Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Zcchc11 Uridylates Mature miRNAs to Enhance Neonatal IGF-1 Expression, Growth, and Survival

The Zcchc11 enzyme is implicated in microRNA (miRNA) regulation. It can uridylate let-7 precursors to decrease quantities of the mature miRNA in embryonic stem cell lines, suggested to mediate stem cell maintenance. It can uridylate mature miR-26 to relieve silencing activity without impacting miRNA content in cancer cell lines, suggested to mediate cytokine and growth factor expression. Broader roles of Zcchc11 in shaping or remodeling the miRNome or in directing biological or physiological processes remain entirely speculative. We generated Zcchc11-deficient mice to address these knowledge gaps. Zcchc11 deficiency had no impact on embryogenesis or fetal development, but it significantly decreased survival and growth immediately following birth, indicating a role for this enzyme in early postnatal fitness. Deep sequencing of small RNAs from neonatal livers revealed roles of this enzyme in miRNA sequence diversity. Zcchc11 deficiency diminished the lengths and terminal uridine frequencies for diverse mature miRNAs, but it had no influence on the quantities of any miRNAs. The expression of IGF-1, a liver-derived protein essential to early growth and survival, was enhanced by Zcchc11 expression in vitro, and miRNA silencing of IGF-1 was alleviated by uridylation events observed to be Zcchc11-dependent in the neonatal liver. In neonatal mice, Zcchc11 deficiency significantly decreased IGF-1 mRNA in the liver and IGF-1 protein in the blood. We conclude that the Zcchc11-mediated terminal uridylation of mature miRNAs is pervasive and physiologically significant, especially important in the neonatal period for fostering IGF-1 expression and enhancing postnatal growth and survival. We propose that the miRNA 3′ terminus is a regulatory node upon which multiple enzymes converge to direct silencing activity and tune gene expression.
An Evaluation of Safety Nets and Financial Institutions in Crisis and Growth *

The theory of the optimal allocation of risk and some unusual panel data on financial transactions are used to assess the vulnerability of key demographic groups, hence the potential need for safety nets, both during a financial crisis and then in a recovery period, in Thailand. Likewise the major formal and informal financial institutions are assessed in crisis and growth, not based on ratios and non-performing loans, but rather by their risk-reallocation impact on households and small business owners. Idiosyncratic shocks, that is, household and regional shocks, are shown to be large even during the macro crisis/recession. Wage earners and those in agriculture suffered lower declines in income than anticipated, but these low wealth occupations had uncovered idiosyncratic risk, in contrast with business owners who suffered large declines in income on average but were well-covered in idiosyncratic risk. Age and gender are not good predictors of exposure, but the poor are always especially vulnerable. Surprisingly, beyond the use of rice as a buffer stock, the poor are shown to have had greater access and more effective use of formal credit. A government development bank and agricultural cooperatives are shown to be particularly helpful (in the Northeast and during the crisis, for example). The rich relied relatively more on informal borrowing and lending, on village-level financial institutions (helpful in the Central region and during the crisis, for example) and on commercial bank saving accounts (helpful in the Northeast and during the recovery period, for example). More generally the methods developed in this paper allow for any country with sufficient data a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of formal and informal financial institutions.
Improved parental dietary quality is associated with children's dietary intake through the home environment

Improving access to supermarkets has been shown to improve some dietary outcomes, yet there is little evidence for such effects on children. Relatedly, there is a dearth of research assessing the impact of a structural change (i.e. supermarket in a former food desert) on the home environment and its relationship with children's diet.
Promote the price promotion: The effects of price promotions on customer evaluations in coffee chain stores

Purpose – The authors empirically evaluated the effect of price promotions on customer quality evaluations and repeat-purchase intentions in coffee chain stores. The moderating role of customer characteristics in this process was also investigated. Design/methodology/approach – Consumers in 12 coffee chain stores were surveyed and 488 usable questionnaires were obtained. Relationships in the test model were examined using structural equation modeling techniques. A multiple-group solution was used to test the moderating effects of consumer characteristics. Findings – The results of structural equation modeling analyses suggested that price-promotion activities at Starbucks in Taiwan had a favorable effect on customer quality evaluations and positively influenced repeat-purchase intentions. The moderating effects of consumer characteristics were partially supported. Whereas sex showed no significant moderating effect, consumption frequency did demonstrate a moderating effect. Practical implications – The re.
Interpreting communicative language teaching : contexts and concerns in teacher education

The emergence of English as a global language, along with technological innovations and the growing need for learner autonomy, is changing language teaching rapidly and profoundly. With these changes come new demands and challenges for teaching education programs. This authoritative collection of writings highlights some of the best work being done today in the United States and abroad to make communicative competence an attainable goal. The contributors examine what has come to be known as communicative language teaching, or CLT, from the perspectives of teachers and teacher educators. The book documents current reform initiatives in Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and continental Europe to provide a global perspective on language teaching for communicative competence. Four major themes recur throughout the volume: the multifaceted nature of language teaching; the highly contextualized nature of CLT; the futility of defining a "native speaker" in the postcolonial, postmodern world; and the overwhelming influence of high-stakes tests on language teaching. The book is a useful and valuable tool for language teachers, teacher educators, and policymakers.
EFEMP1 promotes the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma via MMP-2 with induction by AEG-1 via NF-κB signaling pathway

The role of epidermal growth factor-containing ﬁbulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1) in osteosarcoma remains unknown. Then applying EFEMP1 siRNA, plasmids transfection and adding purified EFEMP1 protein in human osteosarcoma cell lines, and using immunohistochemistry on 113 osteosarcoma tissues, demonstrated that EFEMP1 was a poor prognostic indicator of osteosarcoma; EFEMP1 was specifically upregulated in osteosarcoma and associated with invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. At the same time, we found a direct regulatory effect of EFEMP1 on MMP-2. Moreover, we firstly found the marked induction of EFEMP1 by oncogenic AEG-1. And EFEMP1 expression was inhibited by the selective inhibitor of NF-κB (PDTC) in osteosarcoma cells. Then we thought that NF-κB pathways might be one of the effective ways which EFEMP1 was induced by AEG-1. Thus, we suggested that EFEMP1 played a part as the mediator between AEG-1 and MMP-2. And NF-κB signaling pathway played an important role in this process. In summary, EFEMP1 was associated with invasion, metastasis and poor prognosis of osteosarcoma patients. EFEMP1 might indirectly enhance the expression of MMP-2, providing a potential explanation for the role of AEG-1 in metastasis. NF-κB pathways might be one of the effective ways which EFEMP1 was induced by AEG-1.
Mandibular advancement and obstructive sleep apnoea: a method for determining effective mandibular protrusion

The objectives of the study were to test the hypotheses that it is possible, during routine polysomnography (PSG), to prospectively identify favourable candidates for mandibular repositioning appliance (MRA) therapy in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and to accurately estimate an optimal protrusive distance at which to fabricate the MRA. A series of subjects underwent a remotely controlled mandibular positioner (RCMP) test during PSG monitoring. The ability of the RCMP test to eliminate OSA and the target protrusion at which that occurred was compared with the success of a custom oral MRA in the 33 subjects who completed the protocol. The RCMP test was a success in 15 subjects and a failure in 18 subjects. Appliance therapy was initiated in 38 subjects and completed in 33. MRA therapy was successful at target protrusion in 80% of subjects who had a successful RCMP test and failed in 78% of those who failed the RCMP test. In conclusion the remotely controlled mandibular positioner test outcome demonstrated a statistically significant association with mandibular repositioning appliance outcome. The target protrusion determined during the remotely controlled mandibular positioner test was the effective therapeutic protrusion in subjects with a successful remotely controlled mandibular positioner test.
POOLING VERSUS MODEL SELECTION FOR NOWCASTING GDP WITH MANY PREDICTORS: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FOR SIX INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES

SUMMARY This paper discusses pooling versus model selection for nowcasting with large datasets in the presence of model uncertainty. In practice, nowcasting a low-frequency variable with a large number of high-frequency indicators should account for at least two data irregularities: (i) unbalanced data with missing observations at the end of the sample due to publication delays; and (ii) different sampling frequencies of the data. Two model classes suited in this context are factor models based on large datasets and mixed-data sampling (MIDAS) regressions with few predictors. The specification of these models requires several choices related to, amongst other things, the factor estimation method and the number of factors, lag length and indicator selection. Thus there are many sources of misspecification when selecting a particular model, and an alternative would be pooling over a large set of different model specifications. We evaluate the relative performance of pooling and model selection for nowcasting quarterly GDP for six large industrialized countries. We find that the nowcast performance of single models varies considerably over time, in line with the forecasting literature. Model selection based on sequential application of information criteria can outperform benchmarks. However, the results highly depend on the selection method chosen. In contrast, pooling of nowcast models provides an overall very stable nowcast performance over time. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bmc Infectious Diseases

Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma genitalium infections and semen quality of infertile men Abstract Background: Genital ureaplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum) and mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma hominis) are potentially pathogenic species playing an etiologic role in both genital infections and male infertility. Reports are, however, controversial regarding the effects of these microorganisms infections in the sperm seminological variables. This study aimed at determining the frequency of genital ureplasmas and mycoplasmas in semen specimens collected from infertile men, and at comparing the seminological variables of semen from infected and non-infected men with these microorganisms.
Macroeconomics and Financial Markets: Essays on Micro-Macro Linkages

ing from the state variable st for the moment, we normalize the optimization problem with Pt and ft in the following way. In a first step, consider equation (5.8) and divide by Pt+1ft+1 such that Mt+1 Pt+1ft+1 = [αtRt+1 + (1− αt)Rf ] ( Mt Ptft − Ct Ptft ) Ptft Pt+1ft+1 + Yt+1 ft+1Pt+1 . (5.21) Defining Xt Ptft = xt, (5.21) can be written as mt+1 = [αtRt+1 + (1− αt)Rf ] (mt − ct) Gt+1Ut+1 + yt+1 (5.22) where Ut is the stochastic growth rate of permanent labor income and Gt reflects the growth rate of the deterministic part of the labor income process, ft. Normalized labor income yt is given by yt =  Θt for t = 1, . , K − 1 if s = e ζk for t = 1, . , K − 1 if s = uk k = s, l λ for t = K, . , T. (5.23) In a second step, we setup the Bellman equation for the consumer’s optimization problem in the next-to-last period of life, abstracting for the moment from the employment state st. The consumer maximizes utility subject to equations (5.2)(5.8) choosing CT−1 and αT−1: VT−1(MT−1, PT−1, fT−1) = max CT−1,αT−1 {u(CT−1) + δpT−1ET−1VT (MT , PT , fT )} . (5.24) Given that the consumer will die at the end of period T , she will consume all cashon-hand implying that MT = CT and hence VT−1(MT−1, PT−1, fT−1) = max CT−1,αT−1 { u(CT−1) + δpT−1ET−1 [ M T 1− γ ]} . (5.25) Now, let us expand equation (5.25) by Ptft in order to express it in lower case letters VT−1(•) = max cT−1,αT−1 { (PT−1fT−1) 1−γ c 1−γ T−1 1− γ + δpT−1ET−1 [ (PTfT ) 1−γm T 1− γ ]} = (PT−1fT−1) 1−γ max cT−1,αT−1 { u(cT−1) + δpT−1(GT ) ET−1(UT ) 1−γ [ m T 1− γ ]} } {{ } =vT−1(mT−1)
Function Oriented History Representation in Databases

In the past years the management of temporal data has attracted numerous researchers resulting to a large number of temporal data extensions to the relational and object oriented data models. In this paper, the proposed temporal data model focuses on the functional characteristics of the histories. The paper introduces a set oriented description of the calendars together with a function oriented history concept with a history-algebra. The completeness of the proposed model with respect to the reduced temporal algebra TA is also proven. The expressive power of the proposed model is demonstrated in the end of the paper by a hospital example.
Apoptosis is augmented in high-grade serous ovarian cancer by the combined inhibition of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL and PARP

The aim of our study was to evaluate possible synergistic cytotoxic effects of the combination treatment with the BH3-mimetic ABT-263 and the PARP inhibitor BMN 673 in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) cells using clinically achievable concentrations of each drug. In vitro cytotoxic effects of ABT-263 and BMN 673 were assessed by XTT assay in three HGSOC cell lines: OVCAR3, OVCAR8, and OV90 cells. Combination index values and synergy/antagonism volumes were used to determine synergy. The drug effects on DNA damage accumulation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis induction, and expression levels of Bcl-2 family proteins were examined to dissect molecular mechanisms. The combination treatment synergistically decreased cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in all cell lines; combination index values were <0.9 and synergy/antagonism volumes were >100 after 72 h of treatment. Clinically achievable concentrations of ABT-263 2 µM and BMN 673 25 nM were used to investigate mechanisms. No increase in γ-H2AX foci formation was observed with addition of ABT-263 to BMN 673 treatment. The combination treatment increased the sub-G1 and Annexin V-positive cell populations after 48 h compared with the control and each monotherapy. It also induced greater caspase-3/7 activity and PARP cleavage. ABT-263 alone and in combination with BMN 673 induced expression levels of Bim, a pro-apoptotic protein. In conclusion, the ABT-263 and BMN 673 combination resulted in synergistic cytotoxic effects against HGSOC cells through greater induction of apoptosis. This may be a novel therapeutic strategy for HGSOC.
A “Missing” Supernova Remnant Revealed by the 21 cm Line of Atomic Hydrogen

Although some 20,000-30,000 supernova remnants (SNRs) are expected to exist in the Milky Way, only about 230 are currently known. This implies that most SNRs are "missing. " Recently, we proposed that small (≲1°), faint, high-velocity features seen in large-scale 21 cm line surveys of atomic hydrogen (H I) in the Galactic plane could be examples of such missing old SNRs. Here we report on high-resolution H I observations of one such candidate, FVW 190.2+1.1, which is revealed to be a rapidly expanding (~80 km s-1) shell. The parameters of this shell seem only consistent with FVW 190.2+1.1 being the remnant of a SN explosion that occurred in the outermost fringes of the Galaxy some ~3 × 105 yr ago. This shell is not seen in any other wave band, suggesting that it represents the oldest type of SNR, that which is essentially invisible except via its H I line emission. FVW 190.2+1.1 is one of a hundred "forbidden-velocity wings" (FVWs) recently identified in the Galactic plane, and our discovery suggests that many of these are likely to be among the oldest SNRs. We discuss the possible link between FVWs and fast-moving atomic clouds in the Galaxy.
Enhanced HBsAg Synthesis Correlates with Increased Severity of Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Background and Aims Little is known about whether low serum HBsAg levels result from impaired HBsAg synthesis or a reduced number of hepatocytes caused by advanced liver fibrosis. Therefore, we investigated the capacity for HBsAg synthesis in a cross-sectional cohort of treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients. Methods Chronic hepatitis B patients (n = 362) were enrolled; liver biopsies were performed and liver histology was scored, and serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels were investigated. In the enrolled patients, 183 out of 362 have quantitative serum HBsAg levels. Tissue HBsAg was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results A positive correlation between serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels was revealed in HBeAg(+) patients (r = 0.2613, p = 0.0050). In HBeAg(+) patients, serum HBsAg and severity of fibrosis were inversely correlated (p = 0.0094), whereas tissue HBsAg levels correlated positively with the stage of fibrosis (p = 0.0280). After applying the mean aminopyrine breath test as a correction factor, adjusted serum HBsAg showed a strong positive correlation with fibrosis severity in HBeAg(+) patients (r = 0.5655, p<0.0001). The adjusted serum HBsAg values predicted ‘moderate to severe’ fibrosis with nearly perfect performance in both HBeAg(+) patients (area under the curve: 0.994, 95% CI: 0.983–1.000) and HBeAg(−) patients (area under the curve: 1.000, 95% CI: 1.000–1.000). Conclusions Although serum HBsAg levels were negatively correlated with fibrosis severity in HBeAg(+) patients, aminopyrine breath test-adjusted serum HBsAg and tissue HBsAg, two indices that are unaffected by the number of residual hepatocytes, were positively correlated with fibrosis severity. Furthermore, adjusted serum HBsAg has an accurate prediction capability.
How to Gain Eleven IQ Points in Ten Minutes: Thinking Aloud Improves Raven's Matrices Performance in Older Adults

ABSTRACT Few studies have examined the impact of age on reactivity to concurrent think-aloud (TA) verbal reports. An initial study with 30 younger and 31 older adults revealed that thinking aloud improves older adult performance on a short form of the Raven's Matrices (Bors & Stokes, 1998, Educational and Psychological Measurement, 58, p. 382) but did not affect other tasks. In the replication experiment, 30 older adults (mean age = 73.0) performed the Raven's Matrices and three other tasks to replicate and extend the findings of the initial study. Once again older adults performed significantly better only on the Raven's Matrices while thinking aloud. Performance gains on this task were substantial (d = 0.73 and 0.92 in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively), corresponding to a fluid intelligence increase of nearly one standard deviation.
Contributions of Residual Calcium to Fast Synaptic Transmission

Fast neurotransmitter release is driven by high calcium (10–100 μm) near open channels (Calocal), followed by a much smaller (<1 μm), longer-lasting residual calcium (Cares). The most prominent component of release, phasic release, lasts several milliseconds and is thought to be triggered by Calocal. A transient tail of release then continues over the next 20 msec at 1–10% of peak rates. This transient component of release, which we refer to as TR, is poorly understood, and there is conflicting evidence regarding the role of Calocal and Cares in its generation. We used optical methods to monitor Cares and whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings to study TR at synapses between granule cells and stellate cells in rat cerebellar slices. After stimulation the probability of release is elevated greatly, peaking at 500 μsec and then slowly declining to prestimulus levels after tens of milliseconds. After speeding the decay of Cares levels with EGTA, release is confined to a 3 msec interval, and TR is eliminated. Thus, we find that Cares accounts for a transient tail of release on the millisecond time scale that helps to shape the average synaptic current and accounts for at least 20% of the synaptic charge in the 20 msec interval after stimulation. Cares-dependent TR is likely to contribute significantly to fast synaptic transmission under physiological conditions, particularly during high-frequency bursts that elevate Cares.
Staphylococcus aureus Persisters Tolerant to Bactericidal Antibiotics

Bacterial persister cells are non- or slow-growing reversible phenotypic variants of the wild type, tolerant to bactericidal antibiotics. We analyzed here Staphylococcus aureus persister levels by monitoring colony-forming unit counts of planktonically grown cells treated with six different antimicrobials over time. The model laboratory strains HG001–HG003, SA113 and the small colony variant (SCV) strains hemB and menD were challenged by the compounds at different logs of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) in exponential or stationary growth phase. Antibiotic tolerance was usually elevated in SCV strains compared to normally growing cells and in stationary versus exponential phase cultures. Biphasic killing kinetics, typical for persister cell enrichment, were observed in both growth phases under different selective conditions. Treatment of exponential phase cultures of HG001–HG003 with 10-fold MIC of tobramycin resulted in the isolation of persisters which upon cultivation on plates formed either normal or phenotypically stable small colonies. Trajectories of different killing curves indicated physiological heterogeneity within persister subpopulations. Daptomycin added at 100-fold MIC to stationary phase SA113 cells rapidly isolated very robust persisters. Fractions of antibiotic-tolerant cells were observed with all S. aureus strains and mutants tested. Our results refute the hypothesis that S. aureus stationary phase cells are equivalent to persisters, as not all of these cells showed antibiotic tolerance. Isolation of S. aureus persisters of different robustness seems to depend on the kind and concentration of the antibiotic, as well as on the strain used.