Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CD8α‐ and Langerin‐negative dendritic cells, but not Langerhans cells, act as principal antigen‐presenting cells in leishmaniasis

In the early phase of leishmaniasis three types of potential antigen‐presenting cells, including epidermal Langerhans cells (LC), dermal dendritic cells (DC) and inflammatory DC, are localizedat the site of infection. Therefore, it has been a central question which cell type is responsible for the initiation of a protective immune response. In the early stage of an anti‐Leishmania immune response, detectable Leishmania major antigen was localized in the paracortex of the draining lymph nodes (LN). Characterization of antigen‐positive cells showed that L. major co‐localized with DC of a CD11c+ CD8α– Langerin– phenotype. To determine the area of antigen uptake, dermis or epidermis, and to further define the type of antigen‐transporting cells, L. major was inoculated subcutaneously and concurrently LC were mobilized with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). After 3 days, DC carrying L. major antigenwere always FITC–, indicating a dermal and not an epidermal origin. Moreover, addition of L. major antigen to ex vivo isolated CD8α– and CD8α+ DC fromthe draining LN of L. major‐infected C57BL/6 mice demonstrated that both DC subpopulations were able to stimulate antigen‐specific T cell proliferation in vitro. Without addition of exogenous antigen only the CD8α– Langerin– DC were capable of stimulating antigen‐specific T cell proliferation. Thus, we demonstrate that CD8α– Langerin– DC and not LC are the basis of the protective immune response to intracellular L. major parasites in vivo.
Preferential brain locations of low‐grade gliomas

The objectives of this study were to register the brain locations in a consecutive series of low‐grade gliomas (LGGs) and compare these localizations with the locations of de novo glioblastomas (GBMs) that were collected during the same period in an effort to analyze whether LGGs are situated in preferential areas and to review the pathophysiologic hypothesis of such a phenomenon.
Risk of Hospitalized Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Persons Randomized to Diuretic, ACE‐Inhibitor, or Calcium‐Channel Blocker in ALLHAT

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are an important class of medication useful in the treatment of hypertension. Several observational studies have suggested an association between CCB therapy and gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage. Using administrative databases, the authors re‐examined in a post‐hoc analysis whether the Antihypertensive and Lipid‐Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) participants randomized to the CCB amlodipine had a greater risk of hospitalized GI bleeding (a prespecified outcome) compared with those randomized to the diuretic chlorthalidone or the angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor lisinopril. Participants randomized to chlorthalidone did not have a reduced risk for GI bleeding hospitalizations compared with participants randomized to amlodipine (hazard ratio [HR], 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92–1.28). Those randomized to lisinopril were at increased risk of GI bleeding compared with those randomized to chlorthalidone (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00–1.36). In a post‐hoc comparison, participants assigned to lisinopril therapy had a higher risk of hospitalized GI hemorrhage (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.06–1.51) vs those assigned to amlodipine. In‐study use of atenolol prior to first GI hemorrhage was related to a lower incidence of GI bleeding (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.57–0.83). Hypertensive patients on amlodipine do not have an increased risk of GI bleeding hospitalizations compared with those taking either chlorthalidone or lisinopril.
D2D Communication for Disaster Recovery in Cellular Networks

Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, enabling nearby user equipments (UEs) to directly communicate with each other bypassing the cellular base stations, holds great promise for extending cellular coverage in the case of a network infrastructure failure or a natural disaster. To study the effect of D2D communication on cellular network of disaster area, this paper first adopts multi-hop D2D relays for routing protocol, and then applies stochastic geometry theory to derive an analytical expression for success delivery probability, i.e., the probability that data from a user equipment is delivered successfully to its desired one. Remarkably, success delivery probability can be used to illustrate the efficiency of D2D communication in alleviating the damage caused by the disaster.
The Effect of Economic Value of Wives’ Household Productions towards Family Subjective Well Being

The analysis of the economic value of wives’ household productions is less likely to be paid attention. The aims of this study were to measure the economic value of wives’ household productions and the factors that affected the economic value of household productions and family subjective quality of life. The study was conducted at Hambaro Village, Sub-District of Nanggung, Bogor that was chosen purposively, in April to August 2008, by using cross sectional study design. The samples were 110 housewives. Results showed that the average of economic value of household productions done by housewives was around Rp 6.223,00 daily. It was found that most of families were categorized as poor families both from an income approach and from an expenditure approach. The results also showed that mothers tend to allocate their time longer for her female than male child under five years old (for caring and parenting), thus, the economic value of household productions for parenting domestic activities was higher for female than male child. Moreover, the economic value was lower with the increased of child age, however, the value was higher with the higher the numbers of child under five years old. The results also showed that there were positive effects of numbers of family members, the length of husband’s education, wife’s age, the child’s age, expenditure/capita/month and the economic value of household productions for maintaining home activities toward the family subjective quality of life. Lastly, there was a negative effect of husband’s age towards the family subjective
Molecular biology of neuroblastoma.

UNLABELLED PURPOSE AND RESULTS: Neuroblastoma, the most common solid extracranial neoplasm in children, is remarkable for its clinical heterogeneity. Complex patterns of genetic abnormalities interact to determine the clinical phenotype. The molecular biology of neuroblastoma is characterized by somatically acquired genetic events that lead to gene overexpression (oncogenes), gene inactivation (tumor suppressor genes), or alterations in gene expression. Amplification of the MYCN proto-oncogene occurs in 20% to 25% of neuroblastomas and is a reliable marker of aggressive clinical behavior. No other oncogene has been shown to be consistently mutated or overexpressed in neuroblastoma, although unbalanced translocations resulting in gain of genetic material from chromosome bands 17q23-qter have been identified in more than 50% of primary tumors. Some children have an inherited predisposition to develop neuroblastoma, but a familial neuroblastoma susceptibility gene has not yet been localized. Consistent areas of chromosomal loss, including chromosome band 1p36 in 30% to 35% of primary tumors, 11q23 in 44%, and 14q23-qter in 22%, may identify the location of neuroblastoma suppressor genes. Alterations in the expression of the neurotrophins and their receptors correlate with clinical behavior and may reflect the degree of neuroblastic differentiation before malignant transformation. Alterations in the expression of genes that regulate apoptosis also correlate with neuroblastoma behavior and may help to explain the phenomenon of spontaneous regression observed in a well-defined subset of patients. CONCLUSION The molecular biology of neuroblastoma has led to a combined clinical and biologic risk stratification. Future advances may lead to more specific treatment strategies for children with neuroblastoma.
From Social Inequalities to Educational Inequalities

The explanation of social inequalities in education has often been explained by dierences in aspiration levels between individuals from different social origins. Boudon [1973] has suggested that these aspirational differences between the rich and the poor are a result of differing perceptions of success, such that individuals compare their success at school to the success of their parents. This paper utilises Prospect Theory (Kahneman and Tversky [1979]) to provide a theoretical foundation to this thesis.
Identification of differentially expressed genes in matched formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded primary and metastatic melanoma tumor pairs

To take out a personal subscription, please click here More information about Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research at www.pigment. org Identification of differentially expressed genes in matched formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary and metastatic melanoma tumor pairs Rosalyn Jewell, Angana Mitra, Caroline Conway, James Iremonger, Christy Walker, Floor de Kort, Martin Cook, Andy Boon, Valerie Speirs and Julia Newton-Bishop
FACTORS AFFECTING ETHICAL LEADERSHIP OF BASIC EDUCATION SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE BASIC EDUCATION COMMISSION: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODEL

The purposes of this research were (1) To study ethical leadership, internal and external factors of the school affecting ethical leadership; and (2) To study the influences of internal and external factors of the school affecting ethical leadership. The research sample consisted of 215 basic education school administrators. The employed research instruments were a form containing guidelines for in-depth interviews, and a 5-scale rating questionnaire. Research findings:(1) It was found that five aspects of ethical leadership, namely, having good discipline, behaving as a good model, Leading the proper way of life, love and faith in the profession, and professional responsibility. And it was found internal and external factors of the school affecting ethical leadership, namely, having a prototype model person, ethical enhancement from social institutions, ethical enhancing social environment, characteristics fostering ethical development, having ethical oriented atmosphere, having the practices based on social norm, having ethical oriented organizational culture, and having ethical-based reward and punishment system. (2) The influence of the internal factors was a little higher than that of the external factors of the school. Keywords: Factors affecting ethical leadership, Ethical leadership, and Basic education school, Administrator, The Office of the Basic Education Commission, Structural equation model
Chronic toxicity/oncogenicity study of styrene in cd‐1 mice by inhalation exposure for 104 weeks

Groups of 70 male and 70 female Charles River CD‐1 mice were exposed whole body to styrene vapor at 0, 20, 40, 80 or 160 ppm 6 h per day 5 days per week for 98 weeks (females) or 104 weeks (males). The mice were observed daily; body weights, food and water consumption were measured periodically, a battery of hematological and clinical pathology examinations were conducted at weeks 13, 26, 52, 78 and 98 (females)/104 (males). Ten mice of each gender per group were pre‐selected for necropsy after 52 and 78 weeks of exposure and the survivors of the remaining 50 of each gender per group were necropsied after 98 or 104 weeks. An extensive set of organs from the control and high‐exposure mice were examined histopathologically, whereas target organs, gross lesions and all masses were examined in all other groups.
On password strength measurements: Password entropy and password quality

In this paper, we propose a new algorithm to compute the strength of passwords based on two measurements, mainly: password entropy and password quality. The passwords considered by the algorithm consist of eight characters alpha numeric with special characters. For such passwords, the analysis phase identified the low/high entropy patterns and low/high quality passwords. The analysis yields two rules: high entropy passwords are also high quality passwords, and low quality passwords are low entropy passwords.
Damping controls for interarea oscillation in MTDC systems

A power oscillation damping controller of the multi-terminal direct current (MTDC) system is proposed in this paper. In a MTDC system, due to the interaction between different generators, interarea oscillation has shown great influence on the system stability. To damp the interarea oscillation, a damping controller for MTDC system is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the topology and control strategy of MTDC system is analyzed in this paper. Secondly, based on the frequency characteristics of interarea oscillation, a damping controller is designed for MTDC system, and a power spectral density (PSD) analysis method is proposed to choose the optimal converter to be the status of damping controller. Finally, the effectiveness of the controller proposed in this paper is validated through case study based on the simulation model established using DIgSILENT/PowerFactory.
STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATION

To benefit from employees understanding strategy and to avoid stress and uncertainty, employees must understand the big picture. A better understanding of one’s individual role and how that role fits with the organizational strategy, results in employees knowing how she or he can contribute to an organization’s objectives. However, to achieve strategic fit takes time. Communicating a strategy effectively is very challenging. Organizations should painstakingly focus on supporting all employees understanding of strategy along with their individual contributions to strategic success. However, individuals vary and need different types of strategic information, communication and training.
Determinants of Public Spending Composition in OECD and MENA Countries: A Political Economy Approach

This paper examines the determinants of different public spending components in the OECD and MENA countries from a political economy perspective. The authors primarily concentrate on partisan motivation approach. Yet, they control for macroeconomic and institutional variables besides the political economy variables in the estimations. They use panel data estimation with country and year fixed effects (two-way fixed effects model) covering the period of 1980 and 2008. Regarding the estimation results of the OECD countries sample, compared to a presidential system, in assembly – elected president and parliamentary systems expansions in public agriculture, education, health, defense, and social protection spending are supported more. Among the macroeconomic variables, current account balance and GDP per capita turn out to be statistically significant. Regarding the estimation results of the MENA countries sample, it is found that right – wing ruling parties support higher levels of public spending in various areas.
Charter Schools, Parents, and the Public Schools in Minnesota

Minnesota invention—have been alternately hailed as the promise, and derided as the scourge, of public education in the United States. Although the specifics vary by state, charter schools receive public funds, money that, as both opponents and proponents point out, otherwise would have gone to traditional public schools. For charter school advocates, this potential loss of funds should encourage public schools to become better competitors in the new educational marketplace. For opponents, the loss of funds adds another strain to an already strained system. What proponents and detractors have both ignored, however, is that money, although obviously important, is only one of the resources required for an effective public school. Parental involvement is also critical, not only to individual student achievement but also to the effective functioning of the schools. This article takes a closer look at the effects of charter school reforms on principals’ attempts to reach out to their parent community and the parental responses to these efforts. This report is part of a larger project examining the impact of recent educational reform initiatives in Minnesota on leadership within the public schools, focusing primarily on school choice and the No Child Left Behind Act. The project, which involved surveys of and interviews with Minnesota public school principals, was made possible through a Faculty Interactive Research Program grant from CURA. The data for this In This Issue:
A dual-application poly (dl-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA)-chitosan composite scaffold for potential use in bone tissue engineering

Abstract The development of patient-friendly alternatives to bone-graft procedures is the driving force for new frontiers in bone tissue engineering. Poly (dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and chitosan are well-studied and easy-to-process polymers from which scaffolds can be fabricated. In this study, a novel dual-application scaffold system was formulated from porous PLGA and protein-loaded PLGA/chitosan microspheres. Physicochemical and in vitro protein release attributes were established. The therapeutic relevance, cytocompatibility with primary human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and osteogenic properties were tested. There was a significant reduction in burst release from the composite PLGA/chitosan microspheres compared with PLGA alone. Scaffolds sintered from porous microspheres at 37 °C were significantly stronger than the PLGA control, with compressive strengths of 0.846 ± 0.272 MPa and 0.406 ± 0.265 MPa, respectively (p < 0.05). The formulation also sintered at 37 °C following injection through a needle, demonstrating its injectable potential. The scaffolds demonstrated cytocompatibility, with increased cell numbers observed over an 8-day study period. Von Kossa and immunostaining of the hMSC-scaffolds confirmed their osteogenic potential with the ability to sinter at 37 °C in situ.
Mechanical modeling of fretting cycles of electrical contacts

Fretting-corrosion of electrical contacts is one of the main causes of failure of the electrical systems used in automobiles. The micro-motion involved in fretting is induced by the vibrations of the vehicle as well as by thermal cycling. Tin is mainly used as a low-cost plating for the contact elements which are made of copper alloys. Using gold coatings is restricted to vital functions. For a better understanding of the wear processes during a fretting cycle, fretting-corrosion tests have been carried-out and curves giving the evolution of the tangential force versus the displacement have been recorded. The particular shape of these curves as well as their evolution during the test lead us to propose a mechanical model which takes into account the profile of the wear track along the male surface, the dynamic friction coefficient and the stiffness of the set up. From the analysis of the curves, we conclude that friction does not occur during the whole cycle: for a given pair of contacts, this friction duration depends on the normal force, on the wear track profile and on the stiffness of the set up.
Differential regulation of iron homeostasis during human macrophage polarized activation

Iron metabolism in inflammation has been mostly characterized in macrophages exposed to pathogens or inflammatory conditions, mimicked by the combined action of LPS and IFN‐γ (M1 polarization). However, macrophages can undergo an alternative type of activation stimulated by Th2 cytokines, and acquire a role in cell growth and tissue repair control (M2 polarization). We characterized the expression of genes related to iron homeostasis in fully differentiated unpolarized (M0), M1 and M2 human macrophages. The molecular signature of the M1 macrophages showed changes in gene expression (ferroportin repression and H ferritin induction) that favour iron sequestration in the reticuloendothelial system, a hallmark of inflammatory disorders, whereas the M2 macrophages had an expression profile (ferroportin upregulation and the downregulation of H ferritin and heme oxygenase) that enhanced iron release. The conditioned media from M2 macrophages promoted cell proliferation more efficiently than those of M1 cells and the effect was blunted by iron chelation. The role of ferroportin‐mediated iron release was demonstrated by the absence of differences from the media of macrophages of a patient with loss of function ferroportin mutation. The distinct regulation of iron homeostasis in M2 macrophages provides insights into their role under pathophysiological conditions.
Genetic variability of von Willebrand factor and risk of coronary heart disease: the Rotterdam Study

The von Willebrand factor (VWF) may be causally associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) or merely be a marker of endothelial damage. The G allele of the −1793 C/G promoter polymorphism in the VWF gene has been associated with higher plasma levels of VWF. To investigate whether VWF has a causal role in CHD, we designed a case‐cohort study, including 352 subjects with CHD and a random cohort (n = 736), and prospectively examined the association of the −1793 C/G polymorphism with CHD in subjects with and without advanced atherosclerosis. All subjects were ≤75 years of age and participating in the population‐based Rotterdam Study. Atherosclerosis was assessed by the ankle–arm index. Among subjects with advanced atherosclerosis, heterozygous and homozygous carriers of the G allele had a 3·5 (1·2–10·2) and 1·5 (0·4–5·7) fold increased risk of CHD respectively, compared with C/C homozygotes. The hazard ratio was 2·6 (1·0–6·8) for carriers of at least one copy of the G allele versus non‐carriers. No associations were found in the absence of advanced atherosclerosis. In conclusion, this study suggests that the G allele of the −1793 C/G polymorphism in the VWF gene is associated with an increased risk of CHD, but only in subjects with advanced atherosclerosis.
Is there a role for tirapazamine in the treatment of cervical cancer?

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the second-most common malignancy in women worldwide. Cisplatin was introduced as a radiosensitizer in 1999 to improve chances of survival. Tumor cell hypoxia, however, remains a major limiting factor in the treatment of solid tumors with chemotherapy and radiation. There has since been significant interest in the use of bioreductive agents to overcome the hypoxia and improve survival. The addition of tirapazamine (TPZ) to conventional chemoradiation protocols in the management of cervical cancer held promise in the initial Phase I and II clinical trials in delaying recurrence and improving survival. However, GOG recently announced early closure of the Phase III trial of tirapazamine in cervical cancer due to a lack of increased survival. Areas covered: This article covers the definition of hypoxic tumor cells, the markers of tumor hypoxia, methods for measuring hypoxia as well as the pharmacologic action of tirapazamine in hypoxic media. Furthermore, it critically evaluates TPZ's role in cervical cancer treatment and the drawbacks to the GOG study. The authors review all clinical trials published to date with special emphasis on cervical cancer. A systematic review of the literature was also undertaken with PubMed and Ovid. Expert opinion: Despite the promising results from early clinical trials, it has been shown that the addition of tirapazamine appears to confer no benefits on progression-free or overall survival in patients with cervical cancer. Success in the future will require smaller randomized trials with biologic targets that have acceptable toxicity and efficacy.