Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
fiscal decentralization and

In prior studies, accounting and decentralization corruption solutions have so far been analysed in isolation. In this article, we connect these two strands of literature on corruption. Understanding this connection is important because weak financial accounting and reporting systems can inhibit monitoring incentives and thus reduce decentralization benefits in countering corruption. We argue that the effectiveness of decentralization as an anti-corruption barrier is complemented by the quality of the accounting practice in a country. Using multiple sources of data, we find that decentralization has a positive and increasing effect on reducing corruption among countries with a high-quality accounting practice. In contrast, decentralization has a negative and decreasing effect on reducing corruption among countries with weak-quality accounting practices. These findings are robust to alternative measures of accounting, decentralization and corruption and to endogeneity tests. Our findings demonstrate the crucial information role of accounting in enhancing decentralization monitoring mechanisms and in thereby reducing corruption. and values appropriately, we fitted nested models without transforming the accounting practice index to a categorical variable with three dummies. We then carried out Wald tests to compare the models with interaction terms to those without by sequentially adding blocks of variables including the measures of accounting practice, decentralization and an interaction term of these two variables to a baseline model with control variables only. The F Statistics derived from these comparison tests show that the blocks of variables (individual variables) in these nested models are all jointly significant and that each block of variables (individual variables) increased the R-square significantly. These results are available from the authors.
AsthmaEffective in the Prevention of Experimental Asthma-Promoting Cytokine IL-9 and Is Inhibits the Th9-Derived Production of the The Tick Salivary Protein Sialostatin L

Ticks developed a multitude of different immune evasion strategies to obtain a blood meal. Sialostatin L is an immunosuppressive cysteine protease inhibitor present in the saliva of the hard tick Ixodes scapularis . In this study, we demonstrate that sialostatin L strongly inhibits the production of IL-9 by Th9 cells. Because we could show recently that Th9-derived IL-9 is essentially involved in the induction of asthma symptoms, sialostatin L was used for the treatment of experimental asthma. Application of sialostatin L in a model of experimental asthma almost completely abrogated airway hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilia. Our data suggest that sialostatin L can prevent experimental asthma, most likely by inhibiting the IL-9 production of Th9 cells. Thus, alternative to IL-9 neutralization sialostatin L provides the basis for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies to treat asthma. The Journal of Immunology , 2012, 188: 000–000. hen on their hosts, hard ticks the problem of host inﬂammation and immunity. Therefore, the feeding success of hard ticks depends on an array of immunosuppressive substances in tick saliva, among others cysteine protease inhibitors (cystatins), which have been demonstrated to have strong immunomodulatory activity (1, 2). Cystatins from various ectoparasites interfere with Ag processing and presentation, phagocytosis, modulate cytokine expression, and NO
NK Cell-Derived Exosomes Immune Surveillance Properties of Human

Exosomes are nanovesicles released by normal and tumor cells, which are detectable in cell culture supernatant and human biological ﬂuids, such as plasma. Functions of exosomes released by “normal” cells are not well understood. In fact, several studies have been carried out on exosomes derived from hematopoietic cells, but very little is known about NK cell exosomes, despite the importance of these cells in innate and adaptive immunity. In this paper, we report that resting and activated NK cells, freshly isolated from blood of healthy donors, release exosomes expressing typical protein markers of NK cells and containing killer proteins (i.e., Fas ligand and perforin molecules). These nanovesicles display cytotoxic activity against several tumor cell lines and activated, but not resting, immune cells. We also show that NK-derived exosomes undergo uptake by tumor target cells but not by resting PBMC. Exosomes puriﬁed from plasma of healthy donors express NK cell markers, including CD56 + and perforin, and exert cytotoxic activity against different human tumor target cells and activated immune cells as well. The results of this study propose an important role of NK cell-derived exosomes in immune surveillance and homeostasis. Moreover, this study supports the use of exosomes as an almost perfect example of biomimetic nanovesicles possibly useful in future therapeutic approaches against various diseases, including tumors. The Journal of Immunology , 2012, 189: 000–000. on (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA), and CLSM were performed with a Leica TCS SP2 Acousto-Optical Beam Splitter apparatus, equipped with an HCX PL apochromatic 3 63 oil immersion objective (numerical aperture lenses 1 3 40), using a 488-nm excitation spectral laser line appropriately tuned by acousto-optical tunable ﬁlter. Image acquisition and processing were carried out using the Leica Confocal Software (Leica Lasertechnik, Heidelberg, Germany) and Adobe Photoshop software programs (Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA). Several ﬁelds were analyzed for each labeling condition, and representative results are presented.
Cytomegalovirus Infection NK Cells during Acute Murine IL-10 Restricts Activation-Induced Death of

IL-10 is an immunomodulatory cytokine that acts to antagonize T cell responses elicited during acute and chronic infections. Thus, the IL-10R signaling pathway provides a potential therapeutic target in strategies aimed at combating infectious diseases. In this study, we set out to investigate whether IL-10 expression had an effect on NK cells. Murine CMV infection provides the best characterized in vivo system to evaluate the NK cell response, with NK cells being critical in the early control of acute infection. Blockade of IL-10R during acute murine CMV infection markedly reduced the accumulation of cytotoxic NK cells in the spleen and lung, a phenotype associated with a transient elevation of virus DNA load. Impaired NK cell responsiveness after IL-10R blockade was attributed to elevated levels of apoptosis observed in NK cells exhibiting an activated phenotype. Therefore, we conclude that IL-10 contributes to antiviral innate immunity during acute infection by restricting activation-induced death in NK cells. The Journal of Immunology , 2011, 187: 2944–2952. Pharmingen, San Diego, CA). In some experiments, leukocytes were also stained with anti–Ly49H-FITC (BD Pharmingen) and anti–IL-10R-PE (clone 1B1.3A; BD Pharmingen) or anti–CD69-Pe-Cy7 and anti–CD27-PE or anti–CD25- PE (all eBioscience). Following surface staining, some cells were permeabilized with saponin buffer (PBS, 2% FCS, 0.05% sodium azide, and 0.5% saponin) and stained with anti-Ki67 FITC (BD Pharmingen). To assess early NK cell apoptosis, isolated leukocytes were incubated with Live/Dead Fixable Aqua (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and then stained with anti–CD3-PerCP-Cy5.5, anti–NK1.1-allophycocyanin, and either Annexin V FITC or anti–caspase-3-PE (active form), according to the manufacturer’s instructions (all BD Pharmingen). To assess ex vivo cytokine production by NK cells, leukocytes were incubated at 5 3 10 6 cells/ml for 4 h at 37˚C in the presence of 2 m g/ml brefeldin A (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO). Cells were then washed and incubated with Fc block (eBioscience) and surface stained with anti–CD3- PerCP-Cy5.5 and anti–NK1.1-allophycocyanin prior to ﬁxation with 3% formalin. Cells were then permeabilized with saponin buffer and stained with anti–IFN- g -FITC (BD Pharmingen). To assess NK cell cytotoxicity, cells were incubated with 0.7 m g/ml monensin and anti–CD107a-FITC (both BD Pharmingen) and then surface stained with anti-CD3 and anti-NK1.1, as described above. For detection of IL-10 expression, splenocytes and lung leukocytes were stimulated for 5 h at
Tanycytes are degraded in Alzheimer Disease, disrupting the brain-to-blood efflux of Tau

The accumulation of pathological Tau in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its eventual increase in the blood are hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the mechanisms of Tau clearance from the brain to the periphery are not clear. We show here, using animal and cellular models as well as patient blood samples and post mortem brains, that hypothalamic tanycytes, whose cell bodies line the ventricular wall and send long processes to the underlying pituitary portal capillary bed, take up and transport Tau from the CSF and release it into these capillaries, whence it travels to the pituitary and eventually the systemic circulation. Specifically blocking tanycytic vesicular transport leads to an accumulation of exogenous fluorescent Tau in the CSF of mice. In AD and frontotemporal dementia, tanycytic morphology is altered, with a dramatic fragmentation of the secondary cytoskeleton in the former but not the latter, accounting for reduced CSF Tau clearance in AD. Both the implication of tanycytic degradation in the pathophysiology of a human disease and the evidence for the existence of a brain-to-blood tanycytic shuttle are unprecedented, and raise important questions regarding the role of tanycytes in physiological clearance mechanisms and the development of neurodegenerative disorders.
REPEATABILITY ESTIMATES OF SOME REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS IN NILI-RA VI BUFFALOES

Data on the performance records of 582 Nili-Ravi buffaloes kept at the Livestock Experiment Station, Bahadurnagar, Okara for the years 1934-85were analysed to estimate repeatability of some reproductive traits. Based on 2797 records of 582 buffaloes, the average postpartum oestrous interval (PPOI) was 176.73 ± 2.71 days. The insemination period (IP), service period (SP) and calving interval (CI) averaged 37.75 ± 1.98,216.94 ± 3.17 and 520.26 ± 3.93 days, respectively. The repeatability of PPOI was estimated to be 0.05 ± 0.02. The repeatability estimates for IP, SP and CI were 0.08 ± 0.02, 0.10 ± 0.02 and 0.12 ± 0.02, respectively. The low estimates or repeatability for these reproductive traits suggested that most of the observed variation in these traits was mainly due to temporary environmental conditions. Thus, the use of multiple records is emphasized in the selection of dairy animals for these traits. INTRODUCfION The buffalo occupies an important place in Pakistan's livestock economy. It contributes about 72% of the milk and 27% of the red meat produced in the country. The Nili-Ravi buffaloes are considered to be the best dairy buffaloes in world. However, late age at first calving and long calving intervals of these animals result in reduced reproductive efficiency, calf crop and milk yield on life time basis. The factors influencing age at tirst calving, return to oestrus after calving, silent heat and calving interval require detailed study in order to improve the productivity of this species. The knowledge of exact role of heredity in influencing these reproductive traits is needed for the formulation of suitable and effective breeding plans to improve production performance of these animals. The present study was, thus, designed to estimate the repeatability of some important reproductive traits such as postpartum oestrous interval, insemination period, service period and calving interval in NiIiRavi buffaloes.
Selective postictal aphasia Cerebral language organization in bilingual patients

Background: Ictal and postictal language dysfunction is common and strongly predictive of language laterality in monolingual patients. For bilingual patients, selective dysfunction has been reported for a single language with focal cerebral lesions, electrical brain stimulation, and intracarotid sodium amytal. Methods: Two right-handed Ukrainian-English bilingual patients with left perisylvian structural lesions, late onset complex-partial seizures, and postictal aphasia for English are presented and discussed with regard to mechanisms of selective aphasia and factors contributory to language lateralization in bilingual patients. Results: Ukrainian was the native language of both patients with English acquired after 7 years of age. Regular/video-EEG showed left temporal epileptogenesis. A 56-year-old man, who had a left hemorrhagic stroke at age 50 and had not spoken Ukrainian for 40 years, was unable to speak English for (cid:1) 20 minutes postictally but had global preservation of Ukrainian. A 71-year-old woman, who had a left temporal epidermoid cyst and had not spoken Ukrainian since childhood, had 10- to 15-minute postictal expressive aphasia in English but not Ukrainian and preservation of comprehension in both languages. Conclusions: These cases are instructive and consistent with the literature on cerebral organization of language in bilingual individuals. For both patients, postictal aphasia with preservation of Ukrainian is consistent with findings from clinical and experimental studies indicating that later age of second language acquisition ( (cid:2) 6 years) rather than language proficiency is a primary factor in language laterality. Second, global aphasia in the man with a late lesion vs expressive aphasia with preservation of comprehension of English in the woman with a prenatal/early lesion is consistent with the atypical language laterality described for individuals with left-sided lesions sustained prior to age 5. Although neither Wada test nor fMRI was done to assure left hemisphere laterality of spoken Ukrainian and English, this is probable, and the selective postictal aphasia observed for both patients is consistent with the differential intrahemispheric organization reported for the two languages of bilingual individuals. mechanisms of selective postictal differences language networks in bilingual Ictal and postictal language dysfunction is common and strongly predictive of language laterality in monolingual patients. For bilingual patients, selective dysfunction has been reported for a single language with focal cerebral lesions, electrical brain stimulation, and intracarotid sodium amytal. We report two right-handed Ukrainian-English bilingual patients with left perisylvian structural lesions, late onset complex-partial seizures, and postictal aphasia for English, and discuss mechanisms of selective aphasia and factors contributory to language lateralization in bilingual patients.
Brandgasfyllnadsförlopp av en affärslokal - En valideringsstudie med Fire Dynamics Simulator

Prediction of the spread of combustion gases from a fire is a major area of interest when analyzing buildings from a safety point of view. Hence programs with this aim are continuously being evaluated for the estimation of their validity. The purpose of this report was to produce and compare complementary results for an up to date version of the program Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) to what was previously done on the spread of combustion gases in a retail store according to the report Holmstedt, 2008. A thorough sensitivity analysis was done on three different areas to assure the validity of the new simulations made. Analysis showed that grid independent simulations were conducted and that simulation data could be viewed as valid. Results show no distinct indications for the fire of the scenario to be under ventilated as predicted due to the limited ventilation of the compartment. Comparison of the results from the simulations with experimental results showed that the program has a good ability to predict the spread of combustion gases and their temperatures in the upper layers for the type of compartment examined. An overestimations of temperatures could be identified for the lower parts of the room compared to the experimental data, with possible causes discussed in the report. Insecurity factors could be identified for this study that also are further discussed in the report.
Analýza herních charakteristik hráčů do 14 let při Mistrovství světa 2010

Na zakladě shromažděných informaci byl vypracovan ucelený dokument analyzujici herni charakteristiky hraců Mistrovstvi světa do 14 let (World Junior Tennis Finals, WJTF). V praci jsou analyzovana dvě finalova utkani MS družstev 2010 chlapců konaneho každorocně v narodnim tenisovem centru v Prostějově. Tato utkani jsou podrobena komplexni analýze. Je na ně nahliženo z deseti různých statistických pohledů a ucelem je dosaženi co nejlepsiho obrazu aktualnich herni dovednosti hraců.
Combined Vision and Hearing Impairment is Associated with Frailty in Older Adults: Results from the West China Health and Aging Trend Study

Objective Hearing and vision loss have been independently associated with frailty in older adults, but the relationship between concurrent hearing and visual impairment (dual sensory impairment) and frailty is not well understood. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether dual sensory impairment is associated with frailty in older adults. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on the data from the West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study of community-dwelling individuals aged 60 years and older. Frailty status was evaluated by the FRAIL scale and categorized as robust, prefrail and frail. Hearing and vision functions were based on self-report. We used multinomial regression models to explore the association between dual sensory impairment and frailty. Results Of 3985 participants, 1655 (41.5%) were male and the median age was 66 years (interquartile range: 61–68). Overall, 7.6% of participants reported hearing impairment only, 32.7% reported vision impairment only, and 28.6% reported dual sensory impairment. The prevalence of prefrailty and frailty was 60.7% and 6.1%, respectively. After adjustment for confounding variables, results from the multinomial regression analysis showed that dual sensory impairment was significantly associated with greater odds of becoming frail (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.40–3.38) compared with no impairment. When stratified by gender, dual sensory impairment was significantly associated with frailty in women (OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.40–4.20) but not in men (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 0.58–2.91). Conclusion Older adults with dual sensory impairment are more likely to be frail than those with no impairment, suggesting that interventions to improve sensory function may potentially help reduce the risk of frailty in older adults.
How Peer Abusive Supervision Affects Sales Employees’ Customer Knowledge Hiding: The Roles of Rivalry and Schadenfreude

Purpose This study aims to examine the impacts of peer abusive supervision, perceived rivalry and schadenfreude over the abused peers on sales employees’ customer knowledge hiding. Methods We conducted multiple regression analyses of 283 sales employees’ responses from two Chinese and two South Korean electronic device companies to test the hypotheses, which constitute a theoretical framework. Results Our empirical results confirmed the positive impact of peer abusive supervision on sales employees’ customer knowledge hiding, with the relationship moderated by rivalry and schadenfreude; moreover, rivalry and schadenfreude jointly exert the greatest impacts on the main effect. Conclusion This study sheds light on the knowledge hiding literature, with theoretical implications for the research regarding the spillover effect of abusive supervision, rivalry, schadenfreude, customer knowledge sharing, and managerial practices about the management of customer knowledge among sales employees.
Assessment of Neonatal Cord Blood SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies after COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy: A Prospective Cohort Study

Introduction Maternally derived antibodies are a key element of neonatal immunity. So far, limited data has shown transplacental transmission of antibodies after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination with BNT162b2 in the third trimester. Our aim was to detect vertically transferred immunity after COVID-19 vaccination with BNT162b2 (Comirnaty, BioNTech-Pfizer) or mRNA-1273 (Spikevax, Moderna) in the first, second or third trimester of pregnancy, and investigate the impact of maternal characteristics on umbilical cord antibody titre in newborns after delivery. Study Design Women who gave birth in our department and were vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy were enrolled in CRONOS Satellite, a subproject of the German COVID-19-Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study. The titre of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was quantified in umbilical cord blood using the SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant immunoassay. Correlations between antibody titre and variables, including week of pregnancy when vaccinated, interval between vaccination and delivery, age and body mass index (BMI) were assessed with Spearmanʼs rank correlation. A follow-up was conducted by phone interview 4 – 6 weeks after delivery. Results The study cohort consisted of 70 women and their 74 newborns. Vaccine-generated antibodies were present in all samples, irrespective of the vaccination type or time of vaccination. None of the parameters of interest showed a meaningful correlation with cord blood antibody concentrations (rho values < 0.5). No adverse outcomes (including foetal malformation) were reported, even after vaccination in the first trimester. Conclusions Transplacental passage of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from mother to child was demonstrated in all cases in the present study. It can therefore be assumed that the newborns of mothers vaccinated at any time during pregnancy receive antibodies via the placenta which potentially provide them with protection against COVID-19. This is an additional argument when counselling pregnant women about vaccination in pregnancy.
The effects of restrictive measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the extensive farming system of small ruminants

Abstract Vigorous restrictive measures were imposed worldwide to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the effects those measures had on livestock production systems have not yet been sufficiently clarified. The literature has focused mainly on the impact of COVID-19 on the intensive livestock production system, especially the meat and milk supply chain, as well as the welfare of animals, highlighting its fragility, but failed to address the way the restrictive measures affected the extensive farming system of small ruminants. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the restrictive measures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the parameters of sheep and goat extensive farming systems. We used a survey and personal interviews to record the breeders' profile and the structural characteristics of the holdings, and we showed that the restrictive measures had no effect on the parameters of small ruminant extensive farming systems, except for the daily work routine of breeders, which was negatively affected in holdings with a high number of sheep. We expect this study to be helpful to policy makers regarding formulating interventions for the resilience and the stability of the sheep and goat extensive farming system in future situations of emergency.