Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic changes in innate immune and T cell function and composition at the nasal mucosa across the human lifespan

The very young and very old are at increased risk of serious infections, including pneumonia. This may relate to changes in the immune system as young children have limited immunological memory, while immunosenescence, inflammaging and a decreased pool of naïve immune cells are described with advanced age. How the immune system changes with age at mucosal surfaces, from where infections frequently develop, is not very clear as access to human tissue samples is limited. Therefore, we aimed to assess the composition and activation state of the immune system at the human mucosa. Here, we profiled nasal immune cells from 207 individuals between 1 to 80 years old using flow cytometry. Neutrophil and monocyte functionality were measured using whole blood assays. Levels of thirty nasal cytokines were measured from nasal lining fluid. Nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae was assessed using classical microbiology and associated with immune responses. We found that young children have a striking paucity of granulocytes at the nasal mucosa compared to adults. In addition, T cell numbers at the nasal mucosa decreased progressively with age and were almost absent in older adults. While nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae was associated with elevated levels of inflammation it had a limited effect on nasal immune composition, including levels of monocytes and neutrophils. These results show that the immune system at the nasal mucosal surface changes drastically with age and provides explanations for the increased susceptibility to infections in young and old age. Significance statement How the immune system changes with age is an intensive area of research, but has been primarily studied in blood. However, blood poorly reflects the immune system at the mucosa, from where infections develop. This manuscript provides a first characterization of how the composition and function of the immune system in the upper respiratory tract changes with age, providing explanations for increased susceptibility to infection in the very young and old. Furthermore, by linking mucosal and systemic measurements with pneumococcal colonization, we observed that reduced monocyte and neutrophil responses associate with the increased burden of pneumococcal colonization in children. This study highlights the need to study the immune system also at other mucosal sites in the context of aging.
Aproximación a la validación del modelo conceptual de medición de Valor Creado de Donatas Jonikas

El presente trabajo pretende a partir de la aplicacion del modelo conceptual elaborado por Jonikas (2014b), establecer si la puesta en practica de una iniciativa o de politicas socialmente responsables, genera o destruye valor en una empresa. Para ello, se analiza la evolucion del concepto de Responsabilidad Social Corporativa, sus diferentes enfoques y desarrollos teoricos, y se presenta el punto de convergencia con la estrategia para la obtencion de ventajas competitivas. Asi mismo, se realiza un analisis critico del enfoque que relaciona a la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa con la estrategia. Posteriormente se aplica el modelo de medicion de Jonikas a una empresa en Colombia que desde hace algunos anos lanzo un producto con un marcado enfoque social, de manera que se pueda analizar su efecto en la organizacion en y sus stakeholders. A partir de esta, se evidencia la facilidad que tiene para cualquier organizacion la aplicacion de este modelo y el valor estrategico que le concede a la organizacion que lo hace, en la forma de poder identificar la dimension de Responsabilidad Social Corporativa que mas le conviene explotar (dadas sus condiciones, experticia y contexto competitivo) y para la cual, le conviene desarrollar innovaciones que le generen aun mas valor. Finalmente, se presentan las conclusiones derivadas del presente trabajo y se dejan plateadas para futuras investigaciones, cuestiones de interes como la medicion del aporte directo de cada iniciativa de Responsabilidad Social Corporativa al valor creado en la organizacion y el diseno de modelos que permitan sugerir (a partir de criterios objetivos) en que iniciativas de Responsabilidad Social Corporativa seria mas beneficioso invertir.
Comparison of Ultrabio HIV DNA PCR and Gag Real-Time PCR Assays for Total Hiv-1 DNA Quantification

Total HIV-1 DNA has been shown to reflect reservoir size in HIV-1 infected individuals and correlate with viral rebound time after therapy interruption. Quantification of total HIV-1 DNA level may be used to study and evaluate reservoir elimination therapies. There is currently no FDA approved HIV-1 DNA quantification assay available. The performance of a research uses only kit, Ultrabio HIV DNA quantification kit, was compared to a commonly used laboratory qPCR method targeting the gag region (GAG PCR). The limit of detection (LOD) and precision was evaluated with serially diluted 8E5/LAV DNA. LOD of Ultrabio Kit and GAG PCR was determined to be 4 and 25 copies/reaction, respectively. The Ultrabio Kit showed less variation when HIV-1 DNA concentration was lower than 20 copies/reaction. Twenty-six HIV-1 infected patients’ PBMCs samples were quantified by both methods and the Ultrabio kit showed higher sensitivity. GAG PCR was unable to detect 2 of the samples while Ultrabio Kit was able to detect all. Both 2 samples had undetectable viral load. The quantified HIV DNA copies/million cells of the 24 detected samples by both methods showed good correlation, r=0.91. The difference was within one log.
Investigating Saporin-Conjugated Quantum Dots as a Microglia Depletion Strategy in the Substantia Nigra

To study the relationship between neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease, we employed a relatively new biological assay using saporin-conjugated quantum dots. Conjugation of saporin, a type I ribosomal inhibitor protein, to quantum dots, which are fluorescent nanocrystals, generates a microglia-specific toxin (QD-SAP) which has been shown to selectively ablate microglia in vitro. Administration of QD-SAP in our studies shows the same microglial depletion observed in vitro, but in our in vivo studies, also shows neuronal loss. This effect in not localized to the SNc; administration of QD-SAP in the hippocampus (HPC) shows the same result. Interestingly, administration of QD-SAP in the HPC caused dopamine cell loss in the SNc. The reverse effect was not found. We suggest that it is an initial increase in inflammation, followed by a subsequent loss of homeostatic regulation upon microglial depletion, that causes neurons to die.
Consumers� Attitudes Toward Functional Foods: A�Review

The market for functional foods, fortified with added nutrients such as minerals, vitamins, micronutrients, antioxidants and fibers, is on the rise. In this review, we discuss the concept and nature of functional foods, the constituents or ingredients that are commonly used to fortify these foods, and the purpose of fortification. Finally, the review surveys consumers� attitudes toward functional foods and their importance to help their development and marketing.
Defining the design requirements for an assistive powered hand exoskeleton: A pilot explorative interview study and case series.

BACKGROUND Powered hand exoskeletons are an emerging technology that have shown promise in assisting individuals with impaired hand function. A number of hand exoskeleton designs have been described in the literature; however, the majority have not been supported by patient-oriented criteria. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to define preliminary end-user needs and expectations for an assistive hand exoskeleton. STUDY DESIGN Explorative interview and case series. METHODS Six clinicians and eight individuals with impaired hand function were interviewed in small groups or individually. A standardized list of questions was used to elicit feedback on specific design criteria or promote the discovery of new criteria. In addition, three participants with impaired hand function returned for a second session where hand characteristics, such as range of motion and force required to flex/extend fingers, were recorded to further quantify design requirements. RESULTS Interview responses indicated that there was general consensus among participants on criteria relating to important grasp patterns, grip strength, wear time, and acceptable bulk/weight. However, interview responses and hand characteristics also revealed important differences between individuals with impaired hand function. CONCLUSION Qualitative and quantitative data were collected to develop an understanding of end-user design requirements for assistive hand exoskeletons. Although the data collected were helpful in identifying some preliminary criteria, differences between participants exist and identifying a universal set of criteria applicable across individuals with impaired hand function is challenging. This work reinforces the importance of involving users of rehabilitation technology in the device development process.
Infrared Study of CO2 Sorption over ?Molecular Basket? Sorbent Consisting of Polyethylenimine-Modified Mesoporous Molecular Sieve

An infrared study has been conducted on CO{sub 2} sorption into nanoporous CO{sub 2} 'molecular basket' sorbents prepared by loading polyethylenimine (PEI) into mesoporous molecular sieve SBA-15. IR results from DRIFTS showed that a part of loaded PEI is anchored on the surface of SBA-15 through the interaction between amine groups and isolated surface silanol groups. Raising the temperature from 25 to 75 C increased the molecular flexibility of PEI loaded in the mesopore channels, which may partly contribute to the increase of CO{sub 2} sorption capacity at higher temperatures. CO{sub 2} sorption/desorption behavior studied by in situ transmission FTIR showed that CO{sub 2} is sorbed on amine sites through the formation of alkylammonium carbamates and absorbed into the multiple layers of PEI located in mesopores of SBA-15. A new observation by in situ IR is that two broad IR bands emerged at 2450 and 2160 cm{sup -1} with CO{sub 2} flowing over PEI(50)/SBA-15, which could be attributed to chemically sorbed CO{sub 2} species on PEI molecules inside the mesopores of SBA-15. The intensities of these two bands also increased with increasing CO{sub 2} exposure time and with raising CO{sub 2} sorption temperature. By comparison of the CO{sub 2} sorptionmore » rate at 25 and 75 C in terms of differential IR intensities, it was found that CO{sub 2} sorption over molecular basket sorbent includes two rate regimes which suggest two distinct steps: rapid sorption on exposed outer surface layers of PEI (controlled by sorption affinity or thermodynamics) and the diffusion and sorption inside the bulk of multiple layers of PEI (controlled by diffusion). The sorption of CO{sub 2} is reversible at 75 C. Comparative IR examination of the CO{sub 2} sorption/desorption spectra on dry and prewetted PEI/SBA-15 sorbent revealed that presorbed water does not significantly affect the CO{sub 2}-amine interaction patterns. « less
Effects of under-story Sasa removal and bamboo felling on the ground-beetle fauna in secondary forests in Tama Hills, in Japan

: In secondary forests that have been abandoned, clear-cutting bamboo and thinning increase the species diversity of forest floor plants. However, the effects on ground beetles have not been sufficiently studied. In this study, we set up survey traps at four areas: Sasa ( Pleioblastus chino ) mowing area, Sasa standing area, bamboo ( Phyllostachys edulis ) clear-cutting area, and bamboo standing area in Tama hill, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. A total of 80 traps were set up to capture ground beetles: 10 traps in each area with two replicates. The number of species was greater in the case of management in the Sasa mowing area and bamboo clear-cutting area than in the case of no management in the Sasa standing area and bamboo standing area. In particular, the number of ground beetles was higher in the Sasa mowing area than in the Sasa standing area, bamboo clear-cutting area, and bamboo standing area. The ground beetles belonging to Pterididae were the most common, and the most common species were Carabus insulicola , Synuchus cycloderu , and Pterostichus yoritomus . In particular, C. insulicola comprised over 90% of the total ground beetles collected from the Sasa mowing area, suggesting that this beetle can be used as an indicator of biodiversity in an abandoned secondary forest.
Energy Efficient Direction-Based Topology Control Algorithm for WSN

A wireless sensor network consists of hundreds or thousands of small nodes which could either have a static or dynamic position. These nodes are deployed through normal or random distribution to report events of a particular area to the base station through sink nodes. Having limited onboard energy of sensor nodes, conservation of energy in wireless sensor network is necessary. For this purpose, a new algorithm is proposed titled Energy-Efficient-Direction-Based-Topology-Control-Algorithm (EEDBTC). In proposed algorithm, direction is the main concern whenever an event occurs the node will send data in the direction of base station so that less energy is consumed. The results of the same were compared with customary dense wireless sensor network, color based WSNs and it was observed that this algorithm is much better than previous topology control algorithms used.
Act Now or Forever Hold Your Peace: Slowing Contagion with Unknown Spreaders, Constrained Cleaning Capacities and Costless Measures

What can be done to slow contagion when unidentified healthy carriers are contagious, total isolation is impossible, cleaning capacities are constrained, contamination parameters and even contamination channels are uncertain? Short answer: reduce variance. I study mathematical properties of contagion when people may be contaminated by using successively devices, such as restrooms, which have been identified as a potential contamination channel for COVID19. The expected number of exposures (at least one previous user was already contaminated and is thus a “spreader”) and new contaminations (which may increase with the number of spreaders among previous users and may also decrease with time) are always convex functions of the number n of users. As a direct application of Jensen inequality, contamination can be reduced at no cost by limiting the variance of n. The gains from optimal use and cleaning of the devices can be substantial in this baseline framework: with a 1% proportion of (unknown) contaminated people, cleaning one device after 5 uses and the other after 15 uses increases contamination by 26 % with respect to the optimal organization, which is cleaning each device after 10 uses. The relative gains decrease when the proportion of spreaders increases. Thus, optimal organization is more beneficial at the beginning of an epidemic, providing additional reason for early action during an epidemic (the traditional reason, which is first-order, is that contamination is approximately exponential over the expansion phase of an epidemic). These convexity results extend only partially to simultaneous use situations, since the exposure function becomes concave above a threshold which decreases with the proportion of spreaders: once again, this calls for early action. Simultaneous use is the framework most often analyzed in the network literature, which may explain why the above convexity results have been overlooked. When multiple spreaders increase the probability of contamination, the degree of convexity depend on the precise effects of each additional spreader. With linear probabilities, the expected contamination curves are semi-parabolas, both for successive and simultaneous use. For other inverse link functions, convexity is always ensured in the successive use case but must be determined case by case for simultaneous use.
Modular analysis of numerical properties by abstract interpretation

Any software bug or device malfunction in safety-critical systems can have catastrophicconsequences. The validation and analysis of programs in critical systems is of paramountimportance to guarantee that the software satisfies its specification and that it is devoidedof runtime errors.Static program analysis by abstract interpretation computes a sound approximationof the set of reachable states of a program. It discovers invariant properties of programswhich are represented by elements of an abstract domain. Most industrial static analysistools do not use expressive relational numerical abstract domains like convex polyhedradue to their computational cost.We propose a new modular analysis for the automatic discovery of numerical propertiesbased on the computation of disjunctive relational summaries of procedures. Proceduresummaries are computed once and for all, and used to compute the effect of procedurecalls, in a bottom-up fashion. Our approach is especially applied to improve the scalabilityof Linear Relation Analysis, or abstract interpretation with convex polyhedra, althoughit is based on a more general framework usable with any relational abstract domain.Disjunctive relational summaries are finite sets of abstract input-output relations represented by elements of a relational abstract domain. They are computed based on apartitioning of procedure preconditions. We give heuristics to compute an abstract partition of a procedure precondition. We also give ways to improve the precision of summarycomputation, notably through a careful treatment of preconditions during analysis. Ourapproach also applies to recursive procedures where summaries are computed recursivelyin terms of themselves.We implemented our approach in a new static analysis platform for C programs calledmars. We conducted experiments on programs from the Malardalen benchmark showingthat our approach can significantly reduce the analysis time for Linear Relation Analysiscompared to a full context-sensitive analysis where procedures are analyzed completelyin each call context. Analysis precision is not significantly damaged and can even beimproved due to the use of disjunction.In a second part, we present an approach for the modular analysis of reactive systems for numerical properties. We propose a flexible representation of the behavior ofreactive components called Relational Mode Automata (RMA), which allows the analysisof reactive systems behavior at various levels of abstraction. RMA can be constructedautomatically from disjunctive summaries of the procedures implementing componentreactions. The analysis results of individual components using RMA can be reused toanalyze larger reactive systems with multiple component instantiations in a modular way.We give an application of this approach to the analysis of a simplified automated subwaycontrol system.
Educational Inequality and Inclusiveness: The Case of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

It is argued that masses in Pakistan are excluded from the mainstream progress of education resulting in social unrest and adverse state of human development. This paper examines prevailing inequality in and exclusion from education in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, and provides an empirical base for designing an appropriate policy framework to mitigate the underline issues. Towards this end the household-based education and Inequality-adjusted education indices are derived using Foster-Lopez-Calva-Szekely (FLS) methodology at the provincial, and district levels from the most recent Pakistan Social and Living Standard Measurement (PSLM) survey 2014-15. The provincial analysis is elaborated at the urban and rural regions as well. The distribution of these indices across households are utilized to measure inequality and inclusiveness coefficients by employing “Atkinson’s inequality measure” and “sixty percent of median as threshold of exclusion,” respectively. At the district level the impact of economic, social, demographic, and locational factors on inclusiveness of education are also investigated using linear regression. The results demonstrate that KPK households reside on average in low category of actual education level experiencing high inter-regional and intra-regional disparities and exclusions. At the district levels, the inequalities in educational achievement and exclusions are even more pronounced, indicating that aggregated analyses suppress the intra-regional disparities and segregations. Based on these findings, it is asserted that investment in social infrastructure specifically educational, health, and law and order facilities, development of agriculture sector, and eradication of gender discrimination, are important factors to promote inclusive education in the province.
Étude de paramètres de la réduction bactérienne du fer et application à la déferrification de minéraux industriels

Les processus naturels de dissolution des oxydes de fer ferrique peuvent faire appel a des mecanismes d'acidification, complexation et reduction qui modifient et deplacent les conditions du milieu vers des domaines d'instabilite geochimique des oxydes. Parmi ces processus naturels, la reduction provoquee par des bacteries anaerobies facultatives et anaerobies strictes apparait particulierement efficace. Une bacterie (clostridium butyricum) isolee d'un sol ferralitique ou des phenomenes de solubilisation d'oxydes de fer entrainant le jaunissement et le blanchiment des sols ont ete observes, a montre une forte activite reductrice du fer. Les etudes experimentales ont montre la sensibilite des activites globales et ferri-reductrices a certains parametres environnementaux. Une bonne anaerobiose et une forte densite de l'inoculum se sont revelees des facteurs cles pour promouvoir et ameliorer les vitesses de solubilisation des oxydes de fer. L’etude du contact bacteries- mineral a montre la necessite d'une proximite entre les deux acteurs de la reduction pour l'expression de l'activite reductrice. La solubilisation indirecte par les acides organiques majoritairement produits par la bacterie est negligeable malgre des conditions de ph et de Eh qui se situent en dehors des domaines de stabilite des oxydes de fer. La microscopie electronique couplee aux techniques de coloration specifique a montre des liaisons bacteries mineral par des fibrilles polysaccharidiques ainsi que l'existence d'exoproteines qui pourraient etre impliquees dans l'adhesion ou dans le transfert d'electrons. L’etude du metabolisme fermentaire parallelement a la reduction du fer a montre la production des acides acetiques et butyriques dont le rapport peut etre un indice de l'efficacite de la solubilisation. Les conditions nutritionnelles (sels mineraux, Ph, nature de la source carbonee, nature de l'accepteur d'electrons), suffisent a modifier le metabolisme de la souche etudiee et par consequent le deroulement de la reduction. Dans ce cadre l'interaction des nitrates et de la reduction du fer est discutee. Le role de la reduction bacterienne dans la dissolution des oxyhydroxydes et dans la mobilisation des metaux lourds qui leurs sont associes a ete clairement etablie en utilisant des oxydes synthetiques et naturels. L’effet stabilisateur des oxydes par certains elements comme le chrome et l'aluminium est souligne. L’application de la reduction bacterienne du fer a la deferrification et a la valorisation de mineraux industriels (kaolins, sable, ilmenite) a ete etudiee. Comparativement aux traitements chimiques conventionnels, l'activite bacterienne se distingue par sa selectivite et la preservation des proprietes cristallochimiques du mineral traite. Elle s'accompagne dans le cas des kaolins par exemple de forts blanchiments correspondant a la solubilisation des deux pigments essentiels contenus dans ces mineraux (gthite et hematite). Une approche d'etude pilote de ce procede est abordee et a conduit a un schema d'un dispositif simple a concevoir