Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attenuated Inflammatory Responses in Hemochromatosis Reveal a Role for Iron in the Regulation of Macrophage Cytokine Translation1

Disturbances of iron homeostasis are associated with altered susceptibility to infectious disease, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. To study this phenomenon, we examined innate immunity to oral Salmonella infection in Hfe knockout (Hfe−/−) mice, a model of the human inherited disorder of iron metabolism type I hemochromatosis. Salmonella- and LPS-induced inflammatory responses were attenuated in the mutant animals, with less severe enterocolitis observed in vivo and reduced macrophage TNF-α and IL-6 secretion measured in vitro. The macrophage iron exporter ferroportin (FPN) was up-regulated in the Hfe−/− mice, and correspondingly, intramacrophage iron levels were lowered. Consistent with the functional importance of these changes, the abnormal cytokine production of the mutant macrophages could be reproduced in wild-type cells by iron chelation, and in a macrophage cell line by overexpression of FPN. The results of analyzing specific steps in the biosynthesis of TNF-α and IL-6, including intracellular concentrations, posttranslational stability and transcript levels, were consistent with reduced translation of cytokine mRNAs in Hfe−/− macrophages. Polyribosome profile analysis confirmed that elevated macrophage FPN expression and low intracellular iron impaired the translation of specific inflammatory cytokine transcripts. Our results provide molecular insight into immune function in type I hemochromatosis and other disorders of iron homeostasis, and reveal a novel role for iron in the regulation of the inflammatory response.
Cross-border bank lending to emerging market economies

The global financial crisis shook the foundations of international banking and finance and put the international banking system under intense stress. Many financial markets became dysfunctional, and many international banks went bankrupt. Although the crisis originated in advanced economies, it quickly moved to emerging market economies (EMEs), particularly in the aftermath of the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Cross-border bank lending proved to be one of the major financial channels through which stresses in the international financial system were transmitted to individual EMEs. This paper examines cross-border bank lending during the crisis. It also aims to understand the role played by international banks and hopes to provide lessons for thinking about economic policy.
Sustainability and the Talentship Paradigm: Strategic Human Resource Management Beyond the Bottom Line

Excerpt] This paper proposes such a framework that simultaneously shifts the prize to reflect Sustainability and shifts the paradigm of HRM toward a decision science called “Talentship” (Boudreau & Ramstad, 2002). It defines Sustainability and its measures, defines the typical connection between HRM and sustainability using the traditional HRM paradigm. Then, the HC BRidge® talent decision framework that connects HRM, talent, and competitive/financial strategic success, is used to logically make similar connections between HRM, talent and sustainability. Examples from Shell and DuPont show how the combination of shifting the prize and the paradigm reveals pivotal roles for talent that are not apparent with traditional definitions of strategic success and the traditional HRM paradigm.
Increased adhesiveness of isolated monocytes to endothelium is prevented by vitamin C intake in smokers.

BACKGROUND To explore pathophysiological mechanisms of cigarette smoking involved in atherogenesis, we compared adhesiveness of isolated blood monocytes with endothelium and plasma levels of the aqueous phase antioxidant vitamin C in nonsmokers and smokers before and after supplementation, using a novel monocyte adhesion assay with fixed human endothelial cells. METHODS AND RESULTS Monocyte adhesion to unstimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells ranged from 0.17% to 0.51% in the nonsmoker group (0.37+/-0.09%, mean +/-SD, n=13). In smokers with a 1 to 2 packs per day consumption, monocyte adhesion was increased to 0.71+/-0.17% (mean +/-SD, n=10, P<.001), ranging from 0.46% to 0.99%. Increased adhesiveness was mediated by the integrin CD11b/CD18, as shown by inhibition with a monoclonal antibody to CD11b but not associated with altered CD11b surface expression. Plasma vitamin C levels were reduced in smokers (48.2+/-14.1 micromol/L) versus nonsmokers (67.7+/-17.6 micromol/L; P<.025), while no significant differences were found in retinol, vitamin E, or beta-carotene levels. This confirms that the radical scavenger vitamin C reacts sensitively to oxidative stress induced by cigarette smoke in human plasma. Consistently, dietary supplementation with vitamin C (2 g per day) for 10 days raised plasma levels to 82.6+/-11.0 micromol/L (n=10, P<.001) in smokers and decreased monocyte adhesion to values found in nonsmokers (0.38+/-0.18%, P<.001). In contrast, vitamin C intake did not affect monocyte adhesiveness in nonsmokers (0.37+/-0.14%, n=6) despite increasing plasma levels to 82.9+/-11.8 micromol/L. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that cigarette smoking increases CD11b-dependent monocyte adhesiveness in humans. Restoring reduced plasma vitamin C concentrations in smokers by oral supplementation decreased monocyte adhesion to values found in nonsmokers.
Lymphocytotoxicity in recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Lymphocytotoxicity for oral epithelial cells in recurrent aphthous stomatitis and Bechet syndrome.

Lymphocyte-epithelial cell interactions were studied by an in vitro lymphocytotoxicity assay. No substantial cytotoxicity was demonstrated by lymphocytes from 14 normal subjects and 21 disease controls, with and without oral lesions. Eight patients with inactive recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) had lymphocytes that demonstrated an intermediate degree of cytotoxicity. Lymphocytes from 19 patients with active RAS and five patients with oral aphthae and Behcet syndrome demonstrated the greatest degree of cytotoxicity. Statistical comparisons revealed significant differences between these three groups ( P
Factors that impact consumer adoption of mobile banking within the m-commerce domain

Banking services can be enhanced by the utilisation of cell phone banking to all banked customers even though it is a relatively new technology introduced in South Africa. This is particularly appropriate for those consumers who do not have access to computers and the Internet. However, the rate of cell phone banking adoption has not seen a rapid increase in comparison to internet banking adoption in the South Africa. The aim of this research was to identify what factors enable or inhibit consumers from adopting mobile banking services in South Africa. The results of this highlighted what factors influence consumer adoption of mobile banking services. As many possibilities have arisen from the fact that business can now be conducted with mobile devices, this research was focused on understanding what motivates consumers in using mobile banking services as well as the deterrents that prevents such usage. This was done by conducting a survey and obtaining feedback from consumers with regard to their views and utilisation of mobile banking.
Indian multinationals: Generic internationalization strategies

Indian firms expanded outward in two waves, the first occurring in the 1970s and 1980s, and the second occurring after 1995, shortly after India had opened up to the global economy in 1991 following economic reforms. The second wave was not only bigger in terms of the scale and speed of outward FDI, but the firms involved used a broader range of strategies. One especially interesting feature was that in the second wave 60–70 percent of the outward FDI went “up-market” (i.e., to highly advanced countries), unlike the first wave in which almost the same proportion went “down-market” (i.e., to countries less developed than India; Lall, 1983). In addition, there was some evidence that in 2006 and the first half of 2007, Indian firms may have invested more abroad than foreign MNEs invested in India – a surprising result for a poor country, although the data underlying these claims need more careful sorting out (Dunning and Narula, 1996). In this chapter, we try to get beneath these intriguing macro outcomes by looking at the underlying micro phenomena at the firm level. Among other questions, we ask: Which Indian firms were at the vanguard of internationalization, and why? What international competitive advantages did they enjoy, and why? How did they internationalize? Which firms directed their investment to the advanced countries, and why? And finally, what impact did Indian firms have on the structure and dynamics of the global industries in which they participated?
A SIGNIFICANTLY LOW CO ABUNDANCE TOWARD THE TW Hya PROTOPLANETARY DISK: A PATH TO ACTIVE CARBON CHEMISTRY?

In this Letter we report the CO abundance relative to H2 derived toward the circumstellar disk of the T-Tauri star TW Hya from the HD (1 − 0) and C18O (2 − 1) emission lines. The HD (1 − 0) line was observed by the Herschel Space Observatory Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer whereas C18O (2 − 1) observations were carried out with the Submillimeter Array at a spatial resolution of 2. ″8 × 1. ″9 (corresponding to ∼151 × 103 AU). In the disk's warm molecular layer (T > 20 K) we measure a disk-averaged gas-phase CO abundance relative to H2 of χ(CO) = (0.1–3) × 10−5, substantially lower than the canonical value of χ(CO) = 10−4. We infer that the best explanation of this low χ(CO) is the chemical destruction of CO followed by rapid formation of carbon chains, or perhaps CO2, that can subsequently freeze-out, resulting in the bulk mass of carbon locked up in ice grain mantles and oxygen in water. As a consequence of this likely time-dependent carbon sink mechanism, CO may be an unreliable tracer of H2 gas mass.
Even a low-dose of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduces mortality by 22% in adults aged ≥60 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The health benefits of 150 min a week of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) in older adults, as currently recommended, are well established, but the suggested dose in older adults is often not reached. Objectives We aimed to determine whether a lower dose of MVPA was effective in reducing mortality, in participants older than 60 years. Methods The PubMed and Embase databases were searched from inception to February 2015. Only prospective cohorts were included. Risk ratios of death were established into four doses based on weekly Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET)-minutes, defined as inactive (reference), low (1–499), medium (500–999) or high (≥1000). Data were pooled and analysed through a random effects model using comprehensive meta-analysis software. Results Of the 835 reports screened, nine cohort studies remained, totalling 122 417 participants, with a mean follow-up of 9.8±2.7 years and 18 122 reported deaths (14.8%). A low dose of MVPA resulted in a 22% reduction in mortality risk (RR=0.78 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.87) p<0.0001). MVPA beyond this threshold brought further benefits, reaching a 28% reduction in all-cause mortality in older adults who followed the current recommendations (RR=0.72 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.80) p<0.0001) and a 35% reduction beyond 1000 MET-min per week (RR=0.65 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.70) p<0.0001). Conclusions A dose of MVPA below current recommendations reduced mortality by 22% in older adults. A further increase in physical activity dose improved these benefits in a linear fashion. Older adults should be encouraged to include even low doses of MVPA in their daily lives.
Influence of Timing of Hard Palate Repair in a Two-Stage Procedure on Early Speech Development in Danish Children with Cleft Palate

Objective To investigate the influence of timing of hard palate closure on early speech development from 18 months to 3 years of age. Design A prospective, randomized clinical trial. Participants Thirty-four children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) with velum closure at 4 months of age, and hard palate closure at 12 months (early hard palate repair, EarlyHPR) or 36 months (late hard palate unrepaired, LateHPU) by random assignment. Thirty-five control children were matched for gender and age. Methods All children were video recorded during a play interaction with a parent at 18 months of age. These recordings were transcribed according to the International Phonetic Alphabet. At 36 months a single word naming test was administered. Results At 18 months the LateHPU group produced fewer labial stops and more velar stops than the EarlyHPR group. Unlike the EarlyHPR group, the LateHPU group produced fewer vocalizations, consonants, and consonants permissible in word-initial position than the control group. Additionally, both cleft palate groups had a smaller productive vocabulary than the control group, but unlike the EarlyHPR group, the LateHPU group produced a smaller number of word tokens in social interaction than the control group. By 3 years of age, the LateHPU group had a (severely) restricted phonological system and produced more cleft speech characteristics than the EarlyHPR group. Conclusions Surgical timing of hard palate repair in a two-stage procedure appears to have an influence on early speech development in children with cleft palate.
Immunohistochemical Study of the BCAR1/p130Cas Protein in Non-Malignant and Malignant Human Breast Tissue

BCAR1/p130Cas is a docking protein involved in intracellular signaling pathways and in vitro resistance of estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells to antiestrogens. The BCAR1/p130Cas protein level in primary breast cancer cytosols was found to correlate with rapid recurrence of disease. A high BCAR1/p130Cas level was also associated with a higher likelihood of resistance to first-line tamoxifen treatment in patients with advanced breast cancer. Using antibodies raised against the rat p130Cas protein, we determined by immunohistochemical methods the BCAR1/p130Cas localization in primary breast carcinomas, in tumors of stromal origin, and in non-neoplastic breast tissues. The BCAR1/p130Cas protein was detected in the cytoplasm of non-malignant and neoplastic epithelial cells and in the vascular compartment of all tissue sections analyzed. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated variable intensity of BCAR1/p130Cas staining and variation in the proportion of BCAR1/p130Cas-positive epithelial tumor cells for the different breast carcinomas. Double immunohistochemical staining for BCAR1/p130Cas and estrogen receptor confirmed coexpression in non-malignant luminal epithelial cells and malignant breast tumor cells. The stromal cells in non-malignant tissues and tumor tissues as well as breast tumors of mesodermal origin did not stain for BCAR1/p130Cas. This immunohistochemical study demonstrates a variable expression of BCAR1/p130Cas in malignant and non-malignant breast epithelial cells, which may be of benefit for diagnostic purposes.
Employment branding in the knowledge economy

For most of its existence advertising has focused on attracting customers. More recently, enlightened organisations have recognised the need to expand their communications efforts to incorporate all stakeholders, not only end-users. The marketing literature has begun to address stakeholder theory, as well as advertising's indirect and internal audiences, but more as a secondary consideration or by-product of consumer marketing. However, the anticipated permanent shortage of skilled workers in the new economy creates unique challenges for knowledge-based organisations in particular, who will increasingly need to differentiate themselves in order to successfully attract talented employees. As a result, more and more firms may turn to advertising to create ‘employment brands’ and thereby offer an enticing vocational proposition that is compelling and differentiated. In response to this emerging trend, this article begins by introducing stakeholder theory into a marketing framework. We then classify existing approaches to employment branding by identifying three basic types of employment advertising strategies. In closing, managerial implications are discussed, an agenda for future research is proposed and conclusions are drawn.
Sirolimus for pediatric liver transplant recipients with post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease and hepatoblastoma *

Abstract: Sirolimus is a promising immune suppressive agent, with the potential to reduce calcineurin inhibitor associated nephrotoxicity, halt progression of chronic rejection and prevent tumor proliferation. The aim of this study was to review the experience using sirolimus in pediatric liver transplant recipients at a single center. Database and medical charts of all pediatric liver transplant recipients receiving sirolimus at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto were reviewed. Eight patients received sirolimus between October, 2000 and September, 2002. Indications for using sirolimus were post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) (n = 6) and hepatoblastoma (n = 2). Two patients with PTLD concurrently had renal impairment and chronic rejection. Sirolimus dosages ranged between 1.5 and 5 mg once daily. Median duration of follow‐up was 17 months. Persistently elevated liver transaminase levels in the two children with chronic rejection decreased during sirolimus therapy. Recurrence of PTLD occurred in one patient. Two patients were diagnosed with acute cellular rejection after transition to maintenance sirolimus monotherapy. Resolution of adverse effects including mouth sores (n = 3), leg swelling (n = 2) and hyperlipidemia (n = 3) occurred either spontaneously or with dose reduction. Sirolimus was discontinued in four patients because of persisting bone marrow suppression, interstitial pneumonitis, life‐threatening sepsis and refractory diarrhea. Children with PTLD or hepatoblastoma may benefit from immune suppression with sirolimus after liver transplantation. Further multi‐center, prospective, randomized controlled trials will be instrumental to further the knowledge of long‐term efficacy, safety and tolerability of sirolimus for selected children following liver transplantation.
Perceptual convergence of multi-component mixtures in olfaction implies an olfactory white

In vision, two mixtures, each containing an independent set of many different wavelengths, may produce a common color percept termed “white. ” In audition, two mixtures, each containing an independent set of many different frequencies, may produce a common perceptual hum termed “white noise. ” Visual and auditory whites emerge upon two conditions: when the mixture components span stimulus space, and when they are of equal intensity. We hypothesized that if we apply these same conditions to odorant mixtures, “whiteness” may emerge in olfaction as well. We selected 86 molecules that span olfactory stimulus space and individually diluted them to a point of about equal intensity. We then prepared various odorant mixtures, each containing various numbers of molecular components, and asked human participants to rate the perceptual similarity of such mixture pairs. We found that as we increased the number of nonoverlapping, equal-intensity components in odorant mixtures, the mixtures became more similar to each other, despite not having a single component in common. With ∼30 components, most mixtures smelled alike. After participants were acquainted with a novel, arbitrarily named mixture of ∼30 equal-intensity components, they later applied this name more readily to other novel mixtures of ∼30 equal-intensity components spanning stimulus space, but not to mixtures containing fewer components or to mixtures that did not span stimulus space. We conclude that a common olfactory percept, “olfactory white,” is associated with mixtures of ∼30 or more equal-intensity components that span stimulus space, implying that olfactory representations are of features of molecules rather than of molecular identity.
Risk Sharing and the Theory of Optimal Currency Areas: A Re-Examination of Mundell 1973

Mundell (1973) argues that a common currency area provides benefits for its members by offering insurance against region-specific shocks. We develop a simple model to analyse the nature of risksharing benefits of a single currency area for emerging market economies, based on Mundell's hypothesis. An important pre-requisite for the risk-sharing benefits of a single currency is that there be limited trade among countries in national-currency denominated bonds. The evidence for emerging markets supports this assumption. In this case, we show that a single currency area may support risk sharing that could not be achieved under floating exchange rates. Based on a simple quantitative evaluation of our model, we show that the implied risk sharing can be substantial.
Why do microfinance institutions go green

In recent years, in addition to financial and social objectives, the microfinance industry has started to look at its environmental bottom line. The objective of this paper is to identify why microfinance institutions (MFIs) decide to go green. Data was collected through a quantitative survey of 160 MFIs and qualitative semi-structured interviews of 23 MFIs’ top managers. Basing our analysis on the model of ecological responsiveness developed by Bansal & Roth (2000), we discover that MFIs that are the most proactive in environmental management are primarily motivated by social responsibility, additionally by competitiveness, and to a lesser extent by legitimation (stakeholder pressure). MFIs for which legitimation is the dominant driver tend to adopt a defensive approach and set up more superficial negative strategies to appear green. In contrast, MFIs for which social responsibility is the dominant driver tend to be more proactive and innovative and develop adapted financial and non-financial services to promote environmentally-friendly practices.
A critical review of methodology and interpretation of mirror self-recognition research in nonhuman primates

In this paper we critically review conceptual and methodological issues of mirror self-exploration research. We conclude that: (1) mirror self-exploration provides evidence for mirror self-recognition; (2) inter- and intraspecies differences in terms of presence or absence of mirror self-recognition are not yet sufficiently clear, that is, whether its absence in species and individuals is methodological (false negative with respect to trait) or ontological (true negative with respect to trait) in nature; and (3) proposals of hypotheses to account phylogenetically for the existence of inter- and intraspecies differences in mirror self-recognition are premature. Before hypotheses such as these are advanced, the impact of rearing conditions on mirror self-recognition should be examined further.