Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polymorphisms of the Dopamine Receptor Gene DRD2 and Colorectal Cancer Risk

Sporadic colorectal cancer is considered a multifactorial disease in which multiple exposures interact with the individual genetic background resulting in risk modulation. Recent experimental data suggest a role of dopamine and dopamine receptors in the control of proliferation of the cells of colon and gastrointestinal tract. To investigate whether polymorphisms within dopamine receptors genes could have a role in modulating the risk of sporadic colorectal cancer, we did a case-control association study and genotyped 370 cases and 327 controls for seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of DRD2 (−141Cdel, 957T>C, TaqIB, TaqIA, 1412A>G, S311C, and 3208G>T) by a microarray-based technique. Three SNPs within DRD2 were associated with colorectal cancer, with a maximum odds ratio of 2.28 (95% confidence interval, 1.38-3.76) for carriers of the functional SNP −141Cdel. The haplotype which includes −141Cdel, together with the variants 957C and 1412G, shows an odds ratio of 2.86 (95% confidence interval, 1.58-5.18), as compared with the most frequent haplotype. The SNPs within DRD2 associated with colorectal cancer are known to be related to reduced levels of D2 dopamine receptor. Thus, our data point to a possible role of dopamine receptor DRD2 in modulating the risk of colorectal cancer. Future studies on dopamine receptor–mediated signal transduction may provide new insight into the mechanisms of colorectal cancer and suggest new therapeutic strategies.
Tumor angiogenesis and metastasis--correlation in invasive breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Experimental evidence suggests that the growth of a tumor beyond a certain size requires angiogenesis, which may also permit metastasis. To investigate how tumor angiogenesis correlates with metastases in breast carcinoma, we counted microvessels (capillaries and venules) and graded the density of microvessels within the initial invasive carcinomas of 49 patients (30 with metastases and 19 without). METHODS Using light microscopy, we highlighted the vessels by staining their endothelial cells immunocytochemically for factor VIII. The microvessels were carefully counted (per 200x field), and their density was graded (1 to 4+), in the most active areas of neovascularization, without knowledge of the outcome in the patient, the presence or absence of metastases, or any other pertinent variable. RESULTS Both microvessel counts and density grades correlated with metastatic disease. The mean (+/- SD) count and grade in the patients with metastases were 101 +/- 49.3 and 2.95 +/- 1.00 vessels, respectively. The corresponding values in the patients without metastases were significantly lower--45 +/- 21.1 and 1.38 +/- 0.82 (P = 0.003 and P less than or equal to 0.001, respectively). For each 10-microvessel increase in the count per 200x field, there was a 1.59-fold increase in the risk of metastasis (95 percent confidence interval, 1.19 to 2.12; P = 0.003). The microvessel count and density grade also correlated with distant metastases. For each 10-microvessel increase in the vessel count per 200x field, there was a 1.17-fold increase in the risk of distant metastasis (95 percent confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.34; P = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS The number of microvessels per 200x field in the areas of most intensive neovascularization in an invasive breast carcinoma may be an independent predictor of metastatic disease either in axillary lymph nodes or at distant sites (or both). Assessment of tumor angiogenesis may therefore prove valuable in selecting patients with early breast carcinoma for aggressive therapy.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS WORKING PAPER No . 302 Using Bayesian Networks for Bankruptcy Prediction : Some Methodological Issues

This study provides operational guidance for using naïve Bayes Bayesian network (BN) models in bankruptcy prediction. First, we suggest a heuristic method that guides the selection of bankruptcy predictors from a pool of potential variables. The method is based upon the assumption that the joint distribution of the variables is multivariate normal. Variables are selected based upon correlations and partial correlations information. A naïve Bayes model is developed using the proposed heuristic method and is found to perform well based upon a tenfold analysis, for both samples with complete information and samples with incomplete information. Second, we analyze whether the number of states into which continuous variables are discretized has an impact on a naïve Bayes model performance in bankruptcy prediction. We compare the model’s performance when continuous variables are discretized into two, three, . , ten, fifteen, and twenty states. Based upon a relatively large training sample, our results show that the naïve Bayes model’s performance increases when the number of states for discretization increases from two to three, and from three to four. Surprisingly, when the number of states increases to more than four, the model’s overall performance neither increases nor decreases. It is possible that the relative large size of training sample used by this study prevents the phenomenon of over fitting from occurring. Finally, we experiment whether modeling continuous variables with continuous distributions instead of discretizing them can improve the naïve Bayes model’s performance. Our finding suggests that this is not true. One possible reason is that continuous distributions tested by this study do not represent well the underlying distributions of empirical data. More importantly, some results of this study could also benefit the implementation of naïve Bayes models in business decision contexts other than bankruptcy prediction.
Review of predialysis education programs: a need for standardization

To make an informed decision on renal replacement therapy, patients should receive education about dialysis options in a structured program covering all modalities. Many patients do not receive such education, and there is disparity in the information they receive. This review aims to compile evidence on effective components of predialysis education programs as related to modality choice and outcomes. PubMed MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Ovid searches (from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2013) with the main search terms of “predialysis”, “peritoneal dialysis”, “home dialysis”, “education”, “information”, and “decision” were performed. Of the 1,005 articles returned from the initial search, 110 were given full text reviews as they potentially met inclusion criteria (for example, they included adults or predialysis patients, or the details of an education program were reported). Only 29 out of the 110 studies met inclusion criteria. Ten out of 13 studies using a comparative design, showed an increase in home dialysis choice after predialysis education. Descriptions of the educational process varied and included individual and group education, multidisciplinary intervention, and varying duration and frequency of sessions. Problem-solving group sessions seem to be an effective component for enhancing the proportion of home dialysis choice. Evidence is lacking for many components, such as timing and staff competencies. There is a need for a standardized approach to evaluate the effect of predialysis educational interventions.
NORMALIZATION OF EMOTION CONTROL SCALE

Background: Emotion control skill teaches the individuals how to identify their emotions and how to express and control them in various situations. The aim of this study was to normalize and measure the internal and external validity and reliability of emotion control test. Methods: This standardization study was carried out on a statistical society, including all pupils, students, teachers, nurses and university professors in Kermanshah in 2012, using Williams’ emotion control scale. The subjects included 1,500 (810 females and 690 males) people who were selected by stratified random sampling. Williams (1997) emotion control scale, was used to collect the required data. Emotional Control Scale is a tool for measuring the degree of control people have over their emotions. This scale has four subscales, including anger, depressed mood, anxiety and positive affect. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software using correlation and Cronbach's alpha tests. Results: The results of internal consistency of the questionnaire reported by Cronbach's alpha indicated an acceptable internal consistency for emotional control scale, and the correlation between the subscales of the test and between the items of the questionnaire was significant at 0.01 confidence level. Conclusion: The validity of emotion control scale among the pupils, students, teachers, nurses and teachers in Iran has an acceptable range, and the test itemswere correlated with each other, thereby making them appropriate for measuring emotion control.
Signal detection and placebo response in schizophrenia: parallels with depression.

OBJECTIVE Placebo response and the rate of failed clinical trials are increasing in schizophrenia, resembling previous experience with antidepressant clinical trials. In depression, the percent of patients randomized to placebo was shown to be strongly associated with drug-placebo differences (signal detection). We hypothesized that this factor would also be important in recent schizophrenia clinical trials. To test this hypothesis a database of acute schizophrenia placebo-controlled studies conducted between 1997 and 2008 was constructed. The database contained 27 studies, with 79 active treatment arms. As percentage of patients randomized to placebo increased, mean placebo improvement decreased (p = 0.047) and mean drug-placebo differences tended to increase (p = 0.166). The frequency of significant contrasts from studies with ≥ 25% randomized to placebo was 83.3%, compared with 58.3% in studies with <25% randomized to placebo. Caveats to these findings include limited data and confounding of potentially influential factors. These limitations prevent definitive conclusions. However, results are consistent with previous findings in depression where having a higher percent of patients randomized to placebo increased drug-placebo differences.
Sex in Cyberspace: Men Who Pay For Sex

This book is the first major sociological study to document the experiences of men who pay for sex. Samples of 'punters' have been difficult to obtain in the past since paying for sex is a socially discrediting activity about which men are, understandably, very secretive. The authors base their study on a sample drawn from more than 5000 'reviews' of adult personal services posted by men on the internet. Not only has this provided a significant new source of data on an important and underinvestigated social issue, but the authors argue it represents a significant change in the social organisation of sex work and those who seek and use the services of sex workers.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff Reports Financial Intermediaries and the Cross-section of Asset Returns Financial Intermediaries and the Cross-section of Asset Returns

This paper presents preliminary findings and is being distributed to economists and other interested readers solely to stimulate discussion and elicit comments. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and are not necessarily reflective of views at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal Reserve System. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the authors. Abstract Financial intermediaries trade frequently in many markets using sophisticated models. Their marginal value of wealth should therefore provide a more informative stochastic discount factor (SDF) than that of a representative consumer. Guided by theory, we use shocks to the leverage of securities broker-dealers to construct an intermediary SDF. Intuitively, deteriorating funding conditions are associated with deleveraging and a high marginal value of wealth. Our single-factor model prices size, book-to-market, momentum, and bond portfolios with an R 2 of 77 percent and an average annual pricing error of 1 percent—performing as well as standard multifactor benchmarks designed to price these assets. ). This paper is a revised combination of two previously circulated papers: " Funding Liquidity and the Cross Section of Stock Returns " (Adrian and Etula 2010) and " Intermediary Leverage and the Cross-Section of Expected Returns " (Muir 2010). " Day Ahead " conference for useful comments and suggestions. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal Reserve System.
Ral Is both Necessary and Sufficient for the Inhibition of Myeloid Differentiation Mediated by Ras

ABSTRACT Hyperactivation of Ras is one of the most common abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia. In experimental models, Ras inhibits myeloid differentiation, which is characteristic of leukemia; however, the mechanism through which it disrupts hematopoiesis is poorly understood. In multipotent FDCP-mix cells, Ras inhibits terminal neutrophil differentiation, thereby indefinitely extending their proliferative potential. Ras also strongly promotes the sensitivity of these cells to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Using this model, we have dissected the signaling elements downstream of Ras to determine their relative contribution to the dysregulation of hematopoiesis. Cells expressing Ras mutants selectively activating Raf (Ras*T35S) or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (Ras*Y40C) did not significantly affect differentiation or proliferative capacity, whereas Ras*E37G (which selectively activates RalGEFs) perpetuated proliferation and blocked neutrophil development in a manner similar to that of Ras. Correspondingly, expression of constitutively active versions of these effectors confirmed the overriding importance of Ral guanine nucleotide exchange factors. Cells expressing Ras demonstrated hyperactivation of Ral, which itself was able to exactly mimic the phenotype of Ras, including hypersensitivity to GM-CSF. Conversely, dominant negative Ral promoted spontaneous neutrophil development. Ral, in turn, appears to influence differentiation through multiple effectors. These data show, for the first time, the importance of Ral in regulating differentiation and self-renewal in hematopoietic cells.
NKAP is a novel RS-related protein that interacts with RNA and RNA binding proteins

NKAP is a highly conserved protein with roles in transcriptional repression, T-cell development, maturation and acquisition of functional competency and maintenance and survival of adult hematopoietic stem cells. Here we report the novel role of NKAP in splicing. With NKAP-specific antibodies we found that NKAP localizes to nuclear speckles. NKAP has an RS motif at the N-terminus followed by a highly basic domain and a DUF 926 domain at the C-terminal region. Deletion analysis showed that the basic domain is important for speckle localization. In pull-down experiments, we identified RNA-binding proteins, RNA helicases and splicing factors as interaction partners of NKAP, among them FUS/TLS. The FUS/TLS–NKAP interaction takes place through the RS domain of NKAP and the RGG1 and RGG3 domains of FUS/TLS. We analyzed the ability of NKAP to interact with RNA using in vitro splicing assays and found that NKAP bound both spliced messenger RNA (mRNA) and unspliced pre-mRNA. Genome-wide analysis using crosslinking and immunoprecipitation-seq revealed NKAP association with U1, U4 and U5 small nuclear RNA, and we also demonstrated that knockdown of NKAP led to an increase in pre-mRNA percentage. Our results reveal NKAP as nuclear speckle protein with roles in RNA splicing and processing.
Choice of statistical model for estimating genetic parameters using restricted maximum likelihood in swine

Summary Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) was used to determine the choice of statistical model, additive genetic maternal and common litter effects and consequences of ignoring these effects on estimates of variance–covariance components under random and phenotypic selection in swine using computer simulation. Two closed herds of different size and two traits, (i) pre-weaning average daily gain and (ii) litter size at birth, were considered. Three levels of additive direct and maternal genetic correlations (rdm) were assumed to each trait. Four mixed models (denoted as GRM1 through GRM4) were used to generate data sets. Model GRM1 included only additive direct genetic effects, GRM2 included only additive direct genetic and common litter effects, GRM3 included only additive direct and maternal genetic effects and GRM4 included all the random effects. Four mixed animal models (defined as EPM1 through EPM4) were defined for estimating genetic parameters similar to GRM. Data from each GRM were fitted with EPM1 through EPM4. The largest biased estimates of additive genetic variance were obtained when EPM1 was fitted to data generated assuming the presence of either additive maternal genetic, common litter effects or a combination thereof. The bias of estimated additive direct genetic variance (VAd) increased and those of recidual variance (VE) decreased with an increase in level of rdm when GRM3 was used. EPM1, EPM2 and EPM3 resulted in biased estimation of the direct genetic variances. EPM4 was the most accurate in each GRM. Phenotypic selection substantially increased bias of estimated additive direct genetic effect and its mean square error in trait 1, but decreased those in trait 2 when ignored in the statistical model. For trait 2, estimates under phenotypic selection were more biased than those under random selection. It was concluded that statistical models for estimating variance components should include all random effects considered to avoid bias.
Clustering of cardiovascular risk factors and blood pressure control status in hypertensive patients.

OBJECTIVE Hypertensive patients have multiple risk factors such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hyperuricemia in addition to components of metabolic syndrome. The morbidity of cardiovascular diseases is expected to increase synergistically by clustering of them. In the present study, we assessed the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors and blood pressure (BP) control status in hypertensive patients. METHODS AND PATIENTS Subjects were 699 treated hypertensive patients (mean age: 65 +/- 12 years; males 297, females 402) who had been followed at National Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan. We assessed the status of BP control and the presence of comorbidity including obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia, CKD and hyperuricemia. RESULTS Average BP level and the number of antihypertensive drugs were 133 +/- 11/74 +/- 10 mmHg and 2.0 +/- 1.1, respectively and the average number of cardiovascular risk factors was 1.5 +/- 1.1. No comorbid risk factors were found in 18.7% of the patients. On the other hand, 34.2%, 28.9% and 18.2% of the patients had one, two or more than three risk factors, respectively. There were no significant differences in BP among these groups, while patients with three or more risk factors needed a greater number of antihypertensive drugs than those with other groups. Patients with three or more risk factors group showed significantly higher body mass index, serum LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, plasma glucose and serum uric acid levels compared to those with other groups (p<0.05, respectively). They also showed significantly lower serum HDL cholesterol and estimated GFR levels compared to those in other groups (p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION These results suggest that the majority of the treated hypertensive patients are complicated with additional cardiovascular risk factors and the patients with clustering risk factors required a greater number of antihypertensive drugs. Integrative management of BP as well as comorbid risk factors should be encouraged.
How asymmetrical task dependence and task interdependence interact: an individual level study into the effects on affective reactions

Purpose – This study investigates whether research and practice on task design and work teams could benefit from a more nuanced perspective on task (inter)dependencies among team members. Prior research often overlooked that task interdependence captures the average exchange of resources, while asymmetrical task dependence captures the inequalities within an individual's work relationships. To date, no study on work teams has combined the two aspects. Design/methodology/approach – Data was obtained from 262 individuals working in 67 work teams. Multilevel and bootstrapping analyses were used. Findings – Drawing from interdependence theory and power-dependence theory it was argued, and subsequently found, that asymmetrical task dependence interacts with task interdependence, and affects the job satisfaction of individuals and their affective commitment to their team. Implications – A key practical implication is that both asymmetrical task dependence and task interdependence should be taken into account when optimizing intra-team task dependencies, for instance when (re-)designing jobs or teams. Originality/value – This study contributes to research on asymmetrical task dependence within work teams, by investigating a) its interaction with task interdependence, b) its effects on the affective reactions of workers, and c) its effects on the individual level of analysis.
NMR metabolic profile of human follicular fluid

The environment of the oocyte during its in vivo maturation consists of follicular fluid (FF) and is surrounded by granulosa cells. The FF is derived from the sanguineous plasma and secretions, synthesised in the follicle wall, that contain a large variety of growth factors, cytokines, amino acids, and other metabolites. These metabolites are presumably involved in the physiology of the oocyte. The identification, quantification and study of FF metabolites can provide additional information about the oocyte state which can be helpful in distinguishing those oocytes that have a greater capacity to be fertilised and to develop properly. The aim of this work is to identify the metabolic profile of FF samples exhaustively using High Resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). A total of 30 FF samples from oocyte donors (<35 years) were analysed. Different monodimensional (1D) and bidimensional (2D) (homo and heteronuclear) NMR experiments were acquired. A total of 131 chemical shifts were assigned and 42 metabolites, including as example glucose, lactate, acetate, acetoacetate, pyruvate and β‐hydroxybutyrate, were identified. High correlations were found between these important intermediaries of the energetic metabolic pathways of the follicle which can indicate the importance of these pathways in oocyte development. Some of these identified metabolites might be useful as biomarkers of the follicular maturation state, allowing oocytes with a higher fertilisation potential to be selected, thereby increasing pregnancy rates in women following in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.