Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum-Based Quantification of MYCN Gene Amplification in Young Patients with Neuroblastoma: Potential Utility as a Surrogate Biomarker for Neuroblastoma

We previously developed a method for determining MYCN gene amplification status using cell-free DNA fragments released from cancer cells into the blood of patients with neuroblastoma (NB). Here, we analyzed the relationship between MYCN amplification (MNA) status and neuroblastoma prognosis. We screened serum samples from 151 patients with NB for MNA, using real-time quantitative PCR, and compared the results with MYCN status determined using paired tumor samples. We additionally investigated whether MNA status correlates with patient survival. When a cut-off value of 5 was used, serum-based MNA analysis was found to show good sensitivity (86%) and very high specificity (95%). The sensitivities for stage 1 and 2 might be acceptable, even though it is not as good as for stage 3 and 4 (67% for stage 1 and 2, 92% for stage 3, and 87% for stage 4). MNA status correlated with overall survival in our cohort of 82 patients, with survival data available (p < 0.01). The hazard ratio of MNA status was 4.98 in patients diagnosed at less than 18 months of age (95% confidence interval, 1.00–24.78), and 1.41 (95% confidence interval, 0.63–3.14) for those diagnosed at 18 months of age or older. Serum-based MNA analysis is rapid and non-invasive compared with tumor-based MNA analysis, and has potential to predict tumor MNA status. There is still a room to improve the sensitivity of the test for tumors of stages 1 and 2, nonetheless this assay might help to determine therapeutic strategies prior to tumor biopsy, especially for patients with a life-threatening condition, as well as for patients of less than 18 months of age whose risk-grouping and treatment allocation depends on their MNA status.
An Exploratory Examination of Spirituality and Black Student Academic Success at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

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Social costs enforce honesty of a dynamic signal of motivation

Understanding the processes that promote signal reliability may provide important insights into the evolution of diverse signalling strategies among species. The signals that animals use to communicate must comprise mechanisms that prohibit or punish dishonesty, and social costs of dishonesty have been demonstrated for several fixed morphological signals (e.g. colour badges of birds and wasps). The costs maintaining the honesty of dynamic signals, which are more flexible and potentially cheatable, are unknown. Using an experimental manipulation of the dynamic visual signals used by male veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) during aggressive interactions, we tested the idea that the honesty of rapid colour change signals is maintained by social costs. Our results reveal that social costs are an important mechanism maintaining the honesty of these dynamic colour signals—‘dishonest’ chameleons whose experimentally manipulated coloration was incongruent with their contest behaviour received more physical aggression than ‘honest’ individuals. This is the first demonstration, to the best our knowledge, that the honesty of a dynamic signal of motivation—physiological colour change—can be maintained by the social costliness of dishonesty. Behavioural responses of signal receivers, irrespective of any specific detection mechanisms, therefore prevent chameleon cheaters from prospering.
Homeostatic Mechanisms for Iron Storage Revealed by Genetic Manipulations and Live Imaging of Drosophila Ferritin

Ferritin is a symmetric, 24-subunit iron-storage complex assembled of H and L chains. It is found in bacteria, plants, and animals and in two classes of mutations in the human L-chain gene, resulting in hereditary hyperferritinemia cataract syndrome or in neuroferritinopathy. Here, we examined systemic and cellular ferritin regulation and trafficking in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. We showed that ferritin H and L transcripts are coexpressed during embryogenesis and that both subunits are essential for embryonic development. Ferritin overexpression impaired the survival of iron-deprived flies. In vivo expression of GFP-tagged holoferritin confirmed that iron-loaded ferritin molecules traffic through the Golgi organelle and are secreted into hemolymph. A constant ratio of ferritin H and L subunits, secured via tight post-transcriptional regulation, is characteristic of the secreted ferritin in flies. Differential cellular expression, conserved post-transcriptional regulation via the iron regulatory element, and distinct subcellular localization of the ferritin subunits prior to the assembly of holoferritin are all important steps mediating iron homeostasis. Our study revealed both conserved features and insect-specific adaptations of ferritin nanocages and provides novel imaging possibilities for their in vivo characterization.
QUALITY OF LIFE IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Purpose: To explore the quality of life in hemodialysis patients. Material and Methods: The sample studied consisted of 320 patients undergoing hemodialysis in one-day dialysis center. Data were collected by the completion of a specially designed questionnaire which apart from the sociodemographic and clinical variables, it also included the scale Missoula-VITAS Quality of Life Index (MVQOLI) for assessing quality of life. Results: Of the 320 hemodialysis patients, 57,2% were men while 28,1% of the participants were 71-80 years old. The average total score of quality of life was found to be 17.43 (in a range 0-30). The total score of quality of life was found to be higher in participants <60 years (p= 0,009), of higher educational level (p=0.001), being very informed about the health problem (p=0,013), complied with therapeutic recommendations and the proposed diet (p=0,025 & p=0,012, respectively), having very good relations with the medical and nursing staff or other patients (p<0,001), not experiencing difficulties with social or family environment (p=0,001), had help at home (p <0,001) and in those who did not conceal their health problem from the social environment (p<0.001). Furthermore, it was found that the increasing duration of hemodialysis session entailed poorer quality of life (p<0,001). These results were largely confirmed by multiple linear regression. Conclusions: Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics seems to influence the quality of life in hemodialysis patients.
Approximate belief propagation, density evolution, and statistical neurodynamics for CDMA multiuser detection

We present a theory to analyze the performance of the parallel interference canceller (PIC) for code-division multiple-access (CDMA) multiuser detection, applied to a randomly spread, fully synchronous baseband uncoded CDMA channel model with additive white Gaussian noise under perfect power control in the large-system limit. We reformulate PIC as an approximation to the belief propagation algorithm for the detection problem. We then apply the density evolution framework to analyze its detection dynamics. It turns out that density evolution for PIC is essentially the same as statistical neurodynamics, a theory to describe dynamics of a certain type of neural network model. Adopting this correspondence, we develop the density evolution framework for PIC using statistical neurodynamics. The resulting formulas, however, are only approximately correct for describing detection dynamics of PIC even in the large-system limit, because we ignore the Onsager reaction terms in the derivation. We then propose a modified PIC algorithm, in which we subtract the Onsager reaction terms algorithmically, for which the density evolution formulas give a correct description of the detection dynamics in the large-system limit.
The youth sports club as a health-promoting setting: An integrative review of research

Aims: The aims of this review is to compile and identify key issues in international research about youth sports clubs as health-promoting settings, and then discuss the results of the review in terms of a framework for the youth sports club as a health-promoting setting. Methods: The framework guiding this review of research is the health-promoting settings approach introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO). The method used is the integrated review. Inclusion criteria were, first, that the studies concerned sports clubs for young people, not professional clubs; second, that it be a question of voluntary participation in some sort of ongoing organized athletics outside of the regular school curricula; third, that the studies consider issues about youth sports clubs in terms of health-promoting settings as described by WHO. The final sample for the review consists of 44 publications. Results: The review shows that youth sports clubs have plentiful opportunities to be or become health-promoting settings; however this is not something that happens automatically. To do so, the club needs to include an emphasis on certain important elements in its strategies and daily practices. The youth sports club needs to be a supportive and healthy environment with activities designed for and adapted to the specific age-group or stage of development of the youth. Conclusions: To become a health-promoting setting, a youth sports club needs to take a comprehensive approach to its activities, aims, and purposes.
Inflation Targeting and Private Sector Forecasts

Transparency is one of the biggest innovations in central bank policy of the past quarter century. Modern central bankers believe that they should be as clear about their objectives and actions as possible. However, is greater transparency always beneficial? Recent work suggests that when private agents have diverse sources of information, public information can cause them to overreact to the signals from the central bank, leading the economy to be too sensitive to common forecast errors. Greater transparency could be destabilizing. While this theoretical result has clear intuitive appeal, it turns on a combination of assumptions and conditions, so it remains to be established that it is of empirical relevance. In this paper we study the degree to which increased information about monetary policy might lead to individuals coordinating their forecasts. Specifically, we estimate a series of simple models to measure the impact of inflation targeting on the dispersion of private sector forecasts of inflation. Using a panel data set that includes 15 countries over 20 years we find no convincing evidence that adopting an inflation targeting regime leads to a reduction in the dispersion of private sector forecasts of inflation. While for some specifications adoption of inflation target does seem to reduce the standard deviation of inflation forecasts, the impact is rarely precise and always small.
Promoter hypermethylation in benign breast epithelium in relation to predicted breast cancer risk.

INTRODUCTION The tumor suppressor genes RASSF1A, APC, H-cadherin, RARbeta2, and cyclin D2 are methylated more frequently in breast cancer than in adjacent benign tissue. However, it is unclear whether promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes in benign breast tissue is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. METHODS Promoter hypermethylation was measured in benign and malignant breast samples obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy from 27 breast cancer patients and 55 unaffected women whose risk of breast cancer had been defined using the Gail, Claus, and BRCAPRO models. RESULTS Cyclin D2 methylation occurred in 57% of tumor samples but not in corresponding benign breast samples and in only one sample from an unaffected patient (P < 0.0001). RARbeta2 methylation occurred in 32% of benign breast samples from cancer patients but only 9% of similar samples from unaffected women (P = 0.002). Promoter methylation of RASSF1A and APC occurred more frequently (70% and 56%, respectively) in unaffected women at high-risk for breast cancer as defined by the Gail model than in low/intermediate risk women (29% and 20%, P = 0.04 and P = 0.03). Of the Gail model risk factors, only number of prior breast biopsies was highly correlated with APC and RASSF1A methylation (P = 0.0001 and 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Since cyclin D2 promoter methylation occurs almost exclusively in tumors, it may be possible to exploit it for the early detection of breast cancer. Promoter methylation of APC, RARbeta2, and RASSF1A in benign breast epithelium is associated with epidemiologic markers of increased breast cancer risk.
Assessing the Construct Validity of Alternative Proxies for Expected Cost of Equity Capital

Many research questions of interest to the accounting community cannot be adequately addressed in the absence a valid proxy for expected cost of equity capital. As "true" r is inherently unobservable, the ability of empirical research in this area to produce useful inferences depends on whether the proxies for r employed in the analysis measure what they purport to measure. Empirical evidence regarding the validity of various proxies employed in the literature is limited. Instead it is often assumed that these proxies reliably capture cross-sectional variation in r with little evidence provided to support this conjecture. In this paper we assess the construct validity of four alternative proxies for r using a standard statistical approach to construct validation. The four proxies for r selected for analysis in this study are ones used in existing empirical research and are derived from well-accepted asset pricing methodologies. We first assess the extent to which the estimates produced by these four proxies are correlated with CAPM beta and firm size in the manner predicted by theory. We then examine the robustness of our results to the inclusion of expected earnings growth, a potential correlated omitted variable. Finally, we undertake three additional analyses: (1) examining the stability of the estimates produced (2) assessing the robustness of our primary results to the inclusion of additional firm characteristic variables and (3) examining the robustness of the relationships between the proxies and our risk factors for subsets of the sample. In general, we find that two of these proxies, one based on an internal rate of return derived from estimating the classic dividend discount model (DIV) and one based on the price-earnings-growth relationship (PEG), appear to capture cross-sectional variation in r. By providing evidence of the extent to which various proxies for r measure what they purport to measure, the analysis presented in this paper makes an important contribution to the accounting literature.
Digital Intensity and Variety in Design Routines *

Design routines are increasingly digitalized, but it is not clear whether this increased digital intensity will reduce, increase, or have no effect on routine variation. In this paper we report on a study of design routines across four organizational contexts to understand the effect of digital intensity on routine variation. By developing a view grounded in the Law of Requisite Variety, we sketch the foundation for the effect of theory of digital intensity on the “configural” variety of routines. That is, the variation associated with the socio-technical components of those routines. We test hypotheses through the application of a novel computational sequence analysis technique of four theoretically-sampled, world class organizations that design industrial products, semiconductor chips, software, and innovative buildings. Our findings suggest that digital intensity reduces configural variety in design routines in general and that this effect is moderated by different aspects of the design context. This research contributes to theoretical work on digitalization and design routines, contributes two new constructs and their operationalization (digital intensity and configural variety), and applies a novel computational mixed-methods approach.
MEMBRANE POTENTIAL AND MICROSECOND TO MILLISECOND DELAYED LIGHT EMISSION AFTER A SINGLE EXCITATION FLASH IN ISOLATED CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract— The effect of light‐induced and salt‐jump induced membrane potential on microsecond and millisecond delayed light emission from chloroplasts, following a single 10 ns flash, have been studied. Microsecond delayed light emission is shown to be independent of the membrane potential contrary to proposals that the activation energy for delayed light emission can be modulated by transmembrane electric fields. This result is discussed in terms of the possible origin of this short‐lived emission. Millisecond delayed light after a single excitation flash is enhanced by membrane potential only if a proton gradient is present. By measuring changes in ms delayed light caused by simultaneous injection of KC1 and Na‐benzoate (which creates a proton gradient) in the presence of valinomycin, the light‐induced potential generated across the thylakoid membrane by a single excitation flash was calibrated and found to be 128 ± 10 mV in agreement with the recent measurements of Zickler and Witt (1976) based on voltage‐dependent ionophores. It is concluded that the secondary charges that give rise to ms delayed light, after a single flash, do not fully span the membrane.
LOWER BOUNDS ON PHOTOMETRIC REDSHIFT ERRORS FROM TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA TEMPLATES

Cosmology with Type Ia supernova heretofore has required extensive spectroscopic follow-up to establish an accurate redshift. Though this resource-intensive approach is tolerable at the present discovery rate, the next generation of ground-based all-sky survey instruments will render it unsustainable. Photometry-based redshift determination may be a viable alternative, though the technique introduces non-negligible errors that ultimately degrade the ability to discriminate between competing cosmologies. We present a strictly template-based photometric redshift estimator and compute redshift reconstruction errors in the presence of statistical errors. Under highly degraded photometric conditions corresponding to a statistical error σ of 0.5, the residual redshift error is found to be 0.236 when assuming a nightly observing cadence and a single Large Synoptic Science Telescope (LSST) u-band filter. Utilizing all six LSST bandpass filters reduces the residual redshift error to 9.1 × 10−3. Assuming a more optimistic statistical error σ of 0.05, we derive residual redshift errors of 4.2 × 10−4, 5.2 × 10−4, 9.2 × 10−4, and 1.8 × 10−3 for observations occuring nightly, every 5th, 20th and 45th night, respectively, in each of the six LSST bandpass filters. Adopting an observing cadence in which photometry is acquired with all six filters every 5th night and a realistic supernova distribution, binned redshift errors are combined with photometric errors with a σ of 0.17 and systematic errors with a σ∼ 0.003 to derive joint errors (σw, ) of (0.012, 0.066), respectively, in (w,w′) with 68% confidence using Fisher matrix formalism. Though highly idealized in the present context, the methodology is nonetheless quite relevant for the next generation of ground-based all-sky surveys.
Making Pictures in Our Heads: Government Advertising in Canada

Introduction Communication and Government The Rise of Government Advertising in Canada Inside the Idea Factory: The Production of Government Advertisements The Canadian Unity Information Office: Crisis Advertising to Canadians Selling the Patriation of the Constitution Advertising the Goods and Services Tax: An "Uneasy Persuasion" Creating Meaning in Advertising Conclusion: A "Kind of Decent Materialism? " Appendices Bibliography Index
Price Competition in the Presence of Social Comparison and Demand Uncertainty

We consider the price competition between a duopoly selling differentiated substitutable products under additive demand uncertainty, in which firms' decisions are influenced by social comparison. Social comparison theory, as well as conventional wisdom, suggests that social comparison behaviors, such as behind aversion (upward comparison) and ahead seeking (downward comparison), all work in the similar fashion to intensify competition. We demonstrate how opposite-directional social comparisons interact with demand variability to change competitive behaviors. In particular, we show that the stronger the behind aversion behavior, the more intense the price competition. Surprisingly, there is a threshold on the market variability above which price competition is more alleviated and below which price competition is more intensified, when the firms exhibit stronger ahead-seeking behavior. In addition, we also find that firms' biased perceptions of market variability may reduce price competition as the social comparison effect is influenced in different ways by the firm's own market variability and by the apparent market variability of the competitor.These insights are robust under multiplicative demand uncertainty, but they are reversed for complementary products. We identify the driving forces behind these results. The findings also shed light on other interactions of strategic complements or substitutes in the presence of social comparisons, e.g., effort competition of sales agents in a competitive or collaborative environment.
A Jacobi-Davidson Type SVD Method

We discuss a new method for the iterative computation of a portion of the singular values and vectors of a large sparse matrix. Similar to the Jacobi--Davidson method for the eigenvalue problem, we compute in each step a correction by (approximately) solving a correction equation. We give a few variants of this Jacobi--Davidson SVD (JDSVD) method with their theoretical properties. It is shown that the JDSVD can be seen as an accelerated (inexact) Newton scheme. We experimentally compare the method with some other iterative SVD methods.
Semi-active H∞ control of high-speed railway vehicle suspension with magnetorheological dampers

In this paper, semi-active H∞ control with magnetorheological (MR) dampers for railway vehicle suspension systems to improve the lateral ride quality is investigated. The proposed semi-active controller is composed of a H∞ controller as the system controller and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) inverse MR damper model as the damper controller. First, a 17-degree-of-freedom model for a full-scale railway vehicle is developed and the random track irregularities are modelled. Then a modified Bouc–Wen model is built to characterise the forward dynamic characteristics of the MR damper and an inverse MR damper model is built with the ANFIS technique. Furthermore, a H∞ controller composed of a yaw motion controller and a rolling pendulum motion (lateral motion+roll motion) controller is established. By integrating the H∞ controller with the ANFIS inverse model, a semi-active H∞ controller for the railway vehicle is finally proposed. Simulation results indicate that the proposed semi-active suspension system possesses better attenuation ability for the vibrations of the car body than the passive suspension system.