Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bacterial DNA and immunostimulatory CpG oligonucleotides trigger maturation and activation of murine dendritic cells

Bacterial DNA and immunostimulatory (i.s.) synthetic CpG‐oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) act as adjuvants for Th1 responses and cytotoxic T cell responses to proteinaceous antigens. Dendritic cells (DC) can be referred to as “nature's adjuvant” since they display the unique capacity to sensitize naive T cells. Here, we demonstrate that bacterial DNA or i.s. CpG‐ODN cause simultaneous maturation of immature DC and activation of mature DC to produce cytokines. These events are associated with the acquisition of professional antigen‐presenting cell (APC) function. Unfractionated murine bone marrow‐derived DC and FACS®‐fractionated MHC class IIlow (termed immature DC) or MHC class IIhigh populations (termed mature DC) were stimulated with bacterial DNA or i.s. CpG‐ODN. Similar to lipopolysaccharide, i.s. CpG‐ODN caused up‐regulation of MHC class II, CD40 and CD86, but not CD80 on immature and mature DC. In parallel both DC subsets were activated to produce large amounts of IL‐12, IL‐6 and TNF‐α. CpG‐ODN‐activated DC displayed professional APC function in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction and in staphylococcal enterotoxin B‐driven naive T cell responses. We interpret these findings to mean that bacterial DNA and i.s. CpG‐ODN cause maturation (first step) and activation (second step) of DC to bring about conversion of immature DC into professional APC.
Regulation of Futures Trading in the United States and the United Kingdom

The major centres of international trading in commodity and financial futures are located in the United States and the United Kingdom. While futures contracts in London and the US are similar, the markets themselves have emerged from diverse origins and have been shaped by two con trasting attitudes toward government regulation of business. The result is that futures trading in the US is subject to one set of governmental and self regulatory controls while trading in the UK falls under a rather different one. The implication is that investors in the US have different forms of protection than do their British counterparts. Furthermore, the obligations of trading profes sionals are different in the two systems, implying different costs and different abilities to compete for world-wide business.
THE PURCHASING POWER PARITY HYPOTHESIS IN THE US–CHINA RELATIONSHIP: FRACTIONAL INTEGRATION, TIME VARIATION AND DATA FREQUENCY

This article deals with the analysis of the purchasing power parity (PPP) hypothesis in China using fractional integration or I(d) techniques. Using real exchange rates data between the Chinese Yuan and the US dollar, the results indicate that the estimated integration order d is generally larger than 1, which means that the PPP hypothesis in China does not hold in the long run over the sample period January 1994 to November 2010. Moreover, to check the stability of d across the sample period, we reestimated it recursively over different subsample periods with 5-year and 10-year data frequencies, respectively. The recursive estimated results show that after the structural change at the beginning of the sample period, the fractional differencing parameter d remains stable and generally larger than 1. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Both endo-siRNAs and tRNA-derived small RNAs are involved in the differentiation of primitive eukaryote Giardia lamblia

Significance Small RNAs (sRNAs) are most important regulators in eukaryotes. Although different kinds of sRNAs have been extensively studied in higher eukaryotes, their role remains largely unknown in protozoa. We have systematically investigated in the full genome the sRNAs of Giardia lamblia, the most primitive eukaryote known. Surprisingly, we have found that two major types of sRNAs (i.e., endogenous siRNAs and tRNA-derived sRNAs) are largely encoded in the genome of G. lamblia, whereas canonical microRNAs could not be identified in this parasite. Additional studies showed that both sRNAs might be involved in the differentiation regulation of G. lamblia. This study indicates that these two kinds of eukaryotic sRNAs emerged in the early evolution of eukaryotes. Small RNAs (sRNAs), including microRNAs and endogenous siRNAs (endo-siRNAs), regulate most important biologic processes in eukaryotes, such as cell division and differentiation. Although sRNAs have been extensively studied in various eukaryotes, the role of sRNAs in the early emergence of eukaryotes is unclear. To address these questions, we deep sequenced the sRNA transcriptome of four different stages in the differentiation of Giardia lamblia, one of the most primitive eukaryotes. We identified a large number of endo-siRNAs in this fascinating parasitic protozoan and found that they were produced from live telomeric retrotransposons and three genomic regions (i.e., endo-siRNA generating regions [eSGRs]). eSGR-derived endo-siRNAs were proven to target mRNAs in trans. Gradual up-regulation of endo-siRNAs in the differentiation of Giardia suggested that they might be involved in the regulation of this process. This hypothesis was supported by the impairment of the differentiation ability of Giardia when GLDICER, essential for the biogenesis of endo-siRNAs, was knocked down. Endo-siRNAs are not the only sRNA regulators in Giardia differentiation, because a great number of tRNAs-derived sRNAs showed more dramatic expression changes than endo-siRNAs in this process. We totally identified five novel kinds of tRNAs-derived sRNAs and found that the biogenesis in four of them might be correlated with that of stress-induced tRNA-derived RNA (sitRNA), which was discovered in our previous studies. Our studies reveal an unexpected complex panorama of sRNA in G. lamblia and shed light on the origin and functional evolution of eukaryotic sRNAs.
Delay Performance of the Multiuser MISO Downlink

We analyze a MISO downlink channel where a multi-antenna transmitter communicates with a large number of single-antenna receivers. Using linear beamforming or nonlinear precoding techniques, the transmitter can serve multiple users simultaneously during each transmission slot. However, increasing the number of users, i.e., the multiplexing gain, reduces the beamforming gain, which means that the individual data rates decrease. We use stochastic network calculus to analyze the queueing delay that occurs due to the time-varying data rates. Our results show that the optimal number of users, i.e., the optimal trade-off between multiplexing gain and beamforming gain, depends on incoming data traffic and its delay requirements.
Nicotine Blocks Latent Inhibition in Rats: Evidence for Increased Functional Activity of Dopamine in the Mesolimbic System

Latent inhibition (LI) is an established behavioural paradigm, demonstrable in animals and man, in which pre-exposure to a stimulus interferes with subsequent conditioning to that stimulus. It thus constitutes a model for a psychological process held to be deficient in schizophrenia; viz the ability to appropriately exclude familiar stimuli. LI has in fact been demonstrated to be disrupted in schizophrenic subjects (Baruch et al., 1988). The dopamine (DA) theory of schizophrenia would lead to the prediction that LI would also be disrupted by mcreased mesolimbic DA fuction. Low doses of dl-amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg), which selectively increase mesolimbic DA function, have indeed been found to abolish LI in rats (Weiner et al, 1988). This effect is reversed (Weiner et al, 1990) by the neuroleptic haloperidol,
Bionomics and Spatial Distribution of Triatomine Vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi in Texas and Other Southern States, USA

Abstract. Defining spatial and temporal occurrences of triatomine vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, in the US is critical for public health protection. Through a citizen science program and field collections from 2012 to 2016, we collected 3,215 triatomines, mainly from Texas. Using morphological and molecular approaches, we identified seven Triatoma species and report sex, length, and blood engorgement status. Many citizen-collected triatomines (92.9%) were encountered indoors, in peridomestic settings, or in dog kennels and represent spillover transmission risk of T. cruzi to humans and domestic animals. The most commonly collected species were Triatoma gerstaeckeri and Triatoma sanguisuga. Adult T. gerstaeckeri were collected from May to September, peaking from June to July, whereas adult T. sanguisuga were active later, from June to October, peaking from July to September. Based on cross correlation analyses, peaks of captures varied by species and across years. Point pattern analyses revealed unique occurrences of T. sanguisuga in north and east Texas, T. gerstaeckeri in south and west Texas, Triatoma indictiva and Triatoma lecticularia in central Texas, and Triatoma rubida in west Texas. These relatively unique spatial occurrences suggest associations with different suitable habitats and serve as a basis for future models evaluating the ecological niches of different vector species. Understanding the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of triatomines in the southern United States will improve targeted interventions of vector control and will guide public outreach and education to reduce human and animal contact with vectors and reduce the risk of exposure to T. cruzi.
FUENTES DE VARIABILIDAD EN LAS PRINCIPALES ECONOMÍAS OCCIDENTALES

En este trabajo se analiza la importancia relativa de los shocks de demanda y de oferta en los paises del G7 mas Espana y Suiza, mediante la tecnica de los modelos VAR estructurales. Al encontrarse una relacion de cointegracion entre PIB e in.acion, se estima un modelo VECM para cada pais, reduciendose de esta forma el numero de restricciones necesarias para identi.car las perturbaciones. Los resultados obtenidos senalan un importante papel de los shocks de oferta en la variabilidad del PIB, incluso en el corto plazo. Al ampliar el sistema con una magnitud monetaria los resultados son fundamentalmente similares. (Copyright: Fundacion SEPI)
Biosynthesis of Violacein, Structure and Function of l-Tryptophan Oxidase VioA from Chromobacterium violaceum*

Violacein is a natural purple pigment of Chromobacterium violaceum with potential medical applications as antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer drugs. The initial step of violacein biosynthesis is the oxidative conversion of l-tryptophan into the corresponding α-imine catalyzed by the flavoenzyme l-tryptophan oxidase (VioA). A substrate-related (3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-methylpropanoic acid) and a product-related (2-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)prop-2-enoic acid) competitive VioA inhibitor was synthesized for subsequent kinetic and x-ray crystallographic investigations. Structures of the binary VioA·FADH2 and of the ternary VioA·FADH2·2-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)prop-2-enoic acid complex were resolved. VioA forms a “loosely associated” homodimer as indicated by small-angle x-ray scattering experiments. VioA belongs to the glutathione reductase family 2 of FAD-dependent oxidoreductases according to the structurally conserved cofactor binding domain. The substrate-binding domain of VioA is mainly responsible for the specific recognition of l-tryptophan. Other canonical amino acids were efficiently discriminated with a minor conversion of l-phenylalanine. Furthermore, 7-aza-tryptophan, 1-methyl-tryptophan, 5-methyl-tryptophan, and 5-fluoro-tryptophan were efficient substrates of VioA. The ternary product-related VioA structure indicated involvement of protein domain movement during enzyme catalysis. Extensive structure-based mutagenesis in combination with enzyme kinetics (using l-tryptophan and substrate analogs) identified Arg64, Lys269, and Tyr309 as key catalytic residues of VioA. An increased enzyme activity of protein variant H163A in the presence of l-phenylalanine indicated a functional role of His163 in substrate binding. The combined structural and mutational analyses lead to the detailed understanding of VioA substrate recognition. Related strategies for the in vivo synthesis of novel violacein derivatives are discussed.
Effects of contrast on attraction of the housefly, Musca domestica, to visual targets

For the cosmopolitan pest Musca domesticaLinneaus (Diptera: Muscidae), numerous studies of visual orientation have given results which are often contradictory and difficult to interpret (Freeborn & Berry, 1935; Arevad, 1965). This is particularly the case when comparing laboratory and field studies. In general, the majority of laboratory investigations have shown that M. domesticapreferred to settle on black or red surfaces, which cannot be distinguished by the house fly visual system, and avoid blue and white surfaces (Waterhouse, 1948; Pospisil, 1962; Hecht, 1963; Nava, 1967). In contrast, in a study by Muñiz (1967) in the field, yellow was found to be the most attractive colour with black the least attractive. One possible cause of these conflicting results is that the responses of M. domesticato any coloured surface is strongly affected by its contrast with the background. Hecht (1970) suggested that the degree of contrast with the surroundings was probably more important than colour in evoking a response, and later research demonstrated edge detection and orientation towards edges byM. domestica(Wehrhahn, 1984; Conlon & Bell, 1991). The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the attraction ofM. domesticato black or white plain and patterned surfaces placed against contrasting backgrounds. To consider this, in a first set of experiments, two 10 3 10 cm targets, one plain black and one plain white, were cut from sticky mounting card (Studland ® Daler, Bracknell, U.K.) and covered in a polybutene-type adhesive (Agrisense BSC, Cardiff). Both the black and white targets were then suspended from the roof of a black mesh cage (3030 3 30 cm). The cage was surrounded by a collar of black mounting card (35 3 35 3 35 cm), open at the top. A second pair of identical black and white targets were prepared in a white mesh cage, surrounded by a collar of white mounting card. In a second set of experiments, pairs of patterned black and white sticky targets (103 10 cm) were used. Pair 1 consisted of thick (5 cm wide) or thin (2.5 cm wide) black and white striped targets. Pair 2 consisted of targets which were half black and half white and presented vertically or horizontally. Pair 3 consisted of one target with a 53 5 cm black central square on a white
Dynamics of Dispersive Wave Emission From Dark Solitons in Kerr Frequency Combs

Taking advantage of an extended Lugiato-Lefever equation with third-order dispersion, we numerically show that dark cavity solitons formed in normal dispersion of microresonators are capable of emitting dispersive waves in both normal and anomalous dispersion regions with two different methods, resembling the behavior of the commonly encountered bright cavity solitons. The generated dispersive waves can be accurately predicted by the dissipative radiation theory. In addition, we demonstrate the stability enhancement of Kerr frequency combs in the normal dispersion regime in case the dispersive wave is emitted by dark solitons in the presence of third-order dispersion.
Perceived value of mandatory audits of small companies

As a territory of the UK (until 1 July 1997), Hong Kong followed the UK accounting and auditing standards quite closely, in most cases mirroring the requirements. However, there was a departure regarding the elimination of the statutory audit of small private companies in the UK in 1994, but this was not followed in Hong Kong. An audit is not required for small private companies in the USA either. This study evaluates the perceived value of the small companies’ audit in the opinion of two interest groups that are most affected by this requirement: small private limited companies and small audit firms. Results indicate that both groups of respondents consider the audit to be a valuable experience. While this result is not unexpected from the partners/proprietors of small audit firms, who benefit most from the mandatory audit requirement, it is a surprise from the small companies’ perspective.
Substitution of Charcoal for Coke Breeze in Iron Ore Sintering

The substitution of charcoal as an alternative fuel to coke breeze in a simulated Japanese Steel Mills (JSM) sinter blend was investigated. Compared with coke breeze, higher mix moisture contents were required for the sinter mixture containing charcoal to achieve optimum granulation. The green granules formed from the sinter mixture containing charcoal were clearly less dense and formed a less compacted green bed as evidenced by the packing density. To achieve return fines balance, fuel addition had to be increased from 3.62 to 4.17% (on a dry mixture basis) as the substitution of charcoal increased from 0 to 50%. However, at 100% subsitution, the sinter mixture failed to achieve balance even at a very high fuel addition level of 4.7%. Compared with the sinter fired with coke breeze, the sinter from the mixtures containing up to 50% charcoal was marginally weaker in terms of sinter yield, tumble strength (TI) and reduction disintegration (RDI). The reasons for weaker sinter are discussed. Fuel rate increased considerably with charcoal substitution due to increased fuel addition and decreased sinter yield. However, increasing fuel rate did not lead to a reduction of sintering productivity. In contrast, the sintering speed and productivity were maintained as the charcoal substitution rate increased from 0 to 25% and then increased considerably with further increase in charcoal substitution rate. The emission mechanisms of the CO, CO2, SO2 and NOX and H2O gases during sintering are clearly quite different. CO, CO2 and NOx emission was observed over the entire sintering process and varied slightly as the sintering process progressed. However, the SO2 and H2O emissions were observed only towards the completion of the sintering process. Both the CO and CO2 concentrations in the waste gas increased with the increasing substitution of charcoal for coke breeze; however the concentrations of SO2 and NOX in the waste gas decreased.
Detection of biomarkers for response to traditional or targeted therapy in genetic subtypes and detection of new treatment targets for drugs

Integrative and comparative analyses of multiple transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics datasets require an intensive knowledge of tools and background concepts [1]. Systems biology is the sum of knowledge from novel methodological approaches (including omics), and the further translation of this knowledge into an understanding allowing for prediction of the behavior of the complex and dynamic networks that regulate living specimen. There is currently no definition of the term metabogenomics, but in the context of this lecture I will define it to embrace approaches seeking to reveal associations and interactions between the genomic/transcriptomic and metabolomic levels in a more simplified form than a pure systems biology approach would do. A challenge in this field is that a direct association between gene expression data and metabolite concentration should not always be expected. Enzymatic activity does not necessarily correlate directly with gene expression levels. Posttranslational modifications and feedback mechanisms regulate the metabolite concentrations, keeping them within restricted limits. Furthermore, metabolite levels reflect the net activity of several enzymes.
Stock Market Volatility Changes in Central Europe Caused By Asian and Russian Financial Crises

We consider four Central European stock market indexes over the period April 30, 1996 - August 31, 2001. We have found that the influence of the Asian crisis over the Central European markets is more severe than this of the Russian crisis. During the crises the Central European markets exhibit an increase in correlation and a decrease afterwards. We have found that the correlation never reaches pre-crisis level. We have found increasing persistence for Central European markets not only during the crisis but also during the postcrisis period. After the crisis, the market reaction is much weaker to the current market news than to the past information. Investigating the relationships between stock volatility and expected returns, we do not prove positive relation. During the crisis periods the relationship is positive and thus compensating risk-averse investors.
Human spinal cord injury: motor unit properties and behaviour

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in widespread variation in muscle function. Review of motor unit data shows that changes in the amount and balance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs after SCI alter management of motoneurons. Not only are units recruited up to higher than usual relative forces when SCI leaves few units under voluntary control, the force contribution from recruitment increases due to elevation of twitch/tetanic force ratios. Force gradation and precision are also coarser with reduced unit numbers. Maximal unit firing rates are low in hand muscles, limiting voluntary strength, but are low, normal or high in limb muscles. Unit firing rates during spasms can exceed voluntary rates, emphasizing that deficits in descending drive limit force production. SCI also changes muscle properties. Motor unit weakness and fatigability seem universal across muscles and species, increasing the muscle weakness that arises from paralysis of units, motoneuron death and sensory impairment. Motor axon conduction velocity decreases after human SCI. Muscle contractile speed is also reduced, which lowers the stimulation frequencies needed to grade force when paralysed muscles are activated with patterned electrical stimulation. This slowing does not necessarily occur in hind limb muscles after cord transection in cats and rats. The nature, duration and level of SCI underlie some of these species differences, as do variations in muscle function, daily usage, tract control and fibre‐type composition. Exploring this diversity is important to promote recovery of the hand, bowel, bladder and locomotor function most wanted by people with SCI.
Induced Resistance to Ofatumumab-Mediated Cell Clearance Mechanisms, Including Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity, in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Ofatumumab (OFA), a human CD20-targeting mAb, kills B lymphocytes using the innate immune system including complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). The efficacy of OFA in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is limited by drug resistance, which is not well characterized. To better understand mechanisms of resistance, we prospectively studied CLL cells isolated from blood samples collected before and after in vivo exposure to the initial dose of OFA therapy in 25 patients undergoing their first treatment for progressive CLL. As previously reported, OFA therapy rapidly decreased the absolute lymphocyte count, CD20 expression by CLL cells, and serum complement levels. We now show that after administration of the first dose of OFA, there was a modest rebound in the absolute lymphocyte count and serum complement levels, but substantial ongoing loss of CD20 expression by CLL cells. These post-OFA treatment CLL cells were highly resistant to OFA-mediated CDC but retained sensitivity to alemtuzumab-mediated CDC in vitro. Posttherapy serum OFA levels correlated inversely with both the amount of pretreatment circulating cell-bound CD20 and with the decrease in this value following treatment. In vitro OFA-mediated CDC did not predict clinical responses, and the patients with first-dose reactions to OFA did not have markers of increased complement activation in vivo. We propose that optimal efficacy of CD20- targeted therapy for CLL requires determining an mAb dose size and frequency that optimizes CLL killing without exceeding the capacity of the cytotoxic mechanisms and thus minimizes loss of CD20 expression in the surviving CLL cells.