Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Targeting MOG expression to dendritic cells delays onset of experimental autoimmune disease

Haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transfer coupled with gene therapy is a powerful approach to treating fatal diseases such as X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency. This ability to isolate and genetically manipulate HSCs also offers a strategy for inducing immune tolerance through ectopic expression of autoantigens. We have previously shown that retroviral transduction of bone marrow (BM) with vectors encoding the autoantigen, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), can prevent the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, ubiquitous cellular expression of autoantigen driven by retroviral promoters may not be the best approach for clinical translation and a targeted expression approach may be more acceptable. As BM-derived dendritic cells (DCs) play a major role in tolerance induction, we asked whether targeted expression of MOG, a target autoantigen in EAE, to DCs can promote tolerance induction and influence the development of EAE. Self-inactivating retroviral vectors incorporating the mouse CD11c promoter were generated and used to transduce mouse BM cells. Transplantation of gene-modified cells into irradiated recipients resulted in the generation of chimeric mice with transgene expression limited to DCs. Notably, chimeric mice transplanted with MOG-expressing BM cells manifest a significant delay in the development of EAE suggesting that targeted antigen expression to tolerogenic cell types may be a feasible approach to inducing antigen-specific tolerance.
THE SPORT MARKETING MANAGEMENT MODEL

Sport marketing involves marketing fundamentals applied in one industry, the sport business industry. The development of sport marketing fundamentals is therefore based on basic marketing principles. The practice and activities of sport marketing are also based on basic marketing activities, but are modified and adapted to the sport business industry. Therefore, sport marketing is based on its primary and parent discipline - marketing. Sport marketing is one of the most important functions of a sport business. This is because the sport marketing activities will define the business. The growth of the sport industry is phenomenal and shows no signs of slowing. Also, sport marketing is a process. A process is a continuous cycle. Therefore, marketing is a function that never ends. The sport marketing management model is an illustration of the elements and process of sport marketing. It should serve as a guide for managing the company’s marketing functions. The model illustrates the elements of marketing, the succession of elements and functions, the process of managing, and the interdependence of the elements. This paper presents an overview of the model, sport marketing management, each element and the process.
Impact of ethanol on the natural attenuation of MTBE in a normally sulfate-reducing aquifer.

Side-by-side experiments were conducted in an aquifer contaminated with methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) at a former fuel station to evaluate the effect of ethanol release on the fate of pre-existing MTBE contamination. On one side, for approximately 9 months we injected groundwater amended with 1-3 mg/L benzene, toluene, and o-xylene (BToX). On the other side, we injected the same, adding approximately 500 mg/L ethanol. The fates of BToX in both sides ("lanes") were addressed in a prior publication. No MTBE transformation was observed in the "No Ethanol Lane. " In the "With Ethanol Lane", MTBE was transformed to tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) underthe methanogenic and/or acetogenic conditions induced by the in situ biodegradation of the ethanol downgradient of the injection wells. The lag time before onset of this transformation was less than 2 months and the pseudo-first-order reaction rate estimated after 7-8 months was 0.046 d(-1). Our results imply that rapid subsurface transformation of MTBE to TBA may be expected in situations where strongly anaerobic conditions are sustained and fluxes of requisite nutrients and electron donors allow development of an active acetogenic/methanogenic zone beyond the reach of inhibitory effects such as those caused by high concentrations of ethanol.
The 52-Week High, q Theory and the Cross-Section of Stock Returns

The Hou et al. (2015) q-factor model outperforms other factor models in capturing the price-to-high (PTH, the ratio of current price to 52-week high price) anomaly; that is, high-PTH stocks earn high future returns. PTH's relations with future profitability and future investment growth are both significantly positive, and they mirror PTH's relation with future returns in the cross section and by time horizons. Incorporating the information about future investment growth contained in price level variables (e.g., PTH) helps the q factors to capture better those anomalies rooted in future investment growth. Together, these results suggest that the PTH anomaly is consistent with the investment capital asset pricing model.
Prevalence of pterygium and pinguecula: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.

PURPOSE The present study aimed to describe the prevalence of pterygium and pinguecula in an older population and to examine associations with skin, hair and eye colour, skin sun sensitivity, sun-related skin damage and skin cancer METHODS The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3564 people aged 49 years or older Slit-lamp examination recorded pterygium and pinguecula and a questionnaire was used to collect information on physical variables. RESULTS Two hundred and sixty-six subjects (7.3%) had pterygium (or had a history of pterygium surgery) and 2521 (69.5%) had pinguecula present in either eye. Significantly more men (11%) than women (4.5%) had pterygium (odds ratio (OR) 2.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.03-3.42). This sex difference was aso found for pinguecula, present in 73.6 and 66.3% of men and women, respectively (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.3-1.7). A s ight age-related increase in prevalence was found for both pterygium and pinguecula. CONCLUSIONS The study found significant associations between pterygium and increased pigmentation (skin and hair colour), decreased skin sun sensitivity and sun-related skin damage. The age- and sex-specific pterygium prevalence rates in the present study are simi ar to rates found in non-Aboriginals examined in the 1980 Australian Trachoma Programme.
Effect of body size on the energetic physiology of the West Indian top shell Cittarium pica (Linnaeus, 1758)

Cittarium pica is an endangered Caribbean gastropod of ecological and economic importance. In order to provide the basis for the aquaculture development and/or population management of this species, the relationships among its body size and physiological variables associated with the energetic balance were assessed. Individual measurements of rates of egestion (ER), ingestion (IR), absorption (AR), oxygen consumption (OCR), ammonia excretion (UR), mucus production (MR), absorption efficiency (AE) and scope for growth (SFG), were carried out on specimens between 0.01 and 12.07 g of dry weight of the soft parts (DW) under controlled laboratory conditions. Most of the variables showed positive potential relationships with the DW of the animals (ER mg h -1 = 1.51 DW 0.37 , IR mg h -1 = 4.13 DW 0.32 , AR = 2.56 DW 0.30 , OCR mL O 2 h -1 = 0.38 DW 0.74 , UR μg NH 4 -N h -1 = 19.17 DW 0.78 , MR mg h -1 = 1.28 DW 0.14 and SFG = 36.92 DW 0.22 ). AE did not show any relationship with this variable. The large snails had faster input and output of energy compared to the small specimens, also having proportionally greater energetic expenditures, mucus production, and energetic balance.
Objective Evaluation of Skin Pressure Distribution of Graduated Elastic Compression Stockings

Background The beneficial effects of graduated elastic compression stockings (GCSs) have been demonstrated. However, their pressure performances are variable and unstable in practical applications owing to many influencing factors. Comprehensive assessment of skin pressure profiles may help elucidate the mechanisms of action of compression stockings. Objective The objective of this study was to quantify and objectively evaluate the magnitude and distribution of skin pressure applied by different GCSs and to analyze the possible reasons influencing the stocking pressure performances. Methods Six healthy females were required to wear eight kinds of GCSs with different pressure levels while standing upright. The skin pressures of 16 different positions located in four heights and four directions of the lower limb were measured and recorded by FlexiForce interface pressure sensors (Tekscan, Inc., Boston, MA, USA) and a multichannel measuring system. Results The pressure gradients, pressure levels, and testing locations significantly influenced skin pressure (p < .001). All tested GCSs exerted the highest pressure at the ankle region, and the pressure gradually decreased toward the thigh, which follows the gradient design of GCSs. However, many of them failed to produce the perfect pressure gradients from the ankle region to the calf region. Obviously, reversed pressure gradients occurred in the medial side of the leg, where the pressure at the ankle region was lower than that on the prominent part of the calf by 36% on average. GCSs with higher pressure levels applied higher skin pressure on the lower limb. The pressure at the anterior side was far higher than that in the medial and lateral directions. The distribution patterns of skin pressure at transverse sections were similar to the anatomic outlines of cross sections of the leg. The measured average ankle pressure of all tested GCSs did not reach the pressures specified by the manufacturers. Conclusion Skin pressure distributions and magnitudes applied by GCSs were significantly influenced by the locations of testing points in terms of height and direction, which are determined by the specific anatomic structure and body shape of individual human legs and potentially influenced by the pressure sensor and testing methods.
Severe Thrombocytopenia in the NICU

OBJECTIVE: Severe thrombocytopenia (platelets ≤ 50000/μL) in a NICU patient can have significant consequences; however, previous reports have not focused exclusively on NICU patients with counts this low. METHODS: We identified all patients with severe thrombocytopenia who were cared for in the Intermountain Healthcare level III NICUs from 2003–2007. RESULTS: Among 11281 NICU admissions, severe thrombocytopenia was identified in 273 (2.4%). Just over 30% of these presented in the first three days of life. Half presented by day 10, 75% by day 27, and 95% by day 100. The prevalence was inversely related to birth weight. Cutaneous bleeding was more common in patients with platelet counts of <20000/μL; however, no statistically significant correlation was found between platelet counts and pulmonary, gastrointestinal, or intraventricular bleeding. The most common explanations for severe thrombocytopenia were acquired varieties of consumptive thrombocytopenia. Platelet transfusions (median 5, range 0–76) were administered to 86% of the patients. No deaths were ascribed to exsanguinations. The mortality rate did not correlate with the lowest platelet count but was proportionate to the number of platelet transfusions. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of severe thrombocytopenia in the NICU is inversely proportional to birth weight and most cases are acquired consumptive thrombocytopenias. We speculate that very low platelet counts are a causal factor in cutaneous bleeding, but pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and intraventricular bleeding are less influenced by the platelet count and occur primarily from causes other than severe thrombocytopenia. The lowest platelet count does not predict the mortality rate but the number of platelet transfusions received does.
Keynes's Philosophical Development

In this compelling book, John B. Davis examines the change and development in Keynes's philosophical thinking, from his earliest work through to The General Theory, arguing that Keynes came to believe himself mistaken about a number of his early philosophical concepts. The author begins by looking at the unpublished 'Apostles' papers, written under the influence of the philosopher G. E. Moore. These display the tensions in Keynes's early philosophical views, and outline his philosophical concepts of the time, including the concept of intuition. Davis then shows how Keynes's later philosophy is implicit in the economic argument of The General Theory. He argues that Keynes's philosophy had by this time changed radically, and that he had abandoned the concept of intuition for the concept of convention. The author sees this as being the central idea in The General Theory, and looks at the philosophical nature of this concept of convention in detail.
Incorporating structured text retrieval into the extended Boolean model

Conventional information retrieval models are inappropriate for use in databases containing semi-structured biographical data. A hybrid algorithm that effectively addresses many of the problems in searching biographical databases is presented in this article. An overview of applicable structured text retrieval algorithms is given, with focus specifically on the tree matching model. Small adaptations to the Extended Boolean Model, to make it more applicable to biographical databases, are described. The adaptation of tree matching models to the hierarchical nature of data in a person record is described and a distance function between query and record is defined. A hybrid model between the Extended Boolean Model and the adapted Tree Matching Model is then presented. A fast ranking algorithm appropriate for general searches and a more effective (but more resource intensive) algorithm for more advanced searches is given. It is shown how dates can be incorporated in the hybrid model to create a more powerful search algorithm. The hybrid algorithm can be used to rank records in descending order of relevance to a user's query.
Transmission of tuberculosis in New York City. An analysis by DNA fingerprinting and conventional epidemiologic methods.

BACKGROUND The incidence of tuberculosis and drug resistance is increasing in the United States, but it is not clear how much of the increase is due to reactivation of latent infection and how much to recent transmission. METHODS We performed DNA fingerprinting using restriction-fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of at least one isolate from every patient with confirmed tuberculosis at a major hospital in the Bronx, New York, from December 1, 1989, through December 31, 1992. Medical records and census-tract data were reviewed for relevant clinical, social, and demographic data. RESULTS Of 130 patients with tuberculosis, 104 adults (80 percent) had complete medical records and isolates whose DNA fingerprints could be evaluated. Isolates from 65 patients (62.5 percent) had unique RFLP patterns, whereas isolates from 39 patients (37.5 percent) had RFLP patterns that were identical to those of an isolate from at least 1 other study patient; the isolates in the latter group were classified into 12 clusters. Patients whose isolates were included in one of the clusters were inferred to have recently transmitted disease. Independent risk factors for having a clustered isolate included seropositivity for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (odds ratio for Hispanic patients, 4.31; P = 0.02; for non-Hispanic patients, 3.12; P = 0.07), Hispanic ethnicity combined with HIV seronegativity (odds ratio, 5.13; P = 0.05), infection with drug-resistant tuberculosis (odds ratio, 4.52; P = 0.005), and younger age (odds ratio, 1.59; P = 0.02). Residence in sections of the Bronx with a median household income below $20,000 was also associated with having a clustered isolate (odds ratio, 3.22; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS In the inner-city community we studied, recently transmitted tuberculosis accounts for approximately 40 percent of the incident cases and almost two thirds of drug-resistant cases. Recent transmission of tuberculosis, and not only reactivation of latent disease, contributes substantially to the increase in tuberculosis.
Investigation of the role of the mucosa-associated microflora in feline alimentary lymphoma

Persistent bacterial infections are causally linked to gastrointestinal cancer in people, and the concept that mucosa-associated bacteria can promote carcinogenesis is well established. Perturbation of the intestinal microbiome has been documented in cats with IBD and it seems plausible it could serve as a trigger for intestinal lymphomagenesis. It is against this background that we sought to assess the presence and localization of mucosal bacteria in biopsies from cats with histologically minimally changed small intestine (MC), lympho- plasmacytic enteritis (LPE), small (SCL), and large cell (LCL) alimentary lymphoma. Cases were identified in the histopathology database at Cornell. The spatial distribution (luminal debris, mucus, adherent to epithelium and serosa, invasion, intravascular presence) and numbers of bacteria were determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with the eubacterial probe EUB-338. Invasive bacteria were most frequently associated with LCL (82%). Invasion was not restricted to superficial areas of eroded or ulcerated mucosa, with translocated bacteria visualized in vessels and/or the serosa of 30% LCL. These results reveal that alimentary lymphoma is associated with alterations in the number and spatial distribution of mucosa-associated bacteria. They support the need for further study to speciate lymphoma associated bacteria, and careful evaluation of cats with alimentary lymphoma for evidence of septicemia. Ein kausaler Zusammenhang zwischen persistierenden bakteriellen Infektionen und gastrointestinalen Neoplasien beim Menschen, sowie das Konzept, dass mukosa-assoziierte Bakterien die Karzinogenese fordern konnen, sind weit bekannt. Veranderungen in der intestinalen Mikroflora wurden bei Katzen mit IBD dokumentiert und es scheint moglich, dass diese an der Entstehung des alimentaren Lymphoms beteiligt sind. Vor diesem Hintergrund haben wir das Vorhandensein und die Verteilung von Bakterien in minimal veranderten Dunndarmbiopsien (MC), lymphoplasmazytarer Enteritis (LPE), sowie klein- (SCL) und grosszelligem (LCL) alimentarem Lymphom untersucht. Falle wurden in der Histologie Datenbank der Cornell University eruiert. Die raumliche Verteilung (luminaler Debris, Mukus, Adharenz am Epithel oder der Serosa, Invasion, intravaskular) sowie die Anzahl der Bakterien wurde mittels Fluoreszenz in situ Hybridisierung (FISH) und der eubakteriellen Sonde EUB-338 evaluiert. Invasive Bakterien waren am haufigsten mit LCL assoziiert (82%) und nicht beschrankt auf oberflachliche oder ulzerierte Bereiche. Intravaskular und/ oder serosal translozierte Bakterien wurden in 30% der LCL gesehen. Diese Resultate zeigen, dass das alimentare Lymphom einhergeht mit Veranderungen der intestinalen Mikroflora und dass weitere Studien notig sind, um die beteiligten Bakterien besser zu charakterisieren. Patienten mit alimentarem Lymphom sollten ausserdem streng auf die Anzeichen einer Septikamie uberwacht werden.
The Vi Conjugate Typhoid Vaccine Is Safe, Elicits Protective Levels of IgG Anti-Vi, and Is Compatible with Routine Infant Vaccines

ABSTRACT Typhoid fever remains a serious problem in developing countries. Current vaccines are licensed for individuals who are 5 years old or older. A conjugate of the capsular polysaccharide (CP) of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (Vi) bound to recombinant exoprotein A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Vi-rEPA) enhanced Vi immunogenicity and protected 2- to 5-year-olds in Vietnam. In this study, Vi-rEPA was evaluated for use in infants. A total of 301 full-term Vietnamese infants received Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccines alone or with Vi-rEPA or Haemophilus influenzae type b-tetanus toxoid conjugate (Hib-TT) at 2, 4, and 6 months and Vi-rEPA or Hib-TT alone at 12 months. Infants were visited 6, 24, and 48 h after each injection to monitor adverse reactions. Maternal, cord, and infant sera were assayed for IgG anti-Vi and for IgG antibodies to Hib CP and the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis toxins at 7, 12, and 13 months. No vaccine-related serious adverse reactions occurred. In the Vi-rEPA group, the IgG anti-Vi geometric mean (GM) increased from the cord level of 0.66 to 17.4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units (EU) at 7 months, declined to 4.76 EU at 12 months, and increased to 50.1 EU 1 month after the 4th dose (95% of infants had levels of ≥3.5 EU, the estimated protective level). Controls had no increase of the IgG anti-Vi GM. Infants with cord anti-Vi levels of <3.5 EU responded with significantly higher IgG anti-Vi levels than those with levels of ≥3.5 EU. Anti-diphtheria, -tetanus, and -pertussis toxin levels were similar in all groups. Vi-rEPA was safe, induced protective anti-Vi levels, and was compatible with EPI vaccines, and it can be used in infants. High cord IgG anti-Vi levels partially suppressed infant responses to Vi-rEPA.
Differential Inhibition by Riluzole, Lamotrigine, and Phenytoin of Sodium and Calcium Currents in Cortical Neurons: Implications for Neuroprotective Strategies

Among the several classes of drugs currently studied as neuroprotective agents, glutamate release blockers have been indicated as being rather effective. In particular, lamotrigine and riluzole have shown promise in the treatment of either acutely developing cellular damages (stroke, posttraumatic lesions) or slowly progressing neurodegenerative diseases as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These drugs are supposed to interfere with the release of endogenous glutamate in situ, yet the mechanisms underlying this effect are not fully defined. One possibility is that lamotrigine and riluzole act by inhibiting voltage-dependent inward conductances active in the soma and/or in the axon terminal region. Therefore, we have investigated the effects of lamotrigine and riluzole on the voltage-gated sodium and calcium currents of acutely isolated neurons from the adult rat neocortex. In addition, since phenytoin is a well-known blocker of the sodium channel, we have compared lamotrigine and riluzole responses with the peak current inhibition produced by phenytoin in the same cells. Lamotrigine produced a large reduction of the high-voltage-activated calcium currents and a smaller; use-dependent inhibition of the sodium conductance. Riluzole inhibited significantly the sodium current at surprisingly low concentrations (nanomolar range) and by up to 80% at saturating doses (1-10 microM). Furthermore, riluzole inhibited both high- and low-voltage-activated calcium currents in neocortical neurons isolated from adult and young animals. By contrast, phenytoin caused only a slight reduction of high-voltage-activated calcium currents even at supratherapeutic doses (by < 12% at 10 microM). Taken together, the different pharmacological profiles of the tested agents might indicate that glutamate release blockers do not represent a homogenous class of drugs. Conversely, our findings could support their selective utilization in different disease status.
Productivity and the extensive margins of trade in German manufacturing firms: Evidence from a non-parametric test

This paper contributes to the literature by comparing the productivity distribution for firms with various numbers of goods traded and various numbers of countries traded with from Germany, one of the leading actors on the world market for goods. It applies a non-parametric test for first-order stochastic dominance of one productivity distribution over another. We find that the larger the number of goods exported or imported, and the larger the number of countries exported to or imported from, the higher is the productivity of the firms – not only on average, but over the whole productivity distribution. This is in line with implications of recent theoretical models of multi-product multi-country trading firms.