Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Potential role of beta 1 integrin and collagen biosynthesis in estrogen-dependent reduction of apoptosis in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer cells.

It was found that 10 microM tamoxifen induced apoptosis and a significant (approximately 50%) depletion of beta 1 integrin levels in human breast cancer cells. Estradiol-treated MCF-7 cells exhibited exceptional viability and adherence, high levels of beta 1 integrin and increased (by 100%) collagen biosynthesis. Pretreatment of MCF-7 cells with 1 nM estradiol prevented tamoxifen-induced cell death, loss of cell adherence and decrease in beta 1 integrin level. Tamoxifen and estradiol had an opposite effect on the beta 1 integrin level and adherence in breast cancer cells, suggesting that the decrease in the beta 1 integrin level may be an early event during tamoxifen-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
Sarcopenia is an independent prognostic factor in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with immunochemotherapy

Abstract Approximately 25–35% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are older than 70 years. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of depletion of skeletal muscle (sarcopenia) in elderly patients with DLBCL. This retrospective analysis included 82 patients with DLBCL older than 70 years and treated with R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, Oncovin, prednisone) or R-miniCHOP. Sarcopenia was measured by the analysis of stored computed tomography (CT) images at the L3 level at baseline. The surface of the muscular tissues was selected according to the CT Hounsfield unit. This value was normalized for stature in order to calculate the lumbar L3 skeletal muscle index (LSMI, in cm2/m2). The mean age of the population was 78 years. According to the defined cut-offs for LSMI, 45 patients with DLBCL were considered sarcopenic. Sarcopenic patients displayed a higher revised International Prognostic Index (R-IPI) compared with patients without sarcopenia, and were older, with a mean age of 80 years and 77 years, respectively (p = 0.006). With a median follow-up of 39 months, the 2-year overall survival in the sarcopenic population was 46% compared with 84% in the non-sarcopenic group (HR = 3.22; 95% CI = 1.73–5.98; p = 0.0002). In a multivariate analysis, sarcopenia remained predictive of outcome (p = 0.005). Sarcopenia is a relevant and predictive factor in elderly patients with DLBCL treated with rituximab plus chemotherapy.
Accounting Knowledge, Practices, and Controls of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises: Evidence from the Philippines

Of the business enterprises operating in the Philippines, 99.6% are micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The Magna Carta of Small Enterprises (Republic Act 6977) governs these MSMEs. However, they are still subject to laws on the declaration of income and other regulations as imposed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), including proper accounting in accordance with accounting standards.This paper looks at the accounting knowledge, practices and controls of MSMEs located in Metro Manila cities and in several Quezon Province towns. The study primary investigates whether or not MSMEs understand accounting principles, have acceptable accounting practices and controls. Majority of the MSMEs are either very knowledgeable or knowledgeable on accounting principles and concepts. MSMEs common accounting methods used are cash, accrual and installment. Common accounting practices used by MSMEs are manifested in their bad debt estimation, depreciation method used, net receivable estimation, business documents used and payment methods. MSMEs practice basic accounting controls; however, computers are not commonly used. ANOVA reveals that there are significant differences between MSMEs in Metro Manila and in Quezon Province on their knowledge of accounting principles, accounting practices and controls.
Effect of Rifampin on Plasma Concentrations of Mefloquine in Healthy Volunteers

Mefloquine is a 4‐quinolinemethanol compound structurally related to quinine. Quinine is mainly metabolized by the cytochrome P450 3A4 isozyme (CYP3A4), whereas rifampin, a potent inducer of CYP3A4, is known to markedly decrease plasma quinine concentration. Our aim was to study the effect of rifampin on the pharmacokinetics of mefloquine, and explore a possible role of CYP3A4 on mefloquine metabolism.
Ultrasound biomicroscopy. III. Accuracy and agreement of measurements.

PURPOSE To estimate the accuracy of measurements by the 50 MHz Humphrey Ultrasound Biomicroscope and evaluate the agreement of measurements by ultrasound biomicroscopy and optical pachometry. METHODS The accuracy was estimated by comparing measurements by ultrasound biomicroscopy with more exact mechanical methods. Forty-seven PMMA intraocular lenses and 52 distances between horizontal separated sutures were measured. The agreement between ultrasound biomicroscopy and optical pachometry was evaluated by comparing measurements of central cornea thickness and anterior chamber depth of 46 eyes. RESULTS The axial measurements by ultrasound biomicroscopy was on average 10 microm higher than the reference method (SEM 3 microm). The lateral measurements was without systematic difference from the reference method (SEM 5 microm). The mean central corneal thickness was considerably higher by optical pachometry, 557+/-5 microm (SEM), than by ultrasound biomicroscopy, 533+/-5 microm. Similarly for anterior chamber depth where mean measurements were 2955+/-66 microm and 2897+/-63 microm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The axial and lateral accuracy of ultrasound biomicroscopic measurements was good. The agreement between measurements obtained by ultrasound biomicroscopy and optical pachometry was poor in this investigation. Several circumstances could be accountable for this.
All-digital reconfigurable IR-UWB pulse generator using BPSK modulation in 130nm RF-CMOS process

A new circuit technique, the reconfigurable puise generator circuit is proposed to produce a puise width inversely proportional to the spectrum power bandwidth in the Impulse Radio Ultra-Wide Band (IR-UWB) circuits. The complete circuit was based on two pulse generator blocks using Positive Pulse Generator (PPG), and Negative Pulse Generator (NPG) to compose a rectangular waveform at the output. These pulse generators have been implemented with high impedance circuits and are selected by digital control signals. Thus, each block can be adjusted to generate up to eight sequential pulses per clock edge. The circuit was designed to use Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) scheme for modulation and can change the frequency spectrum of the signal pulses. In addition, we implemented a voltage divider circuit using two transistors in parallel with a charge pump circuit to control the signal amplitude at the output. The proposed pulse generator circuit operates at a maximum operation frequency at 12 GHz. The pos-layout simulations were performed using LTSpice, and the results show a pulse amplitude of 160mV and an average power consumption of 11.3 fJ per pulse at lowest operating frequency and 85.3 fJ per pulse at highest operating frequency, for a Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) of 100MHz at 1.3V power supply voltage. The core chip size occupies a very small area of 210 μm × 75 μm (without PADs).
Hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, control and associated factors in a developing southern Chinese population: analysis of serial cross-sectional health survey data 2002-2010.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate trends in the distribution, prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in a Chinese population that has had the fastest growing gross domestic product in the world over the past 3 decades. METHODS Four standardized cross-sectional health surveys were conducted between 2002 and 2010 in a population consisting of 85 million residents in Guangdong Province. Multistage cluster sampling was adopted to recruit representative samples. The data were obtained through on-site health examinations and face-to-face interviews. RESULTS The aging trend in this population was not significant (P = 0.17) during the survey period, whereas body mass index/waist circumference increased significantly (P = 0.047 for body mass index and P < 0.001 for waist circumference). The age-standardized prevalence of hypertension increased from 10.5% to 13.3%, averaging a 0.35% increase per year. A higher risk was observed in younger residents over the survey period. Awareness and treatment increased by 22.0% and 19.0%, respectively, in the rural areas, whereas there was no significant change in the urban area (the corresponding figures were 1.8% and -3.1%, respectively). There was no improvement in hypertension control (the age-standardized control prevalence in 2002 was 50.3%, whereas it was 43.2% in 2010). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of hypertension increased slightly in this population with the fastest economic development. This increase mirrored the trend of increasing obesity. Awareness and treatment of hypertension have improved in the rural areas, although there were no significant changes in the urban areas. The prevalence of awareness and treatment remains at unacceptably low levels, suggesting that urgent and aggressive strategies are necessary to improve hypertension control and intervention.
Self-categorization, affective commitment and group self-esteem as distinct aspects of social identity in the organization.

The purpose of this study is to distinguish between cognitive, affective and evaluative components of social identity in the organization and to show how the components instigate behaviours that benefit in-group members. A new scale for measuring cognitive organizational identification (i.e. self-categorization) is developed and compared to a leading scale. Internal consistency, convergent validity, predictive validity and generalizability of the two scales are established on a sample of Italian (N = 409) and Korean (N = 283) workers. Next, convergent and discriminant validity for measures of organizational identification, affective commitment and group self-esteem are demonstrated. Then, two antecedents of these components of social identity are examined: organization prestige and organization stereotypes. Finally, the mediating role of the components of social identity are investigated between the antecedents and five forms of citizenship behaviours. The last three analyses are performed on the Italian (N = 409) workers. Among other findings, the results show that affective commitment and self-esteem are the primary motivators of citizenship behaviours. Moreover, cognitive identification performs as a central mediator between prestige and stereotypes on the one hand, and affective commitment and self-esteem on the other. Identification is thus an indirect determinant of citizenship behaviours.
Localization of a high threshold potassium channel in the rat cochlear nucleus

Potassium channels play a major role in determining the pattern and frequency of neuronal firing. In the cochlear nucleus (CN), various morphologically defined types of neurons have different responses to a sound. We have previously identified one type of cloned K+ channel, termed Kv3.1, which is highly expressed in many auditory neurons. Expression studies indicate that Kv3.1 channels have an unusually high threshold for activation. In this study, we used both in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to examine the expression patterns of the Kv3.1 channel in the CN. In the ventral CN, bushy cells hybridized strongly with Kv3.1 specific probes and a subpopulation of stellate/multipolar cells hybridized with Kv3.1 probes. In the dorsal CN, pyramidal and large multipolar/giant cells expressed Kv3.1 mRNA. Abundant Kv3.1 immunolabeling was also observed in the CN. The pattern of immunolabeling revealed that the Kv3.1 protein is distributed along the soma, proximal dendrites, unmyelinated axons, and axon terminals of stained neurons. In the case of pyramidal and octopus cells, no immunolabeling was detected at the somata, even though these cells expressed Kv3.1 mRNA. Computer simulations were used to explore the functional role of the Kv3.1 channel. The simulations indicate that Kv3.1 conductances may contribute to repolarization of large synaptic potentials. When stimulated at high frequencies, the presence of Kv3.1 enhances the ability of a model cell with some of the features of bushy cells to follow high frequency input with temporal precision. J. Comp. Neurol. 386:178–202, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Co-Consumption of Benzodiazepines in Heroin Users, Methadone-Substituted and Codeine-Substituted Patients

Abstract Concomitant consumption of benzodiazepines (BZDs) and opioids is a major problem in patients with opioid dependence. It may have substantial impact on morbidity, mortality and clinical course. The current retrospective study aims to determine whether there are differences in the additional use of BZDs among addicts regularly taking methadone or codeine medications in treatment and untreated addicts injecting heroin. The records of 1,685 patients admitted for detoxification were analyzed using bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. Demographic and drug related variables were considered, both as possible confounders and predictors of concomitant BZD use. Daily intake of BZDs was reported in 44.4% of the patients. Patients treated with methadone or codeine medications report daily intake of BZDs significantly more often than the heroin-dependent patients (p < 0.01). Using multiple regression analyses, the results were confirmed as independent from the assessed possible confounders. Further we found that daily use of alcohol or barbiturates, early onset of opioid use (p < 0.01), unemployment, having a substance dependent family member with, and a history of imprisonment (for all p < 0.05) were associated with concomitant daily consumption of BZDs in opioid dependent subjects. These finding underline the need to further explore the causes, interactions and consequences of concomitant BZD and opiate use.
Stock Return Volatility And Trading Volume Relationships Captured With Stable Paretian GARCH And Threshold GARCH Models

This paper examines the volatility of Dow Jones Industrial Average stock returns and the trading volume by employing stable Paretian GARCH and Threshold GARCH (TGARCH) models. Our results indicate that the trading volume significantly contributes to the volatility of stock returns. Additionally, strong leverage effects exist with negative shocks having a larger impact on volatility than positive shocks. The likelihood ratio tests and goodness of fit support the use of stable Paretian GARCH and TGARCH models over Gaussian models.
A non-linear stochastic model for an office building with air infiltration

This paper presents a non-linear heat dynamic model for a multi-room office building with air infiltration. Several linear and non-linear models, with and without air infiltration, are investigated and compared. The models are formulated using stochastic differential equations and the model parameters are estimated using a maximum-likelihood technique. Based on the maximum-likelihood value, the different models are statistically compared to each other using Wilk's likelihood ratio test. The model showing the best performance is finally verified in both the time domain and the frequency domain using the auto-correlation function and cumulated periodogram . The proposed model which includes air-infiltration shows a significant improvement compared to previously proposed linear models. The model has subsequently been used in applications for provision of power system services, e.g. by providing heat load reduction during peak load hours, control of indoor air temperature and for generating forecasts of power consumption from space heating.
World-wide lightning location using VLF propagation in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide

Worldwide lightning location (WWLL) using only 30 lightning sensors has been successfully achieved by using only VLF propagation in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide (EIWG). Ground propagation or mixed "sky" and ground propagation is avoided by requiring evidence of Earth-ionosphere waveguide dispersion. A further requirement is that the lightning strike must be inside the perimeter defined by the lightning sensor sites detecting the stroke. Under these conditions, the time and the location of the stroke can be determined, along with the rms errors. Lightning strokes with errors exceeding 30 Ps or to assist with identifying impulses from the same lightning stroke, the lightning sensor threshold is automatically adjusted to allow an average detection rate of three per second. This largely limits detection to the strongest 4% of all lightning strokes, of which about 40% meet the accuracy requirements for time and location.
Serine Protease Inhibitors Block Invasion of Host Cells by Toxoplasma gondii

ABSTRACT We investigated the effect of protease inhibitors on the asexual development of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Among the inhibitors tested only two irreversible serine protease inhibitors, 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin and 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride, clearly prevented invasion of the host cells by specifically affecting parasite targets in a dose-dependent manner, with 50% inhibitory concentrations between 1 and 5 and 50 and 100 μM, respectively. Neither compound significantly affected parasite morphology, basic metabolism, or gliding motility within the range of the experimental conditions in which inhibition of invasion was demonstrated. No partial invasion was observed, meaning that inhibition occurred at an early stage of the interaction. These results suggest that at least one serine protease of the parasite is involved in the invasive process of T. gondii.
The Discourse of Participation: A Poststructural Study of Teachers' Involvement in the Implementation of an Educational Reform Initiative

Participation has been used as a catchword for decades in organizations and development agencies to legitimize programs and because it is seen as a vehicle to 'partnership' in and 'ownership' of programs. This study analyzed the discourse of participation in terms of power relations and how it impacts on teachers' involvement in the implementation of educational reform in the area of science education. More specifically the study sought: (a) to explore how science educators and administrators experience and value the process of participation in the implementation of educational reform and (b) to explore how participation impacts educational reform. A descriptive study was used to explore the topic in depth and detail. Data was collected using policy document review and interviews. Interviews were conducted with science teacher educators from a college of education; science teachers in primary and secondary schools; administrators from the college of education and secondary school; and officials from the ministry of education. Foucault's work on discourse, power/knowledge, resistance, and governmentality was used to analyse how and why teachers are invited or selected to participate in the implementation of educational reforms. The study showed that there was no single, unified discourse of participation in the policy texts or amongst the teachers and administrators. Instead, there were multiple definitions and practices that operated under the use of the concept of participation and hence different understandings of the term by practitioners and policy makers. Overall, the study showed that across all three schools, the first time that teachers experienced involvement in reform was when initiatives were introduced. In order to make the analysis more functional, the policy texts could be improved with clear guidelines and identification of the significant roles of speakers, as well as the impact of individual and institutional forces outside the organization. Language plays a vital role in identifying discourse ideology, purpose, and function. Therefore, concept analysis, such as that of participation, requires more in-depth study of language function relevant to Foucault's perspective.
Burnt Wives: A study of homicides

The death of married females nowadays is very common in India, usually being associated with dowry disputes. In India, dowries are a continuing series of gifts endowed before and after the marriage. When dowry expectations are not met, the young bride may be killed or compelled to commit suicide, most frequently by burning. In a cohort of 152 burned wives, 47 (31%) were homicidal burns and these cases were analyzed in view of epidemiological and medicolegal aspects. Homicide by burning amongst women is a major concern in India as it has become pervasive throughout all social strata and geographical areas. In this series, most women were from extended families (i.e. multigenerational groups of related individuals living under a single roof) and the homicides occurred within the first few years of their marriages. The majority of the affected wives were 16-25 years of age (77%) at the time of the incident and sustained more than 70% total body surface area (TBSA) burn injuries. Many of them were doused with kerosene and set alight. Most died at the time of the incident or within the subsequent 24 hours, most commonly from shock.
Density gradient profiles of A1 adenosine receptors labeled by agonist and antagonist radioligands before and after detergent solubilization.

A1 adenosine receptors in bovine cerebral cortex have been solubilized and subjected to sedimentation analysis using sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Because the receptors bound both agonists and antagonists with high affinity after solubilization, receptors labeled with an agonist or an antagonist radioligand could be studied before solubilization, after solubilization but before sucrose gradient centrifugation, or after sucrose gradient centrifugation. In each instance the agonist radioligand 125I-N6-p-aminobenzyladenosine (125I-ABA)-labeled receptor migrated as a single symmetrical peak that was located in the same area of the gradient. In contrast, the location of the receptor labeled with the antagonist [3H]xanthine amine congener [( 3H]XAC) varied in the different types of samples. When membranes were incubated with radioligands before solubilization, the peak of antagonist-labeled receptor was symmetrical and was located at a lower density than the peak of agonist-labeled receptor. In addition, receptors incubated with antagonist before solubilization migrated with an apparent lower density than receptors labeled with antagonist either after solubilization or after density gradient centrifugation. Treatments with agents that alter receptor/G protein interactions also resulted in a shift of antagonist-labeled receptors to lower density. These results suggest that the receptors that migrate to the lower density fractions of the gradients are free receptors, whereas those that migrate to the higher density fractions are coupled to a G protein. It is hypothesized that a large proportion of A1 receptors exist in the membrane coupled to a G protein and that this is the species labeled by the agonist radioligand 125I-ABA. It is, furthermore, hypothesized that the antagonist radioligand [3H]XAC preferentially binds to the free uncoupled A1 receptors. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)