Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dominant CD8+ T-Lymphocyte Responses Suppress Expansion of Vaccine-Elicited Subdominant T Lymphocytes in Rhesus Monkeys Challenged with Pathogenic Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT Emerging data suggest that a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response against a diversity of epitopes confers greater protection against a human immunodeficiency virus/simian immunodeficiency virus infection than does a more focused response. To facilitate the creation of vaccine strategies that will generate cellular immune responses with the greatest breadth, it will be important to understand the mechanisms employed by the immune response to regulate the relative magnitudes of dominant and nondominant epitope-specific cellular immune responses. In this study, we generated dominant Gag p11C- and subdominant Env p41A-specific CD8+ T-lymphocyte responses in Mamu-A*01+ rhesus monkeys through vaccination with plasmid DNA and recombinant adenovirus encoding simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) proteins. Infection of vaccinated Mamu-A*01+ rhesus monkeys with a SHIV Gag Δp11C mutant virus generated a significantly increased expansion of the Env p41A-specific CD8+ T-lymphocyte response in the absence of secondary Gag p11C-specific CD8+ T-lymphocyte responses. These results indicate that the presence of the Gag p11C-specific CD8+ T-lymphocyte response following virus challenge may exert suppressive effects on primed Env p41A-specific CD8+ T-lymphocyte responses. These findings suggest that immunodomination exerted by dominant responses during SHIV infection may diminish the breadth of recall responses primed during vaccination.
Irrigation system performance and its impact on crop productivity in Sri Lanka

This article analyses the performance of two irrigation systems in Sri Lanka, using performance measures adapted from Theil's mean‐square forecast error concept. The performance is measured in terms of defined objectives that are decomposed into three components measuring adequacy, equity or dependability of water deliveries, and management capability. The relationship between the level of performance, as estimated by the above measures, and crop productivity is determined using regression analysis. The study demonstrates that input and institutional variables such as fertilizer, labour and power concentration have a positive impact on yields while poor irrigation management performance has a negative effect.
Reliability of methods for hepatitis B virus DNA detection

A quality assurance program has been established by the European Group for Rapid Viral Diagnosis and the European Expert Group on Viral Hepatitis for monitoring nucleic acid detection methods for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum samples. Thirty-nine laboratories participated in this quality program and generated 43 data sets. Of the participating laboratories, all but one used the PCR technique to detect HBV DNA. A coded panel was tested that was composed of seven undiluted HBV DNA-positive serum samples and five HBV DNA-negative donor serum samples. Furthermore, two dilution series, one from a positive patient and one from a full-length recombinant DNA, were included. Twenty-six data sets (60.5%) had faultless results with both dilution series. Twelve data sets (27.9%) recognized the undiluted serum samples, and 19 data sets (44.2%) had false-negative and/or false-positive results. Ten data sets (23.3%) performed well with the entire panel of samples. From these results, it can be concluded that in a large group of laboratories HBV detection by PCR shows specificity and sensitivity problems; therefore, PCR test interpretation should be done with great care.
Rhinasthma: a new specific QoL questionnaire for patients with rhinitis and asthma

Introduction: To date we have available specific instruments assessing health‐related quality of life (HRQL) in rhinoconjunctivitis or in asthma, but not instruments evaluating rhinitis and asthma together, although they often coexist. The aim of our study was to develop and validate a specific quality of life (QoL) questionnaire for adult patients with rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma or both.
Formation control for multi-domain autonomous vehicles based on dual quaternions

Unmanned networked multirobot systems have the potential to accomplish complex field tasks with minimum human intervention. Motion coordination of vehicles that operate in different domains (land, sea, air) is one of the problems that need to be addressed to achieve such a goal. This article presents a representation method based on dual quaternions for leader- follower formation control architectures. This representation offers the most compact and computationally efficient screw transformation formalism and can be used to describe rigid body motions because they simultaneously describe positions and orientations with only eight parameters. A controller in dual quaternion formation space is proposed and analyzed. Computer simulation results and experimental tests applied to the task of escorting an UGV with UAVs are shown to verify the functionality of the proposed system.
3D imaging of the 58 kDa cell binding subunit of the Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin.

Pathogenic strains of Helicobacter pylori produce a potent exotoxin, VacA, which intoxicates gastric epithelial cells and leads to peptic ulcer. The toxin is released from the bacteria as a high molecular mass homo-oligomer of a 95 kDa polypeptide which undergoes specific proteolytic cleavage to 37 kDa and 58 kDa subunits. We have engineered a strain of H. pylori to delete the gene sequence coding for the 37 kDa subunit. The remaining 58 kDa subunit is expressed efficiently and exported as a soluble dimer that is non-toxic but binds target cells in a manner similar to the holotoxin. A 3D reconstruction of the molecule from electron micrographs of quick-freeze, deep-etched preparations reveals the contribution of each building block to the structure and permits the reconstruction of the oligomeric holotoxin starting from individual subunits. In this model P58 subunits are assembled in a ring structure with P37 subunits laying on the top. The data indicate that the 58 kDa subunit is capable of folding autonomously into a discrete structure recognizable within the holotoxin and containing the cell binding domain.
The Educational Outcomes of Hispanics and Non-Hispanics in Arizona: Implications for National and State Policy Makers

The majority of the literature dealing with Hispanic and immigrant education focuses primarily on large states to the detriment of other states, such as Arizona. Using the 1990 5% Census Public Use Microdata Sample file for Arizona, this study estimates the role of ethnicity and immigration at different education levels after controlling for individual and household variables. The study also links state fiscal revenue to a high school diploma, arguing that policy makers have this economic incentive to increase high school graduation rates. The study’s findings argue for a reconsideration of funding priorities to shore up the weakest points in the education pipeline.
LABOR MARKET VOLATILITY, SKILLS, AND FINANCIAL GLOBALIZATION

We analyze the impact of financial globalization on volatilities of hours worked and wages of high-skilled and low-skilled workers. Using cross-country, industry-level data for the years 1970–2004, we establish stylized facts that document how volatilities of hours worked and wages of workers with different skill levels have changed over time. We then document that the volatility of hours worked by low-skilled workers has increased the most in response to the increase in financial globalization. We develop a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model of a small open economy that is consistent with the empirical results. The model predicts that greater financial globalization increases the volatility of hours worked, and this effect is strongest for low-skilled workers.
Characterization of environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa using multilocus sequence typing scheme

Purpose. The objectives of this study were to examine environmental (hydrocarbon degrading) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates with Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) and to determine their relevant features, such as serotype, virulence genes, biofilm forming ability and hydrocarbon degrading capacity. Methodology. The diversity of environmental isolates was assessed with an MLST scheme. Investigation of virulence determinants included serotyping, hemolytic activity test and the detection of virulence genes exoS, exoY, exoT, exoU, exoA. Biofilm forming ability was examined in a modified microtiter assay, hydrocarbon degrading capacity was determined with gravimetric methods. Results. The majority of environmental isolates shared the same MLST profiles with isolates of cystic fibrosis (CF). Virulence patterns and serotypes were slightly connected to the phylogenetic localization, but further clinically important features such as antibiotic resistance were not. At least one of the examined environmental isolates was multidrug‐resistant, virulent and had biofilm forming ability such as nosocomial P. aeruginosa and retained its hydrocarbon degradation ability. Conclusion. The current theses that distinguish isolates originating from different sources are questionable; environmental P. aeruginosa can be a potential risk to public health and cannot be excluded as an external (non‐nosocomial) source of infections, especially in patients with CF. Further studies such as pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and the determination of other clinically important virulence factors are needed to confirm these findings.
Using Stated Preferences to Analyze the Service Quality of Public Transport

ABSTRACT In this article we use discrete choice experiments to analyze service quality of public transport bus services in Gran Canaria, Spain. Discrete choice experiments are created to estimate travellers’ preferences and to obtain a measure of the global service quality. The modeling strategy considers the combination of two data sets, the analysis of the inertia effect as well as the correlation among responses of the same individual. Results suggest the existence of behavioral differences for urban and interurban passengers, especially in their perception of certain attributes as well as in the willingness to pay for improving the level of service.
MIMO waveform design using Spectrally Modulated Spectrally Encoded (SMSE) framework

In this paper, we have applied Spectrally Modulated Spectrally Encoded (SMSE) framework to design multiple input multiple output (MIMO) waveform. The existing SMSE framework can be used to generate different multi-carrier waveforms by appropriately designing variables including data, coding, orthogonality, windowing, availability of frequency and used frequency components. It has been approved to be a generic framework to generate multi-carrier waveforms for cognitive radio due to its flexibility. However, spacial diversity has not been considered in the framework. Hence, we extend the SMSE framework with MIMO capability in this paper. Simulation results prove the spacial diversity gain of SMSE-based MIMO waveform. The SMSE-based MIMO waveform design can be applied in cognitive radio to improve transmission rate and in radar to improve radar performance.
Beyond microfoundations: Towards a not-too-rational macroeconomics

At UCLA we are establishing a Center for Computable Economics. I have been very much involved in this effort. This may surprise you. That a non-mathematical macro/monetary economist should become an enthusiast for this project is one of those things that "do not compute. " But then, as I will explain, we take a special interest in things that do not compute. One may come to Computable Economics by many intellectual routes. I will trace my own, not because it makes a particularly edifying story, but because it will tell you what kind of problems I hope we can make progress on by developing the field of Computable Economics. But before we get to that, I had better explain what I mean by Computable Economics.
Assessing Wood-Energy Pricing Policies in Urban Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)

Burkina Faso has been running many interventions in the energy sector over the last decades. Still, there is a dearth of reliable and ready available price and income elasticities of demand to base these on, especially for domestic use of traditional fuels. The paper uses an Almost Ideal demand system (AIDS) model to explain the failures of wood-energy pricing and substitution policies. With the consumers’ preferences strong separability assumption, income elasticities of AIDS model are estimated; the use of the formula of Frisch (1959) allowed computing own- and cross-price elasticities. A relative inelasticity is observed for.wood-energy demand compared to households income and fuel price. This low sensitivity of the wood-energy compared to its own price and households’ income confirms the strong dependency of these households to fuel wood. Moreover, hicksian cross price elasticities between wood-energy and other fuels reveal substitution relations. The low income and own- and cross-price elasticities of wood-energy explain why substitution and price policies do not operate well and have a very weak impact on the fall in the demand of the wood-energy.
Managing the last mile of the supply chain for spare parts

En este trabajo se analiza el diseno de la cadena de suministro en la ultima milla para las piezas de repuesto que usan los consumidores en las actividades de reparacion que llevan a cabo ellos mismos. Se distribuyo una encuesta entre consumidores holandeses para identificar los metodos de entrega preferidos y las caracteristicas de los pedidos. Los resultados indican que existe un deseo general entre estos consumidores de realizar actividades de reparacion ellos mismos y prefieren la entrega directa de las piezas de repuesto. En cuanto a las caracteristicas de los pedidos, depende de caracteristicas coyunturales tales como la edad o lo criticas que sean las piezas.
Effects of nutritional status on hormone concentrations of the somatotropin axis and metabolites in plasma and colostrum of Japanese Black cows.

We aimed to determine the effects of nutritional status on concentrations of somatotropic axis hormones (growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)), insulin and metabolites (glucose, total protein and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA)) in the plasma and colostrum in late antepartum cows. Eight pregnant Japanese Black cows were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (n = 4 per group). Control cows (CON) received 100% of their nutritional requirements until parturition, whereas restricted group cows (RES) received 60% of their nutritional requirements. Blood samples were taken during the antepartum period, and blood and colostrum samples were collected on days 0, 1, and 3 after calving. Compared to the CON group, the RES group had higher concentrations of GH and NEFA in plasma, but significantly lower concentrations of glucose and insulin in plasma. The concentrations of GH in plasma after calving were significantly higher, but total plasma protein was significantly lower in RES than in CON cows. Compared to the CON group, the RES group had significantly higher concentrations of GH in colostrum, but significantly lower total concentrations of protein in colostrum. Concentrations of IGF-1 were not different between the two groups. These findings suggest that maternal nutritional status during late gestation influences concentrations of GH and total protein in the blood and colostrum of Japanese Black cows.
Autocrine Endocannabinoid Signaling through CB1 Receptors Potentiates OX1 Orexin Receptor Signaling

It has been proposed that OX1 orexin receptors and CB1 cannabinoid receptors can form heteromeric complexes, which affect the trafficking of OX1 receptors and potentiate OX1 receptor signaling to extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK). We have recently shown that OX1 receptor activity releases high levels of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), suggesting an alternative route for OX1-CB1 receptor interaction in signaling, for instance, in retrograde synaptic transmission. In the current study, we set out to investigate this possibility utilizing recombinant Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells. 2-AG released from OX1 receptor–expressing cells acted as a potent paracrine messenger stimulating ERK activity in neighboring CB1 receptor–expressing cells. When OX1 and CB1 receptors were expressed in the same cells, OX1 stimulation–induced ERK phosphorylation and activity were strongly potentiated. The potentiation but not the OX1 response as such was fully abolished by specific inhibition of CB1 receptors or the enzyme responsible for 2-AG generation, diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL). Although the results do not exclude the previously proposed OX1-CB1 heteromerization, they nevertheless unequivocally identify DAGL-dependent 2-AG generation as the pivotal determinant of the OX1-CB1 synergism and thus suggest a functional rather than a molecular interaction of OX1 and CB1 receptors.
Partnerships — A Key To Growth In Small Business

The conventional image of the small business owner is that of a highly independent individual, taking risks and 'doing it tough' with limited assistance from others. However, research conducted in the United Kingdom and Australia with high performance small firms suggest that this is not so. A multivariate data analysis of the relationship between business management practice and sales growth performance identified the importance of partnering. This refers to the process of working in partnership with people who affect the business. Partnering involves creating and maintaining partnerships with everyone who affects your business. Working in partnership involves the creative talents and energies of everyone who can affect your business. The effect is that everyone, from staff through to supplier and customers, works together for mutual gain. These findings suggest that the owner of a small business needs to view himself or herself less as a lonely, isolated battler and more as someone who can gain from partnering. A willingness to seek strategic alliances can prove a valuable source of potential growth for small firms.
Studies on insulin‐like growth factor‐I and insulin in chick limb morphogenesis

The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) promotes the proliferation and directed outgrowth of the subridge mesodermal cells of the developing limb bud, while suppressing their differentiation. Insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) and its receptor are expressed by the subridge mesodermal cells of the chick limb bud growing out in response to the AER, and specific insulin receptors are present in the limb bud during its outgrowth. To study the possible roles of IGF‐I and insulin in limb outgrowth, we have examined their effects on the morphogenesis of posterior and anterior portions of the distal tip of stage 25 embryonic chick wing buds subjected to organ culture in serum‐free medium in the presence or absence of the AER and limb ectoderm. The distal mesoderm of control posterior explants lacking an AER or all limb ectoderm ceases expressing IGF‐I mRNA, exhibits little or no proliferation, fails to undergo outgrowth, and rapidly differentiates. Exogenous IGF‐I and insulin promote the outgrowth and proliferation and suppress the differentiation of distal mesodermal cells in posterior explants lacking an AER or limb ectoderm, thus mimicking at least to some extent the outgrowth promoting and antidifferentiative effects normally elicited on the subridge mesoderm by the AER. Furthermore, IGF‐I and insulin‐treated posterior explants exhibit high IGF‐I mRNA expression, indicating that IGF‐I and insulin maintain the expression of endogenous IGF‐I by the subridge mesoderm. We have also found IGF‐I and insulin can affect the morphology and activity of the AER. When the posterior portion of the wing bud tip is cultured with the AER intact in control medium, on day 4–5 the AER flattens, ceases expressing high amounts of the AER‐characteristic homeobox‐containing gene Msx2, and concomitantly an elongated cartilaginous element differentiates in the subridge mesoderm. In contrast, in the presence of exogenous IGF‐I or insulin the AER of such explants does not flatten, continues expressing high amounts of Msx2, and the subridge mesoderm remains undifferentiated and proliferative. Thus, exogenous IGF‐I and insulin maintain the thickness of the AER and sustain its expression of Msx2, while sustaining the anti‐differentiative effect normally elicited on the subridge mesoderm by a thickned functional AER. Notably, we have also found that exogenous IGF‐I and insulin induce the formation of a thickened ridge‐like structure that expresses high amounts of Msx2 from the normally thin distal anterior ectoderm of the limb bud, while promoting dramatic outgrowth and proliferation of the anterior mesoderm, which normally undergoes little outgrowth or proliferation. These studies provide support for the hypothesis that endogenous IGF‐I and insulin may be involved in promoting the outgrowth and suppressing the differentiation of limb mesoderm in response to the AER, and also in regulating and/or maintaining at least some aspects of AER activity. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Episodes of Psychiatric Care and Medical Utilization

This study examines the reduction in medical care utilization after mental health treatment, also known as the offset effect. With data from a computerized ambulatory care information system, an episode-of-care method is used to characterize the mental health care received by patients in a prepaid group practice. The characteristics of the psychiatric episodes, such as duration, type of therapy, and number of visits, are examined in relation to the degree of offset effects among psychiatric patients. The results indicate that offset effects are most pronounced for a variety of characteristics related to the psychiatric episode of care including brief, high-intensity therapy, treatment for transient rather than chronic mental illness, and individual rather than group therapies. Finally, this study replicates two major findings in the offset literature: the characteristic peaking of medical use before mental health care and the shortterm nature of the offset effect.
Underreaction to Industry-Wide Earnings and the Post-Forecast Revision Drift

We test whether the post-forecast revision drift is mainly attributable to investors’ underreaction to industry-wide earnings news conveyed by analysts’ forecast revisions. We find a large drift associated with industry-wide earnings news but no drift associated with firm-specific earnings news. Consistent with the functional fixation hypothesis, we provide evidence that the post-forecast revision drift is driven by investors’ underreaction to the higher persistence of industry-wide earnings. While prior research has focused on differential persistence of earnings components stemming from managerial reporting discretion, we provide evidence suggesting that investors do not fully understand the differential earnings persistence attributable to industry fundamentals.