Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statins inhibit NK‐cell cytotoxicity by interfering with LFA‐1‐mediated conjugate formation

Inhibitors of the 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, commonly referred to as statins, are inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis. They are broadly used for treating hypercholesterolemia and for prevention of cardio‐ and cerebrovascular diseases. Recent publications show that statins also act as immunomodulatory drugs. Here, we show that lipophilic statins inhibit NK‐cell degranulation and cytotoxicity. This effect was reversible by addition of substrates of isoprenylation, but not by addition of cholesterol. In NK‐target cell conjugates intracellular Ca2+ flux was unaffected by statin treatment. However, statins strongly reduced the amount of conjugate formation between NK and target cells. This inhibition was paralleled by a statin‐dependent inhibition of LFA‐1‐mediated adhesion and a reduction of NK‐cell polarization. This demonstrates that statins impair the formation of effector–target cell conjugates resulting in the disruption of early signaling and the loss of NK‐cell cytotoxicity.
PENGARUH RASIO-RASIO KEUANGAN DAN UKURAN PERUSAHAAN PADA RETURN SAHAM

Return is the result obtained from an investment. Stock returns are influenced by various factors such as the ratio of profitability, leverage, liquidity, activity, and firm size. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the ratio of profitability, leverage, liquidity, activity, and firm size on stock returns. Sampling method in this research was purposive sampling and acquired 32 observational data as the sample. The data used in this research was secondary data. The data analysis technique used was multiple linear regression using SPSS 17.0. The results showed that profitability and leverage ratios positive effect on stock returns, liquidity ratios negative effect on stock returns, and the ratio of the activity and firm size has no effect on stock returns.
Colonialism, Inequality, and Long-Run Paths of Development

Over the last few years, colonialism, especially as pursued by Europeans, has enjoyed a revival in interest among both scholars and the general public. Although a number of new accounts cast colonial empires in a more favorable light than has generally been customary, others contend that colonial powers often leveraged their imbalance in power to impose institutional arrangements on the colonies that were adverse to long-term development. We argue here, however, that one of the most fundamental impacts of European colonization may have been in altering the composition of the populations in the areas colonized. The efforts of the Europeans often involved implanting ongoing communities who were greatly advantaged over natives in terms of human capital and legal status. Because the paths of institutional development were sensitive to the incidence of extreme inequality which resulted, their activity had long lingering effects. More study is needed to identify all of the mechanisms at work, but the evidence from the colonies in the Americas suggests that it was those that began with extreme inequality and population heterogeneity that came to exhibit persistence over time in evolving institutions that restricted access to economic opportunities and generated lower rates of public investment in schools and other infrastructure considered conducive to growth. These patterns may help to explain why a great many societies with legacies as colonies with extreme inequality have suffered from poor development experiences.
Reliability of in vitro microleakage tests: a literature review.

PURPOSE The literature contains conflicting data about in vitro microleakage evaluations and their usefulness and reliability. No standardization has yet been established. Here we consider features of published studies that might affect the results of the in vitro microleakage tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed 144 in vitro microleakage studies, published in 14 international reviews between 1992 and 1998, which comprised 917 sets or groups of experiments. The published studies were entered in a database and compared using selected literature criteria: sample, cavities, restoration procedures, thermocycling and mechanical cycling, evaluation method. RESULTS The methods employed vary widely. The most frequent methodological choices (%) were (1) specimen storage after extraction: duration (unspecified, 59.2), medium (distilled or deionized water, 33.8), temperature (unspecified, 52.2), additives (none, 47.0); (2) aging method (79.1): duration before aging (< 24 h, 35.9); medium and temperature of storage before aging (distilled or deionized water, 26.8; 37 degrees C, 54.3); (3) medium of cycling (tap water, 50.5), number of cycles ([250-500], 34.6), number of baths (2, 84.0), bath temperature (5 degrees C to 55 degrees C, 60.6), immersion dwell time (30 s, 44.3); (4) tracer: type (basic fuchsin, 40.7), time of immersion (after thermocycling and/or mechanical cycles, 64.1), immersion duration (basic fuchsin: 24 h, 59.5); assessment of dye penetration of sections (91.7): direction (perpendicular, 88.5), number (1, 47.1). CONCLUSION The great variability in the methods used in these 144 studies prevented meta-analysis and comparison of the results, thus reducing the value of these methods.
Openness and the Politics of Potable Water

Improving access to potable water has become an increasingly urgent concern for developing nations in the current era of globalization. According to standard wisdom, if developing countries undertake certain domestic reforms, such as investing in infrastructure and engineering, then safe and clean drinking water will improve. This analysis uncovers, however, that in addition to such domestic efforts, one of the greatest factors affecting water uncertainty is, in fact, internationally induced: trade. Surprisingly, both scholars and practitioners have neglected the potential impacts of expanding trade on access to potable water. This analysis is the first large-N cross-national study of water that focuses on the interplay of trade and politics—both international and domestic—as the primary driving forces behind improvements in (or constraints to) water access. The author hypothesizes that growing export pressures are constraining drinkable water in poor countries, but a particular domestic condition can mitigate this effect: the existence of lower levels of income inequality. As the socioeconomic actors disadvantaged by openness, particularly in more equal countries, seek reparations for the growing threats to potable water, the adverse affects of trade on water may be averted. Empirical evidence from 77 developing countries and case studies of Vietnam and India provide support for this hypothesis.
Pregnancy induces numerical and functional changes of CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: In a prospective study we investigated whether numerical and functional changes of CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells (Treg) were associated with changes of disease activity observed during pregnancy and post partum in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: The frequency of CD4+CD25high T cells was determined by flow cytometry in 12 patients with RA and 14 healthy women during and after pregnancy. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to sort CD4+CD25high T cells and CD4+CD25− T cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies alone or in co-culture to investigate proliferation and cytokine secretion. Results: Frequencies of CD4+CD25high Treg were significantly higher in the third trimester compared to 8 weeks post partum in patients and controls. Numbers of CD4+CD25high Treg inversely correlated with disease activity in the third trimester and post partum. In co-culture experiments significantly higher amounts of IL10 and lowered levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α and interferon (IFN)γ were found in supernatants of the third trimester compared to postpartum samples. These findings were independent from health or disease in pregnancy, however postpartum TNFα and IFNγ levels were higher in patients with disease flares. Conclusion: The amelioration of disease activity in the third trimester corresponded to the increased number of Treg that induced a pronounced anti-inflammatory cytokine milieu. The pregnancy related quantitative and qualitative changes of Treg suggest a beneficial effect of Treg on disease activity.
Optimization of pulse regeneration at 40 Gb/s based on spectral filtering of self-phase modulation in fiber

Optimization of an all-optical 2R regenerator at 40 Gb/s that is based on self-phase modulation in fiber is presented. The effect of fiber length, launch power into the fiber, and regenerator filter offset on the regenerator performance are investigated. We show that all three parameters can be carefully chosen to maximize the pulse regeneration. When optimized, we demonstrate an improvement in Q value of 1.5 dB.
Technical, Fundamental, and Combined Information for Separating Winners from Losers

This study examines how fundamental accounting information can be used to supplement technical information to separate momentum winners from losers. We first introduce a ratio of liquidity buy volume to liquidity sell volume (BOS ratio) to proxy the level of information asymmetry for stocks and show that the BOS momentum strategy can enhance the profits of momentum strategy. We further propose a unified framework, produced by incorporating two fundamental indicators—the FSCORE (Piotroski, 2000) and the GSCORE (Mohanram, 2005)—into momentum strategy. The empirical results show that the combined investment strategy includes stocks with a larger information content that the market cannot reflect in time, and therefore, the combined investment strategy outperforms momentum strategy by generating significantly higher returns.
Subcuticular Closure versus Dermabond: A Prospective Randomized Trial

2-Octylcyanoacrylate tissue adhesive (Dermabond™, Ethicon, Inc, Somerville, NJ) is being used successfully for closure of minor lacerations. To date, however, there have been no studies evaluating its use in the operating room for surgical incisions. We conducted a prospective randomized trial to compare the closure of inguinal herniorrhaphy incisions using 2-octylcyanoacrylate tissue adhesive (Dermabond) with closures using 4–0 Monocryl (Ethicon, Inc) in a running subcuticular closure. A total of 46 incisions were randomized at the time of closure. Of these incisions 24 were randomized to Dermabond closure (TA) and 22 were randomized to subcuticular closure (SC). Performance measures included: time for closure, wound complications, and cosmesis. Cosmesis was evaluated by blinded evaluation of photographs of the incisions taken 4 weeks after surgery. Closure times for the TA group were faster than in the SC group (mean of 155 vs 286 seconds; P < 0.001). Wound complications were higher in the TA group (P = 0.045). Cosmesis was also felt to be better in the SC group with a score of 4.2 versus 3.88, but this did not reach statistical significance. Although the use of Dermabond did result in faster wound cultures it also resulted in an increase in wound complications. The difference in mean cosmetic score for each group was not statistically significant but trended toward better scores in the SC group. Based on these findings we do not feel Dermabond is an acceptable alternative to subcuticular suture closure in inguinal herniorrhaphy incisions.
The Zero-Interest-Rate Bound and Optimal Monetary Policy in a Small Open Economy

To give a better understanding that, when the economy is caught up in a liquidity trap, it returns quickly to the normal state by using the exchange rate channel of monetary policy, we solved a central bank’s intertemporal optimization problem in the framework of a small open economy. Given an adverse shock to aggregate demand, we computed the dynamic path of a short-term nominal interest rate in both discretion and commitment. We discovered that the timing to terminate a zero interest rate policy in the case of large openness would be earlier than that in the case of small openness. We find that the economy in case of large openness would be less overheated. Moreover, the di#erence between the optimal solution and discretionary solution becomes proportionately smaller to the degree of openness. Some simulation results reinforce these findings. Finally, this paper also suggests that the exchange rate peg enables the central bank to quickly end the zero interest rate policy. JEL Classification Numbers: E31; E52; E58; E61
The Evolution of the Cluster Literature: Shedding Light on the Regional Studies–Regional Science Debate

Cruz S. C. S. and Teixeira A. A. C. The evolution of the cluster literature: shedding light on the regional studies–regional science debate, Regional Studies. Despite the intuitive awareness about the rising importance of the cluster literature, an empirical study on its precise magnitude and evolution has yet to be accomplished. Based on two complementary bibliometric exercises – comprising 50 000 citations and almost 3000 abstracts, ranging in date from 1962 to 2008 – it was demonstrated that although seminal contributors come both from regional science and regional studies areas, the ‘convergence’ between regional science and regional studies approaches is still a chimera. Cruz S. C. S. et Teixeira A. A. C. L'évolution de la documentation au sujet des grappes: répandre de la lumière sur le débat à propos des études régionales et de la science régionale, Regional Studies. Malgré la conscience intuitive à l'égard de l'importance accrue de la documentation au sujet des grappes, il faut encore faire une étude empirique sur son ampleur précise et son évolution. A partir de deux exercices bibliométriques – comportant 50 000 citations et à peu près 3 000 résumés, allant de 1962 jusqu'à 2008 – on montre que l'on poursuit toujours des chimères quant au ‘rapprochement’ entre la façon prise dans la science régionale et celle employée dans les études régionales. Grappes Grappes industrielles Implantation industrielle Bibliométrie Cruz S. C. S. und Teixeira A. A. C. Die Evolution der Cluster-Literatur: eine Untersuchung der Debatte über Regionalstudien und Regionalwissenschaft, Regional Studies. Die wachsende Bedeutung der Literatur über Cluster ist zwar auf intuitive Weise bekannt, doch eine empirische Studie über ihre genaue Größe und Evolution steht noch aus. Ausgehend von zwei komplementären bibliometrischen Untersuchungen – mit 50.000 Zitaten und beinahe 3000 Inhaltsangaben aus den Jahren 1962 bis 2008 – wurde nachgewiesen, dass zukunftsweisende Beiträge zwar sowohl aus dem Bereich der Regionalwissenschaft als auch aus dem der Regionalstudien kommen, aber die ‘Konvergenz’ der Ansätze der Regionalwissenschaft und der Regionalstudien weiterhin ein Trugbild bleibt. Cluster Branchencluster Industriestandort Bibliometrie Cruz S. C. S. y Teixeira A. A. C. La evolución de la literatura de aglomeraciones: un análisis sobre el debate de estudios regionales y ciencia regional, Regional Studies. Aunque la creciente importancia de la literatura sobre aglomeraciones se conoce de modo intuitivo, todavía es necesario un estudio empírico sobre su magnitud precisa y evolución. En base a dos ejercicios bibliométricos complementarios – que contienen 50.000 citaciones y casi 3000 resúmenes, y que van desde 1962 a 2008 – se demostró que aunque las contribuciones importantes proceden tanto de áreas de estudios científicos como regionales, la ‘convergencia’ entre los enfoques de ciencia regional y estudios regionales es todavía una quimera. Aglomeraciones Aglomeraciones industriales Ubicación industrial Bibliometría
Risk Aversion: Experimental Evidence from South African Fishing Communities

We estimate the risk attitudes of a large sample of small-scale fishers from various fishing communities along the west coast of South Africa, using subjectsâ€™ choices over lotteries with real monetary prizes. We find that participants are moderately risk averse and that risk attitudes vary with certain socio-demographic variables. In particular, females are found to be more risk averse than their male counterparts, while quota holders are more risk loving. Logistic regression analysis indicates that risk attitudes have implications for non-compliance with fisheries regulation. Specifically, greater risk aversion translates into a reduction in the odds of catching illegally. Furthermore, in the case of gender, female fishers and female fishers with fishing rights are more likely to comply with fisheries regulation. These findings have important implications for the characterisation of risk attitudes in fisheries policy applications and for the management of marine resources.
Promoting organizational effectiveness by defining managerial conduct

In executing their duties, food service managers are confronted with a number of situations that may challenge their integrity. Using vignettes this study attempted to gauge the ethical concerns that food service mangers have with potential responses to a number of difficult situations. The data suggest that actively addressing ethical issues early on in a manager’s career may be important. Also, in operations where there was a managerial code of conduct, there was some indication of greater ethical regard. While a code of conduct may not prevent managerial malfeasance, it provides to the members of the organization a guidebook which can form the basis of their decisions and actions.
Mental disorder in adults with intellectual disability. 2: The rate of behaviour disorders among a community-based population aged between 16 and 64 years.

Despite the difficulty of defining behaviour disorder, most previous studies have reported a high rate of behaviour disorders in people with intellectual disability (ID). The aim of the present study was to establish the overall rate and types of behaviour disorders in a population-based sample of adults with ID. The other aim was to explore the possible risk factors that are associated with the overall rate as well as different types of behaviour disorders. One hundred and one adults with ID aged between 16 and 64 years were randomly selected from a sample of 246 such adults, i.e. those who were known to the Vale of Glamorgan Social Services Department in South Wales, UK. Thirteen behaviour disorders were rated according to the Disability Assessment Schedule. Background data on subjects were also collected, and were subsequently analysed to assess the relationship between different risk factors and behaviour disorders. Sixty-one subjects (60.4%) had at least one behaviour disorder of any severity or frequency. Twenty-three per cent of subjects showed aggression, 24% self-injurious behaviour, 36% temper tantrum, 26% overactivity, 29% screaming, 38% attention-seeking behaviour, 20% objectionable habits, 18% night-time disturbance and 12% of subjects showed destructiveness. Statistically significant associations were seen between the rate of overall behaviour disorder and the use of psychotropic medication, and between family and group home residence. The rate of aggression was significantly associated with the use of psychotropic medication. The rate of self-injurious behaviour was significantly associated with the severity of ID, female gender and poor communication abilities. The rate of temper tantrum was significantly associated with the use of psychotropic medication. Twenty-four subjects showed severe or frequent aggression, destructiveness, self-injury or temper tantrum, and 11 individuals showed real challenging behaviours. Severe behaviour problems were significantly associated with female gender, severity of ID, the presence of a history of epilepsy and attendance at day activities.
Honey bee larval peritrophic matrix degradation during infection with Paenibacillus larvae, the aetiological agent of American foulbrood of honey bees, is a key step in pathogenesis.

Paenibacillus larvae, the aetiological agent of American foulbrood (AFB) of honey bees, causes a fatal intestinal infection in larvae and invades the haemocoel by breaching the midgut. The peritrophic matrix lining the midgut epithelium in insects constitutes an effective barrier against abrasive food particles, xenobiotics, toxins and pathogens. Pathogens like P. larvae entering the host through the gut first need to overcome this barrier. To better understand AFB pathogenesis, we analysed the fate of the peritrophic matrix in honey bee larvae during P. larvae infection. Using histochemical techniques, we first established that chitin is a major component of the honey bee larval peritrophic matrix. Rearing larvae on a diet containing a fluorochrome blocking formation of the peritrophic matrix or a bacterial endochitinase revealed that a fully formed peritrophic matrix is essential for larval survival. Larvae infected by P. larvae showed total degradation of the peritrophic matrix enabling the bacteria to directly attack the epithelial cells. Carbon source utilization tests confirmed that P. larvae is able to metabolize colloidal chitin. We propose that P. larvae degrades the peritrophic matrix to allow direct access of the bacteria or of bacterial toxins to the epithelium to prepare the breakthrough of the epithelial layer.
De-collectivization and employment problems: the experiences of minority ethnic workers seeking help through Citizens Advice

This article draws on a study of the experiences of (primarily non-unionized) minority ethnic workers in seeking advice and support for employment problems in the context of the de-collectivization of employment relations in Britain. It focuses on one of the main recourses identified in the research, the Citizens Advice Bureau, its relationship with community organizations and with trade unions. Workers’ testimonies about their experiences of help with workplace grievances are supplemented with views of advice providers, community-based organizations and trade unionists. Findings illuminate the specific experiences of minority ethnic workers, as well as similarities with majority ethnic non-unionized workers and highlight the paucity of individual employment advice and a growing crisis for workers’ rights with the decline in collective union representation.