Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protection of human conjunctival fibroblasts from NO-induced apoptosis by interleukin-4 or interleukin-13.

PURPOSE To examine the possible roles of T helper type 2 (Th2) cell-derived cytokines in formation of the giant papillae characteristic in individuals with vernal keratoconjunctivitis, the effects of these cytokines on the proliferation and apoptosis of cultured human conjunctival fibroblasts were investigated. METHODS Apoptosis was induced by the NO donor sodium nitroprusside. Cell viability was determined by measurement of mitochondrial metabolic activity, and apoptotic cells were identified on the basis either of nuclear morphology after staining with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole or of TUNEL staining. The activation of antiapoptotic signaling mediated by the protein kinase Akt was assessed by immunoblot analysis and by an in vitro kinase assay. Expression of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 receptor subunits was examined by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction analysis and by flow cytometry. RESULTS IL-4 and IL-13, but not IL-5, IL-9, or IL-10, induced the proliferation of conjunctival fibroblasts as well as protecting these cells from NO-induced apoptosis. Both IL-4 and IL-13 induced the phosphorylation of Akt and increased the kinase activity of this enzyme in a manner that was sensitive to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors LY294002 or wortmannin. These inhibitors also blocked the antiapoptotic effects of IL-4 and IL-13. Transcripts encoding IL-4 and IL-13 receptor components were detected in conjunctival fibroblasts, and the proteins were expressed at the cell surface. CONCLUSIONS Among the various Th2 cytokines tested, only IL-4 and IL-13 induced the proliferation of human conjunctival fibroblasts and protected these cells from apoptosis. These effects may contribute to the formation of giant papillae in individuals with vernal keratoconjunctivitis.
Dissolved organic matter photolysis in Canadian arctic thaw ponds

The abundant thaw lakes and ponds in the circumarctic receive a new pool of organic carbon as permafrost peat soils degrade, which can be exposed to significant irradiance that potentially increases as climate warms and ice cover shortens. Exposure to sunlight is known to accelerate the transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) into molecules that can be more readily used by microbes. We sampled the water from two common classes of ponds found in the ice-wedge system of continuous permafrost regions of Canada, polygonal and runnel ponds, and followed the transformation of DOM over 12 days by looking at dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and DOM absorption and fluorescence properties. The results indicate a relatively fast decay of color (3.4 and 1.6% loss d−1 of absorption at 320 nm for the polygonal and runnel pond, respectively) and fluorescence (6.1 and 8.3% loss d−1 of total fluorescent components, respectively) at the pond surface, faster in the case of humic-like components, but insignificant losses of DOC over the observed period. This result indicates that direct DOM mineralization (photochemical production of CO2) is apparently minor in thaw ponds compared to the photochemical transformation of DOM into less chromophoric and likely more labile molecules with a greater potential for microbial mineralization. Therefore, DOM photolysis in arctic thaw ponds can be considered as a catalytic mechanism, accelerating the microbial turnover of mobilized organic matter from thawing permafrost and the production of greenhouse gases, especially in the most shallow ponds. Under a warming climate, this mechanism will intensify as summers lengthen.
Mentoring as an antidote to stress during corporate trauma

This article examines mentoring as a potentially useful resource in an organization's adaptation to global competition and the need for improved learning capabilities. We were surprised to find that mentoring relationships were perceived as more desirable under conditions of corporate stress, low job challenge, and low job involvement. We were further surprised to find that individuals in early and later career stages were as likely, or more likely than, their midcareer colleagues to embrace the mentoring role. Thus, it appears that mentoring may be more readily available as an antidote to stress than previously considered, and that it may be an important form of coping with the stressful, nonrewarding conditions that typically characterize corporate downsizing. Not only is mentoring an important form of promoting development (for self and for others), but it also may represent a valuable vehicle for social support and learning during times of major corporate change.
Conflict of Interest in the Issuance of Public Securities: Evidence from Venture Capital*

In this paper we investigate potential conflicts of interest in the issuance of public securities in a setting analogous to a universal bank, that is, the underwriting of initial public offerings by investment banks that hold equity in a firm through a venture capital subsidiary. We contrast two hypotheses. Under “rational discounting,” all market participants fully anticipate the conflict. The “naive investor” hypothesis suggests that investment banks are able to utilize superior information when they underwrite securities. The evidence supports the rational discounting hypothesis. Initial public offerings that are underwritten by affiliated investment banks perform as well or better than issues of firms in which none of the investment banks held a prior equity position. Investors do, however, require a greater discount at the offering to compensate for potential adverse selection. We also provide evidence that investment bank–affiliated venture firms address the potential conflict by investing in and subsequently underwriting less information‐sensitive issues. Our evidence provides no support for the prohibitions on universal banking instituted by the Glass‐Steagall Act of 1933.
The Effect of Collective Attention on Controversial Debates on Social Media

We study the evolution of long-lived controversial debates as manifested on Twitter from 2011 to 2016. Specifically, we explore how the structure of interactions and content of discussion varies with the level of collective attention, as evidenced by the number of users discussing a topic. Spikes in the volume of users typically correspond to external events that increase the public attention on the topic - as, for instance, discussions about 'gun control' often erupt after a mass shooting. This work is the first to study the dynamic evolution of polarized online debates at such scale. By employing a wide array of network and content analysis measures, we find consistent evidence that increased collective attention is associated with increased network polarization and network concentration within each side of the debate; and overall more uniform lexicon usage across all users.
Cytologic and cystoscopic predictors of recurrence and progression in patients with low‐grade urothelial carcinoma

Patients with low‐grade urothelial carcinoma (LGUC) are at risk of recurrence and must undergo lifelong surveillance. To date, cytology and cystoscopy are the gold standard for the detection of de novo and recurrent LGUC. The objective of the current study was is to further characterize the role of cytology and cystoscopy in determining the risk of recurrence and progression in these patients.
Regional innovation and performance

Purpose – This paper aims to draw on a number of indicators of innovation to evaluate and compare two central regions – Hubei and Hunan – with three leading regions of China – Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong. Design/methodology/approach – The paper focuses on absorptive capacity at the level of domestic regions of China, using data on R&D expenditures, human resources in higher education and in high-tech industries. The paper uses social network analysis to investigate innovation networks based on patents from the SIPO and USPTO. Findings – Results indicate that, in Hubei and Hunan, R&D expenditures do not translate into as many innovative outputs as in the coastal and Southern regions. Moreover, high-tech industries contribute towards a relatively low proportion of the regional outputs of Hubei and Hunan, where especially the electronics industry is very poorly represented. Findings also suggest that Hubei and Hunan have a relatively limited access to foreign technologies embedded in ties with internatio.
North-South Trade and the Distribution of Environmental Goods and Burdens: a Biophysical Perspective

In the last 20 years, the implications of international trade for environmental distribution between North and South gained increasing attention in the debate on sustainable development. In this article, the authors take a biophysical perspective to analyze the distribution of environmental goods versus environmental burdens in North-South trade relations. Studies based on physical accounting are particularly suitable to elucidate environmental consequences of economic specialization processes in different world regions, as they clarify implications for both the use of natural resources and the generation of waste and of emissions in a coherent and comprehensive manner. Empirical evidence from biophysical accounting studies suggests that the formation of specific metabolic profiles of societies in the North and in the South, as a consequence of economic specialization, leads to an unequal environmental distribution. The article closes with an evaluation of policy measures and instruments appropriate for reducing negative environmental consequences of North-South trade.
Activity of 3-Ketosteroid 9α-Hydroxylase (KshAB) Indicates Cholesterol Side Chain and Ring Degradation Occur Simultaneously in Mycobacterium tuberculosis*

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) degrades cholesterol throughout its infection cycle. Results: Cholesterol ring-degrading enzymes have higher activities with side chain degradation intermediates than with compounds with fully degraded side chains. Conclusion: Cholesterol side chain and ring degradation occur concurrently. Significance: Understanding bacterial cholesterol catabolism facilitates the design of novel therapeutics and the production of high value steroids. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), a significant global pathogen, contains a cholesterol catabolic pathway. Although the precise role of cholesterol catabolism in Mtb remains unclear, the Rieske monooxygenase in this pathway, 3-ketosteroid 9α-hydroxylase (KshAB), has been identified as a virulence factor. To investigate the physiological substrate of KshAB, a rhodococcal acyl-CoA synthetase was used to produce the coenzyme A thioesters of two cholesterol derivatives: 3-oxo-23,24-bisnorchol-4-en-22-oic acid (forming 4-BNC-CoA) and 3-oxo-23,24-bisnorchola-1,4-dien-22-oic acid (forming 1,4-BNC-CoA). The apparent specificity constant (kcat/Km) of KshAB for the CoA thioester substrates was 20–30 times that for the corresponding 17-keto compounds previously proposed as physiological substrates. The apparent KmO2 was 90 ± 10 μm in the presence of 1,4-BNC-CoA, consistent with the value for two other cholesterol catabolic oxygenases. The Δ1 ketosteroid dehydrogenase KstD acted with KshAB to cleave steroid ring B with a specific activity eight times greater for a CoA thioester than the corresponding ketone. Finally, modeling 1,4-BNC-CoA into the KshA crystal structure suggested that the CoA moiety binds in a pocket at the mouth of the active site channel and could contribute to substrate specificity. These results indicate that the physiological substrates of KshAB are CoA thioester intermediates of cholesterol side chain degradation and that side chain and ring degradation occur concurrently in Mtb. This finding has implications for steroid metabolites potentially released by the pathogen during infection and for the design of inhibitors for cholesterol-degrading enzymes. The methodologies and rhodococcal enzymes used to generate thioesters will facilitate the further study of cholesterol catabolism.
The Importance of Internal Resources and Capabilities and Destination Resources to Explain Firm Competitive Position in the Spanish Tourism Industry

This study draws on the Resource-Based View to analyze the effects of distinctive competences in tourism firms and location in a tourism district on competitive position, and explores the moderating effects of the tourism destination. Multiple linear regression was used to test the research hypotheses on a sample of 1019 Spanish tourism firms. Results reveal that financial resources and dynamic and production capabilities favor a better competitive position for tourism firms in general; however, coordination and marketing capabilities are key factors for firms embedded in a tourism district, while dynamic capabilities have a negative effect in this case. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
"Self-control" concerns for men and women: refinement and extension of a construct.

This study develops and refines aspects of the construct of self-control according to a four-quadrant model: Assertive-positive, assertive-negative, yielding-positive, and yielding-negative. Twenty-six men and 78 women evaluated areas of their life in terms of the perceived degree to which they utilized these various dimensions of control. Results indicated that, depending on the specific area of clinical concern (e.g., interpersonal relationships, professional pursuits, emotional expression, health), there were significant differences in the kinds of self-control strategies that Ss tended to employ. From a clinical perspective, while Ss in this sample exercised a high degree of assertive-positive control in their professional lives, in the interpersonal and affective spheres they perceived themselves to be more out of control and exercising more negative-assertive control.
The new covenant of employability

Purpose – Changing career patterns and the erosion of job security have led to a growing emphasis on employability as a basis for career and employment success. The written and psychological contracts between employer and employer have become more transactional and less relational, and loyalty is no longer a guarantee of ongoing employment. Individuals are thus expected to take primary responsibility for their own employability rather than relying on the organisation to direct and maintain their careers. The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine the assumptions underpinning the concept of employability and evaluate the extent to which employability has been adopted as a new covenant in the employment relationship.Design/methodology/approach – Through a review of relevant literature the paper discusses current research on careers and employability and examines the available evidence regarding its adoption as a basis for contemporary employment relationships.Findings – The paper finds that the tr.
Radiological criteria for acceptable reduction of extra-articular distal radial fractures are not predictive for patient-reported functional outcome

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between arm-specific disability measured with the QuickDASH questionaire and radiological criteria in patients with extra-articular distal radial fractures. A consecutive series of 385 patients were initially treated non-operatively for an extra-articular distal radial fracture and 257 (69 %) patients were included in the study. In 203 of these patients (78%) the quality of radiographic reduction was judged to be adequate by radiological parameters, which included dorsal tilt, radial inclination, and radial shortening. In 54 patients (22%) the quality of radiographic alignment was judged to be inadequate. We observed no effect of radiographic parameters on the functional outcome. Female sex and longer duration of follow-up (>35 months) were the only independent prognostic factors significantly associated with a worse QuickDASH score.
Slipping Anchor?

We propose tests of the two assumptions under which anchoring vignettes identify heterogeneity in reporting of categorical evaluations. Systematic variation in the perceived difference between any two vignette states is sufficient to reject vignette equivalence. Response consistency—the respondent uses the same response scale to evaluate the vignette and herself—is testable given sufficiently comprehensive objective indicators that independently identify response scales. Both assumptions are rejected for reporting of cognitive and physical functioning in a sample of older English individuals, although a weaker test resting on less stringent assumptions does not reject response consistency for cognition.
Public and Private Universities: Unequal Sources of Regional Innovation?

Public universities occupy a unique place in the R&D system of the United States because of their state-controlled missions, sources of funding, and administrative structures. State governments preferentially support public university research that benefits local industry to stimulate regional innovation-based economic development. This article hence examines the geographic distribution of university patent citations during the years 1975 to 2000 to test if public university research spillovers are more likely to be localized at the state level as compared to those of private universities. The author finds little evidence in support of this hypothesis but a positive association between the quality of academic research and localization of resulting spillovers. Public universities should emphasize research quality as a means of fulfilling their regional innovation commitments.
Reduction kinetics of CoO-NiO / Al 2 O 3 oxygen carrier for chemical-looping combustion

This communication reports the reduction mechanism and kinetics of CoO-NiO/Al2O3 oxygen carrier using methane as the reduction gas. Kinetics experiments are performed in a novel fluidized bed CREC riser simulator under turbulent fluidized bed reaction conditions. A shrinking-core model is used for the kinetic modeling assuming spherical grains of the oxygen carrier particles. The XRD analysis showed that in the bimetallic carrier, nickel is present mainly as NiO. Therefore, in particle conversion calculations NiO was considered as the only reducible oxide phase, under the selected reaction conditions. Mercury porosimetry revealed that the pore size of the carrier particle is slightly increased after reduction, which is an indication of a possible shrinking core model since the molar volume of Ni (6.6 cm/mol) is lower than that of NiO (7.54 cm/mol). The rate-controlling steps of the gas-solid reactions in CLC process is established by observing the reaction rates at different experimental conditions as well as using a number of the theoretical calculations i.e. Sherwood number, Weisz-Prater criterion for external and internal mass transfer limitations. It is shown that under the reaction conditions studied the chemical reaction between methane and the solid oxides controls the overall reduction rate. Temperature variation experiments show that the reduction reaction is a strong function of the thermal level, which further confirms the reaction controlling rate findings. The activation energy calculated from the shrinking-core model is 49 ± 10 kJ/mol with this being consistent with the literature values.
H-2 restriction of virus-specific T-cell-mediated effector functions in vivo. II. Adoptive transfer of delayed-type hypersensitivity to murine lymphocytic choriomeningits virus is restriced by the K and D region of H-2

In mice, primary footpad swelling after local infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) adoptively transferred by LCMV immune lymphocytes are T-cell dependent. Nude mice do not develop primary footpad swelling, and T-cell depletion abrogates the capacity to transfer LCMV-specific DTH. Effector T cells involved in eliciting dose- dependent DTH are virus specific in that vaccinia virus-immune lymphocytes could not elicit DTH in LCMV-infected mice. The adoptive transfer of DTH is restricted to H-2K or H-2D compatible donor- recipient combinations. Distinct from the fowl-gamma-globulin DTH model, I-region compatibility is neither necessary nor alone sufficient. Whatever the mechanisms involved in this K- or D-region associated restriction in vivo, it most likely operates at the level of T-cell recognition of "altered self" coded in K or D. T cells associated with the I region (helper T cells and DTH-T cells to fowl- gamma-globulin) are specific for soluble, defined, and inert antigens. T cells associated with the K and D region (T cells cytotoxic in vitro and in vivo for acute LCMV-infected cells, DTH effector T cells, and anti-viral T cells) are specific for infectious, multiplying virus. The fact that T-cell specificity is differentially linked with the I region or with the K and D regions of H-2 may reflect the fundamental biological differences of these antigens. Although it cannot be excluded that separate functional subclasses of T-effector cells could have self-recognizers for different cell surface structures coded in I or K and D, it is more likely that the antigen parameters determine whether T cells are specific for "altered" I or "altered" K- or D-coded structures.
THAI FIRMS' HISTORIES AND THEIR CAPITAL STRUCTURE

This paper examines the impacts of profitability, stock price performance and growth opportunity on the capital structure of firms in Thailand. The methodology of Kayhan and Titman (2007) is applied to model the dynamics of debt ratios. The results suggest that the leverage ratios of Thai firms do adjust towards their target levels. The deviations from the target due to the pecking-order and market timing effects are found to be significant. In contrast to Kayhan and Titman (2007), our results show that the market timing behavior does not persist.
LIVER TRANSPLANTATION-INDUCED ANTIHISTONE H1 AUTOANTIBODIES SUPPRESS MIXED LYMPHOCYTE REACTION

Background. In a rat model of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), recipient serum after OLT (post-OLT serum) has been reported to prevent allograft rejection. However, the molecular identities of immunosuppressive factors, which are in the early stage of post-OLT, remain elusive. This study was aimed to identify immunodominant suppressive factors present in early post-OLT serum. Methods. The immunosuppressive activities of post-OLT serum, immunoglobulin (Ig) G-depleted serum, and purified IgG were evaluated in vitro by inhibition of the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Autoantigens recognized by the MLR-inhibitory IgG in early post-OLT serum were identified by the internal protein sequencing. Results. Recipient post-OLT serum inhibited MLR, and its immunosuppressive activity vanished by means of the elimination of OLT-inducible IgG. IgG from post-OLT sera (2–3 weeks) specifically reacted to 31-, 34-, and 73-kDa autoantigens on splenic cells. The internal sequences of the doublet 31- and 34-kDa antigens coincided completely with those of histone H1 molecules. The levels of histone H1-specific antibodies were transiently increased to a plateau around 2 to 3 weeks after OLT but decreased in the later tolerogenic phase. Immunodepletion of antihistone H1 autoantibodies from early post-OLT serum abolished the MLR-inhibitory activity. Furthermore, rabbit polyclonal antibody-directed histone H1 not only suppressed MLR but also prolonged allograft survival. Conclusions. In this article, the authors provide evidence that autoreactive antibodies against histone H1, which are transiently induced at the early stage by liver transplantation, are a major OLT-induced graft survival factor.