Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proapoptotic and antitumor activities of adenovirus-mediated p202 gene transfer.

PURPOSE AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN p202, a mouse IFN-inducible protein, is a member of the 200-amino acid repeat family. Enforced p202 expression in stable cancer cell lines resulted in growth inhibition in vitro and tumor suppression in vivo. However, to study the immediate effect of p202 and test the potential efficacy of p202 treatment, an efficient gene delivery system for p202 is required. For these purposes, an adenoviral vector expressing the p202 gene (Ad-p202) was generated. We examined the effects of Ad-p202 infection on human breast cancer cells. Furthermore, we tested the efficacy of Ad-p202 treatment on breast and pancreatic cancer xenograft models. RESULTS We found that Ad-p202 infection induces growth inhibition and sensitizes the otherwise resistant cells to tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis. In addition, we demonstrated for the first time that Ad-p202 infection induces apoptosis and that activation of caspases is required for the full apoptotic effect. More importantly, we showed the efficacy of Ad-p202 treatment on breast cancer xenograft models, and this antitumor effect correlated well with enhanced apoptosis in Ad-p202-treated tumors. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that Ad-p202 is a potent growth-inhibitory, proapoptotic, and tumor-suppressing agent. Ad-p202 may be further developed into an efficient therapeutic agent for human cancer gene therapy.
Nrf2 Pathway Regulates Multidrug-Resistance-Associated Protein 1 in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Although multidrug-resistance-associated protein-1 (MRP1) is a major contributor to multi-drug resistance (MDR), the regulatory mechanism of Mrp1 still remains unclear. Nrf2 is a transcription factor that regulates cellular defense response through antioxidant response elements (AREs) in normal tissues. Recently, Nrf2 has emerged as an important contributor to chemo-resistance in tumor tissues. In the present study, the role of Nrf2-ARE pathway on regulation of Mrp1 was investigated. Compared with H69 lung cancer cells, H69AR cells with MDR showed significantly higher Nrf2-ARE pathway activity and expression of Mrp1 as well. When Nrf2 was knocked down in H69AR cells, MRP1's expression decreased accordingly. Moreover, those H69AR cells with reduced Nrf2 level restored sensitivity to chemo-drugs. To explore how Nrf2-ARE pathway regulates Mrp1, the promoter of Mrp1 gene was searched, and two putative AREs—ARE1 and ARE2—were found. Using reporter gene and ChIP assay, both ARE1 and ARE2 showed response to and interaction with Nrf2. In 40 cases of cancer tissues, the expression of Nrf2 and MRP1 was measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC). As the quantitive data of IHC indicated, both Nrf2 and MRP1 showed significantly higher expression in tumor tissue than adjacent non-tumor tissue. And more important, the correlation analysis of the two genes proved that their expression was correlative. Taken together, theses data suggested that Nrf2-ARE pathway is required for the regulatory expression of Mrp1 and implicated Nrf2 as a new therapeutic target for MDR.
Professional development in Japanese non-native English speaking teachers' identity and efficacy

This mixed methods study investigates how Japanese non-native English speaking teachers’ (NNESTs) efficacy and identity are developed and differentiated from those of native English speaking teachers (NESTs). To explore NNESTs’ efficacy, this study focuses on the contributing factors, such as student engagement, classroom management, instructional strategies, self-perceived English proficiency, their teaching and teacher education backgrounds, culture related to teaching, and so on. For the portion of teacher identity, this study analyzes four perspectives: their role identity, professional identity, teacher education and professional development, English proficiency. After the data were collected from Japanese NNESTs, they were compared and contrasted with their NESTs’ counterparts. The primary goal of this study is to identify the characteristics of Japanese NNESTs’ efficacy and identity and investigate how their individual, educational, cultural, and other social factors influence their efficacy and identity development. Forty six (46) Japanese NNESTs and one hundred and two (102) NESTs who were teaching in the junior high, high school, and college levels in Japan participated in a survey. Five Japanese NNESTs and six NESTs from the three types of grade levels were interviewed. Data analysis procedures comprised a statistical analysis of the survey data and a theme analysis of the interview data, and both data sets were integrated to discover the mixed method findings. There were several major findings from this research. First, there was a positive correlation between Japanese NNESTs’ efficacy, particularly efficacy for instructional strategies, and self-perceived English proficiency. Therefore, higher English proficiency can be a predictor of a higher level of overall teacher efficacy and efficacy for
Running for the Exit: Community Cohesion and Bank Panics

as well as two anonymous reviewers and senior editor Olav Sorenson. We also thank Sahangsoon Kim, Clare Lee, Michelle Ie, Daphne Teh, and Yuhanis Yusoff for research assistance and INSEAD for financial support. A Working Paper is the author's intellectual property. It is intended as a means to promote research to interested readers. Its content should not be copied or hosted on any server without written permission from publications.fb@insead.edu Find more INSEAD papers at Abstract Bank panics attract scholarly interest because they reflect distrust of each bank that experiences a run as a result of diffusion of information whereby rumors about bank runs trigger additional runs elsewhere. However, the contagion of bank runs is highly selective for reasons that are unrelated to the financial strength of the individual banks. This presents a puzzle that extant theories on institutions and reputations cannot fully explain. To solve this puzzle, we turn to the characteristics of the community in which the banks operate. We develop theory on how communities with diverse affiliation structures and economic inequality have weaker community cohesion and communication, making such communities less likely to experience widespread distrust and hence bank runs. We test hypotheses on the effects of community ethnic diversity, national origin diversity, religious diversity, and wealth inequality using data from the great bank panic of 1893, and find strong community effects on bank runs. The findings suggest that the contagion of distrust in organizations following adverse events is channeled by community differences as well as organizational differences. 3 The recent turmoil in financial markets has been a reminder of how the banking system that sits at the core of modern economies is vulnerable to events involving a breakdown in trust. The economic crisis caused by undisciplined management of financial institutions undermined public trust in the banking system. Indeed, according to the Financial Trust Index (Guiso, Sapienze and Zingales forthcoming), the U.S. public's overall trust in the nation's financial system has significantly declined since the financial crisis in late 2008. Because trust in financial institutions is essential for financial intermediation, actions resulting from distrust, such as increased fund withdrawals from banks and reduced investment activity, have led to a deepening downturn in the economy, with consequences that are still unfolding. In the past, breakdowns in trust tended to occur between depositors and banks, leading to mass deposit withdrawals—often referred to as a ‗bank run' (Smith 1991; Wicker 2000). …
Physical actions and work-rest time in women’s beach volleyball

The purpose of this study was to assess the ball contacts, jumps, hits, work time, and rest time for women’s beach volleyball players in relation to their in-game role. The sample of this study was composed of 2,708 rallies played by 48 female beach volleyball players, which corresponded to 69 sets of the 2008 Olympic Games. The variables recorded were: ball contacts, jumps, hits, work time, rest time, and player’s role (defense specialist, blocker, or no specialization). A significantly higher number of jumps were performed by blockers. No differences were found in the number of contacts or hits. The work : rest ratio was 1 : 5. This paper discusses how the data can be used to create game-like situations in practices regarding physical demands in women’s beach volleyball.
Language development in children with attention deficit disorder

Children with an attention deficit disorder (ADHD) exhibit a number of behavioural characteristics which include hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentiveness. They may experience difficulties in cognitive, academic, and social tasks which, in turn, may lead to rejection, perceived failure, and emotional upset. No clear etiology has been confirmed, with current research focusing on the role of genetics, environmental toxins, neurological factors, and parenting style. Common therapeutic interventions include medication regimes, social skills training, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and parental training in behaviour modification. Yet, reviews of these techniques suggest disappointing findings, with positive results being attributed to the prolonged monitoring of behaviours by parents/school staff rather than Increased ability of a child to selfregulate and self-control. The present study examined receptive, expressive, and pragmatic language abilities in 37 children, ages 6 1 0 , diagnosed with an attention deficit disorder. A number of neuropsychological tests (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children III: Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals 3; Test of Language Development Primary and Intermediate; Test of Pragmatic Language; NEPSY Auditory Attention and Response Test) and questionnaires (Child Behaviour Checklist; Social Skills Rating System) were used to investigate the relationship between language functioning and social skills competency.
Effects of Antibiotics on Dental Implants: A Review

There are many reasons for dental implant failure, the development of bacteremia is concern for dentists. This is due to the possibility of unfavorable result such as implant loss or the need for re-treatment. In general, antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for high risk patients such as individuals with an immunodeficiency, infectious endocarditis, or previous prosthetic instrumentation. However regarding clinically healthy, low and moderate risk individuals the use of antibiotics in implant dentistry is controversial. Another major concern regarding the over prescription of antibiotics is the selection of antibiotic resistant bacteria. A better understanding of the efficacy of prophylactic treatments regarding dental implantation is crucial. Thus a literature review and comparison of survival rates of dental implants with regimens of no, pre or post prophylaxis was performed using systematic literature review using reliable electronic databases. Retrospective or prospective controlled studies were examined for the influence of preoperative and/or postoperative or no antibiosis on dental implant success rate. Of the 11406 implants used in this literature review, cases with no antibiotics had a 92 % success rate, cases with pre-op antibiotic alone had a 96% success rate, cases with post-op antibiotic alone had a 97% success rate and cases with both pre and post-op antibiotic had a success rate of 96%. Thus, the results from this literature review show a > 90% success rate when antibiotics are used compared to when they are not used. Thus, no benefit is seen from the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in low and moderate risk dental implant patients. Keywords Dental implants; Pre-operative prophylactics; Post-operative prophylactics; Success rate
The association of heart-rate variability with cardiovascular risk factors and coronary artery calcification: a study in type 1 diabetic patients and the general population.

OBJECTIVE To examine the association of heart-rate variability with cardiovascular risk factors and coronary calcification in type 1 diabetic and nondiabetic subjects without a history of cardiovascular disease. Reduced heart-rate variability is associated with increased risk of coronary events. Whether it is associated with coronary atherosclerosis is unknown. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Power spectral analysis was used to define heart-rate variability in a cross-sectional study of 160 type 1 diabetic patients and 163 randomly selected nondiabetic adults from the general population aged 30-55 years. Coronary artery calcification was measured using electron beam-computed tomography. RESULTS Reduced heart-rate variability was associated with similar risk factors in the diabetic and nondiabetic subjects, namely higher HbA(1c), triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, BMI, and albumin excretion rate. Reduced heart-rate variability was significantly associated with coronary artery calcification in all subjects (odds ratio per tertile lower total power = 1.5, P = 0.01). This association was not independent of blood pressure or BMI (odds ratio on adjustment = 1.3, P = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS Reduced heart-rate variability clusters with other cardiovascular disease risk factors, especially those that are more common in the insulin resistance syndrome, and is associated with increased coronary calcification in asymptomatic young adults. Whether reduced heart-rate variability leads to other risk factor disturbances or mediates the effects of other risk factors on atherosclerosis deserves further study.
Attitudinal Belief on Adoption of E-MBA Program in Malaysia

E-learning describes the use of information communications technology for learning beyond the boundaries of the conventional classroom. The objective of this paper is to determine what are the factors that are significant in explaining intention towards e-learning, particularly e-MBA adoption in Malaysia . Results indicated that trialability and image were significant influencing behavior intention towards e-MBA adoption.
Racial microaggressions in social work education: Black students’ encounters in a predominantly White institution

ABSTRACT Research findings have substantiated encounters with racial microaggressions by Black students in predominantly White institutions. Yet no studies focus on students in social work programs. This is important since racial microaggressions can affect students’ academic, social, and emotional experiences, as well as career preparation of counseling students. In this study we examined encounters reported by 10 Black Master of Social Work students. We present an in-depth case example as support for the emergence of a Racial Microaggressions Interaction Framework, demonstrating how students define racial microaggressions and the socioemotional continuum along which they proceed following encounters. Implications are discussed for teaching from a culturally relevant competence perspective.
An External Loop Region of Domain III of Dengue Virus Type 2 Envelope Protein Is Involved in Serotype-Specific Binding to Mosquito but Not Mammalian Cells

ABSTRACT Dengue virus (DV) is a flavivirus and infects mammalian cells through mosquito vectors. This study investigates the roles of domain III of DV type 2 envelope protein (EIII) in DV binding to the host cell. Recombinant EIII interferes with DV infection to BHK21 and C6/36 cells by blocking dengue virion adsorption to these cells. Inhibition of EIII on BHK21 cells was broad with no serotype specificity; however, inhibition of EIII on C6/36 cells was relatively serotype specific. Soluble heparin completely blocks binding of EIII to BHK21 cells, suggesting that domain III binds mainly to cell surface heparan sulfates. This suggestion is supported by the observation that EIII binds very weakly to gro2C and sog9 mutant mammalian cell lines that lack heparan sulfate. In contrast, heparin does not block binding of EIII to mosquito cells. Furthermore, a synthetic peptide that includes amino acids (aa) 380 to 389 of EIII, IGVEPGQLKL, inhibits binding of EIII to C6/36 but not BHK21 cells. This peptide corresponds to a lateral loop region on domain III of E protein, indicating a possible role of this loop in binding to mosquito cells. In summary, these results suggest that EIII plays an important role in binding of DV type 2 to host cells. In addition, EIII interacts with heparan sulfates when binding to BHK21 cells, and a loop region containing aa 380 to 389 of EIII may participate in DV type 2 binding to C6/36 cells.
Integrated Theory of Planned Behavior With Extrinsic Motivation to Predict Intention Not to Use Illicit Drugs by Fifth-Grade Students in Taiwan

ABSTRACT This study assessed the effects of a model that integrated the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with extrinsic motivation (EM) in predicting the intentions of fifth-grade students to not use illicit drugs. A cluster-sampling design was adopted in a cross-sectional survey (N = 571). The structural equation modeling results showed that the model attained an acceptable overall fit and explained 85% of the variance in intention. The EM variables influenced intention through subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Study findings support the proposed TPB-EM model and show that EM can foster a social cognitive mechanism that indirectly affects intention.
Novel Apexification Method In a Non-Vital Tooth With an Open Apex: A Case Report

Many materials have been introduced for apexification each having their own advantages and disadvantages. This case report aims to present a new method of apexification using a combination of deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) and enamel matrix derivative (EMD). After irrigating the canal of the maxillary right canine with 2.5 % sodium hypochlorite, a mixture of Bio-Oss and EMD was packed into the apical region for formation of an apical barrier and the canal was obturated by thermoplastic gutta percha technique with AH26 sealer; coronal seal was achieved by resin bonded composite. The size of the periapical lesion decreased significantly after 3, 6, 12 and 18-months. The patient had no radiographic signs or clinical symptoms at 24-month follow up and complete maturation of the apex and healing of the periapical bone were achieved.
Word sense disambiguation combining conceptual distance, frequency and gloss

Word sense disambiguation (WSD) is the process of assigning a meaning to a word based on the context in which it occurs. The absence of sense tagged training data is a real problem for the word sense disambiguation task. We present a method for the resolution of lexical ambiguity which relies on the use of the wide-coverage noun taxonomy of WordNet and the notion of conceptual distance among concepts, captured by a conceptual density formula developed for this purpose. The formula we propose, is a generalised form of the Agirre-Rigau conceptual density measure in which many (parameterised) refinements were introduced and an exhaustive evaluation of all meaningful combinations was performed. This fully automatic method requires no hand coding of lexical entries, hand tagging of text nor any kind of training process. The results of the experiment were automatically evaluated against SemCor, the sense-tagged version of the Brown Corpus.
A Density-Assisted Particle Filter for Mobile Robot Localization with Uncertain Environment MAP

We present in this paper a modified density-assisted particle filter for indoor mobile robot localization in a situation where the environment map is subject to random uncertainties and is not perfectly known to the tracker. The proposed filter jointly estimates the robot's pose and the environment map parameters combining raw measurements from a range-finding laser scanner and the robot's odometric data. Experiments with real data show promising results even in adverse scenarios with abrupt maneuvers and heavily cluttered environments.
Adaptive adjustment of unit tuning to sound localization cues in response to monaural occlusion in developing owl optic tectum

Bimodal units in the barn owl's optic tectum are tuned to the location of auditory and visual stimuli, and are systematically organized according to their spatial tuning to form mutually aligned maps of auditory and visual space. Map alignment results from the fact that, normally, units are tuned to the values of interaural level difference (ILD) and interaural time difference (ITD) produced by a sound source at the location of their visual receptive fields (VRFs). Monaural occlusion alters the correspondence of ILD and ITD values with locations in space. We investigated the effect that raising owls with a chronic monaural occlusion has on the tuning of tectal units to ILD and ITD. Owls were monaurally occluded beginning at 1 month of age. The effects of monaural occlusion were assessed 2–4 months later by comparing the ILD and ITD tuning of units in monaurally occluded owls with the ILD and ITD tuning of units with equivalent VRFs in normal owls. ILD and ITD tuning was shifted substantially and in the direction of the unoccluded ear (the adaptive direction) in owls raised with a monaural occlusion. In most tecta, the mapped representations of ILD and ITD were shifted systematically. In addition, in some tecta, monaural occlusion induced a change in the topography of the ILD map such that ILD tuning remained essentially constant at values near 0 dB over abnormally large portions of the tectum. Across all recording sites, the average shift in ILD tuning was 9 dB (n = 396) and the average shift in ITD tuning was 40 microseconds (n = 414). In four of five animals, the magnitude of the effect was not equivalent on the two sides of the brain, the adjustments being significantly larger and more systematic on the side ipsilateral to the occlusion. Such differences in the altered ILD and ITD maps on the two sides of the brain in individual animals indicate that, although a component of the adaptive adjustment might be due to regulation of the gain and phase response of the monaural signals early in the auditory pathway, a major component of the adjustment must occur at or beyond the level where the encoding of ILDs and ITDs for left and right space separates.
Folic Acid Activity in Leukemia and Cancer 1

The serum folic acid activity (SFAA) was measured using Lactobacillus casei as the test organism. The SFAA was lower for patients with malignant tumors than for the control group. The lowest values were for malignant lymphoma and leu kemia. No relation was found between the SFAA and either the spread of the tu mors, the therapy administered, the age of the patient or the degree of wasting. Al though the SFAA was significantly lowered in leukemia, the folic acid activity (FAA) was higher in white cells of such patients than in those of healthy controls. The FAA was also determined in chicks during development of virus-induced leu kemia.