Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decoupling activation and exhaustion of B cells in spontaneous controllers of HIV infection

Objective:To define the impact of chronic viremia and associated immune activation on B-cell exhaustion in HIV infection. Design:Progressive HIV infection is marked by B-cell anergy and exhaustion coupled with dramatic hypergammaglobulinemia. Although both upregulation of CD95 and loss of CD21 have been used as markers of infection-associated B-cell dysfunction, little is known regarding the specific profiles of dysfunctional B cells and whether persistent viral replication and its associated immune activation play a central role in driving B-cell dysfunction. Methods:Multiparameter flow cytometry was used to define the profile of dysfunctional B cells. The changes in the expression of CD21 and CD95 were tracked on B-cell subpopulations in patients with differential control of viral replication. Results:Although the emergence of exhausted, CD21low tissue-like memory B cells followed similar patterns in both progressors and controllers, the frequency of CD21low activated memory B cells was lower in spontaneous controllers. Conclusion:Our results suggest that the loss of CD21 and the upregulation of CD95 occur as separate events during the development of B-cell dysfunction. The loss of CD21 is a marker of B-cell exhaustion induced in the absence of appreciable viral replication, whereas the upregulation of CD95 is tightly linked to persistent viral replication and its associated immune activation. Thus, these dysfunctional profiles potentially represent two functionally distinct states within the B-cell compartment.
The Use of Educational Radio in Developing Countries: Lessons from the Past

This paper examines various ways in which radio has been employed as an educational medium in developing countries. It briefly reviews and describes the instructional design formats and considerations which should be considered in using educational radio. Abstract Cette communication examine les differentes facons d'utiliser la radio comme moyen d'education dans les pays en voie de developpement. Elle revoit brievement de decrit les formats d'enseignement et les problemes qui peuvent surgir lorsque la radio est utilisee comme moyen d'education.
Development of the swimbladder and its innervation in the zebrafish, Danio rerio

Many teleosts including zebrafish, Danio rerio, actively regulate buoyancy with a gas‐filled swimbladder, the volume of which is controlled by autonomic reflexes acting on vascular, muscular, and secretory effectors. In this study, we investigated the morphological development of the zebrafish swimbladder together with its effectors and innervation. The swimbladder first formed as a single chamber, which inflated at 1–3 days posthatching (dph), 3.5–4 mm body length. Lateral nerves were already present as demonstrated by the antibody zn‐12, and blood vessels had formed in parallel on the cranial aspect to supply blood to anastomotic capillary loops as demonstrated by Tie‐2 antibody staining. Neuropeptide Y‐(NPY‐) like immunoreactive (LIR) fibers appeared early in the single‐chambered stage, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)‐LIR fibers and cell bodies developed by 10 dph (5 mm). By 18 dph (6 mm), the anterior chamber formed by evagination from the cranial end of the original chamber; both chambers then enlarged with the ductus communicans forming a constriction between them. The parallel blood vessels developed into an arteriovenous rete on the cranial aspect of the posterior chamber and this region was innervated by zn‐12‐reactive fibers. Tyrosine hydroxylase‐ (TH‐), NPY‐, and VIP‐LIR fibers also innervated this area and the lateral posterior chamber. Innervation of the early anterior chamber was also demonstrated by VIP‐LIR fibers. By 25–30 dph (8–9 mm), a band of smooth muscle formed in the lateral wall of the posterior chamber. Although gas in the swimbladder increased buoyancy of young larvae just after first inflation, our results suggest that active control of the swimbladder may not occur until after the formation of the two chambers and subsequent development and maturation of vasculature, musculature and innervation of these structures at about 28–30 dph. J. Morphol. , 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Incidence of Urinary Tract Infections and Its Aetiological Agents among Pregnant Women in Karnataka Region

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common medical complications of pregnancy together with anaemia and hypertension and it occurs approximately in 5% - 10% of all pregnancies. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of UTI and prevalence of uropathogens among pregnant women. During the study period from December 2009 to August 2010, 417 urine samples were analyzed. UTI was diagnosed by growth of at least 10 5 CFU/ml of a urinary tract pathogen in a culture of a midstream urine sample. The isolated bacteria were identified by biochemical tests. The results showed that 49.4% of pregnant women have UTI. E. coli which was the most frequently isolated organism (56.79%), followed by Klebsiella sps (19.9%), Pseudomonas sps (6.3%), and Proteus sps (5.8%). Other pathogens isolated were Enterobacter (3.8%), Citrobacter (1.4%) and Enterococcus sps (0.9%). Of the variables examined, the highest prevalence rate was observed where, 53.3% of the infected women were in the age group 36 to 40 years, 54.15% were in their 3 rd trimester; also the highest infection rate (70.2%) was observed in 7 th month of pregnancy, concluding that old age pregnancy increased parity prone for UTI apart from individual hygiene and economical status.
Fits in strategic human resource management and methodological challenge: empirical evidence of influence of empowerment and compensation practices on human resource performance in Canadian firms

This study attempts to answer three questions: 1) How does the methodological approach used to measure fit among practices influence the results obtained? 2) To what extent do bundles of empowerment and compensation practices individually influence human resource outcomes? and 3) Does the fit between these bundles of practices increase the prediction of the level of discretionary effort, turnover and productivity? Following a two-wave survey strategy, statistical analyses performed on 128 Canadian companies suggest that the statistical methods used to measure fit are not interchangeable. The findings reveal that the use of an extensive relational empowerment strategy is significantly and negatively related to voluntary turnover when accompanied by a compensation program that rewards performance. In contrast, a compensation strategy that supports good working conditions or the use of financial incentives seems sufficient to influence human resources performance. Nonetheless, the results militate in favour of adopting a configurational approach with empirical deviation profile to fit to better understand the complexity of the equifinality effect of HR strategies. Lastly, the polynomial regression results question the linearity assumption of the relationship between empowerment, working conditions and productivity.
Efficiency Spillovers of Foreign Direct Investment in the Chinese Banking System

Abstract This research suggests that the efficiency spillovers of foreign banks in China have played an integral role in transforming the fragile banking system into a relatively robust one. Stochastic frontier analysis is employed to analyze the efficiency of the Chinese banks during 2001–2007 with the data of 126 banks. The study suggests that the presence of foreign banks has helped improve the overall profitability of the Chinese banks and has also effectively constrained the scale of loans. The findings manifest the importance of efficiency spillovers which can be brought to an economy in transition by cautious financial liberalization.
Fighting the Scourge: Violence and Curriculum Delivery in Urban South African Schools

This paper discusses the findings of a study conducted in Gauteng, South Africa in 2009. The main aim of the study was to examine principals’ and educators’ experiences of violence in schools and how they are dealing with it. This included investigating the extent to which the management of curriculum delivery was compromised due to the violence occurring in schools; principals’ application of discipline, with reference to both learners and teachers, given the increasing incidents of school violence; and the changes in the teaching and learning context due to violence in schools. Qualitative research was employed and individual and focus group interviews were used to collect data from the school management teams, educators and school governing bodies (parent component). One of the findings of the study, which is the focus of this paper, was that violence in schools affects teaching and learning, because it wastes teaching and learning time, causes learners to stay absent from school and creates the need for trauma counselling for the victims, perpetrators of violence and educators. If violence is reduced, the negative impact on curriculum delivery will also be reduced. The recommendation is that instead of using traditional violence reduction measures only, schools should also use Invitational Education theory of practice to reduce violence. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n20p1658
Outside Review in a Wider Context: An Alternative to the Classic Board

Family businesses have special and urgent needs for outside review. The most common model suggested for achieving this review is the working board of outside directors. While such boards can be effective, there are reasons why they may be inadequate to the task in family companies. An alternative to the classic board model, a review council, with broader membership and mandate, may solve the outside review problem for the majority of family companies.
Predictors of response to infliximab in patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Identifying predictors of response to infliximab in Crohn's disease may lead to better selection of patients for this therapy. METHODS One hundred patients with either inflammatory or fistulous Crohn's disease and at least 3 months of follow-up after infliximab infusion were evaluated. Clinical response and duration of response were the primary outcome measures. RESULTS For inflammatory disease, 73% of nonsmokers, compared with 22% of smokers, responded to infliximab (P < 0.001). Among patients taking concurrent immunosuppressives, 74% responded to infliximab compared with 39% not taking any immunosuppressives (P = 0.007). Prolonged response (duration >2 months) was achieved in 59% of nonsmokers compared with 6% of smokers (P < 0.001) and in 65% of patients on immunosuppressives compared with 18% not on immunosuppressives (P < 0.001). For fistulous disease, overall response rates were not different between nonsmokers and smokers, but nonsmokers had a longer duration of response (P = 0.046). Concurrent use of immunosuppressive medications had no effect on rate or duration of response. Multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed the harmful effect of smoking and the beneficial effect of immunosuppressive use on response in patients with inflammatory disease. The same analysis for fistulous disease did not show an association between smoking or concurrent immunosuppressive use and response to infliximab. CONCLUSIONS In patients with inflammatory disease, nonsmoking and concurrent immunosuppressive use are associated with higher rates of response and longer duration of response to infliximab. In patients with fistulous Crohn's disease, nonsmoking is associated with longer duration of response to infliximab.
Incentivising disputes: The Role of Public Funding in Private Law Children Cases

This article sets out the findings of a study of 280 publicly‐funded private law children cases and associated interviews. It illustrates how both the cost and duration of such cases have increased substantially over the past few years and suggests that this may partly be as a consequence of increasing complexity. However, the article also illustrates how the legal aid scheme can act to promote delay and cost inflation within family cases. In particular, it illustrates how legal aid practice is susceptible to supplier‐induced demand, how legal aid remuneration rates can encourage inefficient forms of ‘juniorisation’ and how repeat applications to the courts are facilitated by the availability of legal aid. The article also examines the effect of changes which have sought to promote the early resolution of cases. Finally, it suggests that, while reform proposals may go some way towards restructuring incentives to settle cases, the increasing complexity of cases and the centrality of the legal framework in their proposed resolution suggest that the impact of the proposals may be limited.
Post-Layoff Earnings among Semiconductor Workers

This study uses administrative data from California's unemployment insurance program to analyze the post-layoff earnings of displaced and recalled workers in Silicon Valley's semiconductor industry between 1984 and 1987. The authors find losses from inter-sectoral displacement that are consistent with losses found in other studies of job dislocation. The results show, however, that displaced workers who found work within the high-technology sector had earnings similar to those of recalled workers, a finding at odds with theories that emphasize either firm-specific human capital or internal labor markets. These results are instead consistent with the presence of both industry-specific human capital and efficiency wages in the high-technology sector.
Context effects and heterogeneity in voluntary carbon offsetting – a choice experiment in Switzerland

Voluntary carbon offsets allow individuals to neutralise the CO emissions from their consumption. In a choice experiment among more than a thousand Swiss consumers, we analyse how the propensity to offset varies with consumption contexts and offset project attributes. The adopted latent class model accounts for heterogeneity in consumers’ preferences and in their motivations to buy carbon offsets. We find that consumers are not only responsive to project type and quality aspects – such as government certification – but also to the consumption context. Our results suggest that carbon offsets are perceived as differentiated rather than homogeneous goods. Estimating a single willingness to pay measure for offsets, as previous studies have done, may thus be misleading. To complement our analysis, we provide a characterisation of offset customers as well as insights into the relationship between carbon offsetting and other voluntary mitigation behaviour.
Modelling service quality in the construction industry

Service quality is seen as an important factor that affects client satisfaction and behavioural intention, which are considered as important contributors of business success. This research investigated the relationships between the three constructs in the context of small and medium construction projects in Thailand. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the theoretical model and to establish relationships among the research variables. The results show that there are four dimensions of service quality: reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and tangibility, in which the first three dimensions are more important than the last in influencing service quality. Furthermore, client satisfaction is a mediator of the causal relationship between service quality and behavioural intention. Contractors should focus on maintaining and identifying factors that affect client satisfaction, particularly after projects are completed, to encourage client behavioural intentions.
Taming the City? Ideas, Structural Power and the Evolution of British Banking Policy Amidst the Great Financial Meltdown

We are increasingly learning more about the contingencies and independent variables that shape the structural power of business and financial interests. This paper contributes to this research by analysing factors that led to weakening in the structural power of financial interests in the City of London in the aftermath of the 2007/2008 crisis. We focus on under-researched mediators of structural power dynamics, especially the context of action and the agency and ideas of state leaders. Prior to the crisis, closed regulatory policy and a prevailing discourse premised upon the notion of market efficiency, helped to reinforce the structural power of the UK banking and financial sector. After the crisis heightened politicisation, more assertive state leadership, and especially ideational revision, has increasingly challenged the power of the City. We illustrate this through an examination of the Independent Commission on Banking's proposals in relation to the ‘ring fencing’ of investment and retail banks.
Environmental and Organizational Features and Their Impact on Structural and Functional Characteristics of Boards in Nonprofit Organizations

ABSTRACT Boards of directors govern not-for-profit organizations and they are responsible for the overall performance and the ultimate achievements of the organization. In this study two questions are examined: First, the impact of the organization's external task environment on the characteristics of board's structure and functioning in nonprofit organizations; and second, the relationships between organizational features and board's structure and functioning. The study included a stratified sample of 161 non-profit organizations in Israel. Data collection included face-to-face interviews with 121 executive directors and 40 board chairpersons. The results show that only collaboration with other organizations in the task environment was significantly positively correlated with several functional characteristics of the boards. Organizational characteristics such as age, membership size, and number of paid workers were significantly positively correlated with a number of board structural and functional characteristics of boards. In addition, significant intercorrelations between structural and functional characteristics of boards were found. The results are discussed and further avenues of research are proposed.
The Effect of Renal Failure on 18F-FDG Uptake: A Theoretic Assessment

This work addresses the issue of using 18F-FDG PET in patients with renal failure. Methods: A model analysis has been developed to compare tissue 18F-FDG uptake in a patient who has normal renal function with uptake in a theoretic limiting case that assumes tracer plasma decay is tracer physical decay and is trapped irreversibly. Results: This comparison has allowed us to propose, in the limiting case, that the usually injected activity be lowered by a factor of 3. We also proposed that the PET static acquisition be obtained at about 160 min after tracer injection. These 2 proposals were aimed at obtaining a similar patient radiation dose and similar tissue 18F-FDG uptake. Conclusion: In patients with arbitrary renal failure (i.e., between the 2 extremes of normal function and the theoretic limiting case), we propose that the injected activity be lowered (without exceeding a factor of 3) and that the acquisition be started between 45 and 160 min after tracer injection, depending on the severity of renal failure. Furthermore, the model also shows that the more severe the renal failure is, the more overestimated is the standardized uptake value, unless the renal failure indirectly impairs tissue sensitivity to insulin and hence glucose metabolism.
Oral status and Candida colonization in patients with Sjögren's Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To determine the oral status, salivary flow rate, Candida carriage in saliva, and prevalence of Candida albicans colonization in several areas of the mouth in patients with primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome as opposed to those of healthy subjects. STUDY DESIGN Thirty-seven patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), [14 patients with primary SS (SS-1) and 23 patients with secondary SS (SS-2)], along with 37 healthy controls were examined in regard to number of teeth, pro-bing pocket depth (PPD), approximal plaque index (API), bleeding on probing (BOP), presence of prosthetic appliances and smoking habits. Salivary flow rate (SFR), Candida carriage in saliva, presence of Candida albicans colonization on buccal, angular, palatal and sulcular areas, on dentures and on the tongue's dorsal surface were determined. Statistical analyses were performed using the 2-tailed Fisher exact and Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS No statistically significant difference was found between SS-1 and SS-2 groups based on the parameters analysed. Statistically significant differences were observed between patients with SS and healthy subjects in terms of SFR, oral signs and symptoms, API, BOP, C. albicans colonization on tongue and buccal area, and Candida carriage in saliva. In the gingival crevicular fluid positive C. albicans colonization was found in only one subject of SS subgroup. CONCLUSIONS SS patients carry a higher risk of having periodontitis and are more predisposed to develop candidiasis. C. albicans is scarcely detected in gingival crevicular fluid despite high scores on C. albicans colonization in different areas of the oral cavity in SS patients.
The submicroscopic basophile structure of chromosomes in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Summary The cytochemistry and morphology of interphase and condensed mitotic chromosomes are described in ultrathin-sectioned specimens prepared by freezing and drying, postfixation with protein-sensitive bifunctional reagents of low density, basophile staining with an electron-dense dye lake, and enzymatic digestions. In specimens not subjected to enzymes, interphase chromatinic threads were observed as paired bodies with a seemingly granular structure which may represent cross-sectioned fibrils. At the nucleolus-organizer region, the chromatin is extremely dense and consists of occasional, large, true granules. Metaphase chromosomes consist of tightly crowded, strongly basophilic fibers about 160 A wide, with no evidence of fibrillar subunits; the chromosomal mass also comprises an extremely fine, longitudinally oriented substructure of obscure morphologic features. Sister chromatids have been observed in cross-section at one of the earliest stages of a split. The chromatinic nature of stainable basophile structure was in each instance established by its resistance to RNase and digestibility with DNase. The residuum after DNase action on metaphase chromosomes consists mainly of 60–80 A particles. These occur among tubular elements measuring about 250 A in width. Trypsin was capable of digesting neither the chromatin nor the 60–80 A particles but the tubules were not visualized after enzymatic extraction. The trypsin-resistant particles correspond to those observed in DNase-digested chromosomes and probably consist, for the most part, of non-histone protein together with smaller amounts of basophile substance than are present in the chromatin and in ribosomes.