Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NEGATIVE REGULATION OF QUINONE REDUCTASE 2 BY RESVERATROL IN CULTURED VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

1 Resveratrol, a polyphenol in red wine, has a cardioprotective effect. Resveratrol‐targeting protein (RTP) has been purified using a resveratrol affinity column (RAC) and has been identified as quinone reductase type 2 (NQO2). We hypothesize that NQO2 is the target protein of resveratrol in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and that resveratrol inhibits proliferation of VSMC through its action on NQO2. In the present study, we investigated the correlation between NQO2 regulation and cell proliferation in VSMC in response to resveratrol treatment. 2 The RTP was purified using RAC and was detected with a NQO2 polyclonal antibody. The VSMC were incubated with resveratrol (1, 10 and 50 µmol/L) for 24, 48 and 72 h. Cell proliferation was detected by cell counting and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay. A lentiviral vector incorporating NQO2 short interference (si) RNA of short hairpin design was constructed and transduced into VSMC. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reactionwas used to measure NQO2 mRNA levels; NQO2 expression was determined by western blot analysis. 3 Using RAC, we extracted a 26 kDa protein from aortic smooth muscle, which was referred to as RTP‐26. Proliferation of VSMC was inhibited by resveratrol in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner. The mRNA and protein expression of NQO2 was also repressed by resveratrol in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner. A similar pattern of inhibition was observed for cells treated with resveratrol (25 µmol/L) as for cells transduced with a lentiviral vector containing siRNA sequences against NQO2. 4 Collectively, these data indicate that the suppression of VSMC proliferation mediated by resveratrol correlates with NQO2 downregulation.
Taxes, Capital Structure Choices, and Equity Value

We identify a multitude of reforms across 29 OECD countries from 1981 through 2009 that affected statutory corporate or personal tax rates. We use those tax reforms as natural experiments to estimate the market value of the tax benefits of debt financing. We report time-series evidence that tax reforms are followed by large changes in firm value. However, the impact of tax reforms on value is greatly mitigated by the presence of leverage. Consistent with a tax story, the value of debt tax savings is greater among top tax payers, highly profitable firms, and in countries where tax laws are more strongly enforced. The results are robust to a battery of endogeneity tests.
Interest Rate Corridor, Liquidity Management, and the Overnight Spread

Recently, massive global liquidity has compelled many emerging market economies to change their monetary policy frameworks in order to address the financial stability challenges posed by volatile capital flows. In this respect, as of the second half of 2010, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) has developed additional policy instruments to support the adoption of financial stability as a complementary objective to price stability. Liquidity management has actively been used in conjunction with a wide interest rate corridor to smooth excessive volatility in shortterm capital inflows. As a result, the spread between the Borsa Istanbul overnight repo interest rate and the CBRT average funding rate (overnight spread) has become wider and more volatile. We analyze the determinants of the overnight spread using data from both the traditional and the new monetary policy episodes and empirically document that this spread has recently been influenced by various factors which are directly or closely related to the liquidity policy of the CBRT.
Risk‐taking and the evolution of mechanisms for rapid escape from predators

Flight initiation distance (FID) is the distance at which an individual animal takes flight when approached by a human. This behavioural measure of risk‐taking reflects the risk of being captured by real predators, and it correlates with a range of life history traits, as expected if flight distance optimizes risk of predation. Given that FID provides information on risk of predation, we should expect that physiological and morphological mechanisms that facilitate flight and escape predict interspecific variation in flight distance. Haematocrit is a measure of packed red blood cell volume and as such indicates the oxygen transport ability and hence the flight muscle contracting reaction of an individual. Therefore, we predicted that species with short flight distances, that allow close proximity between a potential prey individual and a predator, would have high haematocrit. Furthermore, we predicted that species with large wing areas and hence relatively low costs of flight and species with large aspect ratios and hence high manoeuvrability would have evolved long flight speed. Consistent with these predictions, we found in a sample of 63 species of birds that species with long flight distances for their body size had low levels of haematocrit and large wing areas and aspect ratios. These findings provide evidence consistent with the evolution of risk‐taking behaviour being underpinned by physiological and morphological mechanisms that facilitate escape from predators and add to our understanding of predator–prey coevolution.
Adoption of sensor based communication for mobile marketing in India

Purpose – This paper aims to explain the applications of sensor-based communication in mobile marketing and how understanding its fast growth is important for marketers. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws from various examples used by companies in India and abroad to explain the phenomenon of sensor-based communication in mobile marketing. Findings – Marketers should be aware of the different ways in which sensor-based communication can be used to build and sustain customer engagement. Practical implications – The different typologies of applications of sensor-based communication, along with examples, will help the marketers to develop similar initiatives for their brands/products. Originality/value – This is the first paper to illustrate, explain and exhort the usage of sensor-based communication in the Indian context.
Validation of Sea Surface Wind From Sentinel-1A/B SAR Data in the Coastal Regions of the Korean Peninsula

In this study, using in situ measurements at 17 buoy stations off the Korean Peninsula, C-band model (CMOD) functions for Sentinel-1A/B IW mode synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data were validated. In total, 395 Sentinel-1A/B IW mode dual-vertical polarized images were used for collocation with in situ measurements from May 1, 2015, to September 30, 2017, and 807 matchup points were obtained. Prior to the validation, preprocessing such as speckle noise reduction and ship and land masking was completed. The in situ wind speeds were converted to a 10-m neutral wind considering atmospheric stability. High-resolution wind speeds were estimated by using the CMOD functions such as CMOD4, CMOD_IFR2, CMOD5, CMOD5.N, and CMOD5.Na. The root-mean-square errors of each model were less than approximately 1.8 m·s–1 (1.83, 1.82, 1.69, 1.68, and 1.65 m·s–1, respectively). The biases of all models were higher in the western coastal region than those in the eastern coastal region. The results showed the advantages and disadvantages of each model in the estimation of wind speeds in the coastal region around the Korean Peninsula as proposed in a concept of combined errors. The wind speeds derived from the SAR data also presented a tendency for water depth to be overestimated over shallow bathymetry and to be underestimated at high wind speeds. In addition, this study assessed potential sources of wind speed errors such as the effects originating from wind direction input, different platforms of Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B and their calibration, and from radar interference or regional oceanic characteristic environments.
Dealing with Feelings: The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Group Treatment for Women in Secure Settings

Background: Women in secure psychiatric settings have gender specific treatment needs. The current study examined the feasibility of a Dealing with Feelings Skills Group training for dual diagnosis women admitted to a medium secure setting. Method: A pre-test – post-test design was used to evaluate a group programme adapted from dialectical behaviour therapy skills training. Results: Most patients had a primary diagnosis of personality disorder. Treatment completers (n = 29) were compared with non-completers (n = 15). Clinically significant changes in treatment completers were apparent on coping response measures of positive reappraisal, problem solving and alternative rewards; on measures of anxiety and suicidality; on self-reported ability to engage in activities to reduce negative mood and to recognize mood changes. Self-harming and aggressive behaviours also reduced in the 3 months following group treatment. Conclusion: An adapted coping skills component of DBT benefit many dual diagnosis patients: issues related to treatment drop-out and failure to benefit are discussed.
PPARalpha and PPARgamma activators direct a distinct tissue‐specific transcriptional response via a PPRE in the lipoprotein lipase gene.

Increased activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) may explain the hypotriglyceridemic effects of fibrates, thiazolidinediones and fatty acids, which are known activators (and/or ligands) of the various peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs). Treatment with compounds which activate preferentially PPARalpha, such as fenofibrate, induced LPL expression exclusively in rat liver. In contrast, the antidiabetic thiazolidinedione BRL 49653, a high affinity ligand for PPARgamma, had no effect on liver, but induced LPL expression in rat adipose tissue. In the hepatocyte cell line AML‐12, fenofibric acid, but not BRL 49653, induced LPL mRNA, whereas in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes, the PPARgamma ligand induced LPL mRNA levels much quicker and to a higher extent than fenofibric acid. In both the in vivo and in vitro studies, inducibility by either PPARalpha or gamma activators, correlated with the tissue distribution of the respective PPARs: an adipocyte‐restricted expression of PPARgamma, whereas PPARalpha was expressed predominantly in liver. A sequence element was identified in the human LPL promoter that mediates the functional responsiveness to fibrates and thiazolidinediones. Methylation interference and gel retardation assays demonstrated that a PPARalpha or gamma and the 9‐cis retinoic acid receptor (RXR) heterodimers bind to this sequence −169 TGCCCTTTCCCCC −157. These data provide evidence that transcriptional activation of the LPL gene by fibrates and thiazolidinediones is mediated by PPAR‐RXR heterodimers and contributes significantly to their hypotriglyceridemic effects in vivo. Whereas thiazolidinediones predominantly affect adipocyte LPL production through activation of PPARgamma, fibrates exert their effects mainly in the liver via activation of PPARalpha.
The Impact of the Aluminum Industry on the Pacific Northwest: A Regional Input-Output Analysis

CONSIDERATION of many of the problems concerning regional development has been conspicuously absent from modern economic writing; only recently have theoretical foundations for empirical analysis been formulated adequately. The purpose of this paper is to apply the new techniques of input-output analysis to a concrete problem of economic change. The entrance of the aluminum industry into the Pacific Northwest I during World War IT provides an excellent framework for such a study, as will be made clear in section III below. It is hoped that this analysis will be useful not only in determining the importance of aluminum in the Northwest economy but also in illustrating the methodology of the input-output technique and pointing out some qualifications.2 In section I brief attention will be given to the present locational pattern of the aluminum industry in the United States, with particular emphasis on the application of modified Weberian analysis.3 After a brief inspection of the Pacific Northwest in section II, the theory, application, and qualifications of regional input-output analysis will be presented in section III. Results and comparisons, as they apply to the Pacific Northwest, will be treated in section IV.
A Computational Model of Focused Attention Meditation and Its Transfer to a Sustained Attention Task

Meditation has been shown to aid with the management of affective disorders through improving emotion regulation. Here we begin to develop a theory of meditation by creating a computational cognitive model of focused attention meditation. Our model was created within Prims, a derivative of the ACT-R cognitive architecture. We implemented a model based on an extensive literature review of how the meditation experience unfolds over time. We then tested the Prims model in a sustained attention task, intending to capture a faculty that may be trained with meditation practice. The model was significantly better able to maintain focus after the meditation practice than before. These results agree qualitatively with empirical findings of a longitudinal study on the effects of meditation conducted in 2010. The central mechanism for increasing task relevant focus in the model seems to be a feedback loop. The meditation and mind-wandering processes reinforce themselves and weaken the other. However, this reinforcement is more dispersed in the more elaborate mind-wandering process, which causes it to decrease over time. We speculate that observed improvements in emotion regulation observed after meditation arise from the ability to maintain focus, because it allows the practitioner to avoid emotions spiraling out of control.
Comparative genomics of the Mill family: a rapidly evolving MHC class I gene family

Mill (MHC class I‐like located near the leukocyte receptor complex) is a novel family of class I genes identified in mice that is most closely related to the human MICA/B family. In the present study, we isolated Mill cDNA from rats and carried out a comparative genomic analysis. Rats have two Mill genes orthologous to mouse Mill1 and Mill2 near the leukocyte receptor complex, with expression patterns similar to those of their mouse counterparts. Interspecies sequence comparison indicates that Mill is one of the most rapidly evolving class I gene families and that non‐synonymous substitutions occur more frequently than synonymous substitutions in its α 1 domain, implicating the involvement of Mill in immune defenses. Interestingly, the α 2 domain of rat Mill2 contains a premature stop codon in many inbred strains, indicating that Mill2 is not essential for survival. A computer search of the database identified a horse Mill‐like expressed sequence tag, indicating that Mill emerged before the radiation of mammals. Hence, the failure to find Mill in human indicates strongly that it was lost from the human lineage. Our present work provides convincing evidence that Mill is akin to the MICA/B family, yet constitutes a distinctgene family.
Manipulation of BK channel expression is sufficient to alter auditory hair cell thresholds in larval zebrafish

Non-mammalian vertebrates rely on electrical resonance for frequency tuning in auditory hair cells. A key component of the resonance exhibited by these cells is an outward calcium-activated potassium current that flows through large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels. Previous work in midshipman fish (Porichthys notatus) has shown that BK expression correlates with seasonal changes in hearing sensitivity and that pharmacologically blocking these channels replicates the natural decreases in sensitivity during the winter non-reproductive season. To test the hypothesis that reducing BK channel function is sufficient to change auditory thresholds in fish, morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs) were used in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) to alter expression of slo1a and slo1b, duplicate genes coding for the pore-forming α-subunits of BK channels. Following MO injection, microphonic potentials were recorded from the inner ear of larvae. Quantitative real-time PCR was then used to determine the MO effect on slo1a and slo1b expression in these same fish. Knockdown of either slo1a or slo1b resulted in disrupted gene expression and increased auditory thresholds across the same range of frequencies of natural auditory plasticity observed in midshipman. We conclude that interference with the normal expression of individual slo1 genes is sufficient to increase auditory thresholds in zebrafish larvae and that changes in BK channel expression are a direct mechanism for regulation of peripheral hearing sensitivity among fishes.
Screening the allergenic repertoires of wheat and maize with sera from double‐blind, placebo‐controlled food challenge positive patients

Background: Food allergy to wheat and maize is an increasing factor of deterioration of life quality, especially childhood and can, in rare cases, even induce anaphylaxis. Although omega‐5 gliadin from wheat and maize lipid transfer protein have been characterized as major cereal allergens on the molecular level, the list of food allergens is far to be complete.
Sources of Asymmetry and Non-linearity in Pass-Through of Exchange Rate and Import Price to Consumer Price Inflation for the Turkish Economy during Inflation Targeting Regime

Some recent studies indicate that exchange rate pass-through and import price pass-through is better characterized in a non-linear way. Having a better understanding of non-linearity of exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) and import prices pass-through (IPPT) under different conditions will contribute to the critical decisions on the proper role and magnitude of the exchange rate movements in the monetary policy. In this paper, we implement a state based non-linear method (Markov process) to identify, decompose, quantify and analyze the nonlinearities for both types of concurrent (same period) pass-through for the years between 2003 and 2014 for the Turkish economy. According to the results, both ERPT and IPPT are lower during appreciation and low volatility periods of nominal exchange rate. Even though ERPT does not differ depending on the level of business activity, IPPT is lower during contractionary periods compared to expansionary periods. The findings in this paper will allow for more nuanced monetary policy approaches to deal with pass-through stemming from different sources.
The effects of body mass index and age on cross‐sectional properties of the femoral neck

Research on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and cross‐sectional geometry of long bone diaphyses demonstrates that strength properties are significantly greater in obese versus normal BMI individuals. However, articular dimensions do not differ appreciably. If femoral head size remains constant, we hypothesize that the femoral neck remodels to accommodate greater loads associated with increased BMI. High‐resolution CT scans (n = 170 males) were divided into three BMI groups (normal, overweight, and obese) and two age groups (21–50 and >50). OsiriX software was used to obtain a cross‐sectional slice at the waist of the femoral neck. Cortical area (CA), total cross‐sectional area (TA), percent cortical area (%CA), circularity index (Imax/Imin), section modulus (Zpol), and second moment of area (J) were measured with ImageJ software. The effects of age and BMI were evaluated statistically. Pairwise comparisons in the younger group only detected significant differences between normal and obese males in the circularity index (P = 0.022). The older cohort showed significant differences in CA (P < 0.001), %CA (P = 0.004), Zpol (P = 0.007), and J (P < 0.001) between normal and obese groups. This study shows that the effects of obesity on the cross‐sectional geometry of the femoral neck are more pronounced in older males relative to younger males. Older males with increased BMI have greater cortical area and bone strength in the femoral neck relative to younger males, thus making the femoral neck less susceptible to fractures in obese individuals. Clin. Anat. 28:1048–1057, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Internal debt and financial adjustment in Peru

The crisis of the 1980s was preceded in Peru by five years of economic stagnation which accentuated its effects. Gross investment fell sharply, as did industrial and farm production and construction. However, this fall was due mainly to activities connected with domestic demand, for activities responding to the international market did not have the same results.
Unique balanced chromosome abnormalities in treatment‐related myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia: Report from an International Workshop †

A total of 123 balanced rearrangements, including 26 occurring as a sole anomaly, not known to be recurrent in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) prior to the Workshop, were ascertained retrospectively from 104 patients with treatment‐related MDS/AML (t‐MDS/t‐AML). Thirteen of the aberrations were reported previously in single cases and hence may be classified as recurrent as a result of the Workshop. Patients with Unique aberrations had complex karyotypes more often (P < 0.001 for all pairwise comparisons) than did other Workshop subgroups, with 72% having 3 or more aberrations. Among 85 cases with secondary chromosomal abnormalities, −5, −7, del(5q), and del(7q) were observed in 76%, which is significantly higher (P ≤ 0.007 for all pairwise comparisons) than the frequencies found in the Workshop subgroups of patients with previously known recurring aberrations. The chromosome bands most often involved in balanced aberrations were 1p36 and 3q26‐27. Treatment exposure was significantly different (less topoisomerase II inhibitor exposure, more radiotherapy‐only exposure) than for patients with 11q23 (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively) and 21q22 (P = 0.007 and P = 0.002, respectively) abnormalities. The median time from the first toxic exposure to secondary disease, 59 months, was significantly longer (P ≤ 0.016 for all significant pairwise comparisons) than the median latency of all other patients except those in the Rare subgroup, and the median survival time, 7 months, was significantly shorter than for patients in the 21q22, inv(16), and t(15;17) subgroups (P ≤ 0.002 for all pairwise comparisons), but similar to patients in the 11q23 and Rare subgroups. In contrast to known recurring abnormalities, significantly more patients (61%, all P < 0.001) presented with t‐MDS, with over one‐third of these patients progressing to t‐AML. Thus, this group of patients appears to be more similar to the typical t‐MDS/t‐AML patients, with complex karyotypes as well as chromosome 5 and 7 abnormalities, than to those with recurrent balanced rearrangements. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.