Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Signatures of Self-Renewal, Differentiation, and Lineage Choice in Multipotential Hemopoietic Progenitor Cells In Vitro

ABSTRACT The molecular mechanisms governing self-renewal, differentiation, and lineage specification remain unknown. Transcriptional profiling is likely to provide insight into these processes but, as yet, has been confined to “static” molecular profiles of stem and progenitors cells. We now provide a comprehensive, statistically robust, and “dynamic” analysis of multipotent hemopoietic progenitor cells undergoing self-renewal in response to interleukin-3 (IL-3) and multilineage differentiation in response to lineage-affiliated cytokines. Cells undergoing IL-3-dependent proliferative self-renewal displayed striking complexity, including expression of genes associated with different lineage programs, suggesting a highly responsive compartment poised to rapidly execute intrinsically or extrinsically initiated cell fate decisions. A remarkable general feature of early differentiation was a resolution of complexity through the downregulation of gene expression. Although effector genes characteristic of mature cells were upregulated late, coincident with morphological changes, lineage-specific changes in gene expression were observed prior to this, identifying genes which may provide early harbingers of unilineage commitment. Of particular interest were genes that displayed differential behavior irrespective of the lineage elaborated, many of which were rapidly downregulated within 4 to 8 h after exposure to a differentiation cue. These are likely to include genes important in self-renewal, the maintenance of multipotentiality, or the negative regulation of differentiation per se.
Innovation for productivity growth in Ecuador: unlocking constraints through horizontal and cluster development policies

Over the last decade, Ecuador experienced inclusive growth fueled by a favorable external environment that financed a vast expansion of the public sector. The country is now facing severe external and fiscal challenges due to the significant extended fall in oil prices and the appreciation of the U.S. dollar. Since mid-2014, Ecuador has lost almost half of its merchandise export income due to the decline in oil prices. Oil revenues averaged 13.2 percent of GDP between 2011 and 2014 and one-third of total fiscal revenues. The fall in oil and other commodity prices on global markets has opened broad macroeconomic imbalances and exposed Ecuador's pre-existing vulnerabilities. As a fully dollarized economy with limited savings from the boom years, Ecuador cannot soften adjustment via a nominal depreciation or a drawdown of macroeconomic buffers. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar and the major currency depreciations in neighboring trading partners also place pressures on external competitiveness. Furthermore, access to foreign borrowing has become more limited. Consequently, the burden of the adjustment falls on fiscal and income policies.
General Stress Transcription Factor ςB and Its Role in Acid Tolerance and Virulence ofListeria monocytogenes

ABSTRACT The gene encoding the general stress transcription factor ςB in the gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes was isolated with degenerate PCR primers followed by inverse PCR amplification. Evidence for gene identification includes the following: (i) phylogenetic analyses of reported amino acid sequences for ςB and the closely related ςFproteins grouped L. monocytogenes ςB in the same cluster with the ςB proteins from Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, (ii) the gene order in the 2,668-bp portion of the L. monocytogenes sigBoperon is rsbU-rsbV-rsbW-sigB-rsbX and is therefore identical to the order of the last five genes of the B. subtilis sigB operon, and (iii) an L. monocytogenesςB mutant had reduced resistance to acid stress in comparison with its isogenic parent strain. The sigB mutant was further characterized in mouse models of listeriosis by determining recovery rates of the wild-type and mutant strains from livers and spleens following intragastric or intraperitoneal infection. Our results suggest that ςB-directed genes do not appear to be essential for the spread of L. monocytogenes to mouse liver or spleen at 2 and 4 days following intragastric or intraperitoneal infection.
Bank’s Profit Efficiency Under China Economic Structure Rebalancing: Empirical Evidence Using Index of Economic Freedom

This present study argues that economic freedom is a necessary antecedent to China’s structural economic rebalancing. Therefore, using an index of economic freedom, it seeks to examine the implications of economic rebalancing on banks’ profit efficiency following a freer Chinese economy. Our dataset includes an unbalanced panel of 514 annual observations from 138 commercial banks that operated from 2007 to 2013. This study found evidence that higher freedom index of government spending, which denotes contraction of government expenditure, will result in lower profit efficiency. However, on a more granular level, the reduction of efficiency does not apply to state-connected banks, which are seen to be more profit efficient. On the other hand, the reduction of profit efficiency that afflicts other commercial banks that are less connected to the state authority can be mitigated by the increased aggregate demand from the private sector, following greater fiscal freedom and trade freedom through cutback on the tax rates and lower trade barriers, respectively. In addition, save for state-owned commercial banks, lower monetary freedom is found to significantly increase profit efficiency across banks of all ownership types. This corroborates the fact that banks have more extensive capacity to anticipate inflation compared to depositors and thus, they are more likely to thrive in an inflationary environment.
Haploinsufficiency of the Pten tumor suppressor gene promotes prostate cancer progression

The PTEN gene encodes a lipid phosphatase that negatively regulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway and is inactivated in a wide variety of malignant neoplasms. High rates of loss of heterozygosity are observed at the 10q23.3 region containing the human PTEN gene in prostate cancer and other human malignancies, but the demonstrated rate of biallelic inactivation of the PTEN gene by mutation or homozygous deletion is significantly lower than the rate of loss of heterozygosity. The transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate model is a well characterized animal model of prostate cancer. Analysis of prostate cancer progression in transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate mice bred to Pten+/− heterozygous mice, coupled with analysis of the Pten gene and protein in the resulting tumors, reveals that haploinsufficiency of the Pten gene promotes the progression of prostate cancer in this model system. This observation provides a potential explanation for the discordance in rates of loss of heterozygosity at 10q23 and biallelic PTEN inactivation observed in prostate cancer and many human malignancies.
Logistic regression analysis of small round cell neoplasms: A cytologic study

The diagnosis of small round cell neoplasms (SRCN) in children is difficult by both histologic and cytologic methods. These neoplasms are unified morphologically by the scanty cytoplasm surrounding relatively round nuclei containing a primitive chromatin pattern. Further categorization is achieved histologically by the recognition of architectural differentiation and cytoplasmic features. Numerous series and case reports documenting the cytologic features of SRCN have been published in the English‐language literature, but relatively few studies have statistically analyzed the diagnostic utility of these features. Our logistic regression analysis of 59 cases of SRCN indicates that the presence of an extremely scanty cytoplasm favors the diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma (P = 0.004), as does the positive expression of cytoplasmic vacuoles (P = 0.02). Strap or tadpole cells closely correlate with the diagnosisof rhabdomyosarcoma (P < 0.001). The positive expression of rosettes strongly supports the presence of a neuroblastoma (P < 0.001). The diagnosis of Wilms' tumor is confirmed by the expression of tubules (P < 0.001). The presence of lymphoglandular bodies strongly favors the diagnosis of lymphoma (P < 0.001). While some cytologic features are highly correlated with specific SRCN, these features are not invariably present, and definitive diagnosis may require immunohistochemical or ultrastructural analysis performed on cell block material. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;20:271–277. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Reliability of Crowdsourced Earnings Forecasts

A growing number of studies use crowdsourced data to draw inferences regarding information relevance. To bolster research using crowdsourced data and to allow researchers to draw stronger inferences regarding information relevance, we examine the reliability of online biographies using earnings forecasts provided by Estimize contributors. We examine if: (1) biographical information provided by Estimize contributors are reliable; (2) forecast quality is conditional on whether contributors provide their biographical information and names; and (3) contributors who provide their biographical information but withhold their identities make forecasts with different characteristics than those who provide their biographical information and identities. We find Estimize buy siders behave similarly to buy siders documented in prior studies, and Estimize sell siders (especially brokers) are similar to sell siders documented in prior studies. We show that, relative to other Estimize contributors, brokers’ forecasts are more akin to IBES in that they are: made closer in time to IBES forecasts, more likely to be within one penny of IBES forecasts, and as biased as IBES forecasts. We find that contributors who reveal their biographical information are more active on the Estimize platform and issue higher quality forecasts. Finally, we document that known brokers are more pessimistic than anonymous brokers.
Patient turnover and nursing staff adequacy.

OBJECTIVE To assess the relative validity of patient turnover adjustments and the difference in nurse staffing using measures that adjust for patient turnover and severity versus those that do not. DATA SOURCES Numbers of registered nurses (RNs), adjusted patient days of care (APDC), length of stay, and patient severity information from acute care general hospitals in Pennsylvania 1994-2001, obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the American Hospital Association, and the Atlas MediQual system. STUDY DESIGN After examining the trends in patient turnover and severity and their relationship to RN staffing, we apply two-patient turnover indices, with and without patient severity adjustments, to RN staffing measures, and test the difference between the original and adjusted measures using paired sample t-tests. DATA EXTRACTION METHODS Data sets were match merged by hospital ID, and patient turnover and severity indices were created, using 1994 as the base year. RN staffing measures were developed using unadjusted APDC, and APDC adjusted for patient turnover and both patient turnover and severity. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Patient turnover increased significantly from 1994 to 2001. The difference between RN staffing measures adjusted for patient turnover and severity and those not adjusted was increasingly significant from 1995 onward. Unadjusted RN staffing showed a 1 percent decline over the 8-year-period compared with decreases of from 9 to 26 percent after adjustments. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the assessment of unadjusted RN staffing by RN to patient ratios alone underestimates nursing workload and overstates RN staffing levels. Patient turnover, as well as severity, should be taken into account in staffing assessment and decision making.
Adoption of Integrated Reporting: Reasons and Benefits—A Case Study Analysis

Integrated reporting is the new corporate reporting tool that includes financial and non-financial information in a single document. Although some studies describe the potential benefits of integrated reporting, this practice is still not widespread. One of the reasons for the limited diffusion is linked to the absence of empirical evidence that demonstrates the actual concreteness of these benefits for organizations that decide to adopt integrated reporting. This study analyses the process of adopting integrated reporting and the benefits associated with it through a case study. In particular, the case of Generali Group is analysed in the aim of highlighting the adoption path and the effects deriving from the implementation of integrated reporting in a context like the Italian one, still not very attentive to these issues. The findings show how the implementation of integrated reporting has been the result of a clear desire of top management and that the adoption of this practice has had a decidedly positive impact both from an internal and external point of view.
PldB, a Putative Phospholipase D Homologue in Dictyostelium discoideum Mediates Quorum Sensing during Development

ABSTRACT Quorum sensing, also known as cell-density sensing in the unicellular eukaryote Dictyostelium discoideum, is required for efficient entry into the differentiation and development segment of its life cycle. Quorum sensing is accomplished by simultaneously secreting and sensing the glycoprotein Conditioned Medium Factor, or CMF. When the density of starving cells is high, CMF levels are high, which leads to aggregation followed by development. Here, we describe the role of pldB, a gene coding for a putative phospholipase D (PLD) homologue, in quorum sensing. We find that in submerged culture, adding butanol, an inhibitor of PLD-catalyzed phosphatidic acid production, allows cells to bypass the requirement for CMF mediated quorum sensing and aggregate at low cell density. Deletion of pldB mimics the presence of butanol, allowing cells to aggregate at low cell density. pldB− cells also initiate and finish aggregation rapidly. Analysis of early developmental gene expression in pldB− cells reveals that the cyclic AMP receptor cAR1 is expressed at higher levels earlier than in wild-type cells, which could explain the rapid aggregation phenotype. As would be predicted, cells overexpressing pldB are unable to aggregate even at high cell density. Adding CMF to these pldB− overexpressing cells does not rescue aggregation. Both of these phenotypes are cell autonomous, as mixing a small number of pldB− cells with wild-type cells does not cause the wild-type cells to behave like pldB− cells.
The Effect of Prohibiting Deal Protection in Mergers and Acquisitions: Evidence from the United Kingdom

Since 2011, the United Kingdom has prohibited all deal protections—including termination fees—in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals. We examine the effect of this regulatory change on deal volumes, the incidence of competing offers, deal-jumping rates, deal premiums, and completion rates in the United Kingdom relative to the other European Group of 10 (G-10) countries. We find that M&A deal volumes in the United Kingdom declined significantly in the aftermath of the 2011 reform (in absolute terms and relative to deal volumes in other European G-10 countries). We find no countervailing benefits to targets’ shareholders in the form of higher deal premiums or more competing bids. Completion rates and deal-jumping rates also remained unchanged. Our results suggest that deal protections provide an important social welfare benefit by facilitating the initiation of M&A deals.
B Lymphocyte Activation by Human Papillomavirus-Like Particles Directly Induces Ig Class Switch Recombination via TLR4-MyD881

Vaccination with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) L1 virus-like particles (VLP) induces both high titer neutralizing IgG and protective immunity. Because protection from experimental infection by papillomavirus is mediated by neutralizing IgG, we sought the mechanisms that trigger humoral immunity to HPV16 L1 VLP. We find that HPV16 L1 VLP bind to murine B lymphocytes thereby inducing activation-induced cytidine deaminase expression and Ig class switch recombination to cause the generation of IgG. HPV16 L1 VLP also activate production of proinflammatory factors IFN-α, IL-6, MIP-1α, RANTES, and KC, up-regulate the expression of costimulatory molecules by naive B cells, and increase the B1 B cell subpopulation. These B cell responses to HPV16 L1 VLP are dependent upon MyD88. Although MyD88−/− B cells produce only μ transcript after exposure to HPV16 L1 VLP, MyD88+/+ B cells express α, γ, and μ Ig H chain and activation-induced cytidine deaminase transcripts. Notably, TLR4 mutant C3H/HeJ mice exhibited significantly reduced HPV16 VLP-specific IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 titers after vaccination as compared with the control C3H/HeOuJ mice. HPV16 L1 VLP directly activated class switch recombination and costimulatory molecule expression by B cells of C3H/HeOuJ mice but not C3H/HeJ mice. Thus HPV16 L1 VLP directly activate B cells to induce CD4+ T cell independent humoral immune responses via TLR4- and MyD88-dependent signaling.
Valid symptom reporting at upper endoscopy in a random sample of the Swedish adult general population: the Kalixanda study

Background: Upper oesophagogastroduodenoscopy is considered to be the gold standard for upper gastrointestinal disease assessment, but is currently seldom used in epidemiological studies. One concern is that the procedure may bias sampling among volunteers in a general adult population. The aim of this study was to explore whether the procedure affects symptom reporting. Methods: A random sample of 3000 adults aged 20-81 years (mean age 50.4), from two Swedish municipalities (n = 21,610) was surveyed using a validated postal questionnaire (the Abdominal Symptom Questionnaire) assessing gastrointestinal symptoms. A subsample of the responders was invited, in random order, to undergo an upper endoscopy and repeated symptom reporting using the same questionnaire, as well as a serology test for Helicobacter pylori. Results: The response rate to the initial questionnaire was 74.2% and the participation rate for those eligible for the upper endoscopy was 73.3% (n = 1001, mean age 54.0 years, 48.8% male). No major social or symptom sampling error was encountered from the selection process, with the exception of an excess of symptom reporters among the youngest subjects. The prevalence of reflux symptoms, dyspeptic symptoms and irritable bowel symptoms was 40%, 37.6% and 29.6%, respectively, which is relatively high, but in no way extreme. Conclusions: The upper endoscopy survey strategy was successful. The response rate was high and there was no major selection bias of clinical relevance. The cohort selected for this study appears to be representative of the general Swedish adult population.
The Effects of Etomidate on the Contractility of Failing and Nonfailing Human Heart Muscle

We measured the effects of etomidate on contractility of human cardiac muscle. Muscles were obtained from the left ventricle and right atrium of 12 patients undergoing cardiac transplantation, and from the right atrium of 12 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Muscles were studied at 37°C and 1.0 Hz. Variables of isometric contraction were recorded before and after etomidate (0.04–80 &mgr;M) or its solvent, propylene glycol. The ability of &bgr;-adrenergic stimulation to cause an inotropic effect after etomidate was also assessed. Etomidate caused a dose-dependent decrease in developed tension, which was statistically significant only at concentrations exceeding clinical doses (≥20 &mgr;M;P < 0.05). Decreases in maximum rates of contraction and relaxation paralleled changes in developed tension. &bgr;-Adrenergic stimulation reversed the etomidate-induced decreases in developed tension and rates of contraction and relaxation to baseline (P > 0.05 compared with baseline). Thus, in human myocardium, etomidate exerts a dose-dependent negative inotropic effect, which is reversible with &bgr;-adrenergic stimulation. Concentrations required to produce these negative inotropic effects are, however, in excess of those reached during clinical use. Therefore, etomidate-induced negative inotropy is unlikely to be a problem clinically, even in patients with cardiac dysfunction. Implications Etomidate produced a similar dose-dependent negative inotropic effect in both failing and nonfailing human myocardium. This effect was present only at concentrations exceeding those attained clinically and was reversible with &bgr;-adrenergic stimulation.
Decision making in primary schools

In this paper we present data on decision making in the primary school, collected in the West of Scotland as part of the work of the Classroom Interaction Project (CIP). The rationale of CIP is described fully elsewhere (Hobbs and Kleinberg, in press). For present purposes, it is sufficient to note that in the project what goes on in the classroom is analysed in terms of attempts by the teacher to influence the pupils. The teacher in turn is treated as being subjected to various influences, some of which form the subject of this paper.
Evolution of the Diffuse Neuroendocrine System – Clear Cells and Cloudy Origins

As early as the 2nd century, Galen proposed that ‘vital spirits’ in the blood regulated human bodily functions. However, the concept of hormonal activity required a further 18 centuries to develop and relied upon the identification of ‘ductless glands’, Schwann’s cell and the recognition by Bayliss and Starling of chemical messengers. Bernard’s introduction of ‘internal secretion’ and its role in homeostasis laid a physiological basis for the development of endocrinology. Kocher and Addison recognized the consequences of ablation of glands by disease or surgery and identified their necessary role in life. Detailed descriptions of the endocrine cells of the gut and pancreas and their putative function were provided by Heidenhain, Langerhans, Laguesse and Sharpey-Schäfer. Despite the dominant 19th century concept of nervism (Pavlov), in 1902, Starling and Bayliss using Hardy’s term ‘hormonos’ described secretin and in so doing, established the gut as an endocrine organ. Thus, nervism was supplanted by hormonal regulation of function and thereafter numerous bioactive gut peptides and amines were identified. At virtually the same time (1892), Ramón y Cajal of Madrid reported the existence of a group of specialized intestinal cells that he referred to as ‘interstitial cells’. Cajal postulated that they might function as an interface between the neural system and the smooth muscles of the gut. Some 22 years later, Keith suggested that their function might be analogous to the electroconductive system of the heart and proposed their role as components of an intestinal pacemaker system. This prescient hypothesis was subsequently confirmed in 1982 by Thuneberg and a decade later Maede identified c-Kit as a critical molecular regulator in the development and function of the interstitial cells of Cajal and further confirmed the commonality of neural and endocrine cells. The additional characterization of the endocrine regulatory system of the GI tract was implemented when Feyrter (1938) using Masson’s staining techniques, identified ‘helle Zellen’ within the pancreatic ductal system and the intestinal epithelium and proposed the concept of a diffuse neuroendocrine system. Pearse subsequently grouped the various cells belonging to that system under the rubric of a unifying APUD series. Currently, the gut neuroendocrine system is viewed as a syncytium of neural and endocrine cells sharing a common cell lineage whose phenotypic regulation is as yet unclear. Their key role in the regulation of gastrointestinal function is, however, indubitable.