Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biologic effects of recombinant human interleukin-12 in squirrel monkeys (Sciureus saimiri).

BACKGROUND Interleukin-12 is a novel heterodimeric cytokine that stimulates the proliferation of activated T and NK cells and induces lymphokine-activated killer cell activity in vitro. To investigate the biological effects of recombinant human IL-12 (rHuIL-12) in vivo, two exploratory studies were conducted in squirrel monkeys (Sciureus saimiri), which have been shown to be pharmacologically responsive to rHuIL-12 in vitro. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In the first study, 18 monkeys (3/sex/group) were given daily subcutaneous injections of 0 (vehicle control), 10, or 50 micrograms/kg/day rHuIL-12 for 14 days. In the second study, 18 monkeys were given 0, 0.1, or 1 micrograms/kg/day rHuIL-12 for 14 days The animals were monitored for clinical signs, hematology and clinical chemistry changes, and sacrificed on day 15 to evaluate gross and histopathologic changes. One monkey in the high dose group was sacrificed moribund on day 14. RESULTS Monkeys given rHuIL-12 had dose-related hematologic changes characterized by mild to moderate anemia and leukocytosis. Serum chemistry changes included hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypocalcemia. Gross pathologic findings included generalized lymph node enlargement and splenomegaly with pulmonary edema and peritoneal effusions in two high dose monkeys. Dose-related histopathologic findings included thymic cortical atrophy, splenic lymphoid hyperplasia with histiocytic hyperplasia and extramedullary hematopoiesis of red pulp, Kupffer cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia, trilineage bone marrow hyperplasia, and reactive hyperplasia of lymph nodes. Animals in the 10 and 50 micrograms/kg/day dose groups developed high titers of anti-rHuIL-12 antibodies by day 15. CONCLUSIONS These studies indicate that rHuIL-12 is bioactive over a wide dose range and induces prominent hyperplasia of hematopoietic and lymphohistiocytic tissues in squirrel monkeys. Moreover, positive immunomodulatory activity (enhanced lymphocyte lytic activity) was detected at a dose of rHuIL-12 that is 500-fold less than the dose causing severe toxicity.
Public support for European Union membership in Turkey between 2005-2014

Within the discussion of EU relations of Turkey, it is clear that until recent the importance of public opinion and its formation have been neglected from related research. Although the existent research deals with individual level factors shaping public opinion, this thesis proposes an alternative approach that public opinion formation is highly related to political cues that are provided from certain government institutions and political elite, among other determinants of national economic growth, tendency to trust in the national government and parliament. The decline in public support in Turkey regarding EU membership has been analyzed and tendencies within the period of 2005-2014 are presented in order to provide explanations to the association of the public opinion formation to the related propositions. In order to observe the relation of external and internal factors regarding policy formation of the political elite, the historical background of Turkish membership project to EU has been touched upon, and related political discourses have been analyzed to correlate public opinion formation to elite messages in the respective period. In doing this, the thesis aims to contribute to public opinion analyses of Turkey regarding EU membership process, while embracing Eurobarometer public opinion surveys from 2005 to 2014.
Immediate loading of post-extractive single-tooth implants: a 1-year prospective study.

PURPOSE The aim of this prospective clinical trial was to assess clinical, radiological, and esthetic outcomes of immediate-loaded post-extractive implants after 1 year of follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-four consecutive patients (15 females and nine males) with a mean age of 47.27 years (range 35-65) requiring single-tooth extraction in the maxillary or mandibular anterior or premolar areas were enrolled. Twenty-five NobelActive implants (Nobel Biocare, Göteborg, Sweden) were placed and loaded immediately after tooth extraction. The definitive prosthetic restoration was delivered 6 months later. Clinical parameters, marginal bone loss, as well as, pink and white esthetic scores (PES and WES) were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months after implant placement. RESULTS After 12-month follow-up period, a success rate of 91.67% was reported: Two of the 25 initially placed implants were lost after 4 weeks due to lack of osseointegration. The mean marginal bone loss after 1-year follow-up was 0.383 (SD ± 0.749) at mesial site and 0.278 (SD ± 0.595) at distal site. No statistically significant changes in the full-mouth plaque score (FMPS) and in the full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS) were observed from baseline to 12 months. The mean total PES/WES was 17.13 ± 1.91 (range: 13-20). None of 23 implants had an overall score <12 (threshold of clinical acceptability). CONCLUSION Within the limitations of the present study, when careful patient selection and strict clinical protocol are observed, the immediate placement and loading of a single NobelActive(™) implant in a fresh extraction socket may be considered a valuable and predictable option in terms of implant success as well as hard and soft tissues stability.
Mood, religious experience and the Ramadan effect

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the influence of mood/emotions and religious experience on Islamic stock markets during the Ramadan month. ,This study uses stock returns data of two countries – Saudi Arabia and Iran – from January 2008 to September 2014 and the ARMA-GARCH models to study impact of the Ramadan month on the return and volatility of the stock market in these two countries. ,The results of this study show some differences in the impact of the Ramadan month on the return and volatility of the stock market in these two countries. While the Ramadan month has a significant positive influence on the mean returns and the volatility of the Saudi market, its influence on the Iranian market is found to be insignificant. Further analysis on the last ten days of the Ramadan month provides a similar result for the Saudi market. However, for the Iranian market, volatility is significantly negatively affected during these last ten days. ,Most prior studies have found significant changes in returns during the Ramadan month but a deeper understanding of this stock market anomaly is needed. The results point toward the influence of mood/emotions and religious experience in explaining the existence of the Ramadan anomaly.
On the Cyclical Properties of Hamilton’s Regression Filter

Hamilton (2017) criticises the Hodrick and Prescott (1981, 1997) filter (HP filter) because of three drawbacks (i. spurious cycles, ii. end-of-sample bias, iii. ad hoc assumptions regarding the smoothing parameter) and proposes a regression filter as an alternative. I demonstrate that Hamilton's regression filter shares some of these drawbacks. For instance, Hamilton's ad hoc formulation of a 2-year regression filter implies a cancellation of two-year cycles and an amplification of cycles longer than typical business cycles. This is at odds with stylised business cycle facts, such as the one-year duration of a typical recession, leading to inconsistencies, for example, with the NBER business cycle chronology. Nonetheless, I show that Hamilton's regression filter should be preferred to the HP filter for constructing a credit-to-GDP gap. The filter extracts the various medium-term frequencies more equally. Due to this property, a regression-filtered credit-to-GDP ratio indicates that imbalances prior to the global financial crisis started earlier than shown by the Basel III creditto-GDP gap.
Interferon gamma quantification in cerebrospinal fluid compared with PCR for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis.

PURPOSE To assess the utility of interferon gamma (INF-gamma) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM), and compare these results with aPCR technique. METHODS We studied CSF samples from patients with proven or probable TBM and a control group, composed by patients with other causes of meningitis and without meningitis. INFgamma levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. A PCR technique was performed using IS6110 primers. RESULTS Of the 127 patients studied, 20 (15.6%) had TBM, 59 (46%) had meningitis of another aetiology and 49 (38.4%) had were HIV and non-HIV patients with normal CSF. The area below the ROC curve for interferon gamma levels in the diagnosis of TBM was 0.94. A cut-off of 6.4 IU/mL yielded a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 94%. False positive results were observed in 7 of the 59 patients (11.8%) with non-TB meningitis, (patients with herpetic meningoencephalitis and meningitis due to intracellular microorganisms). INF-gamma sensitivity was higher than PCR (70% vs. 65%). Both tests performed together showed higher sensitivity (80%) and specificity (92.6%). CONCLUSION CSF INF-gamma levels (> 6.4 IU/mL) are very valuable in TBM diagnosis. PCR and INF-gamma could be simultaneously used to increase the diagnostic yield.
Enhancement of the Efficacy of Photodynamic Inactivation of Candida albicans with the Use of Biogenic Gold Nanoparticles

This study reports on successful photodynamic inactivation of planktonic and biofilm cells of Candida albicans using Rose Bengal (RB) in combination with biogenic gold nanoparticles synthesized by the cell‐free filtrate of Penicillium funiculosum BL1 strain. Monodispersed colloidal gold nanoparticles coated with proteins were characterized by a number of techniques including SEM–EDS, TEM, UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to be 24 ± 3 nm spheres. A Xe lamp (output power of 20mW, delivering intensity of 53 mW cm−2) was used as a light source to study the effects of RB alone, the gold nanoparticles alone and the RB‐gold nanoparticle mixture on the viability of C. albicans cells. The most effective reduction in the number of planktonic cells was found after 30 min of Xe lamp light irradiation (95.4 J cm−2) and was 4.89 log10 that is 99.99% kill for the mixture of RB with gold nanoparticles compared with 2.19 log10 or 99.37% for RB alone. The biofilm cells were more resistant to photodynamic inactivation, and the highest effective reduction in the number of cells was found after 30 min of irradiation in the presence of the RB–gold nanoparticles mixture and was 1.53 log10, that is 97.04% kill compared with 0.6 log10 or 74.73% for RB. The probable mechanism of enhancement of RB‐mediated photodynamic fungicidal efficacy against C. albicans in the presence of biogenic gold nanoparticles is discussed leading to the conclusion that this process may have a multifaceted character.
Potential serotonin 5-HT1A and dopamine D4 receptor modulation of the discriminative stimulus effects of amphetamine in rats

Activation of the dopaminergic system underlies the behavioral effects of (+)-amphetamine, and plays a major role in its discriminative stimulus properties. Although serotonin receptors modulate dopamine levels in the brain, and 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptor agonists do not mimic (+)-amphetamine, pretreatment with 5-HT2A/2C agonists significantly potentiates the (+)-amphetamine cue. Further, 5-HT2 antagonists do not modify the discriminative stimulus effect of (+)-amphetamine, but 5-HT1A antagonists have never been tested in (+)-amphetamine-trained rats. This study sought to characterize the effects of the 5-HT1A antagonist WAY 100635 on (+)-amphetamine-induced discriminative stimulus effects. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were trained in a two-lever, fixed ratio 50, food-reinforced task with (+)-amphetamine sulfate (1.0 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min pretreatment time) as the discriminative stimulus. Substitution and combination tests with WAY 100635 were then performed. WAY 100635 did not produce substitution in amphetamine-trained rats, but significantly increased behavioral disruption. In combination tests 0.4 and 5.4 mg/kg doses of WAY 100635 potentiated the amphetamine cue. We suggest that low doses of WAY 100635 potentiated the (+)-amphetamine cue by blockade of 5-HT1A receptors, but stimulation of the dopamine D4 receptor by higher doses of WAY 100635 may be responsible for potentiation of amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization. The high percentage of behavioral disruption in substitution tests might suggest that rats trained to discriminate (+)-amphetamine from saline show behavioral sensitization that is not detectable by the drug discrimination assay but may be expressed as hyperactivity and stereotypic behavior that disrupts operant behavior.
U.S. Foreign Policy in Clinton and Trump’s presidential campaign. Discourses on ISIS in the media

Durante la última campaña electoral en Estados Unidos el terrorismo del ISIS se ha convertido en la principal preocupación de la opinión pública (Gallup, 2015) y en el principal tema de política exterior de la campaña. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar los discursos sobre el ISIS de los candidatos Trump y Clinton publicados en los medios, así como investigar sobre la “construcción del otro”, en este caso el ISIS, en dichos discursos. Como metodología se ha optado por un análisis cualitativo, basado en el análisis del discurso de noticias publicadas por medios digitales norteamericanos entre noviembre de 2015 y febrero de 2016. Entre los principales resultados destacan la estrategia provocativa, discriminatoria y populista de Trump, frente al tono apelativo y argumentativo de Clinton.
Quantitative analysis of Th1, Th2 and TGF‐β1 cytokine expression in tumor, TIL and PBL of non‐small cell lung cancer patients

For understanding the local immune response in human non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we investigated both Th1 and Th2‐type as well as TGF‐β1 cytokine mRNA expression in 10 fresh tumor biopsies, the corresponding tumor and short term TIL cell lines as well as patient PBMC. A methodology based on a highly sensitive quantitative RT‐PCR was used. We found that IL‐6 mRNA was highly expressed in all tumor biopsy samples analyzed (4 LLC, 3 ADC and 3 SCC). IL‐10 mRNA was expressed in 7 of 10 biopsies whereas IL‐4 mRNA expression was moderate. Analysis of type 1 cytokines revealed a low expression level of IL‐2 mRNA, while IFNγ and GM‐CSF expression was high in the majority of the tumor lesions studied. Quantitatively, high amounts of Th2‐type cytokine mRNA were detected at the tumor site with IL‐6 as the predominant lymphokine. A high mRNA expression level of the immunosuppressive cytokine TGF‐β1 was observed in all NSCLC. To identify the cell types responsible for the production of TGF‐β1, IL‐6, IL‐10 and GM‐CSF at the tumor site, tumor and TIL cell lines were derived from the corresponding biopsies. All the 3 tumor cell lines analysed were found to express high amount of TGF‐β1 but not IL‐10 mRNA, 2 expressing IL‐6 and GM‐CSF. Five short term TIL cell lines established in the presence of IL‐2 expressed high level of IL‐10, IL‐4 and IFNγ but not IL‐2 mRNA. Strikingly, high expression of IL‐10 mRNA was also observed in all 6 patient PBMC analyzed as compared to controls. Together, our results indicate the existence of a local and peripheral Th‐2‐type cytokine pattern in patients bearing NSCLC. Int. J. Cancer 77:7–12, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
First-line antiretroviral therapy and changes in lipid levels over 3 years among HIV-infected adults in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND With the rapid rollout of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there has been an increasing concern about cardiovascular risks related to ART. However, data from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected populations from this region are very limited. METHODS Among 6385 HIV-infected adults in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, we investigated the nonfasting lipid changes over 3 years following ART initiation and their associations with different first-line ART agents that are commonly used in SSA. RESULTS In the first 6 months of ART, the prevalence of dyslipidemia decreased from 69% to 54%, with triglyceride (TG) decreasing from 127 mg/dL to 113 mg/dL and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increasing from 39 mg/dL to 52 mg/dL. After 6 months, TG returned to its baseline level and increased to 139 mg/dL at 3 years; total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol continued to increase whereas HDL cholesterol leveled off. The prevalence of dyslipidemia increased to 73% after a 3-year follow-up. In multivariate analyses, patients on zidovudine-containing regimens had a greater reduction in TG levels at 6 months (-16.0 vs -6.3 mg/dL), and a lower increase at 3 years compared to patients on stavudine-containing regimens (2.1 vs 11.7 mg/dL, P < .001); patients on nevirapine-based regimens had a higher increase in HDL cholesterol levels at 3 years compared to those on efavirenz-based regimens (13.6 vs 9.5 mg/dL, P = .01). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the latest World Health Organization guidelines on the substitution of stavudine in first-line ART in resource-limited settings, and provide further evidence for selection of lipid-friendly ART for patients in SSA.
Destination Satisfaction and Revisit Intention of Tourists: Does the Quality of Airport Services Matter?

This study focuses on the link between tourists’ satisfaction with the quality of airport services at a destination and their intention to revisit. The influence of tourists’ overall satisfaction with a destination on their behavioral intentions has been well established both at theoretical and empirical levels; however, the particular role of satisfaction with airport services has been so far largely neglected. Researchers have recognized the vital importance of tourists’ experience with airport services because of the fact that the airport is the first and last encounter that they experience when visiting a country. As such, the focus of the present study pertains to evaluating the satisfaction level of tourists visiting Mauritius and examining its resulting effect on their behavioral intentions. The study uses the survey methodology for data collection and involved the distribution of self-administered questionnaires to a sample of 1,721 tourists at the SSR airport in Mauritius. Exploratory factor analysis is used to extract meaningful dimensions of airport services and a multinomial probit analysis is conducted to test for the impact of satisfaction with airport services on revisit intention while taking into account other control variables. Interestingly, airport services are seen to significantly influence the probability of repeat tourism.
Low levels of monoclonal small B cells in the bone marrow of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of activated B-cell type but not of germinal center B-cell type

Background Multiparameter flow cytometry allows the detection of minor monoclonal B-cell populations. Using this technique combined with morphology, we were struck by the presence of minor populations of small monoclonal B cells in bone marrows of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in routine diagnostic samples and performed a systematic retrospective study. Design and Methods Bone marrows of 165 patients with primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma without histological evidence of concurrent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were studied by routine microscopy of trephines and smears, immunohistochemistry and multiparameter flow cytometry. Results Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma infiltration in marrows was documented in 11 of 165 patients. Morphological examination consistently revealed a higher tumor load than evidenced by flow cytometry. Of interest, only 3 of 119 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified, the largest subtype, showed marrow infiltration. By contrast, flow cytometry revealed a minor monoclonal B-cell population in 24 of 165 patients, none of whom showed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma infiltration by morphology. Of interest, morphological examination revealed the presence of small B cells in the marrows of those patients. Moreover, 11 of 39 (28.2%) of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified of ABC subtype and only 3 of 80 (3.7%) with the GCB subtype showed these monoclonal small B cells (P=0.0002). In addition 4 of 8 (50%), 4 of 15 (26.7%) and 2 of 3 (66.7%) patients with primary testicular, primary central nervous system and leg-type diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, respectively, showed monoclonal small B cells. Conclusions Bone marrow infiltration with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified is rare at diagnosis. By contrast, a high number of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified of the ABC subtype but not of GCB subtype is associated with monoclonal small B cells in the marrow. Whether these monoclonal small B cells are precursors of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the ABC type or arise in a common background that favors clonal B-cell expansion remains to be demonstrated.
Can Personality Traits Explain Glass Ceilings?

This paper investigates whether personality traits can explain glass ceilings (increasing gender wage gaps across the wage distribution). Using longitudinal survey data from Germany, the UK, and Australia, I combine unconditional quantile regressions with wage gap decompositions to identify the effect of personality traits on wage gaps. The results suggest that the impact of personality traits on wage gaps increases across the wage distribution in all countries. Personality traits explain up to 14.5% of the overall gender wage gap. However, controlling for personality traits does not lead to a significant reduction of unexplained wage gaps in most cases.
Reappearance of specific colour patterns after nerve regeneration in Octopus

In the octopus the capacity to regulate the patterns of colours and skin papillae on the back can recover after interruption of the pallial nerve by either crushing or cutting. About 40 to 60 days after denervation the spontaneous waves of colour due to hyperexcitability of the chromatophore muscles cease and the skin begins to change colour in phase with that of the intact side. Specific patches of colour recover in the precise positions they occupied before operation. Different patterns can then be produced after regeneration, as before, according to the behavioural situation and background. The experiments therefore indicate that nerve fibres had re-made their original connexions and the possible mechanisms for this are discussed. Recovery of the patterning was not always complete, sometimes it occurred only over part of the back, especially when the nerve had been sectioned.
Stability analysis of gravity‐driven infiltrating flow

Stability analysis of gravity‐driven unsaturated flow is examined for the general case of Darcian flow with a generalized nonequilibrium capillary pressure‐saturation relation. With this nonequilibrium relation the governing equation is referred to as the nonequilibrium Richards equation (NERE). For the special case where the nonequilibrium vanishes, the NERE reduces to the Richards equation (RE), the conventional governing equation for describing unsaturated flow. A generalized linear stability analysis of the RE shows that this equation is unconditionally stable and therefore not able to produce gravity‐driven unstable flows for infinitesimal perturbations to the flow field. A much stronger result of unconditional stability for the RE is derived using a nonlinear stability analysis applicable to the general case of heterogeneous porous media. For the general case of the NERE model, results of a linear stability analysis show that the NERE model is conditionally stable, with lower‐frequency perturbations being unstable. A result of this analysis is that the nonmonotonicity of the pressure and saturation profile is a requisite condition for flow instability.