Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytochrome P450, the arachidonic acid cascade, and hypertension: new vistas for an old enzyme system

As a participant of the endogenous arachidonic acid metabolic cascade, microsomal cy‐tochrome P450 metabolizes the fatty acid to biologi‐cally active hydroxyeicoeatetraenoic and epoxy‐ eicosatrienoic acids. Studies from several laborato‐ries have documented the powerful vasoactive prop‐erties of these P450‐derived eicosanoids. Associated changes in cell membrane ion permeability and fluxes may provide the molecular basis underlining their vasoactivity. Furthermore, a role for the P450 arachidonic acid monooxygenase in renal physiology and pathophysiology has been suggested by: 1) an association between the activities of the arachidonic acid ϕ/ϕ‐1 oxygenase and the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and 2) a relationship between acquired or inherited abnormalities in the renal epoxygenase activities and/or regulation and salt‐sensitive hypertension in Dahl rats. These studies provide significant evidence to indicate that microsomal P450, in addition to its recognized traditional toxicological and pharmacological roles, may also play an important physiological role in the control of tissue and body homeostasis. —Makita, K. , Falck, J. R. , Capdevila, J. H. Cytochrome P4S0, the arachidonic acid cascade, and hypertension: new vistas for an old enzyme system. FASEB J. 10, 1456‐1463 (1996)
Intermediate or chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis: leukocyte immunophenotypes and cytokine characterisation of the lesion

Abstract: The American cutaneous forms of leishmaniasis include immune‐responder individuals with localised cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) and non‐responder individuals with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL). Patients with intermediate or chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ICL) have increased morbidity due to the length of their illness, atypical forms and areas of compromise. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of the leukocyte antigens (CD4, CD8, CLA: cutaneous lymphocyte antigen, CD69, CD83 and CD1a) and cytokines (IFN‐γ, IL‐4, IL‐10 and TGF‐β1) in the lesions of patients with ICL (n = 18) using an immunocytochemical procedure. ICL results were compared with the information for LCL (n = 19) and DCL (n = 4). The numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in ICL were similar to those of LCL lesions, but significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) from DCL lesions. LCL lesions have about half the numbers of early activated CD69+ cells as ICL, but most are CLA+ skin homing memory T cells, whereas ICL lesions have the highest number of CD69+ T cells, but about one‐third of these cells expressed CLA. This suggests that the granuloma of ICL patients contains many activated T cells that are unprimed to cutaneous‐launched antigens, thus contributing to an aberrant immune response. In contrast, DCL granulomas presented the lowest numbers of activated CD69+ and CLA+ cells, associated with the characteristic tolerogenic state of these patients. The immunolocalisation of cytokines showed a mixed cytokine pattern in ICL lesions with many positive cells for IL‐10, TGF‐β1, IL‐4 and IFN‐γ, with a preponderance of the first two, and different from the prevalent Th1 and Th2 responses associated with LCL and DCL lesions, respectively. CD1a+ Langerhans cells were decreased (P ≤ 0.05) in both ICL (271 ± 15 cells/mm2) and DCL (245 ± 19 cells/mm2) as compared to LCL (527 ± 54 cells/mm2) epidermis. The percentage of IL‐10+ epidermal Langerhans cells in ICL (33.69), from the total CD1a+ population, was higher than in LCL (17.45). In addition, fewer CD83+ primed Langerhans cells were present in ICL epidermis. The diminished participation of epidermal Langerhans cells, causing a defective signalling by the epidermis, in ICL lesions may account for the tissue‐damaging state observed in these patients.
The use of discretionary loan loss provisions by Islamic banks and conventional banks in the Middle East region: A comparative study

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to study earnings management practices of Islamic banks and conventional banks in the Middle East region. First, the authors examine factors that may influence Islamic banks managers' use of discretion in reporting loan loss provisions (LLP). Second, the authors investigate differences that may exist between Islamic banks and non-Islamic banks in terms of discretionary loan loss provisions (DLLP) used to manipulate accounting earnings. Design/methodology/approach - – This empirical study uses an unbalanced panel data of 21 Islamic banks, 18 conventional banks with Islamic windows and 33 conventional banks, from seven Middle East countries during a period that ranges from 2000 to 2008. The authors use a two-stage approach in order to examine factors that may influence the use of discretion by Islamic banks' managers. Findings - – The empirical results reveal that Islamic banks use DLLP for both earnings and capital management. External financing is also found to be a determinant of DLLP. Additional findings show no significant differences among Islamic banks, conventional banks with Islamic windows and conventional banks in using DLLP. These three groups of banks behave similarly in terms of discretion based on DLLP. Practical implications - – The findings are potentially useful for regulators, auditors and investors. This study provides regulators with insights to strengthen their financial regulations in order to improve accounting quality. In addition, it helps auditors when considering the provisioning policies adopted by banks in order to detect specific manipulations of accounting earnings. The results may also help investors to focus on the impact of managerial discretion on accounting earnings for evaluation purposes. Originality/value - – This study contributes to the literature on Islamic banking. On the one hand, it extends prior research by examining the discretionary component of LLP, instead of being restricted to total LLP. On the other hand, it compares the use of discretion among three groups of banks: full Islamic banks, conventional banks with Islamic windows and full conventional banks.
Synthesis, Crystal Study, and Anti-Proliferative Activity of Some 2-Benzimidazolylthioacetophenones towards Triple-Negative Breast Cancer MDA-MB-468 Cells as Apoptosis-Inducing Agents

On account of its poor prognosis and deficiency of therapeutic stratifications, triple negative breast cancer continues to form the causative platform of an incommensurate number of breast cancer deaths. Aiming at the development of potent anticancer agents as a continuum of our previous efforts, a novel series of 2-((benzimidazol-2-yl)thio)-1-arylethan-1-ones 5a–w was synthesized and evaluated for its anti-proliferative activity towards triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-468 cells. Compound 5k was the most active analog against MDA-MB-468 (IC50 = 19.90 ± 1.37 µM), with 2.1-fold increased activity compared to 5-fluorouracil (IC50 = 41.26 ± 3.77 µM). Compound 5k was able to induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-468, as evidenced by the marked boosting in the percentage of florecsein isothiocyanate annexin V (Annexin V–FITC)-positive apoptotic cells (upper right (UR) + lower right (LR)) by 2.8-fold in comparison to control accompanied by significant increase in the proportion of cells at pre-G1 (the first gap phase) by 8.13-fold in the cell-cycle analysis. Moreover, a quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) model was established to investigate the structural requirements orchestrating the anti-proliferative activity. Finally, we established a theoretical kinetic study.
Fiscal policy and asset purchases in a liquidity constrained economy

This thesis modifies the basic neoclassical DSGE model of Kiyotaki and Moore (2012) by introducing a government which levies distortionary taxes on wages and dividends, consumes general output, issues money, and holds privately-issued equity. The thesis answers two questions - Can discretionary policy relieve the effects of liquidity constraints that limit investment, and thereby stimulate economic activity in normal times? Can discretionary policy ameliorate the effects of an exogenous liquidity shock? Including distortionary taxes is a unique modification within a branch of literature that extends the work of KM and studies liquidity shocks. The thesis belongs to a branch of this literature which modifies KM's basic model, but none of these papers have distortionary taxes and none examine fiscal policy. The thesis extends the literature with a novel variant of the basic KM model and with a novel set of policies against a liquidity shock. The results are as follows. Firstly, if money supply is constant and government spending varies to always balance the fiscal budget, then across-the-board tax cuts persistently stimulate the economy and a cut in the rate of tax on dividends ameliorates a liquidity shock without additional distortions. These responses are robust to the model's calibration. Secondly, an increase in government spending, financed by more taxes or selling equity holdings, persistently worsens economic activity and exacerbates a liquidity shock; financing the policies is what brings adverse results. Thirdly, the direct effects of a government equity purchase programme are short-lived - investment rises and new equity is added to the market which partially offsets the government's purchase. Financing the programme with spending cuts do less harm than raising taxes. Adding monetary expansion to the policy mix improves aggregate supply but reduces aggregate demand. When used against a liquidity shock, the programme makes a positive but short-lived difference.
Market-Based Repoliticization and Democracy in Latin America

Recent research has found that economic liberalization undermines democracy in the short-term, while reinforcing it over the long run, producing a J-curve relationship between economic liberalization and democracy. The widespread belief that economic liberalization demobilizes societal actors is seen as a key intermediate variable contributing to the positive, long-term effect of economic liberalization on democracy. However, numerous studies have challenged the demobilization perspective, forcing us to revisit the relationship between mobilization and democracy. We posit a reciprocal relationship between economic liberalization and mobilization based on the redistributive consequences of market liberalization. We argue that mobilizations can have both positive and negative effects on democracy depending upon the level of economic liberalization. This double-sided effect, in turn, provides an alternative interpretation of Latin America's J-curve, whereby conflicts between elite and mass-based actors help democracy advance once it is established. This perspective is consistent with prior literature on the effect of mobilization during times of transition, and helps explain the endurance of democracy despite the presence of mass civic revolts as a consequence of the mobilizing effects of market reforms. Using cross-national time-series data from 17 Latin American countries between 1970 and 2004, our results show that mobilization is a key intermediate variable that binds economic liberalization with democracy in the market era.
In vitro Determination of Extracellular Proteins from Xylella fastidiosa

The phytopathogen Xylella fastidiosa causes economic losses in important agricultural crops. Xylem vessel occlusion caused by biofilm formation is the major mechanism underlying the pathogenicity of distinct strains of X. fastidiosa. Here, we provide a detailed in vitro characterization of the extracellular proteins of X. fastidiosa. Based on the results, we performed a comparison with a strain J1a12, which cannot induce citrus variegated chlorosis symptoms when inoculated into citrus plants. We then extend this approach to analyze the extracellular proteins of X. fastidiosa in media supplemented with calcium. We verified increases in extracellular proteins concomitant with the days of growth and, consequently, biofilm development (3–30 days). Outer membrane vesicles carrying toxins were identified beginning at 10 days of growth in the 9a5c strain. In addition, a decrease in extracellular proteins in media supplemented with calcium was observed in both strains. Using mass spectrometry, 71 different proteins were identified during 30 days of X. fastidiosa biofilm development, including proteases, quorum-sensing proteins, biofilm formation proteins, hypothetical proteins, phage-related proteins, chaperones, toxins, antitoxins, and extracellular vesicle membrane components.
Cysteine Residues in the Major Capsid Protein, Vp1, of the JC Virus Are Important for Protein Stability and Oligomer Formation

The capsid of the human polyomavirus JC virus (JCV) consists of 72 pentameric capsomeres of a major structural protein, Vp1. The cysteine residues of the related Vp1 of SV40 are known to contribute to Vp1 folding, pentamer formation, pentamer-pentamer contacts, and capsid stabilization. In light of the presence of a slight structural difference between JCV Vp1 and SV40 counterpart, the way the former folds could be either different from or similar to the latter. We found a difference: an important contribution of Vp1 cysteines to the formation of infectious virions, unique in JCV and absent in SV40. Having introduced amino acid substitution at each of six cysteines (C42, C80, C97, C200, C247, and C260) in JCV Vp1, we found that, when expressed in HeLa cells, the Vp1 level was decreased in C80A and C247A mutants, and remained normal in the other mutants. Additionally, the C80A and C247A Vp1-expressing cell extracts did not show the hemagglutination activity characteristic of JCV particles. The C80A and C247A mutant Vp1s were found to be less stable than the wild-type Vp1 in HeLa cells. When produced in a reconstituted in vitro protein translation system, these two mutant proteins were stable, suggesting that some cellular factors were responsible for their degradation. As determined by their sucrose gradient sedimentation profiles, in vitro translated C247A Vp1 formed pentamers, but in vitro translated C80A Vp1 was entirely monomeric. When individually incorporated into the JCV genome, the C80A and C247A mutants, but not the other Vp1 cysteine residues mutants, interfered with JCV infectivity. Furthermore, the C80A, but not the C247A, mutation prevented the nuclear localization of Vp1 in JCV genome transfected cells. These findings suggest that C80 of JCV Vp1 is required for Vp1 stability and pentamer formation, and C247 is involved in capsid assembly in the nucleus.
Public Debt and Economic Growth in Italy

In this paper we investigate the link between government debt-to-GDP ratio and real per capita income growth in Italy over 1861-2009. We model our regression analysis on a standard production function. Our results support the hypotheses of a negative relation between public debt and growth and of a stronger effect of foreign debt compared to domestic debt before World War I. The effect of public debt on growth appears to work mainly through reduced investment. These results help explain the different reaction of per capita GDP growth to the debt-ratio over 1880-1914 (when the negative correlation between the two variables is particularly strong) and 1985-2007 (when the correlation appears to break down when debt starts declining). A descriptive analysis of fiscal policy in these two periods suggests that differences in the timing of fiscal consolidation as well as in the size and composition of the budget are additional explanatory factors.
Non-threshold Deterministic Parwise Key Establishment Scheme for Clustered Distributed Sensor Networks

Random pairwise key pre-distribution schemes have been adopted widely as a favored approach to pairwise key agreement problem in distributed sensor networks (DSNs). However, regardless of the recent security improvement efforts of their variants, they are still susceptible to several types of attacks including large-scale node capture, threshold collusion ones and expose undesirable properties. Exploiting the clustering topology of DSNs, we design a pairwise key establishment scheme to address the aforementioned limitations. Security analysis shows that indeed our scheme completely eliminates the limitations by nature. Furthermore, it is shown that overall, our approach outperforms other outstanding schemes regarding desired security property. In fact, this security robustness is provisioned at no extra cost. Through performance analysis, our scheme is shown to be highly efficient, cost effective, and practical for resource-constrained sensor nodes.
Monetary Policy, Housing Investment, and Heterogeneous Regional Markets

This paper quantifies the importance of heterogeneity in regional housing markets for the conduct of monetary policy using a new model called an aggregation VAR (AVAR). The model integrates a national financial market with regional housing markets, imposing all exact aggregation conditions. Monetary policy is transmitted to the real economy through the mortgage rate. The AVAR model is based on linear VARs, but its aggregate impulse responses exhibit two nonlinearities: (1) time variation stemming from aggregation over heterogeneous regions, and (2) state dependence on initial economic conditions in regions. Thus, the effect of monetary policy on the real economy depends on the extent and nature of regional heterogeneity, which vary over time. Using longitudinal data for detailed U.S. regions, we estimate the effects of time variation and state dependence on the dynamic responses of the AVAR model. These estimates, and aggregation bias, provide plausible and tangible explanations for "long and variable" lags in monetary policy. As an example, we show how the AVAR model can simulate the effects of coastal housing booms on the efficacy of monetary policy.
Packet marking for Web traffic in networks with RIO routers

RIO routers, initially proposed in the context of differentiated services networks, distinguish between two classes or packets - in-profile and out-profile - based on a one-bit marking in packet headers. Traditionally, packet-marking is performed by ingress routers according to a user-profile specified in terms of bandwidth. We consider an alternative strategy in which packets are marked based on the state of individual TCP flows. This marking scheme can be implemented either at the end systems or ingress routers (thus avoiding changes at end systems). In addition, we present a variant of our scheme that integrates the Diffserv style packet-marking based on the user-profile. By extensive simulations, we demonstrate that the proposed scheme can significantly reduce the completion time of TCP flows. In particular, the completion time of short TCP flows is halved. These results are consistent over different TCP variants and in the presence of ECN.
Interrater Agreement Between Visual Analysts of Single-Case Data

Visual analysis is the most widely applied method of data interpretation for single-case research as it encompasses multifaceted considerations relevant to evaluating behavior change. However, a previous research synthesis found low levels of interrater agreement between visually analyzed ratings of graphed data across all variables under analysis. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the peer-reviewed literature to date for potential moderators affecting the proportion of interrater agreement between visual analysts. Nineteen articles with 32 effects were assembled. Potential moderators evaluated included (a) design families, (b) rater expertise, (c) the provision of contextual information for graphs, (d) the use of visual aids, (e) the provision of an operational definition of the construct being rated, and (f) rating scale ranges. Results yielded an overall weighted interrater agreement proportion of . 76. Moderator variables identified produced low to adequate levels of interrater agreement. Practical recommendations for future research are discussed.
Oil Prices, Inflation and Interest Rates in a Structural Cointegrated VAR Model for the G-7 Countries

Sharp increases in the price of oil are generally seen as a major contributor to business cycle asymmetries. Moreover, the very recent highs registered in the world oil market are causing concern about possible slowdowns in the economic performance of the most developed countries. In this paper a structural cointegrated VAR model has been considered for the G-7 countries in order to study the direct effects of oil price shocks on output and prices, and the reaction of monetary variables to external shocks. Our results can be summarized as follows: i) a stationary money demand, as suggested by the classic theory of money, can be identified for most countries; ii) according to the estimated coefficients of the structural part of the model, for all countries except Japan and U.K. the null hypothesis of an influence of oil prices on the inflation rate cannot be rejected. Inflation rate shocks are transmitted to the real economy by increasing interest rates; iii) impulse response analysis suggests, for most countries, the existence of an instantaneous, temporary effect of oil price innovations on prices; iv) impulse response functions indicate different monetary policy reactions to inflationary and growth shocks; v) the simulation exercises directed to estimate the total impact of the 1990 oil price shock indicate that for some countries (U.S.) a significant part of the effects of the oil price shock is due to the monetary policy reaction function. For other countries (Canada, France and Italy), however, the total impact is offset, at least in part, by an easing of monetary conditions.
Constraint Detection in Natural Language Problem Descriptions

Modeling in constraint programming is a hard task that requires considerable expertise. Automated model reformulation aims at assisting a naive user in modeling constraint problems. In this context, formal specification languages have been devised to express constraint problems in a manner similar to natural yet rigorous specifications that use a mixture of natural language and discrete mathematics. Yet, a gap remains between such languages and the natural language in which humans informally describe problems. This work aims to alleviate this issue by proposing a method for detecting constraints in natural language problem descriptions using a structured-output classifier. To evaluate the method, we develop an original annotated corpus which gathers 110 problem descriptions from several resources. Our results show significant accuracy with respect to metrics used in cognate tasks.
C O ] 1 1 Se p 20 07 Lattice and Schröder paths with periodic boundaries

We consider paths in the plane with (1, 0), (0, 1), and (a, b)-steps that start at the origin, end at height n, and stay to the left of a given non-decreasing right boundary. The fourth author was supported in part by NSF grant #DMS-0245526.
Applying Semantic Analysis to Training, Education, and Immersive Learning

The last decade has seen major advances in the areas of natural language processing and semantic analysis. Theoretical advances and increased computational power have resulted in applications that detect topics and sentiments in communications, automatically classify unstructured data in enterprise settings, and win Jeopardy contests. This paper surveys how these same methods apply to a variety of problems in education and training. Applications include automatic grading and question generation, guiding the behavior of intelligent tutoring systems, aligning content to competencies and educational standards, and improving search in digital repositories. This paper describes the methods, explains how they are applied and evaluated, and discusses their potential for use virtual worlds and immersive learning environments.