Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Invisible Side of Political Parties: The Case of the PCdoB

Abstract The young Latin American democracies have been structuring their political parties for day-to-day management. In this context, it is important to understand how such structures could be affected by the so-called invisible side of organizations, which are composed of networks of relationships between elected politicians and then relationships between these and external militant groups, which can greatly influence the candidates’ performance and the very dynamics of the party. This article seeks to unravel some of these dimensions. We select for analysis the case of the PCdoB (Communist Party of Brazil), in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The results show the nature of the embeddedness of these actors in the political system, highlighting weaknesses and possibilities.
Prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome: Ten year experience in the Israeli population

Second trimester maternal serum biochemical markers, introduced between 1990 and 1995, were supplemented with new ultrasound methods at 14–16 weeks and first trimester biochemical markers between 1995 and 2000. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Down syndrome (DS) prevention program among the Israeli Jewish population between 1990 and 2000. We collected data on the total number of prenatal tests performed on Israeli Jewish women, DS cases detected prenatally and DS livebirths in Israel during these years. We also studied the use of the newer screening tests in 1990, 1992, and 2000. Between 1990 and 1995, use of chromosomal studies for DS in this population increased from 11.3% to 21.6% and the percentage of cases detected prenatally from 53% to 70%. However, between 1996 and 2000, even with the new screening methods, the utilization rate remained similar (20.7% and 19.8%, respectively) and the percentage detected prenatally decreased to 61% in 2000. The total cost per case detected increased from $47,971 in 1990 to $75,229 in 1992, and to $190,171 in 2000. Between 1990 and 1995, improvement in the percentage of cases detected prenatally was associated with a significant increase in the amniocentesis rate—both are attributed to the introduction of second trimester maternal serum biochemical marker tests. Unexpectedly, the introduction between 1995 and 2000 of new genetic methods to assess the DS risk did not improve the percentage detected or reduce the amniocentesis rate, and was accompanied by an increased cost per case detected. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modeling discretionary lane-changing behavior on urban streets considering drivers’ heterogeneity

ABSTRACT Lane changes are particularly frequent on urban streets, which not only impact traffic operations, but also cause negative effects on safety. This study uses vehicle trajectory data collected from Southwest Road in Dalian, China, to investigate the influential factors of discretionary lane changing in an urban road environment. Both the standard logit model and mixed logit model were fitted to the data, which evidently identified several key factors. The mixed logit model outperformed the standard logit model in terms of model fit. The results suggest that driver heterogeneity is present on the speed differentials of the subject vehicle and the leading vehicles, and the distance gap in the target lane. A sensitivity analysis was further conducted to quantify the degree of influence of the statistically significant variables. The findings support the notion and purpose of discretionary lane changing, i.e. seeking a speed advantage and/or a more satisfactory driving environment.
Bcl-2 antagonist killer 1 (BAK1) polymorphisms influence the risk of developing autoimmune rheumatic diseases in women

Objective: Bcl-2 antagonist killer 1 (BAK1) is a Bcl-2 family proapoptotic member suggested as a candidate gene for autoimmune diseases. The influence of BAK1 polymorphisms on the risk of developing autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) in women was investigated. Methods: A total of 719 Colombian women were included in the present study: 209 had systemic lupus erythematosus, 99 primary Sjögren syndrome, 159 rheumatoid arthritis and 252 were healthy matched controls. Tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and potentially functional variants were typed by TaqMan allele discrimination assays. HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 typing was performed by reverse dot-blot hybridisation and linkage disequilibrium (LD) with BAK1 SNPs was assessed. Results: SNPs rs513349 (odds ratio (OR) 0.57, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.72, p = <0.001) and rs5745582 (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.04, p = <0.001) were associated with the AIRDs included in this study. There was a significant increase of the rs513349G-rs561276C-rs5745582A (GCA) haplotype in each patient cohort as compared to controls (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.50 to 2.54, p = <0.001). These SNPs were not in LD with HLA-DRB1 or HLA-DQB1 genes. Conclusions: The results indicate that the BAK1 polymorphisms influence the risk of acquiring AIRDs in the population studied and are consistent with the paradigm that autoimmune diseases are likely to share common susceptibility variants.
The RACK1 Ortholog Asc1 Functions as a G-protein β Subunit Coupled to Glucose Responsiveness in Yeast*

According to the prevailing paradigm, G-proteins are composed of three subunits, an α subunit with GTPase activity and a tightly associated βγ subunit complex. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae there are two known Gα proteins (Gpa1 and Gpa2) but only one Gβγ, which binds only to Gpa1. Here we show that the yeast ortholog of RACK1 (receptor for activated protein kinase C1) Asc1 functions as the Gβ for Gpa2. As with other known Gβ proteins, Asc1 has a 7-WD domain structure, interacts directly with the Gα in a guanine nucleotide-dependent manner, and inhibits Gα guanine nucleotide exchange activity. In addition, Asc1 binds to the effector enzyme adenylyl cyclase (Cyr1), and diminishes the production of cAMP in response to glucose stimulation. Thus, whereas Gpa2 promotes glucose signaling through elevated production of cAMP, Asc1 has opposing effects on these same processes. Our findings reveal the existence of an unusual Gβ subunit, one having multiple functions within the cell in addition to serving as a signal transducer for cell surface receptors and intracellular effectors.
Whole-exome sequencing identifies an α-globin cluster triplication resulting in increased clinical severity of β-thalassemia

Whole-exome sequencing (WES) has been increasingly useful for the diagnosis of patients with rare causes of anemia, particularly when there is an atypical clinical presentation or targeted genotyping approaches are inconclusive. Here, we describe a 20-yr-old man with a lifelong moderate-to-severe anemia with accompanying splenomegaly who lacked a definitive diagnosis. After a thorough clinical workup and targeted genetic sequencing, we identified a paternally inherited β-globin mutation (HBB:c.93-21G>A, IVS-I-110:G>A), a known cause of β-thalassemia minor. As this mutation alone was inconsistent with the severity of the anemia, we performed WES. Although we could not identify any relevant pathogenic single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) or small indels, copy-number variant (CNV) analyses revealed a likely triplication of the entire α-globin cluster, which was subsequently confirmed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Treatment and follow-up was redefined according to the diagnosis of β-thalassemia intermedia resulting from a single β-thalassemia mutation in combination with an α-globin cluster triplication. Thus, we describe a case where the typical WES-based analysis of SNVs and small indels was unrevealing, but WES-based CNV analysis resulted in a definitive diagnosis that informed clinical decision-making. More generally, this case illustrates the value of performing CNV analysis when WES is otherwise unable to elucidate a clear genetic diagnosis.
Undernutrition Before Mating in Ewes Impairs the Development of Insulin Resistance During Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of periconceptional undernutrition on maternal adaptation of insulin-dependent metabolism during pregnancy. METHODS: Romney ewes were randomly assigned to receive normal nutrition (n=12) or undernutrition before (from 60 days before until mating, n=7), after (2 days before to 30 days after mating, n=6) or before and after mating (from 60 days before to 30 days after mating, n=10). Insulin sensitivity was measured by hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp at 65 days of gestation (term=147 days). Lamb growth rate was measured in late gestation by chronically implanted growth catheters and weight at 133 days of gestation. RESULTS: Ewes undernourished before or both before and after mating failed to develop the insulin resistance of pregnancy seen in normally nourished ewes. Ewes undernourished after mating showed intermediate insulin sensitivity. This was not related to plasma concentrations of pregnancy-related hormones, but was related to insulin kinetics. There was an inverse relationship between insulin sensitivity and fetal growth, with ewes that were most insulin sensitive having smaller, more slowly growing lambs (highest compared with lowest tertile for insulin sensitivity: fetal weight 3.5±0.3 compared with 4.5±0.1 kg, P=.02; growth rate 2.0±0.2 compared with 2.6±0.2 mm.day-1, P=.05). CONCLUSION: Maternal undernutrition before conception impairs adaptation of insulin-related metabolism during pregnancy in ways that affect fetal growth. This suggests a key mechanism whereby prepregnancy nutritional status influences pregnancy outcome.
BTB Domain-containing Speckle-type POZ Protein (SPOP) Serves as an Adaptor of Daxx for Ubiquitination by Cul3-based Ubiquitin Ligase*

Daxx is a multifunctional protein that regulates a variety of cellular processes, including transcription, cell cycle, and apoptosis. SPOP is a BTB (Bric-a-brac/Tramtrack/Broad complex) protein that constitutes Cul3-based ubiquitin ligases. Here we show that SPOP serves as an adaptor of Daxx for the ubiquitination by Cul3-based ubiquitin ligase and subsequent degradation by the proteasome. Expression of SPOP with Cul3 markedly reduced Daxx level, and this degradation was blocked by SPOP-specific short hairpin RNAs. Inhibition of the proteasome by MG132 caused the prevention of Daxx degradation in parallel with the accumulation of ubiquitinated Daxx. Expression of SPOP with Cul3 reversed Daxx-mediated repression of ETS1- and p53-dependent transcription, and short hairpin RNA-mediated knock down of SPOP blocked the recovery of their transcriptional activation. Furthermore, Daxx degradation led to the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and the increase in the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-fluorescein nick end-labeling-positive apoptotic cells. These results suggest that SPOP/Cul3-ubiquitin ligase plays an essential role in the control of Daxx level and, thus, in the regulation of Daxx-mediated cellular processes, including transcriptional regulation and apoptosis.
Peripheral tolerance mechanisms prevent the development of autoreactive T cells in chimeras grafted with two minor incompatible thymuses

The thymus has been shown to play an important role in the generation of T cell tolerance to self antigens. Developing T cells are readily tolerized to antigens which are expressed in the thymus, and it is generally thought that such thymic tolerance occurs by a mechanism of clonal deletion. We sought to examine whether T cells which initially encountered a “self antigen” post‐thymically would be rendered tolerant of that antigen, and if so whether the mechanism of tolerance induction would differ from that found for thymic antigens. We constructed bone marrow radiation chimeras which were grafted with two thymus lobes differing in minor histocompatibility antigens. T cells which matured in one thymus would be tolerized to the minor histocompatibility antigens expressed in that thymus but would not encounter, and would therefore have no early opportunity of being tolerized to the minor histocompatibility antigens expressed by the other thymus. The initial encounter with the minor antigens on the second thymus would occur post‐thymically. Would these T cells be tolerant or responsive to those minor histocompatibility antigens? We found that tolerance was dominant in these chimeras. The data further suggest that the mechanism responsible for tolerance induction in the periphery may differ from that which operates in the thymus.
Comprehensive Analysis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1)-Specific Gamma Interferon-Secreting CD8+ T Cells in Primary HIV-1 Infection

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific CD8+ T cells provide an important defense in controlling HIV-1 replication, particularly following acquisition of infection. To delineate the breadth and potency of these responses in patients upon initial presentation and before treatment, we determined the fine specificities and frequencies of gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-secreting CD8+ T cells recognizing all HIV-1 proteins in patients with primary infection. In these subjects, the earliest detected responses were directed predominantly against Nef, Tat, Vpr, and Env. Tat- and Vpr-specific CD8+ T cells accounted for the greatest frequencies of mean IFN-γ spot-forming cells (SFC). Nef-specific responses (10 of 21) were more commonly detected. A mean of 2.3 epitopes were recognized with various avidities per subject, and the number increased with the duration of infection (R = 0.47, P = 0.031). The mean frequency of CD8+ T cells (985 SFC/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells) correlated with the number of epitopes recognized (R = 0.84, P < 0.0001) and the number of HLA-restricting alleles (R = 0.79, P < 0.0001). Neither the total SFC frequencies nor the number of epitopes recognized correlated with the concurrent plasma viral load. Seventeen novel epitopes were identified, four of which were restricted to HLA alleles (A23 and B72) that are common among African descendents. Thus, primary HIV-1 infection induces strong CD8+-T-cell immunity whose specificities broaden over time, but their frequencies and breadth do not correlate with HIV-1 containment when examined concurrently. Many novel epitopes, particularly directed to Nef, Tat, and Env, and frequently with unique HLA restrictions, merit further consideration in vaccine design.
Glomus tumors treated with stereotactic radiosurgery: A retrospective study.

Background Glomus tumors are difficult to manage surgically because they are vascular tumors that are topographically associated with important vascular and neuronal structures. Hence, there is a strong risk of incomplete resection and a high morbidity rate. In addition, they grow slowly. Recent treatments have increasingly involved a combination of surgical resection and radiosurgery. We present our experience in treating glomus tumors of the skull base with stereotactic radiosurgery as an upfront therapy. Methods We analyzed data from 13 consecutive patients with glomus tumors that were initially treated with stereotactic radiosurgery in our institute from February 2010 to April 2012. The tumor control rate, resolution of symptoms, and the complication rate were tabulated. Results All patients were female with a median age of 63 (mean 62.7+/-14.6 years). The median treatment dose was 25.8 Gy (27.6 Gy +/- 9.5 Gy) and the median tumor volume 10.4 mL (9.2 +/- 6.5). The median follow-up was 47.4 months (51.8+/-11.2 months, range 31-74). The tumor control rate was 92.3%; 46.7% of the patients had noticeable tumor shrinkage. This happened at a median interval of 17 months (18.7+/-6.8) after treatment. Most patients with tinnitus had resolution of their symptoms (87.5%). Four patients presented with new symptoms and four patients with worsening of pre-existing symptoms. The time course of symptomatic improvement followed that of tumor size reduction. However, there was no statistical correlation between the amount of tumor reduction and symptomatic relief. Conclusion Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an effective upfront treatment option in the management of glomus tumors.
A Survey of Caching Policies and Forwarding Mechanisms in Information-Centric Networking

Information-centric networking (ICN), an alternative to the host-centric model of the current Internet infrastructure, focuses on the distribution and retrieval of content instead of the transfer of information between specific endpoints. In order to achieve this, ICN is based on the paradigm of publish-subscribe and the concepts of naming and in-network caching. Current approaches to ICN employ caches within networks to minimize the latency of information retrieval. Content may be distributed either in caches along the delivery path(s), on-path caching or in any cache within a network, off-path caching. While approaches to off-path caching are comparable to traditional approaches for content replication and Web caching, approaches to on-path caching are specific to the ICN area. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the caching problem in ICN, with a focus on on-path caching. To this end, a detailed analysis of the existing caching policies and forwarding mechanisms that complement these policies is given. A number of criteria such as the caching model and level of operation and the evaluation parameters used in the evaluation of the existing caching policies are being employed to derive a taxonomy for on-path caching and highlight the trends and evaluation issues in this area. A discussion driven by the advantages and disadvantages of the existing caching policies and the challenges and open questions in on-path caching is finally being held.
China–US trade: implications on conflicts

ABSTRACT In this study, we examine various aspects of China’s trade, the U.S.’ trade, and the bilateral trade between the two countries. The analysis of each aspect has direct and indirect implications on trade conflicts between the two countries. We focus on important factors, such as the growth of trade, import penetration, increased competitiveness of Chinese firms, comparative advantages of Chinese goods, China’s WTO entry and its compliance, and bilateral trade imbalance. While each of the factors can lead to trade frictions, individual factors will not have led to a large-scale trade war. These factors converge within a brief period and thus can be considered the China shock, thereby making other countries’ adjustments to their economic structures difficult. Therefore, trade frictions are inevitable.
The Trypanocide Diminazene Aceturate Is Accumulated Predominantly through the TbAT1 Purine Transporter: Additional Insights on Diamidine Resistance in African Trypanosomes

ABSTRACT Resistance to diminazene aceturate (Berenil) is a severe problem in the control of African trypanosomiasis in domestic animals. It has been speculated that resistance may be the result of reduced diminazene uptake by the parasite. We describe here the mechanisms by which [3H]diminazene is transported by Trypanosoma brucei brucei bloodstream forms. Diminazene was rapidly accumulated through a single transporter, with a Km of 0.45 ± 0.11 μM, which was dose dependently inhibited by pentamidine and adenosine. The Ki values for these inhibitors were consistent with this transporter being the P2/TbAT1 adenosine transporter. Yeast expressing TbAT1 acquired the ability to take up [3H]diminazene and [3H]pentamidine. TbAT1-null mutants had lost almost all capacity for [3H]diminazene transport. However, this cell line still displayed a small but detectable rate of [3H]diminazene accumulation, in a nonsaturable manner. We conclude that TbAT1 mediates [3H]diminazene transport almost exclusively and that this explains the observed diminazene resistance phenotypes of TbAT1-null mutants and field isolates.
Conservative Accounting and the Pricing of Risk: The Case of Research and Development

The rationale for conservatively expensing R&D investments under U.S. GAAP largely relies on the uncertainty of the R&D-related future benefits. We examine the temporal dimension of uncertainty reflecting the time distance between R&D expenditures and the realization of future benefits. We propose a new measure capturing the temporal dimension of uncertainty due to conservative accounting, excess duration. Within an Intertemporal Capital Asset Pricing (ICAPM) framework, we find that excess duration is positively related to priced risk through systematic discount rate risk. We verify that the ICAPM accommodates priced risk related to excess duration. Conservative R&D accounting communicates risk on the distance to uncertainty resolution that is priced by the equity market through systematic discount rate risk.
Measurements of tooth movements in relation to single-implant restorations during 16 years: a case report.

BACKGROUND Osseointegrated implants behave as ankylotic abutments, and their positions are not affected by dentofacial changes. PURPOSE To measure changes in occlusion in relation to single implants in one patient after more than 15 years in function. MATERIALS AND METHODS One 25-year-old female was treated with two single implants in the upper central incisor and bicuspid area after trauma. Study casts made prior to treatment (1987) and after 16 years in function (2004) were scanned by means of an optical scanner. Using the palate as the reference, the models were placed in the same coordinate system and analyzed and compared in a computer-aided design (CAD) program. The results of the measurements of the casts were also compared with clinical photographs taken at the time of treatment (1988), after 9 years (1997), and after 16 years (2004) in function. RESULTS The clinical photographs showed obvious signs of implant infraposition after 9 years. New crowns were made in the incisor region after 15 years (2002), but signs of infraposition were again present at the final examination (2004). Measurements of the casts indicated small tooth movements with a pattern of slight eruption of upper teeth combined with a palatal inclination, mesial drift, and lingual inclination and crowding of the lower anterior teeth. The small measured vertical eruption of the teeth was less than the observed clinical infraposition of the implant crowns, indicating that the vertical position of the palatal may have changed in relation to the implants as well. CONCLUSION Obvious dentofacial changes may take place in adult patients. Teeth may adjust for this, and no major problems may arise in the dentate patient. However, because the positions of implants are not affected by dentofacial changes, other patterns of clinical problems can be seen when implant patients present with these changes. The character and frequency of these dentofacial changes that may compromise implant treatment in the long term are not yet known.