Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exposure to DDT metabolite p,p′-DDE increases autoimmune type 1 diabetes incidence in NOD mouse model

Abstract The incidence of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been steadily rising in developed countries. Although the exact cause of T1D remains elusive, it is known that both genetics and environmental factors play a role in its immunopathogenesis. Whereas a positive association between p,p′-DDE, a DDT metabolite, and Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been well established, its role in T1D development in an experimental animal model has never been elucidated. This study seeks to investigate the effects of DDE exposure on the development of T1D in a NOD mouse model. As T1D is a T-cell-mediated disease, the underlying mechanism of DDE action on T-cells was studied in vitro and, in the context of acute and chronic DDE exposure, in vivo by investigating lymphocytes’ viability, proliferation, their subsets and cytokine profiles. Chronic high-dose DDE treatment, initiated in pre-diabetic 8-week-old NOD females administered twice weekly intraperitoneally with 50 mg/kg DDE, significantly increased diabetes incidence and augmented disease severity in treated animals. Whereas T-cell proliferation and cell viability in the spleens of treated mice were not affected, diabetogenic action of chronic DDE exposure was associated with a decrease in regulatory T-cells and a suppression of secretion of protective cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-10. Interestingly, an acute high-dose in vivo treatment of 8-week-old NOD males with 100 mg DDE/kg, administered intraperitoneally every other day over a period of 10 days, increased T-cell proliferation and potentiated pro-inflammatory and TH1-type cytokine secretion, without affecting the splenocytes viability and the T-cell sub-populations. These results confirm that high-dose DDE treatments affect the immune system, in particularly T-cell function. In conclusion, this study shows for the first time that high-dose chronic DDE exposure exhibits a diabetogenic potential, with an underlying immunomodulatory mechanism of action, in the development of T1D in an experimental mouse NOD model.
Modulated Grating Y-Structure Tunable Laser for $\lambda$ -Routed Networks and Optical Access

A fast tunable laser based on a modulated grating Y-structure (MG-Y) is demonstrated in direct burst-mode modulation at 2.5 Gb/s. Two transmission scenarios have been evaluated, and a characterization of its wavelength tuning performances in terms of wavelength switching rate and interference has been carried out. The minimum wavelength switching time was found to be 400 ps, and an optical loss budget of 26.7 dB is compatible for the use in optical transmission networks, covering distances up to 50 km while transmitting bursts at alternating wavelengths. Finally, an application in passive optical access networks allowing direct communication between the user terminals without traffic aggregation, and more important, without electrical-optical-electrical conversion or protocol-dependent termination at the premises of the service operator is presented. First results show its feasibility in hybrid wavelength division multiplexing/time division multiplexing networks that give service up to 64 users per tree.
Rescuing High Avidity T Cells for Prostate Cancer Immunotherapy

Abstract : This is the first annual report on the grant Rescuing high avidity T cells for prostate cancer immunotherapy". The purpose of the grant proposal is to rescue high avidity tumor-antigen specific T cells that can respond effectively to prostate cancer cells and delay the development of prostate cancer in the TRAMP mouse model. The innovative idea is based on the hypothesis that blockade of the T cell costimulatory pathway in adults will inhibit the deletion of high avidity tumor antigen specific T cells. We have proposed three specific aims in the grant, (I) - Identify the cells in thymus that express peripheral tumor antigen to induce clonal deletion of tumor antigen reactive T cells. (2). Examine whether anti-B7 antibody treatment in TRAMP mice can rescue the tumor-antigen specific T cells that are otherwise deleted. (3). Determine the thymic function in prostate cancer patients undergoing hormonal therapy. In the past funding period, we have completed the specific aim 1 and obtained promising preliminary data in specific aim 2. Through bone marrow radiation chimera mice experiments that we proposed in specific aim 1, we have shown that expression of the self antigen in thymic epithelial cells is both necessary and sufficient to induce clonal deletion. Surprisingly, while bone marrow-derived peripheral antigen expressing cells failed to induce clonal deletion, they did cause the activation-induced cell death of autoreactive cells in the secondary lymphoid organs. Thus, the BM-derived PAE have a distinct function in the maintenance of tolerance to tissue-specific antigens.
Characterizationof High-and Low-MetastaticClones Derivedfrom a Methylcholanthrene-inducedMurineFibrosarcoma 1

A methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma (3AM) and 5ev eral of its clones were evaluated for pulmonary metastasis, growth rate, and chromosome composition. Heterogeneity was observed in the three parameters, and no correlation was found between growth rate and metastatic potential. Furthermore, three clones (10, 34, and 27) were identified with distinctive, high or low, metastatic potential and marker chromosomes. The marker chromosomes characteristic for each clone were identified in the early passages of the parental 3AM line, indicating the preexistence of the different cell types in the original neoplasm. The three clones were then characterized as to tendency to adhere to vascular endothelium, immunogen icity, and antigenicspecificity.Clone10, with two large meta centric markers (T2. @ and T10,15) and the highest metastatic potential (221 foci/lung), expressed the highest endothelial attachment and immunogenicity. Clone 27 was characterized with an extremely low rate of metastasis (nine foci/lung) and a 7 large acrocentric marker, while clone 34 was characterized with a moderate rate of metastasis (107.5 foci/lung) and a 416 acrocentric marker. Antigenically, clone 1 0 cross-reacted with clones 34 and 27 and 3AM, while clones 27 and 34 cross reacted with clone 10 and 3AM but not with each other, suggesting that, within the original tumor, there were common tumor antigens shared by some cells but no universal antigen shared by all cells.
Evaluation of Choline Acetyltransferase Gene Polymorphism (2384 G/A) in Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background/Aims: It has been hypothesized that choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity might be associated with cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A functional single nucleotide polymorphism (2384 G/A) of ChAT was proposed to be associated with AD risk and age of onset. The aim of this study was to evaluate this polymorphism in a cohort of Chinese AD patients and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: We conducted a case-control study in 273 cases of sporadic AD, 97 MCI patients and 271 nondemented controls from the Chinese Han population. Results: In AD, ChAT 2384 A carriers had a significantly earlier age of onset and worse individual cognitive function in Fuld Object-Memory Evaluation; in MCI, the carriers of both 2384 A and ApoE Ε4 had a significantly earlier age of onset. Conclusion:ChAT 2384 A allele is a risk factor for AD and MCI.
A Consideration of the Pathological Histology of the Parathyroid glandules, and a Report of a Parathyroid-Like tumor.

from operation report. - " The growth was extremely large and involved both lobes of the thyroid, but more on the right than on the left. The growth occupied the whole anterior portion of the neck between the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscles and hung downward to a point two or three inches below the upper end of the sternum. It was lobu-lated on each side and in several areas on the anterior surface. The tumor mass was rather firm in consistency and caused a serious obstruc-tion to respiration, so much that the patient could not be anesthetized in the dorsal position on account of pressure on the trachea. The tumor was carefully freed from its attachments on the lower and outer sides, held outward and divided at its base just to the right of the isthmus. " Patient suffered considerably from primary surgical shock; pulse rapid and weak; died six hours after operation.
Reaching recommendations - a participatory approach to refining and prioritising future extension delivery in the Tasmanian dairy industry

A key focus of extension in the Tasmanian dairy industry has been to increase implementation of pasture management practices and subsequent increase in pasture production, through supporting development of farmer knowledge, skills and confidence. Despite this focus, average pasture utilisation on Tasmanian dairy farms is still well below potential (Dairy Australia 2015). Significant variation exists in adoption and adaptation of pasture management practices, and in the extent farmers engage with extension activities (Hall et al . 2017), suggesting that changes could be made to extension programs to improve future engagement and adoption. Adoption and practice change as an outcome of extension is a social process, influenced by personal and social factors (Pannell et al . 2006; Wauters and Mathijs 2010). Individual characteristics that impact extension engagement include education, social networks, farm business characteristics, activity type and learning environment (Fulton et al . 2003). To be successful in achieving practice change, extension programs require a variety of delivery methods and training options to cater for individual preferences (Kilpatrick 1996). To increase success, a participatory process, including farmers in information research and extension methods and outcomes, is suggested (Pannell et al . 2006). Understanding farmers’ attitudes, beliefs and social environment through social research is essential for effective design and targeting of extension activities.
Incidencia del desempeño fiscal en el desarrollo social de los municipios del país 2008-2013

From the emission of the Law 617 from 2000, the country’s municipalities have adjusted their operating costs and improving their own arrangements, allowing them to improve their finances and consolidate its fiscal performance. Under these circumstances, social development should be benefited, because there are more resources to meet their huge social needs. Hence, the importance of a socio-tax study where tax and social outcomes of different municipal entities are integrated.
Kajian Bauran Promosi Di Perguruan Tinggi “X”

Marketing of higher education falls into the category of services marketing. For “X” School, to attract potential students requires special methods and strategy. The objectives of the study are to: 1) Review and analyze of promotion mix in its effort to promote the institution; 2) review and analyze the most effective promotional mix in its effort to promote the institution. The results showed that: 1) the School has implemented a promotional mix. There are 6 ways to do that: advertising, sales promotion, publicity and public relations, personal selling, word of mouth, direct mail and e-marketing. The six ways are carried out simultaneously; 2) The most effective promotional mix is personal selling. For three years (2007, 2010, and 2011) proved it the most effective method. For 2008, the most effective promotional mix is word of mouth, dan for 2009, the most effective promotional mix is sales promotion. The most effective promotional mix in “Very Strong” category is personal selling could affect 956 students.
Optimum quality design support system for steel products using locally-weighted regression model

A new quality design support system for steel products using a locally-weighted regression model was developed by utilizing a data mining tool. Design accuracy was improved and design time was shortened in comparison with the conventional technique. The system was applied practically at JFE Steel's West Japan Works and is contributing to reduction of quality deviations and production costs.
Voisinage lexical pour l'analyse du discours

Cette these s'interesse au role de la cohesion lexicale dans differentes approches de l'analyse du discours. Nous yexplorons deux hypotheses principales:- l'analyse distributionnelle, qui permet de rapprocher des unites lexicales sur la base des contextes syntaxiques qu'ellespartagent, met au jour des relations semantiques variees pouvant etre exploitees pour la detection de la cohesion lexicaledes textes;- les indices lexicaux constituent des elements de signalisation de l'organisation du discours pouvant etre exploites aussibien a un niveau local (identification de relations rhetoriques entre constituants elementaires du discours) qu'a un niveauglobal (reperage ou caracterisation de segments de niveau superieur dotes d'une fonction rhetorique et garantissant lacoherence et la lisibilite du texte, par exemple passages a unite thematique). Concernant le premier point, nous montrons la pertinence d'une ressource distributionnelle pour l'apprehension d'une largegamme de relations impliquees dans la cohesion lexicale des textes. Nous presentons les methodes de projection et defiltrage que nous avons mises en œuvre pour la production de sorties exploitables.Concernant le second point, nous fournissons une serie d'eclairages qui montrent l'apport d'une prise en compte reflechiede la cohesion lexicale pour une grande variete de problematiques liees a l'etude et au reperage automatique del'organisation textuelle: segmentation thematique de textes, caracterisation des structures enumeratives, etude de lacorrelation entre lexique et structure rhetorique du discours et enfin detection de realisations d'une relation de discoursparticuliere, la relation d'elaboration.
Aerobic fermentation of glucose by trypanosomatids

The consumption of glucose by trypanosomatid protozoa such as Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp. , and Crithidia spp. is characterized by the excretion of reduced products such as succinate, pyruvate, ethanol, l‐alanine, or lactate (depending on the species) not only in anaerobiosis, but also under aerobic conditions. The “aerobic fermentation” of glucose is accompanied by a complete lack, or even a reversal, of the Pasteur effect. This peculiar catabolism is mediated by a so‐far unique compartmentation of the glycolytic enzymes, most of which are placed in an organelle called the glycosome; by an almost complete lack of inhibitory controls at the level of hexokinase and phosphofructokinase; and by a central role of CO2 fixation through the reaction catalyzed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. The production of fermentative products seems to be due to a relative inefficiency of the respiratory chain, which lacks NADH dehydrogenase and the first phosphorylation site and preferentially uses succinate as substrate. — Cazzulo, J. J. Aerobic fermentation of glucose by trypanosomatids. FASEB J. 6: 3153‐3161; 1992.
'Observing' the workplace soundscape: ethnography and auditory interface design

This paper identifies a gap in the research agenda of the auditory display community - the study of work practice and the uses (current and potential) of the workplace 'soundscape'. The paper presents a case study derived from a one year activity theory-oriented ethnographic study of information gathering work at a UK daily newspaper. We consider the soundscape aspects of mediating collaborative activity in the newsroom, and conclude with a discussion of the issues arising from this attempt to utilise ethnographic techniques within the auditory display design domain.
Mortality risk with sulphonylureas compared to metformin

Current clinical guidelines in the USA and the UK recommend first‐line glucose‐lowering treatment with metformin monotherapy for glucose control in type 2 diabetes, where not contraindicated. Consequently, the proportion of people treated with sulphonylureas is decreasing. The purpose of this commentary is to discuss the risks and benefits associated with sulphonylurea monotherapy versus metformin monotherapy and the evidence that, in comparison with metformin, sulphonylureas cause increased harm to people with type 2 diabetes.
60 GHz radio-on-fiber downlink systems using optically injection-locked self-oscillating optoelectronic mixers based on InP/InGaAs HPTs

A 30 GHz hybrid-type optically injection-locked self-oscillating optoelectronic mixer is implemented with a high-performance InP/InGaAs heterojunction photo-transistor. Using this mixer as a harmonic up-converter, 60 GHz radio-on-fiber downlink transmission of 20 Mbps 16QAM data is successfully demonstrated. The link performance is uniform over a wide range of optical LO powers.
Source Code Validation and Plagiarism Detection - Technology-rich Course Experiences

Learning various programming languages in a short amount of time is a challenging task. To help students tackle several programming languages during the course of a semester, while reducing the teaching assistants’ support efforts, a system named ORVViS was implemented and integrated with Moodle Learning Management System. ORVViS is used to assist students validate assignment solutions, and also to check for source code plagiarism. This paper presents the course Open computing, our motivation, system use cases, as well as our results and experiences. These observations helped us improve the assignments to better suit our teaching goals and help students learn the course concepts more quickly.
Distribution of viruses associated with particles in waste water

The distribution of solids-associated viruses in wastewater was studied to determine the effect of treatment processes on viruses associated with solids. Solids less than 0.3 micrometers in diameter were separated from the liquid phase of each sample by using a continuous-flow centrifuge. The percentage of virus associated with solids larger than 0.3 micrometers decreased from 28% in the influent to 3.4% in unchlorinated effluent, and this was accompanied by a 92% decrease in the total concentration of virus. These results indicate that the original solids-associated virus as well as that is secondarily adsorbed to mixed liquor-suspended solids is lost during clarification. The total concentration of virus was reduced by 82% by chlorination, and the percentage of virus associated with solids increased to 7.7% upon chlorination, indicating some protection due to association with particles larger than 0.3 micrometers. When a suspension of fecal particles and a 0.22-micrometers filtrate of a fecal homogenate were sonicated, a threefold increase in virus titer was observed in each. This demonstrated that viruses may be attached to particles smaller than 0.22 micrometers. Thus, small viral aggregates or viruses attached to submicron particles represented the major portion of solids-associated virus in treated sewage.
Field Comparison of Air Sampling Methods for Monomeric and Polymeric 1,6-Hexamethylene Diisocyanate

This study was to critically compared 13 different air samplers for their ability to monitor air exposures to monomeric and polymeric 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) in the automotive refinishing industry. Using both fast- and slow-drying clearcoat, we tested the following types of samplers: single- and dual-stage 37-mm polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) samplers (open- and closed-face), IOM (with plastic and stainless steel inserts), OSHA42, IsoChek, and WA-DOSH samplers. Midget impingers with frit were used as reference samplers. We observed the PP, PS, and IOM samplers to measure greater levels of HDI monomer and biuret when a fast-drying clearcoat was applied compared with a slow-drying clearcoat. When a slow-drying clearcoat was applied, the open-face PP and PS samplers measured significantly more monomeric and polymeric HDI (2-fold; p < 0.003) than the closed-face PP and PS samplers. We determined that significantly more monomeric and polymeric HDI were measured by impingers (1.3–1.9-fold) compared with single-stage PP/PS (N = 59), dual-stage PP/PS (N = 59), or IOM (N = 24) samplers. However, when stratified by cassette characteristics, the open-face single-stage PP and PS samplers performed equally to the impingers for HDI monomer when a fast-drying clearcoat was applied, and for all analytes when a slow-drying clearcoat was applied. Significantly higher HDI monomer concentrations (1.2–3.1-fold; p = 0.001) were measured with OSHA42 compared with the impinger. The IsoChek did not detect HDI monomer, and of the three samplers analyzed by laboratories other than UNC (i.e., OSHA42, IsoChek, and WA-DOSH), the WA-DOSH was in the best agreement with the impingers. The influence of clearcoat drying time on the sampler's ability to measure monomeric and polymeric HDI emphasizes the importance of the speciation of diisocyanates in chemical analysis and the careful consideration for the selection of the air sampler to be used when measuring exposures during automotive spray painting.
Medication identification in pediatric asthma (MED ID): The reliability and validity of a novel screening tool

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the reliability and validity of medication identification (MED ID), a novel survey assessing caregiver-perceived ability to identify inhaled asthma medications. Methods: We analyzed baseline data from the School-Based Asthma Care for Teens trial in Rochester, NY. Caregivers of adolescents with persistent asthma named the inhaled medications used by their child and identified medications on a pictorial chart. Accurate identification was defined as completed matches between listed names and selected images. Caregivers answered the MED ID survey of four scaled questions on perceived ability to identify inhaled medications. We determined internal consistency reliability using Cronbach's alpha; examined concurrent validity by comparing MED ID sum scores with accurate identification using bivariate and multivariate analyses; and assessed the diagnostic utility of MED ID through receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results: 126 caregivers (76% of enrolled) reported >1 inhaled medication; 52% of caregivers accurately identified medications. Two MED ID questions were removed during analysis. The two remaining questions had a score range of 2–10 points; higher scores indicate greater caregiver-perceived ability to identify medications. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.603. Accurate identification of medications was associated with a higher mean MED ID score (8.6 vs 7.6, p = 0.01). Accuracy was most strongly associated with MED ID scores ≥8 points (88% vs 60%, p < 0.001, Phi 0.32); findings were consistent in regression analysis. The greatest area under the curve was seen with MED ID scores ≥8 points (0.638). Conclusions: The two-item MED ID survey is a reliable and valid way to assess caregiver's ability to identify inhaled asthma medications.