Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunologic Self-Tolerance Maintained by Cd25+Cd4+Regulatory T Cells Constitutively Expressing Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte–Associated Antigen 4

This report shows that cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) plays a key role in T cell–mediated dominant immunologic self-tolerance. In vivo blockade of CTLA-4 for a limited period in normal mice leads to spontaneous development of chronic organ-specific autoimmune diseases, which are immunopathologically similar to human counterparts. In normal naive mice, CTLA-4 is constitutively expressed on CD25+CD4+ T cells, which constitute 5–10% of peripheral CD4+ T cells. When the CD25+CD4+ T cells are stimulated via the T cell receptor in vitro, they potently suppress antigen-specific and polyclonal activation and proliferation of other T cells, including CTLA-4–deficient T cells, and blockade of CTLA-4 abrogates the suppression. CD28-deficient CD25+CD4+ T cells can also suppress normal T cells, indicating that CD28 is dispensable for activation of the regulatory T cells. Thus, the CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cell population engaged in dominant self-tolerance may require CTLA-4 but not CD28 as a costimulatory molecule for its functional activation. Furthermore, interference with this role of CTLA-4 suffices to elicit autoimmune disease in otherwise normal animals, presumably through affecting CD25+CD4+ T cell–mediated control of self-reactive T cells. This unique function of CTLA-4 could be exploited to potentiate T cell–mediated immunoregulation, and thereby to induce immunologic tolerance or to control autoimmunity.
Social, familial and psychological risk factors for psychosis: A birth cohort study using the Danish Registry System

A broad range of biological, genetic, environmental, and psychological risk factors for psychosis have been reported. Large-scale cohort studies using registry data are a reliable means of measuring the impact of these risk factors; however, previous studies employing this methodology have focused on a narrow range of variables. The aim of this study was to use data from a large birth cohort to examine the associations between ICD-10 psychotic diagnosis and a broad range of familial factors (advanced paternal age, family dissolution, parental psychosis), environmental factors (urbanicity, deprivation), psychological factors (childhood adversity) and gender. Data came from the Danish Civil Registration System and the Danish Psychiatric Central Register (N = 54,458). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis indicated that five of the seven risk factors conferred unique risk for psychosis, with familial history and childhood adversity having the strongest effects. Overall, these findings indicate that familial, environmental and psychological risk factors confer unique risk for psychotic disorder.
Tomorrow's educators … today? Implementing near-peer teaching for medical students

Background: The University of Adelaide offers a six-year undergraduate medical degree with a focus on small group learning. Senior medical students had previously received limited formal training in education skills, and were identified as an underutilised teaching resource. Aims: To devise a programme in which senior students are exposed to the various facets of university teaching responsibilities and to evaluate its impact on both the tutors and the students. Methods: A six week rotation in medical education for final year medical students was designed and implemented in 2010 to involve them in the development, delivery and assessment of the 1st and 2nd year medical programme as near-peer tutors (NPTs). Results: Two years after the rotation's implementation, voluntary evaluation of both the junior students and NPTs was undertaken through a mixed methods approach of survey and focus group. Junior students (n = 358) revealed the NPTs provided non-threatening learning environments, provided helpful feedback and acted as role models. Additionally, the NPTs (n = 24) reported they had consolidated prior knowledge, developed their teaching skills and expressed a desire to be more involved in teaching in the future. Conclusions: The implementation of NPTs in the teaching of junior medical students appears to benefit both students and their near-peer colleagues. Involvement of NPTs in all facets of medical education through this rotation stands to not only foster potential interest in an academic pathway but also equip them with a variety of transferable skills which they can draw on as future educators in their profession.
Success factors for international postgraduate students' adjustment: exploring the roles of intercultural competence, language proficiency, social contact and social support

Abstract The growth in the number of ‘international’ students in higher education is a phenomenon of increasing importance to educators, researchers and policymakers worldwide. This multi-methodological study explored factors associated with their adjustment, successful or otherwise. It integrated associations across three domains of enquiry which had hitherto usually been pursued separately – psychosocial, intercultural and educational adjustment. Specifically, the study investigated associations between a broad range of outcome indices – academic grades (for both taught and research assignments), psychological well-being, and satisfaction with life in the new environment – and, as contributory factors, participants' intercultural competence, language proficiency, and the degree, quality and patterns of social contact during their sojourn. Participants were 108 non-UK postgraduate students from a wide range of countries undertaking MA programmes at a British university. Of these, 102 completed a questionnaire with both quantitative and qualitative responses, and a further six took part in semi-structured interviews over their programme of study. Findings indicated strong associations between participants' academic achievement, satisfaction with life in the new environment and psychological well-being, and aspects of their intercultural competence, contact with non-co-nationals, including hosts, and with their language proficiency. Implications of these findings, and a future research agenda, are discussed.
A 27-nV/√Hz 0.015-mm2 three-stage operational amplifier with split active-feedback compensation

This paper presents a low-noise small-area three-stage operational amplifier using split active-feedback compensation (SAFC) which is suitable for biomedical arrayed sensors. The proposed SAFC amplifier only requires a small capacitance for phase compensation, while it can achieve a low input-referred noise by increasing the first-stage transconductance without sacrificing the phase margin. The proposed SAFC amplifier has been implemented using a standard 0.18-μm CMOS process. The measurement results show that the proposed SAFC amplifier achieves >120-dB DC gain, 6.2-MHz gain bandwidth product, and phase margin of 60°. The measured input-referred noise is 27 nV/√Hz. The current dissipation is measured as 177 μA at a power supply of 1.5 V and it achieves a noise efficiency factor of 14.
Density estimation using Real NVP

Unsupervised learning of probabilistic models is a central yet challenging problem in machine learning. Specifically, designing models with tractable learning, sampling, inference and evaluation is crucial in solving this task. We extend the space of such models using real-valued non-volume preserving (real NVP) transformations, a set of powerful invertible and learnable transformations, resulting in an unsupervised learning algorithm with exact log-likelihood computation, exact sampling, exact inference of latent variables, and an interpretable latent space. We demonstrate its ability to model natural images on four datasets through sampling, log-likelihood evaluation and latent variable manipulations.
Falso reconocimiento en listas DRM con tres palabras críticas: Asociación directa vs. inversa

False recognition (FR) was studied in one experiment using the Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm. Specifically, the differential contributions of forward associative strength and backward associative strength were analyzed, together with an analysis of the role played by the associative level of the lists on this kind of memory illusion. Materials consisted of 16 lists, each was formed by 6 to-be-remembered associates and 3 critical, never studied, words. Eight lists were constructed on the basis of forward associative strength, and the other 8 lists were constructed on the basis of backward associative strength. In all cases, the lists were matched for level of association, and further divided into two sets, to obtain comparable lists of each type with high and low associative levels. The results showed that, globally, DRM lists with 3 critical words produced robust levels of false recognition, rendering them appropriate for experimental procedures that require more than one critical trial per list. A comparison of the different types of lists revealed that false recognition with low forward-associative-strength lists (19.50%) was significantly lower than with the other 3 types of lists (low and high backward-associative-strength, and high forward-associative-strength), for which false recognition exceeded 42%.
Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics, by Daniel C. Hallin and Paolo Mancini

Truly important books don’t come along very often. Comparing Media Systems is one of the rare few. Hallin and Mancini seek to fill a gap created by the obsolescence of Fred Siebert, Theodore Peterson, and Wilbur Schramm’s Four Theories of the Press (1956), which categorized media systems as “libertarian,” “social responsibility,” “communist,” or “authoritarian. ” This typology was always somewhat problematic. The two models, the libertarian and social responsibility, that described democratic media systems failed to capture the rich variation in Western media systems, particularly those with a partisan press. Developed by a trio of U.S. scholars, the four models had a distinctly American tinge. Comparing Media Systems is a less ambitious effort than Four Theories of the Press in that the authors confine themselves to Western media systems. On the other hand, Hallin and Mancini’s work is deeper and more acute, drawing upon historical and cultural analysis as well as communication research in the United States and Europe. Hallin and Mancini’s classification of Western media systems rests on four key dimensions: (a) the degree and nature of state involvement in the media; (b) the degree of political parallelism, which is the extent to which the media are linked, formally or informally, with parties and other political institutions; (c) the degree of professionalism in journalism, as measured by the independence of journalists and their adherence to articulated standards of practice, including a commitment to public service; and (d) the degree of mass dissemination of news content. These dimensions were not devised by Hallin and Mancini. They trace to the work of Jay Blumler, Colin Seymour-Ure, and others. The concept of political parallelism, for example, has its origins in Seymour-Ure’s The Political Impact of the Mass Media (1974). But Hallin and Mancini go beyond earlier scholars in amplifying these dimensions and exploring their linkages. Their discussion of the impact of the influence of political culture on journalistic professionalism is unrivaled in the scholarly literature. Hallin and Mancini demonstrate that a culture of clientalism—a tight link of the media to the state and to political institutions—stunts professionalism. On the other hand, a liberal culture promotes journalistic autonomy and, with that, professionalism. Hallin and Mancini’s original contribution is the articulation of a three-model classification system for Western media. Each model has a distinct profile in terms of the four
Emotional Stability and Affective Self–regulatory Efficacy Beliefs: Proofs of Integration between Trait Theory and Social Cognitive Theory

The present study aimed to investigate the development and interplay of emotional stability and affective self–regulatory efficacy beliefs through adolescence to young adulthood. A latent growth curve approach was used to investigate level and stability of emotional stability and self–efficacy in managing negative emotions and in expressing positive emotions. We found that initial levels of emotional stability and self–efficacy beliefs are highly correlated. In accordance with the posited hypothesis, the growth rate of perceived self–efficacy in managing negative emotions predicted the growth rate of emotional stability, whereas the opposite path was not significant. The growth rates of perceived self–efficacy in expressing positive emotions and emotional stability were not related to each other. Taken together, these findings point to self–efficacy beliefs as instrumental to the change of traits. Practical implications of results are discussed, highlighting the role of social cognitive theory in supplying the proper strategies to design effective interventions to enable people to make the best use of their potentials. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sorption of Hydrophobic Organic Compounds on Natural Sorbents and Organoclays from Aqueous and Non-Aqueous Solutions: A Mini-Review

Renewed focus on the sorption of hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs) onto mineral surfaces and soil components is required due to the increased and wider range of organic pollutants being released into the environment. This mini-review examines the possibility of the contribution and mechanism of HOC sorption onto clay mineral sorbents such as kaolinite, and soil organic matter and the possible role of both in the prevention of environmental contamination by HOCs. Literature data indicates that certain siloxane surfaces can be hydrophobic. Therefore soils can retain HOCs even at low soil organic levels and the extent will depend on the structure of the pollutant and the type and concentration of clay minerals in the sorbent. Clay minerals are wettable by nonpolar solvents and so sorption of HOCs onto them from aqueous and non-aqueous solutions is possible. This is important for two reasons: firstly, the movement and remediation of soil environments will be a function of the concentration and type of clay minerals in the soil. Secondly, low-cost sorbents such as kaolinite and expandable clays can be added to soils or contaminated environments as temporary retention barriers for HOCs. Inorganic cations sorbed onto the kaolinite have a strong influence on the rate and extent of sorption of hydrophobic organic pollutants onto kaolinite. Structural sorbate classes that can be retained by the kaolinite matrix are limited by hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl groups of the octahedral alumosilicate sheet and the tetrahedral sheet with silicon. Soil organic carbon plays a key role in the sorption of HOCs onto soils, but the extent will be strongly affected by the structure of the organic soil matter and the presence of soot. Structural characterisation of soil organic matter in a particular soil should be conducted during a particular contamination event. Contamination by mining extractants and antibiotics will require renewed focus on the use of the QSAR approaches in the context of the sorption of HOCs onto clay minerals from aqueous and non-aqueous solutions.
Virtue theory and organizations: considering persons with disabilities

Purpose – This research aims to apply virtue theory to the under‐employment problem of persons with disabilities (PWD). Historically, PWD have been under‐employed within society and discriminated against in the workplace. The authors review virtue theory research and illustrate how it can be used to better support the meaningful employment of PWD.Design/methodology/approach – This research reviews the current literature in the areas of virtue theory and the employment challenges of PWD to create a new framework that can assist in the integration of PWD into the workplace.Findings – Literature on the employment of PWD indicates that significant differences exist in the employment experiences between PWD and persons without disabilities (PWOD). Problems such as stigmatization impede the integration of PWD into the work environment. The review of the virtue theory literature supports the development of a new framework that provides additional ways to address this ongoing problem.Practical implications – This.
A Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Survey of Supernova Remnants in the Inner Galaxy

Using Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) images at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8 μm from the GLIMPSE Legacy science program on the Spitzer Space Telescope, we searched for infrared counterparts to the 95 known supernova remnants that are located within Galactic longitudes 65° > |l| > 10° and latitudes |b| < 1°. Eighteen infrared counterparts were detected. Many other supernova remnants could have significant infrared emission but are in portions of the Milky Way too confused to allow the separation of bright H II regions and pervasive mid-infrared emission from atomic and molecular clouds along the line of sight. Infrared emission from supernova remnants originates from synchrotron emission, shock-heated dust, atomic fine-structure lines, and molecular lines. The detected remnants are G11.2-0.3, Kes 69, G22.7-0.2, 3C 391, W44, 3C 396, 3C 397, W49B, G54.4-0.3, Kes 17, Kes 20A, RCW 103, G344.7-0.1, G346.6-0.2, CTB 37A, G348.5-0.0, and G349.7+0.2. The infrared colors suggest emission from molecular lines (nine remnants), fine-structure lines (three remnants), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (four remnants), or a combination; some remnants feature multiple colors in different regions. None of the remnants are dominated by synchrotron radiation at mid-infrared wavelengths. The IRAC-detected sample emphasizes remnants interacting with relatively dense gas, for which most of the shock cooling occurs through molecular or ionic lines in the mid-infrared.
Studies into the cognitive and neural basis of congenital amusia

The majority of humans develop a facility with music effortlessly and in the absence of explicit training. However some individuals show a distinct lack of musical ability despite seeming to have otherwise normal cognitive functioning. Based on initial studies into congenital amusia, poor pitch discrimination ability and poor pitch memory have been ascribed a central role in the condition. However, the extent to which these play a causal role in the more global difficulties associated with the disorder remains unclear. Furthermore, with the disorder increasingly being conceived of as one of awareness rather than perception, an integrated account of the disorder in which the relative importance of observed impairments are clearly delineated is becoming essential. Critically, such an account would describe congenital amusia in those terms that are commonly used to account for how musical listening ability typically develops. Further, it would be based on the results of investigations using ecologically valid stimuli and methods. In a series of four experiments, this thesis seeks to contribute towards such an account. Firstly, using behavioural methods, the state of statistical learning processes known to be necessary for the internalisation of musical regularities in typical individuals is examined. Secondly, the thesis examines the state of musical anticipatory mechanisms, a corollary of such learning, which has been shown to play a critical role in the ability to recognize and discriminate melodies. Next, using electroencephalography recordings, the neural basis of abnormal melodic pitch processing in congenital amusia is studied, while in the final chapter, a social science technique is used to investigate the extent to which amusics show normal appreciation of music in everyday life. By combining findings from current and previous studies, this thesis will contribute towards a comprehensive description of congenital amusia based on findings from a number of different levels of inquiry.
Systems Biology Approaches Reveal a Specific Interferon-Inducible Signature in HTLV-1 Associated Myelopathy

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus that persists lifelong in the host. In ∼4% of infected people, HTLV-1 causes a chronic disabling neuroinflammatory disease known as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The pathogenesis of HAM/TSP is unknown and treatment remains ineffective. We used gene expression microarrays followed by flow cytometric and functional assays to investigate global changes in blood transcriptional profiles of HTLV-1-infected and seronegative individuals. We found that perturbations of the p53 signaling pathway were a hallmark of HTLV-1 infection. In contrast, a subset of interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes was over-expressed in patients with HAM/TSP but not in asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers or patients with the clinically similar disease multiple sclerosis. The IFN-inducible signature was present in all circulating leukocytes and its intensity correlated with the clinical severity of HAM/TSP. Leukocytes from patients with HAM/TSP were primed to respond strongly to stimulation with exogenous IFN. However, while type I IFN suppressed expression of the HTLV-1 structural protein Gag it failed to suppress the highly immunogenic viral transcriptional transactivator Tax. We conclude that over-expression of a subset of IFN-stimulated genes in chronic HTLV-1 infection does not constitute an efficient host response but instead contributes to the development of HAM/TSP.