Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of adsorption of human T‐cell‐leukemia virus type 1 by a plant lectin, wheat‐germ agglutinin

Thirty‐six lectins that recognize various sugar chains were examined for inhibitory activities against infection with human T‐cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV‐I). Wheat‐germ agglutinin (WGA) was the most inhibitory among them: plating of the pseudotype of vesicular‐stomatitis virus (VSV) bearing envelope antigens of HTLV‐I was markedly inhibited by treatment of indicator cells with WGA just before adsorption, but not by treatment after virus adsorption. Treatment with WGA before adsorption, however, could not inhibit the plating of VSV, VSV pseudotypes of bovine leukemia virus, Moloney murine leukemia virus and human immunodeficiency virus type I. Syncytium formation induced by HTLV‐I was also inhibited by WGA upon co‐cultivation of U‐251 MG human glioma cells or MOLT‐4 human T‐cells with HTLV‐l‐producing C9I /PL cells. Formation of proviral DNA detected one day after infection was also inhibited when indicator cells had been treated with WGA before adsorption of HTLV‐I, but not after its adsorption. These findings indicated that WGA specifically inhibits plating of HTLV‐I when added to culture just before adsorption and suggested that a substance(s) containing sugar chains recognized by WGA might be involved in an adsorption step of HTLV‐I.
Roots of Stock Market Volatility and Crises

This paper aims to explore causes and interpretations of stock market crises and high price volatility existing in practices, as well as in state of arts, in order to articulate and classify such interpretations, in various models. The study found that the causes and comprehensive of stock market crises reside in various models including: interpretations overreaction model, adverse impact of related laws, increasing linkages model, transmission of volatility model, adverse impact of derivatives' model, adverse impact of related markets' model, impact of volume volatility model, and econophysics' model of stock market crises. Accordingly, the paper suggests possible remedies to curb the possible causes of stock market instability, based on the presented interpretations of stock market crises.
The link between child abuse and psychopathology: A review of neurobiological and genetic research

Childhood abuse is associated with later psychopathology, including conduct disorder, antisocial personality disorder, anxiety and depression as well as a heightened risk of health and social problems. However, the neurobiological mechanisms by which childhood adversity increases vulnerability to psychopathology remain poorly understood. There is likely to be a complex interaction between environmental experiences (such as abuse) and individual differences in risk versus protective genes, which influences the neurobiological circuitry underpinning psychological and emotional development. Neuroendocrine studies indicate an association between early adversity and atypical development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stress response, which may predispose to psychiatric vulnerability in adulthood. Brain imaging research in children and adults is providing evidence of several structural and functional brain differences associated with early adversity. Structural differences have been reported in the corpus callosum, cerebellum and prefrontal cortex. Functional differences have been reported in regions implicated in emotional and behavioural regulation, including the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex. These differences at the neurobiological level may represent adaptations to early experiences of heightened stress that lead to an increased risk of psychopathology. We also consider the clinical implications of future neurobiological and genetic research.
Fruit and snack consumption related to sweet, sour and salty taste preferences

Purpose – To better understand fruit consumption and its determinants this paper aims to explore the relationship between the consumption of different types of fruit and other snacks and consumer taste preferences for sweet, salty and sour is explored.Design/methodology/approach – Respondents (n=2,083) from Poland, Greece, Spain and The Netherlands filled out an online questionnaire in which the consumption of fresh fruit, sweet snacks, salty snacks, orange juice and dried fruit was measured as well as consumer self‐reported taste preferences and personal orientations towards health, convenience, price and routine behaviours.Findings – A total of 29 percent of the total sample preferred salty tastes, whereas 21 percent preferred sweet tastes; 1 percent preferred sour tastes, and 39 percent indicated no preference. In contrast with the expectation that people who preferred sweet tastes consume more fruits and fruit products, the results imply that consumers with a sour taste preference consume more fruits .
The nature and determinants of customer expectations of service

A conceptual model articulating the nature and determinants of customer expectations of service is proposed and discussed. The model specifies three different types of service expectations: desired service, adequate service, and predicted service. Seventeen propositions about service expectations and their antecedents are provided. Discussion centers on the research implications of the model and its propositions.
A Study on the Clothing Involvement, Fashion Innovativeness, Impulsive Buying, and Brand Loyalty of Male University Students

This study tests the relation of various fashion-related features of young male consumers. Clothing involvement, fashion involvement, fashion innovativeness, impulsive buying, and brand loyalty have been considered as focal variables in understanding consumer attitudes & behaviors toward fashion. This study proposed hypotheses on the relationships among these variables and tests them with survey data from a convenient sample of male university students. A total 195 complete responses were obtained from young men between 18 and 27 years of age. The results are as follows. First, fashion involvement and clothing involvement significantly (+) affected fashion innovativeness, and fashion innovativeness also significantly (+) affected impulsive buying and brand loyalty. Second, impulsive buying insignificantly affected brand loyalty. Third, the groups of young men divided by the demographical variables partially showed meaningful differences in fashion-related variables of interest. This study investigates the relationships among various fashion variables that have been used as critical explaining variables for fashion attitudes and behaviors, especially for young male consumers.
Deposition of CNH materials : plasma and film characterization

• A submitted manuscript is the version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers.
Antecedents and Consequences of Marketing Strategy Making: A Model and a Test

There is a strong rekindling of academic and practitioner interest in the marketing strategy making (MSM) process and its effect on firm performance. However, there is a dearth of research on process issues in marketing strategy. This study attempts to fill this important gap in the marketing strategy literature by using a discovery-oriented approach to develop a (1) multifaceted conceptualization of MSM, (2) model of the antecedents and consequences of MSM, and (3) test of this model using data on more than 200 marketing mix-related decisions. After ruling out common method bias, the authors find that innovative culture is the fundamental antecedent of effective MSM. They also find that the components of MSM (situation analysis, comprehensiveness, emphasis on marketing assets and capabilities, cross-functional integration, communication quality, consensus commitment, and resource commitment) have differential effects on the outcomes measured, strategy creativity, organizational learning, and market performance. The authors find that strategy creativity affects market performance and organizational learning directly and as a mediator variable.
Modelling operational risk in the insurance industry

One of the major new features of Solvency II is that insurance companies must now devote a portion of their equity to covering their exposure to operational risks. The regulator has proposed two approaches to calculating this capital requirement: a standard and a more advanced approach. The standard approach is a simplified calculation of a percentage of premiums or reserves. The advanced approach uses an internal model of risk that corresponds to the company’s real situation. The EIOPA has encouraged insurance companies to adopt the internal model by structuring the standard approach such that it uses up much more equity, as we noted in Quantitative Impact Study 5 (QIS5). This paper proposes an approach that distinguishes frequency risks from severity risks. Frequency risks are defined as the risk of suffering small losses frequently. They are modelled by the Loss Distribution Approach. Severity risks represent the risk of large but rare losses. They are modelled by Bayesian networks. Note: because we have modelled frequency and severity risks separately, the frequency risk model is much less sensitive to technical choices (adjusted distributions, aggregation).
Business Networks and Economic Development in Rural Communities in the U.S.

Many rural communities in the United States are economically depressed. However, while poor rural communities are geographically isolated and small, they are likely to be rich in social capital. We first argue that the nature of the social capital in such communities can either facilitate or constrain the development of business networks among entrepreneurs. We then explain the community-level conditions that might increase the probability of business network effectiveness. The primary opportunities that such networks can exploit and their potential spillover effects on economic development are also identified. Finally, we provide directions for research that can contribute to better public policy decisions.
Parametrization and Geometric Analysis of Coordination Controllers for Multi-Agent Systems

In this paper, we address distributed control structures for multi-agent systems with linear controlled agent dynamics. We consider the parametrization and related geometric structures of the coordination controllers for multi-agent systems with fixed topologies. Necessary and sufficient conditions to characterize stabilizing consensus controllers are obtained. Then we consider the consensus for the multi-agent systems with switching interaction topologies based on control parametrization.
Agency Problems and Operating Performance in an Emerging Market: Evidence from Indian IPOs

The study examines the following two interrelated research issues: (i) how the operating performance of Indian firms changes around the time firms do their Initial Public Offerings (IPOs)? and (ii) how the post-IPO performance of Indian firms is related to the changes in insiders’ ownership around their IPOs? It is found that performance of Indian firms deteriorates significantly post IPO. The panel data analysis of 306 Indian firms examined the relationship between ownership and performance. The results illustrated a curvilinear relationship between ownership and performance. Whereas the negative relationship was found for low and very high ownership level and positive relationship was found for intermediate level. This is an attention-grabbing outcome as it contrasts with earlier studies on curvilinear relationship between ownership and performance, where the negative relationship was found for intermediate level and positive relationship was found for both very low and very high ownership level.
An Annular Waveguide Slot Antenna

In this letter, an introduction to a novel annular slot cut on the broad wall of an annular waveguide is presented. An equivalent circuit model is suggested for the structure based on its similarity to the rectangular slotted-waveguide case. Full-wave analysis is performed using two numerical commercial software packages and the circuit model expectation is verified. A single slot annular waveguide slot antenna (AWSA) is designed and fabricated based on the derived model and impedance and radiation pattern measurement results are provided and compared with those of simulation and theory. A discussion on possible circular array combination of the AWSA is presented finally.
Comparison of Asian and European logistics systems

This research compares the logistics systems of Asia and Europe and categorises them into distinct levels of logistics excellence. First, the context in Asia and in Europe is summarized. Then, attributes of a world‐class logistics system are proposed. By applying cluster analysis to data from authoritative sources, we objectively segregate European and Asian logistics systems into three logistics tiers. There are several surprises, the main one being that the UK is classified Tier 2 (not as favourable as Tier 1). A prioritized set of attributes that the UK could improve on to qualify for the Tier 1 group is suggested. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to determine changes to the classifications. After finding that the top‐ranking logistics systems of Europe and Asia are from Denmark and Singapore, respectively, those two countries are studied in detail to draw logistics lessons applicable elsewhere.
Comparative study of transvaginal hysterosonography and biopsy for the evaluation of post-menopausal bleeding.

BACKGROUND The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate transvaginal hysterosonography (TVHS) in post-menopausal bleeding (PMB) as an alternative to endometrial biopsy. The study was conducted at the Zarka Military Hospital, Amman, Jordan, over a one-year period from 1996 to 1997. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study comprised 98 women presenting with post-menopausal bleeding who had been listed for diagnostic dilatation and curettage. Transvaginal sonography (TVS) and transvaginal hysterosonography were performed one week before operation. The mean age of the women was 57 years, and all of them had had their menopause for at least six months. RESULTS Sixty-one women (62%) demonstrated endometrial thickness of more than 5 mm by transvaginal sonography. All the women had transvaginal hysterosonography, except seven on whom hysterosonography could not be performed for technical reasons and who had to be excluded from the study, leaving a total of 54 women. TVS confirmed the presence of endoluminal mass in 30 of 54 women (60%). Twenty-two of the 30 endoluminal mass cases were pedunculated while eight were sessile. Sixteen of the pedunculated cases were endometrial polyps while the remaining six were fibroid polyps. Five of the sessile cases were fibroid, two were endometrial hyperplasia, and the last one endometrial carcinoma. The other 44 out of the 98 patients also underwent transvaginal hysterosonography. No pathology could be detected in these patients, but they were noted to have atrophic endometrium after dilatation and curettage. CONCLUSION The combination of transvaginal sonography and transvaginal hysterosonography is both sensitive and specific with regard to detecting and excluding endoluminal masses as the cause of post-menopausal bleeding. Diagnostic dilatation and curettage fails to detect a large percentage of some lesions, so TVS in combination with TVHS should be considered as the initial examination in the evaluation of all women with post-menopausal bleeding.
Polycystic Kidney Disease Presenting as Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Due to Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm-An Autopsy

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a hereditary disorder characterized by multiple expanding cysts in both kidneys, and they ultimately destroy the renal parenchyma and cause renal failure. Intracranial aneurysms are found in approximately 10% to 15% of ADPKD patients. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from a ruptured intracranial aneurysm is a frequent complication in patients with ADPKD and it makes up a considerable proportion of the causes of death in this group of patients. We report here an autopsy case of polycystic kidney disease that was morphologically identical to ADPKD, and the patients had presented after death with SAH due to a ruptured cerebral aneurysm.
The radiographic appearance of tuberculosis in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and pre-AIDS.

We reviewed the medical records and chest radiographs of 23 adult patients with culture-proved tuberculosis and verified acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Seventeen patients, including 8 with disseminated tuberculosis, had positive sputum or bronchial washing cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Their initial pretreatment radiographs revealed hilar and/or mediastinal adenopathy in 10 patients (59%), localized pulmonary infiltrates limited to the middle or lower lung fields in 5 patients (29%), localized pulmonary infiltrates involving an upper lobe in 3 patients (18%), diffuse miliary or interstitial infiltrates in 3 patients (18%), no pulmonary infiltrates in 6 patients (35%), and no abnormalities in 2 patients (12%). Pulmonary cavitation was not seen. Only 1 patient (6%) had a chest radiograph typical of adult onset reactivation tuberculosis (i.e., localized pulmonary infiltrate involving the upper lung fields without hilar or mediastinal adenopathy). Six patients (35%) had pulmonary infiltrates that may have been caused by concomitant nontuberculous infection. Six patients had positive cultures for M. tuberculosis from extrapulmonary sites only. Three (50%) of these patients had hilar and/or mediastinal adenopathy. None of them had pulmonary infiltrates on their initial chest radiograph.
Training‐induced acceleration of O2 uptake on‐kinetics precedes muscle mitochondrial biogenesis in humans

• What is the central question of this study? A few weeks of endurance training accelerate the oxygen uptake () on‐kinetics in humans. The main aim of the present study was to determine whether the acceleration of on‐kinetics obtained by a short period of moderate‐intensity training can be explained by an intensification of mitochondrial biogenesis. • What is the main finding and its importance? We demonstrated that 5 weeks of moderate‐intensity training accelerates the on‐kinetics during moderate‐intensity cycling in the absence of enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis or capillarization in the trained muscles. We postulate that in the early stages of training an intensification of ‘parallel activation’ of oxidative phosphorylation could account for the shortening of the on‐transient.
Exposure to SIV in utero results in reduced viral loads and altered responsiveness to postnatal challenge

Animals exposed to attenuated SIV in utero showed reduced viral replication and altered immune responses after pathogenic challenge postnatally. Getting an early start in HIV protection HIV disease is characterized by a state of chronic immune activation that appears to contribute to the dysfunction of the immune system. Control of immune activation in infected patients may help to protect against immune dysfunction and delay the progression of the disease. In a new study, Baker et al. exposed fetal rhesus macaques to simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a close relative of HIV, during a prenatal period, hypothesizing that this would cause the macaque’s immune system to become less reactive to, or tolerant of, material derived from SIV. When experimentally infected after birth, the authors hypothesized that exposed macaques might mount less aggressive immune responses against the virus, have lower immune activation, and may have less severe disease than unexposed animals. They found that macaques exposed to SIV in utero did not display any direct evidence of tolerance to SIV; however, the animals did have significantly lower viral loads after infection and altered immune responses that were associated with the control of viral replication. This study supports a new avenue for HIV vaccine design. HIV disease progression appears to be driven by increased immune activation. Given observations that fetal exposure to infectious pathogens in utero can result in reduced immune responses, or tolerance, to those pathogens postnatally, we hypothesized that fetal exposure to HIV may render the fetus tolerant to the virus, thus reducing damage caused by immune activation during infection later in life. To test this hypothesis, fetal rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were injected with the attenuated virus SIVmac1A11 in utero and challenged with pathogenic SIVmac239 1 year after birth. SIVmac1A11-injected animals had significantly reduced plasma RNA viral loads (P < 0.02) up to 35 weeks after infection. Generalized estimating equations analysis was performed to identify immunologic and clinical measurements associated with plasma RNA viral load. A positive association with plasma RNA viral load was observed with the proportion of CD8+ T cells expressing the transcription factor, FoxP3, and the proportion of CD4+ T cells producing the lymphoproliferative cytokine, IL-2. In contrast, an inverse relationship was found with the frequencies of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells displaying intermediate expression of the proliferation marker, Ki-67. Animals exposed to simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in utero appeared to have enhanced SIV-specific immune responses, a lower proportion of CD8+ T cells expressing the exhaustion marker PD-1, and more circulating TH17 cells than controls. Although the development of tolerance was not demonstrated, these data suggest that rhesus monkeys exposed to SIVmac1A11 in utero had distinct immune responses associated with the control of viral replication after postnatal challenge.
Prevalence and Associations of Domestic Violence at an Australian Colposcopy Clinic

Objective Domestic violence is associated with significant mortality and morbidity including gynecological morbidity. We report the prevalence and associations of domestic violence in an Australian colposcopy service. Materials and Methods A prospective study was performed from consecutive patients attending colposcopy clinics at a major metropolitan hospital in Australia. Key outcomes were the prevalence of intimate partner violence and its key demographic associations. Results Consent was obtained from 574 and domestic violence status was ascertained in 566 of 581 women approached. Overall, 33% of responders reported violence within 12 months. In 14.5%, the female reported being sole recipient of violence; in a further 16.6%, violence was bidirectional, and in 1.9% of cases, a woman was the sole perpetrator. Key associations of violence were younger age at presentation (32 vs 35 y; p = .01), higher rates of smoking (51.3% vs 38.2%; p = .0004), higher rates of housing instability (32.2% vs 12.2%; p < .0001), a positive Beck Depression Inventory screen (50.0% vs 24.6%; p < .0001), and higher rates of default to initial attendance (15.5% vs 4.7%, p < .0001). Conclusions Domestic violence is common in women presenting to colposcopy services and may be associated with poor housing stability and higher default rates.