Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Imaging of HIF-1-Active Tumor Hypoxia Using a Protein Effectively Delivered to and Specifically Stabilized in HIF-1-Active Tumor Cells

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) plays an important role in malignant tumor progression and in the development of resistance to radiotherapy. We designed a novel fusion protein (PTD-ODD-SAV [POS]) consisting of a protein transduction domain (PTD), streptavidin (SAV), and a portion of the oxygen-dependent degradation domain (ODD) of HIF-1α that confers the same oxygen-dependent regulation as HIF-1α on POS. (3-123/125I-iodobenzoyl)norbiotinamide (123/125I-IBB) was conjugated to the SAV moiety of POS to synthesize 123/125I-IBB-labeled POS (123/125I-IPOS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of 123I-IPOS as an imaging probe for HIF-1-active tumor hypoxia. Methods: After a 24-h incubation of 125I-IPOS with various tumor cell lines under either normoxic (20% O2) or hypoxic (0.1% O2) conditions, the intracellular radioactivity was investigated. Then, the biodistribution of 123/125I-IPOS was examined with tumor-implanted mice, and an in vivo imaging study was performed. The tumoral accumulation of 125I-IPOS was compared with HIF-1 activity using the mice carrying tumors with the HIF-1-dependent luciferase reporter gene. Furthermore, the intratumoral localization of 125I-IPOS was examined by the autoradiographic study, and then the same slide was subjected to immunostaining for pimonidazole, which is the hypoxic marker. Results: The ratios of radioactivity in hypoxic cells to that in normoxic cells were more than 2. These results indicate incorporation of 125I-IPOS into these cells and degradation of 125I-IPOS by normoxic tumor cells. In the biodistribution study, 125I-IPOS accumulated in the tumor (1.4 ± 0.3 percentage injected dose per gram) 24 h after administration. At that time, 125I-IPOS showed high tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-muscle ratios (5.1 ± 0.3 and 14.0 ± 3.9, respectively). The tumors were clearly visualized by in vivo imaging 24 h after 123I-IPOS injection (tumor-to-muscle ratio was 9.6). The tumoral accumulation of 125I-IPOS correlated with HIF-1 activity (R = 0.71, P < 0.05), and its intratumoral distribution coincided with the hypoxic regions. Conclusion: 123I-IPOS is a potential probe for the imaging of HIF-1 activity in tumors. Given the role of HIF-1 in tumor biology, its detection may be considered an indicator of aggressive cancer phenotypes.
Effectiveness of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark oil in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride‐induced damages on the male reproductive system

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the likelihood of detrimental effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on male reproductive system through oxidative stress mechanism and also protective effects of cinnamon bark oil (CBO). For this purpose, 28 healthy male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, seven rats in each. Group 1 received only olive oil daily; group 2 was treated with 100 mg kg−1 CBO daily; group 3 was treated with only 0.25 ml kg−1 CCl4 weekly; and group 4 received weekly CCl4 + daily CBO. All administrations were made by intragastric catheter and maintained for 10 weeks. Body and reproductive organ weights, sperm characteristics, testicular oxidative stress markers and testicular apoptosis were examined. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in body and reproductive organ weights, testicular catalase (CAT) activity, sperm motility and concentration, and significant increases in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic index along with some histopathological damages compared with the control group. However, significant improvements were observed in absolute weights of testis and epididymis, all sperm quality parameters, LPO level, apoptotic index and testicular histopathological structure following the administration of CCl4 together with CBO when compared to group given CCl4 only. The findings of this study clearly suggest that CBO has protective effect against damages in male reproductive organs and cells induced by CCl4.
Team-Level Time Series Analysis in MLB, the NBA, and the NHL

We extend the attendance break point literature to the team level, addressing structural change and season aggregated outcome uncertainty for franchises in three of the four North American major leagues. We compare the larger variation at the team level with past time series analysis of league-level annual aggregate attendance. We also note that there is at best mixed evidence of outcome uncertainty impacts on team-level attendance. We discuss the implications for these findings with respect to future research that attempts to comprehensively estimate the demand for attendance.
On the Efficacy of Static Prices for Revenue Management in the Face of Strategic Customers

The present paper considers a canonical revenue management problem wherein a monopolist seller seeks to maximize revenues from selling a fixed inventory of a product to customers who arrive over time. We assume that customers are forward looking and strategize on the timing of their purchase, an empirically confirmed aspect of modern customer behavior. In the event that customers were myopic, foundational work by Gallego and van Ryzin [1994] established that static prices were asymptotically optimal for this problem. In stark contrast, for the case where customers are forward looking, available results in mechanism design and dynamic pricing offer no such simple solution and are also constrained by restrictive assumptions on customer type. The present paper studies the revenue management problem while assuming forward looking customers. We demonstrate that for a broad class of customer utility models, static prices surprisingly continue to remain asymptotically optimal in the scaling regime where inventory and demand grow large. We further show that irrespective of regime, an optimally set static price guarantees the seller revenues that are within at least 63.2% of that under an optimal dynamic mechanism. The class of customer utility models we consider is parsimonious and enjoys empirical support. It also subsumes many of the utility models considered for this problem in existing mechanism design research; we allow for multi-dimensional customer types. We also allow for a customer's disutility from waiting to be positively correlated with his valuation. Our conclusions are thus robust and provide a simple solution to what is considered a challenging problem of dynamic mechanism design.
Regulation of Pancreatic β Cell Mass by Neuronal Signals from the Liver

Metabolic regulation in mammals requires communication between multiple organs and tissues. The rise in the incidence of obesity and associated metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, has renewed interest in interorgan communication. We used mouse models to explore the mechanism whereby obesity enhances pancreatic β cell mass, pathophysiological compensation for insulin resistance. We found that hepatic activation of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) signaling induced pancreatic β cell proliferation through a neuronal-mediated relay of metabolic signals. This metabolic relay from the liver to the pancreas is involved in obesity-induced islet expansion. In mouse models of insulin-deficient diabetes, liver-selective activation of ERK signaling increased β cell mass and normalized serum glucose levels. Thus, interorgan metabolic relay systems may serve as valuable targets in regenerative treatments for diabetes.
Type III secretion chaperones of Pseudomonas syringae protect effectors from Lon‐associated degradation

The hrp type III secretion system (TTSS) of Pseudomonas syringae translocates effector proteins into the cytoplasm of host cells. Proteolysis of HrpR by Lon has been shown to negatively regulate the hrp TTSS. The inability to bypass Lon‐associated effects on the regulatory system by ectopic expression of the known regulators suggested a second site of action for Lon in TTSS‐dependent effector secretion. In this study we report that TTSS‐dependent effectors are subject to the proteolytic degradation that appears to be rate‐limiting to secretion. The half‐lives of the effectors AvrPto, AvrRpt2, HopPsyA, HopPsyB1, HopPtoB2, HopPsyV1, HopPtoG and HopPtoM were substantially higher in bacteria lacking Lon. TTSS‐dependent secretion of several effectors was enhanced from Lon mutants. A primary role for chaperones appears to be protection of effectors from Lon‐associated degradation prior to secretion. When coexpressed with their cognate chaperone, HopPsyB1, HopPsyV1 and HopPtoM were at least 10 times more stable in strains expressing Lon. Distinct Lon‐targeting and chaperone‐binding domains were identified in HopPtoM. The results imply that Lon is involved at two distinct levels in the regulation of the P. syringae TTSS: regulation of assembly of the secreton and modulation of effector secretion.
Whole-Body Biodistribution and Radiation Dosimetry of the New Cardiac Tracer 99mTc-N-DBODC

Our purpose was to evaluate the safety profile and biodistribution behavior in healthy human volunteers of the new myocardial perfusion tracer bis[(dimethoxypropylphosphanyl)ethyl]ethoxyethylamine N,N′-bis(ethoxyethyl)dithiocarbamato nitrido technetium(V) (99mTc-N-DBODC). Methods: Ten healthy male volunteers were injected with 99mTc-N-DBODC under both stress and rest conditions. Anterior and posterior planar γ-camera images were collected at 5, 30, 60, 240, and 1,440 min after injection, with organ uptake quantified by region-of-interest analysis. Tracer kinetics in body fluids were determined by collecting blood and urine samples at different time points. Results: After injection, 99mTc-N-DBODC showed significant accumulation in the myocardium and prolonged retention. Under rest conditions, uptake in the heart, lungs, and liver at 5 min after injection was 1.67% ± 0.13%, 1.16% ± 0.07%, and 10.85% ± 1.72%, respectively, of administered activity. Under stress conditions, heart uptake was significantly higher (2.07% ± 0.22%). Radioactivity in the liver decreased to 3.64% ± 0.98% and 2.37% ± 0.48% at 60 and 240 min, respectively, after injection. This rapid liver clearance led to favorable heart-to-liver ratios, reaching values of 0.74 ± 0.13 at rest and 1.26 ± 0.28 during exercise 60 min after tracer administration. Radiation dose estimates were comparable to those obtained with other myocardial perfusion cationic compounds. Conclusion: The high uptake in the myocardium and the fast liver washout of 99mTc-N-DBODC will allow SPECT images of the left ventricle to be acquired early and with excellent quality.
Meta‐analysis of diagnostic test studies using individual patient data and aggregate data

A meta‐analysis of diagnostic test studies provides evidence‐based results regarding the accuracy of a particular test, and usually involves synthesizing aggregate data (AD) from each study, such as the 2 by 2 tables of diagnostic accuracy. A bivariate random‐effects meta‐analysis (BRMA) can appropriately synthesize these tables, and leads to clinical results, such as the summary sensitivity and specificity across studies. However, translating such results into practice may be limited by between‐study heterogeneity and that they relate to some ‘average’ patient across studies.
The effects of entrepreneurship education on the performance of graduates of technical institutions in Thika District

Entrepreneurship education was introduced in all technical institutions m 1990 after recommendation by various government policy documents. According to Sifuna (1981), industrial education was to focus on better housing, clothing, mechanical tools and village industries such as weaving leather work, pottery and mat making. Also Wanjala (1991) called for adoption of an education relevant to the needs of communities and to preserve the best of African tradition and prepare students for the world of work. Entrepreneurship education was therefore introduced as a strategy for self reliance and rapid economic growth. This study sought to investigate how entrepreneurship education had impacted on the performance of graduates of technical institutions in Thika district. The study target population consisted of all graduates who successfully went through entrepreneurship education alongside their vocational trade and completed school between 1993 and 2000. Purposive and snow balling methods were used to select a sample of 150 respondents. Data was collected by use of a questionnaire and analyzed by use of descriptive statistics such as frequency tables, percentages, means and standard deviation. According to the study entrepreneurship training offered at technical institutions had a positive impact on the lives of the graduates. The training is also adequate despite the failure to effectively capture networking, coping with change and competitive competencies. From this study it can be concluded that graduates of technical institutions have a positive perception towards entrepreneurship education and self-employment. The study also concluded that training is not an adequate factor that affects performance of graduates, other interventions such as access to technology, markets and capital needs to be addressed. Majority of graduates still take formal employment as their preferred option. The study recommends that training should be complemented with other factors such as access to capital, access to technology, technological information, and general enabling environment.
Kolmogorov entropy changes during the mental task of geometric figure rotation measured with EEG

The objective was to study changes in EEG time-domain Kolmogorov entropy and cortical lateralization of brain function areas during the mental task of geometric figure rotation in healthy human subjects. EEG data for healthy subjects were acquired during mental task using a net of 6 electrodes. The signals were recorded for 10s during the task. Kolmogorov entropy values during the task were calculated. It was found that the lateralization determined by Kolmogorov entropy of EEG proposed in this paper is consistent with previous known studies and the dominant hemisphere may change from one lateral to the contralateral sometime during the mental task of geometric figure rotation. The results shows that this method may become an important tool on lateralization and receives increasing attention for clinical applications.
Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio predicts survival after radiofrequency ablation for colorectal liver metastases.

AIM To test the correlation between lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and survival after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for colorectal liver metastasis (CLMs). METHODS From July 2003 to Feb 2012, 127 consecutive patients with 193 histologically-proven unresectable CLMs were treated with percutaneous RFA at the University of Foggia. All patients had undergone primary colorectal tumor resection before RFA and received systemic chemotherapy. LMR was calculated by dividing lymphocyte count by monocyte count assessed at baseline. Treatment-related toxicity was defined as any adverse events occurred within 4 wk after the procedure. Overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR) were estimated from the date of RFA by Kaplan-Meier with plots and median (95%CI). The inferential analysis for time to event data was conducted using the Cox univariate and multivariate regression model to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95%CI. Statistically significant variables from the univariate Cox analysis were considered for the multivariate models. RESULTS Median age was 66 years (range 38-88) and patients were prevalently male (69.2%). Median LMR was 4.38% (0.79-88) whereas median number of nodules was 2 (1-3) with a median maximum diameter of 27 mm (10-45). Median OS was 38 mo (34-53) and survival rate (SR) was 89.4%, 40.4% and 33.3% at 1, 4 and 5 years respectively in the whole cohort. Running log-rank test analysis found 3.96% as the most significant prognostic cut-off point for LMR and stratifying the study population by this LMR value median OS resulted 55 mo (37-69) in patients with LMR > 3.96% and 34 (26-39) mo in patients with LMR ≤ 3.96% (HR = 0.53, 0.34-0.85, P = 0.007). Nodule size and LMR were the only significant predictors for OS in multivariate analysis. Median TTR was 29 mo (22-35) with a recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate of 72.6%, 32.1% and 21.8% at 1, 4 and 5 years, respectively in the whole study group. Nodule size and LMR were confirmed as significant prognostic factors for TTR in multivariate Cox regression. TTR, when stratified by LMR, was 35 mo (28-57) in the group > 3.96% and 25 mo (18-30) in the group ≤ 3.96% (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION Our study provides support for the use of LMR as a novel predictor of outcome for CLM patients.
Connected: Facilitating Transformative Online Dialogue in Peace-Building, Reconciliation and Global Citizenship Education Programs

Since the 1990s, globally networked learning environments (GNLEs) have emerged as pathways for dialogue, connecting classrooms from around the world. Although it was initially hoped that bringing diverse populations together online would naturally foster the inclusion of disparate voices and viewpoints, it is now widely acknowledged that online communication may just as easily reinforce pre-existing social arrangements as challenge them. Thus, the purpose of this dissertation was to explore how GNLEs developed for civic and peace-building purposes conceptualize dialogue and address power inequalities. Data include multiple case studies grounded in interviews, journal and news articles, and policy and curriculum documents. Data were analyzed using a critical theory framework and a decolonizing global education checklist in order to identify potentially colonizing assumptions behind these programs. Findings from this research suggest that despite some examples of shallow and apolitical approaches to intergroup or intercultural dialogue, there are also many ways that online learning environments can be conducive to facilitating transformative and decolonizing learning experiences. This dissertation makes ten recommendations for implementing a critical approach to dialogue online. These recommendations include how to frame, structure and facilitate online dialogue through asynchronous forums and videoconferencing. In addition, the recommendations speak to the importance of addressing social and political issues while constructing learning environments that are conducive to the expression of marginalized viewpoints and forms of expression. Recommendations also address how online channels for communication and interaction can be used to address epistemological, linguistic and technological hegemonies often present in global education initiatives. These strategies include, for example, the incorporation of digital imagery and storytelling, as well as wikis that help visualize conflicting narratives and understandings of history. In addition, acknowledging and openly exploring the implications of having a dominant language for communication is necessary as is addressing differential access to technology between groups, including those excluded from online intercultural dialogue opportunities.
On polynomial semantics for propositional logics

Some properties and an algorithm for solving systems of multivariate polynomial equations over finite fields are presented. It is then shown how formulas of propositional logics (particularly of finite-valued logics and paraconsistent logics) can be translated into polynomials over finite fields in such a way that several logic problems are expressed in terms of algebraic problems. Consequently, algebraic properties and algorithms can be used to solve the algebraically-represented logic problems. The methods described herein combine and generalise those of various previous works.
Foreign direct investment and higher education development in Pakistan: evidence from structural break testing

This study investigates the relationship between foreign direct investment and higher education development in Pakistan by using the annual time series data from the period of 1972 to 2013. Results of autoregressive distributed lag-based coefficient model, fully modified ordinary least square method and dynamic ordinary least square method indicate that foreign direct investment has a positive and significant impact on higher education in long run and short run. Results of causality analysis suggest the unidirectional causal relationship of foreign direct investment and higher education development in Pakistan which runs from foreign direct investment to higher education development. It is concluded that foreign direct investment brings advanced technologies, which requires more skilled and managerial labour force. Similarly, the competition in labour market also increases with the entrance of foreign direct investment. Consequently, people go for higher studies to enhance their capabilities and to get the competitive edge in the labour market.
Measuring mental well-being: A validation of the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale in Norwegian and Swedish

Aims: Mental health, currently one of the biggest challenges worldwide, requires attention and research. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS), and validate the scale for use in Norway and Sweden. SWEMWBS, which includes both hedonic and eudemonic principles of mental well-being, could facilitate useful future studies. Method: Data were collected among Norwegian and Swedish hotel managers (N=600) through self-rated online questionnaires. Tests used to examine the psychometric properties of the scale included descriptive statistics, correlations, reliability analyses, and explorative factor analyses in SPSS, as well as confirmatory factor analyses in AMOS. Robustness tests were run for gender and country subsamples. Results: The scale showed adequate internal consistency and reliability. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed moderate fit in Norway and Sweden. In addition, the scale showed acceptable construct, criterion-related, and discriminant validity. Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the SWEMWBS were acceptable in both the Norwegian and the Swedish translations of the scale.
Living donor liver transplantation for pediatric patients with metabolic disorders: The Japanese multicenter registry

LDLT is indicated for a variety of metabolic disorders, primarily in Asian countries due to the absolute scarcity of deceased donor LT. We analyzed data for all pediatric LDLTs performed between November 1989 and December 2010, during which 2224 pediatric patients underwent LDLT in Japan. Of these patients, 194 (8.7%) underwent LDLT for metabolic disorders. Wilson's disease (n = 59; 30.4%) was the most common indication in the patients with metabolic disorders, followed by OTCD (n = 40; 20.6%), MMA (n = 20; 10.3%), and GSD (n = 15; 7.7%). The one‐, five‐, 10‐, and 15‐yr patient and graft survival rates were 91.2%, 87.9%, 87.0%, and 79.3%, and 91.2%, 87.9%, 86.1%, and 74.4%, respectively. Wilson's disease and urea cycle deficiency were associated with better patient survival. The use of heterozygous donors demonstrated no negative impact on either the donors or recipients. With regard to X‐linked OTCD, symptomatic heterozygote maternal donors should not be considered potential donor candidates. Improving the understanding of the long‐term suitability of this treatment modality will require the registration and ongoing evaluation of all patients with inherited metabolic disease considered for LT.