Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Aromatase and 17β‐Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Expression in Rat Osteoblastic Cells

Postmenopausal loss of 17β‐estradiol (E2) in women is associated with decreased bone mineral density and increased susceptibility to osteoporotic bone fracture. These changes in bone status are assumed to be due to circulating levels of the hormone; therapeutic replacement of E2 can alleviate the bone disease. However, recent reports have shown that human osteoblastic (OB) cells are able to synthesize estrogens locally, via expression of the enzyme aromatase. In this study, we have characterized the expression and activity of aromatase and 17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β‐HSD) in rat OB cell lines. Aromatase activity in ROS 17/2.8, ROS 25/1, and UMR 106 cells was similar to that shown in human OB cells, with the highest levels of activity observed in the more differentiated ROS 17/2.8 cells (Vmax = 45 pmol/h/mg of protein). The rat OB cells also showed 17β‐HSD activity, with the predominant metabolism in all three cell lines being estrone (E1) to E2. As with aromatase, the highest activity was observed in ROS 17/2.8 cells (Vmax = 800 pmol/h/mg of protein). Northern analyses indicated the variable presence of transcripts corresponding to the type 1, 2, 3, and 4 isoforms of 17β‐HSD. Further analysis of androstenedione metabolism indicated that the net effect of aromatase and 17β‐HSD activity varied with cell type and culture treatment. All three OB cell lines were able to synthesize E1, E2, and testosterone from androstenedione, although activity varied between OB cell types. Regulatory effects were observed with 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 (positive) and dexamethasone (negative). These data suggest that local synthesis of sex hormones is an important function of OB cells and may play a key role in the modulation of bone turnover independent of circulating hormone concentrations.
A heterogeneous coefficient approach to the knowledge production function

ABSTRACT Past literature has used conventional spatial autoregressive panel data models to relate patent production output to knowledge production inputs. However, research conducted on regional innovation systems points to regional disparities in both regions’ ability to turn their knowledge inputs into innovation and to access external knowledge. Applying a heterogeneous coefficients spatial autoregressive panel model, we estimate region-specific knowledge production functions (KPFs) for 94 NUTS-3 regions in France using a panel covering 21 years from 1988 to 2008 and four high-technology industries. A great deal of regional heterogeneity in the KPF relationship exists across regions, providing new insights regarding spatial spillin and spillout effects between regions.
Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative 4 th International Consensus Conference Workgroup 4 Minimizing Impact of Renal Replacement Therapy on Recovery of Acute Renal Failure

Although renal replacement therapy (RRT) is the mainstay of supportive care in patients with severe acute renal failure (ARF), performance of this life-sustaining treatment can have untoward effects that contribute to the prolongation of renal failure or impede the ultimate recovery of renal function. Renal biopsies in patients with prolonged ARF managed using hemodialysis demonstrated regions of fresh tubular necrosis days to weeks after the initial inciting insult [1,2]. Both dialysis-associated hypotension and the activation of cellular and humoral mediators by exposure to the extracorporeal circuit have been proposed mechanisms of this ongoing parenchymal injury [2. ]. Access catheter-associated complications, metabolic, and electrolyte disturbances related to the performance of RRT may also impact on outcomes in patients with ARF.
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 evolutionary patterns associated with pathogenic processes in the brain

The interplay between pathology and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) expansion in brain tissues has not been thoroughly assessed in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era. HIV-associated dementia (HAD) is marked by progressive brain infection due to recruitment and migration of macrophages in brain tissues; however, the cellular and viral events occurring prior to HAD development and death are under debate. In this study, 66 brain tissues from 11 autopsies were analyzed to assess HIV-1 DNA concentration in brain tissues. In most patients without HAD, it was impossible to amplify HIV-1 from brain tissues. Amplifiable DNA was obtained from three cases of patients on HAART who died due to primary pathology other than HAD: (1) cardiovascular disease, a disease associated with HAART therapy; (2) bacterial infections, including Mycobacterium avium complex, rapid occurrence of extreme dementia; and (3) acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related lymphoma with meningeal involvement. HIV-1 DNA was also amplified from multiple tissues of two HAD patients. Analysis of HIV-1 nef, gp120, and gp41 sequences showed reduced viral evolution within brain tissues for the non-HAD cases relative to patients with clinical and histological HAD. The present study is the first to show a potential correlation between HIV-1 evolutionary patterns in the brain and different neuropathologies.
Differences in methodological quality between positive and negative published clinical trials.

AIM Comparison of methodological quality differences in nursing clinical trials with positive and negative findings. BACKGROUND The growth of nursing publications and increased reliance on data to guide clinical care make publication quality assessment imperative. One major concern is the tendency for more studies with positive findings to be published, potentially resulting in the publication of lower quality trials. DESIGN Secondary analysis of published trials to compare studies with positive and negative findings in terms of clinical trial quality and sample size calculation methodology. DATA SOURCES Twenty articles each from three major nursing journals (Journal of Clinical Nursing, Journal of Advanced Nursing and International Journal of Nursing Studies) for the years 2010-2012. We assessed article quality in terms of Jadad scores, methods and total sample size. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING This article underscores the importance of nurses and nursing students having the ability to assess the quality of published trials, so that they can make appropriate judgments on the implementation of care for patients as the use of evidence-based practice increases. CONCLUSION Potential differences in methodological quality between positive and negative trials may lead to positive trials with biased results, or discrimination against negative trials. The CONSORT is recommended, but use is still limited. Therefore, it is important to reinforce the use of these guidelines to supply readers with information on the quality of the published trials. The combination of authors publishing higher quality trials and deeper reader knowledge of quality assessment can have important clinical consequences.
Debating the Truth

How does fact-checking influence individuals’ attitudes and evaluations of political candidates? Fact-checking plays an increasingly important role in U.S. elections, yet we know little about its impact on voters. To answer this question, I conduct an experiment utilizing one political debate from the 2013 New Jersey Gubernatorial race in combination with fact-checks that offer either confirming information or corrective information to determine how fact-checking influences evaluations of candidates. I find that evaluations of the candidate’s debate performance and evaluations of the debate winner are improved by the presence of a fact-check that confirms the accuracy of a candidates’ statement and lowered by fact-checks that state that a candidate is being dishonest. Moreover, respondents indicate greater willingness to vote for a candidate when the fact-check indicates that the candidate is being honest. These findings suggest that fact-checking can influence people’s evaluations of political events.
Associations of Physical Activity and Calcium Intake with Bone Mass and Size in Healthy Women at Different Ages

Weight‐bearing exercise and calcium intake are known to contribute to bone density. However, the relative significance of physical activity and calcium intake in the development of bone characteristics in functionally different weight‐bearing and nonweight‐bearing bone sites at different ages is poorly known. A total of 422 women in three age groups (25–30, 40–45, and 60–65 years) were screened from 1017 women and divided into four groups by their level of physical activity (high [PA+] and low [PA−]) and calcium intake (high [Ca+] and low [Ca−]). Total body bone mineral content (TBBMC), areal bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck and distal radius, and selected dimensions and estimated strength variables (bone width, cortical wall thickness, cross‐sectional moment of inertia, and section modulus of the femoral and radial shafts) were measured with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Both high physical activity and high calcium intake were associated with a higher TBBMC when compared with low activity and calcium intake (1.8% and 4.6%, respectively). The BMD of the weight‐bearing femoral neck was 5% higher in the PA+ groups than in the PA− groups, whereas calcium intake showed no such significant association. Neither physical activity nor calcium intake was associated with the BMD of the nonweight‐bearing radius. However, both high physical activity and high calcium intake were related to larger and mechanically more competent bones in the femoral and radial shafts, the association for physical activity being stronger with increasing age. No significant interaction between physical activity and calcium intake was found with respect to any of the bone variables. These data from a cross‐sectional study suggest that a moderate level of physical activity or a sufficient level of calcium intake, if maintained from childhood, can result in considerable long‐term improvement in the mechanical competence of the skeleton. The clinical relevance of these findings is further emphasized by the fact that the observed patterns of physical activity and calcium intake pertain to customary lifestyle and are thus feasible targets for the primary prevention of osteoporosis.
Wage costs and industry (re)location in the enlarged european union

Micro data of medium and large sized manufacturing firms in Europe are used to analyze whether wage cost differentials between high and low wage location can trigger employment relocation. Examining differences in labor costs and productivity between Western and Central Europe reveals that labor costs are about five times lower in the typical firm in Central Europe as compared to labor costs in high wage countries such as Belgium and Germany, but also that labor productivity is more than five times lower in Central Europe. The paper analyzes labor demand as a function of labor costs in comparable sectors in different locations, but finds no evidence that employment substitution between high wage and low wage locations takes place in response to changes in wages. It also analyzes labor demand in multinational enterprises with affiliates in high and low wage locations. Employment relocation takes place, but only between high wage locations. A ten percent reduction in wage costs of affiliates located in other high wage countries reduces labor demand in parent firms in (mostly) high wage locations by one percent. Wages in low wage countries do not, on average, seem to influence labor demand in high wage countries, which suggests that low wage costs do not trigger relocation.
The heterogeneity of inflation expectation: An empirical analysis based on optimal information acquisition

Abstract This paper firstly estimates the inflation expectation of households by improved probability method and then estimates the inflation expectation of experts by VAR(2) Model. Based on these two estimations, we find that expert expectation has a higher precision but it does not act in a rational way as household expectation acts. There is a bi-directional Granger Causality link between households’ expectation and actual inflation. But the expert expectation is only the Granger reason of actual inflation. There is an obvious feedback mechanism between the inflation of household and expert. This heterogeneity of inflation may be the result of optimal information acquisition during the formation of private sector’s expectation.
Assessing for Barriers Prior to Advance Directive Execution: A Descriptive Study of Social Work Practice Behaviors

Existing research indicates that social workers are active, interdisciplinary participants in the facilitation of advance directives (Black, 2005). Despite policies designed to increase completion rates, only 36% of adults report having an advance directives (Rao, Anderson, Lin, & Laux, 2014; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). There are known barriers at the patient level that ultimately prevent advance directive documentation (Shickedanz et al., 2008). This study aimed to understand whether social worker awareness of patient-level barriers influence perceptions of advance directives and related practice behaviors. Social work setting, expectations, and sense of competency were also assessed for mediating influence. This study surveyed 56 medical social workers at five Minneapolis-St.Paul metropolitan-area hospitals. Data was collected through a self-administered 55item questionnaire designed by the researcher. This study found that social workers who felt a greater sense of personal responsibility and competence around facilitating advance directives were significantly more likely to assess for patient barriers to advance directive completion. Based on this research, it is recommended that medical settings provide comprehensive advance directive training targeted to social workers. This research also suggests that settings ought to clarify the responsibility social workers have to facilitating advance directives so as to improve assessment of and responsiveness to patient-level barriers. ASSESSING FOR BARRIERS 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to thank my faculty chair, Ms. Renee Hepperlen, AM, Ph.D. of the University of St. Thomas and St. Catherine University Graduate School of Social Work. Thank you for your direction and encouragement as I clarified my vision for this research project. This study could not have been completed without your skill and expertise in research design and statistical analyses. Your patience and kindness bolstered me through unexpected obstacles, providing me with the calm strength I needed to succeed. I would also like to thank the experts who made up my research committee: Jenna Senger, LICSW, and Maureen Tyra, LICSW. Their insight as experts in the field of medical social work was invaluable to this project, and their feedback strengthened my research tremendously. Thank you for the ongoing support and endless flexibility as I worked through this process! Finally, I must express my profound gratitude to my parents and partner Brian. Thank you for gracefully stepping to the side and allowing my graduate education to be a top priority. I could not have succeeded without your unfailing encouragement, love, and understanding. ASSESSING FOR BARRIERS 4 Table of
Different Modulatory Effects of IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23 on Osteoblast Differentiation

Objectives To examine the expressions of IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23 receptors in four osteoblast models and the effects of IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23 on osteoblasts. Methods Gene expression levels of receptors, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OCN), and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2), were evaluated by RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR. Proliferative responses and cell cycle analysis were detected by a CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. ALP activity and ALP mass were detected by an ALP activity assay and ALP staining, respectively. Results In primary osteoblasts, only the IL-17 receptor was expressed. In C2C12, MC3T3-E1, and Saos-2 cells, the genes of IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23 receptors were not detectable. None of IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23 had an obvious effect on the proliferation of primary osteoblasts, but IL-17 exhibited an inhibitory effect on the gene expression of ALP, OCN, and Runx-2. The ALP activity and ALP mass of primary osteoblasts were downregulated by IL-17 treatment in a dose-dependent manner, and IL-17 failed to inhibit BMP-2-induced phosphorylation of Smad. Conclusion Primary osteoblasts constitutively express IL-17 receptors, but none of C2C12 cells, MC3T3-E1 cells, and Saos-2 cells express any receptors for IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23. IL-17 inhibits BMP-2-induced osteoblast differentiation via the BMP/Smad-independent pathway.
Prevalence of coronary artery disease and coronary risk factors in an urban population of Tirupati.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of coronary heart disease and its risk factors in the urban population of Tirupati. METHODS The urban population of Tirupati is spread into 20 wards. Thirteen wards were selected randomly and systematic random sampling was done to identify the sampling unit household. A total of 1519 subjects (539 males and 980 females) 20 years of age formed the sample of the study. Demographic (age, sex, occupation, education and income), behavioral (smoking), anthropometric (height, weight, waist and hip circumferences) and physiological (blood pressure) parameters were noted and recorded and biochemical parameters (serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol levels) were assayed. Coronary artery disease was diagnosed based on history and ECG changes suggestive of ST-segment depression (Minnesota 4-1 to 4-2) or Q wave changes (Minnesota codes 1-1-1 to 1-1-7) or T wave changes (Minnesota codes 5-1 to 5-3). RESULTS The overall prevalence in the study population was 12.63 (192 cases). In males it was 6.86 (37 cases) and in females 15.81 (155 cases). The major risk factors in this population were central obesity 1003 (66%) [male 320 (59.4%) and females 683 (41.12%)], low HDL cholesterol 709 (46.67%) [male 284 (52.69%) and females 425 (43.36%)], obesity 588 (38.07%) [males 187 (34.32%) and females 403 (41.12%)], high triglyceride levels (>or= 150 mg/dl) 444 (29.22%)[(males 173 (32.09%) and females 272 (27.75%)], high cholesterol levels (>or= 200mg/dl) [(males 127 (23.56%) and females 278 (28.36%)] and hypertension 396 (26.06) [(males 149 (27.64%) and females 247 (25.20%)]. Around a fraction of subjects had metabolic syndrome 371 (24.42%) [(males 90 (16.69%) and females 281 (28.64%)]. In multivariate regression analysis, age (OR 1.05 95% CI 1.01-1.09 p<0.01) and high serum LDL cholesterol level (OR 4.62 95% CI 2.29-9.32 p<0.001) in males and serum triglycerides (OR 1.003 95% CI 1.000-1.005) in females were associated with CAD. CONCLUSIONS Association of age, high LDL cholesterol in males and triglycerides in females with CAD shows the importance of these risk factors in this population. This was only a cross-sectional study done at one point of time. Clinical importance of these risk factors needs to be tested in the longitudinal study.
Transfer pricing regulation and taxation of royalty payments

The digital economy is characterized by the use of intellectual property such as software, patents, and trademarks. The pricing of such intangibles is widely used to shift profits to low-tax countries. We analyze the implications of different OECD methods to regulate transfer pricing and the role of a source tax on royalty payments for abusive transfer pricing. First, we show that under the traditional transfer pricing methods mispricing of royalty payments does not affect investment behavior. In contrast, the Transactional Profit Split Method that is promoted by the OECD for evaluating firms in the digital economy triggers higher investment in order to facilitate higher profit shifting. Second, royalty taxation is effective in reducing (such) abusive profit shifting, but always reduces investment. Third, a royalty tax rate below the corporate tax rate leads to overinvestment in a tax system with allowance for corporate equity (ACE).
TESOL, a profession that eats its young! The importance of reflective practice in language teacher education

The field of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) is similar to other fields in that we must not take it for granted that novice teachers will survive their first year without some kind of support. This paper outlines how three novice ESL teachers in Canada survived their first year without any support from the school they were placed. Specifically, the paper outlines how they, with the aid of a facilitator, engaged in reflective practice by using a framework for reflecting on practice to help them navigate complex issues and challenges they faced during their first year of teaching. Had they not engaged in such structured reflection during their first year, they would have probably become another statistic of those who quit the profession and contribute to the growing perception that TESOL is a profession that eats its young. The paper suggests that language teacher educators and novice teachers should not just wait until their first year to learn the skills of reflective practice but should do so much earlier in their teacher education programs so that they can be better prepared for the transition from their teacher education programs to the first year of teaching.
Comparative anatomy of the extraocular muscles in four Myliobatoidei rays (Batoidea, Myliobatiformes)

Extraocular muscles are classically grouped as four rectus and two oblique muscles. However, their description and potential associations with species behavior are limited. The objective was to characterize extraocular muscles in four Myliobatoidei rays from diverse habitats with divergent behaviors. Heads (10 per species) of Dasyatis hypostigma, Gymnura altavela, Mobula thurstoni and Pteroplatytrygon violacea were decalcified and dissected to characterize and describe extraocular muscles. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to evaluate relationships between muscle length and species; for P. violacea, D. hypostigma and G. altavela, these were qualitatively and quantitatively consistent with the general pattern of extraocular muscles in vertebrates. In contrast, for M. thurstoni, the two oblique muscles were completely fused and there was a seventh extraocular muscle, named m. lateral rectus β (both were apparently novel findings in this species). There were also significant differences in eye disposition in the chondrocranium. The PCA axis 1 (rectus muscles) and PCA axis 2 (oblique muscles) accounted for 98.47% of data variability. Extraocular muscles had significant differences in length and important anatomical differences among sampled species that facilitated grouping species according to their life history. In conclusion, extraocular muscles are not uniform in all vertebrate species, thereby providing another basis for comparative studies.