Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction of Xenogeneic Neonatal Tolerance to Transgenic Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I Grafts

Background. The immune response against xenografts is vigorous and poorly controlled with conventional immunosuppressants. Therefore, success in xenotransplantation will depend on developing additional approaches such as induction of immunologic unresponsiveness or tolerance. Although classic protocols of neonatal tolerance induction in mice are very tolerogenic in many allogeneic models, they have generally failed in xenogeneic models. The purpose of these studies was to determine whether failure results from an intrinsic property of xenogenic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules themselves or, instead, is caused by some limitation in species-specific molecular interactions distinct from the polymorphic domains of xenogenic MHC molecules. Methods. Our approach was to test the ability of lymphoid cells from a transgenic (Tg) mouse donor expressing a xeno-MHC class I molecule encoding the polymorphic &agr;1/&agr;2 for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B7 to induce neonatal tolerance in non-Tg syngeneic C57BL/6 recipients. Because the donor and recipient strains are genetically identical (C57BL/6, H-2b) except for Tg human MHC HLA-B7, any species-specific molecular incompatibility in this mouse anti-human class I xeno-combination that could potentially interfere with induction of tolerance has been eliminated. Results. Our results show that HLA-B7 Tg-, but not C57BL/6 syngeneic-, injected neonates were unresponsive as adults to HLA–B7-expressing target cells in vitro and specifically accepted HLA–B7-expressing Tg skin grafts. In addition, neonatal injection of donor cells resulted in peripheral chimerism. Conclusions. These experiments demonstrate that, as long as species-specific molecular interactions are maintained, recognition of the polymorphic domains of xenogeneic MHC does not represent a barrier to neonatal tolerance induction.
Corneal ulceration in the developing world—a silent epidemic

Anyone who has spent time in Asia or Africa can invariably recall a vivid image of a blind beggar, sometimes an elderly person but frequently a child with opaque corneas, haunting the bazaars and marketplaces of cities and villages. The spectre is so common that it almost passes unnoticed, but these individuals who are bilaterally blind represent only a small fraction of the millions who suffer monocular blindness as a result of corneal trauma and subsequent microbial keratitis. With the global figure of blindness rapidly approaching 40 million, attention naturally is focused on cataract, which is responsible for 50% or more of all visual disability, and trachoma which is still an enormous public health problem affecting 500 million people worldwide and responsible for 25% of all bilaterally blind individuals.1 Xerophthalmia, onchocerciasis, and glaucoma account for several millions more of the 85% of the world’s blind individuals who live in developing countries in Asia and Africa.2 While corneal blindness in the developing world has traditionally been attributed to trachoma, xerophthalmia, …
How Language Processing Constrains (Computational) Natural Language Processing: A Cognitive Perspective

In this paper I aim at sketching out in bare outline a new model/framework of language processing with its implications for natural language processing. Research in theoretical linguistics, computational linguistics and mathematical linguistics has delineated the ways natural language can be represented and modeled. Studies in cognitive (neuro)science, on the other hand, have shown how language processing is implemented in human cognitive machinery. Here an attempt will be made to integrate all these findings into a mathematical model of language processing which will point to some potential constraints on what natural language processing can achieve or do and what it possibly cannot.
Early changes in diabetic retinopathy: Capillary loss and blood‐retina barrier permeability in relation to metabolic control

Abstract In diabetic retinopathy capillary loss and blood‐retina barrier leakage are prominent factors. We present a study with quantitative measurements of both capillary loss and leakage and their relation to cumulative metabolic control. Seventeen insulin‐dependent diabetic patients with no retinopathy or only mild background retinopathy and 10 years' duration of the disease were included in the study. Status of metabolic regulation had been followed for at least 6 years. Seven healthy subjects were included as controls. In diabetic patients the perifoveal intervascular areas were found to increase significantly with the cumulative HbAlc index (p = 0.02) and in relation to the presence of moderate background retinopathy (p < 0.02). The blood‐retina barrier leakage and the area of the foveal avascular zone were not significantly different from healthy subjects and no correlation was found between the HbAlc index and blood‐retina barrier permeability. We conclude that perifoveal capillary loss occurs early in the course of diabetic retinopathy and that this loss is related to prior glycemic control and to the ophthalmoscopic retinopathy level.
Convening Stakeholder Networks A New Way of Thinking, Being and Engaging

A growing number of companies are convening stakeholder networks to address complex sustainability and corporate responsibility issues. The role of network convenor is new for most companies, and it involves different ways of thinking, being and engaging beyond the more traditional approaches to managing bilateral stakeholder relationships. In this paper we describe how three companies established successful networks and then explore the mind-set, skill sets and engagement processes that are required to build and sustain multi-stakeholder networks. The paper draws on theory and research related to complex adaptive systems, collective learning and whole-system change. l Stakeholder l Engagement l Networks l Collective learning l Whole system change
Screening high school students for eating disorders: validity of brief behavioral and attitudinal measures.

BACKGROUND Early identification can greatly impact the trajectory of eating disorders, and school-based screening is 1 avenue for identifying those at risk. To be feasible in a school setting, a screening program must use a brief, valid screening tool. The aim of this study was to assess how well brief attitudinal and behavioral survey items identify adolescents at risk in a large sample of high school students from across the United States. METHODS Data were drawn from the National Eating Disorder Screening Program, the first-ever national eating disorders screening initiative for US high schools. A 2-stage, clustered sampling method was used to randomly select a subset of student screening forms (n = 5740), which included the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), behavioral questions assessing the frequency of vomiting and binge eating in the past 3 months, and an attitudinal item that assessed preoccupation with thinness. RESULTS Nearly 12% of females and 3% of males reported vomiting to control their weight and 17% of females and 10% of males reported binge eating 1 or more times per month. Approximately 24% of females and 8% of males report being preoccupied with being thinner. We found that the attitudinal measure yielded high sensitivity and specificity. Combined screening measures that used both the attitudinal and behavioral items yielded slightly higher sensitivity values than those found with the attitudinal measure alone. CONCLUSION High school administrators should include items that assess both preoccupation with thinness as well as behavioral items that deal with eating disorders on student health surveys.
An Empirical Study of the Impact of Branding on Consumer Choice for Regulated Bottled Water in Southeast, Nigeria

Branding is one of the most intriguing marketing strategies used for the purpose of winning or over coming competition; its efficacy is not in doubt. This research work is therefore an investigation into the impact of branding on consumer choice for bottled water, with special focus on the contributory roles of its various elements in impacting consumer behavior. It was discovered among other things, that of all the elements of branding, company-of-make and packaging play a greater role than brand name and brand mark, in terms of influencing consumer choice for bottled water. It was against this backdrop that this research work proposed two models namely; Review of Consumer Buying Behavior Process 1 and 2. It equally recommended among other things that firms should focus more attention on the company name and packaging but should also integrate brand name and brand mark as supportive elements in fashioning an effective branding strategy for beating competition. More emphasis should equally be laid on institutional rather than brand advertising.
Export-led Growth in South Asia: A Panel Cointegration Analysis

Abstract In this paper, we attempt to examine the export-led and manufacturing export-led growth hypothesis for four South Asian Countries; namely, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, using Pedroni’s panel cointegration technique for the period 1980–2002. In this context we estimate growth accounting equations to investigate the impact of exports, manufacturing exports and other important physical and human capital variables on both total GDP and non-export GDP. The study finds long-run equilibrium relationship between GDP (and non-export GDP) and exports along with other variables supporting export-led growth hypothesis. The results also substantiate the existence of manufacturing export-led growth hypothesis. Further, we find that export, fixed capital formation, public expenditure on health and education have statistically significant coefficients re-emphasizing the importance of these variables for higher economic growth.
Modulation of covR Expression in Streptococcus mutans UA159

ABSTRACT The biofilm-forming Streptococcus mutans is a gram-positive bacterium that resides in the human oral cavity and is considered to be the primary etiological agent in the formation of dental caries. The global response regulator CovR, which lacks a cognate sensor kinase, is essential for the pathogenesis and biofilm formation of this bacterium, but it is not clear how covR expression is regulated in S. mutans. In this communication, we present the results of our studies examining various factors that regulate the expression of covR in S. mutans UA159. The results of Southern hybridization and PCR analysis indicated that CovR is an orphan response regulator in various isolates of S. mutans. The transcriptional start site for covR was found to be 221 base pairs upstream of the ATG start codon, and site-directed mutagenesis of the upstream TATAAT box confirmed our findings. The expression of covR is growth phase dependent, with maximal expression observed during exponential-growth phase. While changes to the growth temperature did not significantly affect the expression of covR, increasing the pH or the concentration of Mg2+ in the growth medium leads to an increase in covR expression. The results of semiquantitative reverse transcriptase PCR analysis and in vivo transcriptional-fusion reporter assays indicated that CovR autoregulates its own expression; this was verified by the results of electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I protection assays, which demonstrated direct binding of CovR to the promoter region. Apparently, regulation by Mg2+ and the autoregulation of covR are not linked. A detailed analysis of the regulation of CovR may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of S. mutans, as well as providing further insight into the prevention of dental caries.
The Differential Impact of CETA Training

This study analyzes the effectiveness of CETA skill training programs in Boston, using three techniques not often employed in such evaluation studies—a comparison group, multiple regressions incorporating an unusually large number of explanatory variables, and an examination of the effects of differences in the type of skill-training provided. The authors find that these programs provided participants with significant wage and employment benefits, particularly when participants obtained jobs on which they could use the skills they learned. The results also showed, however, that the stability of postprogram employment is sensitive to the type of training received and postprogram wages are even more so.
Crystal Structure of Human Tryptophanyl-tRNA Synthetase Catalytic Fragment

Human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (hTrpRS) produces a full-length and three N terminus-truncated forms through alternative splicing and proteolysis. The shortest fragment that contains the aminoacylation catalytic fragment (T2-hTrpRS) exhibits the most potent angiostatic activity. We report here the crystal structure of T2-hTrpRS at 2.5 Å resolution, which was solved using the multi-wavelength anomalous diffraction method. T2-hTrpRS shares a very low sequence homology of 22% with Bacillus stearothermophilus TrpRS (bTrpRS); however, their overall structures are strikingly similar. Structural comparison of T2-hTrpRS with bTrpRS reveals substantial structural differences in the substrate-binding pocket and at the entrance to the pocket that play important roles in substrate binding and tRNA binding. T2-hTrpRS has a wide opening to the active site and adopts a compact conformation similar to the closed conformation of bTrpRS. These results suggest that mammalian and bacterial TrpRSs might use different mechanisms to recognize the substrate. Modeling studies indicate that tRNA binds with the dimeric enzyme and interacts primarily with the connective polypeptide 1 of hTrpRS via its acceptor arm and the α-helical domain of hTrpRS via its anticodon loop. Our results also suggest that the angiostatic activity is likely located at the α-helical domain, which resembles the short chain cytokines.
Does CEO Duality Really Affect Corporate Performance?

Most research investigating the impact of board leadership structure as a corporate governance mechanism, on corporate performance has focused largely on either the Anglo-American context or the Asian experience and has come up with diverse conclusions. This study sheds light on the extent to which corporate leadership structure affects corporate performance by providing empirical evidence from a sample of Egyptian listed firms. The initial econometric results indicate that CEO duality has no impact on corporate performance. However, when an interaction term between industry type and CEO duality is included in the model, the impact of CEO duality on corporate performance is found to vary across industries, a result that is supportive of both agency theory and stewardship theory. In addition, when firms are categorised according to their financial performance, CEO duality attracts a positive and significant coefficient only when corporate performance is low. Copyright (c) 2007 The Author; Journal compilation (c) 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
The performance measurement panacea

Performance indicators used in the management control systems of 18 Australian manufacturing and service firms are analyzed and critiqued. Investigation is conducted into whether movements in non-accounting based indicators are associated with, or imitate, accounting based indicators of performance. The pitfalls of exclusive reliance on accounting based indicators are Highlighted. The results are consistent with the notion that non-accounting based indicators are associated with accounting based indicators in a more complex way than anticipated.
Web news readers comments: Towards developing a methodology for using on-line comments in social inquiry

Readers of on-line news are increasingly posting comments in response to news articles and the comments of other readers. These comments are a rich source of qualitative data that reflect public opinions and provide insight into how decisions are made and beliefs formed. Analyzing this unique data source requires a well thought out methodological approach to meet the goals of the study. This article explores opportunities and challenges associated with using on-line comments in qualitative studies, and encourages a debate among researchers about these issues toward finessing approaches for using these unique data most effectively. Key words: On-line news, posted comments, methodology, inclusion criterion, public deliberation, participatory journalism.
Variations on a thesis: intuitionism and computability

There are three variations. The first is an extended argument for a reappraisal of the status of CT within intuitionism. Traditionally, the intuitionists' attitude toward CT has been strongly negative; it was thought that Church's Thesis was obviously false. The fact that it is consistent with the main bulk of constructive mathematics was either to be deplored or ignored. We think this attitude unfortunate. As it seems to derive a good part of its impetus from an unnecessary identification of intuitionism with reductive intuitionism, we devote the bulk of the first variation to suggesting that reductive intuitionism might itself be either deplored or ignored. Of course, the idea that CT is obviously false can be reinforced from other quarters. Logicians often appeal to a kind of hypothetico-deductivism and argue that CT is false because its mathematical consequences are largely untoward. The
Environmental, social, and personal correlates of having ever had sexual intercourse among American Indian youths.

OBJECTIVES We examined the correlates of having ever had sexual intercourse among American Indians aged 13 to 18 years in Minnesota. METHODS To assess key environmental, social, and individual correlates of sexual experience, we analyzed data from 4135 American Indian youths who participated in the 1998 and 2001 Minnesota Student Surveys. RESULTS Forty-two percent of those aged 13 to 15 years and 69% of those aged 16 to 18 years reported that they had ever had sexual intercourse. Correlates of sexual experience varied by age and gender. School connections had the strongest negative associations with sexual experience in young girls, and living with a father had negative associations with sexual experience for younger, but not older, youths. Sexual experience was most strongly and positively associated with risk behaviors such as substance use, violence exposure, and violence perpetuation. CONCLUSIONS The strongest correlates of sexual experience for American Indian youths were high-risk behaviors and exposure to violence. Future work is needed to develop and employ measures that reflect youth assets and that specifically reflect the experiences of American Indian youths.
Plasma Agmatine and Platelet Imidazoline Receptors in Depression a

ABSTRACT: Plasma agmatine concentrations are elevated significantly in depressed patients compared to healthy controls. Treatment with the antidepressant bupropion normalized plasma agmatine levels. Correlational evidence is presented that a change in plasma agmatine levels may lead to similar changes in platelet I1 imidazoline receptors.
Screening of a HUAEC cDNA library identifies actin as a candidate autoantigen associated with carotid atherosclerosis

The humoral immune response to endothelium has a pivotal role in the development of atherosclerosis. Using a molecular method, we sought to identify endothelial autoantigens in carotid atherosclerosis. Immunoscreening of a HUAEC expression library with IgG from a pool of two sera from patients with carotid atherosclerosis identified a clone specific to actin. We evaluated actin‐specific IgG reactivity in patients with carotid atherosclerosis and compared responses with those in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and type 1 diabetes mellitus and in healthy subjects. Enzyme‐linked immunoassay detected actin‐specific IgG in a significantly higher percentage of sera from patients with atherosclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus than from healthy subjects (16/61, 26% and 13/33, 39%versus 2/41, 5%, P = 0·012 and P < 10−4, by χ2 test). Mean optical density values were significantly higher in patients than in healthy subjects (P < 10−4 by Student's t‐test). Patients with atherosclerosis and uncomplicated plaques had significantly higher serum anti‐actin IgG reactivity than those with complicated plaques (P = 0·048 by Student's t‐test). Our findings suggest that actin is an autoantigenic molecule of potential clinical interest in carotid atherosclerosis.
Teacher characteristics and ICT integration: a study in pre-service and in-service primary education teachers in China

The educational potential of information and communication technology (ICT) can be observed in a variety of ways. ICT is influencing education by changing the way of teaching and learning. Schools (in most of the world and in China) are making efforts to benefit from the potential power of ICT. But, ICT integration may encounter a number of barriers. Ertmer (1999) mentions two sorts of barriers: external barriers related to access to ICT, environmental supports and teacher ICT literacy and internal barriers related to teacher cognitions. When the external barriers are resolved, the decision regarding whether and how to use ICT rests on the shoulders of teachers. In the Chinese context, most of the teachers are not willing to integrate ICT, even when external barriers do not exist in most of the primary schools (Yuan, 2006). In order to examine influencing factors of ICT integration in China, we have to take the internal barriers into consideration. Research in the field of ICT implementation is fast growing. From a theoretical point of view, this research presents a key problem. There is profound conceptual confusion in the “internal” teacher related variables and processes researched that describe and explain the process of ICT integration. This explains why – in this introductory chapter – we pay attention to the elaboration of a conceptual framework that brings together a large set of concepts currently being researched in the literature. In this context, we introduce the central concept of “teacher cognitions” as an umbrella term that embraces affective, motivational and cognitive antecedents of ICT adoption in education. ∗ This chapter is partly based on (a) Valcke, M. , Sang, G, Y. , Rots, I. , and Hermans, R. (2010). Taking prospective teachers’ beliefs into account in teacher education. In: Penelope Peterson, Eva Baker, Barry McGaw (Eds), International Encyclopedia of Education (vol. 7, pp. 622-628). Oxford: Elsevier and (b) Sang, G. Y. , Valcke, M. , van Braak, J., & Tondeur, J. (2010). Student teachers’ thinking processes and ICT integration: Predictors of prospective teaching behaviors with educational technology. Computers & Education, 54(1), 103-112.
Hybrid Cat Bonds

Natural catastrophes attract regularly the attention of media and have become a source of public concern. From a financial viewpoint, natural catastrophes represent idiosyncratic risks, diversifiable at the world level. But for reasons analyzed in this paper reinsurance markets are unable to cope with this risk completely. Insurance-linked securities, such as cat bonds, have been issued to complete the international risk transfer process, but their development is disappointing so far. This paper argues that downside risk aversion and ambiguity aversion explain the limited success of cat bonds. Hybrid cat bonds, combining the transfer of cat risk with protection against a stock market crash, are proposed to complete the market. Using the concept of market modified risk measure, the paper shows that replacing simple cat bonds with hybrid cat bonds would lead to an increase in market volume.