Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Guinea pigs sublethally infected with aerosolized Legionella pneumophila develop humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and are protected against lethal aerosol challenge. A model for studying host defense against lung infections caused by intracellular pathogens

We have employed the guinea pig model of L. pneumophila infection, which mimics Legionnaires' disease in humans both clinically and pathologically, to study humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to L. pneumophila and to examine protective immunity after aerosol exposure, the natural route of infection. Guinea pigs exposed to sublethal concentrations of L. pneumophila by aerosol developed strong humoral immune responses. By the indirect fluorescent antibody assay, exposed guinea pigs had a median serum antibody titer (expressed as the reciprocal of the highest positive dilution) of 32, whereas control guinea pigs had a median titer of less than 1. Sublethally infected (immunized) guinea pigs also developed strong cell-mediated immune responses. In response to L. pneumophila antigens, splenic lymphocytes from immunized but not control animals proliferated strongly in vitro, as measured by their capacity to incorporate [3H]thymidine. Moreover, immunized but not control guinea pigs developed strong cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity to intradermally injected L. pneumophila antigens. Sublethally infected (immunized) guinea pigs exhibited strong protective immunity to L. pneumophila. In two independent experiments, all 22 immunized guinea pigs survived aerosol challenge with one or three times the lethal dose of L. pneumophila whereas none of 16 sham- immunized control guinea pigs survived (p less than 0.0001 in each experiment). Immunized guinea pigs were not protected significantly from challenge with 10 times the lethal dose. Immunized but not control animals cleared the bacteria from their lungs. This study demonstrates that guinea pigs sublethally infected with L. pneumophila by the aerosol route develop strong humoral immune responses to this pathogen, develop strong cell-mediated immune responses and cutaneous delayed- type hypersensitivity to L. pneumophila antigens, are protected against subsequent lethal aerosol challenge, and are able to clear the bacteria from their lungs. The guinea pig model of L. pneumophila pulmonary infection is as an excellent one for studying general principles of host defense against pulmonary infections caused by intracellular pathogens.
Reply to comment on: Dietary yeasts reduce inflammation in central nervous system via microflora

Reply to comment on: Dietary yeasts reduce inflammation in central nervous system via microflora Kazushiro Takata, Takayuki Tomita, Tatsusada Okuno, Makoto Kinoshita, Toru Koda, Josephe A. Honorat, Masaya Takei, Kouichiro Hagihara, Tomoyuki Sugimoto, Hideki Mochizuki, Saburo Sakoda & Yuji Nakatsuji* Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine D4, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Discovery Research Laboratories, Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co., ltd., 2399-1, Nogi, Nogi-machi, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi 329-0114, Japan Osaka General Medical Center, 3-1-56, Mandaihigashi, Sumiyoshi, Osaka, Osaka, 558-0056, Japan Research Division, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Science and Technology, 3-Bunkyocho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8560, Japan Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Toneyama, 5-5-1 Toneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8552, Japan
Representation of Con-Specific Vocalizations in the Core and Belt Areas of the Auditory Cortex in the Alert Macaque Monkey

Auditory cortical processing in primates has been proposed to be divided into two parallel processing streams, a caudal spatial stream and a rostral nonspatial stream. Previous single neuron studies have indicated that neurons in the rostral lateral belt respond selectively to vocalization stimuli, whereas imaging studies have indicated that selective vocalization processing first occurs in higher order cortical areas. To test the dual stream hypothesis and to find evidence to account for the difference between the electrophysiological and imaging results, we recorded the responses of single neurons in core and belt auditory cortical fields to both forward and reversed vocalizations. We found that there was little difference in the overall firing rate of neurons across different cortical areas or between forward and reversed vocalizations. However, more information was carried in the overall firing rate for forward vocalizations compared with reversed vocalizations in all areas except the rostral field of the core (area R). These results are consistent with the imaging results and are inconsistent with early rostral cortical areas being involved in selectively processing vocalization stimuli based on a firing rate code. They further suggest that a more complex processing scheme is in play in these early auditory cortical areas.
High Frequency Trading and End-of-Day Price Dislocation

We show that the presence of high frequency trading (HFT) has significantly mitigated the frequency and severity of end-of-day price dislocation. The effect of HFT is more pronounced on days when end of day price dislocation is more likely to be the result of market manipulation. Moreover, the effect of HFT is more pronounced than the role of trading rules, surveillance, enforcement and legal conditions in curtailing the frequency and severity of end-of-day price dislocation. We show our findings are robust to different proxies of the start of HFT by trade size, cancellation of orders, and co-location.
Relative sales and matching analysis of consumers' brand choices in open settings.

The dissertation is a methodological exploration of the relevance of in-store behavioural experiments with relative sales and matching analysis to study consumers' brand choices in real open settings. Three extensive in-store experiments, using alternating treatment design with baseline - testing the effects of Place, Price, and Promotion - were performed in different types of stores (convenience, supermarkets, and budget) in order to investigate the application of the consumer behaviour analysis research framework to real open consumer settings. Four choice-based behaviour analytical analyses - relative sales analysis, amount matching, cost matching and probability matching - were performed on the data when applicable. The results show that the relative sales analyses for the in-store experiments often show orderliness and functionally interesting, and in some cases contradicting, buying behaviour patterns. As for previous correlational consumer behaviour analysis research there is - as should be expected - strong relationship between relative spending and relative buying (amount matching). Although methodologically peculiar, the application of this compelled matching relationship lies in the ability of the free parameters of the generalised matching equation to indicate dimensions of the substitutability of brands to some degree. Cost matching analyses, generally, did not show downward sloping curves, as is sometimes the case in previous studies. It, as well as amount matching, hides functional relations but can be appropriate if represented with a relative sales analysis, which gives clearer picture of behaviour-environment relationships than matching analysis. Results also show that the probability matching analysis, as applied in consumer behaviour analysis, gives misleading results. The ingathering of the study is a new in-store behavioural experimental project which can appraise consumer behaviour analytical advantages, fallacies, and verification seen with the lenses of in-store experimental techniques, and the inclusion of relative sales analysis to real and affluent consumer settings.
Validation of a Model of the Domino Effect

A recent paper proposing a model of the limiting speed of the domino effect is discussed with reference to its need and the need of models in general for validation against experimental data. It is shown that the proposed model diverges significantly from experimentally derived speed estimates over a significant range of domino spacing using data from the existing literature and this author's own measurements, hence if its use had had economic importance its use outside its range of validity could have led to loses of one sort or another to its users.
Image2Scene: Transforming Style of 3D Room

We propose a style transformation system to transform a 3D room into one that resembles the style of a photograph. We focus on two major components of interior scene style: layout and color. Using an interior image database, we learn the related style guidelines. Given a reference image and a 3D room of two different interior rooms, we first establish semantic correspondence between the two scenes. The styles of the reference image are then extracted in the form of layout constraints and color schemes. Finally, our framework performs layout rearrangement followed by recoloring of the scene to match the learned style of the reference image. We show style transformation results on numerous examples to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our system.
In Search of the Black Swan: Analysis of the Statistical Evidence of Electoral Fraud in Venezuela

This study analyzes diverse hypotheses of electronic fraud in the Recall Referendum celebrated in Venezuela on August 15, 2004. We define fraud as the difference between the elector's intent, and the official vote tally. Our null hypothesis is that there was no fraud, and we attempt to search for evidence that will allow us to reject this hypothesis. We find no evidence that fraud was committed by applying numerical maximums to machines in some precincts. Equally, we discard any hypothesis that implies altering some machines and not others, at each electoral precinct, because the variation patterns between machines at each precinct are normal. However, the statistical evidence is compatible with the occurrence of fraud that has affected every machine in a single precinct, but differentially more in some precincts than others. We find that the deviation pattern between precincts, based on the relationship between the signatures collected to request the referendum in November 2003 (the so-called, Reafirmazo), and the YES votes on August 15, is positive and significantly correlated with the deviation pattern in the relationship between exit polls and votes in those same precincts. In other words, those precincts in which, according to the number of signatures, there are an unusually low number of YES votes (i.e., votes to impeach the president), is also where, according to the exit polls, the same thing occurs.
A Genomics Approach to the Detection of Positive Selection in Cattle:

The detection of adaptive evolution at the molecular level is of interest not only as an insight into the process of evolution but also because of its functional implications for genes of interest. Here, we present the first genomics approach to detecting positive selection operating on the Bos taurus lineage, an important domestic species. This analysis led to the identification of the T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell receptor cluster of differentiation 2 (CD2) as having a strong signal of selection. Further detailed investigation of CD2 revealed that this gene was subject to positive selection during the evolution of a number of mammalian lineages. Moreover, we show that selection has operated primarily on the extracellular domain of CD2 and discuss the implications of this for an important regulator of the adaptive immune response.
Recovery of Motor Imagery Ability in Stroke Patients

Objective. To investigate whether motor imagery ability recovers in stroke patients and to see what the relationship is between different types of imagery and motor functioning after stroke. Methods. 12 unilateral stroke patients were measured at 3 and 6 weeks poststroke on 3 mental imagery tasks. Arm-hand function was evaluated using the Utrecht Arm-Hand task and the Brunnström Fugl-Meyer Scale. Age-matched healthy individuals (N = 10) were included as controls. Results. Implicit motor imagery ability and visual motor imagery ability improved significantly at 6 weeks compared to 3 weeks poststroke. Conclusion. Our study shows that motor imagery can recover in the first weeks after stroke. This indicates that a group of patients who might not be initially selected for mental practice can, still later in the rehabilitation process, participate in mental practice programs. Moreover, our study shows that mental imagery modalities can be differently affected in individual patients and over time.
Living with the Fear of Floating: An Optimal Policy Perspective

As documented in recent studies, developing countries (classified by the IMF as floaters or managed floaters) are extremely reluctant to allow for large nominal exchange rate fluctuations. This 'fear of floating' is reflected in the fact that, in spite of being subject to larger shocks, developing countries exhibit lower exchange rate variability and higher reserve variability than developed countries. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between changes in the exchange rate and interest rates and a negative correlation between both changes in reserves and the exchange rate and changes in interest rates and reserves. We build a simple model that rationalizes these key features as the outcome of an optimal policy response to monetary shocks. The model incorporates three key frictions: an output cost of nominal exchange rate fluctuations, an output cost of higher interest rates to defend the currency, and a fixed cost of intervention.
The human capital endowment of Latin America and the Caribbean

Although there are a great many theoretical and empirical studies which use the concept of human capital, there is no generally accepted definition of this term, and in many cases it is simply equated with formal education. This article will try to clarify the concept of human capital more precisely, with special reference to the ways in which it can be acquired. It will also provide an international indicator that takes account of all the shades of meaning of the definition proposed here, which are usually left out of the traditional indicators. Thus, the proposed indicator will take into account health, formal and informal education, and experience. Analysis of the human capital endowments of the Latin American and Caribbean countries reveals a certain backwardness with respect to other regions. It should be noted, however, that there are big differences between countries, although these have been reduced in the last few decades through a process of regional convergence.
Automating UI tests for mobile applications with formal gesture descriptions

Touch- and gesture-based interfaces are common in applications for mobile devices. By evolving into mass market products, smartphones and tablets created an increased need for specialized software engineering methods. To ensure high quality applications, constant and efficient testing is crucial in software development. However, testing mobile applications is still cumbersome, time-consuming and error-prone. One reason is the devices' focus on touch-based interaction - gestures cannot be easily incorporated into automated application tests. We present an extension to the popular Calabash testing framework solving this problem by allowing to describe gestures with a formal language in tests scripts.
Optimization of Influential Nutrients during Direct Cellulose Fermentation into Hydrogen by Clostridium thermocellum

Combinatorial effects of influential growth nutrients were investigated in order to enhance hydrogen (H2) production during direct conversion of cellulose by Clostridium thermocellum DSM 1237. A central composite face-centered design and response surface methodology (RSM) were applied to optimize concentrations of cellulose, yeast extract (YE), and magnesium chloride (Mg) in culture. The overall optimum composition generated by the desirability function resulted in 57.28 mmol H2/L-culture with 1.30 mol H2/mol glucose and 7.48 mmol/(g·cell·h) when cultures contained 25 g/L cellulose, 2 g/L YE, and 1.75 g/L Mg. Compared with the unaltered medium, the optimized medium produced approximately 3.2-fold more H2 within the same time-frame with 50% higher specific productivity, which are also better than previously reported values from similar studies. Nutrient composition that diverted carbon and electron flux away from H2 promoting ethanol production was also determined. This study represents the first investigation dealing with multifactor optimization with RSM for H2 production during direct cellulose fermentation.
Open Evaluation of New Product Concepts at the Front End of Innovation: Objectives and Contingency Factors

The proliferation of innovation contests has fostered community-based idea evaluation as an alternative to expert juries to filter and select new product concepts at the fuzzy front end of corporate R&D innovation. We refer to this phenomenon as open evaluation, as all registered participants can engage in jury activities like voting, rating, and commenting. While previous research on innovation contests and user engagement includes participant-based evaluation, the investigative focus so far has not been on this phenomenon. Access to jury activities in open evaluation practice contradicts innovation theory, which recommends careful selection procedures to establish expert juries for assessing new product concepts. Additionally, little is known about contingency factors that influence the performance and acceptance of open evaluation's results. To address these two questions on the objectives and contingency factors for open evaluation of new product concepts, this study applies exploratory multiple-case research of open evaluation in nine innovation contests. Data collection encompassed expert interviews and complementary sources of evidence. Results indicate that firms pursue six distinct objectives to support participant-based generation and selection of new concepts. In addition, eight contingency factors influence the performance of open evaluation and the acceptance of its results. Finally, results showed open evaluation output to efficiently complement jury decisions in filtering and selecting ideas for new product development.
Strathprints Institutional Repository Attitude Accessibility & Speeding 1 Evidence That Attitude Accessibility Augments the Relationship between Speeding Attitudes and Speeding Behavior: a Test of the Mode Model in the Context of Driving

(2015) Evidence that attitude accessibility augments the relationship between speeding attitudes and speeding behavior : a test of the MODE model in the context of driving. Strathprints is designed to allow users to access the research output of the University of Strathclyde. Unless otherwise explicitly stated on the manuscript, Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. Please check the manuscript for details of any other licences that may have been applied. You may not engage in further distribution of the material for any profitmaking activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute both the url (http://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/) and the content of this paper for research or private study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge. Abstract According to the MODE model of attitude<to<behavior processes, attitude accessibility augments attitude<behavior correspondence, reflecting an automatic influence of attitudes on behavior. We therefore tested whether attitude accessibility moderates the attitude<behavior relationship in a context that is governed by characteristically automatic behavior, namely driving. In study 1 (correlational design), participants (= 130) completed online questionnaire measures of the valences and accessibilities of their attitudes towards speeding. Two weeks later, online questionnaire measures of subsequent speeding behavior were obtained. Attitude valence was a significantly better predictor of behavior at high (mean + 1) versus low (mean – 1) levels of attitude accessibility. In study 2 (experimental design), attitude accessibility was manipulated with a repeated attitude expression task. Immediately after the manipulation, participants (= 122) completed online questionnaire measures of attitude valence and accessibility, and two weeks later, subsequent speeding behavior. Increased attitude accessibility in the experimental (versus control) condition generated an increase in attitude<behavior correspondence. The findings are consistent with the MODE model's proposition that attitudes can exert an automatic influence on behavior. Interventions to reduce speeding could usefully increase the accessibility of anti<speeding attitudes and reduce the accessibility of pro<speeding attitudes.
Caesarean section among relatives.

BACKGROUND Caesarean section rates are increasing. It is not clear whether a familial predisposition to caesarean section exists. METHODS Births registered in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway during 1967-2005 were linked to construct 440,236 grandmother-parent units and 275,001 same sex full sibling units. Log-binomial regression models were used to explore associations. RESULTS A mother born by caesarean section had a 55% increased risk of having her first child by caesarean section [adjusted relative risk (RR) 1.55, 95% CI 1.48-1.62]. The same was not found for fathers born by caesarean section (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.96-1.10). A younger sister, whose older sister had her first child by caesarean section, had a 45% increased risk of having her first child by caesarean section (RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.40-1.51). If an older brother had his first child by caesarean, this did not constitute an increased risk for the younger brother's partner (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.97-1.08). Similar associations were found in the subgroups of obstetric low risk deliveries. CONCLUSIONS A female-to-female familial predisposition to caesarean section was observed. It could be caused by biologic inheritance, primarily working through maternal alleles and/or environmental factors. The results imply that both mechanisms could be important.
Comparison of nonballistic active knee extension in neural slump position and static stretch techniques on hamstring flexibility.

Nonballistic, active range of motion exercises have been advocated as more effective than static stretching for increasing range of motion, yet no published data exist to support this claim. This study compared the effect of nonballistic, repetitive active knee extension movements performed in a neural slump sitting position with static stretching technique on hamstring flexibility. Forty healthy, adult volunteer subjects with limited right hamstring flexibility (i.e., minimum of 15 degrees loss of active knee extension measured with femur held at 90 degrees of hip flexion) were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 (static stretch) performed a 30-second stretch twice daily. Group 2 (active stretch) performed 30 repetitions of active knee extension while sitting in a neural slump position twice daily. Group 3 served as a control. Hamstring flexibility was determined by an active knee extension test before and after 6 weeks of stretching. Goniometric measurement of knee joint flexion angle was obtained from videotape recording of the active knee extension test. A 3 (group) x 2 (test) repeated measures analysis of variance and subsequent Tukey post hoc testing revealed no significant difference in knee joint range of motion gains between the static (mean = 8.9 degrees) and active stretch (mean = 10.2 degrees). Both stretch groups' knee joint range of motion improved significantly (p < .05) more than the control group. We conclude that 6 weeks of nonballistic, repetitive active knee extensions (30 repetitions, twice daily) performed in a neural slump sitting position improves hamstring flexibility in uninjured subjects, but is no different compared with static stretching (30 seconds, twice daily).