Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reciprocal Interactions between Tumor-Associated Macrophages and CD44-Positive Cancer Cells via Osteopontin/CD44 Promote Tumorigenicity in Colorectal Cancer

Purpose: CD44 is of functional importance for tumor initiation and progression in colorectal cancer, but how this molecule benefits cancer cells from the tumor microenvironment, especially tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), remains poorly defined. Experimental Design: In vivo tumorigenic assays were conducted to assess the role of murine TAMs in the tumorigenesis of human colorectal cancer cells. Both in vitro and in vivo osteopontin (OPN) expression levels in TAMs were examined by immunohistochemistry, quantitative PCR, and Western blotting. Soft agar colony formation assays were used to estimate the clonogenicity of colorectal cancer cells that had received different treatments. The relationships between the expression levels of OPN, CD44v6, and CD68 and clinical prognosis were evaluated by tissue microarray analysis. Results: We found that macrophages, when coinjected or cocultured with CD44-positive colorectal cancer cells, were able to produce higher levels of OPN, which in turn facilitated the tumorigenicity and clonogenicity of the colorectal cancer cells. The knockdown of CD44 or treatment with blocking antibodies to CD44 attenuated OPN secretion. OPN, through binding to its receptor CD44, activated c-jun-NH2-kinase signaling and promoted the clonogenicity of colorectal cancer cells. Moreover, tissue microarray data have shown that OPN expression, in combination with CD44v6, has a negative correlation with colorectal cancer patient survival. Conclusions: These results suggest that the OPN–CD44 interaction is important for colorectal cancer progression and could serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 19(4); 785–97. ©2012 AACR.
A brief review of pharmacotherapeutic treatment options in smoking cessation: bupropion versus varenicline

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to compare the efficacy of two prominent medications utilized in smoking cessation: bupropion and varenicline. Data sources: Comprehensive review of the literature on bupropion and varenicline including randomized control trials, government reports, journal reviews, and pharmaceutical inserts. Conclusions: In all studies comparing varenicline to bupropion and/or placebo, varenicline yielded a greater cessation rate at both 3 and 12 months. Additionally, varenicline 1 mg indicated an increased potential for long‐term cessation success when compared with varenicline 0.5 mg. When compared with only placebo, bupropion demonstrated a higher efficacy for cessation both at 3 and 12 months. Implications for practice: Only 6% of the 20 million smokers who attempt to quit will succeed in long term. Clinicians must assess their patient's willingness to quit and educate them about cessation options. Knowing the efficacy of various treatment options for patients will potentially increase their success at quitting smoking. Understanding the treatment options available, allows for clinicians to provide the best possible method for smoking cessation for their patient population.
Gender roles and school subjects in adolescent girls

Summary A sample of 43 girls aged 10‐15 years were interviewed about their own and other girls’ school subject choices, likes and dislikes, and which subjects girls were viewed as supposed, or not supposed, to do. The reasons for their answers were also explored. The interview material was analysed in relation to the following issues. First, whether they fitted previous accounts of the gender stereotyping of specific school subjects. Secondly, the gender‐intensification hypothesis, which predicts that masculine activities will decrease in early adolescence. Thirdly, Lillian's (1976) hypothesis of more flexible explanation for gender roles at older ages. The results showed a lack of stereotyping in girls’ own preferences, a moderate level in other girls’ likes and dislikes, and much more in what girls were supposed to do, or not supposed to do. There was no evidence that girls cease to like masculine subjects at menarche, but a decrease was indicated in 14‐15 year‐olds. Lillian's hypothesis that younger ag.
A Geographical Information System for a GPS Based Personal Guidance System

This paper describes the process of building a GIS for use in real time by blind travellers. Initially the components of a Personal Guidance System (PGS) for blind pedestrians are outlined. The location finding and database components of the system are then elaborated. Next follows a discussion of the environmental features likely to be used by blind travellers, and a discussion of the different path following and environmental learning modes that can be activated in the system. Developments such as personalizing the system and accounting for veering are also presented. Finally, possible competing schemes and problems related to the GIS component are examined.
Ireland, the Same-Sex Partnership Debate, and the Normal Sexual Citizen

This article discusses the recent attempts to liberalize Ireland's partnership law to accommodate same-sex couples. The Government's Civil Partnership Bill (2008) is discussed along with the history of the Irish sexual citizen and the perpetual and unattainable quest to be “normal,” which hinders the Irish queer community's campaign for true equality.
Transcriptional Analysis Reveals Gender-Specific Changes in the Aging of the Human Immune System

Aging and gender have a strong influence on the functional capacity of the immune system. In general, the immune response in females is stronger than that in males, but there is scant information about the effect of aging on the gender difference in the immune response. To address this question, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from elderly individuals (nonagenarians, n = 146) and young controls (aged 19–30 years, n = 30). When compared to young controls, we found 339 and 248 genes that were differentially expressed (p<0.05, fold change >1.5 or <−1.5) in nonagenarian females and males, respectively, 180 of these genes were changed in both genders. An analysis of the affected signaling pathways revealed a clear gender bias: there were 48 pathways that were significantly changed in females, while only 29 were changed in males. There were 24 pathways that were shared between both genders. Our results indicate that female nonagenarians have weaker T cell defenses and a more prominent pro-inflammatory response as compared to males. In males significantly fewer pathways were affected, two of which are known to be regulated by estrogen. These data show that the effects of aging on the human immune system are significantly different in males and females.
Rapists, Incest Offenders, and Child Molesters in Treatment: Cognitive and Social Skills Training

Cognitive-behavioural therapy and social skills training was provided to sex offenders incarcerated at a maximum security jail. Weekly two-hour sessions occurred over a five-week program. The sessions were educational in nature and designed to teach inmates methods of restructuring faulty thinking and improving social skills. The total population included inmates charged for sexual offenses and a control population for other assault-related offenses. Of the sex offenders, rapists showed an increase in self-esteem over the duration of the program. Anxiety levels of rapists and molesters significantly decreased over the five-week program. MMPI code profiles emerged indicating a difference between the sex offenders; however, these were not significant.
The `Fair Deal'? Unpacking Accounts of Reciprocity in Heterosex

Reciprocity is a basic premise of egalitarian relationships, and is typically depicted as a `good thing' within heterosexual sex and relationships. Here we examine a discourse of reciprocity - articulated as orgasm for both partners - evident in accounts of heterosex collected from 15 heterosexual women and 15 men. We argue that notions of reciprocity are not necessarily as liberatory as they might seem, as they do not occur in a social or sexual vacuum. In conjunction with other dominant sexual meanings, a discourse of reciprocity produces entitlements and obligations that can render `choice' in heterosex problematic, particularly for women.
Sentiment Visualization on Tweet Stream

Sentiment visualization on tweet topics has re- cently gained attentions due to its ability to efficiently ana- lyze and understand the people's feelings for individuals and companies. In this paper, we propose a chart, Sentimen- tRiver, which effectively demonstrates the dynamics of sen- timent evolvement on a topic of tweets. The gradient colors of the river flow indicate the variation of topical sentiments, via introducing the membership weight to a sentiment class in a fuzzy mathematical view. Besides, with the value of the point-wise mutual information and information retrieval (PMI-IR), representative sentiment words are extracted and labeled in each time slot of the river flow. In the experiments, we compare SentimentRiver on the topic of Obama election, with other statistic charts, which demonstrates its effective- ness for visualizing and analyzing the topical sentiments on tweet stream. Index Terms—Sentiment visualization, PMI-IR, WEKA, SentimentRiver
Incidence of sports injuries in elite competitive and recreational windsurfers

Objective: To investigate the incidence of injury in windsurfing and to consider methods of prevention. Methods: A total of 107 raceboard (RB) and wave/slalom (WS) national/international competitors and recreational (REC) windsurfers completed a questionnaire on injury incidence over two years. Recurrent injury, ability level, and any preventive measures taken were noted. Results: Overall the injury incidence was 1.5/person/year. The WS group suffered more injuries (2.0/person/year) than the RB (1.0) or REC (1.2) group. The most common injury was muscle strain at 35% of new injuries, much higher than in earlier studies. Overall 45% of new injuries were muscle/tendon strains (RB 55%, WS 42%, and REC 43%) and 8% were ligament sprains. In the WS group cuts and abrasions were common. The WS and REC groups reported five and one case of concussion respectively. Nearly a quarter (22%) of new lower body injuries were lower back muscular strain, with 34% of recurrent injuries. Approximately 60% of the remaining lower body soft tissue injuries involved the knee or lower leg, with the ankle/foot most often involved. The shoulder, upper arm, and elbow were the sites of 41% of new upper body soft tissue injuries. The WS group reported 250% more recurrent muscular strains than the RB group. Recurrent ligament injuries (particularly knee) were most common in the WS group. The RB group reported recurrent serious bruising to the lower leg. Conclusion: The injury incidence was 1.5/person/year with a high incidence of new and recurrent muscular strain. Lower back muscular strain was prevalent, indicating the need for preventive measures. Wave/slalom was associated with more new and recurrent injuries and the need for head protection.
Effect of brief imagery interventions on craving in college student smokers

This study examined the comparative impact of three types of imagery interventions (olfactory, visual, and olfactory-plus-visual imagery) and a distracting cognitive task (serial sevens) on self-reported craving for cigarettes by 54 university students who had been smoking at least a pack of cigarettes per day for the past 3 to 6 months. Using the 10-item, self-report questionnaire of smoking urges, we assessed participants’ experience of craving prior to cue exposure, following 2 min of lab-based cue-exposure, during a 2 min imagery or distraction intervention, and immediately following the intervention. Reported craving during intervention was significantly lower in all three imagery conditions compared to the distracting cognitive task condition, but there was not a significant difference in craving among the imagery conditions. Despite explicit instructions to focus on the designated form(s) of imagery, a majority of participants in each of the imagery conditions also reported experiencing other forms of sensory imagery. Brief imagery interventions hold promise to interrupt, at least temporarily, cue-induced craving in daily smokers.
Performance Evaluation of a Cluster-Based Service Discovery Protocol for Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract—This paper evaluates the performance in terms of resource consumption of a service discovery protocol proposed for heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). The protocol is based on a clustering structure, which facilitates the construction of a distributed directory. Nodes with higher capabilities are chosen to be clusterheads. We measure the energy and memory costs depending on the capabilities and the roles of the nodes in the clustering structure, both during the maintenance of the structure and discovery of services. We show that the service discovery protocol succeeds in alleviating the resource-lean sensor nodes of heavy tasks, while delegating more consuming duties to the more powerful nodes.
Glacial cycles and Palaeolithic adaptive variability on China's Western Loess Plateau

Intensive research on China's Western Loess Plateau has located 63 Palaeolithic deposits, which together allow the authors to present a general model of hominin occupation from 80 000 to 18 000 years ago. Tools, subsistence and settlement correlate nicely with the climate: the warm wet MIS3 seeing expansion and more organised acquisition of quartz, and the Late Glacial Maximum that followed, a reduction in human presence but possibly an increase in ingenuity.
The relationship between ethnic diversity and classroom disruption in the context of migration policies

This paper studies the relationship between ethnic school composition and classroom disruption in secondary education in the context of migration policies. We measured classroom disruption using students’ reports from 3533 schools in 20 countries provided by cross-national PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) 2009 data. We employ the migrant share and the ethnic diversity net of the native share as indicators of the ethnic composition of a school. The MIPEX (Immigrant Integration Policy indEX) is used as an indicator of migration policies. Our results show a positive association between ethnic school diversity net of the migrant share and classroom disruption. Furthermore, we show a negative interaction term of the migration policy and ethnic diversity. Consequently, our results indicate that students in countries with a more inclusive migration policy are at least less harmed by influence of ethnic school diversity regarding classroom disruption. Findings partly support the “contact hypothesis” and reject the “threat hypothesis” in an educational context.
The adult learner : a neglected species

This edition reflects the latest work and advances in adult learning theory. Readers learn to develop meaningful programmes and use new techniques for effectively teaching adults. After examining the various theories of learning, the book presents the reasons why teaching adults is so different than teaching children. The book contains 13 appendices (100 pages) which give an overview of brain dominance technology and whole-brain thinking. There is also a self-diagnostic tool (photocopiable) for determining the competency of trainers, guidelines for learning contracts and ideas on how to switch from being a teacher to being a "facilitator of learning".
The binding of divalent cations to Escherichia coli alpha-haemolysin.

alpha-haemolysin, an extracellular protein toxin of Escherichia coli, is known to disrupt eukaryotic cell membranes. In spite of genetic evidence of Ca(2+)-binding motifs in its sequence, conflicting results are found in the literature on the requirement of divalent cations for the membranolytic activity of the toxin. Moreover, Ca(2+)-binding sites have not been characterized to date in the native protein. The results in this paper show that when Ca2+ levels are kept sufficiently low during bacterial growth and toxin purification, membrane lysis does not occur in the absence of added divalent cations. Ca2+ and, at higher concentrations, Sr2+ and Ba2+, support the lytic activity, but Mg2+, Mn2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ appear to be inactive in this respect. Binding of metal ions can be followed by changes in the intrinsic fluorescence of alpha-haemolysin; ions supporting lytic activity produce changes in the intrinsic fluorescence that are not caused by the inactive ones. Scatchard analysis of 45Ca2+ binding reveals three equivalent, independent sites, with Kd approximately 0.11 mM. No 45Ca2+ binding is observed when the protein is incubated with Zn2+; conversely, incubation with Ca2+ prevents subsequent binding of 65Zn2+. In the light of three-dimensional data available for a structurally related protein, alkaline protease of Pseudomonas aeruginosa [Baumann, U. , Wu, S. , Flaherty, K. M. & McKay, D. B. (1993) EMBO J. 12, 3357-3364] it is suggested that alpha-haemolysin may bind a larger number of Ca2+ than the three that are more easily exchangeable and are thus detected in the 45Ca(2+)-binding experiments. In addition, structural similarities and conservation of ion-binding motifs support the hypothesis that His 859 is involved in the mutually exclusive binding of Zn2+ and Ca2+.
Effect of gamma radiation on retroviral recombination

To elucidate the mechanism(s) of retroviral recombination, we exposed virions to gamma radiation prior to infecting target cells. By using previously described spleen necrosis virus-based vectors containing multiple markers, recombinant proviruses were studied after a single round of retrovirus replication. The current models of retroviral recombination predict that breaking virion RNA should promote minus-strand recombination (forced copy-choice model), decrease or not affect plus-strand recombination (strand displacement/assimilation model), and shift plus-strand recombination towards the 3' end of the genome. However, we found that while gamma irradiation of virions reduced the amount of recoverable viral RNA, it did not primarily cause breaks. Thus, the frequency of selected recombinants was not significantly altered with greater doses of radiation. In spite of this, the irradiation did decrease the number of recombinants with only one internal template switch. As a result, the average number of additional internal template switches in the recombinant proviruses increased from 0.7 to 1.4 as infectivity decreased to 6%. The unselected internal template switches tended to be 5' of the selected crossover even in the recombinants from irradiated viruses, inconsistent with a plus-strand recombination mechanism.
A policy-capturing approach to comparing the reward allocation decisions of Taiwanese and U.S. managers

In this study the effects of three key factors (affect, loyalty, and contribution) of the manager subordinate exchange relationship on two types of reward decision (monetary rewards and nonmonetary incentives) were examined. A policy-capturing approach of 2 × 2 × 2 within-subjects of scenario experiment design was used to examine the effects of the exchange relationship factors on the corporate manager’s reward decision in terms of a Taiwan-US comparison. Total valid samples were received from 204 Taiwanese and 172 U.S. managers. The results showed that Taiwanese managers allocate more rewards to subordinates with a closer affective relationship than do U.S. managers. Conversely, U.S. managers allocate more rewards to higher contributing subordinates than do Taiwanese managers. The limitations of the research are discussed and suggestions for further research are proposed.
Can Antisocial Personality Disorder Be Treated? A Meta-Analysis Examining the Effectiveness of Treatment in Reducing Recidivism for Individuals Diagnosed with ASPD

The effectiveness of treatment for individuals diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) has been questioned and debated for years. As individuals with ASPD are considerably overrepresented in the criminal justice system, the ability of treatment to reduce recidivism is a prominent concern. The present meta-analysis identified six unique controlled and uncontrolled treatment outcome studies investigating the effectiveness of treatment in reducing general/any recidivism for individuals with ASPD. Results from the controlled studies indicated no significant differences in recidivism rates between individuals with ASPD in treatment and those in treatment as usual; however, the direction of the odds ratios suggested lower recidivism for the treatment groups. Results from the uncontrolled studies suggested equal effectiveness of treatment when comparing individuals with and without ASPD; however, these effects may not be attributable to the treatment in question. Interpretation of these findings and the generalizability of the general offender treatment literature to individuals with ASPD is discussed.
Association of socioeconomic status with outcomes in older adult community-dwelling patients after visiting the emergency department: a retrospective cohort study

Objectives Older adults frequently visit the emergency department (ED). Socioeconomic status (SES) has an important impact on health and ED utilisation; however, the association between SES and ED utilisation in elderly remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between SES in older adult patients visiting the ED on outcomes. Design A retrospective study. Participants Older adults (≥65 years) visiting the ED, in the Netherlands. SES was stratified into tertiles based on average household income at zip code level: low (<€1800/month), intermediate (€1800–€2300/month) and high (>€2300/month). Primary outcomes Hospitalisation, inhospital mortality and 30-day ED return visits. Effect of SES on outcomes for all groups were assessed by logistic regression and adjusted for confounders. Results In total, 4828 older adults visited the ED during the study period. Low SES was associated with a higher risk of hospitalisation among community-dwelling patients compared with high SES (adjusted OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.7). This association was not present for intermediate SES (adjusted OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.4). Inhospital mortality was comparable between the low and high SES group, even after adjustment for age, comorbidity and triage level (low OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.6, intermediate OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.2). Thirty-day ED revisits among community-dwelling patients were also equal between the SES groups (low: adjusted OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.4, and intermediate: adjusted OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.1). Conclusion In older adult ED patients, low SES was associated with a higher risk of hospitalisation than high SES. However, SES had no impact on inhospital mortality and 30-day ED revisits after adjustment for confounders.