Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control of Leishmania major in the absence of Tyk2 kinase

IL‐12 is indispensable for the control of many intracellular pathogens, but the components of the signaling pathway that are essential for its function in vivo are incompletely understood. Here, we investigated in the Leishmania major mouse model whether Tyk2 kinase is required for the generation of a protective immune response. Unlike C57BL/6 controls, Tyk2–/–mice developed severe skin lesions after infection that frequently ulcerated, but ultimately healed. NK cell cytotoxicity was absent in infected Tyk2–/– mice, even after IL‐12 pretreatment, which correlated with a STAT4 activation defect. IFN‐α / β, which was still able to activate STAT1 in Tyk2–/– NK cells, reconstituted their cytotoxic activity, but not their IL‐12responsiveness. The IL‐12‐induced production of IFN‐γ by NK cells and CD8+ T cells was strongly suppressed in Tyk2–/– mice at day 1 of infection, but partly regained during the late phase of infection. Tyk2–/– CD4+ T cells developed into Th1 cells (although in a delayed fashion) and infected Tyk2–/– mice expressed normals levels of inducible NO synthase. Thus, Tyk2 is required for the IL‐12 response of NK cells and CD8+ T cells in L. major‐infected mice, but not for the generation of Th1 cells and the ultimate control of the disease.
The Effect of Tacit Knowledge Management on Innovation: Matching Technology to Strategies

This research proposes tacit knowledge management as a tool to manage intellectual capital and the use of the tacit knowledge index (TKI) to assess the level of tacit knowledge within firms and the effect of tacit knowledge on firm performance. We drew on a sample of 108 United States and Canadian firms using knowledge management to determine each firm's TKI and their use of knowledge management methods. We developed a measure that included both the degree of usage and the tacitness of the knowledge management method and used regression and correlation to statistically analyze the innovation and financial outcomes. Significant relationships were found between a firm's level of TKI and the firm's performance. Those firms that have a higher degree of tacit knowledge, as measured by the TKI, perform better on both financial and innovation business metrics
Effect of prenatal smoking cessation interventions on birth weight: meta-analysis

Abstract Background: Smoking is preventable factor for pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight (LBW). In this study, we assessed the effects of smoking cessation in pregnancy period on the birth weight in Randomized Controlled Trial studies (RCTs). Methods: International databases of Pub Med, Scopus, and Web of Science, by the MeSH heading and/or additional terms, were searched to assess relevant studies in systematic possess. I2 statistics was used to assess of heterogeneity. Pooled effects size was obtained by random effects model. Meta-regression was used to explore of heterogeneity using Stata software version 12 (Stata Corp, College Station, TX). Results: A total 16 RCTs, 6192 women were enrolled to assess of smoking cessation in pregnancy period on the birth weight. Relative risk (RR) of not smoking at the end of pregnancy in intervention group was 2.47 (95% CI: 1.73–3.20). The odds ratio (OR) for effect of smoking cessation on LBW was 0.65 (95% CI: 0.42–0.88) and standardized mean difference (SMD) was significantly increased in the intervention group, 0.28 (95% CI: 0.05–0.50). Conclusions: Results of this study approve results of previous RCTs that smoking cessation in pregnancy is a good practical action to prevention of LBW in infants.
A note on the Gabor-QR decomposition

In this paper, we propose a novel Gabor transformation scheme that is based on the QR decomposition. This Gabor-QR scheme computes the exact Gabor coefficients by solving a system of linear equations Ax=b. The computation is more efficient than iterative schemes and less complicated than other matrix-based methods. In addition, the proposed Gabor-QR scheme allows the use of incomplete basis sets, which is uncommon in most matrix-based Gabor transformations. Experimental results from image encoding are presented to highlight the major contributions of the proposed method. Due to its computational efficiency, the Gabor-QR decomposition scheme has a strong potential as an efficient method for image sequence encoding. <<ETX>>
Latencies of Service Invocation and Processing of the REST and SOAP Web Service Interfaces

This paper studies the latencies experienced by the Web service client invoking a proprietary multimedia messaging service with both REST and SOAP interfaces implemented. This study has been made utilising XML, JSON, MTOM/XOP and Google Protostuff message and message content encodings where available. We study the overall round trip time from the start of the request to the response returning to the client. Furthermore, we measure and analyse the phases the request travels through to the server and the return of an associated response. The results of the overall round trip time and distribution of the delays along the service invocation path is presented to ultimately aid and justify a selection of the better performing interface implementation and associated message encoding scheme for the solution. Both interfaces implement the same functionality of registering a client, sending and receiving a message and finally unregistering. Therefore, the results are highly comparable which show differences not only between REST and SOAP but also between XML and JSON and how it can be further improved.
Stimulant use disorders: Characteristics and comorbidity in an Australian population sample

Objective: To describe the correlates of stimulant use disorders (abuse, dependence) in an Australian population sample, to compare the characteristics of stimulant users with and without stimulant use disorders and to describe the patterns of service use and help-seeking in people with stimulant use disorders. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, which sampled 8841 residents of private dwellings in Australia in 2007. Lifetime DSM-IV substance use and mental disorder diagnoses were obtained from interviews conducted by lay interviewers, using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Socio-demographic, socio-economic and clinical correlates of stimulant use disorders were identified using binary logistic regression models. Stimulant users with and without stimulant use disorders were compared to non-stimulant users via multinomial logistic regression models. Results: Compared to Australians without stimulant use disorder, people with stimulant use disorders were younger, more likely to be male, of non-heterosexual orientation and born in Australia, but were not more socially disadvantaged. Lifetime comorbidity rates were high: 79% of persons with stimulant use disorders had a lifetime alcohol use disorder, 73% a lifetime cannabis use disorder, and more than one third a lifetime mood or anxiety disorder. Stimulant use disorders were associated with a family history of substance use, affective disorders and psychosis. One in five people with lifetime stimulant use disorders had been imprisoned, homeless or hospitalised for substance or mental health problems, and 13% reported at least one symptom of psychosis. Nearly half had sought help for substance or mental health problems, primarily from General Practitioners (GPs), psychologists or psychiatrists. Conclusions: Stimulant use disorders in a representative population sample are associated with significant comorbidity and harm. Many persons with stimulant use disorders had sought care and found this helpful. There is scope for screening and intervention in this group.
A Low-Power-Consumption Out-of-Plane Electrothermal Actuator

This paper proposes a new vertical electrothermal actuator. It can be considered as a hybrid between the traditional in-plane buckle-beam actuator and the vertical hot-cold actuator. It is here referred to as vertical buckle beam. At identical dimensional and bias conditions, it features a displacement larger than that of other vertical electrothermal actuators proposed so far in the literature. The actuator performance is demonstrated by means of an analytical model along with finite-element analysis. It is applied as a driving element in parallel-plate capacitors, where it is validated and its advantages in terms of power consumption are demonstrated empirically.
Intravaginal ring eluting tenofovir disoproxil fumarate completely protects macaques from multiple vaginal simian-HIV challenges

Significance Topical prevention of HIV is designed to pharmacologically interrupt sexual transmission at the genital mucosa. Attempts at preventing transmission in women using vaginal gels have yielded disappointing results in part because of poor rates of adherence. Controlled topical drug delivery using intravaginal ring technology should improve efficacy and adherence by providing sustained mucosal delivery of antiretrovirals. In this paper, we describe a reservoir intravaginal ring that delivers tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) for 1 month. The ring protected pigtailed macaques from weekly vaginal simian–human immunodeficiency virus challenges for 4 mo. The sterilizing performance of this drug delivery system supports the concept that an intravaginal ring delivering TDF could be an effective tool for prevention of HIV sexual transmission in women. Topical preexposure prophylaxis interrupts HIV transmission at the site of mucosal exposure. Intermittently dosed vaginal gels containing the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor tenofovir protected pigtailed macaques depending on the timing of viral challenge relative to gel application. However, modest or no protection was observed in clinical trials. Intravaginal rings (IVRs) may improve efficacy by providing long-term sustained drug delivery leading to constant mucosal antiretroviral concentrations and enhancing adherence. Although a few IVRs have entered the clinical pipeline, 100% efficacy in a repeated macaque vaginal challenge model has not been achieved. Here we describe a reservoir IVR technology that delivers the tenofovir prodrug tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) continuously over 28 d. With four monthly ring changes in this repeated challenge model, TDF IVRs generated reproducible and protective drug levels. All TDF IVR-treated macaques (n = 6) remained seronegative and simian-HIV RNA negative after 16 weekly vaginal exposures to 50 tissue culture infectious dose SHIV162p3. In contrast, 11/12 control macaques became infected, with a median of four exposures assuming an eclipse of 7 d from infection to virus RNA detection. Protection was associated with tenofovir levels in vaginal fluid [mean 1.8 × 105 ng/mL (range 1.1 × 104 to 6.6 × 105 ng/mL)] and ex vivo antiviral activity of cervicovaginal lavage samples. These observations support further advancement of TDF IVRs as well as the concept that extended duration drug delivery devices delivering topical antiretrovirals could be effective tools in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV in humans.
Hepatoprotective Models and Various Natural Product Used in Hepatoprotective Agents: a Review

Liver is the largest and most vital organ of the body. It is also called as metabolic ‘engine room’ of the body. Most of the drugs, food and water constituents get metabolized and detoxified in liver. A variety of liver disease such hepatitis, jaundice, cirrhosis, liver cancer etc caused by the many of chemicals, foods, drugs and infections parasitic, bacterial, fungal and viral because of variations in liver dysfunction and difficulties encountered in reaching to a proper diagnosis , unfortunately a physician is unable to provide proper treatment. Major functions of the liver include carbohydrate, protein, fat metabolism, detoxification, secretion of bile, storage as well as detoxification of several drugs and xenobiotics occur in the liver itself. The hepatic reticuloendothelial system clears activated clotting factors, proteolytic enzyme/inhibitor complexes, and fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products. Among all the disorders liver diseases are the most serious. These can be classified as acute or chronic hepatitis (inflammatory liver diseases), hepatosis (non-inflammatory liver diseases) and cirrhosis (degenerative disorder) cause fibrosis of the liver. Toxic chemicals such as certain antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, peroxidised oil, aflatoxin, carbon tetrachloride, acetaminophen, chlorinated hydrocarbons, etc are responsible for liver diseases. Others are excess consumption of alcohol and auto-immune disorders. [1-4] Liver microsomal metabolism of ethanol may result in hepatitis and cirrhosis due to enhanced lipid peroxidation. It has been found that viruses are responsible for 90% acute hepatitis. [3] Conventional medicines are now pursuing the use of natural products such as herbs to provide the support that liver needs on a daily basis. [5]
ANA SINIFLARINDA KAYNAŞTIRMA EĞİTİMİ UYGULAMALARINA İLİŞKİN ÖĞRETMEN-REHBER ÖĞRETMEN VE EBEVEYN GÖRÜŞLERİ

Bu arastirmada; okul oncesinde kaynastirma egitimi uygulamalari, ortaya cikan sorunlar, sorunlarin cozumu ve onerilere yonelik ogretmen, okul rehber ogretmeni, normal gelisim gosteren ogrencilerin ebeveynleri ve kaynastirma ogrencilerinin ebeveynlerinin goruslerinin incelenmesi amaclanmistir. Arastirmaya; ilkokullara bagli ana siniflarinda gorev yapan ogretmenler (11), okul rehber ogretmenleri (11), normal gelisim gosteren ana sinifi ogrencilerinin ebeveynleri (11) ve bu ana siniflarinda egitim goren kaynastirma ogrencilerinin ebeveynleri (11) katilmistir. Arastirma verileri; yari yapilandirilmis gorusme yoluyla toplanmis ve icerik analizi ile analiz edilmistir. Arastirma sonucunda; ogretmen ve okul rehber ogretmenlerinin kaynastirma egitimi uygulamalarina yonelik cesitli hazirliklar (ogrencileri hazirlama, ebeveynleri hazirlama ve ortami hazirlama) yaptiklari, bu hazirliklar kapsaminda bircok farkli yol veya uygulamadan yararlandiklari belirlenmistir. Yine hazirlik kapsaminda okul rehber ogretmenlerinin cocuklar ve ailelerle birlikte ogretmen ve okul yonetimine de rehberlik ettikleri gorulmustur. Goruslere gore kaynastirma uygulamalarinda cesitli sorunlar yasandigi ve bu sorunlara ebeveynler, ogrenciler, yoneticiler, ogretmenler ve egitim ortamlarinin kaynaklik ettigi gorulmustur. Sorunlarin cozumune yonelik ogretmenlerin toplantilar, bireysel gorusmeler ve sinif ici etkinlikler duzenledigi, rehber ogretmenlerin ise seminerler, oryantasyon calismalari ve ikna yollarina basvurduklari belirlenmistir. Ebeveynler sorunlari cozmek icin ogretmen, rehber ogretmen, okul yoneticileri ve doktorlarin yardimina basvurduklarini belirtmislerdir. Tum katilimcilar kaynastirma uygulamalari kapsaminda ozel egitim uzmanlarinin desteginin saglanmasi yonunde oneri bildirmislerdir.
Metabolic syndrome and the hepatorenal reflex

Insufficient hepatic O2 in animal and human studies has been shown to elicit a hepatorenal reflex in response to increased hepatic adenosine, resulting in the stimulation of renal as well as muscle sympathetic nerve activity and activating the renin angiotensin system. Low hepatic ATP, hyperuricemia, and hepatic lipid accumulation reported in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients may reflect insufficient hepatic O2 delivery, potentially accounting for the sympathetic overdrive associated with MetS. This theoretical concept is supported by experimental results in animals fed a high fructose diet to induce MetS. Hepatic fructose metabolism rapidly consumes ATP resulting in increased adenosine production and hyperuricemia as well as elevated renin release and sympathetic activity. This review makes the case for the hepatorenal reflex causing sympathetic overdrive and metabolic syndrome in response to exaggerated splanchnic oxygen consumption from excessive eating. This is strongly reinforced by the fact that MetS is cured in a matter of days in a significant percentage of patients by diet, bariatric surgery, or endoluminal sleeve, all of which would decrease splanchnic oxygen demand by limiting nutrient contact with the mucosa and reducing the nutrient load due to loss of appetite or dietary restriction.
Preliminary study on association of β 2-Adrenergic Receptor Polymorphism with hypertension in hypertensive subjects attending Balok Health Centre

25 SUMMARY Polymorphisms within the β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene have been repeatedly linked to hypertension. Among the ADRB2 polymorphisms detected, Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu codons are considered the two most important variations. The amino acid substitution at these codons may lead to abnormal regulation of ADRB2 activity. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between ADRB2 polymorphisms and hypertension. This case-control study consisted of 100 unrelated subjects (50 hypertensive and 50 matched normal controls). Arg16Gly and the Gln27Glu polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism assay. There were no significant evidence of association in allelic and genotypes distribution of Arg16Gly and Glu27Gln with blood pressure and hypertension. These findings suggest that the variation within codon 16 and 27 of ADRB2 gene were unlikely to confer genetic susceptibility for hypertension in our population samples.
Marketplace Reforms and Primary Care Career Decisions

A dramatic shift in the postgraduate career choices of medical school graduates toward primary care occurred during the mid-1990s. While some attributed this shift to changes in medical school curricula, perceptions stemming from marketplace reforms were probably responsible. For the most part, these perceptions were probably generated through informal communications among medical students and through the media. More recently, additional marketplace influences, such as the consumer backlash toward managed care and unrealized gains in primary care physicians' personal incomes, may have fostered contrasting perceptions among medical students, leading to career choices away from primary care, particularly family practice. The authors offer two recommendations for enhancing the knowledge of medical students concerning workforce supply and career opportunities: an educational seminar in the second or third year of medical school, and a public—private partnership between the Bureau of Health Professions and the Association of American Medical Colleges to create a national database about the shape of the primary care and specialty workforces, accessible through the Internet for educators, students, and policymakers. The authors conclude that appropriate career counseling through these efficient methods could avoid future abrupt swings in specialty choices of medical school graduates and may facilitate a more predictable physician workforce supply.
Characteristics of Improvised Explosive Device Trauma Casualties in the Gaza Strip and Other Combat Regions: The Israeli Experience.

OBJECTIVE Low-intensity conflict is characterized in asymmetrical conventional and nonconventional warfare. The use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has evolved over the past few decades to include the addition of diesel, biological agents, shrapnel, and nitroglycerin to the explosive content. Due to its nature and mechanism, an IED injury might present as a multidimensional injury, impairing numerous systems and organs. MATERIALS AND METHODS The authors present a case series of 5 Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers wounded by an IED presenting a typical and similar pattern of burns to their faces, trunks, and limbs, in addition to ocular, ear/nose/throat, and orthopedic injuries. An analysis of the experience in treating the aforementioned injuries is included. RESULTS Improvement in casualties' burns and traumatic tattoos was observed following debridement, aggressive scrubbing with or without dermabrasion, and conservative local dressing treatment protocol. The authors found a positive correlation between improvement degree and treatment timing. Injury pattern was correlative to the protective gear worn by the soldiers. Wearing protective eye gear and wearing ceramic vests can diminish the extent of IED injuries, while creating typical patterns of injuries to be treated. CONCLUSION Based on these experiences, such injuries should be brought to a trauma center as soon as possible. Treating multidimensional trauma should be done in a facility with abilities to treat head injuries, eye injuries, penetrating injuries, blast injuries, and burns. Such specialized disciplines and facilities that have past experience with IEDs and war injuries are able to assess and treat these injuries in a more dedicated manner, resulting in better long-term rehabilitation.
Mechanisms of action of isoniazid

For decades after its introduction, the mechanisms of action of the front‐line antituberculosis therapeutic agent isoniazid (INH) remained unclear. Recent developments have shown that peroxidative activation of isoniazid by the mycobacterial enzyme KatG generates reactive species that form adducts with NAD+ and NADP+ that are potent inhibitors of lipid and nucleic acid biosynthetic enzymes. A direct role for some isoniazid‐derived reactive species, such as nitric oxide, in inhibiting mycobacterial metabolic enzymes has also been shown. The concerted effects of these activities – inhibition of cell wall lipid synthesis, depletion of nucleic acid pools and metabolic depression – drive the exquisite potency and selectivity of this agent. To understand INH action and resistance fully, a synthesis of knowledge is required from multiple separate lines of research – including molecular genetic approaches, in vitro biochemical studies and free radical chemistry – which is the intent of this review.
Preserving Your Revenue-management System as a Trade Secret

Abstract A hotel's or airline's revenue-management system is ( 1 ) quite valuable and ( 2 ) a trade secret. Trade secrets involve special proprietary information and processes, including publicly available information that is assembled in a special manner by the trade secret's owner. Establishing that a process is a trade secret involves demonstrating that it is, in fact, a secret, that information about the process is restricted to employees and licensess, and that the owner makes a specific effort to shield the information. Hotels' revenue-management systems are particularly at risk for either general disclosure or corporate espionage because of the relatively rapid turnover of employees and the fact that those employees often go to work for competitors. Thus, a wise hotelier will take the following steps to protect the company's revenue-management system: ( 1 ) maintain the information's physical security by restricting access, ( 2 ) place restrictive legends on the information stating that it is in fact confidential, ( 3 ) state in employee handbooks that the revenue-management information is a trade secret and will be shared only in confidence, ( 4 ) require revenue-management employees to sign confidentiality agreements, ( 5 ) train employees and remind them regularly of the confidentiality of the revenue-management information, and ( 6 ) ask exiting employees to reaffirm their agreement not to share the confidential trade secrets. The former employer may also consider sending an advisory letter to a departing employee's new employer stating that the revenue-management information is confidential, but that letter-writing step involves other issues that require legal counsel.
A General Correspondence Approach to Apparent Motion

A general framework is considered for how different features of image parts determine the perceived direction of apparent motion between these parts as a function of their internalized feature weights. It is shown how the compatibility and constraints between pairwise part correspondences also play important roles in the types of perceived motion between parts; this process is modelled via a multivariate constraint-satisfaction procedure.