Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Different Genetic Associations of the IgE Production among Fetus, Infancy and Childhood

Elevation of serum IgE levels has long been associated with allergic diseases. Many genes have been linked to IgE production, but few have been linked to the developmental aspects of genetic association with IgE production. To clarify developmental genetic association, we investigated what genes and gene-gene interactions affect IgE levels among fetus, infancy and childhood in Taiwan individuals. A birth cohort of 571 children with completion of IgE measurements from newborn to 1.5, 3, and 6 years of age was subject to genetic association analysis on the 384-customized SNPs of 159 allergy candidate genes. Fifty-three SNPs in 37 genes on innate and adaptive immunity, and stress and response were associated with IgE production. Polymorphisms of the IL13, and the HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DQA1 were, respectively, the most significantly associated with the IgE production at newborn and 6 years of age. Analyses of gene-gene interactions indentified that the combination of NPSR1, rs324981 TT with FGF1, rs2282797 CC had the highest risk (85.7%) of IgE elevation at 1.5 years of age (P = 1.46×10−4). The combination of IL13, CYFIP2 and PDE2A was significantly associated with IgE elevation at 3 years of age (P = 5.98×10−7), and the combination of CLEC2D, COLEC11 and CCL2 was significantly associated with IgE elevation at 6 years of age (P = 6.65×10−7). Our study showed that the genetic association profiles of the IgE production among fetus, infancy and childhood are different. Genetic markers for early prediction and prevention of allergic sensitization may rely on age-based genetic association profiles.
The collective intelligence of random small crowds: A partial replication of Kosinski et al. (2012)

We examined the trade-off between the cost of response redundancy and the gain in output quality on the popular crowdsourcing platform Mechanical Turk, as a partial replication of Kosinski et al. (2012) who demonstrated a significant improvement in performance by aggregating multiple responses through majority vote. We submitted single items from a validated intelligence test as Human Intelligence Tasks (HITs) and aggregated the responses from “virtual groups” consisting of 1 to 24 workers. While the original study relied on resampling from a relatively small number of responses across a range of experimental conditions, we randomly and independently sampled from a large number of HITs, focusing only on the main effect of group size. We found that – on average – a group of six MTurkers has a collective IQ one standard deviation above the mean for the general population, thus demonstrating a “wisdom of the crowd” effect. The relationship between group size and collective IQ was characterised by diminishing returns, suggesting moderately sized groups provide the best return on investment. We also analysed performance of a smaller subset of workers who had each completed all 60 test items, allowing for a direct comparison between a group’s collective IQ and the individual IQ of its members. This demonstrated that randomly selected groups collectively equalled the performance of the best-performing individual within the group. Our findings support the idea that substantial intellectual capacity can be gained through crowdsourcing, contingent on moderate redundancy built into the task request.
Pengaruh Citra Perguruan Tinggi dan Kompetensi Dosen terhadap Loyalitas Mahasiswa melalui Kepuasan Mahasiswa Pada Perguruan Tinggi Swasta (Studi pada IKIP PGRI Bojonegoro)

Penelitian ini bertujuan menguji dan menganalisis pengaruh langsung citra perguruan tinggi dan kompetensi dosen terhadap kepuasan mahasiswa dan loyalitas mahasiswa. Penelitian ini juga menguji dan menganalisis pengaruh tidak langsung citra perguruan tinggi dan kompetensi dosen terhadap loyalitas mahasiswa dengan kepuasan mahasiswa sebagai variabel mediasi. Sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah mahasiswa IKIP PGRI Bojonegoro metode pengambilan sampel simple random sampling. Jumlah responden yang berpartisipasi dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 100 responden. Metode dan alat analisis adalah untuk menguji hipotesis adalah Path Analisis. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa citra perguruan tinggi memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap kepuasan mahasiswa, kompetensi dosen berpengaruh signifikan terhadap kepuasan mahasiswa, citra perguruan tinggi tidak berpengaruh terhadap loyalitas mahasiswa, kompetensi dosen tidak berpengaruh terhadap loyalitas mahasiswa, kepuasan mahasiswa berpengaruh signifikan terhadap loyalitas mahasiswa, serta kepuasan mahasiswa memediasi citra perguruan tinggi terhadap loyalitas mahasiswa, dan kepuasan mahasiswa memediasi pengaruh kompetensi dosen terhadap loyalitas pelanggan.
Suppression of corneal neovascularization by PEDF release from human amniotic membranes.

PURPOSE Human amniotic membrane (HAM) transplantation is commonly used in corneal surface reconstruction and is known to inhibit neovascularization of this tissue. The purpose of the present study is to reveal the molecular basis underlying antiangiogenic activity of HAM. METHODS The effects of HAM protein on proliferation of vascular endothelial cells and corneal epithelial cells were determined by quantifying viable cells using the MTT assay. The presence of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in HAM was demonstrated at the protein level by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody specific to human PEDF. The PEDF concentration was measured by a specific ELISA. The expression of PEDF in HAM was confirmed at the RNA level by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. RESULTS Soluble proteins from HAM inhibited proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and bovine retinal capillary endothelial cells (BRCECs) while promoting proliferation of bovine cornea epithelial cells. Moreover, the HAM-induced inhibition of BRCECs was neutralized by a specific anti-PEDF antibody. PEDF protein was identified with an abundance of 103.84 +/- 33.21 ng/mg of soluble proteins, which is comparable to that in the retina, a PEDF-rich tissue. PEDF expression was predominantly localized in the basement membrane of HAM. RT-PCR using specific PEDF primers amplified a single product from HAM RNA. The PCR product has a sequence identical with that of human PEDF. CONCLUSION HAM specifically inhibits endothelial cell growth and thus suppresses neovascularization in the cornea. PEDF in HAM has a major role in eliciting this antiangiogenic activity.
Putting things in focus: establishing co-orientation through video in context

In collaborative video communication systems, establishing co-orientation around physical objects, virtual objects and people is a critical requirement. This is problematic as the technical limitations of video fractures the display of conduct in the connected environments. We present the results of a study of one collaborative system, CamBlend, which aims to alleviate some of these problems by using screen based pointing tools to both physical spaces and virtual resources. We report on how participants achieved co-orientation when using this system. We relate these findings to previous research into the fractured ecologies of collaborative spaces, describing how the form and nature of fractures in CamBlend differ from earlier reported work.
Function and Concatenation

For any sentence of a natural language, we can ask the following questions: what is its meaning; what is its syntactic structure; and how is its meaning related to its syntactic structure? Attending to these questions, as they apply to sentences that provide evidence for Davidsonian event analyses, suggests that we reconsider some traditional views about how the syntax of a natural sentence is related to its meaning. Many theorists have held, at least as an idealization, that every phrase–and in particular, every verb phrase–consists of (i) an expression semantically associated with some function, and (ii ) an expression semantically associated with some element in the domain of that function. On this view, which makes it comfortable to speak of both verbs and functions as taking arguments, each phrase is semantically associated with the value of the relevant function given the relevant argument(s); the semantic contribution of natural language syntax is function-application, as in a Fregean Begriffschrift; and the meaning of a sentence is determined by the meanings of ’s constituents, in the way that the sum of two numbers is determined by those numbers and the addition function. I want to urge a different conception of natural language semantics. Some recent work suggests that phrases are concatenations of predicates, where a complex predicate of the form ^ is satisfied by those things that satisfy both and . On this view, which is motivated by certain eventish hypotheses about the logical forms of natural sentences, the semantic contribution of syntactic branching is predicate-conjunction and not function-application. There is a corresponding sense in which sentences of natural language do not manifest their logical forms. But syntactic structure may still determine logical form; although opportunities for confusion abound, especially if ‘ logical form’ is understood in terms of notions like ‘good inference’ . 1. Background Let’s assume that (1) has the syntactic structure indicated in (1S):
Type I interferon signaling in hematopoietic cells is required for survival in mouse polymicrobial sepsis by regulating CXCL10

Type I interferon (IFN) α/β is critical for host defense. During endotoxicosis or highly lethal bacterial infections where systemic inflammation predominates, mice deficient in IFN-α/β receptor (IFNAR) display decreased systemic inflammation and improved outcome. However, human sepsis mortality often occurs during a prolonged period of immunosuppression and not from exaggerated inflammation. We used a low lethality cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis to determine the role of type I IFNs in host defense during sepsis. Despite increased endotoxin resistance, IFNAR−/− and chimeric mice lacking IFNAR in hematopoietic cells display increased mortality to CLP. This was not associated with an altered early systemic inflammatory response, except for decreased CXCL10 production. IFNAR−/− mice display persistently elevated peritoneal bacterial counts compared with wild-type mice, reduced peritoneal neutrophil recruitment, and recruitment of neutrophils with poor phagocytic function despite normal to enhanced adaptive immune function during sepsis. Importantly, CXCL10 treatment of IFNAR−/− mice improves survival and decreases peritoneal bacterial loads, and CXCL10 increases mouse and human neutrophil phagocytosis. Using a low lethality sepsis model, we identify a critical role of type I IFN–dependent CXCL10 in host defense during polymicrobial sepsis by increasing neutrophil recruitment and function.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Clinical Studies as Templates for New Anticancer Agents

Histone dacetylases (HDACs) are a group of enzymes that remove acetyl groups from histones and regulate expression of tumor suppressor genes. They are implicated in many human diseases, especially cancer, making them a promising therapeutic target for treatment of the latter by developing a wide variety of inhibitors. HDAC inhibitors interfere with HDAC activity and regulate biological events, such as cell cycle, differentiation and apoptosis in cancer cells. As a result, HDAC inhibitor-based therapies have gained much attention for cancer treatment. To date, the FDA has approved three HDAC inhibitors for cutaneous/peripheral T-cell lymphoma and many more HDAC inhibitors are in different stages of clinical development for the treatment of hematological malignancies as well as solid tumors. In the intensifying efforts to discover new, hopefully more therapeutically efficacious HDAC inhibitors, molecular modeling-based rational drug design has played an important role in identifying potential inhibitors that vary in molecular structures and properties. In this review, we summarize four major structural classes of HDAC inhibitors that are in clinical trials and different computer modeling tools available for their structural modifications as a guide to discover additional HDAC inhibitors with greater therapeutic utility.
Dynamic learning and memory, synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis: an update

Mammalian memory is the result of the interaction of millions of neurons in the brain and their coordinated activity. Candidate mechanisms for memory are synaptic plasticity changes, such as long-term potentiation (LTP). LTP is essentially an electrophysiological phenomenon manifested in hours-lasting increase on postsynaptic potentials after synapse tetanization. It is thought to ensure long-term changes in synaptic efficacy in distributed networks, leading to persistent changes in the behavioral patterns, actions and choices, which are often interpreted as the retention of information, i.e., memory. Interestingly, new neurons are born in the mammalian brain and adult hippocampal neurogenesis is proposed to provide a substrate for dynamic and flexible aspects of behavior such as pattern separation, prevention of interference, flexibility of behavior and memory resolution. This work provides a brief review on the memory and involvement of LTP and adult neurogenesis in memory phenomena.
Precision Measurement of the Proton Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays from Rigidity 1 GV to 1.8 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station.

A precise measurement of the proton flux in primary cosmic rays with rigidity (momentum/charge) from 1 GV to 1.8 TV is presented based on 300 million events. Knowledge of the rigidity dependence of the proton flux is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. We present the detailed variation with rigidity of the flux spectral index for the first time. The spectral index progressively hardens at high rigidities.
Stellar evolution with rotation and magnetic fields - IV. The solar rotation profile

We examine the generation of a magnetic field in a solar-like star and its effects on the internal distribution of the angular velocity. We suggest that the evolution of a rotating star with magnetic fields leads to an equilibrium value of the differential rotation. This equilibrium is determined by the magnetic coupling, which favours a constant rotation profile, and meridional circulation which tends to build differential rotation. The global equilibrium stage is close to solid body rotation between about 0.7 and 0.2 $R_{\odot}$, in good agreement with helioseismic measurements.
Peace Under Pressure: Portraits of Christian Leadership in College Basketball Coaches

NCAA Division I college basketball coaching is a high-stakes, high-reward profession. This study is based on three premises: (a) there is increasing pressure on college basketball coaches to win immediately and win consistently; (b) coaches are expected to maintain their integrity; (c) the pressure to win immediately and win consistently can influence some coaches to compromise their integrity. Given that context, the purpose of this study was to investigate and illuminate the lived experience of Christian head men’s and women’s basketball coaches at public, NCAA Division I institutions. This study was guided by two guiding research questions: (a) What is the lived experience of both men’s and women’s head basketball coaches at public, NCAA, DI institutions who self-identify as Christian? ; (b) How does their religion influence the coaches’ leadership style? This study was a qualitative inquiry in the interpretivist, or constructivist paradigm. The research design included the methodology of portraiture. Sources of data for analysis from the four participants included qualitative content analysis of team media guides, official team websites and newspapers, interviews, and observations of a gameday practice and an actual game. In portraiture, the researcher’s voice is not muted, but transparently integrated into the final grand composition (Lawrence-Lightfoot & Davis, 1997). The findings demonstrated that (a) the four participants placed importance on their religious communities, despite frequent moves and hectic schedules; (b) their Christian faith provided them a broader perspective than just winning and losing that mitigated the highpressure demands of the job; (c) that the coaches demonstrated a heart of service for their players and communities, which was rooted in their faith. As a group, the coaches’ leadership style was
Coexistence and different determinants of posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic growth among Chinese survivors after earthquake: role of resilience and rumination

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) are two different outcomes that may occur after experiencing traumatic events. Resilience and rumination are two important factors that determine the development of these outcomes after trauma. We investigated the association between these two factors, PTSD and PTG, among Chinese survivors in an earthquake. With a convenience sample of 318 survivors from earthquake, we measured trauma exposure, PTSD, PTG, resilience, and rumination (Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, 10 item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, Ruminative Response Scale). Then we used bivariate correlation and structural equation modeling to examine the structure of relations among these factors. Results showed that resilience and reflective rumination have a positive effect on PTG (β = 0.32, p < 0.001; β = 0.17, p = 0.049). Earthquake exposure, brooding rumination and depressed-related rumination are related with higher level of PTSD (β = 0.10, p = 0.021; β = 0.33, p < 0.001; β = 0.36, p < 0.001). The findings suggest distinct determinants of the negative and positive outcomes, and this may provide better understanding about the risk and protective factors for traumatic reactions.
Using panel econometric methods to estimate the effect of milk consumption on the mortality rate of prostate and ovarian cancer

Recently prostate and ovarian cancer has been related to milk consumption. However, existing observational studies based on country level data do not attempt to identify causal effects since they are only based on simple cross-sectional analyses. This paper takes a step toward estimating of causal effects of milk consumption on cancer by applying panel econometric models and by using the within-country variation of the mortality rates and food consumption instead of the between-country variation in a panel of up to 50 countries for 1990 to 2008. Possible methodological problems arising from omitted variables (confounding factors), heterogeneity, and outliers are carefully discussed and a wide range of recent panel econometric estimators are applied. The results indicate fairly well that milk consumption increases both the mortality rate of prostate cancer as well as the mortality rate of ovarian cancer. The estimated effects are also important in quantitative terms, i.e., a reduction in the consumption of milk products can reduce the number of people dying of prostate and ovarian cancer appreciably. Furthermore, the consumption of other animal food products as well as sugar seems to be harmful. For the mortality rate of ovarian cancer we find that total calories intake increases the mortality rate too.
Purification and Characterization of Alkaline-Thermostable Protease Enzyme from Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) Waste: A Potential Low Cost of the Enzyme

The thermoalkaline protease enzyme from pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) waste was purified by a factor of 221.2 with 71.3% recovery using ammonium sulphate precipitation, gel filtration, and cation exchange chromatography. Gel filtration chromatography together with sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that the enzyme is monomeric with a molecular weight of 26.7 kDa. The apparent K m and V max of the protease were 2.8 mg/mL and 31.20 u/min, respectively. The optimum pH and temperature were 8.0 and 70°C. The enzyme was highly active and stable over a wide pH range (from pH 3.0 to pH 11.0 with the optimum activity at pH 8.0). The protease has broad specificity toward azocasein, casein, hemoglobin, and gelatine. Activity of the enzyme was inhibited by Fe2+ and Zn2+, while protease activity was increased in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ and Cu2+ by factors of 125%, 110%, and 105%, respectively. The alkaline protease showed extreme stability toward surfactants and oxidizing agent. The purified protease exhibited extreme stability in the presence of organic solvents and inhibitors. In addition, the enzyme was relativity stable toward organic solvents and chelating agents, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The enzyme, derived from pitaya peel, possesses unique characteristics and could be used in various industrial and biotechnological applications.
Analysis of SIP-Based Threats Using a VoIP Honeynet System

Current security issues like service misuse and fraud are well-known problems of SIP-based networks. To design and evolve effective countermeasures, it is important to know how these attacks are launched in reality. For gathering the required data, a specialized SIP Honeynet System has been implemented and operated since December 2009 which has recorded over 47.5 million SIP messages in total. Over time, based on our Honeypot experiences, we developed essential improvements such as global monitoring of whole subnets, clustering of SIP messages or bidirectional SIP message correlation. In this paper, we first describe these system extensions and demonstrate their benefits. Then we provide an analysis of gathered data which goes beyond pure statistical packet analysis. We identify, analyze and correlate the distinct phases of typical multistage attacks and also provide an example of a full attack sequence resulting in attempts to make Toll Fraud calls via a hijacked SIP account.
Evaluation of the Protective Efficacy of Poly I:C as an Adjuvant for H9N2 Subtype Avian Influenza Inactivated Vaccine and Its Mechanism of Action in Ducks

Current commercial H9 avian influenza vaccines cannot provide satisfactory protective immunity against antigenic variant influenza viruses in ducks. Poly I:C, when used as an adjuvant, improves humoral and cellular immunity in many animals but has not been tested in ducks. In this study, we investigated the protective efficacy of Poly I:C as an adjuvant for an inactivated H9N2 Avian influenza vaccine in ducks. We found that an H9N2 vaccine administered with poly I:C (H9-PIC vaccine) induced a significantly more rapid response with higher anti-influenza antibody titers than those of the vaccine alone (H9 vaccine). Moreover, virus shedding was reduced in ducks immunized with the H9-PIC vaccine after challenge with an H9 subtype antigenic variant viruses. IFN-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and MHC-II mRNA levels were all elevated in ducks receiving the H9-PIC vaccine. In addition, lower expression level of MHC-I may be a reason for inefficient protective ability against heterologous influenza viruses in H9-PIC vaccination of ducks. In conclusion, poly I:C adjuvant enhanced both humoral and cellular immune responses in ducks induced by immunization of inactivated H9N2 vaccine.
Children's physical activity, health and physical education in isolated rural contexts:

This paper describes the views of parent educators of their childrens levels and types of phtsical activity. The study was conducted at two mini-schools in western Queensland. 'These are occasions where students who undertake formal education through various Schools of Distance Education come together for a week of educational activity. Parents (mostly mothers) were imerviewed using a semi-structured approach. The interview data were analysed for dominant themes themes using a constant comparison method. The emergent themes related to nutrition and physical activity. Within the physical aclivity theme, notions of the great outdoors; work and organised sport skill development also emerged.