Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of endocrine and growth factors on the ovarian surface epithelium

Epithelial ovarian cancer is a highly fatal disease for which prevention strategies have been limited; in part because of our poor understanding of the underlying biology of its precursor, the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). The OSE is a single layer of flat‐to‐cuboidal mesothelial cells that covers the surface of the ovary. Despite its inconspicuous appearance in vivo, it is believed that OSE cells actively participate in the cyclical ovulatory rupture and repair process. The continuous rupture of the OSE at ovulation and the subsequent proliferation to repair the wound renders the cells susceptible to genetic damage and malignant transformation. As the ovary is a rich source of multiple hormones, and normal OSE and ovarian carcinomas secrete and have receptors for hormones, growth factors and cytokines, these factors are strong candidates to regulate normal OSE physiology and the transformation and progression of ovarian cancers. In particular, alterations of hormone/growth factor production and receptor expression are common in ovarian tumors. This review summarizes the current knowledge in the field of endocrinology and its relationship to the biology and pathology of the OSE.
Evidence of brain overgrowth in the first year of life in autism.

CONTEXT Autism most commonly appears by 2 to 3 years of life, at which time the brain is already abnormally large. This raises the possibility that brain overgrowth begins much earlier, perhaps before the first clinically noticeable behavioral symptoms. OBJECTIVES To determine whether pathological brain overgrowth precedes the first clinical signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and whether the rate of overgrowth during the first year is related to neuroanatomical and clinical outcome in early childhood. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Head circumference (HC), body length, and body weight measurements during the first year were obtained from the medical records of 48 children with ASD aged 2 to 5 years who had participated in magnetic resonance imaging studies. Of these children, 15 (longitudinal group) had measurements at 4 periods during infancy: birth, 1 to 2 months, 3 to 5 months, and 6 to 14 months; and 33 (partial HC data group) had measurements at birth and 6 to 14 months (n = 7), and at birth only (n = 28). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Age-related changes in infants with ASD who had multiple-age measurements, and the relationship of these changes to brain anatomy and clinical and diagnostic outcome at 2 to 5 years were evaluated by using 2 nationally recognized normative databases: cross-sectional normative data from a national survey and longitudinal data of individual growth. RESULTS Compared with normative data of healthy infants, birth HC in infants with ASD was significantly smaller (z = -0.66, P<.001); after birth, HC increased 1.67 SDs and mean HC was at the 84th percentile by 6 to 14 months. Birth HC was related to cerebellar gray matter volume at 2 to 5 years, although the excessive increase in HC between birth and 6 to 14 months was related to greater cerebral cortex volume at 2 to 5 years. Within the ASD group, every child with autistic disorder had a greater increase in HC between birth and 6 to 14 months (mean [SD], 2.19 [0.98]) than infants with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (0.58 [0.35]). Only 6% of the individual healthy infants in the longitudinal data showed accelerated HC growth trajectories (>2.0 SDs) from birth to 6 to 14 months; 59% of infants with autistic disorder showed these accelerated growth trajectories. CONCLUSIONS The clinical onset of autism appears to be preceded by 2 phases of brain growth abnormality: a reduced head size at birth and a sudden and excessive increase in head size between 1 to 2 months and 6 to 14 months. Abnormally accelerated rate of growth may serve as an early warning signal of risk for autism.
Role of the Cytoskeleton in Endocytosis of the Yeast Maltose Transporter

Certain components of the cytoskeleton play a role in yeast fluid‐phase endocytosis as well as in endocytosis of the α‐factor when this pheromone is bound to its 7‐transmembrane segment receptor. The yeast maltose transporter is a 12‐transmembrane segment protein that, under certain physiological conditions, is degraded in the vacuole after internalization by endocytosis. In this work, the possible role of the cytoskeleton in endocytosis of this transporter has been investigated. Using mutants defective in β‐tubulin, actin and the actin‐binding proteins Sac6 and Abp85, as well as nocodazole, which inhibits formation of microtubules, we have shown that actin microfilaments are involved in endocytosis of the maltose transporter whereas microtubules are not. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of e‐business on capital productivity

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence of the influence of different e‐business technologies on capital productivity (CP). Productivity measurement is a useful tool to gauge business performance. However, currently there is little empirical evidence to support the impact of e‐business technologies on productivity.Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, an empirical investigation of 132 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK telecommunication sector was carried out, using a hierarchical regression. In doing so, three different types of technologies that may be associated with e‐business (i.e. internet‐based applications, groupware applications, and collective systems) were considered.Findings – The main findings are that any improvement in CP is significantly influenced by groupware applications and collective systems. Therefore, the UK SMEs and other large companies might be over‐investing in the development of web sites to support their internet presence, while under‐inves.
NINE SECOND‐ORDER NATIONAL ELECTIONS – A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ANALYSIS OF EUROPEAN ELECTION RESULTS

The composition of the directly elected European Parliament does not precisely reflect the 'real' balance of political forces in the European Community. As long as the national political systems decide most of what there is to be decided politically, and everything really important, European elections are additional national second-order elections. They are determined more by the domestic political cleavages than by alternatives originating in the EC, but in a different way than if nine first-order national elections took place simultaneously. This is the case because European elections occur at different stages of the national political systems' respective 'electoral cycles'. Such a relationship between a second-order arena and the chief arena of a political system is not at all unusual. What is new here, is that one second-order political arena is related to nine different first-order arenas. A first analysis of European election results satisfactorily justifies the assumption that European Parliament direct elections should be treated as nine simultaneous national second-order elections.
Technology acceptance model (TAM) and social media usage: an empirical study on Facebook

Purpose – Given the widespread popularity of social media, such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn, theorizing and understanding the user attitude and usage behavior of social media site is fundamental in developing future understandings and deployment of these new technologies. One approach to such studies on drivers of social media usage behavior would be to revisit the technology acceptance model (TAM). The purpose of this paper is to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Decades of extensive research have focussed on validating the TAM, proposed by Davis (1986), for various types of information systems and communication technologies. TAM forecasts individual adoption and voluntary use of technology. This study examines individual adoption behavior of the most popular social networking site Facebook. The influences on the intention of using social networking based on individual's perceived ease of use (EU), the user's critical mass (CM), social networking site capability (CP), pe.
Clostridium difficile Toxins A and B Directly Stimulate Human Mast Cells

ABSTRACT Clostridium difficile toxins A and B (TcdA and TcdB) are the causative agents of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis. Mucosal mast cells play a crucial role in the inflammatory processes underlying this disease. We studied the direct effects of TcdA and TcdB on the human mast cell line HMC-1 with respect to degranulation, cytokine release, and the activation of proinflammatory signal pathways. TcdA and TcdB inactivate Rho GTPases, the master regulators of the actin cytoskeleton. The inactivation of Rho GTPases induced a reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton accompanied by morphological changes of cells. The TcdB-induced reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in HMC-1 cells reduced the number of electron-dense mast cell-specific granules. Accordingly, TcdB induced the release of hexosaminidase, a marker for degranulation, in HMC-1 cells. The actin rearrangement was found to be responsible for degranulation since latrunculin B induced a comparable hexosaminidase release. In addition, TcdB as well as latrunculin B induced the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and also resulted in a p38 MAPK-dependent increased formation of prostaglandins D2 and E2. The autocrine stimulation of HMC-1 cells by prostaglandins partially contributed to the degranulation. Interestingly, TcdB-treated HMC-1 cells, but not latrunculin B-treated HMC-1 cells, showed a strong p38 MAPK-dependent increase in interleukin-8 release. Differences in the mast cell responses to TcdB and latrunculin B are probably due to the presence of functionally inactive Rho GTPases in toxin-treated cells. Thus, the HMC-1 cell line is a promising model for studying the direct effects of C. difficile toxins on mast cells independently of the tissue context.
Volume and Autocovariances in Short-Horizon Individual Security Returns

This article tests for the relations between trading volume and subsequent returns patterns in individual securities' short-horizon returns that are suggested by such articles as L. Blume, D. Easley, and M. O'Hara (1994) and J. Y. Campbell, S. J. Grossman, and J. Wang (1993). Using a variant of B. Lehmann's (1990) contrarian trading strategy, the authors find strong evidence of a relation between trading activity and subsequent autocovariances in weekly returns. Specifically, high-transaction securities experience price reversals, while the returns of low-transactions securities are positively autocovarying. Overall, information on trading activity appears to be an important predictor of the returns of individual securities. Copyright 1994 by American Finance Association.
Pathway analysis of genome‐wide association datasets of personality traits

Although several genome‐wide association (GWA) studies of human personality have been recently published, genetic variants that are highly associated with certain personality traits remain unknown, due to difficulty reproducing results. To further investigate these genetic variants, we assessed biological pathways using GWA datasets. Pathway analysis using GWA data was performed on 1089 Korean women whose personality traits were measured with the Revised NEO Personality Inventory for the 5‐factor model of personality. A total of 1042 pathways containing 8297 genes were included in our study. Of these, 14 pathways were highly enriched with association signals that were validated in 1490 independent samples. These pathways include association of: Neuroticism with axon guidance [L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) interactions]; Extraversion with neuronal system and voltage‐gated potassium channels; Agreeableness with L1CAM interaction, neurotransmitter receptor binding and downstream transmission in postsynaptic cells; and Conscientiousness with the interferon‐gamma and platelet‐derived growth factor receptor beta polypeptide pathways. Several genes that contribute to top‐ranked pathways in this study were previously identified in GWA studies or by pathway analysis in schizophrenia or other neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we report the first pathway analysis of all five personality traits. Importantly, our analysis identified novel pathways that contribute to understanding the etiology of personality traits.
Design and implementation of cascaded Z-Source Multilevel Inverter

Multilevel Inverter (MLI) has been recognized as an attractive topology for high voltage DC-AC conversion. Function of a multilevel inverter is to synthesize a desired voltage wave shape from several levels of DC voltages. But the main drawback of MLI is its output voltage amplitude is limited to DC sources voltage summation. To overcome this limitation, a five-level cascaded multilevel inverter based Z-source inverter has been proposed in this paper. In the proposed topology output voltage amplitude can be boosted with Z network shoot-through (ST) state control. This paper focuses on unipolar pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy for the proposed topology. Performance parameters of Z-Source MLI have been analyzed for unipolar modulation strategy. A simulation model of conventional cascaded multilevel inverter and Z-source MLI has been built in MATLAB/SIMULINK and its performance has been analyzed.
Housing Deprivation and Health: A Longitudinal Analysis

While there is a longitudinal literature that considers the impact of poor socio-economic circumstances upon health, the more specific impact of poor housing upon health is much less frequently studied longitudinally. This paper draws on the National Child Development Study to examine the impact upon health of poor housing through the life course. The analysis takes the novel approach of constructing a composite severity of ill health measure to act as the dependent variable. Poor housing is operationalised through a housing deprivation index calculated for each sweep of the NCDS. The index of multiple housing deprivation goes beyond traditional concerns with the quality and amenity of a dwelling to incorporate key subjective factors such as satisfaction with dwelling or residential area: these subjective factors play a particularly important role in the index. The key result is that, even when other relevant factors are allowed for, the NCDS data suggest that experience of both current and past poor housing is significantly associated with greater likelihood of ill health. Moreover, for those who are living in non-deprived housing conditions in adulthood, ill health is more likely among those who experienced housing deprivation in earlier life than among those who did not. Thus, history matters. The analysis also highlights the increasing inadequacy of conventional measures of housing deprivation.
The Impact of Trade on Intra-Industry Reallocations and Aggregate Industry Productivity: A Comment

Melitz (2003) demonstrates that greater trade openness raises industry productivity via a selection effect and via a production re-allocation effect. Our comment points out that the set-up assumed in the Melitz model displays a trade off between static and dynamic efficiency gains. That is, although freer trade improves industry productivity in a level sense, it harms it in a growth sense. To make this point as simply as possible, we introduce a slight modification to the model that endogenizes the growth rate of industry productivity and we show that liberalization slows growth.
Pharmacokinetics of Oral Doses of Telmisartan and Nisoldipine, Given Alone and in Combination, in Patients With Essential Hypertension

This randomized, single‐blind, parallel‐group study was performed to assess pharmacokinetic interactions potentially occurring during concomitant use of telmisartan and nisoldipine. Patients with essential hypertension (n = 37) were treated with once‐daily doses of telmisartan, nisoldipine, or their combination for 6 weeks. The regimen was started at low dose with an increase of dosage after 3 weeks of treatment. AUCss (132%; P < .01) of telmisartan applied in doses of 80 mg was significantly higher after concomitant application with nisoldipine (10 mg), whereas CL/fss (−54%; P < .05) and Vz/fss (−72%; P < .05) were significantly lower. Regarding pharmacokinetic parameters of nisoldipine, significant differences between treatment groups were not detected. In conclusion, the results of this study strongly suggest that concomitant treatment with nisoldipine enhances telmisartan bioavailability in hypertensive individuals. Larger crossover trials will have to establish these observations and investigate whether interaction of both drugs affects telmisartan efficacy and tolerability in clinical use.
Incentives for Discretionary Accounting Practices: Ownership Structure, Earnings, Size, and Taxation

Factors that motivate insurers' choices of accounting practices are established through agency theory and political cost theory. This study hypothesizes that ownership control, earnings, and size provide incentives for the management of insurers to exercise incomeincreasing or -decreasing accounting choices. A series of t-tests establishes an empirical association between accounting choices and the hypothesized explanatory variables. We find evidence that income-increasing behavior is associated with the level and growth of earnings. Income-decreasing behavior is associated with ownership control. The accounting choice literature indicates that the motives for write-offs may differ from those associated with clearly discretionary income-decreasing accounting choices. When write-offs are evaluated independently, the evidence supports an empirical association between incomedecreasing behavior and ownership control, level of earnings, and size. Due to the unique tax environment in 1984 and 1987, a sample was created to include only those insurers with a fresh start tax adjustment in 1984. Using this sample, we perform a Wilcoxon twosample test for differences between insurers that elect income-increasing events and those that do not. Controlling for the tax environment in 1984, significant differences in ownership control and size are reported.
HRM practices during the global recession (2008‐2010)

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate human resource management (HRM) practices adopted by firms during the recession period of 2008‐2010, their impact on employees' happiness at work, and whether there are any differences by the size of the firm.Design/methodology/approach – Two survey questionnaires were developed for the study, one targeting non‐managerial employees and the other targeting senior managers. Two random samples of non‐managerial employees (n=263) and senior managers (n=76) attached fulltime to globally distributed software development firms in Sri Lanka responded. For the data analysis, descriptive statistics, factor analysis, analysis of variance, and multiple regression were used.Findings – It was found that reduction in financial rewards, reduction in benefits, and training and development provision significantly vary by the size of the firm. Further, the communication of information, performance management, reduction in financial rewards, and reduction in benefits sign.
The concentration of CD44 is increased in hematopoietic stem cell grafts of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, plasma cell myeloma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

CONTEXT In autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (autoHSCT), malignant cells remaining in the graft may re-engraft leading to relapse of the original disease. CD44 is known to play a role in the engraftment of leukemia-initiating cells and is shed from the surface of malignant cells. Soluble CD44 is a cleaved fragment, which is found in the serum of patients with metastasized epithelial and hematologic malignancies and in some other cancers, and has been demonstrated to be correlated with clinical outcome. OBJECTIVES To investigate (1) a possible correlation between the concentration of CD44 in an autoHSCT graft and the type of hematologic malignancy and (2) a possible correlation between the concentration of CD44 in the autoHSCT graft with clinical outcome after autoHSCT. DESIGN We measured CD44 in 157 hematopoietic stem cell grafts from patients with hematologic malignancies and from 43 healthy donors by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Levels of CD44 were almost 2-fold higher in the patients' grafts. Highest levels were found in the grafts of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and plasma cell myeloma, congruent with known CD44 expression levels in these malignancies. The survival advantage among patients with CD44 levels less than 22 000 ng/mL was highly statistically significant. CONCLUSION These results show that CD44 levels in an autoHSCT graft may be linked to clinical outcome after autoHSCT.
Yield and Quality of Forage Oat ( Avena sativa L.) Cultivars as Affected by Seed Inoculation with Nitrogenous Strains

Nitrogen availability can be enhanced with the application of nitrogen fixing bacteria and it may be helpful in increasing forage yield and improving quality of oat. Therefore, a field trial to evaluate the effect of seed inoculation with nitrogen fixing bacteria on forage yield and quality of oat was carried out at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during Rabi season 2013-14. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with factorial arrangements using three replications. The experiment was comprised of two integrated approaches. The first approach was oat cultivars consisting of four treatments, V1 (AVON), V2 (S-2000), V3 (S-2011) and V4 (PD2LV65) and the second approach was seed inoculation consisting of three treatments, S0 (control), S1 (Azotobacter spp.), S2 (Azospirillum spp.). Fisher’s analysis of variance technique was used for statistically interpretation of data by using least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% level of probability. Nitrogen fixing bacteria significantly affect the germination count (m2), plant height (cm), number of tillers (m2), number of leaves per tiller, leaf area per tiller (cm2), green forage yield (t·ha-1) and dry matter yield (t ha-1). The maximum green forage yield (85.2 t·ha-1), dry matter yield (14.1 t ·ha-1) and crude protein (11.5%) were recorded where Azotobacter inoculation was applied. The interaction between cultivars and nitrogenous strains was significant for green forage yield (t·ha-1), dry matter yield (t·ha-1) and crude protein (%). Conclusion showed that cultivar Sargodha-2011 which was inoculated with Azotobacter spp. gave higher forage yield of good quality.
Measures of Performance in the Context of International Social Ventures: An Exploratory Study

Abstract This study reviews literature on performance measures among international social ventures and draws interviews with 12 US social ventures to explore how the use of such measures varies depending on the type of social venture, its funding business model, and scale of operations. We find some distinct differences in the use of performance measures among the different types of social enterprises related to the focus on stakeholders, emphasis on inputs, outputs, and outcomes. Implications for theory and practice of social entrepreneurship are discussed.