Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genotypes and polymorphisms of mutant CCR5-delta 32, CCR2-64I and SDF1-3' a HIV-1 resistance alleles in indigenous Han Chinese.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the frequencies and polymorphisms of CCR5-delta 32, CCR2-64I and SDF1-3' A alleles conferring resistance to HIV-1 infection in Chinese population from Han ethnic origin. METHODS This cohort was comprised of 1251 subjects (915 men and 336 women) aged 15-80 years and none was HIV-1 positive. Genotyping of allelic CCR5-delta 32, CCR2-64I and SDF1-3' A variants was performed using PCR or PCR/RFLP assay, and further confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. RESULTS Our finding shows that the delta 32 deletion mutation in the CCR5 gene does occur in this population and can be inherited in a Mendelian fashion in indigenous Han Chinese at a very low frequency of 0.00119 (n = 1254). The frequencies of mutant CCR2-64I and SDF1-3' A alleles were 0.20023 (n = 1251) and 0.2873 (n = 893), in this population, which are higher than those found in American Caucasians. Furthermore the polymorphisms of CCR2-64I and SDF1-3' A alleles in the Han Chinese population were different from those in American Caucasians. Statistical analysis showed that the genotype distribution of CCR5-delta 32, CCR2-64I and SDF1-3' A alleles was in equilibrium according to the Hardy-Weinberg equation. CONCLUSION The CCR5-delta 32 mutation may not be a major resistant factor against HIV-1 infection in indigenous Han Chinese. The significance of higher frequencies of CCR2-641 and SDF1-3' A alleles (0.20023 and 0.2791) in the Han population remains to be clarified in HIV-1-positive carriers and AIDS patients.
Cooperation in a Risky World

We study the effect of environmental risk on cooperation in the Voluntary Contribution Mechanism. Our baseline is the standard setting in which the personal return from the public good is deterministic, homogeneous, and publicly known. Our experimental treatments alter this classic design by making the marginal per capita return from the public good probabilistic. In the homogeneous risk treatment, the random draw is made for the whole group, while in the heterogeneous risk treatment this happens independently for each group member. Our main result is that risk does not harm cooperation either in the one-shot or in the finitely repeated version of the game. This suggests that the standard experimental methodology provides a robust and conservative measure of human cooperation.
Demonstration of an anti‐oxidative stress mechanism of quetiapine

We have shown that quetiapine, a new antipsychotic drug, protects cultured cells against oxidative stress‐related cytotoxicities induced by amyloid β (Aβ)25‐35, and that quetiapine prevents memory impairment and decreases Aβ plaques in the brains of amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin‐1 (PS‐1) double‐mutant mice. The aim of this study was to understand why quetiapine has these protective effects. Because the cytotoxicity of both Aβ(25‐35) and Aβ(1‐40) requires fibril formation, our first experiments determined the effect of quetiapine on Aβ(25‐35) aggregation. Quetiapine inhibited Aβ(25‐35) aggregation in cell‐free aqueous solutions and blocked the fibrillar aggregation of Aβ(25‐35), as observed under an electron microscope. We then investigated why quetiapine inhibits Aβ(25‐35) aggregation. During the aggregation of Aβ(25‐35), a hydroxyl radical (OH•) was released, which in turn amplified Aβ(25‐35) aggregation. Quetiapine blocked OH•‐induced Aβ(25‐35) aggregation and scavenged the OH• produced in the Fenton system and in the Aβ(25‐35) solution, as analyzed using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Furthermore, new compounds formed by quetiapine and OH• were observed in MS analysis. Finally, we applied Aβ(25‐35) to PC12 cells to observe the effect of quetiapine on living cells. Aβ(25‐35) increased levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and calcium in PC12 cells and caused cell death, but these toxic effects were prevented by quetiapine. These results demonstrate an anti‐oxidative stress mechanism of quetiapine, which contributes to its protective effects observed in our previous studies and explains the effectiveness of this drug for Alzheimer’s disease patients with psychiatric and behavioral complications.
SME Knowledge Commercialization Through Public Sector Partnerships

Collaborating with public research organizations (PROs) helps SMEs acquire the knowledge and skills they need to successfully innovate. But do they also help SMEs reduce their exposure to involuntary knowledge misappropriation and legitimacy deficits? Building from transaction economics and population ecology theories, we hypothesize that innovative SMEs collaborate with PROs to not only co-develop knowledge, but also to mitigate the risk that knowledge will be misappropriated from larger firms as well as to build overall organizational legitimacy. Binary and ordinal regression analyses using the EIM Technology Panel including 779 innovative SMEs in the Netherlands reveal that some of the variations in SME innovation partnership behavior may indeed be explained by efforts to avoid knowledge misappropriation and gain endorsements and affiliation with highly legitimate PROs.
The Effect of Sirolimus on Prostate‐Specific Antigen (PSA) Levels in Male Renal Transplant Recipients Without Prostate Cancer

In kidney recipients, the immunosuppressant sirolimus has been associated with a decreased incidence of de novo posttransplant malignancies (including prostate cancer). But the effect of sirolimus on the prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) blood level, an important prostate cancer screening tool, remains unknown. We studied male kidney recipients >50 years old (transplanted from January 1994 to December 2006) without clinical evidence for prostate cancer. Pre‐ and posttransplant PSA levels were analyzed for 97 recipients (n = 19 on sirolimus, n = 78 on tacrolimus [control group]). Pretransplant PSA was similar for sirolimus versus tacrolimus recipients (mean, 1.8 versus 1.7 ng/mL, p = 0.89), but posttransplant PSA was significantly lower for recipients on sirolimus (mean, 0.9 versus 1.9 ng/mL, respectively, p < 0.001). The mean difference between pretransplant and posttransplant PSA was −0.9 ng/mL (50.0%, p = 0.006) for the sirolimus group versus +0.2 ng/mL (+11.8%, p = 0.24) for the tacrolimus group. By multivariate analysis, only pretransplant PSA and immunosuppression with sirolimus independently impacted posttransplant PSA. Our data strongly suggest that sirolimus is associated with a significant PSA decrease in kidney recipients. Future studies must investigate the clinical implications of our findings for the use of PSA for prostate cancer screening in male kidney recipients on sirolimus.
Clinical evaluation of hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate composite graft in the treatment of intrabony periodontal defect: A clinico-radiographic study

Background and Objective: Hydroxyapatite (HA) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) grafts have shown to be effective in promoting the clinical signs of periodontal regeneration in intrabony defects. The aim of our study was to clinically and radiographically evaluate the efficacy of HA and β-TCP composite bone graft material in the treatment of intrabony three-wall defect. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients participated in this study. Interproximal bony defects were surgically treated with a combination of HA–βTCP (biphasic calcium phosphate). Changes in clinical parameters such as gingival status, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment, and radiographic estimation of the amount of bone fill were evaluated after 6 months postoperatively. Statistical Analysis Used: Student's “t” test. Results: This treatment modality resulted in significant pocket depth reduction and clinical attachment gain which were observed to be 2.938 mm (47.04%) and 3.188 mm (29.09%), respectively. The defect fill as seen radiographically was 3.204 mm (63.195%). All the differences were highly significant and in favor of postoperative group. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that HA–βTCP (biphasic calcium phosphate) provides an added regenerative effect in promoting the clinical resolution of intrabony three-wall defects in patients with periodontitis.
Protein kinase C modulates hormone secretion regulated by extracellular polycations in bovine parathyroid cells.

1. The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion was examined in dissociated bovine parathyroid cells. 2. Increasing the concentration of extracellular Ca2+ from 0.5 to 2 mM inhibited PTH secretion by 60‐80%. Similar depressive effects on secretion were obtained by increasing the concentration of extracellular Mg2+ from 1 to 7 mM or by adding La3+ (to 40 microM). The PKC activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) depressed PTH secretion at the lower and potentiated secretion at the higher concentrations of extracellular Ca2+, Mg2+ or La3+. The inhibitory effect of PKC on secretion correlated positively with the magnitude of the inhibitory effect elicited by elevated extracellular Ca2+. 3. The stimulatory effects of PKC activators on PTH secretion were reversed completely and the inhibitory effects were reversed partially by the PKC inhibitor staurosporine. Staurosporine alone did not affect secretion at low (0.5 mM) or high (2 mM) concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ but it did depress secretion at intermediate concentrations (around 1 mM) of extracellular Ca2+. 4. The stimulatory effects of PKC activators on secretion were overcome by increases in the concentration of extracellular Ca2+ (to 5 or 10 mM) or La3+ (to 100 microM). In contrast, increasing the concentration of extracellular Mg2+ to 11 or 19 mM did not alleviate the potentiating effects of PKC activators. The different results obtained with Ca2+ and Mg2+ could not be explained by their different effects on cytosolic Ca2+ and suggests that different cations can have varying degrees of efficacy to activate functional responses linked to the Ca2+ receptor on bovine parathyroid cells. 5. PTH secretion stimulated by isoprenaline was not affected by PKC activators or staurosporine. Similarly, the inhibitory effects of extracellular ATP gamma S on secretion were unaffected by PKC activators. These results show that PKC activators affect specifically PTH secretion regulated by extracellular polycations. 6. The stimulatory effect of PKC activators on secretion parallels its inhibitory effects on [Ca2+]i and inositol trisphosphate formation, showing that PKC blunts the mechanisms associated with extracellular Ca(2+)‐induced inhibition of secretion. The specificity of these actions suggests that PKC acts at a very early step of stimulus‐secretion coupling in parathyroid cells, specific to that used by extracellular polycations and perhaps involving the Ca2+ receptor.
Elastic modulus imaging: some exact solutions of the compressible elastography inverse problem

We consider several inverse problems motivated by elastography. Given the (possibly transient) displacement field measured everywhere in an isotropic, compressible, linear elastic solid, and given density ρ, determine the Lamé parameters λ and μ. We consider several special cases of this problem: (a) for μ known a priori, λ is determined by a single deformation field up to a constant. (b) Conversely, for λ known a priori, μ is determined by a single deformation field up to a constant. This includes as a special case that for which the term λ∇ ⋅ u ≡ 0. (c) Finally, if neither λ nor μ is known a priori, but Poisson's ratio ν is known, then μ and λ are determined by a single deformation field up to a constant. This includes as a special case plane stress deformations of an incompressible material. Exact analytical solutions valid for 2D, 3D and transient deformations are given for all cases in terms of quadratures. These are used to show that the inverse problem for μ based on the compressible elasticity equations is unstable in the limit λ → ∞. Finally, we use the exact solutions as a basis to compute non-trivial modulus distributions in a simulated example.
Partial Demagnetization of Permanent Magnets in Electrical Machines Caused by an Inclined Field

We report a study of partial demagnetization of axially pressed sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets by inclined pulse demagnetization measurements, including a recoil behavior of the Nd-Fe-B material. From these measurements, we develop a simple empirical model for demagnetization of Nd-Fe-B magnets caused by an inclined field. We calculate demagnetization of a simple surface-magnet machine and a two-pole high-speed machine by using an exponent function-based model, taking also the inclined demagnetizing field into account. We show that it is not enough to consider only antiparallel demagnetizing field components in accurate demagnetization calculations.
Essays on Business Cycles with Credit Shocks

A recent but growing literature in macroeconomics works to reconcile microeconomic data with the micro-level predictions of dynamic stochastic equilibrium models in an effort to improve the aggregate performance of macroeconomic models. My dissertation follows in this new tradition. It also contributes to a recently revitalized literature attempting to understand the links between financial markets and real economic activity. The essays discussed below examine how real and financial shocks affect the distribution of production in an economy, and how that distribution in turn influences aggregate quantity variables. The models I explore involve rich, timevarying distributions of firms differing in their capital stocks, debt, and productivities. In the first chapter, “Firm Size and Business Cycles with Credit Shocks,” I highlight the importance of empirically consistent firm-level heterogeneity in shaping aggregate dynamics. A large empirical literature documents that the firm size distribution is highly-skewed, a finding that business cycle studies typically ignore. I quantitatively investigate the macroeconomic implications of a realistic size distribution in an economy with real and financial shocks. Specifically, I build a tractable model including heterogeneous firms in which each firm faces persistent shocks to both individual and aggregate productivity. Firms choose employment, investment and debt, and these decisions are made in a setting with forward-looking collateral constraints that limit loan sizes as a function of firms chosen capital stocks. In
Iron Deficiency in Early Childhood in the United States: Risk Factors and Racial/Ethnic Disparities

BACKGROUND. Iron deficiency affects 2.4 million US children, and childhood iron-deficiency anemia is associated with behavioral and cognitive delays. Given the detrimental long-term effects and high prevalence of iron deficiency, its prevention in early childhood is an important public health issue. OBJECTIVES. The study objectives were to (1) identify risk factors for iron deficiency in US children 1 to 3 years old, using data from the most recent waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV (1999–2002) and (2) examine risk factors for iron deficiency among Hispanic toddlers, the largest minority group of US children. PATIENTS AND METHODS. Analyses of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV were performed for a nationally representative sample of US children 1 to 3 years old. Iron-status measures were transferrin saturation, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin, and serum ferritin. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors associated with iron deficiency. RESULTS. Among 1641 toddlers, 42% were Hispanic, 28% were white, and 25% were black. The iron deficiency prevalence was 12% among Hispanics versus 6% in whites and 6% in blacks. Iron deficiency prevalence was 20% among those with overweight, 8% for those at risk for overweight, and 7% for normal-weight toddlers. Fourteen percent of toddlers with parents interviewed in a non–English language had iron deficiency versus 7% of toddlers with parents interviewed in English. Five percent of toddlers in day care and 10% of the toddlers not in day care had iron deficiency. Hispanic toddlers were significantly more likely than white and black toddlers to be overweight (16% vs 5% vs 4%) and not in day care (70% vs 50% vs 43%). In multivariable analyses, overweight toddlers and those not in day care had higher odds of iron deficiency. CONCLUSIONS. Toddlers who are overweight and not in day care are at high risk for iron deficiency. Hispanic toddlers are more likely than white and black toddlers to be overweight and not in day care. The higher prevalence of these risk factors among Hispanic toddlers may account for their increased prevalence of iron deficiency.
Dynamics of the Real Exchange Rate, Inflation, and Output Growth: The Case of Malawi

This paper investigates the temporal causality and dynamics of real exchange rate, inflation, and output growth in Malawi, controlling for monetary growth and foreign exchange accumulation. The relationships among these variables are examined using quarterly data and the bounds testing approach to cointegration analysis. A long run relationship among the variables is observed, with the real exchange rate as the dependent variable, which is found responsive, in the long run, to the growth rate of output but not to inflation. Analysis of short-run dynamics reveals that the real exchange rate was influenced by output growth and inflation. The Granger causality analysis in a multivariate setting points to causation running from the real exchange rate to inflation and from each of these to output growth. The lagged error correction term, where included, emerged significant, providing evidence for the presence of long-run causality running interactively through it from the other variables as a group to the real exchange rate. Taken together, the results indicate the relevance of domestic economic activity, monetary policy, and foreign exchange availability for the evolution of the real exchange rate, which, in turn, is observed to have played a role in influencing domestic inflation and output growth in Malawi.
Essential oils improved weight gain, growth and feed efficiency of young dairy calves fed 18 or 20% crude protein starter diets

The objective was to evaluate interactions between starter protein (180 vs. 200 g/kg, DM basis) and a mixture of essential oils (EOs; containing thymol, eugenol, vanillin, limonene and guaiacol) on growth, metabolic and ruminal functions of Holstein dairy calves. In a completely randomized 2 × 2 factorial design, 48 calves, 3 days old (averaging BW 42.7 ± 1.9 kg), were allocated into groups fed the following diets: (i) 180 g/kg CP with no EO (180P-NEO); (ii) 180 g/kg CP with EO (180P-EO); (iii) 200 g/kg CP with no EO (200P-NEO); and (iv) 200 g/kg CP with EO (200P-EO). The EO was supplemented as 1 g/kg of starter DM. Calves were fed ad libitum starter diet and were weaned at day 59 of age, but diets continued until day 80. There were no interactive effects of CP and EO on intake and growth. Pre-weaning feed efficiency tended to be increased for 200P-EO (p = .09). Average daily gain and feed efficiency during pre-weaning period as well as weaning weight were increased (p < .05) by EO, whereas wither height was increased by EO (p = .03) and tended to be increased for 200P vs. 180P (p = .06). Post-weaning blood urea nitrogen concentration tended to be lower in 180P vs. 200P (p = .08). Ruminal short-chain fatty acids concentration was greatest in 200P-EO. The EO increased both butyrate (p = .02) and propionate proportions (p = .01) and reduced acetate proportional ratio (p < .01). Ruminal ammonia-N was tended to be lower in calves-fed EO (p = .05) and was lower in those fed 180P vs. 200P (p < .01). In conclusion, supplementation of the starter diet with essential oil improved weight gain, growth and feed efficiency of dairy calves, irrespective of dietary protein content.
Research ethics in practice: Lessons from studies exploring interpersonal violence in different contexts

Studies researching interpersonal violence (IPV) are associated with a range of ethical challenges. In this article, lessons are drawn from three case studies exploring the experiences of different groups of survivors and perpetrators of IPV in diverse contexts: refugees in the Thailand-Burma border area; partner-violent adult men and female survivors in Ireland; and school children in five European countries. The ethical - and associated methodological - challenges faced, and the ways in which they were overcome, are presented. Drawing on the case studies presented, the article concludes that three key areas require special attention when conducting research in this field: accessing and recruiting participants, researcher skills and experience, and appropriate use of data. Language: en
Targeting the p53 signaling pathway in cancer therapy – the promises, challenges and perils

Introduction: Research over the past three decades has identified p53 as a multi-functional transcription factor. p53 influences myriad, highly diverse cellular processes, and represents one of the most important and extensively studied tumor suppressors. Activated by various stresses, p53 blocks cancer progression by provoking transient or permanent growth arrest, by enabling DNA repair, or by advancing cellular death programs. This anti-cancer activity profile, together with genomic and mutational analyses documenting inactivation of p53 in more than 50% of human cancers, motivated drug development efforts to (re-) activate p53 in established tumors. Areas covered: The complexities of p53 signaling in cancer are summarized, including current strategies and challenges to restore p53's tumor suppressive function in established tumors, to inactivate p53 inhibitors, and to restore wild type function of p53 mutant proteins. Expert opinion: p53 represents an attractive target for the development of anti-cancer therapies. Whether p53 is ‘druggable’, however, remains an area of active research and discussion, as p53 has pro-survival functions and chronic p53 activation accelerates aging, which may compromise the long-term homeostasis of an organism. The complex biology and dual functions of p53 in cancer prevention and age-related cellular responses pose significant challenges to the development of p53-targeting cancer therapies.
Director Networks and Credit Ratings

We explore the impact of director social capital on credit ratings. Social capital is often associated with trust and cultivated through one’s personal networks. We show that firms which employ well-connected directors benefit with a higher credit rating. This result is amplified for firms that add connected directors to a board with lower social capital. The benefit is also shown to be greater during times of economic uncertainty. Furthermore, connected boards lead a firm to higher rating than their Z-scores would otherwise predict. Finally, we show that the results are pronounced around the investment grade threshold. Taken together, this paper shows the economic benefits firms enjoy when they hire connected directors to their board. Our results confirm that the causality runs from the connected boards to firm credit rating.