Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HIV-1 infection and central monoamine neurotransmitters

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) enters the central nervous system (CNS) shortly after infection and gets localized in different brain regions, leading to various types of neuropathological problems. It has been hypothesized that HIV-1 infection mediated neuropathogenesis may also adversely affect the activity of the central monoamine neurotransmitters systems, such as dopamine (DA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin), resulting in neurocognitive deficits and mental health problems. However, investigations are scarce with respect to the status of these neurotransmitters in the CNS of HIV-1+ individuals, particularly in those patients who had received antiretroviral therapy (ART) during life. Since, mental health problems and neurocognitive and neuropsychological deficits continue to persist even after ART intervention, it is pertinent to determine the CNS status of the neurotransmitters associated with these functions. We determined the neurotransmitters, dopamine and its metabolite, homovanillic acid (HVA) in different brain regions of a group of autopsied cases of HIV-1+ and HIV-1 negative controls, using highly sensitive CoulArray HPLC-ECD system. Distribution of HIV-1 viral RNA in these brain regions was also measured using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) technology with high sensitivity of detection (<5 copies of RNA). In a separate study we reported measurement of 5-HT (serotonin) and its metabolite, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained during life of neurologically asymptomatic HIV-1 infected patients and controls. A substantial decrease and a wide variation in the concentration of DA as well as its metabolite, homovanillic acid (HVA) was found in the autopsied brain regions of HIV-1 infected individuals. Wide variation was also found in HIV-1 RNA concentrations in different brain regions with no specific pattern observed in any region. Brain regions of HIV- negative individuals showed no detectable viral RNA. Majority of HIV-1+ individuals had demonstrated neurocognitive impairment during life despite ART intervention. A significant decrease in 5-HT concentration was also found in the CSF of HIV-1 infected patients. These studies demonstrate that HIV-1 infection adversely affects the central DA and 5-HT systems.
Moduli spaces of Klein surfaces and related operads

We consider the extension of classical 2-dimensional topological quantum field theories to Klein topological quantum field theories which allow unorientable surfaces. We approach this using the theory of modular operads by introducing a new operad governing associative algebras with involution. This operad is Koszul and we identify the dual dg operad governing A-infinity algebras with involution in terms of Mobius graphs which are a generalisation of ribbon graphs. We then generalise open topological conformal field theories to open Klein topological conformal field theories and give a generators and relations description of the open KTCFT operad. We deduce an analogue of the ribbon graph decomposition of the moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces: a Mobius graph decomposition of the moduli spaces of Klein surfaces (real algebraic curves). The Mobius graph complex then computes the homology of these moduli spaces. We also obtain a different graph complex computing the homology of the moduli spaces of admissible stable symmetric Riemann surfaces which are partial compactifications of the moduli spaces of Klein surfaces.
Experimental Economics Across Subject Populations

This chapter reviews and discusses the results of experiments using non-standard subjects. In particular, experiments using non-human animals, people living in token economies, children, the elderly, demographically varied samples, and professionals are considered. Investigating such diverse subject pools offers a perspective on the generalizability of findings with the standard subject pool and reveals what results apply broadly, which behaviors are learned, and if some behavior can be un-learned or mitigated via selection or experience. The chapter proceeds subject pool by subject pool. Each section also provides reasons why specific subject pools are interesting to study, as well as some observations of a methodological nature concerning that group. A final section discusses behavior across subject pools in a given game or choice task, including: choices over goods, choices over lotteries, the estimation of risk and time preferences, bargaining games, public good games, trust games, and beauty contest games. Although the decision tasks and games are quite diverse, it appears that most qualitative comparative statics results are robust across subject populations. However, some differences emerge as well, but these are almost exclusively with respect to quantitative results. * Frechette: Department of Economics, New York University, New York NY 10012 (e-mail: frechette@nyu.edu). I wish to thank Jacopo Perego for his tremendous help and comments as well as Guillaume Hollard, John Kagel, Kenway Louie, Andrew Schotter, Emanuel Vespa, and Alistair Wilson for their feedback. I gratefully acknowledge the support of NSF via grants SES-0924780 and SES-1225779 as well as support from the Center for Experimental Social Science (CESS), and the C.V. Starr Center. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NSF.
MAM14 Immunotherapy Protocol: The Dream of Ophthalmologist, Became at Your Door. This Protocol Can Treat Autoimmune Uveitis.

Uveitis doesn't have to involve a lifelong treatment course (C Stephen Foster). In this article we replaced conventional steroid and other immunosuppressant treatment by safe and new immunomodulation called MAM14 immunotherapy protocol, designed to treat uveitis. Our objective is to replace steroid and other immunosuppresant with safe effective immunomodulation method. As a first trial to study this protocol, we choose one hundred twelve female uveitis patients called: experimental group; their age range between 13-15 years old, treated by MAM14 immunotherapy, which is briefly, paternal stressed allogeneic lymphocyte vaccination given subcutaneously to their daughters. Compared to 120 female control group uveitis patients age range between 12-16 years old received routine prednisone eye drops (Pred Forte). Results for the Slit lamp microscope showed that the experimental group demonstrates remarkable improvement duration of treatment four to nine months. Improvement lasted for ten years. No side effect noted during experiment and until this writing compared to control. Pachymeter showed no degradation of cornea and slit lamp showed no lymphocyte infiltration. On the other hand, symptoms and signs of control group patients is up and down. Lymphocyte infiltration is variable and degradation of cornea is prominent. As a conclusion we can say that it is time for autoimmune uveitis attack to be controlled immunologically.
Pressure gain combustion advantage in land-based electric power generation

This article evaluates the improvement in gas turbine combined cycle power plant efficiency and output via pressure gain combustion (PGC). Ideal and real cycle calculations are provided for a rigorous assessment of PGC variants (e.g., detonation and deflagration) in a realistic power plant framework with advanced heavy-duty industrial gas turbines. It is shown that PGC is the single-most potent knob available to the designers for a quantum leap in combined cycle performance.
Joint earthquake source inversions using seismo-geodesy and 3-D earth models

A joint earthquake source inversion technique is presented that uses InSAR and long-period teleseismic data, and, for the first time, takes 3-D Earth structure into account when modelling seismic surface and body waves. Ten average source parameters (Moment, latitude, longitude, depth, strike, dip, rake, length, width and slip) are estimated; hence, the technique is potentially useful for rapid source inversions of moderate magnitude earthquakes using multiple data sets. Unwrapped interferograms and long-period seismic data are jointly inverted for the location, fault geometry and seismic moment, using a hybrid downhill Powell-Monte Carlo algorithm. While the InSAR data are modelled assuming a rectangular dislocation in a homogeneous halfspace, seismic data are modelled using the spectral element method for a 3-D earth model. The effect of noise and lateral heterogeneity on the inversions is investigated by carrying out realistic synthetic tests for various earthquakes with different faulting mechanisms and magnitude (Mw 6.0-6.6). Synthetic tests highlight the improvement in the constraint of fault geometry (strike, dip and rake) and moment when InSAR and seismic data are combined. Tests comparing the effect of using a 1-D or 3-D earth model show that long-period surface waves are more sensitive than long-period body waves to the change in earth model. Incorrect source parameters, particularly incorrect fault dip angles, can compensate for systematic errors in the assumed Earth structure, leading to an acceptable data fit despite large discrepancies in source parameters. Three real earthquakes are also investigated: Eureka Valley, California (1993 May 17, Mw 6.0), Aiquile, Bolivia (1998 February 22, Mw 6.6) and Zarand, Iran (2005 May 22, Mw 6.5). These events are located in different tectonic environments and show large discrepancies between InSAR and seismically determined source models. Despite the 40-50 km discrepancies in location between previous geodetic and seismic estimates for the Eureka Valley and Aiquile earthquakes, the seismic data are found to be compatible with the InSAR location. A 30° difference in strike between InSAR and seismic-derived source models is also resolved when taking 3-D Earth structure into account in the analysis of the Eureka Valley earthquake. The combination of both InSAR and seismic data further constrains the dip for the Zarand earthquake, and in all cases the seismic moment is more robustly constrained in the joint inversions than in the individual data set inversions. Unmodelled lateral heterogeneities in Earth and the models could partly explain some of the observed source parameter discrepancies related to the seismic data. © The Authors 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Royal Astronomical Society.
Recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of ochronosis : Najnowsze postępy w zrozumieniu patogenezy ochronozy

Alkaptonuria (AKU) is an iconic disease caused by deficiency of the enzyme homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD). Deficiency results in an increase in the circulating concentration of homogentisic acid (HGA), which over time is deposited as pigmented polymers in tissues including sclera, heart valves and cartilage, a process described as ochronosis. Joint ochronosis causes severe, early onset osteoarthritis. Studies on ex vivo tissue samples, in vitro cell cultures and mouse models of AKU indicate that tissues are initially resistant to ochronosis and become susceptible possibly following mechanical or oxidative damage and/or local metabolic changes. There is a lack of effective biomarkers to monitor the progression of ochronosis and response to potential therapies but a disease severity index for AKU has recently been developed. Current studies are evaluating the efficacy of the potential therapy nitisinone in AKU. Research on ochronosis has led to the identification of several previously unrecognised pathophysiological features of the osteoarthritis phenotype.
Influence of age, gender and sire line on young cattle behaviour traits.

The aim of this study was to test effects of age, gender, and sire line on dairy cattle behaviour. We have analyzed results of ethological tests for 40 Holstein breed animals (23 males and 17 females), offsprings of three sires. Maintenance behaviour were observed at the age of 90, 130 and 170 days. Behaviour in the maze was conducted at the age of 119 days, an open-field test was applied at the age of 124, 168, and 355 days. The social behaviour was determined by feeding on 155th day of the age. The times and the number of periods in all activities of maintenance behaviour were changing significantly (P<0.001) according to the age. The total time of lying, lying with ruminating, ruminating, feeding was increasing from the age of 90 days to the age of 170 days, on the other hand the time of standing was decreasing. The times of total lying, lying with ruminating, total ruminating, feeding were increased, and time of standing was decreased from the age of 90 days to the age of 170 days. Calves spent more time lying on the left side than on the right side. The number of ruminating periods was increasing according to the age. Eating periods were decreasing from the age of 90 to 170 days. The most of lying periods were recorded at the age of 130 days. The differences between sex were found in total time of lying, lying on the right side (P<0.05), and the males rest longer and had more periods of lying than females. We have found differences in times of feeding (P<0.001), total lying, standing (P<0.01), and lying on the left side (P<0.05) according to sire by comparing behaviour of the calves. Sire genotypes were significantly manifested in period number of total lying (P<0.001), lying on the right side, feeding (P<0.01), and standing (P<0.05). Males stood in the first part of maze longer than females (P<0.001), also length of total standing was longer by bulls (P<0.01). Heifers took shorter time to leave the maze than bulls (P<0.05). Sire lineages significantly differed in times of standing in the first part of maze and maze leaving. We did not find any significant differences either among sire lineage groups or between genders in locomotor behaviour measured by the number of crossed squares in open-field test. During all observations were more mobile heifers. No significant differences were found between males and females in social behaviour. The sire line influenced only the number of total duels (P<0.001). We found significant positive relationship between live body weight and time of staying in the first part of maze (r=0.3957**), time of maze leaving (r=0.3720**), and number of total and win duels (0.4031**, 0.3216*). Significant relationships were recorded in almost maintenance behaviour activities (P<0.001). Consistency of locomotor behaviour was proved only between the ages of 124 and 168 days (r=0.3177*). Significant relationship between maze behaviours and number of crossed squares were found only in ages of 119 and 124 days (r=-0.3721**; r=- 0.4110**; r=-0.3994**).
Signi fi cant life experiences on the formation of environmental action among Chinese college students

Determining the factors that influence young adults’ engagement in environmental action is critical to further developing their active and important participation in environmental issues. In this paper, we designed two studies to identify life experiences of Chinese college students that foster environmental action. In Study 1, we used an open-ended survey to ask 34 young environmentally active citizens about the life experiences influencing their current engagement in environmental protection. In Study 2, we developed a significant life experience scale based on the results of Study 1 and recruited junior and senior students from seven universities to participate in an online questionnaire. We analyzed 606 valid questionnaires to understand whether the significant life experiences identified in Study 1 can distinguish environmentally committed students from other students and to what extent the significant life experiences can predict environmental action. Our results suggest that environmental organizations, college education, natural experiences and life principles could be important factors influencing the formation of environmental action, while other life experiences may also contribute to this process.
Phosphoinositides and Rho proteins spatially regulate actin polymerization to initiate and maintain directed movement in a 1 D model of a motile cell

Gradient sensing, polarization, and chemotaxis of motile cells involves the actin cytoskeleton, and regulatory modules, including the phosphoinositides (PIs), their kinases/phosphatases, and small GTPases (Rho proteins). Here we model their individual components (PIP, PIP2, PIP3; PTEN, PI3K, PI5K; Cdc42, Rac, Rho; Arp2/3, and actin), their interconversions, interactions, and modular functions in the context of a 1D dynamic model for protrusive cell motility, with parameter values derived from in vitro and in vivo studies. In response to a spatially graded stimulus, the model produces stable amplified internal profiles of regulatory components, and initiates persistent motility (consistent with experimental observations). By connecting the modules, we find that Rho GTPases work as a spatial switch, and that PIs filter noise, and define the front vs. back. Relatively fast PI diffusion also leads to selection of a unique pattern of Rho distribution from a collection of possible patterns. We use the model to explore the importance of specific hypothesized interactions, to explore mutant phenotypes, and to study the role of actin polymerization in the maintenance of the PI asymmetry. We also suggest a mechanism to explain the spatial exclusion of Cdc42 and PTEN and the inability of cells lacking active Cdc42 to properly detect chemoattractant gradients.
The Diffusion of Knowledge Via Managers' Mobility

Better managers and managerial practices lead to better firm performance. Yet, little is known about what happens when managers move across firms. Does a firm hiring a good manager improve its performance? If yes is there some valuable knowledge the manager has acquired and successfully diffused to the new firm? In order to answer these questions we use information related to specific activities the manager was involved in when working for previous firms. More specifically, we use information on whether the manager has worked in the past for firms exporting to a specific destination country or a specific product. Our data is rich enough to allow controlling for both manager and firm unobservables and wash out any time-invariant ability of the manager as well as overall firm performance. We find that the export experience gained by managers in previous firms leads their current firm towards higher export performance, and commands a sizable wage premium for the manager. We use several strategies to deal with endogeneity including an exogenous event study: the sudden end of the Angolan civil war in 2002. We further refine our analysis by looking at different types of managers (general, production, financial and sales) and show how specific export experience interacts with the degree of product differentiation and/or the financial vulnerability of a firm's products as well as with rising import competition from China.
Quick Decline Disease Disturbs the Levels of Important Phytochemicals and Minerals in the Stem Bark of Mango (Mangifera indica)

Quick decline is one of the deadly diseases of mango (Mangifera indica) which causes a serious damage to the tree and its production. In the current study, we examined the levels of important phytochemicals and minerals in the stem bark of healthy and infected mango tree. Infected stem bark showed 12.5% lower levels of total sugars and 51.1% higher levels of proteins as compared to healthy parts, whereas no variation was observed in reducing sugar, free amino acid, and ascorbic acid. Among micronutrients, the levels of Zn, Na, Cr, and Cl were lowered by 25%, 54.3%, 25%, and 75.4%, respectively, whereas the level of Ni was 62.5% higher in the infected stem bark when compared with the healthy stem bark. However, other micronutrients did not show significant differences between healthy and infected parts. Among macronutrients, the quantity of N, P, and Mg showed an increase of 51.2%, 34.7%, and 27.6%, respectively, whereas the quantity of Ca and K was decreased by 25.2% and 7.66% in the infected stem barks as compared to healthy ones. The results of this study provide some basic but important information that may ultimately be helpful in managing the quick decline disease in the mango trees.
PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION ON CROATIAN CAPITAL MARKET

Purpose of this paper was to research portfolio optimization problem on Croatian capital market using Markowitz theory. Research systematically investigated the selection of securities, and defined the importance of using fundamental analysis when selecting the best combination of securities. Since fundamental analysis involves a large number of indicators, this paper selected key indicators that enable a complete and quick securities review on the market. This paper clarifies diversification effect and influence of the correlation coefficient on diversification. Two basic types of assets (stocks and cash funds) have been chosen to build the optimal portfolio. Cash funds were selected because they represent a form of risk-free investment, while stocks were chosen because of the high level of return which they achieve. At the end of paper, optimal portfolio was calculated with an excellent yield of 1.82% and deviation of 5.77% on a monthly basis which corresponds to the minimum deviation of the selected stocks. Calculated optimal portfolio achieves better expected value than investing in stock index CROBEX, which for the same period achieves the expected result of -0.02%.
To teach or to tell? Consequences of receiving help from experts and peers

Previous research has stressed the positive effects of receiving autonomy-oriented help over dependency-oriented help but has overlooked a potential downside in terms of recipients’ evaluations of the helper. Participants in the current experiment (n ¼ 77) requested help while working on difficult puzzles and received either autonomy- or dependency-oriented help from either an expert or a peer. In line with previous findings, receiving autonomy-oriented help led to more self-competence and positive feelings than dependency-oriented help. However, in support of our prediction, participants also felt angrier, had less respect for and less trust in the peer who provided autonomy-oriented help than the peer who provided dependency-oriented help. No differences in the evaluation of the expert helper were found. These findings highlight the importance of considering both the helpers’ characteristics and the type of help provided when investigating the psychological consequences of receiving help. Copyright # 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alpha-states in de Sitter space

Field theory in de Sitter space admits a one-parameter family of vacua determined by a superselection parameter {alpha}. Of these vacua, the Euclidean vacuum uniquely extrapolates to the vacuum of flat Minkowski space. States which resemble the {alpha}-vacua can be constructed as excitations above the Euclidean vacuum. Such states have modes {alpha}(k) which decay faster that k{sup (1-d)/2}. Fields in such states exhibit nonlocal correlations when examined from the perspective of fields in the Euclidean vacuum. The dynamics of such entangled states are fully consistent. If an {alpha}-state with properties that interpolate between an {alpha}-vacuum and the Euclidean vacuum were the initial condition for inflation, a signature for this may be found in a momentum dependent correction to the inflationary power spectrum. The functional formalism, which provides the tool for examining physics in an {alpha}-state, extends to fields of other spin. In particular, the extension to spin-2 may proffer a new class of infrared modifications to gravitational interactions. The implications of superselection sectors for the landscape of string vacua are briefly discussed.