Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of MMP‐1 ‐1607 1G/2G (rs1799750) polymorphism with primary knee osteoarthritis in the Greek population

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis with still unknown pathogenic etiology and considerable contribution of genetic factors. One of the mechanisms of cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis is enzymatic proteolysis of the extracellular matrix by metalloproteinases. MMP‐1, produced by chondrocytes and synovial cells, is a major proteinase of the MMPs family. The present study aims at evaluating the association of MMP1 gene ‐1607 1G/2G (rs1799750) polymorphism with primary knee osteoarthritis in the Greek population. One hundred fifty five patients with primary symptomatic knee osteoarthritis participated in the study along with 139 controls. Genotypes were determined using PCR—RLFP technique. Allelic and genotypic frequencies were compared between both study groups. There was no significant association between MMP1 ‐1607 1G/2G polymorphism and knee osteoarthritis, in crude analysis; however, after multiple logistic regression analysis, 1G/2G was associated with reduced odds of knee osteoarthritis by 75% in males, compared to genotypes 1G/1G + 2G/2G, adjusting for age and BMI (adjusted OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.069, 0.910, p = 0.035). The present study shows that MMP1 ‐1607 1G/2G (rs1799750) polymorphism might be a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis susceptibility in the Greek population. Further investigations are needed to confirm this association in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:1155–1160, 2014.
Firm Heterogeneity, Market Choice and Productivity: Evidence from Foreign‐Owned Enterprises in China

This study examines the effects of firm heterogeneity on foreign‐owned enterprises’ (FOEs) choices regarding serving the local market, undertaking assembly exports or undertaking ordinary exports. It also investigates the effects of serving these markets on productivity. Using a detailed firm–transaction level matched data set of FOEs in China covering 2000–07, the first‐stage estimation of propensity score matching (PSM) method reveals that less productive FOEs tend to undertake assembly exports, and this effect is particularly relevant to those located in inland regions. By contrast, more productive FOEs are likely to serve domestic markets or undertake ordinary exports. Other firm characteristics also exhibit diverse influences on market choices. Export‐oriented FOEs, particularly those undertaking assembly exports, experience lower productivity growth than that of local market‐oriented FOEs. This suggests that the effects of local market competition do result in substantial enhancement of the productivity of FOEs in China. This pattern is mainly exhibited by FOEs in inland regions, whereas FOEs undertaking ordinary exports in coastal regions might have somewhat higher total factor productivity (TFP) growth than their local market‐oriented counterparts. Among export‐oriented FOEs, exporting more product value—whether assembly or ordinary exports—has a positive influence on productivity.
Atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype and low-density lipoproteins size and subclasses in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

CONTEXT An altered lipid profile is common in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and is usually characterized by increased triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels. In the general population, these alterations are often associated with the increase of small low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) in the so-called "atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype" (ALP) that determines a further increase of cardiovascular risk. In this study, we evaluated the presence of ALP in the plasma of women with PCOS. SETTING Measurements and analysis of LDL size were performed at the Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital, Zurich. PCOS patients were recruited at the Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Palermo, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa. PATIENTS Thirty patients with PCOS (hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation) and 24 matched controls were studied. Anthropometric data, blood glucose, serum insulin lipid profile, and LDL size and subclasses were evaluated. RESULTS Compared with controls, patients with PCOS had higher plasma concentrations of insulin and triglycerides and lower HDL-cholesterol concentrations but no differences in LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol. Patients with PCOS had smaller LDL size due to a reduction in LDL subclass I, with a concomitant increase in LDL subclasses III and IV. Fourteen PCOS patients had an increase of smaller LDL particles, and it represented the second most common lipid alteration after decrease in HDL-cholesterol. However, because in this PCOS population hypertriglyceridemia was only present in two patients, complete ALP was relatively uncommon. CONCLUSIONS Increase of type III or type IV LDL subclasses is a common finding in PCOS and represents the second most common lipid alteration after HDL-cholesterol decrease. However, in our PCOS patients, because of relatively low triglyceride levels, complete ALP is uncommon.
Selective laser trabeculoplasty for the management of open-angle glaucoma in St. Lucia.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma in an African-derived population in the developing world. METHODS Sixty-one subjects from St. Lucia with medically treated primary open-angle glaucoma underwent a 30-day washout, followed by bilateral 360° SLT. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured 1 hour; 1 week; and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after SLT. RESULTS Mean (SD) IOP with medical therapy was 17.3 (5.0) mm Hg and 17.5 (4.0) mm Hg in the right and left eyes, respectively, and increased to 21.4 (3.6) mm Hg and 21.1 (3.5) mm Hg, respectively, after washout. Both eyes demonstrated a prompt and sustained IOP response to SLT therapy. Intraocular pressure dropped significantly by the first week and remained in the range of 13 to 14 mm Hg without medical therapy through 12 months in patients deemed successful. The mean IOP reductions from baseline ranged from 7.3 to 8.3 mm Hg (34.1%-38.8%) in right eyes and from 7.6 to 8.2 mm Hg (36.0%-38.9%) in left eyes through 12 months. The 12-month Kaplan-Meier survival rate (≥10% IOP reduction from postwashout baseline) was 77.7%, and 93% of successful subjects experienced IOP levels less than with-medication values. Most subjects reported moderate photophobia for 2 to 3 days after SLT; only 1 received anti-inflammatory therapy. Five eyes of 3 subjects had IOP spikes between 5 and 10 mm Hg that resolved without treatment. CONCLUSIONS The magnitude and duration of IOP reduction are clinically relevant in individuals from St. Lucia of African descent. If repeatable, SLT could be a powerful tool for reducing glaucoma-related blindness in this population.
Correlates of relative resistance against low‐dose rectal simian immunodeficiency virus challenges in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of vaccinated rhesus macaques

In this study, we compared the immunogenicity and protection from repeated low‐dose intrarectal SIVmac251 challenge in two groups of vaccinated RMs. Animals were immunized with live SIVmac239, which had been attenuated by a deletion of the nef sequence, or they were vaccinated twice with an E1‐deleted AdHu5, expressing SIVmac239gag. The vaccinated animals and a cohort of unvaccinated control animals were then challenged 10 times in weekly intervals with low doses of SIVmac251 given rectally. Our results confirm previous studies showing that whereas SIVΔnef provides some degree of protection against viral acquisition after repeated low‐dose rectal SIVmac251 challenges, vaccination with an AdHu5gag vaccine designed to induce only antiviral T cell responses is ineffective. As immunological analyses of prechallenge, vaccine‐induced T and B cell responses failed to reveal correlates of protection that distinguished the more susceptible from the more resistant vaccinated animals, we carried out RNA‐Seq studies of paired pre‐ and postvaccination samples to identify transcriptional patterns that correlated with the differences in response. We show that gene expression signatures associated with the delayed SIV infection seen in some AdHu5gag recipients were largely present in prevaccination samples of those animals. In contrast, the responding SIVΔnef‐immunized animals showed a predominance of vaccine‐induced changes, thus enabling us to define inherited and vaccine‐induced gene expression signatures and their associated pathways that may play a role in preventing SIV acquisition.
Radical Economics as Journalism: The Origins of Dollars & Sense

In this essay, I argue that radical economics innovated in the communication of economic ideas, engendering new idioms and print formats to intervene in circuits of progressive activism. The essay mentions the pamphlet work of the Union for Radical Political Economics’ various public engagement projects of the early 1970s but at its heart is the 1974 founding of the mass distribution monthly Dollars & Sense. It looks at the positions taken by the periodical over the years and asks, “What kind of print object was it? ” It places the publication within a twentieth century history of left political economy periodicals and compares it with its closest contemporaries in the cultures of print of the American Left, notably Monthly Review and Radical America. The attention to the print ventures of radical economics in the 1970s is a contribution to a new kind of historiography that takes an expanded and extra-curricular outlook of economics.
Liquidity and Stock Returns: New Evidence From Johannesburg Stock Exchange

ABSTRACT:After the 2007/9 financial crisis, liquidity risk became the most dreaded financial risk of all times. However, our modern finance theories are modeled on the premises that markets are frictionless and hence liquidity plays no role, yet there is a plethora of literature that attest to the fact that liquidity is a cost that needs to be priced. This confirms the fact that markets are indeed full of friction and therefore, liquidity needs to be modeled accordingly. In this paper, a time-series regression approach is adopted to investigate the relationship between stock illiquidity and stock excess return on the JSE. The basis of the methodology followed in this study is that of Fama and MacBeth's (1973) cross-sectional multiple regression analysis. Specifically, Fama and French three-factor model plus liquidity is employed to test empirically the relationship between stock excess returns and liquidity together with other known, important time-series determinants of stock returns, such as beta, size, and book-to-market ratio. Liquidity is then added to the three factor model as the fourth factor thus, in addition to the excess return on the market. The results from this study show that liquidity is an important factor in pricing returns on the JSE as the stock excess returns are positively related to illiquidity and the relationship is significant. More specifically, the study revealed that the expected excess returns are positively and significantly related to stock systematic risk as measured by beta. This was the case across all the portfolios that were investigated. The three factor model shows a negative relationship though not significant. The there-factor model plus liquidity showed a positive relationship but not significant. Given the exhibited importance of liquidity in determining stock return, stock liquidity should be incorporated in dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models since markets in reality are not frictionless. Given that highly illiquid stocks are associated with higher expected returns as compared to liquid stocks, the conversional finance theories should be revised to reflect this new insight as this is a confirmation that markets have friction, thus liquidity plays an important role in the modeling of required return.
From Cambridge Keynesian to institutional economist: the unnoticed contributions of Robert Neild

Abstract Robert Neild (born 1924) has made a major contribution to economics and to peace studies. This paper provides a brief sketch of Neild's life and work. While noting his research in economic policy and peace studies, this essay devotes more attention to his largely unnoticed contributions to institutional and evolutionary economics since 1984. These are important in their own right, but they are especially notable because Cambridge heterodox economists have been devoted mainly to other approaches, including Marxism and post-Keynesianism. Neild's distinctive contribution is partly explained by his closeness to both Nicholas Kaldor and Gunnar Myrdal. Myrdal made explicit his adherence to the original American institutionalism: Neild extended that link to Cambridge.
Phenytoin, Midazolam, and Naloxone Protect Against Fentanyl-Induced Brain Damage in Rats

In previous studies, large-dose fentanyl produced electrographic seizure activity and histologically evident brain damage. We assessed whether fentanyl-induced brain damage is attenuated by using anticonvulsant drugs. Using halothane/nitrous oxide anesthesia, 40 Sprague-Dawley rats underwent tracheal intubation, arterial and venous cannulation, and insertion of biparietal electroencephalogram electrodes and a rectal temperature probe. Halothane was discontinued. The dose of IV fentanyl shown previously to cause maximal brain damage was given to all animals and N2O was discontinued. Control rats were given fentanyl only. Rats in the three study groups also received midazolam, phenytoin, or N2O/naloxone. After characteristic seizure activity began with fentanyl loading the study drug was started. After a 2-h infusion, wounds were closed, and animals recovered overnight and underwent cerebral perfusion-fixation. Neuropathologic alterations were ranked on a scale of 0–5 for both neuronal death (0 = normal, 5 = more than 75% neuronal death) and for malacia. Significantly fewer rats in the N2O/Naloxone, Phenytoin, and Midazolam Groups sustained any brain damage compared with controls. Protection against opioid neurotoxicity is achieved with midazolam, naloxone, and phenytoin. If opioid neurotoxicity is clinically relevant, a small change in anesthetic practice might reduce any potential neurologic morbidity. Implications Narcotics in large doses can cause brain damage in rats. This brain damage is attenuated by a narcotic antagonist, a sedative, and an antiepileptic drug.
Screening breast cancer patients for ATM mutations and polymorphisms by using denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography

All 62 coding exons of the ATM gene, along with 10–20 bases of the intronic region flanking each exon, were screened for DNA base sequence alterations by using denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) in a series of 52 breast cancer patients. Six (12%) of these patients exhibited a total of eight different novel germ‐line mutations that do not represent common polymorphisms. Of these, three patients possessed four nonconservative missense mutations while two conservative missense and two synonymous mutations were detected in the other three patients. In addition, 43 patients were found to have a total of 141 DNA sequence variations representing 21 different common polymorphisms and rare variants. An analysis of the relationship between the presence of a novel ATM mutation and either patient demographics or tumor properties demonstrated a significant difference between African Americans (3/7 = 43%) and other ethnic groups (3/45 = 7%, P = 0.026). None of the other characteristics examined was found to be related to mutation status. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 38:200–208, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical management of coeliac disease

Abstract. Ludvigsson JF, Green PH (Örebro University Hospital, Sweden; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA). Clinical management of coeliac disease (Symposium). J Intern Med 2011; 269: 560–571.
Ultrasonographic study of ovarian follicular dynamics in ewes during the oestrous cycle.

Transrectal ovarian ultrasonography was performed daily in eight ewes during one interovulatory interval, using a 7.5 MHz, rigid, human prostate transducer, and a realtime B-mode scanner to record the numbers, diameters and position of all follicles > or = 2 mm in diameter and the corpora lutea in both ovaries. Blood samples were taken once a day and were analysed for concentrations of FSH, progesterone and oestradiol. During the interovulatory interval of 17.2 +/- 0.4 days, antral follicles (follicles > 2 mm in diameter) emerged on all days except for days 1, 5, 15, 16 and 17. A significant increase in the numbers of follicles emerging was seen on days 2 and 11. The ovulatory follicle (6.9 +/- 0.1 mm diameter) was retrospectively traced to emergence on day 11.1 +/- 0.3 and grew over a period of 4.1 +/- 0.1 days at a growth rate of 1.2 +/- 0.04 mm day-1. The largest nonovulatory follicles of the same period grew at the same rate as ovulatory follicles and regressed over a period of 2.6 +/- 0.2 days at a rate of 1.2 +/- 0.07 mm day-1. The mean diameter of the largest follicles seen on each day of the oestrous cycle was lowest on the day of ovulation (2.9 +/- 0.2 mm), increased from day 3 to day 5 (4.1 +/- 0.4 mm) and again from day 11 to the day before ovulation (6.9 +/- 0.1 mm; P < 0.05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Simple Models for Fluid Transport during Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal fluid transport can be predicted using different simplified formulas. To evaluate three such models, fluid transport was studied in 38 single six hour dwell studies using standard glucose 1.36% (n=9), 2.27% (n=9) and 3.86% (n=20) dialysis fluids as well as amino acid 2.70% fluid (n=8) in 33 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Dialysate volume and the peritoneal absorption rate were measured using radioiodinated serum albumin (RISA) as a marker. The dialysate volume over dwell time curves were examined using three mathematical models of fluid transport for solutions with a crystalloid osmotic agent: Model P based on phenomenologically derived exponential function of time (Pyle, 1981), Model OS based on linear relationship between the rate of net volume change, Qv, to the difference of osmolality in dialysate and blood, and Model G based on linear relationship between Qv and the difference of glucose concentration in dialysate and blood. All these models provided a good description of the measured dialysate volume over time curves, however the descriptions with Models OS and G for glucose 3.86% fluid were slightly but significantly less precise. The coefficients of Model OS were stable in time, but the coefficients of Model G and P dependend in general on the time period used for their estimation, especially for glucose 3.86% dialysis fluid. The evaluation of dwell studies with solutions containing amino acid 2.70% (instead of glucose) as osmotic agent, using Model OS and P, showed that the transport coefficients were stable in time and both models provided equally precise descriptions. These results suggested that all three models can be used but models P and OS can be preferred for pratical applications such as predictions of fluid transport with alternative cristalloid osmotic agents. Furthermore, we found that the peritoneal barrier for fluid transport may change transiently during exchanges with the standard glucose - based dialysis fuid, whereas such changes were not observed with the amino acid-based fluid. This discrepancy may be due to a different composition of the dialysis fluids, including osmotic agent, buffer and pH.
Towards a New Economic Development Framework for the United States: The Challenge of the Developmental State Approach

Abstract The paper seeks to frame a new economic development strategy for the United States while taking into consideration a range of impediments to the country’s recent macroeconomic performance. In constructing such a framework, special emphasis is being placed on three key themes: (1) a pragmatic discourse on the “appropriate” developmental policy action by the Federal government, (2) emphasis on strengthening local production lines, and (3) the importance of adopting a long-term perspective. The main focus of the paper is to describe what policy approach might be advisable to boost, rejuvenate, and reposition the production lines of the USA and make the country’s economy more dynamic by effectively employing explicit and thorough developmental state action: this argument is advanced here as a necessary framework for support of selected industries of high potential and achievability in the United States.
The Development of Bioactive Triple Helix‐Forming Oligonucleotides

We are developing triple helix‐forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) as gene targeting reagents in mammalian cells. We have described psoralen‐conjugated TFOs containing 2′‐O‐methyl (2′OMe) and 2′‐O‐aminoethoxy (AE) ribose substitutions. TFOs with a cluster of 3‐4 AE residues, with all other sugars as 2′OMe, were bioactive in a gene knockout assay in mammalian cells. In contrast, TFOs with one or two clustered, or three dispersed, AE residues were inactive. Thermal stability analysis of the triplexes indicated that there were only incremental differences between the active and inactive TFOs. However the active and inactive TFOs could be distinguished by their association kinetics. The bioactive TFOs showed markedly greater on‐rates than the inactive TFOs. It appears that the on‐rate is a better predictor of TFO bioactivity than thermal stability. Our data are consistent with a model in which a cluster of 3‐4 AE residues stabilizes the nucleation event that precedes formation of a complete triplex. It is likely that triplexes in cells are much less stable than triplexes in vitro probably as a result of elution by chromatin‐associated translocases and helicases. Consequently the biologic assay will favor TFOs that can bind and rebind genomic targets quickly.
Meta-analysis of social cognition in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): comparison with healthy controls and autistic spectrum disorder

Background Impairment in social cognition is an established finding in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Emerging evidence suggests that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might be also associated with deficits in theory of mind (ToM) and emotion recognition. However, there are inconsistent findings, and it has been debatable whether such deficits persist beyond childhood and how similar social cognitive deficits are in ADHD v. ASD. Method We conducted a meta-analysis of social cognition, including emotion recognition and ToM, studies in ADHD compared with healthy controls and ASD. The current meta-analysis involved 44 studies comparing ADHD (n = 1999) with healthy controls (n = 1725) and 17 studies comparing ADHD (n = 772) with ASD (n = 710). Results Facial and vocal emotion recognition (d = 0.40–0.44) and ToM (d = 0.43) abilities were significantly impaired in ADHD. The most robust facial emotion recognition deficits were evident in anger and fear. Social cognitive deficits were either very subtle (emotion recognition) or non-significant (ToM) in adults with ADHD. Deficits in social cognition, especially ToM, were significantly more pronounced in ASD compared with ADHD. General cognitive impairment has contributed to social cognitive deficits in ADHD. Conclusions Performance of individuals with ADHD on social cognition lies intermediate between ASD and healthy controls. However, developmental trajectories of social cognition probably differ between ADHD and ASD as social cognitive deficits in ADHD might be improving with age in most individuals. There is a need for studies investigating a potential subtype of ADHD with persistent social cognitive deficits and exploring longitudinal changes in social cognition during development.