Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phase stability of the earth-abundant tin sulfides SnS, SnS2, and Sn2S3

The various phases of tin sulfide have been studied as semiconductors since the 1960s and are now being investigated as potential earth-abundant photovoltaic and photocatalytic materials. Of particular note is the recent isolation of zincblende SnS in particles and thin-films. Herein, first-principles calculations are employed to better understand this novel geometry and its place within the tin sulfide multiphasic system. We report the enthalpies of formation for the known phases of SnS, SnS2, and Sn2S3, with good agreement between theory and experiment for the ground-state structures of each. While theoretical X-ray diffraction patterns do agree with the assignment of the zincblende phase demonstrated in the literature, the structure is not stable close to the lattice parameters observed experimentally, exhibiting an unfeasibly large pressure and a formation enthalpy much higher than any other phase. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal spontaneous degradation to an amorphous phase much lower.
Immune Responses in Ugandan Women Infected With Subtypes A and D HIV Using the BED Capture Immunoassay and an Antibody Avidity Assay

Introduction:Analysis of samples from Uganda using serologic HIV incidence assays reveal that individuals with subtype D infection often have weak humoral immune responses to HIV infection. It is unclear whether this reflects a poor initial response to infection or a waning antibody response later in infection. Materials and Methods:Samples (N = 2614) were obtained from 114 women aged 18–45 years in the Ugandan Genital Shedding and Disease Progression Study cohort (2001–2009; 82 subtype A, 32 subtype D; median 23 samples/women, range 3–41 samples, median follow-up of 6.6 years). Samples were analyzed using the BED capture immunoassay (cutoff, 0.8 OD-n) and the avidity assay (cutoff, 90% Avidity Index). Antibody maturation was assessed by having the BED capture enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA) or avidity value exceed the assay cutoff 1 or 2 years after infection. The waning antibody response was measured by having the BED-CEIA or avidity value fall >20% below the maximum value. Results:For the BED-CEIA, 8 women with subtype A infection and 3 women with subtype D infection never progressed previously the cutoff value (median, 5.9 years follow-up after infection). Six women with subtype D infection never achieved an avidity index >90%. Subtype did not impact the proportion of women whose assay values regressed by >20% of the maximal value (for BED-CEIA: 33% for A, 41% for D, P = 0.51; for avidity: 1% for A, 6% for D, P = 0.19). Discussion:The higher frequency of misclassification of individuals with long-term subtype D infection as recently infected using serologic incidence assays reflects a weak initial antibody response to HIV infection that is sustained over time.
Interleukin‐6‐mediated signaling in adrenal medullary chromaffin cells

The pro‐inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and interleukin‐1β/α modulate catecholamine secretion, and long‐term gene regulation, in chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. Since interleukin‐6 (IL6) also plays a key integrative role during inflammation, we have examined its ability to affect both tyrosine hydroxylase activity and adrenomedullary gene transcription in cultured bovine chromaffin cells. IL6 caused acute tyrosine/threonine phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and serine/tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Consistent with ERK1/2 activation, IL6 rapidly increased tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation (serine‐31) and activity, as well as up‐regulated genes, encoding secreted proteins including galanin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, gastrin‐releasing peptide, and parathyroid hormone‐like hormone. The effects of IL6 on the entire bovine chromaffin cell transcriptome were compared to those generated by G‐protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists (histamine and pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide) and the cytokine receptor agonists (interferon‐α and tumor necrosis factor‐α). Of 90 genes up‐regulated by IL6, only 16 are known targets of IL6 in the immune system. Those remaining likely represent a combination of novel IL6/STAT3 targets, ERK1/2 targets and, potentially, IL6‐dependent genes activated by IL6‐induced transcription factors, such as hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α. Notably, genes induced by IL6 include both neuroendocrine‐specific genes activated by GPCR agonists, and transcripts also activated by the cytokines. These results suggest an integrative role for IL6 in the fine‐tuning of the chromaffin cell response to a wide range of physiological and paraphysiological stressors, particularly when immune and endocrine stimuli converge.
Methods matter: a meta‐regression on the determinants of willingness‐to‐pay studies on biofortified foods

Following the growing evidence on biofortification as a cost‐effective micronutrient strategy, various researchers have elicited consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for biofortified crops in an effort to justify and determine their adoption. This review presents a meta‐analysis of WTP studies on biofortified foods, either developed through conventional breeding or using genetic modification technology. On the basis of 122 estimates from 23 studies (9507 respondents), consumers are generally willing to pay 21.3% more for biofortified crops. Because WTP estimates are often determined through different valuation methods and procedures, a meta‐regression was carried out to examine the role of potential determinants. Aside from contextual factors, such as type of food crop, target nutrient, and region (but not breeding technique), various methodological factors significantly influence premiums, including the type of respondent, nature of the study, study environment, participation fee, and provided information. The findings allow researchers to better anticipate potential methodological biases when examining WTP for (biofortified) foods, while it gives policy makers a broad understanding of the potential demand for different biofortified crops in various settings.
Drivers for Green IT in Organizations: Multiple Case Studies in China and Singapore

An important consideration in green IT initiative is to achieve both environmental sustainability (doing good) and business profitability (doing well). This research, which builds on the theoretical lens of corporate ecological responsiveness and multiple case studies with nine companies in China and Singapore, advocates three type of drivers in which organizations could be motivated to push for green IT. The drivers include the alignment of green IT with the primary business objective of achieving profitability by better satisfying the market demand and by reducing operation costs, the institutional pressure exerted by the government, and the corporate social responsibility. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Burden of Invasive Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Hospitalized Infants.

IMPORTANCE Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of infection in hospitalized infants. These infections are associated with increased mortality and morbidity and longer hospital stays, but data on the burden of S aureus disease in hospitalized infants are limited. OBJECTIVES To compare demographics and mortality of infants with invasive methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA), to determine the annual proportion of S aureus infections that were MRSA, and to contrast the risk of death after an invasive MRSA infection with the risk after an invasive MSSA infection. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Multicenter retrospective study of a large, nationally representative cohort at 348 neonatal intensive care units managed by the Pediatrix Medical Group. Participants were 3888 infants with an invasive S aureus infection who were discharged from calendar year 1997 through calendar year 2012. EXPOSURE Invasive S aureus infection. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The incidence of invasive S aureus infections, as well as infant characteristics and mortality after MRSA or MSSA infection. RESULTS The 3888 infants had 3978 invasive S aureus infections (2868 MSSA and 1110 MRSA). The incidence of invasive S aureus infection was 44.8 infections per 10,000 infants. The yearly proportion of invasive infections caused by MRSA increased from calendar year 1997 through calendar year 2006 and has moderately decreased since then. Infants with invasive MRSA or MSSA infections had similar gestational ages and birth weights. Invasive MRSA infections occurred more often at a younger postnatal age. For infants with available mortality data, more infants with invasive MSSA infections (n = 237) died before hospital discharge than infants with invasive MRSA infections (n = 110). The proportions of infants who died after invasive MSSA and MRSA infections were similar at 237 of 2474 (9.6%) and 110 of 926 (11.9%), respectively (P = .05). The adjusted risk of death before hospital discharge was similar after invasive MSSA and MRSA infections (risk ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.96-1.49). The risks of death at 7 and 30 days after invasive infection were similar between infants with invasive MSSA infection and infants with invasive MRSA infection. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Infant mortality after invasive MRSA and MSSA infections is similar, but MSSA causes more infections and more deaths in infants than MRSA. Measures to prevent S aureus infection should include MSSA in addition to MRSA.
Inhibition of PKMζ in Nucleus Accumbens Core Abolishes Long-Term Drug Reward Memory

During abstinence, memories of drug-associated cues persist for many months, and exposure to these cues often provokes relapse to drug use. The mechanisms underlying the maintenance of these memories are unknown. A constitutively active atypical protein kinase C (PKC) isozyme, protein kinase M ζ (PKMζ), is required for maintenance of spatial memory, conditioned taste aversion, and other memory forms. We used conditioned place preference (CPP) and conditioned place aversion (CPA) procedures to study the role of nucleus accumbens PKMζ in the maintenance of drug reward and aversion memories in rats. Morphine CPP training (10 mg/kg, 4 pairings) increased PKMζ levels in accumbens core but not shell. Injections of the PKMζ inhibitor ζ inhibitory peptide (ZIP) into accumbens core but not shell after CPP training blocked morphine CPP expression for up to 14 d after injections. This effect was mimicked by the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine, which inhibits PKMζ, but not by the conventional and novel PKC inhibitor staurosporine, which does not effectively inhibit PKMζ. ZIP injections into accumbens core after training also blocked the expression of cocaine (10 mg/kg) and high-fat food CPP but had no effect on CPA induced by naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal. Accumbens core injections of Tat-GluR23Y, which inhibits GluR2-dependent AMPA receptor endocytosis, prevented the impairment in morphine CPP induced by local ZIP injections, indicating that the persistent effect of PKMζ is on GluR2-containing AMPA receptors. Results indicate that PKMζ activity in accumbens core is a critical cellular substrate for the maintenance of memories of relapse-provoking reward cues during prolonged abstinence periods.
The spatial structure of cell signaling systems

The spatial structure of the cell is highly organized at all levels: from small complexes and assemblies, to local nano- and microclusters, to global, micrometer scales across and between cells. We suggest that this multiscale spatial cell organization also organizes signaling and coordinates cellular behavior. We propose a new view of the spatial structure of cell signaling systems. This new view describes cell signaling in terms of dynamic allosteric interactions within and among distinct, spatially organized transient clusters. The clusters vary over time and space and are on length scales from nanometers to micrometers. When considered across these length scales, primary factors in the spatial organization are cell membrane domains and the actin cytoskeleton, both also highly dynamic. A key challenge is to understand the interplay across these multiple scales, link it to the physicochemical basis of the conformational behavior of single molecules and ultimately relate it to cellular function. Overall, our premise is that at these scales, cell signaling should be thought of not primarily as a sequence of diffusion-controlled molecular collisions, but instead transient, allostery-driven cluster re-forming interactions.
Information technologies - synergy of theory and application

In this lecture we give several examples and lessons learned from research, development and experiments in the area of theory and applications of information technology. We will try to describe a possible synergy of theory and application too. Namely, to describe where practical needs bring new problems for theory and where theory helps to formulate methods, which should be verified in practice. In the theoretical part we will mention research on correctness and completeness of fuzzy logic programming [1,2] and various measures for evaluating success. In applications we mention acquaintance with development and experiments of preferential querying and user dependent top-k answers [3]. In all of these it also depends on whether our task is deductive (querying), inductive (learning) or abductive. In practice, it is important to have a user behavior model (for many different users). To see what is (can be, must be) done automatically (trained, assisted, unsupervised, . . . ) and what by human, what is domain dependent and what is generic. Our fuzzy model is not a mere generalization from two values to many values. The key point of our study here is our understanding of fuzzy value as preference degree. Using fuzzy as preferences enlightens phenomena which in a two valued world are not visible at all. From mathematical point of view one can generalize LP to many valued logic. Also here we face several challenges. Should our rules be implications or clauses, should our computation be refutation or query answering, is unification touched by this or not? In two valued logic these are equivalents, in [1] we have developed a model of ([0,1] valued) fuzzy logic programming FLP with implicative rules and computation based on backward usage of modus pones (and possible extension with fuzzy similarity in [4]). Concerning implementation of this system, M. Lieskovsky has constructed in [5] a fuzzy Warren abstract machine. Our system enables new form of cuts for threshold queries (see [1]). Further development went in two directions. (First) What happens in finitely valued case when different attributes take different number of truth val-
Leistung und Inklusion in kommerzialisierten Dienstleistungen und fragmentierter Beschäftigung

Die offentlichen Dienstleistungen waren in den letzten beiden Jahrzehnten tiefgreifenden Umbruchen unterworfen, welche unter anderem zu einem geanderten Verstandnis von beruflicher Leistung fuhrten. Der Beitrag beschreibt diese Entwicklung am Beispiel der Post. Die Liberalisierung und Kommerzialisierung der Dienstleistung und die Privatisierung der Organisation zeitigten erhebliche Auswirkungen auf Arbeit und Beschaftigung. Aus der Perspektive der Beschaftigten ergab sich ein umfassender Wandel der Arbeit, der sich als Verscharfung der Leistungsbedingungen, Anderungen der Definition von Leistung und Erosion des Leistungsprinzips beschreiben lasst. Daraus ergeben sich erhebliche Folgen fur Fragen der sozialen Inklusion insbesondere fur neue Beschaftigtengruppen, aber auch fur jene, die als langjahrige Postbedienstete noch im offentlichen Dienst sozialisiert worden waren.
Trends in the use of complementary health approaches among adults: United States, 2002-2012.

OBJECTIVE This report presents national estimates of the use of complementary health approaches among adults in the United States across three time points. Trends in the use of selected complementary health approaches are compared for 2002, 2007, and 2012, and differences by selected demographic characteristics are also examined. METHODS Combined data from 88,962 adults aged 18 and over collected as part of the 2002, 2007, and 2012 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed for this report. Sample data were weighted to produce national estimates that are representative of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. adult population. Differences between percentages were evaluated using two-sided significance tests at the 0.05 level. RESULTS Although the use of individual approaches varied across the three time points, nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplements remained the most popular complementary health approach used. The use of yoga, tai chi, and qi gong increased linearly across the three time points; among these three approaches, yoga accounted for approximately 80% of the prevalence. The use of any complementary health approach also differed by selected sociodemographic characteristics. The most notable observed differences in use were by age and Hispanic or Latino origin and race.
A corpus callosal deficit in sequential analysis by schizophrenics.

: This preliminary study evaluated interhemispheric (i.e., corpus callosal) information processing by chronic schizophrenic and normal subjects. In right-handed normals the left hemisphere has been reported to be superior in temporal sequential analysis. Consequently temporal information presented to the right hemisphere requires time to cross to the left hemisphere for analysis. Measurement of hemispheric laterality and corpus callosal transfer time were evaluated by a two-pulse temporal discrimination task. Two dot stimuli were presented with decreasing temporal separation during bilateral and unilateral conditions. Subjects were required to judge perceived simultaneity and nonsimultaneity of dot onset. The results indicate that left hemisphere function in chronic schizophrenic and normal controls is superior to the right hemisphere in temporal analysis. Corpus callosal transfer time was significantly slower for chronic schizophrenics than for normal controls.
Early intervention in bipolar disorder, part II: therapeutics

Recent evidence has shown that early pharmacological and psychosocial treatment dramatically ameliorates poor prognosis and outcome for individuals with psychotic disorders, reducing conversion rates to full‐blown illness and decreasing symptom severity. In a companion paper, we discussed methodological issues pertaining to early intervention in bipolar disorder (BPD), reviewed clinical studies that focus on high‐risk subjects as well as first‐episode patients, and reviewed findings from brain imaging studies in the offspring of individuals with BPD as well as in first‐episode patients.
A Feature Level Fusion Approach for Object Classification

A new feature level fusion approach for object classification is introduced. The system is implemented to fuse sensor data of a laser scanner and a video sensor. A new method of video feature extraction incorporates features, which are obtained from the laser scanner, to handle the problem of multiple views of cars. The laser scanner's estimates of contour information can identify the discrete sides of rectangular objects. These object sides are transformed to the video image. A perspective reconstruction compensates deformations as well as size differences in the video image. Afterwards, an object detector is applied. A new method performs a feature extraction from this detector. The classification algorithms fuse these new features with additional features, which are obtained from the laser scanner and the tracking algorithms. The complete system is applicable in real time. An evaluation with labeled real world test data is given.
Late Expression of Granulysin by Microbicidal CD4+ T Cells Requires PI3K- and STAT5-Dependent Expression of IL-2Rβ That Is Defective in HIV-Infected Patients1

Granulysin is a cytolytic effector molecule used by lymphocytes to kill tumor and microbial cells. Regulation of granulysin production is complex. A significant delay (5 days) following stimulation of CD4+ T cells with IL-2 occurs before granulysin is produced. Unfortunately, the mechanisms responsible for this delay are unknown. We have recently demonstrated that granulysin-mediated killing of Cryptococcus neoformans by CD4+ T cells is defective during HIV infection. This is because CD4+ T cells from HIV-infected patients fail to produce granulysin in response to IL-2 activation. The present studies examined the mechanism of delayed production of granulysin and the mechanism of the defect in HIV patients. We demonstrate that IL-2 initially requires both STAT5 and PI3K activation to increase expression of IL-2Rβ, produce granulysin, and kill C. neoformans. The increased expression of IL-2Rβ precedes granulysin, and preventing the increased expression of IL-2Rβ using small interfering RNA knockdown abrogates granulysin expression. Moreover, following the increased expression of IL-2Rβ, blocking subsequent signaling by IL-2 using IL-2Rβ-specific blocking Abs abrogates expression of granulysin. Finally, CD4+ T cells from HIV-infected patients, who are defective in both STAT5 and PI3K signaling, fail to express IL-2Rβ and fail to produce granulysin. These results suggest that IL-2 signals via PI3K and STAT5 to increase expression of IL-2Rβ, which in turn is required for production of granulysin. These results provide a mechanism to explain the “late” production of granulysin during normal T cell responses, as well as for defective granulysin production by CD4+ T cells in HIV-infected patients.
A Flexible Distributed Simulator for Object-Oriented Petri Nets

Petri nets have been used to model and analyse distributed systems. Highlevel nets such as coloured nets and object-oriented nets increase the descriptive power by allowing the tokens which flow through the net to be associated with arbitrary data values. Algorithms have been specified for the distributed simulation of simple petri nets on a set of transputers. This paper considers the extension of these algorithms for high-level nets and discusses the problems involved in achieving a fair implementation.
Pharmacology profile of 2′-methoxy-6-methylflavone and kavain at recombinant GABAA receptors

GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are a class of physiologicallyand therapeuticallyimportant ligand-gated ion channels. These pentameric receptors occur in the brain with diverse subunit composition, which confers highly complex pharmacology to this receptor class. An impressive range of clinically-used therapeutics are known to bind to distinct sites found on GABAARs to modulate receptor function. Numerous experimental approaches have been used over the years to elucidate the binding sites of these drugs, but unequivocal identification is challenging due to subtypeand ligand-dependent pharmacology. This thesis focuses on two compounds with anxiolytic effects thought to be mediated via GABAARs. However, as the subunit requirement for their actions at GABAARs is poorly understood, we sought to investigate this using electrophysiological and mutational approaches on various human recombinant GABAAR subtypes expressed in Xenopus oocytes.