Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Panel 5: Immunology

Objective To perform a state-of-the-art review of the literature from January 2012 through May 2015 on studies that advanced our knowledge of the innate and adaptive immunology related to otitis media. This review also proposes future directions for research in this area. Data Sources PubMed database of the National Library of Medicine. Review Methods Three subpanels comprising experts in the field focused on sections relevant to cytokines, innate immunity, and adaptive immunity. The review focused on animal, cell line, and human studies and was critical in relation to the recommendations from the previous publication and for determination of the proposed goals and priorities. The panel met at the 18th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Otitis Media in June 2015 to consolidate its prior search results and discuss, plan, and refine the review. The panel approved the final draft. Conclusion From 2012 to 2014, tremendous progresses in immunology of otitis media were established—especially in the areas of innate immunity associated with the pathogenesis of otitis media. Implications for Practice The advances of the past 4 years formed the basis for a series of short- and long-term research goals in an effort to guide the field. Accomplishing these goals will provide opportunities for the development of novel interventions, including new ways to better treat and prevent otitis media, especially for recurrent otitis media.
Medical chemistry: evaluation of active and problem‐oriented teaching methods

Summary. In the preclinical phase of basic medical education at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, chemistry extends over 16 weeks and changes were made to the teaching methods during 7 of those weeks—one in organic chemistry and 6 in intermediary metabolism. The number of lectures was reduced and problem‐oriented group tasks were introduced instead which required a higher level of student responsibility for individual learning. Teaching and group tasks were designed to give the students a better understanding of the biochemical processes in their entirety as well as the way these are controlled in the human body. From this base the students will be enabled to discuss and understand physiological, pathological and medical phenomena.
An estimate of the bottom compressional wave speed profile in the northeastern South China Sea using "Sources of Opportunity"

The inversion of a broad-band "source of opportunity" signal for bottom geoacoustic parameters in the northeastern South China Sea (SCS) is presented, which supplements the towed source and chirp sonar bottom inversions that were performed as part of the Asian Seas International Acoustics Experiment (ASIAEX). This source of opportunity was most likely a "dynamite fishing" signal, which has sufficient low-frequency content (5-500 Hz) to make it complimentary to the somewhat higher frequency J-15-3 towed source (50-260 Hz) signals and the much higher frequency (1-10 kHz) chirp signals. This low frequency content will penetrate deeper into the bottom, thus extending the other inverse results. Localization of the source is discussed, using both a horizontal array for azimuthal steering and the "water wave" part of the pulse arrival for distance estimation. A linear broad-band inverse is performed, and three new variants of the broad-band inverse, based on: 1) the Airy phase; 2) the cutoff frequency; and 3) a range-dependent medium are presented. A multilayer model of the bottom compressional wave speed is obtained, and error estimates for this model are shown, both for the range-independent approximation to the waveguide and for the range-dependent waveguide. Directions for future research are discussed.
The Impact of a Minimum Wage Increase on Employment, Wages and Expenditures of Low-Wage Workers in Vietnam

This study provides empirical evidence on the impact of a minimum wage increase on employment, wages, and expenditures of workers in the formal sector who have wages below the minimum level in Vietnam. Using the difference-in-differences with propensity score matching and Vietnam Household Living Standard Surveys 2004 and 2006, the paper finds that the minimum wage increase reduced employment of low-wage workers in the formal sector. However, workers who lost formal sector jobs were able to find jobs in the informal sector. The effect of the minimum wage increase on wages and expenditures of workers is not statistically significant.
Board Monitoring, Regulation, and Performance in the Banking Industry: Evidence from the Market for Corporate Control

The specific monitoring effect of boards of directors versus industry regulation is unclear. In this paper, we examine how the interaction between bank-level monitoring and regulatory regimes influences the announcement period returns of acquiring banks in the US and twelve European economies. We study three board monitoring mechanisms (independence, CEO-chair duality and diversity) and analyze their effectiveness in preventing underperforming merger strategies under bank regulators of varying strictness. Only under strict banking regulation regimes, board independence and diversity improve acquisition performance. In less strict regulatory environments, corporate governance is virtually irrelevant in improving the performance outcomes of merger activities. Our results indicate a complementary role between monitoring by boards and bank regulation. This study is the first to report evidence consistent with complementarity by investigating the effectiveness (rather than the prevalence) of governance arrangements across regulatory regimes. Our work offers insights to policymakers charged with improving the quality of decision-making at financial institutions. Attempts to improve the ability of bank boards to critically assess managerial initiatives are most likely to be successful if internal governance is accompanied by strict industry regulation.
Influence of MNRI on the Immune Status of Children with Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic chromosomal abnormalities, which occurs in 1 out of 700 to 1000 newborns. The cause of the defect is a change in the pair at the 21st chromosome, which was discovered by Lejeune et al. almost a hundred years after the first description of the syndrome [1]. There are three different syndrome variations: trisomy is the existence of three copies of the 21st chromosome, comprising 95% of cases. Translocation is an attachment of a part of the 21st chromosome to another chromosome; the frequency of this occurrence is 3-4%. Mosaicism, an error in cell division after fertilization, which results with an extra 21st chromosome in some cells, occurs in 1-2% of cases. In 90% of cases a child receives an additional 21st chromosome from her mother and 10% from the father. A woman of fertile age has a 0.54% risk to have a child with Down syndrome and this risk increases with age (up to 4.2% woman of 45 and older). In all cases of chromosomal disorders the clinical characteristics are typical and were described by Down [2]. The definition of the "syndrome" includes a various combinations of symptoms and features but always includes two imminent characteristics: intellectual disability and muscle hypotonia.
The glioma‐associated gangliosides 3′‐isoLM1, GD3 and GM2 show selective area expression in human glioblastoma xenografts in nude rat brains

This work describes the in vivo expression and distribution of glioma‐associated gangliosides (GD3, GM2, 3′‐isoLM1) in a novel human brain tumour nude rat xenograft model. In this model, the tumours, which are established directly from human glioblastoma biopsies, show extensive infiltrative growth within the rat brain. This model therefore provides an opportunity to study ganglioside expression not only within the macroscopic tumour, but also in brain areas with tumour cell infiltration. The ganglioside expression was studied by confocal microscopy of immunostained brain sections using antiganglioside monoclonal antibodies. Xenografts from four human glioblastoma multiformes were established in rats and the brains removed after 3–4 months. Ganglioside GD3 was expressed in the tumour parenchyma while ganglioside 3′‐isoLM1 was more abundantly expressed in the periphery of the tumour associated with areas of tumour cell invasion. GM2 expression was only seen in one tumour, where it was located within the main tumour mass. Double staining with a pan antihuman monoclonal antibody (3B4) and the antiganglioside monoclonal antibodies confirmed that the ganglioside expression was associated with tumour cells. This work supports the concept of different biological roles for individual gangliosides and indicates that antibodies or ligands directed against GD3 and 3′‐isoLM1 might be complementary when applied in the treatment of human glioblastomas.
An accurate nonlinear MOSFET model for intermodulation distortion analysis

A compact charge-conservative nonlinear equivalent circuit model for metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors is comprehensively verified in terms of its ability to predict intermodulation distortion. The model is valid for the dc, small-signal, and large-signal simulation of high frequency circuits over a wide range of bias conditions and is globally fully continuous. Simulations made using the model, following parameter extraction, are validated by comparisons with experimental data. Using harmonic balance methods, intermodulation distortion for weak and large-signal two-tone tests and more realistic wide-band code-division-multiple-access signals is successfully predicted for a range of bias points.
Export Market Dynamics of Goa’s Iron-Ore Extracting Firms: Panel Data Analysis Using Fixed and Random Effect Estimator

The paper attempts to improve the prediction and measurement of regional export by revisiting the role of firm demographics and inter-firm export performance. Firm characteristics as potential predictors of export performance are focused while premising our propositions on constructs from international market theories. Firstly it is examined whether the coefficients in the demand and supply equations are consistent with the economic theory. Secondly we find industry specific evidence on the determinants of the firm-level export intensity for iron-ore extracting firms in a regional context, originating from the State of Goa. The Fixed and Random Effect Estimators (FEM & REM) are modeled on Panel Data. Two Stage Least Squares (TSLS), Dynamic OLS (DOLS) and Panel Tobit Model estimations conducted on all the sample firms pooled together, add value from a managerial perspective. At a scholarly level we respond to the need to test the explanatory power of the premises by the most followed export marketing literature.
Influence of Drug Use on Academic Performance among Secondary School Students in Matinyani District , Kenya Muusya Jackline Kavutha

Drug use has become prevalent today than any other time in Kenya. Youths are using drugs which modify their mental, emotional and behavioral functioning. In learning institutions, drug use may make students to have poor concentration in class, high rate of absenteeism and failure in exams leading to poor academic performance. The purpose of this study therefore was to investigate the influence of drug use on academic performance among secondary school students in Matinyani district. Descriptive survey was used in this study. Fourteen public secondary schools were involved with population of 1701 students. Purposive sampling was used in the sample selection to select 5 schools which included a girls’ boarding, a boys’ boarding school, a mixed day school, a mixed boarding school and a mixed day and a boarding school. A sample size of 269 was used. The data was collected by use of a Core Alcohol and Drug Survey Questionnaire. Validity and reliability of the study instrument was established through a pilot study. A correlation coefficient alpha of 0.7408 was obtained. According to, Fraenkel and Wallen (2002) a reliability co efficient of 0.7 or more implies high degree of reliability. Data was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Percentages, tables, and frequencies were used in presenting and summarizing the findings. The study established that drug use is common among secondary school students in Matinyani District. This leads to poor academic performance and increase in indiscipline cases among students.
Efficacy of topical application of beta urogastrone (recombinant human epidermal growth factor) in Wagner's Grade 1 and 2 diabetic foot ulcers: Comparative analysis of 50 patients

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is growing at epidemic proportions world wide and associated with this is an increase in incidence of diabetic foot ulcers. For better understanding and ease of management, diabetic foot ulcer severity is often classified using the Wagner system. In recent times, various treatment modalities have been put to test for getting early wound healing, including growth factors like human epidermal growth factor. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Surgery, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. The patients were divided into two groups of 25 patients each. Group 1 was the study group and patients in this group received topical application of beta urogastrone (rhEGF) gel. Group 2 was the control group and patients in this group received betadine dressing. The patients were followed up after every two weeks for eight weeks. Results: The age and sex were comparable in both groups. Mode of onset was either spontaneous or posttraumatic or following debridement. Initially in group A, 12 patients each had serous and seropurulent discharge respectively. I patient did not have any discharge. In group B, 15 patients had sero purulent discharge, 9 patients had serous discharge and 1 patient had purulent discharge. Initially, 13 patients in group A and 15 patients in group B had granulation tissue. Mean size at the beginning of the study in-group A was 19.56 sq cm and 21.20 sq cm in group B. Two patients from group A had incomplete healing at the end of the study as compared to 14 patients from group B. Conclusions: The application of rhEGF shortens the wound healing time significantly and the mean closure was significantly higher in the EGF group compared with placebo.
Community-acquired respiratory viral infections in lung transplant recipients

Purpose of review Community-acquired respiratory virus (CARV) infections are a significant cause of morbidity and sometimes mortality in lung transplant recipients (LTRs); this review will focus on the most recent advances in this field. Recent findings Recent advancements in molecular diagnostics have resulted in the detection of higher rates of CARVs in LTRs. Persistence of rhinovirus has been implicated in the development of acute and chronic rejection, whereas the role of bocavirus remains uncertain. The data on the association of CARV infections with acute or chronic rejection remain less. A recent systematic review failed to show an association between CARV infections and acute or chronic rejection. Different routes of administration of antiviral medications, vaccines and newer promising antiviral medications are being evaluated to assess efficacy and safety. Similarly, newer strategies of vaccination may potentiate the immune response in these patients. Summary With current advanced investigating tools, the full impact of CARV infections in LTR is increasingly coming to realization. Research for novel effective treatments and improved responses to current and new vaccines is ongoing; they would provide great benefit in solving this complex and ever-evolving problem.
A CMOS low-voltage fully differential sample-and-hold circuit

A new technique for realizing a CMOS low-voltage fully differential sample-and-hold circuit is presented. A low-voltage technique is proposed for CMOS sample-and-hold circuit that avoids the use of low-threshold voltage process, on-chip clock voltage doubler, bootstrapped switch, or switched-opamp technique. For 2.5 MHz input signal frequency, the proposed sample-and-hold circuit exhibits a THD of -62 dB for 1.0 Vpp input signal at 25 MHz sampling rate. Simulation results are given to demonstrate the potential advantage of the new technique.
Betting Against Efficiency: Behavioral Finance in an Nfl Gambling Exchange

Although it may be a stretch to claim that the efficient markets hypothesis of Eugene Fama (1970) has been toppled, recent work has uncovered both empirical and theoretical opposition to Fama's pillar of financial theory. Much of this substantial body of research has focused on the world's financial markets. The explosion of internet-based betting exchanges and information markets, however, provides a rich and simple dataset with which to examine market behavior. These markets provide an especially interesting environment under which to study pricing behavior because the fundamental value is always revealed at the close of each contract, unlike stock prices that merely provide repeated estimations of fundamental value. Concentrating on trading in contracts with the outcomes of National Football League (NFL) games as the underlying event, this paper first revisits two of behavioral finance's major theories: overreaction and underreaction. These behavioral theories make somewhat conflicting predictions about investor activities, and I determine what evidence of each theory exists in NFL gambling markets. The paper then focuses on two hypothesized anomalies that are more specific to NFL wagering. These contradictions to the weak and semi-strong form of the efficient markets hypothesis in the NFL market I label "implication ignorance" and "improper normal curve pricing. " Implication ignorance involves the mispricing of contracts that depend on multiple distinct events. This analysis examines the prices of parlay contracts with an eye toward the behavioral work of Tversky and Kahneman (1974). Improper normal curve pricing investigates the prices of different point spread contracts in the context of Stern's (1991) normal curve approximation of the margin of victory distribution. Though no evidence of overreaction or underreaction in NFL trading is found, there is strong evidence of implication ignorance and marginal evidence of improper normal curve pricing.
Total quality management practices and performance outcomes in Spanish service companies

The present study focuses on total quality management (TQM) implementation in service companies. The purpose of the study is to determine the latent factors of the TQM practices implemented as well as the dimensions of the respective performance outcomes. A research project was carried out in 72 Spanish service companies, using the questionnaire method. Two measurement models were formulated. The first model includes the TQM practices, while the second contains the performance outcomes. Exploratory factor analyses are applied to extract the latent factors. The TQM factors revealed by this study are the quality practices of top management, process management, employee quality management, customer focus and employee knowledge and education. The dimensions of the performance outcomes are financial performance, customer satisfaction, product/service quality performance and operational performance. In this study, TQM adoption in service companies is decoded by determining specific TQM factors. Moreover, the performance outcomes from TQM are classified. The TQM factors and the dimensions of performance outcomes expand the literature on TQM in the services sector.
Price discovery and the effects of fragmentation on market quality: evidence from Cypriot cross-listed stocks

Using a novel high-frequency data set, we examine the contribution of Greek trading to the price discovery process of a pair of Cypriot blue-chip, cross-listed stocks during overlapping trading hours. Additionally, we investigate the effects of market fragmentation on the home market’s quality, as measured by microstructure-based liquidity measures. Contrary to earlier studies from other markets, our findings show that foreign stock exchanges can act as the leading contributors to price discovery and can concentrate the majority of trading activity and produce the lowest transaction costs. Our results also show that market fragmentation can lead to negative effects on market liquidity.
ACTIN2 Is Essential for Bulge Site Selection and Tip Growth during Root Hair Development of Arabidopsis1

Root hairs develop as long extensions from root epidermal cells. After the formation of an initial bulge at the distal end of the epidermal cell, the root hair structure elongates by tip growth. Because root hairs are not surrounded by other cells, root hair formation provides an excellent system for studying the highly complex process of plant cell growth. Pharmacological experiments with actin filament-interfering drugs have provided evidence that the actin cytoskeleton is an important factor in the establishment of cell polarity and in the maintenance of the tip growth machinery at the apex of the growing root hair. However, there has been no genetic evidence to directly support this assumption. We have isolated an Arabidopsis mutant, deformed root hairs 1 (der1), that is impaired in root hair development. The DER1locus was cloned by map-based cloning and encodes ACTIN2 (ACT2), a major actin of the vegetative tissue. The three der1alleles develop the mutant phenotype to different degrees and are all missense mutations, thus providing the means to study the effect of partially functional ACT2. The detailed characterization of theder1 phenotypes revealed that ACT2 is not only involved in root hair tip growth, but is also required for correct selection of the bulge site on the epidermal cell. Thus, the der1mutants are useful tools to better understand the function of the actin cytoskeleton in the process of root hair formation.
Assessment of facility management practices in public and private buildings in Akure and Ibadan cities, south-western Nigeria

Purpose – This paper aims to assess the facility management (FM) practices in public and private buildings, and compare the practices in both the buildings. This paper critically analysed the current FM practices and explored the range of contributions that the facility manager could offer in both public and private buildings. Design/methodology/approach – A case study of 19 public and 20 private buildings in Ibadan and Akure cities was carried out in this paper. Findings – The paper revealed that the state of FM awareness is higher in private buildings than in public buildings and that FM practices in the two types of buildings are significantly related, but the extent of usage of FM methods are significantly different in the buildings. It was also observed in the research that corrective and responsive FM practices are the order of the day in both public and private buildings. Practical implications – The paper acknowledged that the involvement of the facility manager with the integrated design team if .
N,N′-Bis(2,6-diethylphenyl)acenaphthylene-1,2-diimine

The title compound, C32H32N2, has crystallographic twofold rotation symmetry, with two C atoms lying on the rotation axis. The dihedral angle between the substituted benzene ring and the naphthalene ring system is 79.8 (1)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by C—H⋯N interactions, which form a chain motif along the b-axis direction.