Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protection against Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Vaginal Challenge by Using Sabin Poliovirus Vectors

ABSTRACT Here we provide the first report of protection against a vaginal challenge with a highly virulent simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) by using a vaccine vector. New poliovirus vectors based on Sabin 1 and 2 vaccine strain viruses were constructed, and these vectors were used to generate a series of new viruses containing SIV gag,pol, env, nef, andtat in overlapping fragments. Two cocktails of 20 transgenic polioviruses (SabRV1-SIV and SabRV2-SIV) were inoculated into seven cynomolgus macaques. All monkeys produced substantial anti-SIV serum and mucosal antibody responses. SIV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses were detected in three of seven monkeys after vaccination. All 7 vaccinated macaques, as well as 12 control macaques, were challenged vaginally with pathogenic SIVmac251. Strikingly, four of the seven vaccinated animals exhibited substantial protection against the vaginal SIV challenge. All 12 control monkeys became SIV positive. In two of the seven SabRV-SIV-vaccinated monkeys we found no virological evidence of infection following challenge, indicating that these two monkeys were completely protected. Two additional SabRV-SIV-vaccinated monkeys exhibited a pronounced reduction in postacute viremia to <103 copies/ml, suggesting that the vaccine elicited an effective cellular immune response. Three of six control animals developed clinical AIDS by 48 weeks postchallenge. In contrast, all seven vaccinated monkeys remained healthy as judged by all clinical parameters. These results demonstrate the efficacy of SabRV as a potential human vaccine vector, and they show that the use of a vaccine vector cocktail expressing an array of defined antigenic sequences can be an effective vaccination strategy in an outbred population.
‘Losing the joy’: student teachers’ experiences of problematic relations with host teachers on school placement

School placement is an essential part of student teachers’ professional learning. Yet in Scotland, as elsewhere, there is evidence of inconsistency in the nature and quality of the support that students receive in schools. This article draws on data from 16 Secondary English student teachers on the one‐year Professional Graduate Diploma in Education in a Scottish university and focuses on their experiences of problematic working relations with class teachers in two related school contexts: an informal, socio‐cultural context and a professional context. The article seeks to problematise school placement, challenging uncontested notions of its inherent value to professional learning. Findings suggest that the kind of relations that students are able to forge on placement with professional colleagues significantly affects their capacity for professional growth in a range of ways. The implications for developing partnership relations between Initial Teacher Education programmes, local authorities and placement schools are, finally, considered.
HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS: WHAT ARE THEY? WHERE ARE THEY?

Hispanic-serving educational institutions are receiving greater public attention as they continue to expand in number. Increasingly, more and more Latinos and other racial and ethnic students are enrolling in these institutions. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) are public and private two- and four-year colleges and universities with Latino enrollments of 25% or more full-time equivalent students. At least 68% of HSIs are community colleges which educate almost half of all Latinos enrolled in higher education. This article provides an overview of the history of HSIs, the educational conditions of Latinos, and the increasing importance of HSIs for this population. The focus is on community college HSIs because of their role in providing entry into higher education for most Latinos and a growing number of other racial and ethnic students. A critical multicultural perspective frames the discussion.
Oxygen supply maps for hypoxic microenvironment visualization in prostate cancer

Background: Intratumoral hypoxia plays an important role with regard to tumor biology and susceptibility to radio. and chemotherapy. For further investigation of hypoxia.related changes, areas of certain hypoxia must be reliably detected within cancer tissues. Pimonidazole, a 2.nitroimindazole, accumulates in hypoxic tissue and can be easily visualized using immunohistochemistry. Materials and Methods: To improve detection of highly hypoxic versus normoxic areas in prostate cancer, immunoreactivity of pimonidazole and a combination of known hypoxia.related proteins was used to create computational oxygen supply maps of prostate cancer. Pimonidazole was intravenously administered before radical prostatectomy in n = 15 patients, using the da Vinci robot.assisted surgical system. Prostatectomy specimens were immediately transferred into buffered formaldehyde, fixed overnight, and completely embedded in paraffin. Pimonidazole accumulation and hypoxia.related protein expression were visualized by immunohistochemistry. Oxygen supply maps were created using the normalized information from pimonidazole and hypoxia.related proteins. Results: Based on pimonidazole staining and other hypoxia.related proteins (osteopontin, hypoxia.inducible factor 1.alpha, and glucose transporter member 1) oxygen supply maps in prostate cancer were created. Overall, oxygen supply maps consisting of information from all hypoxia.related proteins showed high correlation and mutual information to the golden standard of pimonidazole. Here, we describe an improved computer.based ex vivo model for an accurate detection of oxygen supply in human prostate cancer tissue. Conclusions: This platform can be used for precise colocalization of novel candidate hypoxia.related proteins in a representative number of prostate cancer cases, and improve issues of single marker correlations. Furthermore, this study provides a source for further in situ tests and biochemical investigations
The effects of stress, temperature, and spin flips on polarization switching in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

We discuss the effect of uniaxial planar stress on polarization switching in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). The approach is based on an explicit form of a frequency-dependent complex susceptibility of the uniaxially stressed quantum-well semiconductor material. In this mesoscopic framework, we have taken cavity anisotropies, spin carrier dynamics, and thermal shift of the gain curve into account. In this way, we present a model that provides a global overview of the polarization switching phenomenon. The results are compared with experiments on an air-post VCSEL operating at 980 nm
A fast method for designing time-optimal gradient waveforms for arbitrary k-space trajectories

A fast and simple algorithm for designing time-optimal waveforms is presented. The algorithm accepts a given arbitrary multidimensional k-space trajectory as the input and outputs the time-optimal gradient waveform that traverses k-space along that path in minimum time. The algorithm is noniterative, and its run time is independent of the complexity of the curve, i.e., the number of switches between slew-rate limited acceleration, slew-rate limited deceleration, and gradient amplitude limited regions. The key in the method is that the gradient amplitude is designed as a function of arc length along the k-space trajectory, rather than as a function of time. Several trajectory design examples are presented.
Internal Colonialism: The Celtic Fringe in British National Development

Recent years have seen a resurgence of separatist sentiments among national minorities in many industrial societies, including the United Kingdom. In 1997, the Scottish and Welsh both set up their own parliamentary bodies, while the tragic events in Northern Ireland continued to be a reminder of the Irish problem. These phenomena call into question widely accepted social theories which assume that ethnic attachments in a society will wane as industrialization proceeds. This book presents the social basis of ethnic identity, and examines changes in the strength of ethnic solidarity in the United Kingdom during the 19th and 20th centuries. As well as being a case study, the work also has implications, as it suggests that the internal colonialism of the kind experienced in the British Isles has its analogues in the histories of other industrial societies. Hechter examines the unexpected persistence of ethnicity in the politics of industrial societies by focusing on the British Isles. Why do many of the inhabitants of Wales, Scotland and Ireland continue to maintain an ethnic identity opposed to England? Hechter explains the salience of ethnic identity by analyzing the relationships between England, the national core, and its periphery, the Celtic fringe, in the context of two alternative models of core-periphery relations in the industrial setting. The "diffusion" model suggests that intergroup contact leads to ethnic homogenization, and the "internal colonial" model, suggests such contact heightens distinctive ethnic identification. His findings lend support to the internal colonial model, and show that, although industrialization did contribute to a decline in interregional linguistic differences, it resulted neither in the cultural assimilation of Celtic lands, nor the development of regional economic equality. The study concludes that ethnic solidarity will inevitably emerge among groups which are relegated to inferior positions in a cultural division of labour.
Orientación de la aculturación de los adolescentes inmigrados en Cataluña: ¿Las variables socio-demográficas pueden marcar la diferencia?

Resumen Varios estudios han demostrado que la identificación con la cultura de acogida sin renunciar a la identificación con la cultura de origen, influye favorablemente en el ajuste escolar de los inmigrantes. En este estudio investigamos cómo intervienen las variables sociodemográficas en la orientación de la aculturación de 226 adolescentes inmigrados a Cataluña procedentes de diversos orígenes y pertenecientes a seis Institutos de Secundaria. Los datos fueron recopilados a través de cuestionarios. La comparación entre los grupos con distinta orientación de la aculturación no muestra diferencias significativas respecto a las variables sociodemográficas estudiadas. En cambio, las variables psicosociales relacionadas con el ajuste escolar, evaluadas por los docentes, diferencian claramente a los adolescentes que se identifican con ambas culturas. Los resultados se discuten en el contexto socioeducativo de una sociedad plural, a favor de la integración de los inmigrantes.
Joint Design of Asynchronous Sleep-Wake Scheduling and Opportunistic Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks

Designing a lifetime-maximization routing in wireless sensor networks poses a great challenge mainly due to unreliable wireless links and limited power supply. Recently, two natural advantages of opportunistic routing, i.e., path diversity and the improvement of transmission reliability, are exploited to develop a lifetime-extended opportunistic routing for wireless sensor networks. Besides, asynchronous sleep-wake scheduling is an effective mechanism to reduce energy consumption by appropriately arranging sensor nodes to sleep. Hence, in this paper, we propose a joint design of asynchronous sleep-wake schedules and opportunistic routing, called ASSORT, to maximize the network lifetime. Simulation results show that ASSORT effectively achieves network lifetime extension compared with other routing schemes.
Fast, slow, and steady-state effects of contralateral acoustic activation of the medial olivocochlear efferent system in awake guinea pigs: action of gentamicin.

The function of the medial olivocochlear efferent system was observed in awake guinea pigs by recording, in the absence of ipsilateral external acoustic stimulation, the ensemble background activity (EBA) of the VIIIth nerve from an electrode chronically implanted on the round window of one ear. The EBA was measured by calculating the power value of the round window signal in the 0.5- to 2.5-kHz band after digital or analog (active) filtering. This EBA was compared with and without the addition of a low-level broadband noise to the opposite ear. The contralateral broadband noise (CLBN, 55 dB SPL) induced, via the efferent system, a decrease (suppression) of this EBA. With the use of noise bursts of different durations, two components in this suppression could be observed. After the onset of a 1-s CLBN, the power value of the EBA decreased rapidly by 38.0 +/- 4.2% (mean +/- SD, n = 3), with a latency of <10 ms and a decay time constant of 13.1 +/- 1.0 ms (fast effect). At the offset of the 1-s CLBN, EBA came back to prestimulation values with a similar latency and a time constant of 15.5 +/- 2.9 ms. During longer CLBN stimulation (>/=1 min), EBA presented, after the fast decrease, an additional, slower decrease of 15.6 +/- 3.1%, with a delay of 9.8 +/- 1.3 s and a decay time constant of 16.1 +/- 5.0 s (n = 12, slow effect), and then remained remarkably constant for as long as observed, i.e., >2 h (steady state). The average global suppression was thus up to 47.8 +/- 5.8% of the basal, pre-CLBN-stimulation EBA value. At the offset of the CLBN, EBA returned to pre-CLBN level with fast and slow phases, with, for the slow phase, no delay and a time constant of 32.1 +/- 8.1 s. Fast and slow changes in EBA power values were observed after a single injection of gentamicin (GM) at different doses (150, 200, and 250 mg/kg). At 150 and 200 mg/kg, GM progressively and reversibly blocked the rapid effect, but the slow component of the efferent medial suppression remained remarkably unchanged. However, at higher doses both the fast and slow suppressions were totally yet still reversibly blocked. These observations indicate that the medial olivocochlear efferent system exerts sustained influences on outer hair cells and that this effect develops in two different steps that may have different basic cellular mechanisms.
Cullin 5 Regulates Cortical Layering by Modulating the Speed and Duration of Dab1-Dependent Neuronal Migration

The multilayered mammalian neocortex develops by the coordinated immigration and differentiation of cells that are produced at distant sites. Correct layering requires an extracellular protein, Reelin (Reln), an intracellular signaling molecule, Disabled-1 (Dab1), and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, Cullin-5 (Cul5). Reln activates Dab1, which is then degraded by Cul5. Here we test whether Cul5 regulates neuron layering by affecting Dab1 stability or other mechanisms. We find that a stabilized mutant Dab1, which resists Cul5-dependent degradation, causes a similar phenotype to Cul5 deficiency. Moreover, Cul5 has no effect when Dab1 is absent. The effects of Cul5 and Dab1 are cell autonomous, and Cul5 regulates movement of early as well as late cortical neurons. Removing Cul5 increases the speed at which neurons migrate through the cortical plate by reducing the time spent stationary and increasing the speed of individual steps. These results show that Cul5 regulates neuron layering by stimulating Dab1 degradation and that Cul5 controls migration speed and stopping point, and they demonstrate the importance of negative feedback in signaling during cortical development.
Antimycobacterial, antiprotozoal and cytotoxic potential of twenty‐one brown algae (phaeophyceae) from British and Irish waters

In the continuation of our research on seaweeds, crude extracts of 21 brown algae collected from the south coast of England and the west coast of Ireland were screened for in vitro trypanocidal, leishmanicidal and antimycobacterial activities. Mammalian stages of a small set of parasitic protozoa; i.e. Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, T. cruzi and Leishmania donovani, and the tubercle bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis were used as test organisms. The extracts were also evaluated for selectivity by testing on a mammalian cell line (L6 cells). Only four extracts were moderately active against T. cruzi, whereas all algal extracts showed significant activity against T. brucei rhodesiense, with Halidrys siliquosa and Bifurcaria bifurcata (Sargassaceae) being the most potent (IC50 values 1.2 and 1.9 μg/mL). All algal extracts also displayed leishmanicidal activity, with H. siliquosa and B. bifurcata again being the most active (IC50s 6.4 and 8.6 μg/mL). When tested against M. tuberculosis, only the B. bifurcata extract was found to have some antitubercular potential (MIC value 64.0 μg/mL). Only three seaweed extracts, i.e. H. siliquosa, B. bifurcata and Cystoseira tamariscifolia showed some cytotoxicity. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial activity of brown algae from British and Irish waters. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preserving Academic Diversity: Promises and Uncertainties of PAR as a Survival Strategy

This paper reports on our local initiative in an ongoing participatory action research (PAR) project with three academic communities in Helsinki. The project offers an opportunity to reflect on the nature of collaborative strategies in the context of university reforms. We critically examine PAR as an ideal and as a practice, and elaborate on its promises and uncertainties.
Turing's theory of morphogenesis of 1952 and the subsequent discovery of the crucial role of local self-enhancement and long-range inhibition

In his pioneering work, Alan Turing showed that de novo pattern formation is possible if two substances interact that differ in their diffusion range. Since then, we have shown that pattern formation is possible if, and only if, a self-enhancing reaction is coupled with an antagonistic process of longer range. Knowing this crucial condition has enabled us to include nonlinear interactions, which are required to design molecularly realistic interactions. Different reaction schemes and their relation to Turing's proposal are discussed and compared with more recent observations on the molecular–genetic level. The antagonistic reaction may be accomplished by an inhibitor that is produced in the activated region or by a depletion of a component that is used up during the self-enhancing reaction. The autocatalysis may be realized by an inhibition of an inhibition. Activating molecules can be processed into molecules that have an inhibiting function; patterning of the Wnt pathway is proposed to depend on such a mechanism. Three-component systems, as discussed in Turing's paper, are shown to play a major role in the generation of highly dynamic patterns that never reach a stable state.
A pilot study comparing the cognitive demand of walking for transfemoral amputees using the Intelligent Prosthesis with that using conventionally damped knees

Objective: To compare the cognitive demand of walking when using a conventional prosthesis with that using a microprocessor-controlled prosthesis. Design: Ten unilateral transfemoral amputees wearing conventional pneumatic swing phase control (conventional prosthesis) prostheses walked on a treadmill which enforced a pattern of constantly varying speeds. The subjects simultaneously performed a simple or a complex distracting task. Following a period of accustomization, the subjects performed the same test wearing a prosthesis with microprocessor control of swing phase damping (the Intelligent Prosthesis). Outcome measures: The three-dimensional trajectory (sway) of a retroreflective marker attached to the forehead was measured by a video-based motion analysis system, and used as a measure of gait quality. The ratio of the sway for the complex task over the simple task (the ‘automation index’) was used as a measure of the degree of automation of gait. Results: No significant differences were found in the automation index between the two devices. However, the total sway for the conventional prosthesis was significantly higher. Sway during the complex distracting task was significantly higher than during the simple task. Conclusions: The microprocessor-controlled prosthesis was not found to be less cognitively demanding than a conventional prosthesis.
“Keeping Dalston Different”: Defending Place-Identity in East London

Urban intensification is a key planning strategy in the UK, but one that is frequently resisted by local residents objecting to transformations of urban character. This paper is concerned with the factors that underlie such resistance, and with the opportunities for addressing them through the planning process. The paper relates a case-study of the East London district of Dalston where a mixed-use redevelopment project, strongly supported by local authorities, was fiercely resisted by residents who claimed that the existing character of the locality was being violated. Reflecting on the case through theories of place, gentrification, and planning process, we argue that resident resistance was not simply a case of self-interested NIMBYism, but a product of important differences in the ways that character was variously constructed and valued by local authorities and community members.
Induction of operational tolerance to discordant dopaminergic porcine xenografts1

Background. Porcine embryonic neural tissue transplanted intracerebrally could potentially relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease if the immune response toward the graft could be overcome. However, conventional immunosuppressive treatments have proven inefficient in preventing rejection. An alternative is blocking the costimulatory signals for lymphocyte activation. Treatment with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4Ig) and anti-CD40L has been successful in preventing rejection of xenografts in some experimental studies, but not all. Lymphocyte function antigen (LFA)-1 is an important costimulatory molecule for CD8+ T cells, and we hypothesize that blockade with anti-LFA-1 may enhance the efficacy of CTLA4Ig and anti-CD40L therapy. Methods. C57BL/6 mice received intracerebral transplants of ventral mesencephalic tissue from embryonic porcine donors. CTLA4Ig, anti-CD40L, and anti-LFA-1 were administered every other day on days 0 to 8, and the transplants were studied after 4 to 6 weeks. Grafts were histologically analyzed for size, survival of dopaminergic nerve cells, and immune responses. Recipients were challenged with cultured glia cells of donor origin or an allogeneic skin graft to evaluate tolerance induction. Results. Mice treated with all three substances had large grafts containing high amounts of dopamine cells but a low degree of immune response. Grafts in recipients challenged with glial cells showed an increased immunologic activity but were not rejected. Triple-treated mice showed a normal rejection process of the allogeneic skin grafts. Conclusion. After a short course of costimulation blocking therapy, discordant neural xenografts demonstrate long-term survival, withstand immunologic challenge, yet maintain host-versus-graft reactivity. Anti-LFA-1 complements CTLA4Ig and anti-CD40L in the induction of operational tolerance to these xenografts.
Disabled people's access to social work education--ways and means of promoting environmental change

Disabled people are under-represented among social workers. It is argued that this results in lack of diversity in the workforce and in reduced opportunities to make service delivery more inclusive. An audit tool is outlined which can be used to identify barriers and strengths at DipSW programme, university site, agency site and individual student level to disabled people entering social work education. Completed audits could then form the basis of DipSW Programme Development Plans or curriculum plans for individual students, as required. Review mechanisms at the different levels would help ensure that attention to planning and action does not get lost. Assessment issues and aspects of the practice teacher/student/tutor relationships are also discussed. Disability equality training is seen as a central component of audit and provision. The need for proactive, not reactive, policies is made clear.