Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth and effect of chlamydiae in human and bovine oviduct organ cultures

Organ cultures of 10 Fallopian tubes were inoculated with a genital strain of Chlamydia trachomatis and seven were infected. Infection was enhanced by centrifuging the organisms on to the tissues, larger numbers of organisms being reisolated from the tissues after this procedure. There was evidence of chlamydial multiplication because the number of organisms which were recovered from the tissues three to five days after inoculation had increased. Recovery was rare, however, after the sixth day, thus suggesting a self-limiting infection. Organ cultures of two bovine oviducts were infected with the bovine abortion strain of Chlamydia psittaci, but in these experiments centrifugation of the inocula did not enhance infection. The organisms were found in both the tissue and medium of cultures up to 18 days after inoculation and in much greater numbers than in the C. trachomatis-infected Fallopian cultures. Chlamydial infection was not entirely host-tissue specific, because C. trachomatis organisms were isolated from bovine oviduct cultures. Inclusions, however, were not detected histologically or electron microscopically in the epithelium of C. trachomatis-infected cultures, but they were detected by these means in C. psittaci-infected bovine cultures. All the elements of the chlamydial growth cycle were seen by electron microscopy, organisms being found in ciliated and possibly non-ciliated cells, and shedding of some infected epithelial cells was observed. No evidence of extensive epithelial cell damage was observed, however, and no loss of ciliary activity was detected in cultures infected with either C. trachomatis or C. psittaci when compared with uninoculated cultures. Thus acute salpingitis, when caused by chlamydial infection, is probably immunologically mediated.
In vitro fermentation profiles of palm kernel meal (PKM)-based diet supplemented with xylanase or cellulase using caecal digesta of broiler chickens as inoculums

In vitro fermentation profiles of palm kernel meal-based diet supplemented with or without xylanase and cellulase were investigated using broiler chickens caecal digesta as inoculum. Caecal digesta from 10 six week old male Cobb 500 broilers was diluted with pre-warmed anaerobic, sterile saline (9g/L NaCl) in a ratio of 1:5, and was used as inoculum. The PKM-based diet together with semi-defined medium and caecal inoculum was incubated in 100 ml glass syringe for 72 hours at 39±5 o C. In vitro fermentation kinetics was determined through the in vitro cumulative gas production technique. End products such as ammonia, VFAs, and in vitro dry matter degradability were also quantified. The in vitro study of PKM-based diet supplemented with or without xylanase did not show any different effect on the gas production rate. However, the amount of butyrate production was increased when enzyme was supplemented. Both xylanase and cellulase supplementation in PKM diet had significantly improved (P<0.05) the in vitro dry matter degradability of the PKM compared to unsupplemented PKM diet, which more prominent result shown by xylanase supplementation.
Financial Market Perceptions of Recession Risk

Over the Great Moderation period in the United States, we find that corporate credit spreads embed crucial information about the one-year-ahead probability of recession, as evidenced by both in- and out-of-sample fit. Furthermore, the incidence of “false positive” predictions of recession is dramatically reduced by utilizing a bivariate model that includes a measure of credit spreads along with the slope of the yield curve; indeed, these bivariate models provide much better forecasting performance than any combination of univariate models. We also find that optimal (Bayesian) model combination strongly dominates simple averaging of model forecasts in predicting recessions.
Disruption of Proprotein Convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) Expression in Mice Causes Innate Immune Defects and Uncontrolled Cytokine Secretion*

Background: PC1/3 is known for its role in neuroendocrine cells but not for its potential role in innate immunity. Results: PC1/3 knock-out mice express a dysfunctional phenotype characterized by uncontrolled cytokine secretion when challenged with lipopolysaccharide. Conclusion: PC1/3 regulates cytokine secretion in macrophages. Significance: Identifying the role of PC1/3 in macrophages will lead to a better understanding of cytokine regulation and innate immunity. The proprotein convertase 1/3 is expressed in the regulated secretory pathway of neural and endocrine cells. Its major function is in the post-translational processing and activation of precursor proteins. The PC1/3 knock-out (KO) mouse model has allowed us to elucidate its physiological functions in studies focused primarily on neuroendocrine tissues. However, PC1/3 is also expressed in cells of the immune system, mainly in macrophages. The present study explores the effects of innate immune challenge in the PC1/3 KO mouse. PC1/3 KO mice have an enlarged spleen with marked disorganization of the marginal zone and red pulp. Immunohistochemical studies using various markers demonstrate a depletion of dendritic cells in PC1/3 KO spleens. When challenged with lipopolysaccharide, PC1/3 KO mice are more susceptible to septic shock than wild-type controls or other PC KO mice, such as PC2 and PC7 null mice. Plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) were very significantly elevated in PC1/3 KO mice, consistent with a hypercytokinemia, i.e. indicative of a major systemic uncontrolled inflammatory response or cytokine storm. Peritoneal macrophages isolated from PC1/3 KO mice also demonstrate elevated cytokine secretion when treated with LPS. Electron micrographs show morphological features indicating a prolonged activation of these cells following LPS stimulation. We also present evidence that the proinflammatory Th1 pathway is dominant in the PC1/3 KO mouse model. We conclude that aside from its important role in neuroendocrine functions PC1/3 also has an important role in the regulation of the innate immune system, most likely through the regulation of cytokine secretion in macrophages.
Ex situ germination as a method for seed viability assessment in a peatland orchid, Platanthera blephariglottis.

UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY Assessing seed quality in orchids has been hindered by stringent germination requirements. Seed quality has traditionally been assessed in orchids using in vitro or in situ germination protocols or viability staining. However, these methods are not always well suited for rapid assessment of viability in the context of ecological studies. • METHODS The potential of an ex situ protocol for seed viability assessment of orchids in ecological studies was investigated by sowing seeds of Platanthera blephariglottis on Sphagnum moss collected in the orchid's natural habitat. Ex situ germination results were compared with those obtained by viability staining using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), and the effect of seed testa color on staining and germination results was investigated. • KEY RESULTS The ex situ protocol yielded high germination rates, with 66% of the seeds germinating after 9 wk. Depending on the seed testa color class, ex situ germination rates were about 1.4 to 2.5 times higher than viability rates determined using TTC, indicating that the TTC technique underestimated viability compared with the method using ex situ germination. The TTC estimates of viability rates were higher for seeds with dark-colored testae than for pale ones, whereas seed testa color had no effect on germination. • CONCLUSIONS Our study showed promising results for the use of ex situ germination as an alternative to previously developed protocols for seed viability assessment of orchids in ecological studies. Staining using TTC might not be well suited for this purpose, since it introduced a bias with respect to seed testa color.
Some recent developments in stochastic volatility modelling

Abstract This paper reviews and puts in context some of our recent work on stochastic volatility (SV) modelling for financial economics. Here our main focus is on: (i) the relationship between subordination and SV, (ii) OU based volatility models, (iii) exact option pricing, (iv) realized power variation and realized variance, (v) building multivariate models.
Animal performativity: Exploring the lives of donkeys in Botswana

Donkeys provide affordable and accessible means of transport, draught power and food security for smallholder farmers in and around Maun, Botswana. Their role and welfare is often compromised by people's extensive use of and inability to care for their animals given their individual or broader circumstances. Our paper explores the lives of donkeys and donkey-human relations in Botswana. We apply a feminist posthumanist iteration of performativity to illustrate and explain who the donkey is, what they experience, and the context within and through which these performances are constituted. Methodologically we merge tools from animal welfare science with social science to unearth donkey physical and emotional states of being, as well as the ways in which humans use, care for, and value donkeys in this particular context. Our findings reveal donkey subjectivities (experiences) characterized by relative drudgery, hardship, and compromised physical and emotional welfare; donkey subjects (identities) grounded in their marginalized status within government and everyday livelihood realms; and donkey spatiality (contextual factors) emerging from their performances as working animals, lesser than cattle, and pathways out of poverty. Contributions of our work include empirical insights on donkey-human relations, theoretical exploration of animal performativity, and methodological innovation investigating the lives of animals.
Monitoring of genes that respond to process-related stress in large-scale bioprocesses.

In large-scale aerobic fed-batch processes, cells are exposed to local zones of high glucose concentrations that can also cause local oxygen limitations at high cell densities. The mRNA levels of four stress genes (clpB, dnaK, uspA, and proU) and three genes responding to oxygen limitation or glucose excess (pfl, frd, and ackA) were investigated in an industrial 20-m(3) Escherichia coli process and in a scale-down reactor with defined high-glucose and low-oxygen zones. The mRNA levels of ackA and proU were high during the batch growth phase, but declined drastically when glucose became limited, whereas the mRNA levels of the other stress genes were relatively constant throughout the process. In the industrial-scale reactor, the stress gene mRNA levels were, in most cases, highest in the middle part and at the top of the reactor, where the substrate was fed. Cells passing through the high glucose zone of the scale-down reactor had elevated mRNA levels for the oxygen limitation genes and had also elevated heat-shock gene mRNA levels. Both responses to stress occurred within seconds. The approach presented in this study offers a tool for monitoring process-related changes in the transcriptional regulation of genes.
CULTURE AND WORK ALIENATION: WESTERN MODELS AND EASTERN REALITIES

Abstract This paper argues that the existing theoretical explanations of work alienation and corrective management practices developed in the Western world have Limited cross-cultural applicability. This argument is supported fist by identifying the cultural bias inherent in the Western explanatory models of alienation and then by indicating how such a bias fails to adequately explain work alienation and its opposite work involvement phenomena in Eastern societies Like India. Finally, the paper probes into the role of some critical indigenous variables responsible for the development of alienation among workers in India. The case of Indian workers provides an illustrative example of what is needed for alienation research in a developing country context: to avoid the folly of uncritically accepting the Western explanatory models and to encourage the discovery of indigenous explanations.
Dehumanisation and attitudes toward the punishment and rehabilitation of child sex offenders: A New Zealand study

Child sex offenders are a group often regarded as dangerous and high risk, leading to increased support for offender registration policies which monitor the whereabouts of offenders after release. These policies have the intended aim of increasing public safety, however a wide body of research supports the idea that negative attitudes towards offenders underlie the creation of these policies more than empirical evidence of their success. Dehumanisation is a psychological process that deprives others of characteristics unique to both human beings and human nature, which has been established to predict increased support for punishment and decreased support for rehabilitation for child sex offenders. The current study aimed to examine the role of dehumanisation in support for punishment and rehabilitation of child sex offenders throughout two studies: first via the undertaking of an online survey using a sample of 228 university students and members of the public, second throughout three focus groups containing a total of 22 university students and members of the public. Dehumanising attitudes in relation to preference between the RNR and GLM models, two key frameworks for child sex offender rehabilitation, were also examined for the first time in the current study. Findings indicated that: 1) both moral outrage and dehumanisation predicted support for harsher forms of punishment and withdrawn support for rehabilitation, 2) victim age did not impact dehumanisation scores, 3) type of offense impacted both dehumanisation and support for post-release monitoring and 4) dehumanisation did not predict RNR over GLM preference. Limitations of the current study and implications for policy and practice, future research regarding uniquely human characteristics, victim age and RNR/GLM preference are discussed.
Nut consumption in Spain and other countries

In countries of the Mediterranean region, nuts have been consumed in moderate quantities since ancient times. Epidemiological studies show lower risk of cardiovascular diseases in populations with frequent nut consumption, independent from other dietary components. This article assesses nut consumption in Spain and other countries using different sources of data collected at the country, household or individual levels. The per capita consumption of nuts in Spain in 2001 was 7·9 g/person/d. The varieties most widely consumed are walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and peanuts. Results of the eVe study estimate an average nut consumption in the Spanish population aged 25–60 years of 3·3 g/person/d. No significant statistical differences were observed between men and women. Consumption is higher in men aged between 35 and 44 years (4·5 g/d) and in women aged between 45 and 54 years (3·5 g/d). In the population of 2–24 years, according to the enKid study, nut consumption is estimated at 4·9±18·5 g/person per d. The age group with the highest consumption is teenagers between 14 and 17 years. The northeastern, northern and eastern regions of Spain show the highest consumption. According to FAO balance sheets, in 2001, Lebanon (16·5 kg/person peryear) and Greece (11·9 kg/person per year) were the countries in the Mediterranean region with the highest consumption of nuts, followed by Spain (7·3 kg/person per year), Israel and Italy.
METABOLIC POLYMORPHISMS AND URINARY BIOMARKERS IN SUBJECTS WITH LOW BENZENE EXPOSURE

The effect of some common metabolic polymorphisms on the rate of trans,trans -muconic acid (TMA) and S -phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) excretion was investigated in 169 policemen exposed to low benzene levels (<10 µg/m 3 ) during the work shift. End-shift urinary concentrations of TMA and SPMA, normalized to unmetabolized blood benzene concentration, were used as indicators of individual metabolic capacity. CYP2E1, NQO1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 polymorphisms were analyzed in all subjects by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length (RFL). The results obtained show significantly elevated levels of TMA and SPMA in urine of smokers compared to nonsmokers, whereas no correlation with environmental benzene was observed. TMA/blood benzene ratio was partially modulated by glutathione S -transferase (GST) genotypes, with significantly higher values in null individuals (GSTM1 and GSTT1 combined). However, a greater fraction of total variance of TMA/blood benzene in the study population was explained by other independent variables, that is, season of sampling, smoking habits, and gender. Variance in SPMA/blood benzene ratio was only associated with smoking and occupation, whereas no significant role was observed for the metabolic polymorphisms considered. These results suggest that in a population exposed to very low benzene concentrations, urinary TMA and SPMA levels are affected to a limited extent by metabolic polymorphisms, whereas other factors, such as gender, lifestyle, or other confounders, may account for a larger fraction of the interindividual variability of these biomarkers.
Perceived Quality Of Life Among Wives Of Alcoholics And Wives Of Non-alcoholics - A Comparative Study

According to the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) "Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors in uencing its development and manifestations. Alcohol dependency is seen as the world's highly prevalent public health problem and therefore alcohol dependency is a matter of serious concern not con ned to any group, culture or country. It is a complex disorder with physical, psychological and social aspects having far reaching harmful effects on the individual, family and society. Alcohol consumption is one of the ancient and complex disorders known in the history of mankind. It is an illness that adversely affects the life of the individual as well as the lives of those around them (Tomelleri et al., 1997).
Analysis of N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase protein and kinetics in mucopolysaccharidosis type VI patients.

A sensitive and specific, monoclonal antibody-based immunoquantification assay has facilitated determination of the N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase (4-sulfatase) protein content in cultured fibroblasts from normal controls and mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI) patients. The assay enabled the quantification of 4-sulfatase protein by using a panel of seven monoclonal antibodies and has shown that fibroblasts from 16 MPS VI patients contained less than or equal to 5% of the level determined for normal controls. Fibroblasts from the most severely affected patients contained the lowest levels of 4-sulfatase protein, usually with few epitopes detected, while fibroblasts from mildly affected patients had higher levels of 4-sulfatase protein, with all seven epitopes detected. The pattern of epitope expression is proposed to reflect the conformational changes in the 4-sulfatase protein that arise from different mutations in the 4-sulfatase gene. Immunoquantification in combination with a specific and highly sensitive 4-sulfated trisaccharide-based assay of enzyme activity in these MPS VI patient fibroblasts enabled the determination of residual 4-sulfatase catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km). The capacity of fibroblasts to degrade substrate (catalytic capacity) was calculated as the product of 4-sulfatase catalytic efficiency and the content of 4-sulfatase in fibroblasts. One patient, 2357, with no clinical signs of MPS VI but with reduced 4-sulfatase activity and protein (both 5% of normal) and dermatansulfaturia, had 5% of normal catalytic capacity. The other 15 MPS VI patient fibroblasts had 0%-1.4% of the catalytic capacity of fibroblasts from normal controls and were representative of the spectrum of MPS VI clinical phenotypes, from severe to mild. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Interconnection between actin cytoskeleton and plant defense signaling

Actin cytoskeleton is the fundamental structural component of eukaryotic cells. It has a role in numerous elementary cellular processes such as reproduction, development and also in response to abiotic and biotic stimuli. Remarkably, the role of actin cytoskeleton in plant response to pathogens is getting to be under magnifying glass. Based on microscopic studies, most of the data showed, that actin plays an important role in formation of physiological barrier in the site of infection. Actin dynamics is involved in the transport of antimicrobial compounds and cell wall fortifying components (e.g. callose) to the site of infection. Also the role in PTI (pathogen triggered immunity) and ETI (effector triggered immunity) was recently indicated. On the other hand much less is known about the transcriptome reprogramming upon changes in actin dynamics. Our recently published results showed that drugs inhibiting actin polymerization (latrunculin B, cytochalasin E) cause the induction of genes which are involved in salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway. In this addendum we would like to highlight in more details current state of knowledge concerning the involvement of actin dynamics in plant defense signaling.
Sleeping Experts and Bandits with Stochastic Action Availability and Adversarial Rewards

We consider the problem of selecting actions in order to maximize rewards chosen by an adversary, where the set of actions available on any given round is selected stochastically. We present the first polynomial-time no-regret algorithm for this setting. In the full-observation (experts) version of the problem, we present an exponential-weights algorithm that achieves regret O( p T logn), which is the best possible. For the bandit setting (where the algorithm only observes the reward of the action selected), we present a no-regret algorithm based on follow-theperturbed-leader. This algorithm runs in polynomial time, unlike the EXP4 algorithm which can also be applied to this setting. Our algorithm has the interesting interpretation of solving a geometric experts problem where the actual embedding is never explicitly constructed. We argue that this adversarialreward, stochastic-availability formulation is important in practice, as assuming stationary stochastic rewards is unrealistic in many domains.