Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Highly Sensitive Model for Xenogenic GVHD Using Severe Immunodeficient NOG Mice

Background. Several animal models for xenogenic (xeno) graft versus host disease (GVHD) have been developed in immunodeficient mice, such as C.B-17-scid and nonobese diabetes (NOD)/severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), by human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (hPBMC) transplantation. However, these models pose problems because they require sublethal total body irradiation of the mice and a large number of hPBMCs to induce GVHD, and the timing of onset of GVHD is also unstable. The aim of this study is to establish improved murine models of xeno-GVHD using novel immunodeficient NOD/Shi-scid IL2rγnull (NOG) mice. Methods. In three strains of immunodeficient mice, NOG, BALB/cA-RAG2null IL2rγnull, and NOD/SCID mice, GVHD was induced by transplantation of hPBMCs with or without total body irradiation, and the GVHD symptoms in these strains were compared. Results. After intravenous transplantation of hPBMCs, NOG mice showed early onset of GVHD symptoms and a small number of hPBMCs (2.5×106) was sufficient to induce GVHD when compared with BALB/cA-RAG2null IL2rγnull and NOD/SCID mice. In addition, total body irradiation was not always necessary in the present model. Conclusions. These results indicate that our model using the NOG mouse is a useful tool to investigate GVHD and to develop effective drugs for GVHD.
Reversibly bonded nanocapillaries by electrostatic forces

Reversibly bonded nanocapillaries (500 - 50 nm) were fabricated on gold and silicon substrates using electrostatic forces that can be generated on a rigiflex mold upon removal from an original, engraved silicon master. Polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEG-DA) was used as a rigiflex mold material with highly negative surface charges (zeta potential: -113.55 mW). The rigiflex, transparent PEG-DA mold spontaneously wets gold or silicon substrate via electrostatic attraction, forming reversibly bonded nanocapillaries without any surface modifications or external stimuli. Using these nanocapillaries, nanolines or nanowells were fabricated without residual layer along with one-dimensional arrays of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and gold nanoparticles.
Factors Affecting Quality of Work Life of Private Taxi Drivers

This study aims to investigate the factors affecting the quality of work life (QWL) among private taxi drivers in Punjab state of India. This is an empirical study. A well-structured research schedule was used to collect data from 300 private taxi drivers using convenient random sampling technique. The data have been analyzed with the help of Kaiser–Meyer–Oklin (KMO) test, Bartlett’s test of sphericity, correlation matrix and factor analysis to identify the factors. The study identified 12 factors that affect the QWL of taxi drivers, namely, accidental and environmental risk factor, safety, health and well-being, ergonomics risks, unsocial working hours (sleep/fatigue-related risks), job and social security, extent of interpersonal relations (with co-workers), occupational stress, human relations and social aspects of work life, work and life space, adequate and fair compensation, social relevance of working life and effective grievance handling procedure, and in demographics characteristics age, experience and income were used. The present study will be useful for human resource managers, policy makers and government while framing their human resource-related policies and procedures for the labourers working in the unorganized service sector.
Parameters of it service monitoring for business process quality support

Business processes need relevant applications of information systems with relevant data and relevant operation for current functioning, they also need adequate technological platform with necessary functions; in general, business processes need a suitable IT service (or a group of IT services) for correct performance. These IT services have to fully support business processes as well as they have to be developed according to the needs of business process quality support. IT services have to be created and parameterized in such a way that in case of a problem, a quick reaction follows in both senses – damage minimization and fast restoration of provided IT services. Business processes are monitored and evaluated and based on the results, changes in particular processes are designed. This process support utilizes time-proven methods and standards. The requirements for IT services quality is similar as for business processes, however, recommended procedures include usually general recommendations only. Another fact is that the importance of IT services is not the same as there are different influences, such as process, time criticality, other IT services and other influences. The text focuses on setting the parameters for measuring IT services quality within an organization.
An Empirical Study of Supervised Learning Techniques on Multispectral Dataset

In recent years, machine learning played a vital role in the field of artificial intelligence. Techniques like classification and regression has wide application in various field especially in data mining. In remote sensing, classification of objects has shown great significance such as in disaster management and defense purposes. In this paper, we studied supervised learning techniques on multiclass dataset extracted from multispectral satellite image. Investigation while simulating certain parameters of classifiers such as ANN, SVM, K-nn etc. gave some promising results. Analysis and comparison depends on performance measure like accuracy precision, recall and F-measure. Amongst these techniques, K-nearest neighbor has given the best result with 90.3% accuracy for multispectral satellite image dataset.
Brightness Measurements and Calibration With Airborne and Terrestrial Laser Scanners

Brightness measurement with an airborne or terrestrial laser scanner is a new concept since the intensity information recorded by the laser scanner detectors has, thus far, not been used or implemented in surface brightness studies. This is partly due to the calibration problems and the lack of information on the behavior of laser light in the observation geometry where laser scanners operate. In addition, the 3-D position information has, thus far, been sufficient for surface modeling. We present a new type of empirical calibration scheme for laser scanner intensity developed with a terrestrial laser scanner in laboratory and field conditions using brightness targets and a calibrated reference panel. We compare the results with those obtained from airborne laser scanner flight campaigns using the same set of brightness targets. It turns out that the relative calibration of laser scanner intensity is possible using a calibrated grayscale but requires background information of the targets and the conditions in which the measurements are carried out. We also discuss the feasibility and uses of a laser-scanner-based intensity measurement in general.
A gravity compensation-based upper limb rehabilitation robot

This paper presents a control scheme using human arm dynamics to simulate the subject's volitional movement. To achieve this goal, first, it has to obtain the torques purely generated from the subject from force/torque sensors. With this result, the controller can implement the therapeutic exercises, consisting of the active range of motion (AROM), the active-assistive range of motion (A-AROM), and the resistive range of motion (RROM) modes on our self-built upper limb rehabilitation robot arm by feeding back the torques purely generated from the subject with different gains to the associated arm controller. Besides, by modifying the gravity term in human arm dynamics, this controller can achieve different levels of gravity compensation of the upper limb. To validate our design, some realistic experiments are conducted and the performance of our design is demonstrated.
Social Media Marketing and Business Success of Automobile Dealers in Rivers State

This research study was carried out to empirically examine the relationship between social media marketing and business success of automobile car dealers in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study involved one hundred and sixty (160) respondents using questionnaire as the major instrument. After data cleaning one hundred and forty-three (143) copies of questionnaire were used for analysis with statistical tool Spearman Rank Order correlation coefficient with statistical package for social science (SPSS). It was found that there is a significant relationship between Facebook, Twitter and YouTube that significantly influenced sales growth, market share and profitability. The study concluded that Facebook, Twitter and YouTube significantly influence sales growth, market share and profitability of automobile car dealers in Rivers State. The study recommends amongst others that: Firms should make Facebook, Twitter and YouTube advertisement more catchy, appealing and trendy in order for online customers to patronize their products. The study suggested that more empirical research should be carried out on other social media platforms such as MySpace, LinkedIn, Friendster, Kyte and Istagram. This study further suggests that additional studies should be carried out in other states of the country so that we can compare the outcome with the present study.
Orthogonality of Calcium Concentration and Ability of 4,5-Diaminofluorescein to Detect NO*

We have developed diaminofluoresceins (DAFs) and diaminorhodamines as fluorescent indicators for NO based on the specific reaction of the aromatic vicinal diamines with NO. Among them, 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) is widely used for real-time biological imaging of NO in cultured cells or tissues by many researchers. Contrary to a recent report of divalent cation sensitivity and photoactivation of DAF-2 (Broillet, M. C., Randin, O., and Chatton, J. Y. (2001) FEBS Lett. 491, 227–232), our study using NO gas itself reveals that the reaction of DAF-2 and NO is completely independent of Ca2+ and Mg2+ at physiological concentrations. Ca2+ enhances not the conversion of DAF-2 into its fluorescent product (DAF-2 triazole) but the release of NO from NO donors. Therefore it is concluded that DAF-2 can provide reliable information on NO production in biological systems regardless of the dynamic changes of Ca2+concentration.
Understanding the role of Expectation Disconfirmation Theory on IT outsourcing success

iii To my husband Andy and To my children iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to thank God for blessing me with such a loving family and always providing for us. ―But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. ‖ – Isaiah 40:31 I am forever thankful for my amazing husband Andy and his continuous love, support, and encouragement. I am also grateful to my sweet children who are such a blessing to my life and have always pointed me towards the most important things in life.
Transcription Program of Human Herpesvirus 8 (Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus)

ABSTRACT Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), a gammaherpesvirus implicated in Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and Castleman's disease, encodes several pathogenically important cellular homologs. To define the HHV-8 transcription program, RNA obtained from latently infected body cavity-based lymphoma 1 cells induced to undergo lytic replication was used to query a custom HHV-8 DNA microarray containing nearly every known viral open reading frame. The patterns of viral gene expression offer insights into the replication and pathogenic strategies of HHV-8.
A cocktail of p16INK4a and Ki-67, p16INK4a and minichromosome maintenance protein 2 as triage tests for human papillomavirus primary cervical cancer screening

Most human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are transient and additional triage approaches should be built after HPV-based primary cervical cancer screening. We evaluated the accuracy of p16/Ki-67 and p16/mcm2 dual staining as biomarkers for triaging HPV positive women in China. 4070 participants aged 35 to 64 years attending ongoing cervical cancer screening were enrolled in 2015-2016. Cervical exfoliated cells were collected for HPV DNA analysis and the residual positive specimens were tested for liquid-based cytology and biomarkers. Women infected with HPV 16/18 type or other 12 high-risk HPV types with abnormal cytology results received colposcopy. We found the positive rates of both biomarkers increased significantly with histology severity. p16/Ki-67 positivity in HPV16/18 group, other 12 high-risk HPV group and HPV negative group was 50.0%, 33.7% and 8.9%, respectively. The corresponding p16/mcm2 positivity was 70.0%, 56.3% and 6.7%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of p16/Ki-67 for CIN2+ in all HPV-positive women were 91.7% and 63.5%, with a referral rate of 36.2%, while p16/mcm2 were 87.5% and 42.1%, with a referral rate of 58.4%, respectively. The sensitivity of p16/Ki-67 increased to 95.8% for CIN2+ and 100% for CIN3+ when combined with high-grade cytology, without decrease in specificity. Our studies suggest that p16/Ki-67 is an efficient triaging biomarker for HPV-positive women and could reduce colposcopy workload. p16/mcm2 is more sensitive compared with cytology for identifying cervical lesions.
The Critical Role of Positive Incentives for Reducing Insider Threats

Abstract : Traditional insider threat practices involve negative incentives that attempt to force employees to act in the interests of the organization and, when relied on excessively, can result in negative unintended consequences that exacerbate insider threats. Positive incentives that attempt to encourage employees to act in the interests of the organization can complement negative incentives. In our research, we identified and analyzed three avenues for aligning the interests of the employee and the organization: job engagement, perceived organizational support, and connectedness with coworkers. Based on an analysis of three insider threat incidents and a survey of organizations, we developed a model of the disgruntled insider threat problem as it relates to dissatisfaction with the employing organization and the potential benefits associated with positive, intrinsic incentives that improve perceived organizational support and justice. To help organizations understand their options for using positive incentives as part of their insider threat program, we outline workforce management practices to improve employees feelings of being supported by the organization. This research is a first step toward creating a well-grounded foundation on which insider threat programs can establish a more balanced and effective means of reducing insider threats, one that is a net positive for employees.
RESEARCH OF THE POTENTIALS OF TWITTER SOCIAL NETWORK IN CRISIS SITUATIONS

This paper describes an approach for harnessing Twitter social network in crisis situations. Main goal was to investigate possibilities of using Twitter as a platform for collecting and dissemination of information during the natural and environmental disasters. Research context is focused on the period of floods in the Western Balkans during May 2014, particularly Bosnia and Herzegovi­ na. A method for collecting, storing, analyzing and presenting data, i.e. tweets and retweets from Twitter, is described. Further, an application for gathering and visualization of data from Twitter API was developed. Research sample included 45480 Twitter messages from users in the region of Bosnia and Her­ zegovina, Serbia and Croatia. Data were investigated using Social network analysis techniques with respect to location, content and user characteristics. Study results pointed out that Twitter is a valuable source of important infor­ mation in crisis situations, particularly as a provider of prompt information from the endangered territories.
Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid Levels of amyloid β proteins 1-40 and 1-42 in Alzheimer disease

Background In brains with AD, Aβ is a major component of diffuse plaques. Previous reports showed that CSF Aβ42 levels were lower in patients with AD than in controls. Although studies showed higher plasma Aβ42 levels in familial AD, a recent report has indicated that plasma Aβ42 levels were similar in a sporadic AD group and controls. However, no information is published on plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels in relation to Apo E genotype or severity of dementia in sporadic AD. Objective To examine plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of amyloid β protein 1-40 (Aβ40) and 1-42 (Aβ42) levels in patients with probable Alzheimer disease (AD) and elderly nondemented control subjects in relation to the apolipoprotein E (Apo E) genotype and dementia severity. Setting Two university medical centers. Patients and Methods Levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 were measured in plasma from 78 patients with AD and 61 controls and in CSF from 36 patients with AD and 29 controls by means of a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Mean plasma Aβ40 levels were higher in the AD group than in controls ( P = .005), but there was substantial overlap; Aβ42 levels were similar between the groups. Levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 showed no association with sex or Mini-Mental State Examination scores. There was a significant relationship between age and Aβ40 level in controls but not in the AD group. Levels of Aβ40 were higher in patients with AD with the Apo E ϵ4 allele than in controls ( P P Conclusions Although mean plasma Aβ40 levels are elevated in sporadic AD and influenced by Apo E genotype, measurement of plasma Aβ40 levels is not useful to support the clinical diagnosis of AD. Lower levels of CSF Aβ42 in the AD group are consistent with previous studies.
Fidelity of DNA polymerase I and the DNA polymerase I-DNA primase complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have determined the fidelity of DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase I (yPol I) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To determine whether subunits other than the polymerase catalytic subunit influence fidelity, we measured the accuracy of yPol I purified by conventional procedures, which yields DNA polymerase with a partially proteolyzed catalytic subunit and no associated primase activity, and that of yPol I purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, which yields polymerase having a single high-molecular-weight species of the catalytic subunit, as well as three additional polypeptides and DNA primase activity. In assays that score polymerase errors within the lacZ alpha-complementation gene in M13mp2 DNA, yPol I and the yPol I-primase complex produced single-base substitutions, single-base frameshifts, and larger deletions. For specific errors and template positions, the two forms of polymerase exhibited differences in fidelity that could be as large as 10-fold. Nevertheless, results for the overall error frequency and the spectrum of errors suggest that the yPol I-DNA primase complex is not highly accurate and that, just as for the polymerase alone, its fidelity is not sufficient to account for a low spontaneous mutation rate in vivo. The specificity data also suggest models to explain -1 base frameshifts in nonrepeated sequences and certain complex deletions by a direct repeat mechanism involving aberrant loop-back synthesis.
Fluorinated Organics in the Biosphere

The use of organofluorine compounds has increased throughout this century, and they are now ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Although generally viewed as recalcitrant because of their lack of chemical reactivity, many fluorinated organics are biologically active. Several questions surround their distribution, fate, and effects. Of particular interest is the fate of perfluoroalkyl substituents, such as the trifluoromethyl group. Most evidence to date suggest that such groups resist defluorination, yet they can confer significant biological activity. Certain volatile fluorinated compounds can be oxidized in the troposphere yielding nonvolatile compounds, such as trifluoroacetic acid. In addition, certain nonvolatile fluorinated compounds can be transformed in the biosphere to volatile compounds. Research is needed to assess the fate and effects of nonvolatile fluorinated organics, the fluorinated impurities present in commercial formulations, and the transformation products generated by biochemical pr.
JC virus and simian virus 40 enhancers and transforming proteins: role in determining tissue specificity and pathogenicity in transgenic mice

When introduced into the germ line of mice, the simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen under the control of its own transcriptional enhancer and promoter selectively induced tumors in the choroid plexus as well as thymic hyperplasia and kidney pathology. In contrast, the JC virus (JCV) T antigen under the control of its own regulatory sequences induced hypomyelination of the central nervous system and tumors of neural origin. Since SV40 and JCV have extensive sequence homology, except for their transcriptional control regions, these observations suggest but do not prove that, although the diseases induced by the two viruses, are consequences of the transforming gene, they are determined predominantly by the respective viral enhancers and promoters. To test this hypothesis, the regulatory regions of the two viruses were exchanged, and transgenic mice were derived with either chimeric construct. Like wild-type JCV, the construct containing the SV40 T antigen under the control of the JCV regulatory region induced hypomyelination of the central nervous system and neural tumors. Surprisingly, mice with this construct also developed choroid plexus carcinomas. Like the wild-type SV40 transgenic mice, mice with the JCV T antigen under the control of the SV40 enhancer and promoter developed choroid plexus tumors and renal pathology. Unexpectedly, they also had hyperplasia of the thyroid follicular cells. These findings not only provide direct evidence for the specificity of the respective viral regulatory region but also, more importantly, show that the transforming genes play a critical role in determining viral pathogenesis.
eural correlates of attention bias to threat in post-traumatic stress disorder

Attentional biases have been proposed to contribute to symptom maintenance in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), although the neural correlates of these processes have not been well defined; this was the goal of the present study. We administered an attention bias task, the dot probe, to a sample of 37 (19 control, 18 PTSD+) traumatized African-American adults during fMRI. Compared to controls, PTSD+ participants demonstrated increased activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) in response to
High-Performance Bound-to-Continuum Quantum-Cascade Lasers for Broad-Gain Applications

Based on the bound-to-continuum active region design, we shall present a high performance continuous-wave (CW) quantum-cascade laser. In contrast to high performance lasers based on a two-phonon resonance transition and a narrow linewidth (< 165 cm-1), the device presented here exhibits a spontaneous emission full-width at half-maximum as large as 295 cm-1. Thus, such devices are very suitable for broadband tuning. At 30degC, it shows a maximum output power and slope efficiency of 188 mW and 500 mW/A, as well as a threshold current density of only 1.79 kA/cm2. Furthermore, at this temperature, the device demonstrates an internal differential quantum efficiency of 71% and a wall plug efficiency of 2.0%. The maximum CW operation temperature reached is 110degC. A thermal resistance of 4.3 K/W was attained by epi-down mounting on diamond submounts. The waveguide losses of 14 cm-1 are explained by intersubband absorption in addition to free-carrier absorption.