Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Virus-Induced Abrogation of Transplantation Tolerance Induced by Donor-Specific Transfusion and Anti-CD154 Antibody

ABSTRACT Treatment with a 2-week course of anti-CD154 antibody and a single transfusion of donor leukocytes (a donor-specific transfusion or DST) permits skin allografts to survive for >100 days in thymectomized mice. As clinical trials of this methodology in humans are contemplated, concern has been expressed that viral infection of graft recipients may disrupt tolerance to the allograft. We report that acute infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) induced allograft rejection in mice treated with DST and anti-CD154 antibody if inoculated shortly after transplantation. Isografts resisted LCMV-induced rejection, and the interferon-inducing agent polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid did not induce allograft rejection, suggesting that the effect of LCMV is not simply a consequence of nonspecific inflammation. Administration of anti-CD8 antibody to engrafted mice delayed LCMV-induced allograft rejection. Pichinde virus also induced acute allograft rejection, but murine cytomegalovirus and vaccinia virus (VV) did not. Injection of LCMV ∼50 days after tolerance induction and transplantation had minimal effect on subsequent allograft survival. Treatment with DST and anti-CD154 antibody did not interfere with clearance of LCMV, but a normally nonlethal high dose of VV during tolerance induction and transplantation killed graft recipients. We conclude that DST and anti-CD154 antibody induce a tolerant state that can be broken shortly after transplantation by certain viral infections. Clinical application of transplantation tolerance protocols may require patient isolation to facilitate the procedure and to protect recipients.
Approaches for Software Metrics Threshold Derivation: A Preliminary Review

To deliver software product in required quality, it is crucial to address and manage the quality assurance domain properly. Software metrics can be used for reflection of the qualitative characteristics of software modules in a quantitative way [Arar and Ayan 2016], presenting a control instrument in a software development and maintenance process [Alves et al. 2010]. Software metrics assess software from different views and, therefore, belong to different metrics groups, but overall, reflect the internal quality of software systems [Arar and Ayan 2016]. The usefulness of metrics without knowing their reference values is very limited, due mainly to interpretation difficulties [Ferreira et al. 2012]. To overcome the above-mentioned difficulties it is important that reliable reference values of software metrics are available. Thresholds are heuristic values that are used to set ranges of desirable and undesirable metric values for measured software and, furthermore, used to identify anomalies which may be an actual problem [Lorenz and Kidd 1994]. Threshold values explain if a metric value is in the normal range [Ronchieri and Canaparo 2016] and, consequently, provide a scale for paying attention to thresholdexceeding components [Arar and Ayan 2016]. There are many approaches available to compute thresh-
Differential roles of Rap1 and Rap2 small GTPases in neurite retraction and synapse elimination in hippocampal spiny neurons

The Rap family of small GTPases is implicated in the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, particularly synaptic depression. Here we studied the role of Rap in neuronal morphogenesis and synaptic transmission in cultured neurons. Constitutively active Rap2 expressed in hippocampal pyramidal neurons caused decreased length and complexity of both axonal and dendritic branches. In addition, Rap2 caused loss of dendritic spines and spiny synapses, and an increase in filopodia‐like protrusions and shaft synapses. These Rap2 morphological effects were absent in aspiny interneurons. In contrast, constitutively active Rap1 had no significant effect on axon or dendrite morphology. Dominant‐negative Rap mutants increased dendrite length, indicating that endogenous Rap restrains dendritic outgrowth. The amplitude and frequency of α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionate (AMPA)‐mediated miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) decreased in hippocampal neurons transfected with active Rap1 or Rap2, associated with reduced surface and total levels of AMPA receptor subunit GluR2. Finally, increasing synaptic activity with GABAA receptor antagonists counteracted Rap2’s inhibitory effect on dendrite growth, and masked the effects of Rap1 and Rap2 on AMPA‐mediated mEPSCs. Rap1 and Rap2 thus have overlapping but distinct actions that potentially link the inhibition of synaptic transmission with the retraction of axons and dendrites.
Why is the Return to Training so High?

Cross-sectional results show that training increases wages by 5 per cent. This return is on a par with the return to 1 year of education. Considering that the average duration of training is very short, this result is strange and needs further examination. After leaving out the importance of measurement error, we control for accumulated stock of firm-specific skills, unobserved heterogeneity in wage levels, heterogeneity in training returns, and heterogeneity in wage growth. By this we manage to reduce the return considerably. Unobserved heterogeneity in wage levels is the most important contributor to the 'too high' returns to training. Copyright 2004 CEIS, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Measuring and Monitoring Illegal Use of Natural Resources

Abstract: Illegal use of natural resources is a threat to biodiversity globally, but research on illegal activities has methodological challenges. We examined 100 studies that empirically identify targeted resources, techniques used to procure resources illegally, locations of illegal activities, characteristics of typical violators, incentives driving illegal use of resources, magnitude of the problem of illegal use (e.g., quantities used), or frequency of illegal activity. We based our evaluation of the methods used in these studies on their ability to provide these empirical data, relative labor demands, training and technology requirements, and levels of uncontrollable bias. We evaluated eight different methods: law‐enforcement records, indirect observation, self‐reporting, direct observation, direct questioning, randomized response technique (a survey method designed to improve accuracy of responses to sensitive questions), forensics, and modeling. Different situations favored different methods, each with distinct advantages and limitations. Six context‐specific factors—location of resource use (in situ vs. ex situ), budget, technology and training capacity, ease of detection of illegal activity, scope of illegal activity (limited vs. widespread), and researchers’ willingness to accept bias in results—help narrow the choice of methods. Several methodological concerns applied to any study of illegal resource use: regular monitoring can detect trends; modeling can incorporate sampling error and data uncertainties; researchers must manage levels of bias that vary between methods; triangulation of results from multiple methods can improve accuracy. No method is a panacea, but a combination of techniques can help address the lack of data on illegal activity. Researchers empirically compared results from different methods in only four studies, and no one has compared more than two methods simultaneously. Conservation would benefit from more research focused on: methods comparisons that include cost effectiveness, time efficiency, and statistical rigor; unique applications of the eight techniques currently in use; and testing of new methods.
A Cint-less type-II PLL with ΔΣ DAC based frequency acquisition and reduced quantization noise

This paper describes a type-II PLL architecture in which a large-area integral-path capacitor (Cint) is replaced with a ΔΣ DAC based frequency acquisition circuit. The proposed voltage-mode acquisition method provides inherent quantization noise suppression by the PLL loop filter. A 1.43-to-2.41GHz Cint-less PLL is implemented in 0. 18μm CMOS where the DAC area is <;10% of the total area. The PLL achieves the in-band phase noise of -90dBc/Hz and the reference spur of -55dBc with 500kHz loop bandwidth.
The Effects of Transformational Leadership on Organizational Performance through Knowledge and Innovation

Today's information and knowledge society requires new leaders who can confront a reality based on knowledge and foster innovation to achieve improvements in organizational performance. However, organizations sometimes fail to achieve sustainable competitive advantage due to their limited understanding of the relationships between these strategic variables. To date, very little research has analysed the direct and indirect relationships between these variables. Our study seeks to fill this research gap by analysing theoretically and empirically how the leader's perceptions of different intermediate strategic variables related to knowledge (knowledge slack, absorptive capacity, tacitness, organizational learning) and innovation influence the relation between transformational leadership and organizational performance. Based on the literature, we develop a theoretical model that shows the interrelations between these variables. We then test the model using data from 408 Spanish organizations, discuss the findings and provide several implications for business practitioners.
Search and Retrieval from WWW

Opinion retrieval has established itself as an important part of search engines ratings, opinion trends and representative opinions enrich the search experience ofusers when combined with traditional document retrieval by revealing more insights about a subject.In the past years we have witnessed Sentiment Analysis and OpinionMining becoming increasingly popular topics in InformationRetrieval and Web data analysis.With the rapid growth of the user-generated content on the Web.Opinion retrieval is a document retrieving and ranking process, a relevant document must be relevant to the query and contain opinions toward the query. Opinion polarity classification is an extension of opinion retrieval; it classifies the retrieved document as positive, negative or mixed, according to the overall polarity of the query relevant opinions in the document. In this study, we review the development of opinion search and retrieval during the last years, and also discuss the evolution of a relatively newresearch directionand we try to layout the futureresearch directions in the field.
How important is global industry shock in explaining the relative performance of global industries

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of exchange rate and global industry shocks on the relative performance of global industries. Design/methodology/approach - In addition to SUR approach, we also use GARCH approach to control for heteroskedasticity. Findings - Using industry data from Japan and the USA, the authors find that although both exchange rate and global industry shocks are statistically significant in explaining the performance of these industries relative to their domestic markets, economically the global industry shock plays the major role in determining this performance. Research limitations/implications - The authors' findings are only based on two countries, the USA and Japan, so future researchers can use the authors' empirical models to test if their results hold using data from other countries. Practical implications - Investors should focus more on the performance of global industries instead of exchange rate changes when creating their portfolios. Originality/value - Our empirical results may explain the poor performance of the regression models in Griffin and Stulz ten years ago where they fail to control for the global industry shock.
Specificity and versatility of SH 3 and other proline-recognition domains : structural basis and implications for cellular signal transduction

Protein–protein interactions occurring via the recognition of short peptide sequences by modular interaction domains play a central role in the assembly of signalling protein complexes and larger protein networks that regulate cellular behaviour. In addition to spatial and temporal factors, the specificity of signal transduction is intimately associated with the specificity of many co-operative, pairwise binding events upon which various pathways are built. Although protein interaction domains are usually identified via the recognition code, the consensus sequence motif, to which they selectively bind, they are highly versatile and play diverse roles in the cell. For example, a given interaction domain can bind to multiple sequences that exhibit no apparent identity, and, on the other hand, domains of the same class or different classes may favour a given consensus motif. This promiscuity in ligand selection is typified by the SH3 (Src homology 3) domain and several other interaction modules that commonly recognize proline-rich sequences. Furthermore, interaction domains are highly adaptable, a property that is essential for the evolution of novel pathways and modulation of signalling dynamics. The ability of certain interaction domains to perform multiple tasks, however, poses a challenge for the cell to control signalling specificity when cross-talk between pathways is undesired. Extensive structural and biochemical analysis of many interaction domains in recent years has started to shed light on the molecular basis underlying specific compared with diverse binding events that are mediated by interaction domains and the role affinity plays in affecting domain specificity and regulating cellular signal transduction.
Confirmation bias in the valuation process: a test for corroborating evidence

Valuations and appraisals are the product of human judgement. This paper explores the contention that such judgement may incorporate elements of cognitive bias. It assumes that a clearer grasp of the impact of such bias may assist in understanding what leads to 'inaccuracy' in valuations. It outlines the case for questioning the validity of the rational assumptions that underlie models of valuation behaviour, and focuses upon one particular form of deviation from rationality: confirmation bias. It presents and discusses the results of a survey designed to test for associations of characteristics that might support the case for the presence of confirmation bias in valuer behaviour. It concludes that the case for the presence of confirmation bias is unproved.
Adherence to statins, beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors following a first cardiovascular event: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND Population studies of statin adherence are generally restricted to one to two years of follow-up and do not analyze adherence to other drugs. OBJECTIVES To report long-term adherence rates for statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta-blockers in patients who recently experienced a first cardiovascular event. METHODS Linked administrative databases in the province of Saskatchewan were used in this retrospective cohort study. Eligible patients received a new statin prescription within one year of their first cardiovascular event between 1994 and 2001. Adherence to statins, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors was assessed from the first statin prescription to a subsequent cardiovascular event. RESULTS Of 1221 eligible patients, the proportion of patients adherent to statin medications dropped to 60.3% at one year and 48.8% at five years. The decline in the proportion of adherent patients was most notable during the first two years (100% to 53.7%). Several factors were associated with statin adherence, including age (P = 0.012), number of physician service days (P = 0.037), chronic disease score (P = 0.032), beta-blocker adherence (P < 0.001) and ACE inhibitor adherence (P < 0.001). Adherence to beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors was very similar to adherence to statin medications at each year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Patients who exhibit optimal adherence over one to two years after their initial cardiovascular event generally remain adherent over subsequent years. Also, adherence to beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors is significantly associated with statin adherence in a subset of patients; however, overall adherence to all three drugs was similarly poor.
Common foliar fungi of Populus trichocarpa modify Melampsora rust disease severity.

Nonpathogenic foliar fungi (i.e. endophytes and epiphytes) can modify plant disease severity in controlled experiments. However, experiments have not been combined with ecological studies in wild plant pathosystems to determine whether disease-modifying fungi are common enough to be ecologically important. We used culture-based methods and DNA sequencing to characterize the abundance and distribution of foliar fungi of Populus trichocarpa in wild populations across its native range (Pacific Northwest, USA). We conducted complementary, manipulative experiments to test how foliar fungi commonly isolated from those populations influence the severity of Melampsora leaf rust disease. Finally, we examined correlative relationships between the abundance of disease-modifying foliar fungi and disease severity in wild trees. A taxonomically and geographically diverse group of common foliar fungi significantly modified disease severity in experiments, either increasing or decreasing disease severity. Spatial patterns in the abundance of some of these foliar fungi were significantly correlated (in predicted directions) with disease severity in wild trees. Our study reveals that disease modification is an ecological function shared by common foliar fungal symbionts of P. trichocarpa. This finding raises new questions about plant disease ecology and plant biodiversity, and has applied potential for disease management.
The pros and cons of currency union: a Reserve Bank perspective

As you know, New Zealand has had its own currency for many decades, and since March 1985 that currency has been floating against other currencies, with its value determined day to day in the financial market. But through the mid-nineties as our exchange rate appreciated strongly, many people became concerned about whether this was the best arrangement for New Zealand (between early 1993 and early 1997, an inflation-adjusted trade-weighted measure of the New Zealand dollar appreciated by some 29 per cent, putting considerable pressure on exporters and those competing with imports).
Who Are California's "Decline to State" Voters?

DOI 10.1515/cjpp-2012-0024 Calif. J. Politics Policy 2013; 5(1): 47–66 Research Article R. Michael Alvarez and J. Andrew Sinclair* Who Are California’s “Decline to State” Voters? Abstract: California has a large, and growing, number of voters who decline to affiliate with a major political party. This study uses a large sample survey from the 2010 election cycle to ask: who are these “decline to state” voters? This article explores their positions on issues, their attitudes toward parties, their opinions on government, their political knowledge and involvement, their 2010 voting preferences, and their voting behavior in general. We find the data supports a nuanced view of California’s “DTS” voters – in some ways more like “independ- ents” and in other ways strikingly partisan. Keywords: California politics; independent voters; decline to state; DTS *Corresponding author: J. Andrew Sinclair, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA, e-mail: jsinclair08@gmail.com R. Michael Alvarez, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA 1 Introduction In June 2012, the unaffiliated voters of California had a new opportunity to influence politics through the “top-two” primary. These unaffiliated (or “non- partisan” or “decline to state”) voters are widely assumed to be “independents”, and under the new law, they could play a central role in selecting candidates. As politicians and pundits examine the results of this new system though, mis- understanding the unaffiliated voters will muddle the picture. In this article, we argue that these voters should not be treated as uniform group of political independents. Assumptions about the unaffiliated voters frame our expectations for the new primary, passed as Proposition 14 in 2010. The Los Angeles Times, in an endorsement of this Proposition, postulated, “It’s a route to more pragmatic officeholders and elections controlled more by voters than by political parties – which is why the Democratic and Republican parties both oppose it so
Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as intracellular signals in skeletal muscle

Abstract It is well established that contracting skeletal muscles produce free radicals. Given that radicals are known to play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, the 1980s–90s dogma was that contraction‐induced radical production was detrimental to muscle because of oxidative damage to macromolecules within the fibre. In contrast to this early outlook, it is now clear that both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play important roles in cell signalling pathways involved in muscle adaptation to exercise and the remodelling that occurs in skeletal muscle during periods of prolonged inactivity. This review will highlight two important redox sensitive signalling pathways that contribute to ROS and RNS‐induced skeletal muscle adaptation to endurance exercise. We begin with a historical overview of radical production in skeletal muscles followed by a discussion of the intracellular sites for ROS and RNS production in muscle fibres. We will then provide a synopsis of the redox‐sensitive NF‐κB and PGC‐1α signalling pathways that contribute to skeletal muscle adaptation in response to exercise training. We will conclude with a discussion of unanswered questions in redox signalling in skeletal muscle in the hope of promoting additional research interest in this field.
Real option value and random jumps: application of a simulation model

This article studies how sensitive real option valuations are to incorrect assumptions about the stochastic process followed by the state variables. We design a valuation model which combines Monte Carlo simulation and dynamic programming and provides an appropriate framework to evaluate the effect of estimation errors on both the value of real options and their critical frontier. Although the model is flexible enough to value American-type options contingent on a wide range of stochastic processes, we focus on the analysis of the effect of stochastic jumps. We apply our model to the valuation of an investment in the car parts industry documented in previous literature. Our results clearly show that underestimating this type of jumps might lead to substantial misjudgements in a firm's decision-making processes. For instance, it may lead to profitable projects being rejected when jump diffusion is low, or negative expanded net present value projects being accepted.