods (a median of 46.9 h versus a median of 16.9 h). Although the sensitivity of the test in detecting
S. aureus
-positive samples is not high, its accuracy in determining methicillin resistance and susceptibility among positives is very high. These characteristics may enable earlier implementation of appropriate antibiotic treatment for many
S. aureus
BSI patients.
Molecular Characterization of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Isolates Recovered from Children with Diarrhea during a 4-Year Period (2007 to 2010) in Bolivia
Authors: Gonzales Lucia , Sanchez Samanta , Zambrana Silvia , Iñiguez Volga , Wiklund Gudrun , Svennerholm Ann-Mari , Sjöling Åsa 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

Enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
(ETEC) is an important cause of childhood diarrhea. This study aimed to characterize ETEC strains isolated from Bolivian children aged <5 years according to enterotoxin profile, colonization factors (CFs), suggested virulence genes, and severity of disease. A total of 299 ETEC isolates recovered from children with diarrhea and 55 ETEC isolates from children without diarrhea (controls) were isolated over a period of 4 years. Strains expressing heat-labile toxin (LT) or heat-stable toxin (ST) alone were about equally common and twice as common as ETEC producing both toxins (20%). ETEC strains expressing human ST (STh) were more common in children aged <2 years, while ETEC strains expressing LT plus STh (LT/STh) were more frequent in 2- to 5-year-old children. Severity of disease was not related to the toxin profile of the strains. CF-positive isolates were more frequently identified in diarrheal samples than in control samples (
P
= 0.02). The most common CFs were CFA/I and CS14. CFA/I ETEC strains were more frequent in children aged <2 years than CS1+CS3 isolates and CS14 isolates, which were more prevalent in 2- to 5-year-old children. The presence of suggested ETEC virulence genes (
clyA
,
eatA
,
tia
,
tibC
,
leoA
, and
east-1
) was not associated with disease. However,
east-1
was associated with LT/STh strains (
P
< 0.001),
eatA
with STh strains (
P
< 0.001), and
tia
with LT/STh strains (
P
< 0.001). A minor seasonal peak of ETEC infections was identified in May during the cold-dry season and coincided with the peak of rotavirus infections; this pattern is unusual for ETEC and may be important for vaccination strategies in Bolivia.
Evaluation of Quantification of HIV-1 RNA Viral Load in Plasma and Dried Blood Spots by Use of the Semiautomated Cobas Amplicor Assay and the Fully Automated Cobas Ampliprep/TaqMan Assay, Version 2.0, in Kisumu, Kenya
Authors: Ouma Kenneth N. , Basavaraju Sridhar V. , Okonji Jully A. , Williamson John , Thomas Timothy K. , Mills Lisa A. , Nkengasong John N. , Zeh Clement 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT
In Kenya, HIV-1 viral load monitoring is commonly performed with the Cobas Amplicor using plasma specimens. Interest is growing in transitioning to real-time PCR (RT-PCR), such as the Cobas Ampliprep/Cobas TaqMan (CAP/CTM), using dried blood spots (DBS). Before implementation, direct evaluation of the two assays using DBS field specimens is required. This study compares the sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values (NPV and PPV, respectively), concordance, and agreement between HIV-1 viral load measurements using plasma and DBS specimens obtained from 512 HIV-1-infected pregnant females enrolled in the Kisumu Breastfeeding Study and tested with the Cobas Amplicor and CAP/CTM assays. The sensitivity and NPV of viral load detection in DBS specimens were higher with CAP/CTM (sensitivity, 100%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 99.1 to 100.0%; NPV, 100%; 95% CI, 59.0 to 100.0%) than the Cobas Amplicor (sensitivity, 96.6%; 95% CI, 94.3 to 98.1%; NPV, 58.8%; 95% CI, 40.7 to 75.4%). The PPVs were comparable between both assays when using DBS. The specificity of viral load detection in DBS specimens was lower with CAP/CTM (77.8%; 95% CI, 40.0 to 97.2%) than that of the Cobas Amplicor (95.2%; 95% CI, 76.2 to 99.9%). Good concordance and agreement were observed when paired plasma and DBS specimens were tested with both assays. Lower specificity with the CAP/CTM is likely due to proviral HIV-1 DNA amplification and lower detection limits with RT-PCR. However, the CAP/CTM has better sensitivity and higher throughput than the Cobas Amplicor. These findings suggest that DBS may be a suitable alternative to plasma when using RT-PCR, which could increase access to viral load monitoring in resource-limited settings.
Evaluation of Methods for Testing the Susceptibility of Clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates to Pyrazinamide
Authors: Cui Zhenling , Wang Jie , Lu Junmei , Huang Xiaochen , Zheng Ruijuan , Hu Zhongyi 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a first-line antituberculosis (anti-TB) drug capable of killing nonreplicating, persistent
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
. However, reliable testing of the susceptibility of
M. tuberculosis
to PZA is challenging. Using 432 clinical
M. tuberculosis
isolates, we compared the performances of five methods for the determination of
M. tuberculosis
susceptibility to PZA: the MGIT 960 system, the molecular drug susceptibility test (mDST), the pyrazinamidase (PZase) activity assay, the resazurin microtiter assay (REMA), and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction test. The sensitivities of the MGIT 960 system, the PZase activity assay, the mDST, the REMA, and the MTT assay were 98.8%, 88.8%, 90.5%, 98.8%, and 98.2%, respectively. The sensitivities of the PZase activity assay and the mDST were lower than those of the other three methods (
P
< 0.05). The specificities of the MGIT 960 system, the PZase activity assay, the mDST, the REMA and the MTT assays were 99.2%, 98.9%, 90.9%, 98.5%, and 100%, respectively. The specificity of the mDST was lower than those of the other four methods (
P
< 0.05). In conclusion, the MGIT 960 system, the MTT assay, and the REMA are superior to the PZase activity assay and the mDST in determining the susceptibility of
M. tuberculosis
to PZA. The MTT assay and the REMA might serve as alternative methods for clinical laboratories without access to the MGIT 960 system. For rapid testing in well-equipped laboratories, the mDST might be the best choice, particularly for small quantities of
M. tuberculosis
. The PZase activity assay has no obvious advantage in the assessment of
M. tuberculosis
susceptibility to PZA, as it is less accurate and requires larger quantities of bacteria.