Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expectations and Fluctuations : The Role of Monetary Policy

How does the economy respond to shocks to expectations? This paper addresses this question within a cashless, monetary economy. A competitive economy features producers and consumers/workers with asymmetric information. Only workers observe current productivity and hence they perfectly anticipate prices, whereas all agents observe a noisy signal about long-run productivity. Information asymmetries imply that monetary policy and consumers' expectations have real effects. Non-fundamental, purely expectational shocks are conventionally thought of as demand shocks. While this remains a possibility, expectational shocks can also have the characteristics of supply shocks : if positive, they increase output and employment, and lower inflation. Whether expectational shocks manifest themselves as demand or supply shocks depends on the monetary policy pursued. Forward-looking policies generate multiple equilibria in which the role of consumers' expectations is arbitrary. Optimal policies restore the complete information equilibrium. They do so by manipulating prices so that producers correctly anticipate their revenue despite their uncertainty about current productivity. I design targets for forward-looking interest-rate rules which restore the complete information equilibrium for any policy parameters. In ation stabilization per se is typically suboptimal as it can at best eliminate uncertainty arising through prices. This offers a motivation for the Dual Mandate of central banks. Key words: Asymmetric information ; producer expectations ; consumer expectations ; business cycles ; supply shocks ; demand shocks ; optimal monetary policy JEL Classification: E32 ; E52 ; D82 ; D83 ; D84
Vaccination with Irradiated Autologous Tumor Cells Mixed with Irradiated GM-K562 Cells Stimulates Antitumor Immunity and T Lymphocyte Activation in Patients with Recurrent Malignant Glioma

Purpose: Recurrent malignant glioma carries a dismal prognosis, and novel therapies are needed. We examined the feasibility and safety of vaccination with irradiated autologous glioma cells mixed with irradiated GM-K562 cells in patients undergoing craniotomy for recurrent malignant glioma. Experimental Design: We initiated a phase I study examining the safety of 2 doses of GM-K562 cells mixed with autologous cells. Primary endpoints were feasibility and safety. Feasibility was defined as the ability for 60% of enrolled subjects to initiate vaccination. Dose-limiting toxicity was assessed via a 3+3 dose-escalation format, examining irradiated tumor cells mixed with 5 × 106 GM-K562 cells or 1 × 107 GM-K562 cells. Eligibility required a priori indication for resection of a recurrent high-grade glioma. We measured biological activity by measuring delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses, humoral immunity against tumor-associated antigens, and T-lymphocyte activation. Results: Eleven patients were enrolled. Sufficient numbers of autologous tumor cells were harvested in 10 patients, all of whom went on to receive vaccine. There were no dose-limiting toxicities. Vaccination strengthened DTH responses to irradiated autologous tumor cells in most patients, and vigorous humoral responses to tumor-associated angiogenic cytokines were seen as well. T-lymphocyte activation was seen with significantly increased expression of CTLA-4, PD-1, 4-1BB, and OX40 by CD4+ cells and PD-1 and 4-1BB by CD8+ cells. Activation was coupled with vaccine-associated increase in the frequency of regulatory CD4+ T lymphocytes. Conclusions: Vaccination with irradiated autologous tumor cells mixed with GM-K562 cells is feasible, well tolerated, and active in patients with recurrent malignant glioma. Clin Cancer Res; 22(12); 2885–96. ©2016 AACR.
Leishmania donovani Prevents Oxidative Burst-mediated Apoptosis of Host Macrophages through Selective Induction of Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) Proteins*

Background: Leishmania inhibits oxidative burst-mediated apoptosis of macrophages during phagocytosis. Results: L. donovani induces (SOCS) 1 and 3, which suppress macrophage apoptosis through thioredoxin-mediated stabilization of protein-tyrosine phosphatases. Conclusion: Leishmania exploits macrophage SOCS proteins for inhibition of apoptosis, thus protecting its niche for survival and replication. Significance: This study demonstrates a novel anti-apoptotic mediator for parasite infection. One of the mechanisms for establishment of infection employed by intra-macrophage pathogen-like Leishmania is inhibition of oxidative burst-mediated macrophage apoptosis to protect their niche for survival and replication. We tried to elucidate the underlying mechanism for this by using H2O2 for induction of apoptosis. Leishmania donovani-infected macrophages were much more resistant to H2O2-mediated apoptosis compared with control. Although infected cells were capable of comparable reactive oxygen species production, there was less activation of the downstream cascade consisting of caspase-3 and -7 and cleaved poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase. Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 and 3 proteins and reactive oxygen species scavenging enzyme thioredoxin, known to be involved in stabilization of protein-tyrosine phosphatases, were found to be induced during infection. Induction of SOCS proteins may be mediated by Egr1, and silencing of Socs1 and -3 either alone or in combination resulted in reduced thioredoxin levels, enhanced activation of caspases, and increased apoptosis of infected macrophages. The induction of protein-tyrosine phosphatases, thioredoxin, SOCS, and Egr1 in L. donovani-infected macrophages was found to be unaffected by H2O2 treatment. SOCS knocked down cells also displayed decreased parasite survival thus marking reduction in disease progression. Taken together, these results suggest that L. donovani may exploit SOCS for subverting macrophage apoptotic machinery toward establishing its replicative niche inside the host.
Socioeconomic variations in nicotine dependence, self-efficacy, and intention to quit across four countries: findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey

Objective: To examine the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on nicotine dependence, self-efficacy, and intention to quit. Design setting and participants: Data were from the first wave (2002) of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey (ITC-4), a panel study of over 2000 adult smokers from each of four countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Data were collected via telephone interviews. Main outcome measures: Nicotine dependence, intention to quit, and self-efficacy to quit smoking were the main outcome measures used in this study. Results: Lower levels of education were associated with higher nicotine dependence. The effect of lower income on higher heaviness of smoking index (HIS) scores was significant in Canada, the UK, and Australia. Respondents with low education had 35% larger odds of low self-efficacy than those with high education. Respondents with low education had 40% larger odds of having no intention to quit than those with high education. Respondents with low income had 23% larger odds of having no intention to quit than those with high income. Country was not a moderator of the association of SES with self-efficacy and intention to quit. Conclusion: To the extent that lower SES smokers are more addicted, they are likely to need more intensive support if they are to be successful in their attempts to quit. Given their lower incomes, this places a special responsibility on government to provide or subsidise such services. This should include access to the widest possible range of effective pharmacotherapies complemented with evidence based counselling and support.
Characterization of epoxy hybrid composites filled with cellulose fibers and nano‐SiC

Three different approaches have been applied and investigated to enhance the thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy resin. Epoxy system reinforced with either recycled cellulose fibers (RCF) or nanosilicon carbide (n-SiC) particles as well as with both RCF and n-SiC has been fabricated and investigated. The effect of RCF/n-SiC dispersion on the mechanical and thermal properties of these composites has been characterized. The fracture surface morphology and toughness mechanisms were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The dispersion of n-SiC particles into epoxy nanocomposites was studied by synchrotron radiation diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Results indicated that mechanical properties increased as a result of the addition of n-SiC. The presence of RCF layers significantly increased the mechanical properties of RCF/epoxy composites when compared with neat epoxy and its nanocomposites. The influence of the addition of n-SiC to RCF/epoxy composites in mechanical properties was found to be positive in toughness properties. At high temperatures, thermal stability of neat epoxy increased due to the presence of either n-SiC particles or RCF layers. However, the presence of RCF accelerated the thermal degradation of neat epoxy as well as the addition of n-SiC to RCF/epoxy samples increased the rate of the major thermal degradation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Lifespan Extension by Methionine Restriction Requires Autophagy-Dependent Vacuolar Acidification

Reduced supply of the amino acid methionine increases longevity across species through an as yet elusive mechanism. Here, we report that methionine restriction (MetR) extends yeast chronological lifespan in an autophagy-dependent manner. Single deletion of several genes essential for autophagy (ATG5, ATG7 or ATG8) fully abolished the longevity-enhancing capacity of MetR. While pharmacological or genetic inhibition of TOR1 increased lifespan in methionine-prototroph yeast, TOR1 suppression failed to extend the longevity of methionine-restricted yeast cells. Notably, vacuole-acidity was specifically enhanced by MetR, a phenotype that essentially required autophagy. Overexpression of vacuolar ATPase components (Vma1p or Vph2p) suffices to increase chronological lifespan of methionine-prototrophic yeast. In contrast, lifespan extension upon MetR was prevented by inhibition of vacuolar acidity upon disruption of the vacuolar ATPase. In conclusion, autophagy promotes lifespan extension upon MetR and requires the subsequent stimulation of vacuolar acidification, while it is epistatic to the equally autophagy-dependent anti-aging pathway triggered by TOR1 inhibition or deletion.
Activity-Dependent Long-Term Potentiation of Intrinsic Excitability in Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

The efficiency of neural circuits is enhanced not only by increasing synaptic strength but also by increasing intrinsic excitability. In contrast to the detailed analysis of long-term potentiation (LTP), less attention has been given to activity-dependent changes in the intrinsic neuronal excitability. By stimulating hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons with synaptic inputs correlating with postsynaptic neuronal spikes, we elicited an LTP of intrinsic excitability (LTP-IE) concurring with synaptic LTP. LTP-IE was manifested as a decrease in the action potential threshold that was attributable to a hyperpolarized shift in the activation curve of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) rather than activity-dependent changes in synaptic inputs or A-type K+ channels. Cell-attached patch recording of VGSC activities indicated such an activity-dependent change in VGSCs. Induction of LTP-IE was blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist APV, intracellular BAPTA, the CaM kinase inhibitors KN-62 and autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide, and the protein synthesis inhibitors emetine and anisomycin. The results suggest that induction of LTP-IE shares a similar signaling pathway with the late phase of synaptic LTP and requires activation of the NMDA glutamate receptor subtype, Ca2+ influx, activity of CaM kinase II, and function of the protein synthesis. This new form of hippocampal neuronal plasticity could be a cellular correlate of learning and memory besides synaptic LTP.
Comparison of Histopathologic Analysis Following Renal Sympathetic Denervation Over Multiple Time Points

Background—The pathology of radiofrequency-derived sympathetic renal denervation has not been studied over time and may provide important understanding of the mechanisms resulting in sustained blood pressure reduction. The purpose of this study was to investigate chronological changes after radiofrequency-renal denervation in the swine model. Methods and Results—A total of 49 renal arteries from 28 animals with 4 different time points (7, 30, 60, and 180 days) were examined. Semiquantitative histological assessment of arteries and associated tissue was performed to characterize the chronological progression of the radiofrequency lesions. Arterial medial circumferential injury (%) was greatest at 7 days (38±13%), followed by 30 days (31±6%) and 60 days (31±15%), and least at 180 days (21±12%) (P=0.046). Nerve injury score was significantly greater (P<0.001) at 7 days (3.9±0.4) compared with 30 days (2.5±0.5), 60 days (2.6±0.5), and 180 days (1.9±0.9). Tyrosine hydroxylase score, which assesses functional nerve damage, was significantly less after 7 (1±1) and 30 days (0.7±0.6) compared with 60 (2.7±0.6) and 180 days (2.7±0.6; P=0.01). Focal nerve regeneration at the sites of radiofrequency ablation was observed in 17% of renal arteries at 60 days and 71% of 180 days. Conclusions—Nerve injury after radiofrequency ablation was greatest at 7 days, with maximum functional nerve damage sustained ⩽30 days. Focal terminal nerve regeneration was observed only at the sites of ablation as early as 60 days and continued to 180 days. Renal artery and peri-arterial soft tissue injury is greatest in the subacute phase, and least in the chronic phase, suggesting gradual recovery of the renal arterial wall and surrounding tissue.
The role of 3-tesla diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in selecting prostate cancer patients for active surveillance

Purpose Differentiating significant cancer from insignificant cancer is a major challenge in active surveillance (AS) for prostate cancer. We evaluated whether the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) grade from 3-T diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) is useful to exclude men with unfavorable pathological features from men meeting current AS eligibility criteria. Methods Among patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, 117 potential AS candidates defined according to 2013 European Association of Urology guidelines who had undergone preoperative 3-T DW-MRI were included. A blinded uro-radiologist graded the level of suspicion from the ADC map using the Likert scale from 1 to 5. The rate of unfavorable pathological features was evaluated according to ADC grade. Unfavorable pathological features were defined as non–organ-confined disease or pathological Gleason score≥7 (4+3). The associations between unfavorable pathological features and clinical variables including ADC grade (>3 vs. ≤3) were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results The rates of unfavorable pathological features were 0.0% (0/14), 2.9% (1/34), 5.4% (2/37), 25.0% (6/24), and 37.5% (3/8) from grades 1 to 5 (P=0.002). The predictive accuracy was as high as 0.804. The rates were significantly different between low (≤3, 3.5%) and high (>3, 28.1%, P<0.001) grades. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 75.0%, 78.1%, 28.1%, and 96.5%. ADC grade (odds ratio [OR], 10.696; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.675–42.773) was significantly associated with unfavorable pathological features, even after adjusting for other variables (OR, 11.274; 95% CI, 2.622–48.471). Conclusions ADC grade from 3-T DW-MRI is useful to predict men with unfavorable pathologic features from AS candidates.
Mechanism of the Lifespan Extension of Caenorhabditis elegans by Electrolyzed Reduced Water—Participation of Pt Nanoparticles

Electrolyzed reduced water (ERW) contains a large amount of molecular hydrogen and a small amount of Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs). We have found that ERW significantly extended the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans in a novel culture medium designated Water Medium. In this study, we found that synthetic Pt NPs at ppb levels significantly extended the nematode lifespan and scavenged reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the nematode induced by paraquat treatment. In contrast, a high concentration of dissolved molecular hydrogen had no significant effect on the lifespan of the nematode. These findings suggest that the Pt NPs in ERW, rather than the molecular hydrogen, extend the longevity of the nematode, at least partly by scavenging ROS.
The implementation of a mobile problem-specific electronic CEX for assessing directly observed student—patient encounters

Background: Facilitating direct observation of medical students’ clinical competencies is a pressing need. Methods: We developed an electronic problem-specific Clinical Evaluation Exercise (eCEX) based on a national curriculum. We assessed its feasibility in monitoring and recording students’ competencies and the impact of a grading incentive on the frequency of direct observations in an internal medicine clerkship. Students (n=56) at three clinical sites used the eCEX and comparison students (n=56) at three other clinical sites did not. Students in the eCEX group were required to arrange 10 evaluations with faculty preceptors. Students in the second group were required to document a single, faculty observed ‘Full History and Physical’ encounter with a patient. Students and preceptors were surveyed at the end of each rotation. Results: eCEX increased students’ and evaluators’ understanding of direct-observation objectives and had a positive impact on the evaluators’ ability to provide feedback and assessments. The grading incentive increased the number of times a student reported direct observation by a resident preceptor. Conclusions: eCEX appears to be an effective means of enhancing student evaluation.
Caries risk assessment in dental students from Iasi, Romania

Different caries risk prediction models have been developed in recent years. The Cariogram is a new concept that illustrates graphically the multifactorial background of dental caries and assess an individual�s caries risk profile more correctly than other risk prediction methods. Objectives: The aims of this study was to assess the dentistry students caries risk by means of the Cariogram software and examine the relationships between the caries related factors and the risk of caries determined by this program. Methods: Data were collected from 112 dentistry students in grade five from the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Iasi, Romania, by clinical examination, saliva sampling and a dietary questionnaire. The caries risk of each individual, expressed as the chance to avoid new caries, was then obtained by drawing up the Cariogram. Results: Past caries experience, Streptococcus mutans counts, fluoridation programme and buffer capacity of the saliva are the main factors included in the Cariogram that showed significant correlation with the caries risk determined by this software. Other variables that the Cariogram does not include directly, such as DMFT, DMFS and the plaque index, also showed high correlation with caries risk. Conclusions: The predictive variables which make the greatest contribution to the caries risk assessment are: Streptococcus mutans count, DMFT index and the buffer capacity of the saliva. Cariogram is a useful pedagogic tool for dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants in discussions with patients about their caries risk.
Attractors of directed graph IFSs that are not standard IFS attractors and their Hausdorff measure

Abstract For directed graph iterated function systems (IFSs) defined on ℝ, we prove that a class of 2-vertex directed graph IFSs have attractors that cannot be the attractors of standard (1-vertex directed graph) IFSs, with or without separation conditions. We also calculate their exact Hausdorff measure. Thus we are able to identify a new class of attractors for which the exact Hausdorff measure is known.
BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS IN RATS: NON‐UNIFORM YIELDS FROM INTRAPERITONEAL DOSES BASED ON BODY WEIGHT

1 Sprague‐Dawley rats (n = 72) weighing from 125 to 450 g were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 16% (w/v) ethanol to provide 1, 2, or 3 g/kg doses. 2 Resulting blood alcohol levels (BALs) demonstrated a general inadequacy of dose/body weight (g/kg) formulations of ethanol to provide uniform BALs in animals of different weights. 3 BAL differences between heavier and lighter rats were not well accounted for by developmental changes in liver weight or alcohol dehydrogenase activity. 4 From the data, a table was derived of more appropriate ethanol injection volumes to produce 0–300 mg% BALs (20 mg% increments) in rats from 100–500 g (10 g increments).
Salicylic Acid-Dependent Plant Stress Signaling via Mitochondrial Succinate Dehydrogenase1[OPEN]

Salicylic acid stimulates succinate dehydrogenase activity and induces mitochondrial ROS production to induce stress signaling. Mitochondria are known for their role in ATP production and generation of reactive oxygen species, but little is known about the mechanism of their early involvement in plant stress signaling. The role of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in salicylic acid (SA) signaling was analyzed using two mutants: disrupted in stress response1 (dsr1), which is a point mutation in SDH1 identified in a loss of SA signaling screen, and a knockdown mutant (sdhaf2) for SDH assembly factor 2 that is required for FAD insertion into SDH1. Both mutants showed strongly decreased SA-inducible stress promoter responses and low SDH maximum capacity compared to wild type, while dsr1 also showed low succinate affinity, low catalytic efficiency, and increased resistance to SDH competitive inhibitors. The SA-induced promoter responses could be partially rescued in sdhaf2, but not in dsr1, by supplementing the plant growth media with succinate. Kinetic characterization showed that low concentrations of either SA or ubiquinone binding site inhibitors increased SDH activity and induced mitochondrial H2O2 production. Both dsr1 and sdhaf2 showed lower rates of SA-dependent H2O2 production in vitro in line with their low SA-dependent stress signaling responses in vivo. This provides quantitative and kinetic evidence that SA acts at or near the ubiquinone binding site of SDH to stimulate activity and contributes to plant stress signaling by increased rates of mitochondrial H2O2 production, leading to part of the SA-dependent transcriptional response in plant cells.