Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MAST CELL ACTIVATION BY DIVERSE STIMULI CAN BE SUPPRESSED BY STEROID THERAPY AND TARGETING THE FYN-STAT5B CASCADE

viii Chapter I: General introduction.1 Chapter II: Methods and materials.4 Reagents.4 Animals.4 K/BxN model of arthritis.4 IgG-mediated PSA.5 Mouse mast cell culture.6 Human mast cell culture.6 IgE-mediated activation.6 IgG-mediated activation.7 Macrophage culture and activation.7 Cytokine assessment by ELISA.7 mRNA analysis.8 Western blot analysis.8 Luciferase assay.9 Flow cytometry.9 Intra-cellular staining for cytokines.9 Analyzing phosphor-proteins by flow cytometry.10 Migration assay.10
High Data Rate for Coherent Optical Wired Communication using DSP

The aim of this research is the development and analysis of digital signal processing techniques for enhancing performance in coherent optical communication systems. While much of the current digital techniques are identical to those found in the digital wireless literature, we will investigate improvements in performance to be obtained by tailoring modulation and DSP post-processing algorithms to the optical. The combination of polarization-multiplexing and quadrature phase shift-keying (PM-QPSK or DP-QPSK) is emerging as one the most promising solutions to reach bit rates of 100 Gbps and higher. At the receiver end, the use of digital signal processing (DSP) [1, 2] results in significant deployment improvement over the traditional implementation. This application note shows a practical design of a 100 Gbps DP-QPSK transmission system using coherent detection with digital signal processing for distortion compensation.
Younger Adolescents’ Perceptions of Physical Activity, Exergaming, and Virtual Reality: Qualitative Intervention Development Study

Background Novel strategies to promote physical activity (PA) in adolescence are required. The vEngage study aims to test whether a virtual reality (VR) exergaming intervention can engage younger adolescents (aged 13 to 15 years) with PA. Objective This study aimed to gather adolescents’ views of using VR to encourage PA and identify the key features they would like to see in a VR exergaming intervention via interviews. Methods Participants were recruited through 2 schools in London, United Kingdom. Semistructured interviews were conducted with adolescents about their views on PA and what might work to increase PA, technology, knowledge and experience of VR, and desired features in a VR exergaming intervention. Data were analyzed using Framework Analysis. Results A total of 31 participants aged between 13 and 15 years (58% female, 62% from nonwhite ethnicities) participated in this interview study. The vast majority had no awareness of government PA recommendations but felt they should be more thoroughly informed. All participants were positive about the use of VR in PA promotion. Rewards, increasing challenges, and a social or multiplayer aspect were identified by participants as crucial aspects to include in a VR exercise game. Barriers were related to cost of high-end systems. Being able to exercise at home was very appealing. VR exergaming was viewed as a way to overcome multiple perceived social and cultural barriers to PA, particularly for girls. Conclusions Key elements that should be incorporated into a VR game for health intervention were identified and described. These also included the use of rewards, novelty and enjoyment in immersive game play, multiplayer options, and real-world elements, as well as continual updates and new challenge levels. The use of VR to promote PA in adolescents is promising, but some barriers were raised.
School performance and personal attitudes and social responsibility in preadolescent students

Título: Rendimiento escolar y actitudes personales y de responsabilidad social en el alumnado preadolescente. Resumen: Este trabajo se centra en el análisis de las diferencias observadas entre alumnos de diferente nivel de rendimiento, en las actitudes de responsabilidad social y personales hacia el estudio, según diversas teorías y modelos. Han participado 235 alumnos de tercer ciclo de Educación Primaria, a los que se aplicaron dos escalas de evaluación de actitudes: (a) la Escala de Evaluación de las Actitudes de Responsabilidad Social del Alumnado de Educación Primaria (EARSA-P, Monsalvo, 2012b), formada por 23 ítems agrupados en seis factores (obediencia en el entorno familiar, educado y aceptación de sus errores, confianza en sus padres, responsable en el entorno escolar, amigable y dispuesto a la ayuda y cuidadoso con su medio ambiente); y (b) la Escala de Evaluación de Actitudes generales hacia el Estudio E-1 (Morales, 2006), formada por 15 ítems agrupados en cinco dimensiones (nivel alto de aspiraciones, gusto por el estudio, organización del estudio, esfuerzo por comprender y deseo de seguir aprendiendo). Se compararon los niveles de responsabilidad social y las actitudes hacia el estudio en función del grado de rendimiento académico, encontrando diferencias significativas en las actitudes hacia el estudio y en la responsabilidad entre los grupos en función del rendimiento académico. Palabras clave: Rendimiento académico; actitudes de responsabilidad social; actitudes personales hacia el estudio; evaluación; enseñanza; alumnos preadolescentes. Abstract: This study focuses on the analysis of the differences observed between students with different levels of academic performance in their social attitudes and personal responsibility towards study, according to various theories and models. Participants were 235 students from the third cycle of Primary Education (10-12 years old). They completed two attitude rating scales: (a) Assessment Scale of Social Responsibility Attitudes of Primary School Pupils (EARSA-P, Monsalvo, 2012b), consisting of 23 items grouped into six factors (obedience in the family, polite and accepting their mistakes, trust in their parents, responsible in school setting, friendly and willing to help and careful of their environment); and (b) Assessment Scale of General Attitudes towards Study E-1 (Morales, 2006), which consists of 15 items grouped into five dimensions (high aspirations, enjoyment of study, study organization, efforts to understand and desire to continue learning). We compared the levels of social responsibility and attitudes toward study according to the level of academic achievement, finding significant group differences in attitudes toward study and responsibility in terms of academic achievement.
Efficacy and Safety of Various Amphotericin B Concentrations on Candida albicans in Cold Storage Conditions.

PURPOSE To determine the concentration of amphotericin B that would be both effective against Candida albicans contamination and safe for corneal endothelial cells (CECs) in cold storage conditions. METHODS Triplicate media cultures were inoculated with 10 colony-forming units (CFUs)/mL of C. albicans (American Type Culture Collection 10231), supplemented with amphotericin B (0-20 μg/mL), stored in cold conditions (2°C-8°C) for 72 hours, and analyzed quantitatively for CFUs. C. albicans concentration in each sample was determined initially and after 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours of storage. CEC mitochondrial function (oxygen consumption rate), apoptosis, and necrosis were examined in donor corneas after 7 days of amphotericin B exposure and compared with untreated controls. CEC viability was also examined by calcein-AM staining and Fiji segmentation after 72 hours or 2 weeks of amphotericin B exposure to mimic potential eye bank practices. RESULTS Amphotericin B concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 μg/mL resulted in 0.47, 1.11, and 1.21 log10 CFU reduction after only 6 hours of cold storage and continued to decrease to 3.50, 3.86, and 4.49 log10 reductions after 72 hours, respectively. By contrast, amphotericin B 0.255 µg/mL showed only 1.01 log10 CFU reduction after 72 hours of incubation. CEC mitochondrial function and viability did not differ in donor corneas exposed to amphotericin B ≤2.59 μg/mL compared with the controls. CONCLUSIONS Optimal efficacy of amphotericin B against C. albicans is achieved in cold storage conditions at concentrations ≥1.25 μg/mL, and 2.5 μg/mL reduces Candida contamination by >90% after 6 hours of cold storage without sacrificing CEC health.
Hand Hygiene Practices at Mina Hospitals’ Emergency Departments During Hajj Season 2012, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Nosocomial infections are a critical problem affecting the quality of health care all over the world. A significant proportion of infections result from cross-contamination, by the hands of Health Care Workers (HCWs). Objectives: To observe and make recommendations for both the provided facilities and compliance of hand hygiene practices of HCWs at the emergency departments of the four Mina hospitals during Hajj 2012. Methods: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study. The observation includes the hand hygiene facilities in each department, and study participants were randomly selected from doctors and nurses in the emergency departments (n = 243) and were unobtrusively observed for “WHO 5 Moments”. Results: Of total 243 doctors and nurses observed for hand hygiene compliance, the overall compliance rate was 45.5%, hand hygiene adherence was lower among male than female HCWs, also male doctors were lower adherence than female doctors, and this was statistically significant. The high adherence was observed at moment after body fluid exposure risk (87.9%). The favored way was alcohol hand rub at 77.4% (425), and also the provided facilities were significantly varied across hospitals. Conclusions: The overall hand hygiene compliance rate is 45.5%. The compliance rate increases where there are available hand hygiene facilities.
Prokaryotic expression and immunodot-blot detection of Taura syndrome virus capsid proteins VP 2 and VP 3

Capsid protein genes vp2 and vp3 of Taura syndrome virus (TSV) were cloned into pet-16b-1 and pGEX4t-3 expression vector respectively, and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 or DH5 for protein expression and purification. After induction with IPTG, recombinant VP2 (rVP2) and recombinant VP3 (rVP3) were produced in E. coli, purified by SDS-PAGE and used to immunize Balb/c mice for the production of polyclonal antisera: anti-rVP2 and anti-rVP3. Two antigenic peptides originating from TSV capsid protein VP2 and VP3 respectively were synthesized as antigen for the production of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs). Mab specific to VP2, VP3, anti-rVP2 and anti-rVP3 antisera all showed specific immunoreactivities to corresponding recombinant viral proteins by Western blot assay. The Mabs as well as the polyclonal antisera could detect VP2 and VP3 in homogenates from gills of TSV-infected shrimp by immunodot-blot. This is the first step towards our target of preparing TSV capsid proteins as oral vaccine and developing simple immuno-diagnostic test kits for TSV detection in Penaeus vannamei shrimp.
Vessels Encapsulating Tumor Clusters (VETC) Is a Powerful Predictor of Aggressive Hepatocellular Carcinoma

We investigated the clinical significance of a vascular growth pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the vessels that encapsulate tumor clusters (VETC), previously linked to HCC metastatic dissemination. VETC was assessed in a large multi‐institutional cohort of 541 resected HCCs from Italy, Korea and Japan, and matched against a full spectrum of clinical and pathological variables. The VETC phenotype (defined as ≥ 55% tumor area by CD34 immunostaining) was easily reproducible and reliably detectable in whole sections and small‐sized tissues of tissue microarray. VETC HCCs represented 18.9% of the whole series, the lowest proportion occurring in the cohort with smallest tumors (8.7%, Japanese series). VETC was significantly associated with several clinical and pathological features such as high alfa‐fetoprotein (AFP) level, tumor size greater than 5 cm, poor differentiation, macrotrabecular pattern, less compact pattern, less inflammatory infiltrates, and frequent microvascular invasion. VETC was associated with early recurrence (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.52 [1.06‐2.19], P = 0.023), disease‐free survival (HR: 1.66 [1.21‐2.27], P = 0.002), and overall survival (HR: 2.26 [1.37‐3.72], P = 0.001) at multivariable analysis. VETC affected the survival in HCC patients stratified for etiology (hepatitis C virus/hepatitis B virus), vascular invasion, and specific molecular phenotypes (β‐catenin/GS+). This distinct vascular pattern was enriched in the recently reported macrotrabecular massive HCC subtype, which was seen in 7.8% (42 of 541) of patients and associated with high AFP levels and poor differentiation. Conclusion: The VETC pattern was found to be easily detectable in a consistent fraction of HCC and a powerful pathological finding affecting survival. This study suggests that the heterogeneous pattern of angiogenesis is involved in HCC behavior.
Exposure to gold nanoparticles produces pneumonia, fibrosis, chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates, congested and dilated blood vessels, and hemosiderin granule and emphysema foci

Background: For the application of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in therapy and drug delivery, it is necessary to characterize histological lung tissue alterations after the administration of GNPs. These histological lung alterations have not been previously documented. The present study attempted to characterize histological lung tissue alterations after intraperitoneal administration of different GNP sizes to understand their bioaccumulation and toxicity role and determine whether these alterations are related to GNP size and exposure duration. Methods: A total of 40 healthy male Wistar-Kyoto rats received 50 µl infusions of 10, 20, and 50 nm GNPs for 3 or 7 days. Animals were randomly divided into four groups: three GNP-treated groups and one control group. Groups 1, 2 and 3 received 50 µl infusions of 10, 20 and 50nm for 3 or 7 days GNPs, respectively. Results: GNP-treated rats that received 50 µl of 10 and 20 nm particles for 3 or 7 days demonstrated more diffuse interstitial pneumonia, fibrosis, chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates of small lymphocytes, congested and dilated blood vessels, scattered dense extravasation of red blood cells, and foci of hemosiderin granules compared with rats that received 50 µl of 50 nm particles for 3 or 7 days. Conclusions: These histological alterations are size-dependent; smaller particles induce more damage and are also related to the duration of exposure to GNPs. Histological lung tissue alterations are due to toxicity induced by exposure to GNPs; the tissue becomes unable to deal with the accumulated residues resulting from metabolic and structural disturbances caused by these particles. The histological lung alterations suggest that GNPs might interact with proteins and enzyme of the lung tissue, interfering with the antioxidant defense mechanism and leading to free radical and reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation.
The case for measuring adults’ numeracy practices

In this article, we make the case for the development of a numeracy practices measure in the light of a review of relevant research and extant measures. We argue that a numeracy practices measure would acknowledge and validate adult learners’ practice gains and inform teaching geared to their circumstances, needs and interests. In New Zealand, there is a robust infrastructure supporting adult literacy and numeracy education and training. Professional development is built around the “three knowings”: know the learner; know the demands; know what to do (National Centre of Literacy & Numeracy for Adults, 2011). Learners’ progress is measured by an online adaptive proficiency measure, the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool (TEC, 2016). Adult numeracy learners often mention to their tutors that since joining a program they work out the cost of shopping, help their children with their mathematics homework, or perform work calculations and estimations that they previously avoided. However, these “practice” gains may not be reflected in improved scores on proficiency assessments, to the frustration of tutors and learners alike. In response, we undertook a project scoping the development of a measure of adults’ numeracy and literacy practices for the New Zealand
The Looking after Children Materials a Critical Analysis of Their Use in Practice

Margaret Bell discusses some key issues in the use of the Looking After Children materials which arose from their use by social work students and practitioners at the University of York. Overall, the practitioners were positive about the materials, reporting their value for the child in recording a detailed history, and in providing a structure for care planning which incorporated the views of all parties. Equally, concerns were raised that the Assessment and Action Records were not necessarily the most effective or child-centred way of collecting information; that the questioning could be intrusive and that the forms risked placing some artificial boundaries around some key professional decisions. The discussion explores the extent to which an external agenda for practice has the benefits the promoters suggest, and considers whether an essentially bureaucratic system for recording complex and individualistic judgements can double up as a sensitive practice tool.
Singular Point-like Perturbations of the Bessel Operator in a Pontryagin Space

The spectral problem for the Bessel equation of order v on (0, infinity) in the case 0 1 and v not equal 2, 3,. , this function belongs to the generalized Nevanlinna class N-m, m = [v+1/2]. A natural question appears: To what spectral problem does this function correspond! We answer this and related questions using Pontryagin space operator realizations of suitable singular point-like perturbations of the Bessel operator. In this paper we discuss the spectra of these realizations and we derive eigenfunction expansions via related wave operators. (C) 2000 Academic Press.
Phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of prunes and prune juice (Prunus domestica)

Phenolic compounds in foods have been associated with reduced incidences of heart disease by acting as antioxidants for low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Commercial prune and prune juice extracts (Prunus domestica cv. French) were analyzed for phenolics by reversed phase HPLC with diode array detection and tested for the ability to inhibit the Cu2+-catalyzed oxidation of human LDL. The mean concentrations of phenolics were 1840 mg/kg, 1397 mg/kg, and 441 mg/L in pitted prunes, extra large prunes with pits, and prune juice, respectively. Hydroxycinnamates, especially neochlorogenic acid, and chlorogenic acid predominated, and these compounds, as well as the prune and prune juice extracts, inhibited the oxidation of LDL. The pitted prune extract inhibited LDL oxidation by 24, 82, and 98% at 5, 10, and 20 μM gallic acid equivalents (GAE). The prune juice extract inhibited LDL oxidation by 3, 62, and 97% at 5, 10, and 20 μM GAE. These data indicate that prunes and prune juice may provide a source of dietary anti.
Temperature, salinity and food effects on asexual reproduction and abundance of the scyphozoan Chrysaora quinquecirrha

Outbreaks of jellyfish are reported worldwide, yet the environmental factors that control the sizes of jellyfish populations are not well understood. The scyphomedusan Chrysaora quinquecirrha occurs in the mesohaline portion of Chesapeake Bay each summer. Population sizes of the medusae show dramatic annual variations that are correlated with salinity and temperature. We measured the total numbers of ephyrae and polyps produced by benthic polyps of C. quinquecirrha in laboratory experiments lasting 42 d, and found that temperature (15, 20, 25°C) was not a statistically significant factor at low salinities (5 to 20‰); however, ephyra production increased significantly with increasing temperature at high salinities (20 to 35‰). Conversely, each 5°C decrease in temperature delayed strobilation (ephyra production) by about 1 wk. Salinity significantly affected the numbers of ephyrae and polyps produced in all experiments. Ephyra and polyp production was lower at both low (<11‰) and high salinities (≥25‰) than at intermediate salinities. Also, more ephyrae, but not polyps, were produced with more available prey. Medusa numbers were 2 orders of magnitude lower in July 1996 when water temperatures, salinities, and zooplankton densities in Chesapeake Bay all were lower than in July 1995. The effects of these factors are important in understanding the changes caused by human activities in near-shore ecosystems, including effects of global warming, eutrophication, and reduction of commercial species.
Excludable and Non-Excludable Public Inputs: Consequences for Economic Growth

Non-excludable and excludable public inputs are introduced into an endogenous growth model. We derive the equilibrium growth rate and design the optimal tax and user-cost structure, emphasizing the role of congestion and its consequences for the government's budget. The latter comprises fee and tax revenues that are used to finance the public inputs, although they may generate insufficient revenue to do so entirely. We extend the model to allow for monopoly pricing of the user fee by the government. Most of the analysis is conducted for general production functions consistent with endogenous growth, but the CES technology is also considered.
Does Cost Uncertainty in the Bertrand Model Soften Competition?

The answer is no. Although naive intuition may suggest the opposite, uncertainty about costs in the homogeneous-good Bertrand model intensifies competition: it lowers price and raises total surplus (but also makes profits go up). For some economic environments, this is implied by Hansen’s (RAND, 1988) analysis of a procurement auction. However, several authors appear to have overlooked Hansen’s results. Moreover, his results are derived under two assumptions that, if relaxed, conceivably could reverse them. The contributions of the present paper are threefold. First, it clarifies the implications of Hansen’s results for the relationship between uncertainty and competition in the Bertrand model. Second, it shows that his results hold also if drastic innovations are possible. Finally, the paper assumes asymmetric cost distributions and shows, using numerical methods, that then uncertainty lowers price and raises total surplus even more than under symmetry. If the asymmetry is large enough, however, industry profits are lower under uncertainty. This is in contrast to the known results and reinforces the notion that uncertainty intensifies competition rather than softens it.
Juvenile Coho Salmon Growth and Survival across Stream Network Seasonal Habitats

Abstract Understanding watershed-scale variation in juvenile salmonid survival and growth can provide insights into factors influencing demographics and can help target restoration and mitigation efforts for imperiled fish populations. We assessed growth, movement, and apparent overwinter survival of individually tagged juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch in a coastal Oregon watershed from June 2002 to June 2003 and related growth and survival parameters to stream characteristics. Fall body size of juvenile coho salmon was a good predictor of smolt size and survival, but smolt size was also influenced by overwintering location. This was due to strong spatial patterns in winter growth rates associated with residency and movement into a small intermittent tributary. Though nearly dry in midsummer, this stream supported high densities of spawning coho salmon in the fall, and juveniles rearing there exhibited relatively high growth rates and emigrated as larger smolts. Improved winter growth and surviva.