Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Significant augmentation of regulatory T cell numbers occurs during the early neonatal period

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) control immune responses by suppressing various inflammatory cells. Tregs in newborn babies may play an important role in preventing excessive immune responses during their environmental change. We examined the number and phenotype of Tregs during the neonatal period in 49 newborn babies. Tregs were characterized by flow cytometry using cord blood (CB) and peripheral blood (PB) from the early (7–8 days after birth) and late (2–4 weeks after birth) neonatal periods. CD4+forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3+) T cells were classified into resting Tregs (CD45RA+FoxP3low), activated Tregs (CD45RA– FoxP3high) and newly activated T cells (CD45RA– FoxP3low). Compared with CB and PB during the late neonatal period, the percentage of Tregs and all Treg subpopulations in the CD4+ lymphocyte population were increased significantly during the early neonatal period. Furthermore, the proportion and absolute number of activated Tregs were increased markedly compared with other Treg subpopulations, such as resting Tregs and newly activated T cells (non‐Tregs), in the early neonatal period. Increased Tregs concomitantly expressed the suppressive molecule cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4). The up‐regulated expression of chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) and down‐regulated expression of CCR7 were also observed in expanded Tregs. When cord blood cells were cultured in vitro with CD3 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) for 5 days, CD4+CD45RA–FoxP3high cells were increased significantly during the culture. Thus, the presence of increased activated Tregs in early neonates may play an important role in immunological regulation by suppressing excessive T cell activation caused by the immediate exposure to ubiquitous antigens after birth.
Nonnucleoside Inhibitor Binding Affects the Interactions of the Fingers Subdomain of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase with DNA

ABSTRACT Site-directed photoaffinity cross-linking experiments were performed by using human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) mutants with unique cysteine residues at several positions (i.e., positions 65, 67, 70, and 74) in the fingers subdomain of the p66 subunit. Since neither the introduction of the unique cysteine residues into the fingers nor the modification of the SH groups of these residues with photoaffinity cross-linking reagents caused a significant decrease in the enzymatic activities of RT, we were able to use this system to measure distances between specific positions in the fingers domain of RT and double-stranded DNA. HIV-1 RT is quite flexible. There are conformational changes associated with binding of the normal substrates and nonnucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs). Cross-linking was used to monitor intramolecular movements associated with binding of an NNRTI either in the presence or in the absence of an incoming deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP). Binding an incoming dNTP at the polymerase active site decreased the efficiency of cross-linking but caused only modest changes in the preferred positions of cross-linking. This finding suggests that the fingers of p66 are closer to an extended template in the “open” configuration of the enzyme with the fingers away from the active site than in the closed configuration with the fingers in direct contact with the incoming dNTP. NNRTI binding caused increased cross-linking in experiments with diazirine reagents (especially with a diazirine reagent with a longer linker) and a moderate shift in the preferred sites of interaction with the template. Cross-linking occurred closer to the polymerase active site for RTs modified at positions 70 and 74. The effects of NNRTI binding were more pronounced in the absence of a bound dNTP; pretreatment of HIV-1 RT with an NNRTI reduced the effect of dNTP binding. These observations can be explained if the binding of NNRTI causes a decrease in the flexibility in the fingers subdomain of RT-NNRTI complex and a decrease in the distance from the fingers to the template extension.
Pengaruh Sosialisasi Pajak, Kesadaran Wajib Pajak, dan Sanksi Pajak terhadap Kepatuhan Wajib Pajak dalam Membayar Pajak Bumi danBangunan di Desa Baringeng Kecamatan Lilirilau Kabupaten Soppeng

Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa sosialisasi pajak, kesadaran wajib pajak dan sanksi pajak berpengaruh signifikan positif terhadap kepatuhan wajib pajak. Saran dalam penelitian ini adalah diperlukan adanya sosialisasi pajak secara rutin, sanksi pajak, harus dipertegas dan diawasi pengaplikasiannya dan kesadaran wajib pajak harus ditingkatkan sehingga dengan begitu akan meningkatkan kepatuhan wajib pajak dalam memenuhi kewajiban perpajakannya.
A new low for an old high: neutropenia induced by levamisole-adulterated cocaine.

Recently, both the media and medical literature have directed attention towards neutropenia associated with levamisole-adulterated cocaine. Levamisole, available in South America as an anti-helminthic veterinary agent, was previously used in the United States (US) for treatment of colon cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Due to its well-established adverse effect of reversible neutropenia in approximately 20% of patients exposed, levamisole was voluntarily removed from the US market in 2000. Despite this known complication, levamisole has been isolated in up to 70% of cocaine seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in recent years. Evidence suggests traffickers in supply countries adulterate cocaine with levamisole, likely due to a known stimulatory synergism between the two drugs. Since 2009, nearly 100 cases of neutropenia associated with levamisole-adulterated cocaine have been reported in medical literature in North America and Europe. These patients, variably testing positive for cocaine and/or levamisole, have presented with symptoms including fever, generalized lymphadenopathy, oral ulcers, opportunistic infections, retiform purpura and, in at least one case, death. Exposure to levamisole can be tested by urinary gas chromatography, but this assay is not widely available and is of limited utility given the short urinary half-life of levamisole (5-6 hours). While the exact mechanism of levamisole-induced neutropenia remains unknown, reports of HLA-B27, lupus anticoagulant and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positivity among neutropenic patients exposed to levamisole suggest a potential autoimmune pathophysiology. G-CSF has been proposed as a treatment to shorten the duration of levamisole-induced neutropenia and minimize associated complications, but its relative efficacy for this purpose has not been firmly established.
Human papillomavirus type 70 genome cloned from overlapping PCR products: complete nucleotide sequence and genomic organization

The genome of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 70 (HPV 70), isolated from a cervical condyloma, was obtained by cloning overlapping PCR products. By automated DNA sequence analysis, the genome was found to consist of 7,905 bp with a G + C content of 40%. The genomic organization showed the characteristic features shared by other sequenced HPVs. Nucleotide sequence comparison with previously known HPV types demonstrated the closest homology with HPV 68 (82%), HPV 39 (82%), HPV 18 (70%), HPV 45 (70%), and HPV 59 (70%). Comparison with seven other partially sequenced HPV 70 isolates showed homologies of between 100 and 99.5%. Cloning of overlapping PCR products and automated DNA sequence analysis was found to be a feasible method of obtaining full-length sequences of HPVs.
Immediate Maxillary Molar Implant Placement with Simultaneous Crestal Approach Maxillary Sinus Bone Graft and Flapless Extraction

P.I. Bränemark introduced the idea of osseointegration when he noticed the incorporation of titanium with bone tissue. The concept of osseointegration revolutionized the replacement of missing teeth with dental implants. Greater understanding in bone and soft tissue physiology, accelerated by technological advances, has resulted in significant improvements in dental implant surgery; enabling a reduction in the number of surgeries with less invasive surgical techniques, optimized esthetics, and decrease in the length of total treatment time from extraction to final restoration. Contemporary implant surgeons employ less traumatic surgical techniques, place implants immediately, and combine multiple surgical techniques with fewer surgeries.
Public-Sector Employment in an Equilibrium Search and Matching Model

We extend the Diamond-Mortensen-Pissarides model of equilibrium unemployment to incorporate public-sector employment. We calibrate our model to Colombian data and analyze the effects of public-sector wage and employment policy on the unemployment rate, on the division of employment between the private and public sectors, and on the distributions of wages in the two sectors.
The clinical utility of the soft phonation index

This paper investigates the applicability of the soft phonation index (SPI) as an indicator of vocal fold adduction. The SPI is one of 33 acoustic parameters calculated and displayed from a single vocalization by the multi‐dimensional voice program (MDVP). A review of pertinent literature revealed that while increased values of SPI are presumed to be associated with incomplete adduction of the vocal folds, results should be interpreted cautiously as the index has not been sufficiently studied. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine how consistently SPI tracks systematic changes in vocal fold adduction. Samples of normal, breathy and pressed phonation produced by female speakers were analysed. As predicted, a significant increase in SPI for breathy productions was demonstrated. However, increases in SPI were also noted for pressed phonation. Possible explanations and implications for clinical application are discussed.
TEMPERATURE AND PHYTOPLANKTON GROWTH IN THE SEA

The variation in growth rate with temperature of unicellular algae suggests that an equation can be written to describe the maximum expected growth rate for temperatures less than 40°C. Measured rates of phytoplankton growth in the sea and in lakes are reviewed and compared with maximum expected rates. The assimilation number (i.e., rate of photosynthetic carbon assimilation per weight of chlorophyll a) for phytoplankton photosynthesis is related to the growth rate and the carbon/chlorophyll a ratio in the phytoplankton. Since maximum expected growth rate can be estimated from tempera­ ture, the maximum expected assimilation number can also be estimated if the carbon/ chlorophyll a ratio in the phytoplankton crop is known. Many investigations of phytoplankton photosynthesis in the ocean have included measures of the assimilation number, while fewer data are available on growth rate. Assimilation numbers for Antarctic seas are low as would be expected from the low ambient temperatures. Tropical seas and temperate waters in summer often show low assimilation numbers as a result of low ambient nutrient concentrations. However, coastal estuaries with rapid nutrient regeneration processes show seasonal variations in the assimilation number with temperature which agree well with expectation. The variation in maximum expected growth rate with temperature seems a logical starting point for modeling phytoplankton growth and photosynthesis in the sea.
Responsiveness of Keitel functional index compared with laboratory measures of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

This study compares functional changes to change in measures of disease activity following the introduction of slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs (SAARD) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Clinical and laboratory variables were simultaneously monitored at 6-monthly intervals, over approximately 18 months. Function was measured by a performance testing, the Keitel function index (KFI), which was divided into sections representing small and large joints [hand (HFI); wrist (WFI) and limb function index (LFI)]. One-hundred-and-fifteen patients were studied, of whom 21 were male. The mean age of the subjects was 49 yr (S.D. +/- 12) and mean duration of disease 7 yr (S.D. +/- 7). The mean KFI at entry was 38 (S.D. +/- 18) while at the end of the study it was 31 (S.D. +/- 17) (P < 0.0001). The change in KFI following therapy correlated with the change in Ritchie articular index (RAI) (r = 0.4; P < 0.0001), early morning stiffness (EMS) (r = 0.3; P = 0.004), swollen joint count (JC) (r = 0.4; P = 0.0005), C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.2; P < 0.05) and Lansbury systemic index (LSI) (r = 0.35; P = 0.002), but not with change in Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or change in time to onset of fatigue. Multiple regression analysis showed that 32% of the variation in KFI at the end of the study could be predicted by a combination of ESR, sulphasalazine therapy, RAI, disease duration and chloroquine treatment at onset (P < 0.05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Storage Processes with Markov Additive Input and Output

We consider a storage process to which both input and output are Markov additive processes defined on the same driving Markov process X. We study the process (X, W) where W is the content of the system. This paper has two main parts. The first uses excursion theory of Markov processes to study ladder processes of Markov additive processes (not necessarily arising from storage processes). This analysis enables us to find conditions for the existence of a limiting distribution for the Markov process (X, W). The second part uses a representation of the invariant measure for (X, W) to study the problem of level crossings of the content process W.
Generation of immature autologous clinical grade dendritic cells for vaccination of cancer patients.

BACKGROUND Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccine is a promising approach for cancer therapy. Pioneer trials have been conducted using DC generated in research conditions. There is now a need for generating DC in clinical grade conditions, including the use of closed systems, avoidance of FCS and respect of good manufacturing practices (GMP). METHODS DC were generated from 84 leukapheresis products of 27 cancer patients enrolled in two Phase I/II trials of vaccination of either MAGE+tumors (n = 24) or prostate cancer (n = 3). Monocytes were seeded in culture bags in a serum-free medium supplemented with IL-4 and GM-CSF. After a 7 day culture, DC were collected and most were pulsed with various MAGE-derived peptides. RESULTS After a short leukapheresis (mean time: 66 min; mean processed blood: 5 L), a mean of 6 x 10(9) WBC were collected, from which 2.25 x 10(9) were seeded. The culture procedure yielded a large number of DC (mean: 62 x 10(6) DC) harboring the expected phenotype of immature DC (CD1a(+) CD14(-) HLA-DR(+) CD80(+) CD86(+) CD83(-)). This phenotype was not altered by peptide loading. These DC, either fresh or thawed, were functionally effective invitro. Their s.c. and i.v. injections were devoid of any short-term side effect and associated with the induction of immune responses in the patients. DISCUSSION Large numbers of functional immature clinical grade DC can be generated in a closed system from leukapheresis products in cancer patients. These results provide the basis for large-scale studies of cancer immunotherapy under improved safety conditions.
Income inequality trends in the 1980s and 1990s.

This article describes trends in income inequality in Australia during the past two decades, primarily using the income distribution survey unit record tapes released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for 1982 and 1996–97. There has been little change in national overall inequality during this period. But this lack of overall change at the national level disguises two major trends.
A review of the use of magnetic resonance imaging in Parkinson’s disease

To date, the most frequently used Parkinson’s disease (PD) biomarkers are the brain imaging measures of dopaminergic dysfunction using positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography. However, major advances have occurred in the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers for PD in the past decade. Although conventional structural imaging remains normal in PD, advanced techniques have shown changes in the substantia nigra and the cortex. The most well-developed MRI markers in PD include diffusion imaging and iron load using T2/T2* relaxometry techniques. Other quantitative biomarkers such as susceptibility-weighted imaging for iron load, magnetization transfer and ultra-high-field MRI have shown great potential. More sophisticated techniques such as tractography and resting state functional connectivity give access to anatomical and functional connectivity changes in the brain, respectively. Brain perfusion can be assessed using non-contrast-agent techniques such as arterial spin labelling and spectroscopy gives access to metabolites concentrations. However, to date these techniques are not yet fully validated and standardized quantitative metrics for PD are still lacking. This review presents an overview of new structural, perfusion, metabolic and anatomo-functional connectivity biomarkers, their use in PD and their potential applications to improve the clinical diagnosis of Parkinsonian syndromes and the quality of clinical trials.
Transformation and Regeneration of Two Cultivars of Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

A reproducible transformation system was developed for pea (Pisum sativum L.) using as explants sections from the embryonic axis of immature seeds. A construct containing two chimeric genes, nopaline synthase-phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (bar) and cauliflower mosaic virus 35S-neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII), was introduced into two pea cultivars using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation procedures. Regeneration was via organogenesis, and transformed plants were selected on medium containing 15 mg/L of phosphinothricin. Transgenic peas were raised in the glasshouse to produce flowers and viable seeds. The bar and nptII genes were expressed in both the primary transgenic pea plants and in the next generation progeny, in which they showed a typical 3:1 Mendelian inheritance pattern. Transformation of regenerated plants was confirmed by assays for neomycin phosphotransferase and phosphinothricin acetyl transferase activity and by northern blot analyses. Transformed plants were resistant to the herbicide Basta when sprayed at rates used in field practice.
The Role of Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertisements and Individual Differences in Getting People to Talk to Physicians

In this study, 384 respondents provided quantitative and descriptive information about direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical advertisements and factors related to message reception and drug adoption. The authors applied M. Booth-Butterfield's (2008) Standard Model to explain how DTC advertising is used in getting individuals to talk to their doctors about pharmaceutical drugs. The researchers predicted that individuals who talked with their physicians about a pharmaceutical drug (referred to as talkers) would differ from those who did not talk with their physicians (referred to as nontalkers) in a number of meaningful ways. Findings from this data set indicate that individuals who talked with their physician about a specific medication were more likely to be female, older, higher in need for cognition, and reported higher physician satisfaction. Total number of channels (TV, radio, newspaper, magazines, and the Internet) was negatively associated with talking to a physician about a specific medication, as was exposure to DTC advertisement on television. The authors offer explanations for these findings along with descriptive accounts of how talkers and nontalkers differed in their recall of DTC advertisement information.
Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems: An Overview of Recent Research and Emerging PV Converter Technology

Photovoltaic (PV) energy has grown at an average annual rate of 60% in the last five years, surpassing one third of the cumulative wind energy installed capacity, and is quickly becoming an important part of the energy mix in some regions and power systems. This has been driven by a reduction in the cost of PV modules. This growth has also triggered the evolution of classic PV power converters from conventional single-phase grid-tied inverters to more complex topologies to increase efficiency, power extraction from the modules, and reliability without impacting the cost. This article presents an overview of the existing PV energy conversion systems, addressing the system configuration of different PV plants and the PV converter topologies that have found practical applications for grid-connected systems. In addition, the recent research and emerging PV converter technology are discussed, highlighting their possible advantages compared with the present technology.
The Slicer Activity of ARGONAUTE1 Is Required Specifically for the Phasing, Not Production, of Trans-Acting Short Interfering RNAs in Arabidopsis[OPEN]

Amplified short interfering RNAs are made in the absence of RNA cleavage activity of ARGONAUTE1, implying that recruitment of RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase 6 does not require RNA cleavage fragments. ARGONAUTE1 (AGO1) mediates posttranscriptional silencing by microRNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAS (siRNAs). AGO1-catalyzed RNA cleavage (slicing) represses miRNA targets, but current models also highlight the roles of slicing in formation of siRNAs and siRNA-AGO1 complexes. miRNA-guided slicing is required for biogenesis of phased, trans-acting siRNAs (tasiRNAs), whose cleaved precursor fragments are converted to double-stranded RNA by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 6 (RDR6). In addition, unwinding of duplex siRNA bound to AGO1 requires passenger strand cleavage in vitro. In this study, we analyze how mutation of four metal ion-coordinating residues of Arabidopsis thaliana AGO1 affects slicer activity in vitro and siRNA function in vivo. We show that while all four residues are required for slicer activity, they do not contribute equally to catalysis. Moreover, passenger strand cleavage is required for assembly of active AGO1-siRNA complexes in vivo, and many AGO1-bound siRNAs are trimmed in the absence of slicer activity. Remarkably, seedlings defective in AGO1 slicer activity produce abundant siRNAs from tasiRNA loci in vivo. These siRNAs depend on RDR6 and SUPPRESSOR OF GENE SILENCING3, but unlike wild-type tasiRNAs, they are unphased. These results demonstrate that slicing is solely required for phase definition of tasiRNAs, and they strongly support recruitment of RDR6 by AGO1 rather than by cleavage fragments.
Interpreting multivariate membership degrees of fuzzy clustering methods: A strategy

Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) is the most popular algorithm of the fuzzy clustering approach. Although FCM and its variations have shown good performance in cluster detection, they do not consider that different variables could produce different membership degrees. Motivated by this, the Multi-variate Fuzzy C-Means (MFCM) method was proposed. The MFCM computes membership degrees of both clusters and variables. However, up to now, there is no method that interprets the multivariate membership of the variables for aiding the understanding of clusters. The goal of this paper is, thus, to bridge this gap by proposing a method to do so. In order to illustrate the method proposed, experiments with a synthetic dataset and applications concerning cancer gene expression data are carried out.