Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toll like receptors and cytokines as immunostimulatory adjuvants in poultry vaccines: current status and future trends

In the face of reducing reliance on in-feed antibiotics, a greater emphasis has been placed on the development of vaccines. Adjuvants play important role in vaccine refinement. Apart from conventional adjuvants, others, like cytokines and toll-like receptors (TLR), have been evaluated experimentally. For example, Pam3CSK4, Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid are used as immunostimulatory agents which upregulate the expression of type 1 IFNs against avian influenza. The use of TLR4 (lipopolysaccharide; LPS), TLR7 (Loxoribine) and TLR21 (CpG-ODN) agonists have shown good results when used as adjuvants with the avian influenza vaccine. The LPS (TLR4) was used as an adjuvant and liposome as intranasal antigen delivery system for Newcastle's disease (NDV) antigen, which induced significant increases in secretory IgA in tracheal lavage fluid and serum IgG levels. In a challenge study it provided 80% protection against virulent challenge. When resiquimod (TLR7) was used as an adjuvant with inactivated NDV, this potentiated the protective response to 100% against virulent NDV challenge, while protection was only 80% in the vaccine alone group. When 64CpG-plasmids (TLR21) were co-administered with inactivated AIV H5N2 vaccine in chickens, it led to a higher HI titre at two and four weeks of age, and provided 100% protection against virulent challenge of avian influenza. The TLR 3 agonist (poly I:C) showed good results against NDV and avian reovirus. Other TLR agonists and cytokines used against NDV include LPS, loxoribine, CpG-ODN and ChIFN-α, IFN- γ (with an in ovo vaccine). Immunostimulatory adjuvants like LPS, chicken TLR21, have been tried with Marek's disease vaccine, and TLR 5 agonist was used against Salmonella enteritidis and Eimeria tenella. Although the study of cytokines and TLRs in avian species is still in its infancy when compared to that of mammals, huge strides have been made in recent years. In this article, recent studies involving the assessment of immunostimulatory adjuvants in poultry are reviewed.
Molecular characterisation and expression analysis of scavenger receptor class B member 1 (SR-B1) gene in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The scavenger receptor class B member 1 (SR-B1) plays an important role in the first level of host defense against invading pathogens. In the present study, we cloned and characterized SR-B1 gene from Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758). The sequence of SR-B1 is 2248-bp long and contains a 1404-bp ORF encoded 467 amino acids. The sequence alignment showed that SR-B1 gene contains ten exons and nine introns. A multiple alignment analysis suggested that SR-B1 protein contains the conserved CXXS redox and GXXXG motifs, and shared high similarities with that of other species. On a phylogenetic tree, SR-B1 clustered with those of other teleosts and formed a separate fish clade. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that SR-B1 was differentially expressed in various tissues and the expression levels in spleen and intestine were significantly upregulated by Streptococcus agalactiae infection. The results suggest that SR-B1 may be involved in the immune response against bacteria in Nile tilapia.
To what extent are bryophytes efficient dispersers?

Bryophytes are typically seen as extremely efficient dispersers. Experimental evidence suggests that efficient short‐distance dispersal coupled with random long‐distance dispersal (LDD) leads to an inverse isolation effect. Under the latter, a higher genetic diversity of colonizing propagules is expected with increasing isolation, counteracting differentiation beyond the range of short‐distance dispersal. This expectation is tested from a review of evidence on spatial genetic structure and analyses of isolation‐by‐distance (IBD) at different scales. A decay of the IBD signal, characterized by non‐significant slopes between kinship coefficients and geographic distance was observed beyond 100 m. A second slope shift was observed at distances larger than 1 km, with a proportion of significant slopes in more than one third of the datasets. The decay of the IBD signal beyond 100 m, which reflects efficient LDD, is consistent with the inverse isolation hypothesis. Persistence of a significant IBD signal at medium ranges in one third of the analysed cases suggests, however, that the inverse isolation effect is not a rule in bryophyte spore dispersal. Furthermore, the higher proportion of significant IBD patterns observed at scales over 100 km likely marks the limits of regional dispersal, beyond which an increasingly smaller proportion of spores travel. Synthesis. We discuss the differences between experimental and genetic estimates of spore dispersal and conclude that geographic distance remains a significant proxy of spore colonization rates, with major consequences for our understanding of actual migration capacities in bryophytes, and hence, our capacity to model range shifts in a changing world.
IASME: Information Security Management Evolution for SMEs

Most of the research in information risk and risk management has focused on the needs of larger organisations. In the area of standards accreditation, the ISO/IEC 27001 Information Risk Management standard has continued to grow in acceptance and popularity with such organisations, although not to a significant extent with SMEs. An interesting product recently developed for ENISA (European Nations Information Security Association) based on the Carnegie-Mellon maturity model and aimed at SMEs has not so far filled the gap. In this paper, a researcher and two practitioners from the UK discuss an innovative development in the UK for addressing the information assurance needs of smaller organisations. They also share their perceptions about the security of national information infrastructures, and concerns that SMEs do not get the priority that their position in the supply chain would suggest they should have. The authors also explore the development and roll out of IASME (Information Assurance for SMEs), which they have developed in the context of a tight market, where spare cash is in short supply, and many SMEs are still in survival mode. The question for the business is therefore not seen as “can we afford to spend on information security” but “can we afford not to spend…” As well as the effect on being able to do business at all of having an SMEs systems compromised, there are also matters of reputation, and the growing threat of fines as a result of not complying with laws and regulations. The paper concludes with achievements of real businesses using the IASME process to cost-effectively achieve information assurance levels appropriate for themselves.
Simple Mechanisms for Managing Complex Aquifers

Standard economic models of groundwater management assume perfect transmissivity (i.e., the aquifer behaves as a bathtub), no external effects of groundwater stocks, and/or homogenous agents. In this article, we develop a model relaxing these assumptions. Although our model generalizes to an arbitrary number of cells, we are able to obtain key insights with a two-cell finite-horizon differential game. We find a simple linear mechanism that induces the socially optimal extraction path in Markov-perfect equilibrium. Moreover, implementation requires that the regulator need only monitor the state of the resource (e.g., depth of the aquifer), not individual extraction rates. We illustrate the mechanism with a simulation based on data from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The simulation suggests that significant welfare loss may occur if the regulator disregards physical and economic complexity.
Frequencies of the LILRA3 6.7-kb Deletion Are Highly Differentiated Among Han Chinese Subpopulations and Involved in Ankylosing Spondylitis Predisposition

Introduction: Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor A3 (LILRA3) belongs to the LILR family with unique feature of a 6.7-kb deletion variation among individuals. Frequencies of the 6.7-kb deletion vary widely across populations, but so far it has not been carefully investigated among Han Chinese subpopulations. Furthermore, we previously identified the non-deleted (functional) LILRA3 as a novel genetic risk for multiple autoimmune diseases. The current study aimed to investigate (i) whether frequencies of the LILRA3 6.7-kb deletion differ within Han Chinese subpopulations and (ii) whether the functional LILRA3 is a novel genetic risk for ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: The LILRA3 6.7-kb deletion was genotyped in two independent cohorts, including 1,567 subjects from Shenzhen Hospital and 2,507 subjects from People’s Hospital of Peking University. Frequencies of the 6.7-kb deletion were first investigated in combined healthy cohort according to the Chinese administrative district divisions. Association analyses were performed on whole dataset and subsets according to the geographic regions. Impact of the functional LILRA3 on AS disease activity was evaluated. Results: Frequencies of LILRA3 6.7-kb deletion were highly differentiated within Han Chinese subpopulations, being gradually decreased from Northeast (80.6%) to South (47.4%). Functional LILRA3 seemed to be a strong genetic risk in susceptibility to AS under almost all the alternative genetic models, if the study subjects were not geographically stratified. However, stratification analysis revealed that the functional LILRA3 was consistently associated with AS susceptibility mainly in Northern Han subgroup under the alternative genetic models, but not in Central and Southern Hans. Functional LILRA3 conferred an increased disease activity in AS patients (P < 0.0001 both for CRP and ESR, and P = 0.003 for BASDAI). Conclusions: The present study is the first to report that the frequencies of LILRA3 6.7-kb deletion vary among Chinese Hans across geographic regions. The functional LILRA3 is associated with AS susceptibility mainly in Northern Han, but not in Central and Southern Han subgroups. Our finding provides new evidence that LILRA3 is a common genetic risk for multiple autoimmune diseases and highlights the genetic differentiation among different ethnicities, even within the subpopulations of an ethnic group.
EXPLAINING INFORMATION SECURITY BEHAVIOR - CASE OF THE HOME USER

Rantonen, Kimmo Explaining user information security behavior – case of the home user Jyvaskyla: University of Jyvaskyla, 2014, 58 p. Information Systems, Master’s Thesis Supervisor(s): Siponen, Mikko This thesis set out to understand more about the phenomenon of home user information security behavior, what factors influence home user behavior and why some safety measures are adopted while others dismissed. It has been claimed that this big and growing group of users can be a threat to themselves, others and the whole cyber infrastructure. Thesis was implemented by reading relevant literature and conducting interviews to a small group of home users. Based on the literature, it was discovered that home users are influenced when security threats are seen as real and severe (threat appraisal) but influence works better if the individuals have the necessary skills and confidence (i.e. self efficacy) to react to these threats. In general better computer skills tend to lead to higher information security. By influencing users’ attitudes, better information security can also be achieved. Finally, advices and suggestions from friends and peers as well as media visibility, i.e. subjective norms are seen as influencing factor on home user information security behavior. Interviews mostly confirmed the existing literature but also brought up some new concepts to discussion. Based on the data some claims can be made about the home user’s information security behavior. First, users tend to neglect security when information is seen as invaluable. Second, information security can be improved when safety measures are forced on the users or if they are automatic in nature and giving the choice (whether to activate a safety feature) to the home users seemed to result in lesser security. Third, bad experiences work as a good tool to enhance threat appraisal therefore improving security. Such experiences make threats look very real and protection is not something theoretical to the user anymore. Fourth, external influence from peers, family and various medias influence users in a positive way. Finally, in the interviews it was found that skills lead to better security yet not always as some overconfidence might develop. Less skilled users seem to neglect some information security due to lack of knowledge about different threats. In the end of the thesis implications to research and practice where discussed to point out contributions of the study.
Effect of Cultural Distance on Translation of Culture-Bound Texts

Sociolinguistic and sociocultural features of the source language can be ideally transferred to the target language when the translator’s cultural background knowledge has a high overlap with the source language culture. This signifies the crucial role of national cultural distance from the source language society in the quality of translation of culture-bound texts. To investigate the actual effect of national cultural distance on the quality of translation of culture-bound texts, the current study was conducted on two groups of participants including 38 German undergraduate students of English translation perceived culturally close to Britons (considered as the target language society) and 32 South Korean undergraduate students of English translation perceived culturally distant from Britons. Data were collected through a culture-bound text consisting of some news excerpts from The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) used as the translation quality assessment instrument. The analysis of independent-samples t-test revealed the significant positive effect of national cultural distance on the quality of translation of culture-bound texts. The pedagogical implications of the findings suggested incorporation of cultural features of the source language society into every translation course. Keywords: Culture-Bound Texts, National Cultural Distance, Translation Quality
User Friendly Pashto Text

Thousands of languages are spoken around the world; each language has its own importance in their community. Every community is trying to promote their language via writing books, newspapers, and poetry in their language. Pashto is one of the main languages of Pakistan, Afghanistan and about 60 million of Pashto speakers are dispersed around the world. Even Pashto is national and official language of Afghanistan. The importance of the Pashto language leads to introduce an application for Pashto language, just like a number of applications available for Urdu, English and even for all major languages of the world. In this paper we introduced an offline Pashto Editor “PashApp” for writing Pashto language and provide mark-ups facilities during writings after analyzing the drawbacks or the services not available in online or offline Pashto editors. We developed PashApp in Java. The application is analyzed by comparative analysis using the available Pashto editors and analyzed different features provided by PashApp using task based questionnaire. The study includes 20 Pashto speaking volunteers by simple random sampling technique. The comparative analysis of different available editors lead PashApp which is analyzed using task based questionnaire. The results show high user satisfactions for the features provided in the developed PashApp for Pashto language. The application is an offline editor available for free and covers all basic operations for writings of a language. Kaywords— PashApp, Pashto Text Editor, Script Editors, Comparison.
FcgRIII Deficiency and FcgRIIb Defeciency Promote Renal Injury in Diabetic Mice

The immune system is involved in the development of diabetes complications and IgG Fc gamma receptors (FcgRs) are key immune receptors responsible for the effective control of both humoral and innate immunity. We investigated the effects of members of the FcgR superfamily into both the streptozotocin plus high fat-induced type 2 diabetes and high fat diet (HFD) models. FcgRIII−/− diabetic mice and FcgRIIb−/− diabetic mice had elevated levels of serum creatinine compared with wildtype (WT) diabetic mice. Renal histology of diabetic FcgRIII knockout and FcgRIIb knockout mice showed mesangial expansion and GBM thickening; the mechanistic study indicated a higher expression of TGF-β1, TNF-α, and p-NFκB-p65 compared with wild type mouse. The HFD mouse with FcgRIII knockout or FcgRIIb knockout had increased biochemical and renal injury factors, but oxLDL deposition was higher than in FcgRIII−/− diabetic mice and FcgRIIb−/− diabetic mice. In vitro we further examined the mechanism by which the Fc gamma receptor promoted renal injury and transfected glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) with FcgRI siRNA attenuated the level of TGF-β1, TNF-α expression. In summary, FcgRI knockdown downregulated kidney inflammation and fibrosis and FcgRIIb knockout accelerated inflammation, fibrosis, and the anomalous deposition of oxLDL whereas FcgRIII deficiency failed to protect kidney from diabetic renal injury. These observations suggested that FcgRs might represent a novel target for the therapeutic intervention of diabetic nephropathy.
Distribution and growth rates of immature hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Knowledge of life history parameters is essential for the effective management of species of conservation concern. For migratory marine vertebrates such as hawksbill sea turtles Eretmochelys imbricata, feeding aggregations are important developmental habitats, allowing the study of population dynamics. Here, we used data from a 31 yr mark-recapture study of juvenile hawksbill sea turtles in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil, to estimate key demographic parameters. Turtles recruit to the neritic habitat at similar sizes to those of other Atlantic hawksbill aggregations. The curved carapace length (CCL) at the first capture ranged from 28 to 84 cm (mean ± SD: 44.6 ± 9.8 cm). Median minimum residence time of turtles captured at least twice was 3.2 yr, whilst long-term minimum residence of up to 14 yr was also observed, with turtles showing site fidelity within the archipelago. The mean size of turtles captured was constant throughout time. Turtles grew on average 3.4 ± 2.2 cm yr–1, with a monotonic expected growth rate function generally decreasing with increasing size. At these rates, hawksbill turtles in Fernando de Noronha would need to spend ca. 14−18 yr to reach minimum adult breeding size (~74 cm CCL). This mark-recapture study has been essential to understanding the ecology and demographic parameters of this regional hawksbill turtle neritic foraging ground.
Raman spectroscopy of fibroblast cells from a Huntington's disease patient

ABSTRACT We present a Raman spectroscopy case study of living fibroblast (skin) cells from a patient who developed Huntington’s disease, with fibroblasts from a healthy volunteer as a control. Spectra were processed to remove cosmic rays, had a spectrum of the quartz substrate subtracted, and were flattened to remove cellular autofluorescence. We achieved an accuracy of 95% in discriminating individual cells, and assign spectral differences to (i) the reduction of cholesterol, (ii) the reduction of lipids, and (iii) an increase in beta-sheet proteins for fibroblasts with Huntington’s disease. All these biochemical changes have been previously measured by other methods. Averages over all the cells in this study yield a difference which is extremely statistically significant [p < 0.0001].
Exploring the direct and indirect effects of emotional intelligence and frequency of customer contact on organisational citizenship behaviours among hotel employees in Mexico

In the hotel industry, organisational effectiveness and service quality are highly dependent on front-of-house employees' positive interactions with customers, and their willingness to engage in organisational citizenship behaviours (OCB). Various studies have identified the ability of employees to manage their own emotions and those of others as a key means of understanding how and why employees engage in OCB. The present study seeks to shed light on how the underlying mechanisms of emotional intelligence (EI) and the nature of job role, through the frequency of interactions with customers could be of benefit to service orientated organisations. Empirical evidence was drawn from a sample of 179 front-of-house employees from a four-star Mexican hotel chain. A series of multiple hierarchical regressions revealed that when employees experience high levels of customer contact and engage in high levels of emotion regulation this can have a detrimental effect on their OCB. The findings underscore the importance of the role of work and job context in influencing the EI and OCB relationship.
IRON REMOVAL FOR KINETIC STUDIES ON FENTON TREATMENTS: A NEW APPROACH BASED ON FERROCYANIDE

A new approach based on ferrocyanide for iron removal in kinetic studies on Fenton treatments was developed and proposed. The influence of iron precipitation using the ferrocyanide treatment on the measured concentration of two model molecules (phthalic acid and meropenem) was studied. For this purpose, different solutions of phthalic acid and meropenem were prepared. Ferrous sulfate was added to the solutions after the adjustment of the pH value. Then, iron was removed by alkalization (traditional) and ferrocyanide treatments, this for phthalic acid. In the case of meropenem, the removal of iron was p rformed using only the ferrocyanide treatment due to a chemical modification of the molecule at (highly) alkaline conditions. It was found that the precipitation of iron with ferrocyanide can take place at initial pH values below 5.5 and 4.5, for phthalic acid and meropenem, respectively. The pH value of the supernatant solutions after precipitation, in both cases, was 7.0. The results show that the application of ferrocyanide treatment did not affect the measurement of the concentration of phthalic acid and meropenem after the removal of iron. In addition, some considerations are provided to apply this method to other molecules.
The occurrence of the peacock bass (Cichla kelberi Kullander and Ferreira 2006) in Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), Israel

A specimen of Cichla kelberi Kullander and Ferreira, 2006 was captured for the first time from Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee or Lake Tiberias), Israel. Its identification was made by morphological and molecular means. Although importation of this species to Israel is prohibited, commercial importers have smuggled juveniles as aquarium fish. The introduction vector of the specimen in Lake Kinneret is probably due to release or escape from the aquariums of hobbyists.
On Statistical Non-Significance

Significance tests are probably the most extended form of inference in empirical research, and significance is often interpreted as providing greater informational content than non-significance. In this article we show, however, that rejection of a point null often carries very little information, while failure to reject may be highly informative. This is particularly true in empirical contexts where data sets are large and where there are rarely reasons to put substantial prior probability on a point null. Our results challenge the usual practice of conferring point null rejections a higher level of scientific significance than non-rejections. In consequence, we advocate a visible reporting and discussion of non-significant results in empirical practice.