Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lysates of S. pyogenes Serotype M49 Induce Pancreatic Tumor Growth Delay by Specific and Unspecific Antitumor Immune Responses

Treatment of pancreatic cancer by active unspecific bacterial immunotherapy is a promising new strategy. Recently, we showed that a single intratumoral injection of wildtype Streptococcus pyogenes M49 results in complete regression of pancreatic carcinoma in mice mediated both by unspecific cytotoxicity and by specific immune reactions against tumor cells. As for potential clinical use, conditioning and especially inactivation of bacteria would abolish the risk of systemic bacterial infections; we here explored the potential of a streptococcal lysate prepared by bacteriophage lysine to affect pancreatic carcinoma growth in vivo. Application of the lysate into established Panc02 tumors resulted in pronounced growth cessation accompanied by raises in levels of circulating monocytes, granulocytes, and natural killer cells. Detailed analysis of splenocyte subsets revealed lysate-induced transient increases in pre-B cells followed by raised levels of activated T cells. Moreover, blood levels of proinflammatory, T helper-1–type cytokines were significantly elevated. These systemic immunologic effects were accompanied by massive infiltrations of cytotoxic T cells into the tumors. Concomitantly, lymphocytes obtained from treated mice specifically recognized Panc02 tumor cells in IFN-γ–enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot and in cellular cytotoxicity assays. In rechallenge experiments, these immunologic effector cells were found to delay, but not completely prevent growth of secondary tumors. However, when considering the notoriously depressed immune status of individuals suffering from pancreatic carcinoma, the orchestrated antitumoral immune responses we analyzed here in detail significantly strengthen the potential usefulness of microbial compounds as active unspecific immunotherapeutic agent for treatment of pancreatic carcinoma.
The politics of adaptation: The Europeanisation of national parliamentary systems

Parliamentary systems can be characterised by particular patterns of interaction between the executive, the majority parties and the opposition parties in parliament. The basic argument outlined in this paper is that in order to understand the impact of European integration on national parliamentary democracies we have to find out how these patterns are adjusted. The article starts by identifying the basic social mechanisms that drive the interaction of the mentioned groups of actors and by describing how they are modified in European multi-level governance. In this context, members of national parliaments are faced with a dilemma: Successful scrutiny can undermine the effectiveness of European governance whereas a permissive parliament causes a legitimacy deficit. Through case studies on the Europeanisation of the parliamentary systems in the UK, in Denmark and in Germany, the authors show how members of parliaments cope with this challenge and which strategies they apply to avoid the dilemma.
Factors That Hinder Access to Credit by Small and Medium Scale Enterprises despite the Financial Sector Liberalisation in Ghana

This study sought to identify factors, which perennially hinder Small and Medium Scale enterprises (SMEs) access to credit under the financial sector liberalisation policy in Ghana. The sample of 100 SMEs from the Accra metropolis was selected to represent the SME sector in the country. Data collection was originally facilitated by administering questioners to the target groups of clients, staff and management of SMEs both Countrywide and then in the Accra metropolis. The STEPWISE method of Regression Analysis was used to establish the inter-relationship between the dependent variable, which is access of credit by the SMEs and a number of explanatory, or independent variables such as Security requirement, Absence of accounting records, Difficulty in getting personal guarantors, Risk averse, Repayment terms, Banks lending policy. The study revealed that though availability of credit has improved a large number of the SMEs do not source for funds from the financial Institutions. As a result, the growth of the sector remains stunted. The Regression analysis established Security requirement, difficulty in getting personal guarantors, absence of accounting records and Risk averse as the most significant variables, in the order, which they impede access to credit of the SME sector.
Economic Data, Conventions, and Replication in Laboratory Asset Markets

Data extracted from naturally occurring markets and other economic environments often suffer from problems like data confounds and intercorrelations. We report results from a series of experimental markets that suggest some of the data problems can be overcome by using experimental techniques. We use predetermined (videotaped) draws to replicate results from prior research. This is contrary to the conventional wisdom in the literature, which holds that draws should be "live. " Our results suggest that the price and allocation behavior of markets can be replicated using predetermined draws to initiate trading. Furthermore, the primary strength of the experimental method-control-is maintained.
Arthritis patients' perceptions of rheumatologists' participatory decision-making style and communication about complementary and alternative medicine.

OBJECTIVE To examine if patients with arthritis who reported using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) were more likely to tell their physicians about their CAM use if they rated their rheumatologist as using a more participatory decision-making style and what reasons patients gave for telling or not telling their rheumatologist about their CAM use. METHODS A survey that asked about CAM use, health status, demographics, physician use of a participatory decision-making style, and medical skepticism was sent to individuals with arthritis who saw 23 rheumatologists at universities and private practice clinics in North Carolina. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the data. RESULTS A total of 92% of patients reported using CAM for their arthritis and 54% of these patients discussed their CAM use with their rheumatologist. Women, patients who used more types of CAM, and patients who rated their rheumatologist as using a more participatory decision-making style were significantly more likely to tell their physicians about their CAM use. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that if rheumatologists use more participatory styles of decision making with patients and involve them when making treatment decisions, patients are more likely to tell them about their CAM use.
Inhibitors to host community participation in sustainable tourism development in developing countries

The involvement of host communities (or destination residents), particularly in developing countries, is critical to the success of tourism development and to the creation of a “Just Destination”. This paper investigates host community perceptions about obstacles to their participation in tourism development in Lombok, Indonesia, providing new insights into institutional influences on tourism opportunities and issues. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques targeted separate groups of destination residents who live in a developed tourism destination, a less developed tourism destination, a remote rural village far away from tourism destinations, as well as a group of university students. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, qualitative questionnaires and observation, and were analysed using content analysis. Results show three main institutional factors inhibit host community participation in tourism: tourism agencies, private sector providers and tourism infrastructure, and perceptions of the negative impacts of tourism. The underperformance of state tourism agencies and private sector providers resulted in a lack of tourism infrastructure and limitations on host community opportunities to participate in tourism development and businesses. The findings suggest the need for improvement in the training of state tourism agency employees, better coordination among government agencies, and improved education and training for tourism operators.
Reducing hemorrhagic complications in functional neurosurgery: a large case series and systematic literature review.

OBJECT Hemorrhagic complications carry by far the highest risk of devastating neurological outcome in functional neurosurgery. Literature published over the past 10 years suggests that hemorrhage, although relatively rare, remains a significant problem. Estimating the true incidence of and risk factors for hemorrhage in functional neurosurgery is a challenging issue. METHODS The authors analyzed the hemorrhage rate in a consecutive series of 214 patients undergoing image-guided deep brain stimulation (DBS) lead placement without microelectrode recording (MER) and with routine postoperative MR imaging lead verification. They also conducted a systematic review of the literature on stereotactic ablative surgery and DBS over a 10-year period to determine the incidence and risk factors for hemorrhage as a complication of functional neurosurgery. RESULTS The total incidence of hemorrhage in our series of image-guided DBS was 0.9%: asymptomatic in 0.5%, symptomatic in 0.5%, and causing permanent deficit in 0.0% of patients. Weighted means calculated from the literature review suggest that the overall incidence of hemorrhage in functional neurosurgery is 5.0%, with asymptomatic hemorrhage occurring in 1.9% of patients, symptomatic hemorrhage in 2.1% and hemorrhage resulting in permanent deficit or death in 1.1%. Hypertension and age were the most important patient-related factors associated with an increased risk of hemorrhage. Risk factors related to surgical technique included use of MER, number of MER penetrations, as well as sulcal or ventricular involvement by the trajectory. The incidence of hemorrhage in studies adopting an image-guided and image-verified approach without MER was significantly lower than that reported with other operative techniques (p < 0.001 for total number of hemorrhages, p < 0.001 for asymptomatic hemorrhage, p < 0.004 for symptomatic hemorrhage, and p = 0.001 for hemorrhage leading to permanent deficit; Fisher exact test). CONCLUSIONS Age and a history of hypertension are associated with an increased risk of hemorrhage in functional neurosurgery. Surgical factors that increase the risk of hemorrhage include the use of MER and sulcal or ventricular incursion. The meticulous use of neuroimaging-both in planning the trajectory and for target verification-can avoid all of these surgery-related risk factors and appears to carry a significantly lower risk of hemorrhage and associated permanent deficit.
How adolescents learn about risk perception and behavior in regards to alcohol use in light of social learning theory: a qualitative study in Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract Background: In Colombia, the use of alcohol is one of the main risky behaviors carried out by adolescents, given that alcohol is the principal drug of abuse in this age group. Understanding how adolescents learn about risk and behavior is important in developing effective prevention programs. The Theory of Social learning underlines the importance of social interaction in the learning process. It suggests that learning can occur in three ways: a live model in which a person is enacting the desired behavior, verbal instruction when the desired behavior is described, and symbolic learning in which modeling occurs by influence of the media. This study explores these three forms of learning in the perception of risk and behavior related to the use of alcohol in a group of students between 12 and 14 years of age in Bogotá, Colombia. Materials and methods: This is a qualitative research study, which is part of a larger study exploring the social representations of risk and alcohol use in adolescents and their communities. The sample group included 160 students from two middle schools (7th and 8th graders) in Bogotá, Colombia. Six sessions of participant observation, 12 semi-structured interviews, and 12 focus group discussions were conducted for data collection. Data were analyzed using the Atlas ti software (V7.0) (ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH, London, UK), and categories of analysis were developed using a framework analysis approach. Results: Adolescents can identify several risks related to the use of alcohol, which for the most part, appear to have been learned through verbal instruction. However, this risk recognition does not appear to correlate with their behavior. Parental modeling and messages conveyed by the media represent two other significant sources of learning that are constantly contradicting the messages relayed through verbal instruction and correlate to a greater extent with adolescent behavior. Conclusion: The three different forms of learning described by Social Learning Theory play a significant role in the construction of risk perception and behavior in adolescents. This underlines the necessity of consciously evaluating how examples set by adults as well as the ideas expressed by the media influence adolescents’ attitudes and behavior, ensuring that these do not directly contradict and ultimately obliterate the messages we are constantly trying to convey to this age group.
Time-Inconsistent Preferences in Adam Smith and David Hume

Recent research in economics and psychology reveals that people and animals may evaluate choices inconsistently at certain times or in some areas of their lives. This inconsistency is often characterized, for example, by choosing the smaller and earlier of two alternative cash prizes when both are near, but changing to the larger, later prize as they draw more distant. The persistence and robustness of such observations have led some economists and psychologists to think “that the problem may not come from some extraordinary condition that impairs the normal operation of intentionality, but rather from the process by which all people, perhaps all organisms, evaluate future goals” (Ainslie and Haslam 1992, 58). Evidence supports the postulate that the basic temporal discount function of human beings and some animals is such that preference reversals may naturally arise unless some actions are taken to avoid them. Preference reversals have been explained by the tendency for discounting to increase as the time delay diminishes. Indeed, several experiments and
Factors Enhancing Sustained Use of Research-Based Instructional Practices

ers, family members, and researchers, this topic emerges as a primary source of disappointment among all three groups (Gersten & McInerney, 1997). Two years ago, the Office of Special Education Programs of the U. S. Department of Education identified the sustainability of research-based practices as a major research priority area, and, for many years, it has been a major priority of the National Science Foundation.
Metatarsocuneiform Arthrodesis for Management of Hallux Valgus and Metatarsus Primus Varus

Sixty-seven closing wedge arthrodesis procedures of the first metatarsocuneiform joint were performed in 41 females and 12 males. Follow-up averaged 28 months (range 16–49 months) and was performed in 51 of 53 patients with a questionnaire, clinical examination, and comparison of pre- and postoperative weightbearing radiographs. The average hallux valgus angle was 34.5° (range 20°–75°) and was corrected to 13.0° (range −10°–22°) postoperatively. The average intermetatarsal angle was 14.3° (range 9.5°–34°) and was corrected to an average of 5.8° (range 0°–12°) postoperatively. Complications included seven superficial pin tract infections, three symptomatic dorsal bunions, one of which required repeat surgery, seven nonunions, one of which was symptomatic, one hallux varus, and three neuromas of the deep peroneal nerve. The range of motion of the hallux metatarsophalangeal joint was 85% of normal postoperatively. A total of 77% of the patients were totally relieved, 15% partially relieved, and 8% not relieved with respect to pain, comfort, appearance of the foot, and shoewear following surgery. The specific indications for performing this operation are discussed.
Interest Rate Volatility and the Term Structure: A Two-Factor General Equilibrium Model

The authors develop a two-factor general equilibrium model of the term structure. The factors are the short-term interest rate and the volatility of the short-term interest rate. The authors derive closed-form expressions for discount bonds and study the properties of the term structure implied by the model. The dependence of yields on volatility allows the model to capture many observed properties of the term structure. The authors also derive closed-form expressions for discount bond options. The authors use Hansen's generalized method of moments framework to test the cross-sectional restrictions imposed by the model. The tests support the two-factor model. Copyright 1992 by American Finance Association.
Managing external technology commercialisation: a process perspective

To appropriate rents from innovation, most industrial firms have concentrated on internal innovation processes in the past. Thus, they have focused on marketing their technological knowledge in their own products. Along with the trend towards open innovation, however, many firms currently try to actively commercialise technologies outside their organisational boundaries. External Technology Commercialisation (ETC) refers to commercialising technological knowledge exclusively or in addition to its application in a firm's own products, e.g., out-licensing agreements. To overcome the focus of prior research on the new product development process, this paper addresses the ETC process, which represents a complementary mode of technology marketing. Based on a thorough analysis of the literature, the ETC process at the multiproject level is examined in depth. This analysis permits us to identify the critical tasks along the ETC process from a managerial perspective. Against the background of increasing managerial interest in ETC, this article deepens our understanding of technology marketing in open innovation systems and has major implications for research into technology transfer.
Methylmercury acts at multiple sites to block hippocampal synaptic transmission.

To explore the mechanisms by which methylmercury (MeHg) blocks central synaptic transmission, intracellular recordings of action potentials and resting membrane potentials were made in CA1 neurons of rat hippocampal slices. At 4 to 100 microM, MeHg blocked action potentials in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. MeHg also depolarized Ca1 neuronal membranes. However, this effect occurred more slowly than block of action potentials because the resting membrane potentials remained unchanged when threshold stimulation-evoked action potentials were blocked. Thus, MeHg may initially alter the threshold level of neuronal membrane excitability and subsequently depolarize the membrane leading to block of synaptic transmission. To identify potential sites of action of MeHg, effects of MeHg on the responses of CA1 neurons to orthodromic stimulation of Schaffer collaterals, antidromic stimulation of the alveus, direct injection of current at cell soma and iontophoretic application of glutamate were compared. At 20 and 100 microM, MeHg blocked action potentials evoked by stimulation of Schaffer collaterals and by current injection at the cell soma at similar times. In contrast, action potentials evoked by stimulation of the alveus were blocked more rapidly by 100 microM MeHg than were action potentials evoked by current injection at CA1 neuronal soma. MeHg also blocked the responses of CA1 neurons to iontophoresis of glutamate, but time to block of these responses was slower than block of the corresponding orthodromically-evoked responses by stimulation of Schaffer collaterals. Compared to excitatory postsynaptic potentials, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials appeared to be more sensitive to MeHg, because block of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials occurred before block of excitatory postsynaptic potentials. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Measuring Consumer and Competitive Impact with Elasticity Decompositions

Marketing investments are designed to change consumer behavior in ways that help goods compete in the marketplace. Previous research has focused on using elasticity decompositions to measure how these investments affect either consumer decision making or competing goods. On the one hand, decision-based decompositions attribute the growth in own-good demand to changes in the consumers’ decision-making processes. On the other hand, unit-based and share-based decompositions attribute the same growth to either rivalrous or nonrivalrous sources. The objective of this article is to provide a clear and accurate method that simultaneously attributes the growth in own-good demand to changes in (1) consumers’ decisions, (2) competitive demand, and (3) competitive market share. The author accomplishes this by settling some confusion about what the decision- and share-based decompositions mean, by discussing how each of the decompositions are related to the others, and by discussing the research questions that each of the decompositions can answer. From a managerial perspective, the author discusses how this method can be used to simplify and clarify the data needed for decision making.
The Role of Dairy Foods in Weight Management

Dietary calcium appears to play a pivotal role in the regulation of energy metabolism and obesity risk. High calcium diets attenuate body fat accumulation and weight gain during periods of over-consumption of an energy-dense diet and to increase fat breakdown and preserve metabolism during caloric restriction, thereby markedly accelerating weight and fat loss. This effect is mediated primarily by circulating calcitriol, which regulates adipocyte intracellular Ca2+. Studies of human adipocyte metabolism demonstrate a key role for intracellular Ca2+ in regulating lipid metabolism and triglyceride storage, with increased intracellular Ca2+ resulting in stimulation of lipogenic gene expression and lipogenesis and suppression of lipolysis, resulting in adipocyte lipid filling and increased adiposity. Moreover, the increased calcitriol produced in response to low calcium diets stimulates adipocyte Ca2+ influx and, consequently, promotes adiposity, while higher calcium diets inhibit lipogenesis, promote lipolysis, lipid oxidation and thermogenesis and inhibit diet-induced obesity in mice. Notably, dairy sources of calcium exert markedly greater effects in attenuating weight and fat gain and accelerating fat loss. This augmented effect of dairy products versus supplemental calcium has been localized, in part, to the whey fraction of dairy and is likely due to additional bioactive compounds, such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in dairy, as well as the rich concentration of branched chain amino acids, which act synergistically with calcium to attenuate adiposity; however, these compounds do not fully account for the observed effects, as whey has significantly greater bioactivity than found in these compounds. These concepts are confirmed by epidemiological data as well as recent clinical trials which demonstrate that diets which include at least three daily servings of dairy products result in significant reductions in body fat mass in obese humans in the absence of caloric restriction and markedly accelerates the weight and body fat loss secondary to caloric restriction compared to low dairy diets. These data indicate an important role for dairy products in both the ability to maintain a healthy weight and the management of overweight and obesity.