Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytokine production in varicella zoster virus‐stimulated limiting dilution lymphocyte cultures

Human blood lymphocytes were stimulated with varicella zoster virus (VZV) antigen in limiting dilution cultures and the amounts of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) and IL‐4 measured in the supernatants. The results indicate that up to 85% of proliferating cells of young adults produce IFN‐γ and up to 10% make IL‐4. At limiting dilution, few if any wells were positive for both IFN‐γ and IL‐4. The amount of IFN‐γ per well increased in the presence of antibody to IL‐4, but anti‐IFN‐γ did not increase IL‐4 production. The frequency of wells containing IFN‐γ was lower in subjects < 19 or > 55 years of age, and the amounts of IFN‐γ in positive wells was significantly lower in cultures of the older subjects' lymphocytes. The frequency of IL‐4‐making cells did not fall significantly with age. The data suggest that the age‐related decline in the frequency of blood T cells which responds to VZV affects mainly the cells with a Th1‐like cytokine phenotype.
Semi-supervised Orthogonal Graph Embedding with Recursive Projections

Many graph based semi-supervised dimensionality reduction algorithms utilize the projection matrix to linearly map the data matrix from the original feature space to a lower dimensional representation. But the dimensionality after reduction is inevitably restricted to the number of classes, and the learned non-orthogonal projection matrix usually fails to preserve distances well and balance the weight on different projection direction. This paper proposes a novel dimensionality reduction method, called the semi-supervised orthogonal graph embedding with recursive projections (SOGE). We integrate the manifold smoothness and label fitness as well as the penalization of the linear mapping mismatch, and learn the orthogonal projection on the Stiefel manifold that empirically demonstrates better performance. Moreover, we recursively update the projection matrix in its orthocomplemented space to continuously learn more projection vectors, so as to better control the dimension of reduction. Comprehensive experiment on several benchmarks demonstrates the significant improvement over the existing methods.
Neurocognitive Approach to Research on the Effects of Workload

The concept of workload describes the relationship between a human operator and the momentary task demands. Conventionally workload is defined as a subjective state of the operator that can be reported with use of psychometric scales. The effects of workload on performance and reaction times yield important “objective” sources of information. Signal detection theory provides us with a useful framework within which we can interpret the effects of workload on discriminability (d’) and measures of response bias (β, corresponding to the likelihood ratios of the noise and noise plus signal functions at the criterion). Modern brain imaging techniques can be employed to determine the effects of workload on task-related neural responses in specific regions of the human brain. We describe a neurocognitive approach to research on the effects of workload in simulated (laboratory) and real (field) experiments. The findings suggest that functional brain imaging can provide important new insights into the way operators perform in challenging tasks.
Effect of a Dietary Herbal Mixture Supplement on the Growth Performance, Egg Production and Health Status in Chickens

The experiment was carried out with dual-purpose fowls developed for rural backyard farming – indigenous Katunitsa chicken (line “AN”), in a free range management system from hatching to 52 weeks of age. The purpose of the investigation was to establish the influence of a blend of herbs as a dietary supplement on some serum biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transferase, triglycerides and creatinine), growth performance, egg production, egg fatty acid composition, and health status. The composition of this blend of herbs included: 0.05% garlic powder (Allium sativum), 0.3% cinnamon powder (Cinnamomum verum) and 0.03% of each of the following dried herbs: yarrow (Achillea millefolium), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), thyme (Thymus serpyllum), basil (Ocimum basilicum) and oregano (Origanum vulgare). The birds were divided into two groups – control (n=60) without supplemental mixture to the diet and experimental (n=700) with supplemental mixture to the diet from the first day of age to the end of the experiment.The results showed that the herbal mixture supplement decreased significantly the blood serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels – at 7 (P 0.05). Over the entire investigation period the chickens from the experimental group had a better feed conversion ratio (with 3.37%) and a higher egg laying capacity (with 1.79%). At the end of experiment (52 weeks of age), hens from the control group exhibited generalised fatty degeneration of liver parenchyma, while these in experimental group, the major part of hepatocytes had no fat droplets in their cytoplasm.The death rate from 0 to 7, from 8 to 21 and from 22 to 52 weeks of age was 18.33%, 0% and 8.57% in the control group and 1.00%, 0.26% and 2.62% in the experimental group, respectively.Therefore in conclusion, it can be affirmed that the use of this blend of herbs had a beneficial effect in the treated fowls and improved their egg productivity, vitality and health condition.
A comparison of traditional and Simple Artificial Immune System (SAIS) techniques in consumer credit scoring

Credit scoring has become a very important task in the credit industry and its use has increased at a phenomenal speed through the mass issue of credit cards since the 1960s. This paper compares the classification performance of the most commonly used traditional statistical as well as intelligent systems techniques against a new artificial intelligence method based on the natural immune system principles, named Simple Artificial Immune System (SAIS). Experiments are performed on three benchmark credit datasets and SAIS was found to be a very competitive technique for developing scorecards.
Environmental Regulation and Industrial Performance: Evidence from China

Sizable evidence in developed countries substantiates considerable costs of environmental regulation on industry profits and productivity levels. We present new evidence that stringent environmental protection policies are likely to provide positive forces leading to improved productivity in developing countries, because regulations i) stimulate within-industry selection dynamics through the entry of more efficient and exit of less efficient firms, and ii) create incentives for innovations and/or adoptions of cleaner technologies and enhance productivities. Our findings shed light on productivity growth in regulated industries by the Two Control Zone policy in China. Our evidence supports both selection mechanism and induced technology at work. The findings are robust to inclusions of cityand industry-specific trends and key ex ante determinants of firm growth. Supportive of our argument, especially in comparison with spuriously confounding preexisting trends, are performance similarities during the policy’s enactment between regulated and non-regulated cities accompanied by their slow growth in productivity over the next several years. JEL classifications: L1, Q5, D2
Muscle architecture during the course of development of Diplostomum pseudospathaceum Niewiadomska, 1984 (Trematoda, Diplostomidae) from cercariae to metacercariae

Abstract Recent confocal microscopy studies have greatly expanded our knowledge of muscle systems in cercariae and adult digeneans, but the gross anatomy and development of metacercarial musculature remain relatively little known. To further our understanding of metacercarial development, this study used phalloidin staining and confocal microscopy to examine changes in muscle architecture over the course of development from cercariae to infective metacercariae in Diplostomum pseudospathaceum Niewiadomska, 1984. The paper describes muscle development in the body wall, anterior organ (oral sucker), acetabulum, pharynx and midgut and in the musculo-glandular organs that first appear in metacercariae (lappets and holdfast). The muscle architecture of the cercarial tail is also described. The results of the study support previously reported observations that diplostomid musculature undergoes substantial transformation during metacercarial development. The most profound changes, involving extensive remodelling and replacement of cercarial muscles, were seen in the body-wall musculature and in the anterior organ as it developed into the oral sucker. Muscle systems of other cercarial organs showed more gradual changes. The adaptive importance of developmental changes in musculature is discussed.
A 70000-molecular-weight protein isolated from purified pig gastric mucus glycoprotein by reduction of disulphide bridges and its implication in the polymeric structure.

The glycoprotein of pig gastric mucus has been isolated free of non-covalently bound protein as judged by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and equilibrium density-gradient centrifugation. After reduction with 0.2 M-mercaptoethanol, protein was released from the glycoprotein, which consisted of a major 70000-mol.wt. component and a minor 60000-mol.wt. component. The 70000-mol.wt. protein fraction was separated from the reduced glycoprotein by either density-gradient centrifugation in CsCl or by gel filtration. Analysis of the 70000-mol.wt. protein fraction showed that, within the limits of the analysis, it was non-glycosylated, and its amino acid analysis was quite different from that of the reduced glycoprotein, which is high in serine, threonine and proline. There was a ratio of one 70000-mol.wt. protein per native glycoprotein molecule of 2 X 10(6) mol.wt. Dissociation of the native glycoprotein into glycoprotein subunits (5 X 10(5) mol.wt. ) by reduction or proteolysis results in the release or hydrolysis respectively of the 70000-mol.wt. protein. A similar 70000-mol.wt. protein is demonstrated in human gastric mucus glycoprotein. A structural role for the proteins in these mucus glycoproteins is proposed.
Selective inhibitory synapse loss in chronic cortical slabs: a morphological basis for epileptic susceptibility.

Electron microscopic examination of pyramidal neurones at the edges of chronic slabs of cerebral cortex in the cat revealed a selective loss of inhibitory (symmetric axosomatic) synapses compared with pyramidal neurones in the centers of the slabs. It appears likely that the neurons at the edges, which retain excitatory input (asymmetric axodendritic synapses) in the neuropil, but totally lack the somatic inhibitory input, act as the focus for the prolonged seizure activity which occurs in chronic cortical slabs.
Impact of Online Consumer Reviews on Buying Intention of Consumers in UK: Need for Cognition as the Moderating Role

World wide web has offered a strong competitive platform for online marketing which turned out the online shopping important for consumers in todayâ? s world particularly those consumers which view the online reviews as effectual conduit of having important product information prior to purchasing decisions. However, the current study attempts to find the impact of online consumer reviews on buying intention of consumers in the context of UK with need for cognition as the mediating role on the basis of elaboration likelihood model developed in 2011. This study followed positivist research philosophy by using quantitative data from 120 consumers in UK who shop online. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that the buying intention of online consumer who has high cognitive needs was affected by quality of online review or argument as compare to quantity of online argument or reviews. Furthermore, the buying intentions of online consumers with low cognitive need were affected by quantity of rather than quality of arguments. Therefore, hypothesis of current were supported.
Hard magnetic phase in rapidly quenched Zr-Co-B alloys

In order to identify a hard magnetic phase in rapidly quenched Zr-Co-B alloys and clarify its magnetic properties, Zr-Co-B ribbons, Zr-Co ribbons, and Zr-Co ingots were studied. The hard magnetic phase is interpreted as a Zr/sub 2/Co/sub 11/ intermetallic compound. This compound has a Curie temperature of 500 degrees C and uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with an anisotropy field of 34 kOe. The magnetization of this compound was estimated to be 67 emu/g at 15 kOe. In addition to the hard magnetic phase, the low and high T/sub c/ phases appear in both binary and ternary alloys. The low T/sub c/ phase is FCC Zr/sub 6/Co/sub 23/ with T/sub c/=180 degrees C. The magnetization of Zr/sub 6/Co/sub 23/ was estimated to be 44 emu/g at 15 kOe. The high T/sub c/ phase is cobalt including a small amount of zirconium. In Zr-Co-B alloys, suitable boron addition is shown to enhance the coercive force. On the other hand, the addition increases the magnetization. While the boron addition produces cobalt, it reduces Zr/sub 6/Co/sub 23/ or quenches its ferromagnetism. >
Cardiovascular effects of local anesthesia with vasoconstrictor during dental extraction in coronary patients.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the occurrence of variables detecting myocardial ischemia during or after dental treatment under anesthesia with vasoconstrictor (epinephrine). METHODS A total of 54 coronary patients undergoing dental extraction under local anesthesia with or without vasoconstrictor were included. They were divided into two groups (by drawing envelopes): group I (27 patients) using anesthetics with vasoconstrictor, and group II (27 cases) without vasoconstrictor. 24-hour Holter monitoring, Doppler-echocardiogram before and after dental intervention, and determination of biochemical markers (CK-MB mass, CK-MB activity, and troponin T) before and 24 hours after dental extraction were performed in all patients. Heart rate and blood pressure were also measured in the pre, post-anesthesia and post-dental extraction phases. Doppler echocardiography assessed left ventricular segmental contractility and the occasional occurrence of mitral regurgitation. The usual pharmaceutical treatment prescribed by the cardiologist was maintained in all cases. RESULTS Three patients in group I presented ST-segment depression (1.0 mm) during administration of anesthesia; two other patients in group I had CK-MB mass elevation, and ischemia was not observed in any other case, as assessed by the other methods. No chest pain, arrhythmias, occurrence or worsening of left ventricular segmental hypocontractility or mitral regurgitation were observed in the study. CONCLUSION Dental extraction performed under anesthesia with 1:100,000 epinephrine does not imply additional ischemic risks, as long as performed with good anesthetic technique and maintenance of the pharmacological treatment prescribed by the cardiologist.
Longitudinal Changes in High Molecular Weight Serum Adiponectin Levels in Healthy Infants

To determine the factors associated with high molecular weight adiponectin (HMW-ad) levels during the first year of life, the longitudinal changes in serum HMW-ad were investigated from birth to 12 mo of age. The total adiponectin levels, HMW-ad, and leptin were measured longitudinally from birth to 12 mo of age in 56 healthy infants (≥35 wk of gestation). Serum HMW-ad levels were positively correlated with total adiponectin levels (R2 = 0.93, p < 0.0001). Serum HMW-ad levels at birth, six, and 12 mo were 13.7 ± 0.9 (mean ± SE), 13.3 ± 0.8, and 7.7 ± 0.5 μg/mL, respectively. The levels at 12 mo were significantly lower than those at birth and 6 mo, respectively. In a multiple regression analysis, the HMW-ad levels at 12 mo were found to be related only to cord blood HMW-ad levels (β = 0.680, p < 0.001) and not to any other factors. These results imply that postnatal production of HMW-ad at least during infancy may be regulated before birth. Further study is necessary to determine whether cord blood HMW-ad has an effect and whether it is involved in the development of metabolic syndrome.
A Study on Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli through Commercial Broiler Production Chains in Thailand: Antimicrobial Resistance, the Characterization of DNA Gyrase Subunit A Mutation, and Genetic Diversity by Flagellin A Gene Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism

SUMMARY Contaminated poultry meat is regarded as the main source of human campylobacteriosis. During September 2014 and February 2015, breeder flocks, hatcheries, and broiler farms from two chicken production chains were investigated chronologically. Five commercial breeder flocks (Breeder Flocks 1–5), two hatcheries (Hatcheries A and B), and five broiler flocks (Broiler Flocks 1–5) were sampled in this study. Campylobacter colonization of both breeder and broiler flocks was determined from cloacal swabs and environmental samples (pan feeders, footwear, darkling beetles, flies, feed, and water). The eggs from the breeder flocks were followed to hatcheries. At the hatcheries, early embryonic deaths, egg trays, eggshells, hatchers, and water were investigated. Cloacal swabs were taken from broilers at Days 1, 14, and 28 (all broiler flocks), and either 35 (Broiler Flocks 1 and 2) or 43 (Broiler Flocks 3–5). Thirty-six Campylobacter jejuni and 94 Campylobacter coli isolates collected through two broiler production chains were tested by twofold agar dilution for their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Most Campylobacter isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR), defined as being resistant to three or more antimicrobial classes (C. jejuni: 100%; C. coli: 98.9%), and exhibited high resistance to enrofloxacin (C. jejuni: 100%; C. coli: 98.9%). The vast majority of C. coli were resistant to tetracycline (97.9%), trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (81.9%), and doxycycline (79.8%), but only 55.6%, 36.1%, and 50% of C. jejuni isolates revealed resistance to these antimicrobial agents, respectively. A selected subset of 24 C. jejuni and 24 C. coli were characterized for their mutations in the quinolone resistance determining region of the DNA gyrase subunit A gene by nucleotide sequence analysis. The Thr-86-Ile substitution (ACA-ATA in C. jejuni or ACT-ATT in C. coli) was found in all isolates. Moreover, a total of 130 Campylobacter isolates were typed with the use of polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism of the flagellin A gene (flaA-RFLP) to determine their genetic relationships. Ten distinct clusters were recognized by flaA-RFLP typing. The results showed that horizontal transmission was the major route of Campylobacter transmission in this study. In conclusion, the emergence of MDR and high resistance rates to several antimicrobials are major concerns identified in this study. The prudent use of these agents and active surveillance of resistance at the farm level are essential steps to reduce the public health risks identified in this work.
The effect of age, ethnicity and geographical location on impotence and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of impotence in men over 40 years of age and correlate impotence to age, geographical location, ethnicity and quality of life. SUBJECTS AND METHODS While attending 'The Prostate Cancer Awareness Week' in Madison, WI, USA, New Orleans, LA, USA and New York, NY, USA, 1680 men were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding impotence, age, geographical location, ethnicity and quality of life. RESULTS Impotence was found to be significantly associated with age, was less associated with geographical location but independent of ethnicity. Men living in Madison reported a lower potency score compared with men living in New Orleans and New York. However, potency score for men living in Madison did not appear to decline as rapidly with age when compared with men living in New Orleans and New York. Impotence and quality of life were also found to be associated even when the quality of life estimates were adjusted for age, geographical location, and age by geographical location. CONCLUSION This study indicates that impotent men have a lower quality of life than potent men and has confirmed previous findings that age is associated with impotence. Surprisingly, answers to impotence questions were also associated with geographical location.
Realization of laterally nondispersing ultrabroadband Airy pulses.

We present the measurements of the spatiotemporal impulse response of a system creating nondispersing Airy pulses, i.e., ultrabroadband Airy beams whose main lobe size remains constant over propagation. A custom refractive element with a continuous surface profile was used to impose the cubic phase on the input beam. The impulse response of the Airy pulse generator was spatiotemporally characterized by applying a white-light spatial-spectral interferometry setup based on the SEA TADPOLE technique. The results were compared with the theoretical model and previously spatiotemporally characterized Airy pulses generated by a spatial light modulator.
Mimicry of a neutralizing epitope of the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis by anti-idiotypic antibodies

The major outer membrane protein (MOMP) is a primary target antigen for the development of chlamydial vaccine. This protein is composed of four variable domains (I to IV) flanked by constant regions. Some of the variable domains contain antigenic determinants that elicit a neutralizing antibody response. Murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against three nonoverlapping epitopes of MOMP were developed. One of these, called DP10, bound to all serovars, as shown by immunoblot analysis, and neutralized chlamydial infectivity for hamster kidney (HaK) cells in a complement-independent in vitro assay. Furthermore, analysis of the fine specificity of this MAb showed that it recognized a synthetic peptide contained within variable domain IV of the MOMP. Anti-idiotypic antibodies (aId) directed against this anti-MOMP MAb were produced in rabbits. These aId specifically bound to the relevant idiotype (DP10) and inhibited the binding of anti-MOMP MAb (DP10) to MOMP preparations in a dose-dependent fashion. The specificity of our aId for the binding site of anti-MOMP MAb is further suggested by the binding inhibition of affinity-purified aId to DP10 by the synthetic peptide defined by the idiotype. In addition, these aId also reacted with anti-MOMP antisera from rats and mice, suggesting an idiotypic cross-reactivity between these species. Finally, immunization of naive mice with aId induced an antibody response directed against the peptide defined by our anti-MOMP MAb and with neutralizing activity. Taken together, these data suggest that aId mimic a neutralization site on MOMP and could serve as a surrogate antigen to induce protective immunity against Chlamydia trachomatis.
What's the Best Role for a Robot? - Cybernetic Models of Existing and Proposed Human-Robot Interaction Structures

Robots intended for human-robot interaction are currently designed to fill simple roles, such as task completer or tool. The design emphasis remains on the robot and not the interaction, as designers have failed to recognize the influence of robots on human behavior. Cybernetic models are used to critique existing models and provide revised models of interaction that delineate the paths of social feedback generated by the robot. Proposed robot roles are modeled and evaluated. Features that need to be developed for robots to succeed in these roles are identified and the challenges of developing these features are