Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Targeted Inhibition of the Complement Alternative Pathway with Complement Receptor 2 and Factor H Attenuates Collagen Antibody-Induced Arthritis in Mice1

The alternative pathway (AP) of complement is required for the induction of collagen Ab-induced arthritis (CAIA) in mice. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a recombinant AP inhibitor containing complement receptor 2 and factor H (CR2-fH) on CAIA in mice. CR2 binds to tissue-fixed activation fragments of C3, and the linked fH is a potent local inhibitor of the AP. CAIA was induced in C57BL/6 mice by i.p. injections of 4 mAb to type II collagen (CII) on day 0 and LPS on day 3. PBS or CR2-fH (250 or 500 μg) were injected i.p. 15 min after the mAb to CII on day 0 and 15 min after LPS on day 3; the mice were sacrificed on day 10. The disease activity score (DAS) was decreased significantly (p < 0.001) in both groups receiving CR2-fH compared with the PBS. Histology scores for inflammation, pannus, bone damage, and cartilage damage decreased in parallel with the DAS. C3 deposition in the synovium and cartilage was significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) in the mice treated with CR2-fH. In vitro studies with immune complexes containing type II collagen and mAb to CII showed that CR2-fH specifically inhibited the AP with minimal effect on the classical pathway (CP) and no effect on the lectin pathway (LP). The relative potency of CR2-fH in vitro was superior to mAbs to factor B and C5. Thus, CR2-fH specifically targets and inhibits the AP of complement in vitro and is effective in CAIA in vivo.
Performance Management in Kenyan Public Schools: Implications and Challenges

This paper reports findings of a recent conceptual literature review of teacher performance management systems as implemented by the Teacher Service Commission in Kenya. It was undertaken by reviewing several TSC circulars, documents used in teacher management, HR literature and the TSC Act. It reflects the perspectives of the authors and TSC management in relation to HRM good practices and theories. Its main purpose was to apprise processes from earlier procedures, to ascertain current levels of use and satisfaction, and to determine whether performance management has become a more effective strategic tool in the human resource management repertoire. The conclusions suggest, that the use of, and satisfaction with performance management systems remain challenging, although there are some indications that the increasing integration of the current perspectives of HRM appears to encourage more strategic links between individual, group, and organizational outcomes to improve TSC teacher management systems.
What do Expectant Mothers Want?: A Preliminary Report on Consumer Demand for Obstetric Services

Summary: A sample of 150 expectant mothers participated in pilot work for a large scale survey designed to identify and explain factors governing consumer demand for obstetric services in Australia. Preliminary findings indicated demand was greatest for practices which foster postnatal involvement with the newborn; medical intervention was in least demand and respondents were relatively indifferent to delivery room innovations characteristic of Leboyer births. A factual knowledge of childbirth, rather than childbirth experience (parity), explained a substantial proportion of the variation in consumer demand. Results suggested that expectant mothers' needs are not consistent with the attitudes toward maternity care expressed by obstetricians and their critics in much of the current literature.
Creating a bridge: An asylum seeker’s ideas for social inclusion

ABSTRACT Background: Asylum seekers often experience social exclusion, beyond work and productivity. For this group, social inclusion is needed in order to participate in their new society and regain control over daily life and occupations, as well as prevent health problems. Social inclusion has been discussed within occupational science, and a collaborative approach such as the Participatory Occupational Justice Framework recommended to be followed. However, there is still a lack of understanding of the asylum seekers’ perspective on social inclusion, which this article begins to address through the lived experience of one participant. Method: Framed as a phenomenological study, data were collected through interview and articles written by the asylum-seeking participant. The data were analysed using Giorgi’s method as modified by Malterud (2017). Results: The participant’s ideas revolved around the components of Bogeas and colleague’s (2017) description of social inclusion and revealed the problems that he experienced daily in the asylum centre. His suggestions for change and social inclusion included the need for asylum seekers to take part in the daily work in the centre, establishing channels of information, and a residents’ council to support collaboration with the local population. The participant stressed that social inclusion should be a two-way process, with both sides taking responsibility for working with the challenges. Conclusion: Although there are objective conditions that might limit social inclusion, a collaborative and participatory approach offers the opportunity for social inclusion and participation in occupation. Employing such an approach would facilitate the health, well-being, and inclusion of asylum seekers; and promote occupational justice for an otherwise marginalised population.
Push-out bond strength of a nano-modified mineral trioxide aggregate.

INTRODUCTION To analyze the push-out bond strength of Angelus WMTA (Angelus Dental Products), a nano-modification of WMTA (Kamal Asgar Research Center) and Bioaggregate (Innovative Bioceramix). METHODS Sixty 2-mm-thick root sections were prepared from 60 single-rooted human teeth. The dentin disks were randomly divided into three groups (n = 20) and filled with Angelus WMTA, Nano-WMTA, or Bioaggregate, respectively. Push-out bond strength values of the specimens were measured by a universal testing machine and examined under scanning electron microscope at × 40 magnification to determine the nature of the bond failure. The data were analyzed with a Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS The greatest mean for push-out bond strength (138.48 ± 11.43 MPa) was observed for the nano-modification of WMTA. The values decreased to 110.73 ± 11.19 and 25.64 ± 5.27 MPa for Angelus WMTA and Bioaggregate, respectively. There were significant differences between the groups (P < 0.001). Inspection of the samples revealed the bond failure to be predominantly adhesive type except for the nano-modification group, as some samples also exhibited cohesive failures. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that the force needed for the displacement of the nano-modification of WMTA (NWMTA) was significantly higher than for Angelus WMTA and Bioaggregate.
Cystatin C serum concentrations underestimate glomerular filtration rate in renal transplant recipients.

Cystatin C, a cationic 13.3-kDa protein (1) has recently been described as a promising endogenous marker of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (2) in both adults (2)(3) and children (4)(5). Correlation of serum cystatin C concentrations with the results of inulin and 51Cr-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid clearance examinations was superior to serum creatinine (2)(3)(4). Although patients with a wide range of renal function were examined, the potential effect of underlying disease on this correlation has not been studied yet. In a recent longitudinal study on 24 pediatric renal transplant recipients, cystatin C serum concentrations were found to underestimate GFR compared with the results of a 24-h creatinine clearance (6). To validate these findings, we extended our previous study on the correlation between inulin clearance (CIn) and serum cystatin C concentration in children (4). One hundred and eighty-four children (87 girls, 97 boys) with a mean age of 11.2 ± 4.5 years (mean ± SD; range, 0.24–17.96 years) had undergone an inulin clearance examination between 1985 and 1995 at the Department of Pediatric Nephrology at Hannover Medical School. Forty-four of these (19 boys, 25 girls; mean age, 13.9 ± 3.2 years) had received a renal transplantation (RTx). Serum samples from CIn examinations had been stored at −20 °C for 6.9 ± 2.8 years (mean ± SD) until measurement of cystatin C, which has been shown to be stable for such extended periods of storage (4). Cystatin C was measured by particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetry (2)(3) using the Cystatin C PET-Kit (Dako) on a Hitachi 717 automated analyzer (Roche Diagnostics). Because the GFR was subnormal in all of the RTx recipients, this group was compared with a control group of 56 non-RTx children (26 boys, 30 girls; mean age, 11.2 ± 4.8 …
Emissions burden shifting in global value chains – winners and losers under multi-regional versus bilateral accounting

ABSTRACT International trade leads to emissions burden shifting and threatens mitigation targets. Multiregional input–output (MRIO) and bilateral trade input–output (BTIO) models are widely used to analyse emissions embodied in trade and global value chains. Especially, the last one is used in analysing border tax adjustment (BTA) on the carbon content of imports. The model choice is not trivial. The analysis shows BTIO's inability to capture the consumer-principle throughout the production chain and its inadequacy as an option for consumption-based accounting, because it allocates emissions to the first importing country and to the sector of production, instead to the consumer (both country and region). Regarding the BTA assessment, BTIO tax domestic carbon content of direct imports, but not indirect imported carbon content. MRIO does provide incentives for mitigation in third countries. The differences in allocation of emissions and taxes’ burden of both models have different consequences for developed and undeveloped regions.
Price Signals and Supply Responses for Staple Food Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

We investigate the supply response for main staple food crops in Sub-Saharan Africa over the period 2005−2013 using an innovative dataset recently developed by FAO’s “Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies” (MAFAP) programme. Relying on dynamic panel techniques, we observe that acreage, production and yields respond to price signals, even if with a limited intensity. Moreover, we find that direct price incentives arising from border protection, government interventions in domestic markets, and price shocks at the border stimulate farmers’ supply. We also show that omitting transaction costs from the analysis leads to underestimation of the price elasticity of supply. Conversely, using wholesale instead of farm gate prices as proxy for producer prices leads to overestimation of this price elasticity.
The more others care, the more you share? – Social contagion as a stardom trigger of social media superstars –

ABSTRACT Emerging superstars on social media platforms reshape the media landscape. This research analyses social contagion as a stardom trigger of social media superstars (SMS). We argue that in addition to serving as a quality indicator, the number of observed consumers of SMS performances also indicates the suitability of discussing the SMS performances with others. We experimentally manipulated the number of previous views of a YouTube video and find that a high number of previous views significantly increases the perceived quality and the video’s discussion suitability even when holding all objective video characteristics constant. We discuss implications for aspiring SMS and (online) marketers.
Establishment of three human liver carcinoma cell lines and some of their biological characteristics in vitro.

Three cell lines derived from liver carcinoma specimens of two male and one female operated patients have been successfully established in vitro and designated by the names of BEL-7402, BEL-7404 and BEL-7405. In the course of the establishment (from the 2nd transfer onwards) studies were made to characterize them. The doubling time of cell population was found to be 20--26 hr. They formed tumor nodules upon heterologous transplantation. They appeared as epithelial-like cells in morphology and showed, in addition to desmosomes, the presence of cytoplasmic tonofibrills which were typical of epithelial cells by electron microscopy. The ultrastructural features were different from normal human liver cells, but similar to clinical hepatoma cells. They had hypotriploid chromosone number with one abnormally long acrocentric chromosome present in all 3 cell lines and additional small acrocentric chromosome and chromosome fragment in BEL-7405 line of cells. AFP were detected intracellularly by the indirect immunofluorescent method. LDH isoenzyme showed a pattern different from that of human adult liver, but similar to those of embryonic liver and clinical hepatoma with the increase of the percentage of LDH-1 (H-type) at the expanse of LDH-5 (M-type), i.e. with a higher H/M ratio. The results suggest the 3 lines of liver carcinoma cells as rapidly growing and not well differentiated epithelial-like malignant cells.
The potential for the improvement of the nutritive value of soya-bean meal by different proteases in broiler chicks and broiler cockerels

1. The potential for improving the nutritive value of commercial solvent-extracted, heattreated soya-bean meal (SBM) by protease treatment was measured using growing broiler chicks and tube-fed broiler cockerels. 2. SBM was pre-treated (50°C for 2 h) with water alone; at alkaline pH (initial pH 8.25) with and without protease P1 (isolated from a Bacillus species) or at acid pH (initial pH 4.5) with and without protease P2 (isolated from an Aspergillus species) and incorporated into diets (290 g SBM/kg diet) for broiler chicks (20 chicks/treatment). Only protease P2 treatment improved chick performance; from 7 to 28 d of age, chicks fed on treated SBM had greater feed intakes and gained more weight than chicks fed on untreated SBM. Both proteases P1 and P2 significantly reduced chick serum antisoya antibodies while protease P2 treatment increased apparent ileal nitrogen (N) digestibility and apparent N retention across the whole digestive tract. 3. Two tube-feeding experiments established that, of the treated SBMs used in experiment 1, only protease P2 treatment improved apparent N digestibility and true metabolisable energy. Also it was shown that increasing the temperature at which treated SBM was dried to 60°C, compared with freeze-drying or drying at 50°C reduced apparent N digestibility and true metabolisable energy of SBM with no significant interactions between enzyme treatment and drying temperature for both apparent N digestibility and TME. 4. It is concluded that, overall, the nutritional value of SBM assayed in a growth trial and by tube feeding was improved by treatment with protease P2 and not by treatment with protease P1.
On the Transmission of Spillover Risks between the Housing Market, the Mortgage and Equity Reits Markets, and the Stock Market

Using monthly returns for the January 1975–December 2016 time period in U.S. markets, we report large variations in total, net and pairwise return spillovers across the housing market, the mortgage and equity real estate investment trusts (REITs) markets, and the stock market. Each of the four markets acts as both receiver and transmitter of spillovers during specific subperiods. While in economic downturns the housing market is generally a transmitter of spillovers, we find that during the recent mortgage crisis the housing market was a receiver of spillovers predominantly from the mortgage REITs market but also, to a lesser degree, from the equity REITs market. In periods of high political uncertainty and in periods of easy credit, the equity REITs and the stock market transmit spillovers to the housing and the mortgage REITs market.
Human Regulatory T Cells Mediate Transcriptional Modulation of Dendritic Cell Function

Regulatory T cells (Treg) attenuate dendritic cell (DC) maturation and stimulatory function. Current knowledge on the functional impact of semimature DC is limited to CD4+ T cell proliferation and cytokine production. Little is known about the molecular basis underpinning the functional effects of Treg-treated DC (Treg-DC). We present novel evidence that Treg-DC skewed CD4+ naive T cell polarization toward a regulatory phenotype and impaired CD8+ T cell allo-reactive responses, including their ability to induce target tissue damage in a unique in vitro human graft-versus-host disease skin explant model. Microarray analysis clustered Treg-DC as a discrete population from mature-DC and immature-DC, with 51 and 93 genes that were significantly over- or underexpressed, respectively, compared with mature-DC. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed an intermediate expression level of CD38, CD83, CD80 and CD86 mRNA in Treg-DC, lower than mature-DC, higher than immature-DC. We also observed an attenuation of NF-κB pathway, an upstream regulator of the aforementioned genes, concomitant with reduced expression of two NF-κB-signaling related genes RELB and NFκBIZ, in the Treg-DC, together with an increased expression of Wnt5a, a negative regulator of DC differentiation. We further confirmed that the Treg-DC–mediated skewed CD4+ naive T cell polarization resulted from decreased IL-12 secretion by Treg-DC, which may be post-transcriptionally modulated by decreased expression of microRNA-155 in Treg-DC. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating a transcriptional modulation of DC function by human Treg, partially via attenuation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and upregulation of Wnt5a, suggesting Treg may interfere with DC reprogramming during maturation, thereby modulating DC function.
Automated supervised segmentation of anatomical fiber tracts using an AdaBoost framework

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DMRI) can be used to reconstruct the main neural pathways in the brain, herein termed `fibers'. Segmentation of anatomical tracts out of full brain fiber-sets acquired by tractography can lead to a better understanding of white matter diseases. Hence, we developed an automatic segmentation tool based on a renowned, supervised, machine-learning framework, called Viola-Jones [1]. We applied the algorithm for tract segmentation, using simple physical, statistical and geometrical features that can characterize the tract's fibers such as length, location, variance, FFT coefficients etc. An AdaBoost based learning framework was applied in order to select the most discriminative set of features for the classification of fibers to different anatomical tracts. Linear combinations of such features were used to construct classifiers. Those classifiers were arranged in a cascade which efficiently filters out fibers that do not belong to the desired tract. The algorithm was applied on a training set consisting of brains obtained from the Human Connectome Project. A cascade was learned for three different tracts. Performance evaluation was done by calculating the dice coefficients for each of the tested brains, yielding a result of around 90% for the tracts under evaluation, indicating a successful segmentation of the tracts of the entire brain.
Clock recovery and data recovery design for LVDS transceiver used in LCD panels

This work presents the design and implementation of a CDR (clock and data recovery) design for LVDS transceiver operations. Instead of using an oversampling scheme which requires a high-speed clock generator, we adopt an interpolation scheme which relaxes the demand of a high-speed PLL with a very high precision. A dual-tracking design is proposed to precisely align both edges of a data eye. Hence, the center of a data eye can be optimally sampled. A typical 0.25 /spl mu/m 1P5M CMOS technology is used to realize the proposed dual-tracking CDR for 7/spl times/100 (bit-MHz) LVDS signaling. The post-layout simulation reveals that the worst-case jitter of the sampling clocks is less than 450 ps (peak-to-peak) and 250 ps (rms) at all process corners.
Immuno-electron cryo-microscopy imaging reveals a looped topology of apoB at the surface of human LDL[S]

A single copy of apoB is the sole protein component of human LDL. ApoB is crucial for LDL particle stabilization and is the ligand for LDL receptor, through which cholesterol is delivered to cells. Dysregulation of the pathways of LDL metabolism is well documented in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. However, an understanding of the structure of LDL and apoB underlying these biological processes remains limited. In this study, we derived a 22 Å-resolution three-dimensional (3D) density map of LDL using cryo-electron microscopy and image reconstruction, which showed a backbone of high-density regions that encircle the LDL particle. Additional high-density belts complemented this backbone high density to enclose the edge of the LDL particle. Image reconstructions of monoclonal antibody-labeled LDL located six epitopes in five putative domains of apoB in 3D. Epitopes in the LDL receptor binding domain were located on one side of the LDL particle, and epitopes in the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of apoB were in close proximity at the front side of the particle. Such image information revealed a looped topology of apoB on the LDL surface and demonstrated the active role of apoB in maintaining the shape of the LDL particle.
Age-related pituitary volumes in prepubertal children with normal endocrine function: volumetric magnetic resonance data.

BACKGROUND Evaluation of the size of the pituitary gland on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be difficult, considering the wide variation in normal gland morphology. Given the paucity of age-related biometric data, our purpose was to obtain standard normal reference values for pituitary volumes in prepubertal children using three-dimensional MRI data. METHODS Children under the age of 10 yr undergoing brain MRI for seizures or idiopathic developmental delay and who had no endocrine abnormality were recruited prospectively over 2 yr. All MRI studies included a three-dimensional sequence. Only subjects with normal studies were included. One hundred thirty-nine children were eligible (mean age, 5.2 yr). Direct pituitary volumes were measured from contiguous 1-mm thick reconstructed coronal and sagittal images. Estimated pituitary volumes were calculated using pituitary height, width, and length. RESULTS Volumes obtained from reconstructions in either plane were essentially identical. There was a linear increase in log-transformed pituitary volume with age, but relatively weak correlations with height or body mass index. There was no gender difference and only weak correlations between pituitary height and pituitary volume and between estimated pituitary volume calculation and measured pituitary volume. We provide age-related reference ranges for pituitary volumes in graphical and tabular forms.