Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Type I Interferons in Bacterial Infections: Taming of Myeloid Cells and Possible Implications for Autoimmunity

Type I interferons (IFNs) were first described for their ability to protect the host from viral infections and may also have beneficial effects under specific conditions within some bacterial infections. Yet, these pleiotropic cytokines are now known to exacerbate infections by numerous life-threatening bacteria, including the intracellular pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The evidence that such detrimental effects occur during bacterial infections in both animals and humans argues for selective pressure. In this review, we summarize the evidence demonstrating a pro-bacterial role for type I IFNs and discuss possible mechanisms that have been proposed to explain such effects. The theme emerges that type I IFNs act to suppress myeloid cell immune responses. The evolutionary conservation of such anti-inflammatory effects, particularly in the context of infections, suggests they may be important for limiting chronic inflammation. Given the effectiveness of type I IFNs in treatment of certain autoimmune diseases, their production may also act to raise the threshold for activation of immune responses to self-antigens.
of Geophysical Research : Atmospheres Mars ’ atmosphere : The sister planet , our statistical twin

Satellite-based Martian reanalyses have allowed unprecedented comparisons between our atmosphere and that of our sister planet, underlining various similarities and differences in their respective dynamics. Yet by focusing on large scale structures and deterministic mechanisms they have improved our understanding of the dynamics only over fairly narrow ranges of (near) planetary scales. However, the Reynolds numbers of the flows on both planets are larger than 1011 and dissipation only occurs at centimetric (Mars) or millimetric scales (Earth) so that over most of their scale ranges, the dynamics are fully turbulent. In this paper, we therefore examine the high-level, statistical, turbulent laws for the temperature, horizontal wind, and surface pressure, finding that Earth and Mars have virtually identical statistical exponents so that their statistics are very similar over wide ranges. Therefore, it would seem that with the exception of certain aspects of the largest scales (such as the role of dust in atmospheric heating on Mars, or of water in its various phases on Earth), that the nonlinear dynamics are very similar. We argue that this is a prediction of the classical laws of turbulence when extended to planetary scales and that it supports our use of turbulent laws on both planetary atmospheres.
Histogram Analysis of Gadoxetic Acid-Enhanced MRI for Quantitative Hepatic Fibrosis Measurement

Purpose The diagnosis and monitoring of liver fibrosis is an important clinical issue; however, this is usually achieved by invasive methods such as biopsy. We aimed to determine whether histogram analysis of hepatobiliary phase images of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide non-invasive quantitative measurement of liver fibrosis. Methods This retrospective study was approved by the institutional ethics committee, and a waiver of informed consent was obtained. Hepatobiliary phase images of preoperative gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI studies of 105 patients (69 males, 36 females; age 56.1±12.2) with pathologically documented liver fibrosis grades were analyzed. Fibrosis staging was F0/F1/F2/F3/F4 (METAVIR system) for 11/20/13/15/46 patients, respectively. Four regions-of-interest (ROI, each about 2 cm2) were placed on predetermined locations of representative images. The measured signal intensity of pixels in each ROI was used to calculate corrected coefficient of variation (cCV), skewness, and kurtosis. An average value of each parameter was calculated for comparison. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and linear regression. Results The cCV showed statistically significant differences among pathological fibrosis grades (P<0.001) whereas skewness and kurtosis did not. Univariable linear regression analysis suggested cCV to be a meaningful parameter in predicting the fibrosis grade (P<0.001, β = 0.40 and standard error = 0.06). For discriminating F0-3 from F4, the area under ROC score was 0.857, standard deviation 0.036, 95% confidence interval 0.785–0.928. Conclusion Histogram analysis of hepatobiliary phase images of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI can provide non-invasive quantitative measurements of hepatic fibrosis.
Increase in Caesarean Deliveries after the Australian Private Health Insurance Incentive Policy Reforms

Background The Australian Private Health Insurance Incentive (PHII) policy reforms implemented in 1997–2000 increased PHI membership in Australia by 50%. Given the higher rate of obstetric interventions in privately insured patients, the reforms may have led to an increase in surgical deliveries and deliveries with longer hospital stays. We aimed to investigate the effect of the PHII policy introduction on birth characteristics in Western Australia (WA). Methods and Findings All 230,276 birth admissions from January 1995 to March 2004 were identified from administrative birth and hospital data-systems held by the WA Department of Health. Average quarterly birth rates after the PHII introduction were estimated and compared with expected rates had the reforms not occurred. Rate and percentage differences (including 95% confidence intervals) were estimated separately for public and private patients, by mode of delivery, and by length of stay in hospital following birth. The PHII policy introduction was associated with a 20% (−21.4 to −19.3) decrease in public birth rates, a 51% (45.1 to 56.4) increase in private birth rates, a 5% (−5.3 to −5.1) and 8% (−8.9 to −7.9) decrease in unassisted and assisted vaginal deliveries respectively, a 5% (−5.3 to −5.1) increase in caesarean sections with labour and 10% (8.0 to 11.7) increase in caesarean sections without labour. Similarly, birth rates where the infant stayed 0–3 days in hospital following birth decreased by 20% (−21.5 to −18.5), but rates of births with >3 days in hospital increased by 15% (12.2 to 17.1). Conclusions Following the PHII policy implementation in Australia, births in privately insured patients, caesarean deliveries and births with longer infant hospital stays increased. The reforms may not have been beneficial for quality obstetric care in Australia or the burden of Australian hospitals.
ON THE CORRELATION BETWEEN METALLICITY AND THE PRESENCE OF GIANT PLANETS

The correlation between stellar metallicity and the presence of giant planets is well established. It has been tentatively explained by the possible increase of planet-formation probability in stellar disks with enhanced amount of metals. However, there are two caveats to this explanation. First, giant stars with planets do not show a metallicity distribution skewed toward metal-rich objects, as found for dwarfs. Second, the correlation with metallicity is not valid at intermediate metallicities, for which it can be shown that giant planets are preferentially found orbiting thick disk stars. Neither of these two peculiarities is explained by the proposed scenarios of giant planet formation. We contend that they are galactic in nature, and probably not linked to the formation process of giant planets. It is suggested that the same dynamical effect, namely the migration of stars in the galactic disk, is at the origin of both features, with the important consequence that most metal-rich stars hosting giant planets originate from the inner disk, a property that has been largely neglected until now. We illustrate that a planet–metallicity correlation similar to the observed one is easily obtained if stars from the inner disk have a higher percentage of giant planets than stars born at the solar radius, with no specific dependence on metallicity. We propose that the density of H2 in the inner galactic disk (the molecular ring) could play a role in setting the high percentage of giant planets that originate from this region.
Ship noise extends to frequencies used for echolocation by endangered killer whales

Combining calibrated hydrophone measurements with vessel location data from the Automatic Identification System, we estimate underwater sound pressure levels for 1,582 unique ships that transited the core critical habitat of the endangered Southern Resident killer whales during 28 months between March, 2011, and October, 2013. Median received spectrum levels of noise from 2,809 isolated transits are elevated relative to median background levels not only at low frequencies (20–30 dB re 1 µPa2/Hz from 100 to 1,000 Hz), but also at high frequencies (5–13 dB from 10,000 to 96,000 Hz). Thus, noise received from ships at ranges less than 3 km extends to frequencies used by odontocetes. Broadband received levels (11.5–40,000 Hz) near the shoreline in Haro Strait (WA, USA) for the entire ship population were 110 ± 7 dB re 1 µPa on average. Assuming near-spherical spreading based on a transmission loss experiment we compute mean broadband source levels for the ship population of 173 ± 7 dB re 1 µPa 1 m without accounting for frequency-dependent absorption. Mean ship speed was 7.3 ± 2.0 m/s (14.1 ± 3.9 knots). Most ship classes show a linear relationship between source level and speed with a slope near +2 dB per m/s (+1 dB/knot). Spectrum, 1/12-octave, and 1/3-octave source levels for the whole population have median values that are comparable to previous measurements and models at most frequencies, but for select studies may be relatively low below 200 Hz and high above 20,000 Hz. Median source spectrum levels peak near 50 Hz for all 12 ship classes, have a maximum of 159 dB re 1 µPa2/Hz @ 1 m for container ships, and vary between classes. Below 200 Hz, the class-specific median spectrum levels bifurcate with large commercial ships grouping as higher power noise sources. Within all ship classes spectrum levels vary more at low frequencies than at high frequencies, and the degree of variability is almost halved for classes that have smaller speed standard deviations. This is the first study to present source spectra for populations of different ship classes operating in coastal habitats, including at higher frequencies used by killer whales for both communication and echolocation.
Selective Modulation of Chemical Transmission at a Dual-Action Synapse (with Special Reference to Baclofen)

Laboratory of Physiology of the Nerve Cell, Sechenov Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Thorez pr. 44, 194223 Leningrad, USSR Abstract. Monosynaptic, electrical-chemical EPSPs were produced in individual motoneurons of the isolated frog spinal cord by intracellular stimulation of single primary afferents. This preparation was used to assess the relationship between the modulation of chemical synaptic transmission and presynaptic invasion. It was found that at dual-action synapses Baclofen selectively depressed chemical trans­ mission without affecting the electrically mediated response. The depression of chemical transmission results from a reduction in the number of transmitter quanta released by the presynaptic terminals following their adequate depolarization by the incoming action potential. Some other drugs depressing (Nembutal) and enhancing (Guanidine) chemical transmission and cooling also induce variability to release transmitter without affecting the presynaptic invasion.
The Robust Estimation of Multiple Motions: Parametric and Piecewise-Smooth Flow Fields

Most approaches for estimating optical flow assume that, within a finite image region, only a single motion is present. Thissingle motion assumptionis violated in common situations involving transparency, depth discontinuities, independently moving objects, shadows, and specular reflections. To robustly estimate optical flow, the single motion assumption must be relaxed. This paper presents a framework based onrobust estimationthat addresses violations of the brightness constancy and spatial smoothness assumptions caused by multiple motions. We show how therobust estimation frameworkcan be applied to standard formulations of the optical flow problem thus reducing their sensitivity to violations of their underlying assumptions. The approach has been applied to three standard techniques for recovering optical flow: area-based regression, correlation, and regularization with motion discontinuities. This paper focuses on the recovery of multiple parametric motion models within a region, as well as the recovery of piecewise-smooth flow fields, and provides examples with natural and synthetic image sequences.
Spiritual Leadership as a Model for Islamic Leadership

Western-based models dominate leadership research and practice, although a consensus is emerging that new theories and models are needed to foster cross-cultural understanding and rapprochement. This holds not only for global organizations that employ workers from different cultures but also for public and private organizations whose cultures and employees are grounded in and embrace religious beliefs and practices as central to their work. This article addresses these issues, drawing from spiritual leadership theory and Islamic religious tenets, and performing a theoretical transposition of the components of the spiritual leadership model into a model of Islamic leadership more appropriate for Islamic organizations and organizations employing Muslim workers. Implications for future theory building, research, and practice are discussed.
Beyond Health Literacy: Supporting Patient-Provider Communication during an Emergency Visit

Patient-provider communication is crucial to the quality of patient care. To avoid communication breakdowns, existing studies often aim to improve patients' health literacy or providers' interpersonal communication skills. Little has been done to look at the interaction between the two parties or the situated health practices where the communication occurs. To understand the barriers and the underlying factors leading to challenges in the patient-provider communication, we conducted an ethnographic study with patients and providers in an emergency care setting. We report three different communication difficulties between patients and providers: 1) conflicting perceptions of how the ED functions, 2) different understandings of the alternative information sources available in the ED, and 3) different perceptions of what information is critical to ED care. Highlighting the importance of ED practice literacy and balanced information sources, we discuss design opportunities for systems to support effective patient-provider communication during emergency care.
Japan's Banking Crisis: Who Has the Most to Lose?

Japan has experienced a deep and prolonged banking crisis in the 1990s. In this paper we attempt to identify the characteristics of companies which have the most to lose from the banks' malaise. Using stock price data, we calculate abnormal returns of non-financial companies around significant dates in the history of the banking crisis, starting in 1995. The events we study include various government actions to address the crisis, downgrading of banks by international rating agencies, and bank mergers. We find that not all companies are equally sensitive to events in the banking sector. The most affected are small companies, with low profits, in low-tech sectors, with high leverage and limited access to bond markets. These findings are consistent with macroeconomic "credit crunch" theories according to which small companies with limited reputation are the most affected when banks reduce lending. Our results are also in line with theories suggesting that bank debt is not very important for financing innovation.
Mg II Absorption Lines in z=2.974 Damped Lyα System toward Gravitationally Lensed QSO APM 08279+5255: Detection of Small-Scale Structure in Mg II Absorbing Clouds

1.02-1.16 μm spectra (λ/Δλ ∼7000) of the gravitationally lensed quasi-stellar object (QSO) APM 08279+5255 at zem = 3.911 were obtained during the commissioning run of IRCS, the 1-5 μm near-infrared camera and spectrograph for the Subaru 8.2 m Telescope. Strong Mg II doublet λλ2976, 2800 and Fe II λ2600, Fe II λ2587 absorption lines at zabs = 2.974 were clearly detected in the rest-frame UV spectra, confirming the presence of a damped Lyα system at the redshift as suggested by Petitjean et al. In addition, the Mg I λ2853 absorption line is probably detected. An analysis of the absorption lines including velocity decomposition was performed. This is a first detailed study of the Mg II absorption system at high redshift (z > 2.5), where the Mg II doublet shifts into the near-infrared in the observer's frame. The spectra of the lensed QSO pair A and B with 0. ″38 separation were resolved in some exposure frames under excellent seeing condition. We extracted the Mg II doublet spectra of A and B separately. Although three velocity components (v ∼ -28, +5, and +45 km s-1) are known to exist in this Mg II system (Petitjean et al.), the v ∼ +45 km s-1 absorption line was not detected toward source B, showing that the +45 km s-1 Mg II cloud lies only in the line of sight to the image A. Our results suggest that the size of the Mg II absorbing clouds is as small as 200 pc, which corresponds to the separation of A and B at the redshift of the absorber. This is the first direct detection of the small-scale structure of Mg II clouds at high redshift, confirming the estimated cloud sizes from the photoionization model by Churchill and Charlton.
Rethinking the Social Value of Sport Events Through an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Perspective

With an increasing emphasis on the social value of sport and events, there has been a shift in focus regarding the management and development process of event projects as well as their associated outcomes. This shift is about emphasizing a more strategic approach to developing social benefits by recognizing and utilizing leverageable resources related to sport events as a means of fostering lasting social and economic change (Chalip, 2006; O’Brien & Chalip, 2007; Schulenkorf & Edwards, 2012). In this paper, we adapt and apply the asset-based community development (ABCD) approach as a means of developing a more action-oriented, community-based approach to leveraging the social assets of sporting events. In applying the ABCD approach, we aim to shift the focus of event-led projects away from attempts to “solve” social problems (i.e., deficit perspective) to enhancing the existing strengths of communities (i.e., strengths perspective). We reflect on case study findings that highlight the challenges and oppor.
Effects of Inequality and Poverty vs. Teachers and Schooling on America's Youth

Background/Context This paper arises out of frustration with the results of school reforms carried out over the past few decades. These efforts have failed. They need to be abandoned. In their place must come recognition that income inequality causes many social problems, including problems associated with education. Sadly, compared to all other wealthy nations, the USA has the largest income gap between its wealthy and its poor citizens. Correlates associated with the size of the income gap in various nations are well described in Wilkinson & Pickett (2010), whose work is cited throughout this article. They make it clear that the bigger the income gap in a nation or a state, the greater the social problems a nation or a state will encounter. Thus it is argued that the design of better economic and social policies can do more to improve our schools than continued work on educational policy independent of such concerns. Purpose/Objective/Research Question The research question asked is why so many school reform efforts have produced so little improvement in American schools. The answer offered is that the sources of school failure have been thought to reside inside the schools, resulting in attempts to improve America's teachers, curriculum, testing programs and administration. It is argued in this paper, however, that the sources of America's educational problems are outside school, primarily a result of income inequality. Thus it is suggested that targeted economic and social policies have more potential to improve the nations schools than almost anything currently being proposed by either political party at federal, state or local levels. Research Design This is an analytic essay on the reasons for the failure of almost all contemporary school reform efforts. It is primarily a report about how inequality affects all of our society, and a review of some research and social policies that might improve our nations’ schools. Conclusions/Recommendations It is concluded that the best way to improve America's schools is through jobs that provide families living wages. Other programs are noted that offer some help for students from poor families. But in the end, it is inequality in income, and the poverty that accompanies such inequality, that matters most for education.
The electro-oxidation of lignin in Sappi Saiccor dissolving pulp mill effluent

Electro-oxidation reactions using a nickel anode were carried out on the calcium-spent liquor effluent obtained from Sappi Saiccor (formerly South African Industrial Cellulose Corporation) dissolving pulp mill as well as on lignin- and lignan-type compounds previously identified in the effluent. Voltammograms were obtained for each solution in order to identify the oxidation potentials of the compounds to be electro-oxidised. Value-added products such as vanillin and syringaldehyde were identified in the electro-oxidised reaction mixtures using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Profiles of the changes in concentration of these compounds were determined as a function of time with maximum concentrations reached within the first half hour. These findings are significant in that few electro-oxidation reactions have been carried out on the effluent of a pulp mill which uses the acid bisulphite pulping process and no results have previously been reported on the electro-oxidation of syringaldehyde. This study contributes to a further understanding of the electro-oxidation of lignin and is of value to the paper and pulp industry at large. Reduction of the organic content of the effluent by electro-oxidation was shown to be possible.
Morphological and Functional Studies of Cells Derived from Post-natal Neural Stem Cells Recommended Citation Morphological and Functional Studies of Cells Derived from Post-natal Neural Stem Cells

Morphological and functional studies of cells derived from post-natal neural stem cells " (2005). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1770. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion.
The Entanglement of Nostalgia and Utopia in Contemporary Southern Food Cookbooks

Abstract Southern food in the last ten years has become more than a regional food—it functions as lucrative brand and social movement. This article describes this transition using the methodology of performance studies, reading Southern food cookbooks as performative texts in order to trace the way that Southernness circulates both within the South and outside it. It then argues that this “new turn” in Southern cooking might be at the same time a nostalgic turn toward the past: a turn that underplays African-Americans’ labor’s role in creating and sustaining Southern food culture. How these erasures of the past butt up against New Southern food’s visions of the future is explored.