Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel Cell Preservation Technique to Extend Bovine In Vitro White Blood Cell Viability

Although cell-mediated immunity based diagnostics can be integral assays for early detection of various diseases of dairy cows, processing of blood samples for these tests is time-sensitive, often within 24 hours of collection, to maintain white blood cell viability. Therefore, to improve utility and practicality of such assays, the objective of this study was to assess the use of a novel white blood cell preservation technology in whole bovine blood. Blood samples from ten healthy cows were each divided into an unpreserved control sample and a test sample preserved with commercially-available cell transport medium. Samples were maintained at room temperature and stimulated with the mitogens pokeweed and concanavalinA, as well as with interleukin-12 p40. Stimulation was completed on days 1, 5, and 8 post-sampling. Viability of white blood cells was assessed through interferon gamma production determined with a commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, mononuclear cell viability was assessed with propidium iodide flow cytometry. Greater interferon gamma production was observed on days 5 and 8 post-collection in preserved samples, with both pokeweed and concanavalinA stimulating positive interferon gamma production on day 5 post-collection. A greater proportion of the amount of interferon gamma produced on day 1 continued to be produced on days 5 and 8 post-collection with concanavalinA stimulation (with or without interleukin 12) as compared to pokeweed stimulation. Additionally, viable mononuclear cells were still present at eight days post-collection, with a higher mean proportion detected at days 5 and 8 in all stimulated preserved samples. This practical and simple method to extend in vitro white blood cell viability could benefit the efficient utilization of cell-based blood tests in ruminants.
’ Histograms of Oriented Gradients for Human Detection ’ versus ’ Fast Human Detection Using a Cascade of Histograms of Oriented Gradients

Dalal and Triggs [1] studied the question of feature sets for robust visual object recognition. They first considered existing edge and gradient based descriptors and then they showed experimentally that grids of Histograms of Oriented Gradients (HoG) descriptors significantly outperform existing feature sets for human detection. After this they studied the influence of each stage of the computation with reference to performance. They finally came to the conclusion that fine scale gradients, fine orientation binning, relatively coarse spatial binning, and high quality local contrast normalization in overlapping descriptor blocks were important to get good results. Their detector reached nearly perfect results on the original MIT pedestrian database, so they produced a more challenging dataset called INRIA which contained extremely complicated backgrounds and dramatic illumination changes. Qiang Zhu, Shai Avidan, Mei-Chen Yeh, and Kwang-Ting Cheng [2] then showed that the combination of the cascade of rejectors approach and the HoG features led to a fast and accurate human detection system. The features were HoGs with variable block-size. To select the best blocks for the detection, from a larger set of possible blocks, AdaBoost (short for Adaptive Boosting) was used. Furthermore, the integral image representation was used and the rejection cascade significantly speeded up the computation.
From action representation to action execution: exploring the links between cognitive and biomechanical levels of motor control

Along with superior performance, research indicates that expertise is associated with a number of mediating cognitive adaptations. To this extent, extensive practice is associated with the development of general and task-specific mental representations, which play an important role in the organization and control of action. Recently, new experimental methods have been developed, which allow for investigating the organization and structure of these representations, along with the functional structure of the movement kinematics. In the current article, we present a new approach for examining the overlap between skill representations and motor output. In doing so, we first present an architecture model, which addresses links between biomechanical and cognitive levels of motor control. Next, we review the state of the art in assessing memory structures underlying complex action. Following we present a new spatio-temporal decomposition method for illuminating the functional structure of movement kinematics, and finally, we apply these methods to investigate the overlap between the structure of motor representations in memory and their corresponding kinematic structures. Our aim is to understand the extent to which the output at a kinematic level is governed by representations at a cognitive level of motor control.
Vocal Characteristics, Speech, and Behavior of Telephone Interviewers

ix Chapter 1: A Proposed Conceptual Model for the Association Between Interviewers‘ Speech and Vocal Characteristics and Success . 1 Chapter 2: Examining the Role of First Impressions . 17 Chapter 3: Interviewer Responsiveness . 54 Chapter 4: Conclusion . 97 Appendices . 116 References . 142
Blending photons with electrons to reduce the energy footprint of IPTV networks

The rapid growth of IPTV services and the resulting increase in traffic volumes is raising concerns over energy consumption. In this paper we propose to save energy by shifting particular IPTV traffic from power-hungry electronic routing to greener optical switching. The traffic profile of IPTV results in such a hybrid switching approach to allow both energy and bandwidth efficiencies. To achieve this goal we designed a novel protocol that allows the use of optical bypass in IPTV networks. By means of a trace-driven analysis of a large dataset we demonstrate the energy efficiencies obtained to be substantial, reaching power savings of over 40% under normal load conditions. This result represents a four-fold increase in energy efficiency when compared with recent proposals.
Impact of synaptic depression on network activity and implications for neural coding

Short term synaptic depression is the phenomena where repeated stimulation leads to a decreased transmission efficacy. In this thesis, the impact of synaptic depression on the responses and dynamics of network models of visual processing is investigated, and the coding implications are examined. I find that synaptic depression can fundamentally change the operation of previously well understood networks, and explain temporal nonlinearities present in neural responses to multiple stimuli. Furthermore, I show, more generally, how nonlinear interactions can be beneficial with respect to neural coding. I begin chapter 1 with a short introduction. In chapter 2 of this thesis, the behaviour of a ring attractor network is examined when its recurrent connections are subject to short term synaptic depression. I find that, in the presence of a uniform background current, the activity of the network settles to one of three states: a stationary attractor state, a uniform state or a rotating attractor state. I show that the rotation speed can be adjusted over a large range by changing the background current, opening the possibility to use the network as a variable frequency oscillator or pattern generator, and use mathematical analysis to determine an approximate maximum rotation speed. Using simulations, I then extend the network into two dimensions, and find a rich range of possible behaviours. Processing in the visual cortex can be non linear: the response to two objects or other visual stimuli presented simultaneously is often less than the sum of the responses to the individual objects. A maximum function has in some cases been proposed to describe these competitive interactions. More recent data has emphasised that such interactions have temporal aspects as well, namely that the response to an initially presented stimulus can suppress the response to a stimulus presented subsequently, especially if the first stimulus is presented at high contrast. Chapter 3 of this thesis will present a simple neuronal network featuring synaptic depression which can account for much of the temporal aspects of this behaviour, whilst remaining consistent with older data and models. Furthermore, it will show how this model leads to several strong predictions regarding the processing of low contrast stimuli sequences, as well suggesting a link between response latency and suppression strength. The response of the model to a structured sequence of input stimuli also appears to anticipate future stimuli, and we predict that the magnitude of this stimulus anticipation will decrease as contrast is decreased. Following on from investigating the temporal aspects of responses to stimuli pairs, in
Redefining Comparative Politics: Promise Versus Performance

Introduction Revolutions and Thermidorean Reactions The Epistemology of Social Science and the Comparative Method Development, Ethnocentrism and Dependency Theory and Polemic Industrial Democracies Parties and Political Behavior Micro Level Analysis Culture, Violence, and Personality Kremlinology, Autocracies and Comparative Politics Conclusions Whither Comparative Politics?
Prosody, intelligibility and familiarity in speech perception

Prosody, intelligibility and familiarity in speech perception Daniel Robert McCloy Chair of the Supervisory Commiee: Professor Richard A. Wright Department of Linguistics is thesis concerns the relationship between speech intelligibility and speech prosody, and the role that speech prosody plays in the perceptual advantage that occurs when listening to a familiar talker. A parallel corpus of 90 sentences (each spoken by three talkers of varying intelligibility) was used to create resynthesized stimuli in which fundamental frequency (ƒ0), intensity, and paerns of syllable duration were swapped between all possible pairs of talkers. An additional 90 sentences were reserved for use as training stimuli. Findings from speech-in-noise tasks suggest that the contribution of prosody to intelligibility varies considerably across talkers, evidenced by differences in sentence intelligibility aer prosodic replacement from different prosodic donors. In particular, high-intelligibility talkers need not have particularly “good” or “helpful” prosody if their intelligibility rests on articulatory strategies that emphasize robust segmental cues, while talkers with relatively good prosody may nonetheless have low intelligibility (due to non-prosodic factors). Post hoc acoustic analyses of the stimuli (interpreted in light of the behavioral results) suggest that many acoustic measures index both prosodic and non-prosodic aspects of the speech signal, whereas acoustic measures that reflect only the prosodic component of intelligibility are harder to find. Mean ƒ0 range and mean ƒ0 dynamicity appear to be the most promising measures in this regard, but uerance-final creaky voicing presents a challenge to interpretation due to its exaggeration of ƒ0-related measures. Results of the familiarization experiments were inconclusive; listeners trained on different talkers showed different degrees of task adaptation during familiarization/training, but were unable to generalize to a testing phase involving multiple talkers presented in random order. us the contribution of prosody to the familiar talker advantage remains unclear.
The Hidden Curriculum and Social Preferences

This paper examines the effects of school curricula on subsequent preference formation. The estimation results, using Japanese data, show that the actual curriculum at public elementary schools varies widely from area to area and is associated with preference formation. Specifically, pupils who have experienced participatory/cooperative learning practices are more likely to be altruistic, cooperative with others, reciprocal, and have national pride. In contrast, the influence of education emphasizing more on anti-competitive practices is negatively associated with these attributes. Such contrasts can also be seen for other preferences regarding government policies and a market economy. The findings imply that elementary school education, as a place for early socialization, plays an important role in the formation of life-long social preferences.
Pasireotide Long‐Acting Release Treatment for Diabetic Cats with Underlying Hypersomatotropism

Background Long‐term medical management of hypersomatotropism (HS) in cats has proved unrewarding. Pasireotide, a novel somatostatin analogue, decreases serum insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) and improves insulin sensitivity in cats with HS when administered as a short‐acting preparation. Objectives Assess once‐monthly administration of long‐acting pasireotide (pasireotide LAR) for treatment of cats with HS. Animals Fourteen cats with HS, diagnosed based on diabetes mellitus, pituitary enlargement, and serum IGF‐1 > 1000 ng/mL. Methods Uncontrolled, prospective cohort study. Cats received pasireotide LAR (6–8 mg/kg SC) once monthly for 6 months. Fructosamine and IGF‐1 concentrations, and 12‐hour blood glucose curves (BGCs) were assessed at baseline and then monthly. Product of fructosamine concentration and insulin dose was calculated as an indicator of insulin resistance (Insulin Resistance Index). Linear mixed‐effects modeling assessed for significant change in fructosamine, IGF‐1, mean blood glucose (MBG) of BGCs, insulin dose (U/kg) and Insulin Resistance Index. Results Eight cats completed the trial. Three cats entered diabetic remission. Median IGF‐1 (baseline: 1962 ng/mL [range 1051–2000 ng/mL]; month 6: 1253 ng/mL [524–1987 ng/mL]; P < .001) and median Insulin Resistance Index (baseline: 812 μmolU/L kg [173–3565 μmolU/L kg]; month 6: 135 μmolU/L kg [0–443 μmolU/L kg]; P = .001) decreased significantly. No significant change was found in mean fructosamine (baseline: 494 ± 127 μmol/L; month 6: 319 ± 113.3 μmol/L; P = .07) or MBG (baseline: 347.7 ± 111.0 mg/dL; month 6: 319.5 ± 113.3 mg/dL; P = .11), despite a significant decrease in median insulin dose (baseline: 1.5 [0.4–5.2] U/kg; 6 months: 0.3 [0.0–1.4] U/kg; P < .001). Adverse events included diarrhea (n = 11), hypoglycemia (n = 5), and worsening polyphagia (n = 2). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Pasireotide LAR is the first drug to show potential as a long‐term management option for cats with HS.
High-Throughput Phenotypic Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Membrane Transport Genes

The deluge of data generated by genome sequencing has led to an increasing reliance on bioinformatic predictions, since the traditional experimental approach of characterizing gene function one at a time cannot possibly keep pace with the sequence-based discovery of novel genes. We have utilized Biolog phenotype MicroArrays to identify phenotypes of gene knockout mutants in the opportunistic pathogen and versatile soil bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a relatively high-throughput fashion. Seventy-eight P. aeruginosa mutants defective in predicted sugar and amino acid membrane transporter genes were screened and clear phenotypes were identified for 27 of these. In all cases, these phenotypes were confirmed by independent growth assays on minimal media. Using qRT-PCR, we demonstrate that the expression levels of 11 of these transporter genes were induced from 4- to 90-fold by their substrates identified via phenotype analysis. Overall, the experimental data showed the bioinformatic predictions to be largely correct in 22 out of 27 cases, and led to the identification of novel transporter genes and a potentially new histamine catabolic pathway. Thus, rapid phenotype identification assays are an invaluable tool for confirming and extending bioinformatic predictions.
Recruitment and Activation of Natural Killer (Nk) Cells in Vivo Determined by the Target Cell Phenotype

Natural killer (NK) cells can spontaneously lyse certain virally infected and transformed cells. However, early in immune responses NK cells are further activated and recruited to tissue sites where they perform effector functions. This process is dependent on cytokines, but it is unclear if it is regulated by NK cell recognition of susceptible target cells. We show here that infiltration of activated NK cells into the peritoneal cavity in response to tumor cells is controlled by the tumor major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I phenotype. Tumor cells lacking appropriate MHC class I expression induced NK cell infiltration, cytotoxic activation, and induction of transcription of interferon γ in NK cells. The induction of these responses was inhibited by restoration of tumor cell MHC class I expression. The NK cells responding to MHC class I–deficient tumor cells were ∼10 times as active as endogenous NK cells on a per cell basis. Although these effector cells showed a typical NK specificity in that they preferentially killed MHC class I–deficient cells, this specificity was even more distinct during induction of the intraperitoneal response. Observations are discussed in relation to a possible adaptive component of the NK response, i.e., recruitment/activation in response to challenges that only NK cells are able to neutralize.
Perceptions of heatwave risks to health: results of an qualitative interview study with older people and their carers in Freiburg, Germany

Aims and objectives: Heatwaves can pose a severe threat to health, especially to older people. However, warnings do not necessarily lead to preventive action. This study aims at exploring individual risk perception and adaptive measures of older people and their carers. Their views are explored, taking into account personal backgrounds. Methods: Questionnaire-based interviews were administered to 20 men and women (64–94 years, living in their own homes or nursing homes) and 13 carers. A qualitative analysis following a framework approach was performed. Results: The majority of respondents stated that older people might be compromised by heatwaves; however, a large proportion of respondents saw themselves as less affected than the average population. Most respondents adopted preventive measures during heatwaves and a majority received warnings or pieces of information. The role of general practitioners in direct warning situations was judged controversial. Survey respondents displayed resistance to the use of technical devices to monitor potentially dangerous situations. In addition, the results support many previous findings. In particular, the relative concepts of ageing, variety of information channels used, and control orientations could be confirmed. Conclusions: General practitioners hold a position of trust and play a central role in the promotion of preventive action, but there are also limitations to their outreach. Many respondents could be classified as socially active, which has implications for preventive information campaigns. Information campaigns using different channels and targeting a larger audience should be considered. The degree of information of carers can partly be improved.
Time-Dependent Reversal of Long-Term Potentiation in Area CA1 of the Freely Moving Rat Induced by Theta Pulse Stimulation

Previous studies in slices have shown that low-frequency stimulation at 5 Hz, i.e., theta pulse stimulation (TPS), completely reverses long-term potentiation (LTP) in area CA1 when delivered within 1–2 min after induction but produces progressively less depotentiation at longer delays, until it has no longer any impact at 30 min after induction. The present study examined whether LTP in the freely moving rat exhibits a similar time-dependent susceptibility to reversal. Adult male Long–Evans rats with bilateral stimulating electrodes activating collateral/commissural projections to area CA1 were used. A 1 min episode of TPS, ineffective when applied to naive pathways, was found to permanently erase LTP when delivered to the test pathway either 30 sec or 15 min after induction. Administered at a delay of 30 min, however, the same treatment no longer had any impact on established LTP. Additional experiments examined the ability of shorter TPS episodes to erase LTP and found that a 30 sec treatment was effective at 30 sec but not 15 min after induction. When the duration of TPS was further reduced to 15 sec, a reversal was no longer obtained at any delay. These results provide the first demonstration that the limited vulnerability of LTP to reversal by TPS, originally observed in vitro, also holds true for LTP in the awake animal and occurs along the same time frame, supporting the notion that LTP stabilization mechanisms take less than 30 min to be complete.
Bone Marrow Transplants

Pioneering work by Dr. E. Donnall Thomas and his colleagues at Fred Hutch made bone marrow transplantation a curative therapy for patients with certain blood cancers. Over the years, their unique approach to refining the procedure and steadily building on discoveries has rippled into many other spheres of treatment — and continues to drive new ideas that could translate into therapies for many more patients in need.
Trypanosomal TBP Functions with the Multisubunit Transcription Factor tSNAP To Direct Spliced-Leader RNA Gene Expression

ABSTRACT Protein-coding genes of trypanosomes are mainly transcribed polycistronically and cleaved into functional mRNAs in a process that requires trans splicing of a capped 39-nucleotide RNA derived from a short transcript, the spliced-leader (SL) RNA. SL RNA genes are individually transcribed from the only identified trypanosome RNA polymerase II promoter. We have purified and characterized a sequence-specific SL RNA promoter-binding complex, tSNAPc, from the pathogenic parasite Trypanosoma brucei, which induces robust transcriptional activity within the SL RNA gene. Two tSNAPc subunits resemble essential components of the metazoan transcription factor SNAPc, which directs small nuclear RNA transcription. A third subunit is unrelated to any eukaryotic protein and identifies tSNAPc as a unique trypanosomal transcription factor. Intriguingly, the unusual trypanosome TATA-binding protein (TBP) tightly associates with tSNAPc and is essential for SL RNA gene transcription. These findings provide the first view of the architecture of a transcriptional complex that assembles at an RNA polymerase II-dependent gene promoter in a highly divergent eukaryote.