Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of treatment with Campath‐1H in patients with autoimmune cytopenias

We describe 21 patients with severe and life‐threatening autoimmune cytopenias resistant to standard immunosuppression who were treated with the monoclonal antibody Campath‐1H. Four patients had autoimmune neutropenia, four had autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, four had pure red cell aplasia, one had immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP), three had autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and ITP (Evan's syndrome), three had autoimmune pancytopenia (ITP, autoimmune neutropenia and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia), one had ITP (associated with acquired Glanzmann's disease) and autoimmune neutropenia, and one had ITP and red cell aplasia. Campath‐1H was administered at a dose of 10 mg/d as an intravenous infusion for 10 d. Responses were seen in 15 patients, which were sustained in six. Relapse occurred in eight patients after Campath‐1H treatment. Patients entering the study later, received cyclosporine after Campath‐1H in an attempt to reduce the incidence of relapse. Three patients received a second course of Campath‐1H; all responded but later relapsed. Fourteen patients are alive at a median of 12 months (range 4–61) after Campath‐1H. Campath‐1H represents an alternative therapeutic option for severe, refractory autoimmune cytopenias.
Update of Dioxin Emission Factors for Forest Fires , Grassland and Moor Fires , Open Burning of Agricultural Residues , Open Burning of Domestic Waste , Landfills and Dump Fires

This briefing paper presents dioxin emission factors that have appeared in the scientific literature since the release in 2005 of the IPEN report, “Estimating Releases and Prioritizing Sources in the Context of the Stockholm Convention: Dioxin Emission Factors for Forest Fires, Grassland and Moor Fires, Open Burning of Agricultural Residues, Open Burning of Domestic Waste, Landfills and Dump Fires. ” 1
Statistical Studies of Fading in Underwater Wireless Optical Channels in the Presence of Air Bubble, Temperature, and Salinity Random Variations

Optical signal propagation through underwater channels is affected by three main degrading phenomena, namely, absorption, scattering, and fading. In this paper, we experimentally study the statistical distribution of intensity fluctuations in underwater wireless optical channels with random temperature and salinity variations, as well as the presence of air bubbles. In particular, we define different scenarios to produce random fluctuations on the water refractive index across the propagation path and, then, examine the accuracy of various statistical distributions in terms of their goodness of fit to the experimental data. We also obtain the channel coherence time to address the average period of fading temporal variations. The scenarios under consideration cover a wide range of scintillation index from weak to strong turbulence. Moreover, the effects of beam-expander-and-collimator (BEC) at the transmitter side and aperture averaging lens (AAL) at the receiver side are experimentally investigated. We show that the use of a transmitter BEC and/or a receiver AAL suits single-lobe distributions, such that the generalized Gamma and exponentiated Weibull distributions can excellently match the histograms of the acquired data. Our experimental results further reveal that the channel coherence time is on the order of 10−3 s and larger which implies to the slow fading turbulent channels.
The Strategy of Strengthening the Earning Per Share

: The purpose of this study is a strategy for strengthening earning Per Shares through some of the variables. Research conducted included the type of quantitative research with the associative approach that is meaning relationship between two or more variables. The population used is a Garment and Textile companies recorded in Indonesia Stock Exchange, sampling technique using purposive sampling. The results of the analysis of any variable found the influence between the capital structure current ratio effect significant to earnings per share, but the net profit margin has not influence significantly. Based on the results of the statistical analysis are variables capital structure, and the current ratio has ability to strengthening Earning Per Shares. Decrease on the ratio capital structure will be increased income, then improve earnings per shares, and other hand stability on the current ratio will effect to the cash flow and then improve to the income. Implication this research is the strategy of strengthening EPS through capital structure and current ratio.
Occupation number and fluctuations in the finite-temperature Bose-Hubbard model

We study the occupation numbers and number fluctuations of ultracold atoms in deep optical lattices for finite-temperatures within the Bose-Hubbard model. Simple analytical expressions for the mean occupation number and number fluctuations are obtained in the weak-hopping regime using an interpolation between results from different perturbation approaches in the Mott-insulator and superfluid phases. With this approach the magnitude of number fluctuations under a wide range of experimental conditions can be estimated and the properties of the finite-temperature phase diagram can be studied. These analytical results are compared to exact one-dimensional numerical calculations using a finite temperature variant of the density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) method and found to have a high degree of accuracy. We find very good agreement, also in the crossover "thermal" region. We also analyze the influence of finite temperature on the behavior of the system in the vicinity of the zero-temperature phase transition, in one, two, and three dimensions.
Germany : Merkel does not stand out but holds

Germany went to the polls on Sunday, May 25 to elect 96 members of the European Parliament, by far the country in Europe that elects most delegates. The 96 members were elected by a pure proportional electoral system, a real novelty for nationwide elections in Germany, where the minimum threshold has always been 5% for the national elections and 3% for the European elections. This change was the result of Constitutional Court’s decision last February to eliminate the electoral threshold.
Statistiques circulaires des champs fractionnaires : application au speckle objectif

Ce manuscrit se pose en termes des "methodes et applications" pour l'analyse et la caracterisation des milieux diffusants par une approche statistique portant sur les mesures angulaires locales des figures de speckle, moyennant une modelisation prealable de ces figures par des modeles de champs fractionnaires. A ce titre, une etude des distributions des directions locales et de leurs increments est presentee. Une mise en relation des parametres intrinseques de champs fractionnaires anisotropes synthetiques avec les parametres d'un modele de distribution est etablie. Nous montrons qu'il est ainsi possible d'identifier le type d'anisotropie ainsi que la regularite locale d'un champ aleatoire. Les mesures angulaires sont extraites, des champs, par l'intermediaire de la transformee de Riesz et modelisees a l'aide d'une famille de ψ -distributions. L'approche developpee est confrontee a deux types d'anisotropie, fonctionnelle et topologique. Plus particulierement, une methode originale d'estimation de la fonction d'anisotropie est proposee, reposant sur une analogie faite entre les increments des mesures angulaires des directions locales et les angles de virage d'une marche aleatoire. L'estimateur de cette fonction est calcule a partir des moments cosinusoidaux des distributions de ces increments. Cette approche est finalement utilisee a des fins d'analyse de figure de speckle objectif issues de differents milieux tests. De par leur caractere stochastique, ces figures font generalement l'objet d'analyses fondees sur des approches statistiques, le plus souvent du premier ou du second ordre, s'appuyant sur le formalisme propose initialement par Goodman. Ainsi, les resultats obtenus et presentes dans ce memoire nous amenent a penser que la statistique angulaire vient completer avantageusement les mesures plus classiques.
What People Assume about Humanoid and Animal-Type Robots: Cross-Cultural Analysis between Japan, Korea, and the United States

To broadly explore the rationale behind more socially acceptable robot design and to investigate the psychological aspects of social acceptance of robotics, a cross-cultural research instrument, the Robot Assumptions Questionnaire (RAQ) was administered to the university students in Japan, Korea, and the United States, focusing on five factors relating to humanoid and animal-type robots: relative autonomy, social relationship with humans, emotional aspects, roles assumed, and images held. As a result, it was found that (1) Students in Japan, Korea, and the United States tend to assume that humanoid robots perform concrete tasks in society, and that animal-type robots play a pet- or toy-like role; (2) Japanese students tend to more strongly assume that humanoid robots have somewhat human characteristics and that their roles are related to social activities including communication, than do the Korean and the US students; (3) Korean students tend to have more negative attitudes toward the social influences of robots, in particular, humanoid robots, than do the Japanese students, while more strongly assuming that robots' roles are related to medical fields than do the Japanese students, and (4) Students in the USA tend to have both more positive and more negative images of robots than do Japanese students, while more weakly assuming robots as blasphemous of nature than do Japanese and Korean students. In addition, the paper discusses some engineering implications of these research results.
The potential of gamification in changing consumer behaviour towards a more sustainable nutrition behaviour

Introduction Nutrition and physical exercise together form an integral part of a healthy life style. The global increase of overweight and obesity is dramatic (Keats & Wiggins, 2014) and unhealthy nutrition behaviour is a main reason for health-related consequences (Dubowicz, Camerini, Ludolph, Amann, & Schulz, 2013). Beside health-related outcomes, nutrition also triggers the development of ecological, economic and social effects (von Koerber & Kretschmer, 2000). For example in Switzerland nutrition accounts for 30% of total environmental impact (Jungbluth, Nathani, Stucki, & Leuenberger, 2011). Therefore, effective measures are needed that sensitize consumer and change behaviour towards a sustainable nutrition behaviour to reduce environmental impact and promote health (Freibauer et al., 2011). Nutrition behaviour is influenced by biological, economic and psychological factors like self-regulatory skills (Gholami, Lange, Luszczynska, Knoll, & Schwarzer, 2013), lifestyle, trends (Asp, 1999) and knowledge (Worsley, 2002) depending on the individuals and their respective life-cycle stage (The European Food Information Council, 2003). Among these factors especially the social context is vitally important for individual nutrition behaviour (cf. Stratton & Bromley, 1999; von Koerber, Männle, & Leitzmann, 2012) as well as for the formation and retention of nutrition habits (Leonhäuser, Meier-Gräwe, Möser, Zander, & Köhler, 2009). To break habitual nutrition behaviour it is necessary to develop measures to promote the desired behaviour and to elicit behaviour change by taking social factors into account. Existing approaches, such as educational interventions might be too narrow and not tailored to the consumers’ motivational preconditions (Renkl, 1996; Keller, 2004). One approach to initiate change may be the concept of «gamification». Recently there has been a growing trend in marketing, which is predicted to continue using elements from games in various non-gaming contexts like marketing, training, education or health initiatives (Gartner, 2011;Anderson & Rainie, 2012) with different objectives (Kapp, 2012; Koch & Ott, 2012; Deterding, 2001; Tillström, 2012; Leigh, 2012). This development makes gamification a possible tool to shape behaviour by applying game components such as rewards and feedback about goal achievement or social status (Blöss, 2013). To achieve a behaviour change towards sustainable nutrition, a more sophisticated approach is needed that engages people and support individual capabilities and beliefs for motivating change and maintain the «new» sustainable nutrition behaviour. Thus, the question arises, if gamification has the potential to change consumer behaviour towards more sustainable nutrition behaviour. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to explore the important constructs of behaviour change models and to present an approach needed to find out how especially social mechanisms used in gamification, have to be designed effectively in order to engage people and to promote sustainable nutrition behaviour.
Diagnostic imaging tests and microbial infections

Despite significant advances in the understanding of its pathogenesis, infection remains a major cause of patient morbidity and mortality. While the presence of infection may be suggested by signs and symptoms, imaging tests are often used to localize or confirm its presence. There are two principal imaging test types: morphological and functional. Morphological tests include radiographs, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and sonongraphy. These procedures detect anatomic, or structural, alterations produced by microbial invasion and host response. Functional imaging tests reflect the physiological changes that are part of this process. Prototypical functional tests are radionuclide procedures such as bone, gallium, labelled leukocyte and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)‐positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. In‐line functional/morphological tomographic imaging systems, PET/CT and single photon emission tomography (SPECT)/CT, have revolutionized diagnostic imaging. These devices consist of a functional imaging device (PET or SPECT) joined together with a CT scanner. The patient undergoes both tests sequentially without leaving the examination table. Images from each study can be viewed separately and as fused images, providing precisely localized anatomic and functional information. It must be noted, however, that none of the current morphological or functional tests, either alone or in combination, are specific for infection and the goal of finding such an imaging test remains elusive.
Occupational history of night shift work and Parkinson's disease in Denmark.

OBJECTIVES We investigated whether working night shifts was associated with the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS Between January 2008 and December 2010, we recruited 1808 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of idiopathic PD from Denmark and 1876 population controls matched by year of birth and gender. Information on lifelong occupational history, including information on night work, smoking, caffeine and alcohol consumption habits, and family history of PD was collected through structured telephone interviews. RESULTS Overall, there was no association between a history of night shift work and PD [odds ratio (OR) for any type of night work (ie, either permanent or rotating night work) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.86-1.21]. Compared with persons who never worked night shifts, risks of those with longer durations of night work did not appear to differ (OR <10 years=0.95, 95% CI 0.75-1.19, OR 10-19 years= 1.09, 95% CI 0.77-1.53, OR ≥20 years=1.05, 95% CI 0.81-1.37, P for trend=0.23). Associations were similar among men and women. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that working night shifts is not associated with PD or that low tolerance for night shift work is an early marker of PD. Due to the novel and exploratory nature of these findings, confirmation is needed.
Hidden genomic diversity of SARS-CoV-2: implications for qRT-PCR diagnostics and transmission

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked an urgent need to uncover the underlying biology of this devastating disease. Though RNA viruses mutate more rapidly than DNA viruses, there are a relatively small number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that differentiate the main SARS-CoV-2 clades that have spread throughout the world. In this study, we investigated over 7,000 SARS-CoV-2 datasets to unveil both intrahost and interhost diversity. Our intrahost and interhost diversity analyses yielded three major observations. First, the mutational profile of SARS-CoV-2 highlights iSNV and SNP similarity, albeit with high variability in C>T changes. Second, iSNV and SNP patterns in SARS-CoV-2 are more similar to MERS-CoV than SARS-CoV-1. Third, a significant fraction of small indels fuel the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2. Altogether, our findings provide insight into SARS-CoV-2 genomic diversity, inform the design of detection tests, and highlight the potential of iSNVs for tracking the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Identification of Functionally Important Residues of the Silkmoth Pheromone Biosynthesis-activating Neuropeptide Receptor, an Insect Ortholog of the Vertebrate Neuromedin U Receptor*

Background: The moth pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) and vertebrate neuromedin U (NMU) have a similar biologically essential C-terminal motif (FX1PRX2-NH2). Results: Mutation data revealed important residues in the silkmoth PBAN receptor for ligand binding and signaling. Conclusion: Two glutamate residues conserved in the PBAN/NMU receptor family of GPCRs are responsible for ligand recognition. Significance: A novel ligand-receptor interaction is proposed for the PBAN/NMU family of neuropeptides and receptors. The biosynthesis of sex pheromone components in many lepidopteran insects is regulated by the interaction between pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) and the PBAN receptor (PBANR), a class A G-protein-coupled receptor. To identify functionally important amino acid residues in the silkmoth PBANR, a series of 27 alanine substitutions was generated using a PBANR chimera C-terminally fused with enhanced GFP. The PBANR mutants were expressed in Sf9 insect cells, and their ability to bind and be activated by a core PBAN fragment (C10PBANR2K) was monitored. Among the 27 mutants, 23 localized to the cell surface of transfected Sf9 cells, whereas the other four remained intracellular. Reduced binding relative to wild type was observed with 17 mutants, and decreased Ca2+ mobilization responses were observed with 12 mutants. Ala substitution of Glu-95, Glu-120, Asn-124, Val-195, Phe-276, Trp-280, Phe-283, Arg-287, Tyr-307, Thr-311, and Phe-319 affected both binding and Ca2+ mobilization. The most pronounced effects were observed with the E120A mutation. A molecular model of PBANR indicated that the functionally important PBANR residues map to the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th transmembrane helices, implying that the same general region of class A G-protein-coupled receptors recognizes both peptidic and nonpeptidic ligands. Docking simulations suggest similar ligand-receptor recognition interactions for PBAN-PBANR and the orthologous vertebrate pair, neuromedin U (NMU) and NMU receptor (NMUR). The simulations highlight the importance of two glutamate residues, Glu-95 and Glu-120, in silkmoth PBANR and Glu-117 and Glu-142 in human NMUR1, in the recognition of the most functionally critical region of the ligands, the C-terminal residue and amide.
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome: exfoliative toxin A (ETA) induces serine protease activity when combined with A431 cells

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome is the term used for a spectrum of primarily neonatal blistering skin diseases caused by the exfoliative toxins, ETA and ETB, of Staphylococcus aureus. Despite 25 y of research, the toxins' mechanism of action is still poorly understood, although evidence suggests that they may act as serine proteases. In this study, 0.1 mg purified ETA isolated from a baby with pemphigus neonatorum was incubated with A431 cells (a human squamous cell line) at 37 ˚C for 8, 24 and 48 h and the supernatant tested for protease activity using azocasein as a non‐specific substrate. Phosphate‐buffered saline was also incubated as negative control. Incubation of ETA with A431 cells for 48 h resulted in a four‐fold increase in supernatant azocaseinolytic activity compared with buffer and cells, ETA alone and buffer alone (p < 0.001). Furthermore, this proteolytic activity was inhibited by PMSF (p
Retailer's inventory Policy and supplier's Delivery Policy under Two-Level Trade Credit Strategy

This paper presents a stylized model to determine the optimal strategy for the integrated supplier-retailer inventory model under the condition that both the supplier and retailer have adopted a trade credit strategy. By analyzing the total channel profit function, we develop an algorithm to simultaneously determine the retailer's optimal order quantity and the number of shipment per production run from the supplier to the retailer. Our results demonstrate that the trade credit strategy is effective to supply chain system performance when customers are sensitive to the credit period length offered by the retailer. Moreover, when customers are sensitive to the credit period, if the retailer conveys partial advantage gained from the trade credit offered by the supplier to customers by suitably adjusting the customer's credit period then the entire system and every channel partner can benefit.
EMI shielding effectiveness and mechanical properties of MWCNTs-reinforced biodegradable epoxy matrix composites

Copyright © Korean Carbon Society http://carbonlett.org Abstract Biodegradable epoxy (B-epoxy) was prepared from diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and epoxidized linseed oil. The mechanical properties of B-epoxy composites reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs/B-epoxy) were examined by employing dynamic mechanical analysis, critical stress intensity factor (KIC) tests, and impact strength tests. The electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI-SE) of the composites was evaluated using reflection and absorption methods. Mechanical properties of MWCNTs/B-epoxy were enhanced with an increase in the MWCNT content, whereas they deteriorated when the MWCNT content was >5 parts per hundred resin (phr). This can likely be attributed to the entanglement of MWCNTs with each other in the B-epoxy due to the presence of an excess amount of MWCNTs. The highest EMI-SE obtained was ~16 dB for the MWCNTs/B-epoxy composites with a MWCNT content of 13 phr at 1.4 GHz. The composites (13 phr) exhibited the minimum EMI-SE (90%) when used as shielding materials at 1.4 GHz. The EMI-SE of the MWCNTs/B-epoxy also increased with an increase in the MWCNT content, which is a key factor affecting the EMI-SE.
Time course of meiotic spindle development in MII oocytes

Summary The aim of this study was to examine changes in meiotic spindle morphology over time to potentially optimize timing for ICSI. Using polarized light microscopy, images of MII oocytes were captured after retrieval of oocytes in stimulated cycles at six time intervals in culture: 36–36.5 h, 36.5–37.0 h, 38–38.5 h, 39–39.5 h, 40–40.5 h and 40.5–41 h post hCG. Captured images were analysed for spindle presence and their retardance. Results showed that spindles were detected in 58% (45/78) of oocytes at 36–36.5 h. This percentage rose to a peak (96% vs. 58%, p < 0.001) at 39–39.5 h and stabilized between 39–40.5 h post trigger then significantly declined at 40.5–41 h post hCG (96% vs. 77%, p < 0.001). Average spindle retardance increased from 36–36.5 h (1.8 ± 0.7 nm) until it peaked at 39–40.5 h (3.8 ± 0.8 nm, p < 0.0001) and then declined significantly after 40.5–41 h (3.2 ± 0.9 nm, p = 0.0001). These results show that the meiotic spindle appearance is time dependent with the majority of oocytes having detectable spindles and highest retardance between 39–40.5 h post hCG under currently used stimulation protocol after which they start to disaggregate. 39–40.5 h post hCG may be the optimal time for ICSI.