Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Key Mechanisms of Early Lung Development

Lung morphogenesis requires the integration of multiple regulatory factors, which results in a functional air-blood interface required for gas exchange at birth. The respiratory tract is composed of endodermally derived epithelium surrounded by cells of mesodermal origin. Inductive signaling between these 2 tissue compartments plays a critical role in formation and differentiation of the lung, which is mediated by evolutionarily conserved signaling families used reiteratively during lung formation, including the fibroblast growth factor, hedgehog, retinoic acid, bone morphogenetic protein, and Wnt signaling pathways. Cells coordinate their response to these signaling proteins largely through transcription factors, which determine respiratory cell fate and pattern formation via the activation and repression of downstream target genes. Gain- and loss-of-function studies in null mutant and transgenic mice models have greatly facilitated the identification and hierarchical classification of these molecular programs. In this review, we highlight select molecular events that drive key phases of pulmonary development, including specification of a lung cell fate, primary lung bud formation, tracheoesophageal septation, branching morphogenesis, and proximal-distal epithelial patterning. Understanding the genetic pathways that regulate respiratory tract development is essential to provide insight into the pathogenesis of congenital anomalies and to develop innovative strategies to treat inherited and acquired lung disease.
Enhanced viral and tumor immunity with intranodal injection of canary pox viruses expressing the melanoma antigen, gp100

The route of administration and extent of helper T‐cell activation are factors that are likely to be important for the development of effective cancer vaccines. In order to optimize CD8+ cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte (CTL) responses, the immunologic effects of direct lymph node (LN) injections of canary pox virus (ALVAC) vectors (expressing the melanoma antigen, gp100) and immunogenic gp100 peptides, along with concomitant injections of the helper adjuvant, tetanus toxoid, were studied in high‐risk HLA‐A*0201+ patients.
Pakistan’s military elite

ABSTRACT The Pakistan Army is a politically important organization, yet its opacity has hindered academic research. We use open sources to construct unique new data on the backgrounds, careers, and post-retirement activities of post-1971 corps commanders and directors-general of Inter-Services Intelligence. We provide evidence of bureaucratic predictability and professionalism while officers are in service. After retirement, we show little involvement in electoral politics but extensive involvement in military-linked corporations, state employment, and other positions of influence. This combination provides Pakistan’s military with an unusual blend of professional discipline internally and political power externally – even when not directly ruling.
Genetic Variations in the Human G Protein-coupled Receptor Class C, Group 6, Member A (GPRC6A) Control Cell Surface Expression and Function*

GPRC6A is a G protein-coupled receptor activated by l-amino acids, which, based on analyses of knock-out mice, has been suggested to have physiological functions in metabolism and testicular function. The human ortholog is, however, mostly retained intracellularly in contrast to the cell surface-expressed murine and goldfish orthologs. The latter orthologs are Gq-coupled and lead to intracellular accumulation of inositol phosphates and calcium release. In the present study we cloned the bonobo chimpanzee GPRC6A receptor, which is 99% identical to the human receptor, and show that it is cell surface-expressed and functional. By analyses of chimeric human/mouse and human/bonobo receptors, bonobo receptor mutants, and the single nucleotide polymorphism database at NCBI, we identify an insertion/deletion variation in the third intracellular loop responsible for the intracellular retention and lack of function of the human ortholog. Genetic analyses of the 1000 genome database and the Inter99 cohort of 6,000 Danes establish the distribution of genotypes among ethnic groups, showing that the cell surface-expressed and functional variant is much more prevalent in the African population than in European and Asian populations and that this variant is partly linked with a stop codon early in the receptor sequence (rs6907580, amino acid position 57). In conclusion, our data solve a more than decade-old question of why the cloned human GPRC6A receptor is not cell surface-expressed and functional and provide a genetic framework to study human phenotypic traits in large genome sequencing projects linked with physiological measurement and biomarkers.
Macroeconomic and Institutional Factors, Debt Composition and Capital Structure of Latin American Companies

The objective of this research was to examine the influence of macroeconomic and institutional factors when determining the capital structure of Latin American companies from 2009 to 2014, and also analyze if the significance of these factors to explain the capital structure of the companies is changed taking into account the financing composition. We used hierarchical linear modeling to process data. The main results pointed that, both the representative variables of characteristics of the firm and representative variables of countries are important determinants of the capital structure of the companies. However the variables of the firm explain a much higher percentage of variance of leverage. Thus, we emphasize that there is still much to be done in order to analyze the effects of macroeconomic and institutional factors. We expect that this study has created contributions to the national literature, by using a theoretical and also econometric approach that has not been much explored so far. As well as for market agents to examine the determinants of capital structure, considering the institutional aspects.
Does Regulatory Regime Matter for Bank Risk Taking? A Comparative Analysis of US and Canada

In the wake of the worst financial crisis in 2008, most US banks were bailed out while Canadian banks sailed through the crisis relatively unscathed. This has compelled some analysts to question why banking crises happen in America but not in Canada. We examine the risk-taking behavior of banks in the US and Canada prior to the recent financial crisis and find that Canadian banks had lower risk than their US counterparts over the study period. Further analysis shows that entry restrictions, which create concentrated banking structure, strong supervisory power, and discipline constrain excessive risk taking by Canadian banks. Entry restrictions enable Canadian banks to generate higher profits and lower variability of asset returns, while restrictions on activities reduce profitability and increase variability in asset return. However, the former seems to overwhelm the effect of asset restrictions, given the lower risk that we observe for the Canadian banks. The less concentrated but competitive banking structure in the US is associated with higher bank risk taking.
Deficiency of complex II of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in late‐onset optic atrophy and ataxia

Defects of the mitochondrial respiratory chain are increasingly being recognized as an important cause of neurological disease in humans. In many of these patients, the biochemical defect results from an abnormality of the mitochondrial genome. Respiratory chain defects involving complex II, which is entirely encoded by the nuclear genome, are comparatively rare. We report the clinical and biochemical findings in 2 elderly sisters who presented with late‐onset neurodegenerative disease. In both patients, a partial deficiency of complex II (approximately 50% of control values) was shown to be present in mitochondria from muscle and platelets. The enzyme defect was not expressed in cultured skin fibroblasts or immortalized lymphocytes. There was an overexpression of the 70‐kd flavoprotein subunit in muscle mitochondria from both patients, although we showed that this subunit is present in normal amounts in mitochondrial membranes. Our studies highlight the diversity of the clinical presentation of respiratory chain disease and that complex II deficiency should enter the differential diagnosis of certain patients with late‐onset neurodegenerative disease.
Role of selective cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase inhibition in the myorelaxant actions of M&B 22,948, MY‐5445, vinpocetine and 1‐methyl‐3‐isobutyl‐8‐(methylamino)xanthine

1 The mechanism by which M&B 22,948, MY‐5445, vinpocetine and 1‐methyl‐3‐isobutyl‐8‐(methylamino)xanthine (MIMAX), which have been described as selective cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, relax rat aorta was investigated. 2 Three cyclic nucleotide PDEs were identified in the soluble fraction of rat aorta; a Ca2+‐insensitive form exhibiting substrate selectivity for cyclic GMP (cGMP PDE), a Ca2+/calmodulin‐stimulated form which also preferentially hydrolyzed cyclic GMP (Ca2+ PDE), and a form demonstrating substrate selectivity for cyclic AMP (cAMP PDE). 3 M&B 22,948 and MIMAX inhibited cGMP PDE (Ki = 0.16 μm and 0.43 μm, respectively) and Ca2+ PDE (Ki = 9.9 μm and 0.55 μm, respectively), but exhibited weak activity against cAMP PDE (Ki = 249 μm and 42 μm, respectively). MY‐5445 selectivity inhibited cGMP PDE (Ki = 1.3 μm) and vinpocetine selectively inhibited Ca2+ PDE (Ki = 14 μm). 4 M&B 22,948 and MIMAX induced dose‐dependent increases in the accumulation of cyclic GMP, but not cyclic AMP, in rat aorta pieces. These effects were greatly reduced by endothelial denudation and by methylene blue (5 μm) which blocks the actions of endothelium‐derived relaxant factor. MY‐5445 and vinpocetine had no effect on rat aorta cyclic GMP or cyclic AMP accumulation. 5 All four compounds caused dose‐related relaxation of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (10 μm) contracted, endothelium‐intact rat aorta, the effects of M&B 22,948 and MIMAX being greatly reduced by methylene blue (5 μm). Methylene blue also caused 10 fold and 100 fold rightward shifts in the dose‐response curves of MY‐5445 and vinpocetine, respectively. 6 The results are consistent with the smooth muscle relaxant actions of M&B 22,948 and MIMAX, but not vinpocetine and MY‐5445, being mediated through a mechanism involving inhibition of cyclic GMP hydrolysis.
The gender wage gap in the tourism industry : evidence from Australia

This article presents an examination of the gender wage gap among tourism and hospitality employees in Australia. Data from the household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (hILDA) Survey—covering the period 2001 to 2014—are used to estimate earnings functions for prime age (25–54) male and female workers. Conventional human capital functions are estimated using a random-effects regression model. The principal findings suggest that, after controlling for an extensive range of sociodemographic characteristics, female tourism and hospitality employees, on average, earned 8.5% and 7.5%, respectively, less than their male counterparts. Although human capital variables like education and work experience play a role in the determination of wages, an employee's gender still continues to be a significant factor in the wage received.
International Migration: Pacifier or Trigger for Military Conflicts?

Abstract Whereas the impact of trade relations on conflict has been studied extensively, this is not the case for the impact of international migration. The latter might influence the size of expected costs and benefits, and hence the likelihood of military conflict between countries. In this paper, we discuss the channels through which bilateral migration can affect the prevalence of interstate military conflict. We then estimate migration’s impact on conflict using bilateral panel data between 1960–2000. We find evidence of a positive and robust impact of South-North and South-South migration on the occurrence of conflict. These effects are even larger when we control for potential endogeneity using a GMM approach.
The Influence of Obesity on Perioperative Morbidity: Retrospective Study of 502 Aortocoronary Bypass Operations

The incidence of perioperative complications after coronary artery surgery was investigated by a retrospective study of all 502 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in our Department between January 1st and December 31st of last year (1990). Furthermore, the influence of obesity on the early results of surgery was assessed and the effect of preoperative weight reduction on perioperative complication rates examined. Obese patients had a greater incidence of left-stem coronary artery stenosis (p less than 0.001), hyperlipidaemia (p less than 0.05), hypertension (p less than 0.05), diabetes mellitus (p less than 0.02), and were in general younger at the time of operation (57.9 +/- 8.4 vs. 60.8 +/- 8.5 years). There were no differences in the surgery performed and in operative mortality, but there were some in perioperative morbidity. Obese patients had higher rates of infection (p less than 0.02), sternal dehiscence (p less than 0.02), arrhythmias (p less than 0.02) and myocardial infarction (p less than 0.02). No significant differences were identified in obese patients with or without preoperative weight reduction, although there was a trend of better postoperative recovery and results in patients having undergone preoperative weight reduction. Analysis of our results demonstrated obesity to be an independent risk factor for perioperative complications, hospital morbidity, and length of hospitalization.
Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Could be Predictable by Measuring a Novel Serum Apoptosis Product, Caspase-Cleaved Cytokeratin 18: A Prospective Pilot Study

The M30-monoclonal antibody recognizes a neo-epitope of cytokeratin 18 which is formed after caspase-cleavage during apoptosis. Caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 is released from apoptotic cells into circulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between M30-antigen level and chemotherapy response in neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Forty-two patients with invasive breast carcinoma received 4 cycles of anthracycline based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Serum samples were obtained for assessment of M30-antigen levels before the administration of first chemotherapy cycle (baseline), and then after 24 and 48 hours for determination of chemotherapy induced apoptosis. M30-antigen levels at 24 and 48 hours were found to be significantly higher than baseline (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively). M30-antigen levels in responders showed statistically significant increases at 24 and 48 hours (p < 0.001; p = 0.004, respectively), while statistically significant increases were not observed in nonresponders. Percentage change of M30-antigen levels was significantly higher in responders than nonresponders at 24 hours (p = 0.020). In conclusion, our study revealed a significant relationship between increases of M30-antigen levels in serum and overall response to therapy.
Bile duct: analysis of percutaneous transluminal forceps biopsy in 130 patients suspected of having malignant biliary obstruction.

PURPOSE To evaluate percutaneous transluminal forceps biopsy in patients suspected of having a malignant biliary obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred thirty consecutive patients (82 men and 48 women; mean age, 59 years) with obstructive jaundice underwent transluminal forceps biopsy during or after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. The lesions involved the common bile duct (n = 58), common hepatic duct (n = 39), hilum (n = 14), ampullary segment of the common bile duct (n = 11), right or left intrahepatic bile duct (n = 5), or the entire extrahepatic bile duct (n = 3). In each patient, three to five specimens (mean, 4.1 specimens) were taken from the lesion with 5.4-F biopsy forceps. The final diagnosis for each patient was confirmed with pathologic findings at surgery, additional histocytologic data, or clinical and radiologic follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed with the chi(2) test; a P value < or =. 05 was considered to indicate a significant difference. RESULTS Ninety-eight of 130 biopsies resulted in correct diagnoses of malignancy. Five biopsy diagnoses proved to be true-negative. There were 27 false-negative diagnoses and no false-positive diagnoses. The diagnostic performance of transluminal forceps biopsy in malignant biliary obstructions was as follows: sensitivity, 78.4%; specificity, 100%; and accuracy, 79.2%. Sensitivity of biopsy in the 82 patients with cholangiocarcinoma was higher than in the 43 patients with malignant tumors other than cholangiocarcinoma (86.6% vs 62.8%, P <.005). Sensitivity was significantly lower in the ampullary segment of the common bile duct than in other sites (P <.01). No major complications related to the biopsy procedures occurred. CONCLUSION Percutaneous transluminal forceps biopsy is a safe procedure that is easy to perform through a transhepatic biliary drainage tract. It provides relatively high accuracy in the diagnosis of malignant biliary obstructions.
Unemployment: The Silent Epidemic

This paper examines two key aspects of unemployment--its propagation mechanism and socioeconomic costs. It identifies a key feature of this macroeconomic phenomenon: it behaves like a disease. A detailed assessment of the transmission mechanism and the existing pecuniary and nonpecuniary costs of unemployment suggests a fundamental shift in the policy responses to tackling joblessness. To stem the contagion effect and its outsized social and economic impact, fiscal policy can be designed around two criteria for successful disease intervention--preparedness and prevention. The paper examines how a job guarantee proposal uniquely meets those two requirements. It is a policy response whose merits include much more than its macroeconomic stabilization features, as discussed in the literature. It is, in a sense, a method of inoculation against the vile effects of unemployment. The paper discusses several preventative features of the program.
Coli-aerogenes Differentiation in Water Analysis

We have shown in an earlier section of this paper that a larger percentage of routine plates may contain no typical Bact. coli or Bact. aerogenes colonies, but that these cultures are often mixed and therefore cannot be differentiated without purification. Also that a surprising portion of single isolated colonies, ordinarily considered pure and usually differentiated macroscopically, are not pure. These must be purified before they can be correctly differentiated. We have shown that neither the macroscopic examination of a single streaked plate nor the microscopic examination of a Gram stain smear gives sufficient evidence of the purity of a culture. We have relied largely on certain biochemical differential reactions used in conjunction with the aforementioned tests. The efficacy of the various methods used for purification will be determined to a large extent by the use of biochemical differential methods. We are therefore going to reverse the natural order of sequence and describe the biochemical tests used before we discuss purification.
The Relationship Between Chaebol And Firm Value Using Bayesian Network

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of being a chaebol company, the biggest company characteristic variable, on firm value. It tries to overcome the limitation of multiple regression analysis mostly used in preceding research. That is, as multiple regression analysis assumes uniform linearity between dependent and independent variables, it could not reflect the diverse types of the real world. Thus, based on being a chaebol company and financial information, company characteristic variables influencing firm value, this study derives causal relationships existing between them. The results could help managers and various accounting information users in their decision-making by providing them with information of what company characteristics would directly or indirectly influence firm value. To this end, this study utilizes Bayesian Network and attempts Markov Blanket. In the end, all the analysis methods used in this study not only provides significant results, but also raises its practical value by offering information of diverse situations that could occur in the real world.
Increased sensitivity and reduced specificity of hemagglutination inhibition tests with ether-treated influenza B/Singapore/222/79

Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests against whole virus (WV) influenza B/Singapore/222/79 antigen detected prevaccination serum antibody in only 15 (20%) of 50 predominantly elderly volunteers and fourfold or greater titer rises in only three (6%) after they received 1981-1982 trivalent influenza vaccine containing antigens of this virus. HI titers against ether-treated (ET) B/Singapore/222/79 were about eightfold higher than those against WV antigen and were comparable to microneutralization titers against this virus. The ET HI detected prevaccination antibody in 84%, a postvaccination titer rise in 32%, and a final titer of 80 or higher in 66%. Among 51 additional persons with known or presumed influenza B virus infections early in 1982, ET B/Singapore/222/79 was also more sensitive than WV for serodiagnosis (69 versus 49%), but eight persons with both WV and ET B/Singapore/222/79 HI responses also had an HI titer rise to WV A/Brazil/11/78 (H1N1) antigen. Conversely, among 14 college students with febrile, culture-proven influenza A (H1N1) infections early in 1982, 6 (43%) developed HI titer rises to ET B/Singapore/222/79 with no other serological evidence of influenza B virus infection. Moreover, young adult volunteers with mild experimental influenza A (H1N1) infections also exhibited a 17% (3 of 18) incidence of ET B/Singapore/222/79 HI titer rises, versus none in matched, uninfected volunteers. These data indicate that ET B/Singapore/222/79 virus has increased sensitivity but reduced specificity compared to WV as an HI antigen and that caution is needed in interpretation of a single HI test for serodiagnosis, whether with WV or ET antigen.
Incidence of cancer after a first episode of idiopathic venous thromboembolism treated with 3 months or 1 year of oral anticoagulation

Summary. Background: A prolonged treatment with oral anticoagulants has been claimed to reduce the incidence of newly diagnosed cancer in the long‐term follow‐up of patients with venous thromboembolism. Objectives: In a multicenter prospective study we assessed the incidence of newly diagnosed clinically overt cancer in patients with a first episode of idiopathic venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated with oral anticoagulants for 3 months or 1 year. Patients and methods: Consecutive patients with an idiopathic venous thromboembolism who had completed 3 months of oral anticoagulant therapy without having a recurrence, bleeding or newly diagnosed cancer were randomized to discontinue oral anticoagulant therapy or to continue it for nine additional months. Idiopathic venous thromboembolism was defined as thrombosis occurring in the absence of known cancer, known thrombophilia, or temporary risk factors for venous thromboembolism. All patients were followed up for at least 1 year after randomization. Results: A total of 429 patients, 265 patients with DVT and 164 with PE, were followed up for an average of 43.7 months after randomization. A newly diagnosed cancer occurred in 32 patients (7.5%), 13 (6.2%) of the 210 patients treated for 3 months and 19 (8.7%) of the 219 patients treated for 1 year (RR = 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.36–1.41). Conclusions: The incidence of newly diagnosed clinically overt cancer is not reduced in patients with idiopathic venous thromboembolism treated with 1‐year anticoagulant treatment compared with patients treated for 3 months.