Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Airway cell composition at rest and after an all-out test in competitive rowers.

PURPOSES This study was designed to assess: a) whether rowing affects airway cell composition, and b) the possible relationship between the degree of ventilation during exercise and airway cells. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In nine young, nonasthmatic competitive rowers (mean age +/- SD: 16.2 +/- 1.0 yr), induced sputum samples were obtained at rest and shortly after an all-out rowing test over 1000 m (mean duration: 200 +/- 14 s), during which ventilatory and metabolic variables were recorded breath-by-breath (Cosmed K4b, Italy). RESULTS At rest, induced sputum showed prevalence of neutrophils (60%) over macrophages (40%); after exercise, total cell and bronchial epithelial cell (BEC) counts tended to increase. In the last minute of exercise, mean VE was 158.0 +/- 41.5 L x min(-1), and VO2 x kg(-1) 62 +/- 11 mL x min(-1). Exercise VE correlated directly with postexercise total cell (Spearman rho: 0.75, P < 0.05) an dmacrophage (rho: 0.82, P < 0.05) counts. A similar trend was observed for exercise VE and changes in BEC counts from baseline to postexercise (rho: 0.64, P = 0.11). Exercise VE did not correlate with airway neutrophil counts at rest or after exercise. Expression of adhesion molecules by airway neutrophils, macrophages, and eosinophils decreased after the all-out test. CONCLUSION Similar to endurance athletes, nonasthmatic competitive rowers showed increased neutrophils in induced sputum compared with values found in sedentary subjects. The trend toward increased BEC postexercise possibly reflected the effects of high airflows on airway epithelium. Airway macrophages postexercise were highest in rowers showing tile most intense exercise hyperpnea, suggesting early involvement of these cells during exercise. However, the low expression of adhesion molecules by all airway cell types suggests that intense short-lived exercise may be associated with a blunted response of airway cells in nonasthmatic well-trained rowers.
The clinical use of the platelet/lymphocyte ratio and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio as prognostic predictors in colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis

Background Conflicting evidence exists regarding the effects of platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio(LMR) on the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. This study aimed to evaluate the roles of the PLR and LMR in predicting the prognosis of CRC patients via meta-analysis. Methods Eligible studies were retrieved from the PubMed, Embase,andChina National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases, supplemented by a manual search of references from retrieved articles. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using the generic inverse variance and random-effect model to evaluate the association of PLR and LMR with prognostic variables in CRC, including overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results Thirty-three studies containing 15,404 patients met criteria for inclusion. Pooled analysis suggested that elevated PLR was associated with poorer OS (pooled HR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.41 – 1.75, p< 0.00001, I2=26%) and DFS (pooled HR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.31 – 1.92, p< 0.00001, I2=66%). Conversely, high LMR correlated with more favorable OS (pooled HR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.50 – 0.68, p< 0.00001, I2=44%), CSS (pooled HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.40 – 0.72, p< 0.00001, I2=11%) and DFS (pooled HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.71– 0.94,p=0.005, I2=29%). Conclusions Elevated PLR was associated with poor prognosis, while high LMR correlated with more favorable outcomes in CRC patients. Pretreatment PLR and LMR could serve as prognostic predictors in CRC patients.
The Distribution of Climbing and Mossy Fiber Collateral Branches from the Copula Pyramidis and the Paramedian Lobule: Congruence of Climbing Fiber Cortical Zones and the Pattern of Zebrin Banding within the Rat Cerebellum

Individual cerebellar cortical zones defined by the somatotopy of climbing fiber responses and by their olivo-cortico-nuclear connections located in the paramedian lobule and the copula pyramidis of the rat cerebellum were microinjected with cholera toxin B subunit. Collateral branches of climbing and mossy fibers were mapped and related to the pattern of zebrin-positive and -negative bands of Purkinje cells. Climbing fiber collaterals from the copula distribute to the anterior lobe: from the paramedian lobule mainly to lobulus simplex and rostral crus I. Climbing fibers terminating in particular zones (X, A2, C1, CX, C2, C3, D1, and D2) in the paramedian lobule or the copula collateralize to one or two corresponding zones in lobulus simplex, crus I and II, the paraflocculus, and/or the anterior lobe. These zones can be defined by their relationship to the pattern of zebrin banding. Collaterals from mossy fibers, labeled from the same injection sites in the copula and paramedian lobule, often distribute bilaterally in a symmetrical pattern of multiple but ill-defined longitudinal strips in the anterior lobe and/or lobulus simplex. One or more of these longitudinal aggregates of mossy fiber collaterals was always found subjacent to the strip(s) of labeled climbing fiber collaterals arising from the same locus in the paramedian lobule or the copula. Corticonuclear projections focused on the target nucleus of each zone, although a bilateral plexus of thinner axons, presumably of mossy fiber collateral origin, was sometimes also present in several other regions of the cerebellar nuclei. Overall, these results suggest that climbing fiber zones and zebrin banding reflect a common organizational scheme within the cerebellar cortex.
Lack of association of the vitamin D receptor gene with Graves’ disease in UK Caucasians

objective Vitamin D modulates the immune system by suppressing the proliferation of activated T cells, with its actions being directed through the vitamin D receptor (VDR). A number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in the VDR gene, of which several have been associated with autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes and Graves’ disease (GD) in Japanese females. The aim of this study was to test for association of polymorphisms of the VDR gene in the genetic susceptibility to GD in UK Caucasians.
Effects of simulated obstructive sleep apnoea on the human carotid baroreceptor–vascular resistance reflex

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which is characterized by periodic inspiratory obstruction, is associated with hypertension and possibly with changes in the baroreceptor reflex. In this investigation we induced changes in inspiratory resistance and in inspiratory oxygen and carbon dioxide content, which simulate some of the changes in OSA, to determine whether this caused changes in the gain or setting of the carotid baroreflex. In eight healthy subjects (aged 21–62 years) we changed the stimulus to carotid baroreceptors, using neck chambers and graded pressures of −40 to +60 mmHg, and assessed vascular resistance responses in the brachial artery from changes in blood pressure (Finapres) divided by brachial artery blood flow velocity (Doppler ultrasound). Stimulus–response curves were defined during (a) sham (no additional stimulus), (b) addition of an inspiratory resistance (inspiratory pressure −10 mmHg), (c) breathing asphyxic gas (12% O2, 5% CO2), and (d) combined resistance and asphyxia. Sigmoid or polynomial functions were applied to the curves and maximum differentials (equivalent to peak gain) and the corresponding carotid pressures (equivalent to ‘set point’) were determined. The sham test had no effect on either gain or ‘set point’. Inspiratory resistance alone had no effect on blood pressure and did not displace the curve. However, it reduced gain from −3.0 ± 0.6 to −2.1 ± 0.4 units (P < 0.05). Asphyxia alone did increase blood pressure (+7.0 ± 1.1 mmHg, P < 0.0005) and displaced the curve to higher pressures by +16.8 ± 2.1 mmHg (P < 0.0005). However, it did not affect gain. The combination of resistance and asphyxia both reduced gain and displaced the curve to higher pressures. These results suggest that inspiratory resistance and asphyxia cause changes in the baroreceptor reflex which could lead to an increase in blood pressure. These changes, if sustained, could provide a mechanism linking hypertension to obstructive sleep apnoea.
Detection of Mitochondrial COII DNA Sequences in Ant Guts as a Method for Assessing Termite Predation by Ants

Termites and ants contribute more to animal biomass in tropical rain forests than any other single group and perform vital ecosystem functions. Although ants prey on termites, at the community level the linkage between these groups is poorly understood. Thus, assessing the distribution and specificity of ant termitophagy is of considerable interest. We describe an approach for quantifying ant-termite food webs by sequencing termite DNA (cytochrome c oxidase subunit II, COII) from ant guts and apply this to a soil-dwelling ant community from tropical rain forest in Gabon. We extracted DNA from 215 ants from 15 species. Of these, 17.2 % of individuals had termite DNA in their guts, with BLAST analysis confirming the identity of 34.1 % of these termites to family level or better. Although ant species varied in detection of termite DNA, ranging from 63 % (5/7; Camponotus sp. 1) to 0 % (0/7; Ponera sp. 1), there was no evidence (with small sample sizes) for heterogeneity in termite consumption across ant taxa, and no evidence for species-specific ant-termite predation. In all three ant species with identifiable termite DNA in multiple individuals, multiple termite species were represented. Furthermore, the two termite species that were detected on multiple occasions in ant guts were in both cases found in multiple ant species, suggesting that ant-termite food webs are not strongly compartmentalised. However, two ant species were found to consume only Anoplotermes-group termites, indicating possible predatory specialisation at a higher taxonomic level. Using a laboratory feeding test, we were able to detect termite COII sequences in ant guts up to 2 h after feeding, indicating that our method only detects recent feeding events. Our data provide tentative support for the hypothesis that unspecialised termite predation by ants is widespread and highlight the use of molecular approaches for future studies of ant-termite food webs.
Cleavage of Complement C3b to iC3b on the Surface of Staphylococcus aureus Is Mediated by Serum Complement Factor I

ABSTRACT Complement-mediated opsonization of Staphylococcus aureus bearing the dominant capsule serotypes, serotypes 5 and 8, remains incompletely understood. We have previously shown that complement plays a vital role in the efficient phagocytosis of a serotype 5 S. aureus strain and that the opsonic fragments of the central complement protein C3, C3b and iC3b, were present on the bacterial surface after incubation in human serum. In the present studies, C3b and iC3b were found on several serotype 5 and 8 S. aureus strains after incubation in human serum. Using purified classical activation pathway complement proteins and the Western blot assay, we showed that when C3b was generated on the S. aureus surface no iC3b fragments were found, suggesting that other serum proteins may be required for cleaving C3b to iC3b. When C3b-coated S. aureus was incubated with serum factor I, a complement regulatory protein, iC3b was generated. Purified factor H, a serum protein cofactor for factor I, did not enhance factor I-mediated cleavage of C3b. These findings suggest that C3b cleavage to iC3b on S. aureus is mediated by serum factor I and does not require factor H.
The competitive experience of UK SMEs: Fair and unfair

Abstract Although there has been a considerable amount of research undertaken on the impact of competition policy upon (large) enterprises and upon consumers, there is almost no work that examines any link between competition policy and SMEs. This paper addresses this issue. It finds that one third of firms are aware of anti-competitive practices such as price fixing, cartels and tender agreements and one quarter have actually been victims of such practices. Its second key finding is that SME victims’ most likely response is to ‘shrug their shoulders and get on with it’. The third key finding is that this reaction is considerably less likely amongst male owners of larger SMEs who have a degree-level qualification. This implies the competition authorities have to recognise that SMEs can be the victims of anti-competitive behaviour, but the latter’s response to this reflects the diversity that characterises the SME population.
Idiosyncratic Risk, Returns and Liquidity in the London Stock Exchange: A Spillover Approach

In the light of recent evidence that liquidity and idiosyncratic risk may be priced factors in the cross section of expected stock returns and that market capitalization significantly affects investor behavior and liquidity, we explore the interactions between liquidity, idiosyncratic risk and return across time as well as across size-based portfolios of stocks listed in the London Stock Exchange. In a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) analytical framework, we find that volatility spills over from large cap stocks to small cap stocks and vice versa. Volatility shocks can be predicted by illiquidity shocks in both large cap as well as in the small cap portfolios. Illiquidity can be predicted by return shocks in small cap stocks. Finally, we document some evidence of asymmetric liquidity spillovers, from large cap stocks to small cap ones, supporting the intuition that common information is first incorporated in the trading behavior of large-cap investors and the liquidity of large cap stocks and is then transmitted in the trading of small stocks.
Teaching Newcomers Inclusively: Social Studies in a New Gateway State

We explored social studies teachers’ dispositions towards working with immigrant students in an Atlantic new gateway state. We surveyed 99 middle and high school social studies teachers using the additive versus subtractive models as a theoretical framework. Although teachers’ professional backgrounds and school contexts were connected to teaching inclusively, their academic expectations of immigrant students, their beliefs on assimilation (regarding schools’ and teachers’ roles in maintaining heritage cultures and languages), and their opinions on the effective implementation of school policies concerning immigrant students’ learning were significant contributors to teaching inclusiveness.
Heterosubtypic cross-reactivity of HA1 antibodies to influenza A, with emphasis on nonhuman subtypes (H5N1, H7N7, H9N2)

Epidemics of influenza A vary greatly in size and age distribution of cases, and this variation i attributed to varying levels of pre-existing immunity. Recent studies have shown that antibody mediated immune responses are more cross-reactive than previously believed, and shape patterns of humoral immunity to influenza A viruses over long periods. Here we quantify antibody responses to the hemagglutinin subunit 1 (HA1) across a range of subtypes using protein microarray analysis of cross-sectional serological surveys carried out in the Netherlanc before and after the A/2009 (H1N1) pandemic. We find significant associations of responses, both within and between subtypes. Interestingly, substantial overall reactivity is observed to HA1 of avian H7N7 and H9N2 viruses. Seroprevalence of H7N7 correlates with antibody titer to A/1968 (H3N2), and is highest in persons born between 1954 and 1969. Seroprevalence of H9N2 is high across all ages, and correlates strongly with A/1957 (H2N2). This correlation is most pronounced in A/2009 (H1N1) infected persons born after 1968 who have never encountered A/1957 (H2N2)-like viruses. We conclude that heterosubtypic antibody crossreactivity, both between human subtypes and between human and nonhuman subtypes, is common in the human population.
A Source of Error in Estimating the Number of Reinforcements in a Lever-pressing Apparatus.

While recording the cumulative-response frequencies during conditioning trials of 10 rats in a lever-pressing apparatus, it was found that between the 40th and 100th response the curve suddenly accelerated, and then was followed presently by a period of nonresponding. As a result, the curve takes on the character of an extinction curve which typically alternates between periods of high responding and no responding (4). Since the arrowed section in our figure exceeds a rate of response commensurate with intervening eating activity, either the food dispenser broke down during this period of time or the S was engaging in response bursts on the lever without picking up its food in the trough. In either case, estimation of the "number-of-reinforcements" parameter would be confounded. This experiment was an attempt to locate the source of trouble.
“Close to the Nature, Hand in Hand with Fuwa”: Framing Environmental Issues in Biding and Preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games

Given Chinai¯s negligent environmental history and political battles regarding other issues, creating and disseminating a positive message surrounding the 2008 Olympic Games became a challenge for the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympics Games (BOCOG). This study explores material published by BOCOG on its official website and examines how environmental issues were framed in the process of bidding and preparations for the Beijing Olympiad. We find that BOCOG used different framing strategies for external and internal publics. The dominant master frame targeted at the external public could be considered a i°gain-versus-lossi± frame promoting acceptance of the Games. For internal publics, in addition to a gain-versus-loss frame, BOCOG also adopted i°identity and national pridei± as master frames.
Effect of Garlic on Blood Pressure: A Meta‐Analysis

Garlic supplements are thought to reduce blood pressure (BP). The authors performed a meta‐analysis to investigate garlic's effect on BP. Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, and PubMed (1946 to November 2013) were used to search for randomized controlled trials. Seventeen trials were included. Pooled analysis showed that garlic intake caused a 3.75‐mm Hg reduction (95% confidence interval [CI], −5.04 to −2.45, I2=30.7%; P<.001) in systolic BP and a 3.39‐mm Hg reduction (95% CI, −4.14 to −2.65, I2=67%; P<.001) in diastolic BP compared with controls. Meta‐analysis of subgroups showed a significant reduction in systolic BP in hypertensive (−4.4 mm Hg; 95% CI, −7.37 to −1.42, I2=0.0%; P=.004) but not normotensive patients. No significant reduction in diastolic BP was seen. After sensitivity analysis, heterogeneity disappeared and significant diastolic BP reduction (−2.68 mm Hg, 95% CI, −4.93 to −0.42, I2=0.0%; P=.020) was shown in hypertensive patients. This meta‐analysis suggests that garlic supplements are superior to controls (placebo in most trails) in reducing BP, especially in hypertensive patients.
Time to Fight

Democratic peace arguments make compelling claims about the importance of regime type for explaining conflict but do not explain the variation in conflict propensity among states that share a common regime type. The authors develop a veto-player approach to capture the effects of executive constraint and argue that in parliamentary democracies, cabinet structure and allies influence states' conflict behavior. A hazard analysis is used to examine the time before a government's first initiation of force in 569 cabinets in 18 countries from the end of World War I to 1990 (N = 25,238 cabinet months). Results show that minority governments have a smaller hazard for initiating a conflict than either coalition or majority cabinets. However, the likelihood of conflict initiation for coalition and majority cabinets is the same. States with allies are less likely to initiate force. Across states of relatively uniform political culture, institutional measures of constraint effectively predict variation in conflict behavior.
University-Industry Knowledge Exchange: An Exploratory Study of Open Innovation in UK Universities

The aim of this study is to explore the particular environment in which universities engage in Open Innovation and to investigate the specific responses that universities develop to meet the constraints intrinsic to their environment. This is the first study to investigate open innovation strategies of UK universities. The methodology used is an exploratory study based on semi-structured interviews of Pro-Vice-Chancellors (or equivalent level) of a variety of British Universities. Besides providing an overview of what Open Innovation means to different universities, as well as investigating the different Open Innovation strategies set up by universities, one of the key findings of this study relates to the ‘new’ role of universities, which are becoming a central actor within the Open Innovation ecosystem. As a result, universities should position themselves as Open Innovation hub, as they are a trusted intermediary through which collaborations can happen.
Investor Sentiment as Conditioning Information in Asset Pricing

This paper assesses whether incorporating investor sentiment as conditioning information in asset-pricing models helps capture the impacts of the size, value, liquidity and momentum effects on risk-adjusted returns of individual stocks. We use survey sentiment measures and a composite index as proxies for investor sentiment. In our conditional framework, the size effect becomes less important in the conditional CAPM and is no longer significant in all the other models examined. Furthermore, the conditional models often capture the value, liquidity and momentum effects.
Managerial Efficiency and Survivability in Professional Team Sports

Students of organizational sociology tend to believe that managerial efficiency has less to do with individual talent than with the environment in which firms operate. Economists and fans know that this is not true in sports. Measures of managerial efficiency are constructed for baseball, basketball and football coaches. Survival analysis is utilized to measure coaching tenure probabilities in these sports and coaching tenure is shown to be related to managerial efficiency.