Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Investigation into the Role of Technology Gap in the Trade Relations of the EU Member States

Objective : The objective of this article is an empirical analysis of the role of technology gap in explaining the intensity of trade relations of the EU28 Member States over the period 1995-2015. Research Design & Methods : We construct a basic trade model in a gravity framework and further augment it by incorporating various measures of technology gap. We verified the robustness of the results by re-estimating the model into subgroups depicting the south-south, south-north & north-north trade. Findings: We have found that the technology gap plays a substantial role in determining the intensity of present trade relations of the EU28 Member States. We tested the robustness of the results and have found that the impact of technology gap varies with respect to different groups of reporters and partners depending on their level of technological sophistication. The results are in line with the postulates of trade theory. Implications & Recommendations: Technology gap plays an important role in determining the intensity of trade within the group of the EU28. The gradual convergence in incomes and TFP levels is likely to modify its role, with more effort directed at horizontal differentiation which in turn could lead to the intensification of the IIT. Contribution & Value Added: We tested various standard and non-orthodox measures of technological gap. The semi-mixed effects panel data model was estimated with the use of PPML – a new and superior approach.
Soluble mediators from human neural stem cells play a critical role in suppression of T‐cell activation and proliferation

Human neural stem cells (hNSCs) can control inflammation in the central nervous system, although the underlying mechanisms are not understood fully. We investigated the immunomodulatory effect of hNSCs on human T cells and the underlying mechanisms. Culture supernatant from an immortalized hNSC cell line, HB1.F3, which has a therapeutic effect on acute stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage, suppressed the proliferation of allogeneically or mitogenically stimulated human peripheral T cells, including the CD3+CD103+ subpopulation. CFSE labeling and flow cytometry showed that the suppression of proliferation was caused by cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. The lack of significant change in caspase‐8 levels and the significant reduction in Bcl‐2 expression in the affected T cells suggest that the intrinsic pathway plays a major role in soluble‐factor‐mediated T‐cell apoptosis. The addition of culture supernatant from hNSCs to activated T cells reduced the expression of the activation markers CD69 and CD25 at 24 hr after activation, but at 48 hr only CD69 was down‐regulated. A cytometry bead assay showed that the secretion of interleukin (IL)‐2 decreased significantly, whereas that of IL‐4, IL‐10, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and interferon‐γ increased. These results show that hNSCs can negatively affect human peripheral T cells by suppressing their activation and proliferation through soluble mediators, suggesting that hNSCs have a bystander immunomodulatory effect on T cells. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Promoting diversity through developing a sense of community

This case study explores how a students-as-partners approach is helping students in the Graphic Communication programme at the University of Reading gain experience of community through a curriculum design project. The “I am, we are … different by design” project began as a partnership initiative aimed at identifying strategies to extend students’ experience of diversity in the curriculum. Drawing on a mid-project evaluation, the case study presented here explores student partners’ perceptions of achievements and challenges, including developing a sense of community and the impact on career development. It also highlights how supporting opportunities for visibility and recognition throughout a project may contribute to sustaining a culture of reciprocity in partnership.
Particle Conformation Regulates Antibody Access to a Conserved GII.4 Norovirus Blockade Epitope

ABSTRACT GII.4 noroviruses (NoVs) are the primary cause of epidemic viral acute gastroenteritis. One primary obstacle to successful NoV vaccination is the extensive degree of antigenic diversity among strains. The major capsid protein of GII.4 strains is evolving rapidly, resulting in the emergence of new strains with altered blockade epitopes. In addition to characterizing these evolving blockade epitopes, we have identified monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that recognize a blockade epitope conserved across time-ordered GII.4 strains. Uniquely, the blockade potencies of MAbs that recognize the conserved GII.4 blockade epitope were temperature sensitive, suggesting that particle conformation may regulate functional access to conserved blockade non-surface-exposed epitopes. To map conformation-regulating motifs, we used bioinformatics tools to predict conserved motifs within the protruding domain of the capsid and designed mutant VLPs to test the impacts of substitutions in these motifs on antibody cross-GII.4 blockade. Charge substitutions at residues 310, 316, 484, and 493 impacted the blockade potential of cross-GII.4 blockade MAbs with minimal impact on the blockade of MAbs targeting other, separately evolving blockade epitopes. Specifically, residue 310 modulated antibody blockade temperature sensitivity in the tested strains. These data suggest access to the conserved GII.4 blockade antibody epitope is regulated by particle conformation, temperature, and amino acid residues positioned outside the antibody binding site. The regulating motif is under limited selective pressure by the host immune response and may provide a robust target for broadly reactive NoV therapeutics and protective vaccines. IMPORTANCE In this study, we explored the factors that govern norovirus (NoV) cross-strain antibody blockade. We found that access to the conserved GII.4 blockade epitope is regulated by temperature and distal residues outside the antibody binding site. These data are most consistent with a model of NoV particle conformation plasticity that regulates antibody binding to a distally conserved blockade epitope. Further, antibody “locking” of the particle into an epitope-accessible conformation prevents ligand binding, providing a potential target for broadly effective drugs. These observations open lines of inquiry into the mechanisms of human NoV entry and uncoating, fundamental biological questions that are currently unanswerable for these noncultivatable pathogens.
Mediators of septic shock: New approaches for interrupting the endogenous inflammatory cascade

ObjectivesTo review the molecular pathogenesis of septic shock, with particular emphasis on the induction of cytokines by endotoxin. By understanding the mechanisms that result in the systemic inflammatory response, novel clinical interventions may be more effectively studied. Data SourcesThe English medical literature was reviewed, including human clinical trials, animal experiments, and in vitro studies elucidating cellular and molecular interactions. Expert testimony from the Roundtable Conference on Sepsis (Brussels, March 1992) was also used to synthesize emerging concepts and to ensure inclusion of ongoing investigations. Study SelectionEmphasis on controlled experimental studies which elucidated the molecular and cellular interactions during sepsis. Data ExtractionThis study focused only on data that directly involved the induction and regulation of protein mediators of sepsis, especially tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1. Data concerning the role of TNF during health were extracted from the author's peer-reviewed data. Data SynthesisInformation concerning the many facets of the systemic inflammatory response was integrated into a chronological, clinically oriented model of cytokine induction during endotoxemia. ConclusionsThe induction of inflammation during sepsis is a complex, but increasingly understood, biological cascade that is dependent on inter- and intracellular signaling. Novel biotherapies may improve patient outcome in sepsis by interrupting any or all points of signal transduction. (Crit Care Med 1993; 21:780–789)
Statistical Assessment of Malaria Risk Factors Using Cox Proportional Hazard Approach

ABSTRACT The Cox proportional hazards (PH) model with time-dependent covariates has been widely used in medical and health related studies to examine the impacts of time-varying risk factors on survival. The study aimed to model the relapsing time using biographical, sanitation, environmental and preventive information as covariate risk factors. The Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards (PH) model to examining the covariates. The results indicates that the model h(t) = h0 (t)exp(1.91613Xdump - 0.49633Xspr + 0.81466Xinf1 ) was found to fit the data better, as confirmed by the result of the global test that present reasonable and significant results (Likelihood Ratio: 18.2264, p < 0.0004; Score: 17.6569, p < 0.0005 and Wald: 19.3975, p < 0.0002). In conclusion it was found that, ‘dumping site’ (p < 0.0106; 95% C.I: 1.545-29.451), ‘spray used’ (p < 0. 0.0220; 95% C.I: 0.391- 0 .915), and ‘information related to source of malaria’ (p < 0. 0.0012; 95% C.I: 1.380-3.725), have a significant effect on the relapsing time of patients under investigation.
Examining Entrepreneurship Through Indigenous Lenses

This commentary argues that scholars need an alternative to the dominance in academic research of the U.S. model of entrepreneurship to reflect better the variety and diversity of entrepreneurial activities around the globe. Using the example of China, today the world’s second-largest economy, we discuss how researchers miss key elements of entrepreneurship because of their over-reliance on the U.S. model of entrepreneurship for analysis, espousing Western-based theoretical values and foundations. We discuss how researchers and journals can promote future research efforts focusing on indigenous entrepreneurship activities, applying indigenously developed theory.
Investigating ioflupane I123 injection and single photon emission tomography as an imaging biomarker for long-term sequelae following mild traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine whether there were differences in clinical outcomes for ioflupane I123 injection (DaTscan) and single photon emission tomography consistent with early Parkinson’s disease (PD) among individuals with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Methods: We performed a case-control study among patients presenting to the Emergency Room (ER) during 2006–2013 with mTBI (cases, n = 34) or without mTBI (controls, n = 33). We performed clinical and imaging measurements in cases and controls at least 1-year post-presentation to the ER (average three years four months). Results: All DaTscans obtained were qualitatively normal. There were no qualitative DaTscan differences between cases and controls. There was, however, a significant increase in caudate asymmetry in controls versus cases (p = 0.02), but this finding was no longer significant after correction for multiple comparisons. There was a suggestion of a trend of poorer clinical score test measures among those with mTBI, although the overall mean score difference between cases and controls was not clinically significant. Conclusion: Our small study does not provide support for DaTscan changes suggestive of PD in the one to seven years following mTBI. A trend towards poorer clinical measures was seen but was not clinically relevant in our small sample. Further work in a large population is necessary to support these findings.
Social media and political campaigning in India

The concept of personalisation in politics has been well researched, where the candidate as an individual becomes more important to the electorate than the political party or affiliated policies. Personalisation as a concept has always existed in politics but, what is new is the mediation of newer communication technology. Henceforth, the candidate connects directly to the electorate through the new communication and networking technologies. The electorate was unsatisfied in the past with unidirectional communication through traditional media (TV, newspaper) that did not allow them to ask questions or to share their own opinion. The online social media allowed this interaction, and therefore the political candidates used this available popular space for self-promotion. This research looks at the ways in which online social media has affected the phenomenon of personalisation by studying the 2014 general elections in India. The data was collected through, semi-structured personal interviews with political leaders and their social media strategy team, while also studying their Twitter account feed over a period before the elections in 2014. The results show that for the first time in the history of Indian general election, political leaders used social media channels such as Twitter successfully towards ‘personalisation’ in the political campaign. Although the proportion of active social media users among the voting population was relatively small, this group of voters had significant influence over the opinions of those who were not online, just by the power of information and connectivity. The results of this study will increase the understanding of the effect of social media in political campaigning, and also help new studies in understanding social media as a space, and the strategies that can be used especially by individuals and organisations to reach their target audience.
Entry of Hepatitis Delta Virus Requires the Conserved Cysteine Residues of the Hepatitis B Virus Envelope Protein Antigenic Loop and Is Blocked by Inhibitors of Thiol-Disulfide Exchange

ABSTRACT Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) particles are coated with the envelope proteins (large, middle, and small) of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The large protein bears an infectivity determinant in its pre-S1 domain, whereas a second determinant has been proposed to map to the cysteine-rich antigenic loop (AGL) within the S domain of all three envelope proteins (G. Abou Jaoudé and C. Sureau, J. Virol. 79:10460-10466, 2006). In this study, the AGL cysteines were substituted by serine or alanine, and the mutants were evaluated for their function at viral entry using HDV particles and susceptible HepaRG cells. Mutations of cysteines 121 to 149 were tolerant of the production of HDV virions. The mutations altered the structure and antigenicity of the conserved “a” determinant of the AGL, as measured by conformation-sensitive antibodies, and they created a block to infectivity. Substitution of Cys-90 or Cys-221, located outside of the AGL, had no impact on the “a” determinant or viral entry. Furthermore, infectivity was maintained when the AGL CxxC motif at position 121 to 124 was modified by single-amino-acid deletion or insertion, suggesting that cysteines 121 and 124 are not catalyzers of thiol/disulfide exchange. However, membrane-impermeable inhibitors of thiol/disulfide isomerazation demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of infection in an in vitro assay when applied to the virus prior to inoculation or during the virus-cell interaction period. Overall, the results demonstrate the essential role of the AGL cysteines at viral entry, and they establish a correlation between the cysteine disulfide network, the conformation of the “a” determinant, and infectivity.
Wood ducks (Aix sponsa) as potential reservoirs for avian influenza and avian paramyxoviruses

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) and avian paramyxoviruses (APMVs) are important pathogens of poultry worldwide, and both commonly occur in wild waterfowl, especially ducks in the family Anatidae. Although wood ducks (Aix sponsa) are members of the Anatidae, their behaviour differs from most other species in this family, which could affect the transmission of IAVs and APMVs. We collected cloacal and oropharyngeal swab and blood samples from more than 700 wood ducks across nine states in the eastern United States of America. No IAVs were isolated, and based on blocking enzyme-linked immunoassay ELISA results, antibodies to IAVs were only detected in 0.2% of samples. In contrast, 23 (3%) APMVs were isolated (22 Newcastle disease virus and 1 APMV-6), and antibodies to multiple serotypes of APMVs were detected in more than 60% of the samples. After-hatch-year birds were more likely to be antibody positive for APMV-4 and APMV-6 compared to hatch-year birds. Female birds were more likely to be antibody positive for APMV-4 than were male birds. Our results indicate that wood ducks are probably not an important host for IAV but are frequently infected with APMVs.
Exploring the Direct Rebound Effect of Energy Consumption: A Case Study

Technological innovation plays a crucial role for improving energy efficiency. But the excessive energy consumption has presented a significant challenge at the same time, which indicates that the direct energy rebound effect exists in China. Cobb-Douglas production function and Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index decomposition model are employed to analyze the rebound effect of energy consumption of all three main industries sector in China. The results show that total technological effect curve and total substitution effect curve fluctuated more significantly than total structure effect curve from 1991 to 2014.The first two curves were the most critical factors for the energy consumption intensity. Stabilizing energy prices, developing new and renewable energy and implementing policies related to energy conservation and emission reduction are effective measures to reduce energy consumption intensity. More attention should be paid to the growing demand for living energy consumption derived from the rapid development of the tertiary industry. The direct rebound effect of energy consumption in China showed an overall descending trend. This shows that technological effect has well prevented the growth of energy consumption. Direct energy rebound effect can be controlled effectively by means of formulating and implementing the corresponding energy related policies.
Pointing at memorized targets during prolonged microgravity.

BACKGROUND Watt et al. (15) and Young et al. (17) have demonstrated that during prolonged microgravity, large errors can be made when pointing at memorized targets in the absence of vision. However, those experiments could not distinguish between errors caused by not knowing where the arm was pointed and errors caused by not knowing target location. The primary goal of this study was to determine the relative contribution of each of these potential sources of error. HYPOTHESIS It was hypothesized that pointing errors would be greater than pre-flight controls if vision was continuously absent during testing, but not greater than pre-flight if vision was restricted only while pointing. METHODS Five subjects on Spacelab SLS-2 (Part A) pointed at targets while keeping their eyes closed continuously; (Part B) touched various body parts and estimated the position of their arms while the eyes remained closed; and (Part C) pointed at the same targets as in A but closed their eyes only while pointing. RESULTS On the ground, if the eyes were closed only while pointing, pointing errors averaged 4.5 degrees. After several days n space, errors averaged 7.0 degrees (p < 0.05). Again on the ground, if the eyes were closed continuously while pointing, an additional error of 4.0 degrees was measured. However, after several days in space, the additional error was 10.5 degrees (p < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that the major problem encountered when pointing at memorized targets in microgravity is a lack of knowledge of target, not limb, position.
The impact of price discrimination, price dispersion, and facilities on organizational revenue: lessons from Major League Baseball

ABSTRACT The present research seeks to examine the impact that price discrimination and price dispersion have on an organization’s revenue. Furthermore, we seek to understand whether facility type moderates the relationship between pricing behavior and revenue. Using a data set of Major League Baseball team ticket pricing behavior from 1990 through 2010, a two-staged least squares model is estimated. The findings indicate that both price discrimination and price dispersion does not impact a team’s total revenue. We find that new facilities do moderate this relationship between pricing behavior and revenues. We discuss the impact on the role that price behavior and venues have on revenue decisions for sport and leisure organizations.
Safety of peripherally inserted central catheters during pregnancy: a retrospective study

Abstract Purpose: We investigated the incidence of complications associated with peripherally inserted central line catheters, inserted using a standardized technique, during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Materials and methods: A retrospective case series was performed that included all pregnant and postpartum women who received peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) at a single institution between 2006 and 2014. Patient demographics and data on infectious, mechanical and thrombotic complications were collected. Some patients required more than one line insertion during the same pregnancy. In these instances, only the first line placement for each subject was included in the analysis of complications. Results: One hundred and forty-six catheters were inserted in 112 pregnant and postpartum patients. The total incidence of complications was 17% (19/112). Specific complications included infection (n = 4, 3.6%), mechanical (n = 5, 4.4%), deep venous thrombosis (n = 2, 1.8%) and other (n = 8, 7.1%). Demographics of the complication and no complication groups were similar. Conclusions: In contrast with previous studies, we report a complication rate associated with peripheral line use in pregnant and postpartum women that appears similar to that in non-pregnant populations.
Networks and Trade

Trade occurs between firms both across borders and within countries, and most trade transactions include at least one large firm with many trading partners. This article reviews the literature on firm-to-firm connections in trade. A growing body of evidence coming from domestic and international transaction data has established empirical regularities that have inspired the development of new theories emphasizing firm heterogeneity among both buyers and suppliers in production networks. Theoretical work has considered both static and dynamic matching environments in a framework of many-to-many matching. The literature on trade and production networks is at an early stage, and there are many unanswered empirical and theoretical questions.
Trends in the Diagnosis of Rett Syndrome in Australia

Modifications to diagnostic criteria and introduction of genetic testing have likely affected the pattern and timing of Rett syndrome diagnosis. The trends in incidence and prevalence of Rett syndrome in Australia were examined; the cumulative risk of a female being diagnosed was determined; and the impact of changes to diagnostic criteria and availability of genetic testing on these frequencies was investigated. The population-based Australian Rett Syndrome Database was used to identify a total of 349 verified Rett syndrome females born 1976–2006 and diagnosed 1982–2008. The proportion of female cases born and diagnosed per year and the cumulative risk of a diagnosis were determined. The median age of Rett syndrome diagnosis decreased from 4.5 y if diagnosed before 2000 to 3.5 y if diagnosed after 1999. The cumulative risk of diagnosis had almost doubled by 32 y of age [1/8,905 or 11.23 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI, 10.03–12.45)] in comparison with 5 y of age [1/15,361 or 6.51 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI, 5.65–7.39)]. Earlier age of diagnosis may result in families experiencing less stress and emotional strain compared with those with delayed diagnosis.