Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Type I IFNs Stimulate Nitric Oxide Production and Resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi Infection1

The participation of type I IFNs (IFN-I) in NO production and resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi infection was investigated. Adherent cells obtained from the peritoneal cavity of mice infected by the i.p. route produced NO and IFN-I. Synthesis of NO by these cells was partially inhibited by treatment with anti-IFN-αβ or anti-TNF-α Abs. Compared with susceptible BALB/c mice, peritoneal cells from parasite-infected resistant C57BL/6 mice produced more NO (2-fold), IFN-I (10-fold), and TNF-α (3.5-fold). Later in the infection, IFN-I levels measured in spleen cell (SC) cultures from 8-day infected mice were greater in C57BL/6 than in infected BALB/c mice, and treatment of the cultures with anti-IFN-αβ Ab reduced NO production. IFN-γ or IL-10 production by SCs was not different between the two mouse strains; IL-4 was not detectable. Treatment of C57BL/6 mice with IFN-I reduced parasitemia levels in the acute phase of infection. Mice deprived of the IFN-αβR gene developed 3-fold higher parasitemia levels in the acute phase in comparison with control 129Sv mice. Production of NO by peritoneal macrophages and SCs was reduced in mice that lacked signaling by IFN-αβ, whereas parasitism of macrophages was heavier than in control wild-type mice. We conclude that IFN-I costimulate NO synthesis early in T. cruzi infection, which contributes to a better control of the parasitemia in resistant mice.
Predictors of Red Cell Alloimmunization in Kurdish Multi Transfused Patients with Hemoglobinopathies in Iraq

Abstract Hemoglobinopathies are significant health problems in Iraq, including its Northern Kurdistan region. One of the essential components of management of these disorders is regular lifelong blood transfusions. The latter is associated with several complications including red cell alloimmunization. No study has looked at the frequency of alloimmunization and its associations in the country. To address the latter issue, 401 multi transfused patients [311 with β-thalassemia (β-thal) syndrome and 90 with sickle cell disease], registered at a large thalassemia care center in Iraqi Kurdistan had their records reviewed, and their sera tested for atypical antibodies using screening and extended red cell panels. Red cell alloimmunization was detected in 18 patients (4.5%) with a total of 20 alloantibodies, while no autoantibodies were detected. The most frequent alloantibody was anti-E, followed by anti-D, anti-K, anti-Cw, anti-C, anti-c and anti-Lea. Ethnicity was an important predictor of alloimmunization, while age at start of transfusion (>2 vs. ≤2 years) (p = 0.005), Rhesus D (RhD) negative status (p = 0.0017) and history of previous transfusion reactions (p = 0.007) showed a statistically significant higher rate of alloimmunization. However, patients’ age, gender, number of units transfused, underlying diagnosis and splenectomy were not significantly associated with alloimmunization. Based on our observations, measures to reduce alloimmunization rates may include extended matching for Rhesus and Kell antigens and early initiation of blood transfusions.
An Efficient Heuristic Procedure for Practical-Sized Capacitated Warehouse Design and Management*

The purpose of this paper is to refine and test a distribution system design model and evaluate its performance with respect to solution quality, model validation, and algorithm performance. The paper reports on the development of a multiproduct warehouse logistics model. The logistics model is used to predict the performance of distribution companies that typically have to deal with product costs, the cost to distribute the products from a set of warehouses to customer outlets, the level of service provided to its customers, and flexibility for each product group and market segment.
Quality of life in end stage renal disease patients.

AIM To understand factors associated with quality of life (QOL), examine types of QOL instruments, and determine need for further improvements in QOL assessment. METHODS The method used databases (Pubmed, Google scholar) and a bibliographic search using key words QOL, end stage renal disease, Hemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis, instruments to measure QOL, patients and qualitative/quantitative analysis published during 1990 to June 2014. Each article was assessed for sample size, demographics of participants, study design and type of QOL instruments used. We used WHO definition of QOL. RESULTS For this review, 109 articles were screened, out of which 65 articles were selected. Out of 65 articles, there were 19 reports/reviews and 12 questionnaire manuals. Of the 34 studies, 82% were quantitative while only 18% were qualitative. QOL instruments measured several phenomenon such as physical/psychological health, effects and burdens of kidney disease, social support etc. those are associated with QOL. Few studies looked at spiritual beliefs, cultural beliefs, personal concerns, as per the WHO definition. Telemedicine and Palliative care have now been successfully used however QOL instruments seldom addressed those in the articles reviewed. Also noticed was that longitudinal studies were rarely conducted. Existing QOL instruments only partially measure QOL. This may limit validity of predictive power of QOL. CONCLUSION Culture and disease specific QOL instruments that assess patients' objective and subjective experiences covering most aspects of QOL are urgently needed.
Conflicting attitudes toward state wildlife conservation programs in Kenya

We present a case study of the social issues of wildlife conservation in Kenya based on field work in and near Nairobi and Tsavo National Parks. Surveys of small‐scale cultivators and pastoralists (157) and local park officials (44) reveal that there are widespread negative feelings and perceptions of local people toward state policies and programs of wildlife conservation. For instance, 84% of the local people reported that there is a bad relationship between the national park management and the local community; only 10% stated that the park is an asset to them; and 57% asserted that the park should be abolished. Moreover, perceptions and attitudes of local people and park officials are greatly disparate with regard to the benefits the parks provide for local people, the level of conflict between local people and wildlife, and the future of the parks.
Rapid bioconcentration of steroids in the plasma of 2 sticklebacks ( Gasterosteus aculeatus ) exposed to water-3 borne testosterone and 17 ß-estradiol

23 This study investigated the relationship over time between the concentrations 24 of two steroids, singly and in combination, in a static exposure system and in the 25 blood of sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, held within the exposure system. 26 Groups of sticklebacks were exposed (nominally) to either 1000 ng l 17ß-estradiol 27 (E2), Testosterone (T) or E2 & T in combination at the same concentrations for 6 28 days. Both water and fish were sampled at intervals and steroid concentrations in 29 both compartments were determined. The plasma steroid time profile revealed a 30 rapid bioconcentration within the first 6 hours of exposure. The plasma steroid levels 31 attained at this time point (20 – 90 ng ml) were up to 50-fold (E2) and 200-fold (T) 32 greater than the actual levels of steroid measured in the exposure water, while levels 33 in the blood of control fish did not exceed 4 ng ml. The substantial elevation of 34 plasma steroid levels relative to the concentrations of steroid to which the fish were 35 exposed in the ambient water gives scope for delivery of the steroids to target 36 endocrine tissues at levels far in excess of what might be predicted on the basis of 37 passive branchial uptake alone. These results are discussed in relation to endocrine 38 disruption, and in particular the occurrence of effects in fish exposed to levels of 39 endocrine active substances (EAS) that are seemingly physiologically irrelevant. 40
Economic, Financial and Fundamental Global Risk in and Out of the Emu

We explore the different factors that drive expected returns in world markets. Our research offers two innovations. First, the introduction of the Euro currency unit greatly reduces the complexity of including foreign exchange risk in asset pricing models. We use a synthetic Euro excess return along with a Yen excess return to assess country equity sensitivities to currency risk factors. Second, when combining the currency factors with a group of economic factors, we measure the incremental information in the factor proposed in Fama and French (1998). We find that a global price-to-book factor offers little additional explanatory power over and above a model that includes economic risk factors.
Bacteriophage Infection in Rod-Shaped Gram-Positive Bacteria: Evidence for a Preferential Polar Route for Phage SPP1 Entry in Bacillus subtilis

ABSTRACT Entry into the host bacterial cell is one of the least understood steps in the life cycle of bacteriophages. The different envelopes of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, with a fluid outer membrane and exposing a thick peptidoglycan wall to the environment respectively, impose distinct challenges for bacteriophage binding and (re)distribution on the bacterial surface. Here, infection of the Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium Bacillus subtilis by bacteriophage SPP1 was monitored in space and time. We found that SPP1 reversible adsorption occurs preferentially at the cell poles. This initial binding facilitates irreversible adsorption to the SPP1 phage receptor protein YueB, which is encoded by a putative type VII secretion system gene cluster. YueB was found to concentrate at the cell poles and to display a punctate peripheral distribution along the sidewalls of B. subtilis cells. The kinetics of SPP1 DNA entry and replication were visualized during infection. Most of the infecting phages DNA entered and initiated replication near the cell poles. Altogether, our results reveal that the preferentially polar topology of SPP1 receptors on the surface of the host cell determines the site of phage DNA entry and subsequent replication, which occurs in discrete foci.
Increased Frequency of Bacterial Vaginosis and Chlamydia trachomatis in Pregnant Women with Human Papillomavirus Infection

The aim of this study was to verify the presence of bacterial vaginosis (BV), Candida sp, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, to determine the prevalence of tobacco use and measure vaginal pH (VpH) in pregnant women with (n = 26) and without (n = 26) human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and make comparisons between these 2 groups. HPV, C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae were diagnosed using hybrid capture, BV using clinical criteria, and Candida sp via cultures. A digital pH meter was used to measure VpH. The frequencies of Candida sp were 19.2 and 23.1% (p = 1), and VpH was 4.4 ± 0.4 and 4.3 ± 0.4 (p = 0.23), in the HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups, respectively. Compared to the group of pregnant women without HPV infection, those with HPV infection had a significantly higher prevalence of tobacco use (50 vs. 11.5%; p = 0.006), BV (53.8 vs. 15.4%; p = 0.007), and C. trachomatis (34.6 vs. 7.7%; p = 0.039). No case of N. gonorrhoeae was diagnosed. All cases of C. trachomatis and BV had high-grade HPV infection.
Helping out: a national survey of volunteering and charitable giving

This report details the main findings of a national survey of volunteering and charitable giving – termed Helping Out – carried out by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) in partnership with the Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR) in 2006/07. The study was carried out for the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office. The main aims of the study were to examine: - how and why people give unpaid help to organisations, and what they think of their experiences; - what stops people from giving help; - the links between giving time and giving money; - how, why and how much people give money to charity; - what stops people from giving money to charity. There was also interest in estimates of the prevalence of volunteering and charitable giving. However, for a number of reasons (detailed in Chapters 2 and 10), prevalence estimates derived from this study should not be used to look at changes in these measures over time. Other study series are better suited to this purpose. In terms of volunteering, the study focused on formal help given through groups and organisations rather than informal help (given as an individual, e.g. to family and friends).
The Cost of Health Conditions in a Health Maintenance Organization

In this retrospective cohort analysis of all adults who were members of Kaiser Permanente, Northern California, between July 1995 and June 1996 (N = 2,076,303), the authors estimated the prevalence, average annual costs per person, and percentage of total direct medical expenditures attributable to each of 25 chronic and acute conditions. Ordinary least squares regression was used to adjust for age, gender, and comorbidities. The costs attributable to the 25 conditions accounted for 78 percent of the health maintenance organization’s total direct medical expense for this age-group. Injury accounted for a higher proportion (11.5 percent) of expenditures than any other single condition. Three cardiovascular conditions—ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and congestive heart failure—together accounted for 17 percent of direct medical expense and separately accounted for 6.8 percent, 5.7 percent, and 4.0 percent, respectively. Renal failure ($22,636), colorectal cancer ($10,506), pneumonia ($9,499), and lung cancer ($8,612) were the most expensive conditions per person per year.
Dual Hesitant Fuzzy Sets

In recent decades, several types of sets, such as fuzzy sets, interval-valued fuzzy sets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets, type 2 fuzzy sets, type 𝑛 fuzzy sets, and hesitant fuzzy sets, have been introduced and investigated widely. In this paper, we propose dual hesitant fuzzy sets (DHFSs), which encompass fuzzy sets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, hesitant fuzzy sets, and fuzzy multisets as special cases. Then we investigate the basic operations and properties of DHFSs. We also discuss the relationships among the sets mentioned above, use a notion of nested interval to reflect their common ground, then propose an extension principle of DHFSs. Additionally, we give an example to illustrate the application of DHFSs in group forecasting.
Education, Employment, and Gender Inequality amongst Couples A Comparative Analysis of Britain and Germany

It is well understood that children benefit educationally the greater the education of their parents. However, transfers of the benefits of human capital within the home occur between partners too. The more educated an individual the more able he or she is to provide a partner with effective career support. Individuals will on average earn more the higher the education of their partner. This reciprocal support need not, though, be equal. Various factors may intervene to make the transfer asymmetrical, thus creating implicit gender inequalities. While women have broadly the same educational background as men, they work less and on average get paid less. This suggests some under-used' human capital. Although if she works she benefits from his education, their differing work and domestic roles mean that he is likely to benefit more. This argument re-invokes the 'domestic labour debate' in which it was argued, and contested, that female domestic labour is a subsidy either to the employer or to the woman's working husband. Here it is argued that female human capital can be thought of as a source of subsidy to her partner's wage. It also re-invokes an earlier debate in economics explicitly concerned with transfers of social capital between spouses: should wage models include a term for partners' education? Here, in a comparison of men and women in two countries - Great Britain and (West) Germany - we do include such a term, but, using household data, produce models of both male and female wages. The results show that apparent transfers do occur, that broadly though not universally they are more in favour of the male, and that these effects vary by the degree of educational homogamy in the two countries
Enterprise Bargaining, Wage Norms and Productivity

Since 1991 Australia's arbitral system of wage determination has developed into a bybrid supplemented by the processes of collective and individual bargaining at the workplace level. This paper seeks to examine the development of that bybrid. First it seeks to estimate the extent to which enterprise bargaining displaced award-based wage adjustment between 1990 and 1995. Second, it looks at the prospects for the further growth of enterprise bargaining within the existing regulatory System. Third, it looks at the use of workplace productivity as a criterion in wage fixing relative to the previous norms developed under wage indexation and the Accord. Fourth, the paper looks at some arguments and evidence on the role of enterprise bargaining in inducing workplace productivity growth. The paper concludes tbat major institutional changes bave taken place since 1990 largely because of government policy. However, the role of the new institutional framework in linking pay to productivity and in inducing productivity growth remains limited and uncertain.
Mechanisms of convective cloud organization by cold pools over tropical warm ocean during the AMIE/DYNAMO field campaign

This paper investigates the mechanisms of convective cloud organization by precipitation‐driven cold pools over the warm tropical Indian Ocean during the 2011 Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) Investigation Experiment/Dynamics of the MJO (AMIE/DYNAMO) field campaign. A high‐resolution regional model simulation is performed using the Weather Research and Forecasting model during the transition from suppressed to active phases of the November 2011 MJO. The simulated cold pool lifetimes, spatial extent, and thermodynamic properties agree well with the radar and ship‐borne observations from the field campaign. The thermodynamic and dynamic structures of the outflow boundaries of isolated and intersecting cold pools in the simulation and the associated secondary cloud populations are examined. Intersecting cold pools last more than twice as long, are twice as large, 41% more intense (measured with buoyancy), and 62% deeper than isolated cold pools. Consequently, intersecting cold pools trigger 73% more convection than do isolated ones. This is due to stronger outflows that enhance secondary updraft velocities by up to 45%. However, cold pool‐triggered convective clouds grow into deep convection not because of the stronger secondary updrafts at cloud base, but rather due to closer spacing (aggregation) between clouds and larger cloud clusters that form along the cold pool boundaries when they intersect. The close spacing of large clouds moistens the local environment and reduces entrainment drying, increasing the probability that the clouds further develop into deep convection. Implications for the design of future convective parameterization with cold pool‐modulated entrainment rates are discussed.
Migration, Local Fiscal Variables and Local Economic Conditions

The paper examines the effects of local fiscal variables and local economic conditions on migration plans of Norwegian households. The study takes advantage of a unique survey data set in which respondents evaluate a range of local amenities and report whether they intend to relocate. We find that municipal services are important to migration plans. Norwegian municipalities can increase the population share of young households by improving living conditions for children and the quality of schools and cultural services. The estimated effects of personal unemployment, local unemployment, and local wages on migration plans become weaker when amenity variables are included, indicating that capitalization of amenities cannot explain weak effects of local economic conditions on migration.
A comparison of internal audit in the private and public sectors

This paper explores similarities and differences between public sector internal auditing and its counterpart in the private sector. Features examined include organizational status, outsourcing, using internal audit as a “tour of duty” function, activities and relationships with the external auditor. The study is based on a survey of chief internal auditors in organizations in Australia and New Zealand. Results suggest that there are differences in status between internal audit in the two sectors, with public sector internal auditors less likely to report to the chief financial officer. While a similar amount of work is outsourced, public sector organizations are more likely than those in the private sector to outsource to the external auditor. There is little difference between internal audit activities and interactions with external audit in the two sectors. However, private sector internal audit is perceived to lead to a greater reduction in audit fees compared to that in the public sector.
Against all odds: determinants of doctoral candidates’ intention to enter academia in Germany

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on doctoral students in Germany and the drivers behind their intention to enter an academic career. The aspirations of young researchers after graduating from doctoral training have become an important issue to policymakers in light of the changing nature of doctoral training. Design/methodology/approach – Borrowing from Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior, we investigate how attitudes towards a career in academia, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control determine graduates’ intentions to pursue an academic career. We extend the model of Ajzen by measurements of research and training conditions in order to estimate the impact of organizational settings. We analyze a sample of 5,770 doctoral candidates from eight universities and three funding organizations. Findings – We find that apart from attitudes towards careers, academic career intentions are related to research and training conditions at the organizational level. Further, we find that large d.
A cohort study of low birth weight and health outcomes in the first year of life, Ghana

Abstract Objective To investigate the effect of birth weight on infant mortality, illness and care seeking in rural Ghana. Methods Using randomized controlled trial data, we compared infants weighing 2.00–2.49, 1.50–1.99 and < 1.50 kg with non-low-birth-weight infants. We generated adjusted mortality hazard ratios (aHR), adjusted illness rate ratios (aRR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for health-facility admissions and absence of care seeking for four time periods: infancy, the neonatal period, early infancy and late infancy – represented by ages of 0–364, 0–27, 28–182 and 183–364 days, respectively. Findings Among 22 906 infants, compared with non-low-birth-weight infants: (i) infants weighing 2.00–2.49, 1.50–1.99 and < 1.50 kg were about two (aHR: 2.13; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.76–2.59), eight (aHR: 8.21; 95% CI: 6.26–10.76) and 25 (aHR: 25.38; 95% CI: 18.36–35.10) times more likely to die in infancy, respectively; (ii) those born weighing < 1.50 kg were about 48 (aHR: 48.45; 95% CI: 32.81–71.55) and eight (aHR: 8.42; 95% CI: 3.09–22.92) times more likely to die in the neonatal period and late infancy, respectively; (iii) those born weighing 1.50–1.99 kg (aRR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.27–1.95) or < 1.50 kg (aRR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.13–2.21) had higher neonatal illness rates; and (iv) for those born weighing 1.50–1.99 kg, care was less likely to be sought in the neonatal period (aOR: 3.30; 95% CI: 1.98–5.48) and early infancy (aOR : 1.74; 95% CI: 1.26–2.39). Conclusion For low-birth-weight infants in Ghana, strategies to minimize mortality and improve care seeking are needed.