Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Marek's Disease Virus (MDV) Encodes an Interleukin-8 Homolog (vIL-8): Characterization of the vIL-8 Protein and a vIL-8 Deletion Mutant MDV

ABSTRACT Chemokines induce chemotaxis, cell migration, and inflammatory responses. We report the identification of an interleukin-8 (IL-8) homolog, termed vIL-8, encoded within the genome of Marek's disease virus (MDV). The 134-amino-acid vIL-8 shares closest homology to mammalian and avian IL-8, molecules representing the prototype CXC chemokine. The gene for vIL-8 consists of three exons which map to theBamHI-L fragment within the repeats flanking the unique long region of the MDV genome. A 0.7-kb transcript encoding vIL-8 was detected in an n-butyrate-treated, MDV-transformed T-lymphoblastoid cell line, MSB-1. This induction is essentially abolished by cycloheximide and herpesvirus DNA polymerase inhibitor phosphonoacetate, indicating that vIL-8 is expressed with true late (γ2) kinetics. Baculovirus-expressed vIL-8 was found to be secreted into the medium and shown to be functional as a chemoattractant for chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells but not for heterophils. To characterize the function of vIL-8 with respect to MDV infection in vivo, a recombinant MDV was constructed with a deletion of all three exons and a soluble-modified green fluorescent protein (smGFP) expression cassette inserted at the site of deletion. In two in vivo experiments, the vIL-8 deletion mutant (RB1BvIL-8ΔsmGFP) showed a decreased level of lytic infection in comparison to its parent virus, an equal-passage-level parent virus, and to another recombinant MDV containing the insertion of a GFP expression cassette at the nonessential US2 gene. RB1BvIL-8ΔsmGFP retained oncogenicity, albeit at a greatly reduced level. Nonetheless, we have been able to establish a lymphoblastoid cell line from an RB1BvIL-8ΔsmGFP-induced ovarian lymphoma (MDCC-UA20) and verify the presence of a latent MDV genome lacking vIL-8. Taken together, these data describe the identification and characterization of a chemokine homolog encoded within the MDV genome that is dispensable for transformation but may affect the level of MDV in vivo lytic infection.
Competition in telecommunications

In Competition in Telecommunications, Jean-Jacques Laffont and Jean Tirole analyze regulatory reform and the emergence of competition in network industries using the state-of-the-art theoretical tools of industrial organization, political economy, and the economics of incentives. The book opens with background information for the reader who is unfamiliar with current issues in the telecommunication industry. The following sections focus on four central aspects of the recent deregulatory movement: the introduction of incentive regulation; one-way access; the special nature of competition in a industry requiring two-way access; and universal service, in particular, the use of engineering models to compute subsidies and the design of universal service auctions.
High intracellular concentrations of amyloid‐beta block nuclear translocation of phosphorylated CREB

The beta‐amyloid peptide (Aβ) is considered responsible for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Despite the magnitude of reports describing a neurotoxic role of extracellular Aβ, the role for intracellular Aβ (iAβ) has not been elucidated. We previously demonstrated that in rat pheochromocytoma cells expression of moderate levels of Aβ results in the up‐regulation of phospho‐extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK1)/2 along with an elevation of cyclic AMP‐response element (CRE)‐regulated gene expression; however, the effect of high intracellular levels of Aβ were not examined. Towards this goal we generated constructs that endogenously produce different expression levels of iAβ in a human cell line. We show a bimodal response to Aβ in a neural human cell line. A moderate increase of endogenous Aβ up‐regulates certain cyclic AMP‐response element‐binding protein (CREB) responsive genes such as presenilin 1, presenilin 2, brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, and mRNA and protein levels by CREB activation and Synapsin 1 nuclear translocation. On the other hand, high‐loads of iAβ resulted in sustained hyper‐phosphorylation of CREB that did not translocate to the nucleus and did not stimulate activation of CRE‐regulated gene expression. Our study suggests that variations in levels of iAβ could influence signaling mechanisms that lead to phosphorylation of CREB, its nuclear translocation and CRE‐regulated genes involved in production of Aβ and synaptic plasticity in opposite directions.
Moving Out to Move Up: Dual-Career Migration and Work-Family Tradeoffs

type="main" xml:id="ecin12283-abs-0001"> Using data from a survey of new entrants to the junior PhD job market in economics, this paper shows that dual-career location problems compromise the personal and professional lives of early-career PhDs. Contrary to the common assumption that couples who do not live together break up, we find that living apart is a viable solution to location problems in the first year after graduate school. Surprisingly, PhDs facing moderate location problems are more likely than those facing severe location problems to make career sacrifices on behalf of their relationship; PhDs facing severe location problems are more likely to live apart. (JEL, J12, J44, A11)
Cumulative Cultural Evolution and Demography

The idea that demographic change may spur or slow down technological change has become widely accepted among evolutionary archaeologists and anthropologists. Two models have been particularly influential in promoting this idea: a mathematical model by Joseph Henrich, developed to explain the Tasmanian loss of culture during the Holocene; and an agent-based adaptation thereof, devised by Powell et al. to explain the emergence of modern behaviour in the Late Pleistocene. However, the models in question make rather strong assumptions about the distribution of skills among social learners and about the selectivity of social learning strategies. Here I examine the behaviour of these models under more conservative and, on empirical and theoretical grounds, equally reasonable assumptions. I show that, some qualifications notwithstanding, Henrich’s model largely withstands my robustness tests. The model of Powell et al., in contrast, does not–a finding that warrants a fair amount of skepticism towards Powell et al.’s explanation of the Upper Paleolithic transition. More generally, my evaluation of the accounts of Henrich and of Powell et al. helpfully clarify which inferences their popular models do and not support.
Antiangiogenic and Antimitotic Effects of Aspirin in Hypoxia–Reoxygenation Modulation of the LOX-1-NADPH Oxidase Axis as a Potential Mechanism

Hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) is a primary driver of angiogenesis in both atherogenesis and tumorigenesis. The main target of hypoxia-driven proangiogenic signaling is adherens junctions responsible for contact inhibition of endothelial cells. We analyzed the effects of hypoxia (8-12 hours) followed by a brief period of reoxygenation (2 hours) (HR) on angiogenesis and integrity of adherens junction in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells as well as the effects of aspirin on modulation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells' response to HR. Cells exposed to HR displayed considerable enhancement of tube formation (angiogenesis) on matrigel. Immunocytostaining of near-confluent cells revealed that HR caused disruption of adherens junctions and internalization of their components VE-cadherin, p120 catenin, and β-catenin. Additionally, HR resulted in the appearance of binucleated cells, and VE-cadherin in colocalization with β-catenin was found to be positioned between the separating nuclei. Presence of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, 1 mM) resulted in preservation of adherens junctions on the cellular membrane and prevented angiogenesis as well as mitosis. HR caused upregulation LOX-1, the p47phox subunit of NADPH, while reducing transcription of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Aspirin had no effect on endothelial nitric oxide synthase and canceled the transcriptional activation of the LOX-1 and p47phox subunit of NADPH oxidase. Based on these data, we hypothesize that aspirin preserves the integrity of adherens junctions and thus blunts angiogenic response to HR through downregulation of LOX-1 and the LOX-1-mediated p47phox component of NADPH oxidase transcription, thus preventing NADPH oxidase assembly and function.
Current evidence supports use of lipid rescue therapy in local anaesthetic systemic toxicity

Readers may be surprised by the recent editorial of Dr. Rosenberg, ‘Current evidence is not in support of lipid rescue therapy in local anaesthetic systemic toxicity’. Lipid rescue therapy (LRT) is widely accepted and recommended for treating local anaesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) but Dr. Rosenberg purports that the efficacy and safety data are insufficient to warrant its use for this indication. I share his strong preference for evidence-based medicine, including LRT, and the belief that skepticism is a necessary element of applying science to medical practice. However, in reviewing virtually the same clinical and experimental data I draw the opposite conclusion. LRT clearly saves lives and evidence for its efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action are strongest for treatment of LAST. Dr. Rosenberg’s arguments fall into three key domains.
Sucking Performance of Babies with Cleft Conditions

Objective: To describe the sucking performance of bottle-fed babies with cleft conditions. Participants: Forty 2-week-old-babies with cleft lip (CL; n = 8), cleft palate (CP; n = 22), and cleft lip and palate (CLP; n = 10) were examined. Methods: Suction, compression, and other sucking parameters were measured during bottle-feeding and compared to determine if they varied with cleft condition or feeding ability. Results: All babies with CL and one with CLP demonstrated suction. Thirteen of 22 babies with CP demonstrated suction but only three maintained regular pressure changes over time. Between-group differences in the amplitude of suction and compression were associated with cleft condition. Cleft lip participants demonstrated the greatest amplitude of suction followed by those with CP and CLP. Cleft lip and CP participants generated similar amplitudes of compression. This was greater than their counterparts with CLP. Good feeders (n = 15) generated high levels of suction, while satisfactory (n = 15) and poor feeders (n = 10) did not generate any during bottle-feeding. Conclusion: Between-group differences in intra-oral pressures were confirmed when babies were examined by cleft condition. Babies with smaller clefts (i.e., CL or minor soft palate clefts) were more likely to generate normal levels of suction and compression compared to their counterparts with larger clefts. Since good feeders were more likely to have smaller clefts it was not surprising that they demonstrated higher suction pressures than babies with satisfactory or poor feeding ability. Compression values were not significantly different across the feeding ability groups. These data may inform feeding management strategies.
Structural Decomposition Analysis of Raw Material Consumption

The aim of this article is to quantify the drivers for the changes in raw material consumption (domestic material consumption expressed in the form of all materials extracted and used in the production phase) in terms of technology, which refers to the concept of sustainable production; the product structure of final demand, which refers to the concept of sustainable consumption; and the volume of final demand, which is related to economic growth. We also aim to determine to what extent the technological development and a shift in product structure of the final demand compensate for the growth in final consumption volume. Therefore, we apply structural decomposition analysis (SDA) to the change in raw material consumption (RMC) of the Czech Republic between 2000 and 2007. To present the study in a broader context, we also show other material flow indicators for the Czech Republic for 2000 and 2007.
International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning Who am I and What Keeps Me Going? Profiling the Distance Learning Student in Higher Education

Student retention and progression has exercised the higher education (HE) sector for some time now, and there has been much research into the reasons why students drop out of higher education courses (Allen, 2006; Buglear, 2009). More recently the Higher Educa - tion Academy Grants Programme Briefing (HEFCE, 2010) outlined a number of areas that emergent project data revealed as being important to both the retention and progression of students, including areas outlined by a number of researchers as being essential to stu - dent success: expectations, support, feedback, and involvement. But there has been less research, particularly within the distance learning sector, into factors that encourage stu - dents to stay (O’Brien, 2002). This small scale qualitative project using feminist qualitative research methods and based in the Open University, UK builds upon an intensive institu - tional research project analyzing what type of interventions make a positive difference to student progression and success. The research revealed insights into factors linked to the expectations, identities, and support of students which proved influential in terms of their resilience and motivation to remain on course.
Clonal change of infiltrating T‐cells in children with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Although familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) has been considered a T‐cell disorder, to the authors' knowledge there are no previous reports on the clonal basis of FHL. In the current study the authors analyzed the clonality of T‐cells in two FHL patients at the time of disease onset and at disease progression.
IMPACT OF INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT (OZURDEX) ON MACULAR MORPHOLOGY AND FUNCTION

Purpose: To investigate the impact of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) on macular morphology and function in eyes with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion. Methods: Twelve treatment-naive patients with decreased visual acuity because of central retinal vein occlusion–related macular edema were enrolled in this prospective uncontrolled study. Patients were treated with intravitreal Ozurdex and followed up at 1 month and 3 months for the evaluation of morphologic and functional outcomes, by means of best-corrected visual acuity, microperimetry, multifocal electroretinography, and customized high-resolution enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scans. Results: Twelve eyes of 12 patients (10 men, 2 women; mean age 56.2 ± 13.0 years) were included for analysis. At 1 month, mean best-corrected visual acuity, retinal sensitivity (microperimetry), multifocal electroretinography parameters, central macular thickness, and specific neurosensorial retinal measurements improved significantly. We found a significant negative correlation between retinal sensitivity and central macular thickness at 1 month and 3 months (r = −0.831, P = 0.001; r = −0.881, P = 0.001; respectively). Moreover, retinal sensitivity was negatively related to both outer and inner retinal thickness in all four intervals from the fovea. From baseline to Month 1, change in outer retinal thickness was positively related to multifocal electroretinography N1R1 amplitude change (r = 0.698, P = 0.012), whereas change in central macular thickness was negatively related to multifocal electroretinography P1R1 amplitude change (r = −0.701, P = 0.011). At 3 months, improvement of mean retinal sensitivity and central macular thickness slightly decreased. Conclusion: In eyes with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion, intravitreal dexamethasone provides functional benefits that correlate well with ultrastructural macular changes.
FliT Acts as an Anti-FlhD2C2 Factor in the Transcriptional Control of the Flagellar Regulon in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT Flagellar operons are divided into three classes with respect to their transcriptional hierarchy in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The class 1 gene products FlhD and FlhC act together in an FlhD2C2 heterotetramer, which binds upstream of the class 2 promoters to facilitate binding of RNA polymerase. Class 2 expression is known to be enhanced by a disruption mutation in a flagellar gene, fliT. In this study, we purified FliT protein in a His-tagged form and showed that the protein prevented binding of FlhD2C2 to the class 2 promoter and inhibited FlhD2C2-dependent transcription. Pull-down and far-Western blotting analyses revealed that the FliT protein was capable of binding to FlhD2C2 and FlhC and not to FlhD alone. We conclude that FliT acts as an anti-FlhD2C2 factor, which binds to FlhD2C2 through interaction with the FlhC subunit and inhibits its binding to the class 2 promoter.
Macroeconomic effects on individual JSE Stocks: a GARCH representation

ABSTRACT A GARCH framework was invoked to investigate the effects of discount rate and gold price changes on individual stocks traded on the JSE Securities Exchange of South Africa. It was found that the discount rate was clearly important in describing the dynamics of mean returns, while gold price changes largely influenced return volatilities. The importance of both variables was bolstered when they were decomposed to capture asymmetric effects of news about them. In addition to supporting the hypothesis of symmetric effects, there was evidence of a substitution effect between non-resources and resources stocks in reaction to changes in the gold price.
Extended modular multilevel converters suitable for medium-voltage and large-current STATCOM applications

This paper discusses a new transformerless shunt static compensator (STATCOM) based on the extended modular multilevel converter (EMMC), to achieve higher performance in a medium-voltage large-current network. It introduces an appropriate control algorithm based on a phase-shifted carrier modulation strategy, to ensure the source-end three-phase currents are sinusoidal and balanced, balancing the voltages of the dc-link capacitors of the modules as well. Compared to the conventional modular multilevel converters (MMC), the EMMC introduces higher reliability and better performance in the distorted large-current systems. Simulation results from a complete model of the proposed STATCOM are presented, confirming the pre-defined objectives. One interesting application for the EMMC-based STATCOM could be the improvement in power quality and performance of the electrified railway power supply systems.
Familification: Family, Neighborhood Change, and Housing Policy

This paper proposes the term familification to describe one type of gentrification: the process of neighborhood change by families moving into a neighborhood. This study, drawing upon in-depth interviews, document analysis, and ethnographic observations, focuses on an urban familification program—one city's attempt to benefit families by restricting participation in its downtown housing programs. The paper first describes the programs and then explores how leaders, program participants, and neighbors understand the programs' intentions and effects. While family is not prominent in the programs' grant proposals, leaders indicated that promoting traditional families was a central objective. Implementing these programs revealed difficulties in defining family and in managing the programs' outcomes. Implications for fair housing laws are considered, and it is argued that fostering diversity in family life course stages may be a compelling government interest to promote neighborhood stability, and an inclusive strategy for urban development.
Did the Pathogen Reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points Regulation Cause Slaughter Plants to Exit

Our multiperiod analysis tested whether the 1996 Pathogen Reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points food safety regulation affected the probability of slaughter plant exit. We estimated probit models using pooled plant-level datasets for the preimplementation, implementation, and postimplementation periods. Results suggest that very small and small meat slaughter plants were more likely to exit during implementation than during preimplementation but less likely after implementation. In contrast, the results suggest the regulation had little effect on the probability of very small and small poultry slaughter plant exit during implementation but may have affected the probability of exit postimplementation. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.
Managers’ Attitudes Towards People with Disabilities in the Hospitality Industry

People with disabilities face many challenges when incorporating into the workforce, including the attitudes of their employers and coworkers. This study aimed to assess managers’ attitudes about people with disabilities in hotels and restaurants in the United States. Interviews and questionnaires were used for data collection. This study provides information for hospitality industry managers about attitudes towards employees with disabilities. Managers’ ages and years worked for the current organization had an effect on attitudes related to the importance of training people with disabilities.
Plasticity of Na+ Channels in Afferent Neurones Innervating Rat Urinary Bladder Following Spinal Cord Injury

1 Whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings in combination with axonal tracing techniques were used to investigate the effects of chronic spinal cord injury on the electrical properties of dorsal root ganglion neurones innervating the urinary bladder or colon of the adult rat. 2 In spinal intact animals, the majority (73–74%) of bladder and colon neurones which were small in size exhibited high‐threshold humped spikes mediated by tetrodotoxin (TTX)‐resistant Na+ channels, whereas large neurones had low‐threshold narrow spikes mediated by TTX‐sensitive Na+ channels. 3 In chronic spinal transected animals, 60% of bladder afferent neurones exhibited TTX‐sensitive low‐threshold spikes. The average diameter and input capacitance of the cells were significantly larger than those of cells obtained from spinal intact animals. 4 In bladder afferent neurones from chronic spinal transected rats, the density of TTX‐resistant Na+ currents significantly decreased from 60.5 to 17.9 pA pF−1, whereas that of TTX‐sensitive currents increased from 32.1 to 80.6 pA pF−1. 5 These changes in action potential and Na+ current characteristics were not detected in colon afferent neurones following spinal cord injury. 6 The results indicate that spinal cord injury increases bladder afferent neurone excitability by shifting the expression of Na+ channels from a high‐threshold TTX‐resistant type to a low‐threshold TTX‐sensitive type. This change in properties may occur in response to alterations in neurotrophic signals originating in the hypertrophied bladder.