Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Price Advertising: An Integrative Review

After two decades of research, public policymakers, researchers, and managers still have questions regarding the use, abuse, and overall effectiveness of comparative price advertising. Using an integrative review of the literature as a basis, the authors examine the state of substantive knowledge regarding comparative price advertising effects. They use meta-analytical procedures to assess the effects of (1) presence of an advertised reference price, (2) advertised reference price levels, and (3) advertised sale price levels on consumers’ internal reference price, perceived value, price offer believability, purchase likelihood, and search intentions. Evidence indicates that comparative price advertising is a powerful advertising tool, with a strong opportunity for deception, that requires careful management and monitoring.
Identification of DNA–protein Binding Sites through Multi-Scale Local Average Blocks on Sequence Information

DNA–protein interactions appear as pivotal roles in diverse biological procedures and are paramount for cell metabolism, while identifying them with computational means is a kind of prudent scenario in depleting in vitro and in vivo experimental charging. A variety of state-of-the-art investigations have been elucidated to improve the accuracy of the DNA–protein binding sites prediction. Nevertheless, structure-based approaches are limited under the condition without 3D information, and the predictive validity is still refinable. In this essay, we address a kind of competitive method called Multi-scale Local Average Blocks (MLAB) algorithm to solve this issue. Different from structure-based routes, MLAB exploits a strategy that not only extracts local evolutionary information from primary sequences, but also using predicts solvent accessibility. Moreover, the construction about predictors of DNA–protein binding sites wields an ensemble weighted sparse representation model with random under-sampling. To evaluate the performance of MLAB, we conduct comprehensive experiments of DNA–protein binding sites prediction. MLAB gives MCC of 0.392, 0.315, 0.439 and 0.245 on PDNA-543, PDNA-41, PDNA-316 and PDNA-52 datasets, respectively. It shows that MLAB gains advantages by comparing with other outstanding methods. MCC for our method is increased by at least 0.053, 0.015 and 0.064 on PDNA-543, PDNA-41 and PDNA-316 datasets, respectively.
Australian industrial relations in 2016

This article introduces the Journal of Industrial Relations Annual Review of Industrial Relations in 2016. It first discusses key industrial relations developments over the past year in Australia, with a particular focus on the federal election and its aftermath. The article then examines the growing challenges relating to inequality in the Australian labour market and the declining effectiveness of industrial relations actors and institutions in addressing these challenges. It then considers the implications for Australian industrial relations of two seismic international political developments over the past year heralding the ascent of a protectionist policy paradigm: the UK’s ‘Brexit’ referendum and Donald Trump’s election as US President. Finally, the article provides an overview of the articles contained in the Annual Review issue.
A novel in‐situ‐zymography technique localizes gelatinolytic activity in human skin to mast cells

Abstract: Matrix‐metallo‐proteinases play a key role in cutaneous tissue remodeling and wound healing, and have been implicated as the ratelimiting factor in cutaneous tumor invasion and metastasis. We here describe a novel in‐situ‐zymographic method, which allows to directly localize sites of gelatinolytic activity in human skin. Gelatinolysis was detected through protein‐hydrolysis in a 200 μm thick polyacrylamide gel underlying tissue sections. The lysis was substrate‐dependent, demonstrated time‐ and temperature‐dependent kinetics, and was inhibited by both EDTA and 1,10‐phenanthroline. Normal and diseased skin sections demonstrated multiple focal points of gelatinolysis which co‐localized with individual cells. Histochemically, these were shown to represent most likely mast cells (via AS‐d‐chloroacetate esterase staining and metachromasia). However, immunohistochemical staining for gelatinases A and B showed no immunoreactivity patterns that corresponded to the identified foci of gelatinolysis. The reported in‐situ‐zymographic technique offers a decisive advantage over immunohistochemistry, since it detects only the activated and catabolically relevant proteases, and provides further evidence for a role of mast cells in extracellular matrix remodeling.
A multicomponent microemulsion using rational combination strategy improves lung cancer treatment through synergistic effects and deep tumor penetration

Abstract Previously, we have developed a multicomponent-based microemulsion composed of etoposide, coix seed oil, and ginsenoside Rh2 (ECG-MEs). In this study, our goal was to validate the feasibility of ECG-MEs in lung cancer treatment and explore the mechanism underling the enhanced antitumor efficacy. The optimal weight ratio of ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) in ECG-MEs was determined as 3% (wt%), that was capable of forming the microemulsion readily with small particle size and high drug encapsulation efficiency. In cellular studies, the intracellular fluorescence of human non-small cell lung cancer (A549) cells treated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled ECG-MEs (FITC/ECG-MEs) was significantly higher than that of various controls, leading to the obviously synergistic anticancer activities in cytotoxicity and in vitro cell apoptosis induction. The anticancer efficacy in vivo results showed that ECG-MEs markedly inhibited the growth of A549 tumor xenografts, potently induced tumor cells apoptosis, and obviously prolonged the survival time of mice. Of note, the mechanisms of enhanced anticancer efficiency were connected with the small size-mediated deep tumor penetration and increase in serum concentration of T helper 1 (Th1) cytokines. In summary, ECG-MEs exerting the rational drug combination strategy offers a solid evidence for lung cancer treatment, and has a promising potential for clinical application.
Phase III trial of infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI) compared with infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer: the Gruppo Oncologico Nord Ovest.

PURPOSE The Gruppo Oncologico Nord Ovest (GONO) conducted a phase III study comparing fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI [irinotecan 165 mg/m2 day 1, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 day 1, leucovorin 200 mg/m2 day 1, fluorouracil 3,200 mg/m2 48-hour continuous infusion starting on day 1, every 2 weeks]) with infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI). METHODS Selection criteria included unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer, age 18 to 75 years, and no prior chemotherapy for advanced disease. The primary end point was response rate (RR). RESULTS A total of 244 patients were randomly assigned. An increase of grade 2 to 3 peripheral neurotoxicity (0% v 19%; P < .001), and grade 3 to 4 neutropenia (28% v 50%; P < .001) were observed in the FOLFOXIRI arm. The incidence of febrile neutropenia (3% v 5%) and grade 3 to 4 diarrhea (12% v 20%) were not significantly different. Responses, as assessed by investigators, were, for FOLFIRI and FOLFOXIRI, respectively, complete, 6% and 8%; and partial, 35% and 58%, (RR, 41% v 66%; P = .0002). RR confirmed by an external panel was 34% versus 60% (P < .0001). The R0 secondary resection rate of metastases was greater in the FOLFOXIRI arm (6% v 15%; P = .033, among all 244 patients; and 12% v 36%; P = .017 among patients with liver metastases only). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were both significantly improved in the FOLFOXIRI arm (median PFS, 6.9 v 9.8 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.63; P = .0006; median OS, 16.7 v 22.6 months; HR, 0.70; P = .032). CONCLUSION The FOLFOXIRI regimen improves RR, PFS, and OS compared with FOLFIRI, with an increased, but manageable, toxicity in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with favorable prognostic characteristics. Further studies of FOLFOXIRI in combination with targeted agents and in the neoadjuvant setting are warranted.
Household Wealth & the Net International Investment Position

Aggregate household wealth dynamics are closely associated with fluctuations of the economy. However, the linkages between household wealth dynamics and cross-border financial holdings have remained unexamined. Thanks to the recent assembly of an essential dataset, this paper assesses these co-movements in selected advanced economies. We establish that increases in net household wealth are associated with deteriorations of the Net International Investment Position (NIIP). This pattern is primarily driven by valuation changes in wealth (mostly through house price appreciation). Overall, we find that capital gains on household wealth are strongly related to the accumulation of net external debt liabilities, a key indicator of financial vulnerability.
Common cancers share familial susceptibility: implications for cancer genetics and counselling

Background It has been proposed that cancer is more common in some families than in others, but the hypothesis lacks population level support. We use a novel approach by studying any cancers in large three-generation families and thus are able to find risks even though penetrance is low. Methods Individuals in the nation-wide Swedish Family-Cancer Database were organised in three generations and the relative risk (RR) of cancer was calculated to the persons in the third generation by the numbers of patients with cancer in generations 1, 2 and 3. Results The RRs for any cancer in generation 3 increased by the numbers of affected relatives, reaching 1.61 when at least seven relatives were diagnosed. The median patient had two affected relatives, and 7.0% had five or more affected relatives with an RR of 1.46, which translated to an absolute risk of 21.5% compared with 14.7% in population by age 65 years. For prostate cancer, the RR was 2.85 with four or more affected family members with any cancer, and it increased to 14.42 with four or more concordant cancers in family members. RRs for prostate cancer were approximately equal (2.70 vs 2.85) if a man had one relative with prostate cancer or four or more relatives diagnosed with any cancer. Conclusions A strong family history of cancer, regardless of tumour type, increases cancer risk of family members and calls for mechanistic explanations. Our data provide tools for counselling of patients with cancer with both low and high familiar risks.
Lights, camera, action! Capturing the spliceosome and pre‐mRNA splicing with single‐molecule fluorescence microscopy

The process of removing intronic sequences from a precursor to messenger RNA (pre‐mRNA) to yield a mature mRNA transcript via splicing is an integral step in eukaryotic gene expression. Splicing is carried out by a cellular nanomachine called the spliceosome that is composed of RNA components and dozens of proteins. Despite decades of study, many fundamentals of spliceosome function have remained elusive. Recent developments in single‐molecule fluorescence microscopy have afforded new tools to better probe the spliceosome and the complex, dynamic process of splicing by direct observation of single molecules. These cutting‐edge technologies enable investigators to monitor the dynamics of specific splicing components, whole spliceosomes, and even cotranscriptional splicing within living cells. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:683–701. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1358
Combining mutations in HIV‐1 protease to understand mechanisms of resistance

HIV‐1 develops resistance to protease inhibitors predominantly by selecting mutations in the protease gene. Studies of resistant mutants of HIV‐1 protease with single amino acid substitutions have shown a range of independent effects on specificity, inhibition, and stability. Four double mutants, K45I/L90M, K45I/V82S, D30N/V82S, and N88D/L90M were selected for analysis on the basis of observations of increased or decreased stability or enzymatic activity for the respective single mutants. The double mutants were assayed for catalysis, inhibition, and stability. Crystal structures were analyzed for the double mutants at resolutions of 2.2–1.2 Å to determine the associated molecular changes. Sequence‐dependent changes in protease‐inhibitor interactions were observed in the crystal structures. Mutations D30N, K45I, and V82S showed altered interactions with inhibitor residues at P2/P2′, P3/P3′/P4/P4′, and P1/P1′, respectively. One of the conformations of Met90 in K45I/L90M has an unfavorably close contact with the carbonyl oxygen of Asp25, as observed previously in the L90M single mutant. The observed catalytic efficiency and inhibition for the double mutants depended on the specific substrate or inhibitor. In particular, large variation in cleavage of p6pol‐PR substrate was observed, which is likely to result in defects in the maturation of the protease from the Gag‐Pol precursor and hence viral replication. Three of the double mutants showed values for stability that were intermediate between the values observed for the respective single mutants. D30N/V82S mutant showed lower stability than either of the two individual mutations, which is possibly due to concerted changes in the central P2‐P2′ and S2‐S2′ sites. The complex effects of combining mutations are discussed. Proteins 2002;48:107–116. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The quality and coping patterns of women's decision‐making regarding breast cancer surgery

This study addressed issues regarding the decision‐making process used by women who had mastectomy as their surgical treatment for breast cancer. The seven criteria for quality decision‐making and the conflict model proposed by Janis and Mann (1977) were used as the study's conceptual framework along with the notion by Simon (1957) of ‘bounded rationality’. Four coping patterns emerged: vigilance (actively searches for information and advice), satisficing (being satisfied, chooses first solution that meets the desired objectives), complacency (accepts advice without questions or fully comprehending), and defensive avoidance (rationalises and avoids discussion and consideration of the problem). The participants primarily left the decision for surgical treatment of breast cancer to their surgeons using satisficing, complacency and defensive avoidance. When the option of lumpectomy was offered to some of the participants (34%), they rejected this treatment alternative using the coping patterns of satisfying and defensive avoidance. Those women who were not offered lumpectomy (66%) did not seek a rationale for not being given this alternative. The findings indicated that the women's decision‐making process was halted in Stage 2 of the criteria for quality decision‐making actively searched for and viewed a number of alternatives. The study's findings are discussed in relation to improving the quality of the decision‐making process for women regarding their breast cancer surgical treatment. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toxin assay is more reliable than ICD-9 data and less time-consuming than chart review for public reporting of Clostridium difficile hospital case rates.

OBJECTIVE Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) is common and has a 6.1% mortality. Governmental agencies have recommended surveillance, but reporting increases health care costs. We sought to identify a reliable method of reporting CDAD that will not significantly increase health care costs. METHODS Patients were identified via database query for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 9th Edition (ICD-9) codes and C. difficile toxin positivity. All identified patients underwent a chart review, which was used to determine the accuracy of the database query methods. Methods of determining whether CDAD was acquired at the reporting institution were studied, and time required to perform each method was measured. RESULTS The toxin assay reported 96.1% (369/384) of cases and had a positive predictive value of 100%. No difference was found in comparison of the toxin assay case rate of 15.7 per 1000 discharged patients to the rate of 16.3 identified by chart review (P = 0.440; 95% confidence interval [CI], 14.1-17.4), whereas the ICD-9 method was found to be significantly different by reporting 116.1% (446/384) of cases for a case rate of 19.0 per 1000 discharges (P = 0.001; 95% CI, 17.3-20.8). The time for data extraction via the toxin assay method required only 842 minutes, while the chart review method consumed 21,899 minutes. CONCLUSION A positive C. difficile toxin assay accurately reports the institutional incidence of disease and is more reliable than ICD-9 query. This process can be instituted at a fraction of the cost of the standard chart review, and enables governmental agencies to inexpensively add CDAD to their list of reportable diseases.
Acute Hemodynamic Effects and Angina Improvement with Enhanced External Counterpulsation

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is an effective noninvasive treatment for coronary artery disease. The mechanism of action is felt to be hemodynamic. The complex hemody namic effects have been simply quantified by calculating a previously described effectiveness ratio (ER). The EECP Clinical Consortium, a clinical registry of 37 centers, prospectively enrolled 395 chronic stable angina patients (79 women, 316 men, mean age 66 years) to examine the relation of the ER to posttreatment improvement in Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class (CCS). Women and the elderly underwent planned subgroup analysis. The ER was calcu lated during the first and last hours of a 35-hour course of EECP treatment. After EECP, CCS improved by at least 1 class in 88% of patients, 87% of men and 92% of women (p = NS), and in 89% of patients ≤ 66 years and 88% of patients > 66 years old (p = NS). The initial and final ER were similar in patients with and without improvement in CCS. Significant first-hour ER differences were seen between men and women (0.96 ±0.03 vs 0.76 ±0.04, p < 0.005), and between ages ≤ 66 and > 66 years old (1.04 ±0.04 vs 0.81 ±0.03, p < 0.0001). However, all subgroups responded equally well to EECP treatment. EECP is effective in improving CCS in chronic stable angina patients; it has comparable effects in men and women and across a broad range of ages. The hemodynamic effect of EECP (ER) does not predict improvement in CCS and may indicate that other factors, such as neuro- hormonal changes, may have a significant role in mediating the observed EECP benefits.
Association of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetic nephropathy

Abstract Background: We investigated the relationship between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G insertion/deletion polymorphism and prevalence of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in Chinese patients. Methods: A total of 107 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly recruited in the study, and 102 healthy subjects were selected as Control. Patients were divided into three groups according to their urinary albumin–creatinine ratio (UACR). Group A (n = 44), had patients without DN (serum creatinine <106 µmol/L and UACR <30 µg/mg); Group B (n = 30), had patients with micro-albuminuria (UACR 30–299 µg/mg), and Group C (n = 33), had patients with macro-albuminuria (UACR ≥300 µg/mg and creatinine <200 µmol/L). Plasma level of PAI-1 was measured by ELISA. PAI-1 polymorphism was determined by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and DNA sequencing. Results: (1) The plasma PAI-1 levels of group A (60.39 ± 17.01 ng/L), group B (68.76 ± 17.81 ng/L) and group C and (68.63 ± 18.30 ng/L) are higher than that of controls (46.26 ± 26.04 ng/L); (2) Patients with genotype 4G/4G tended to exhibit higher PAI-1 level; (3) The distribution frequency of genotype 4G/4G in group C was significantly higher than in group A (42.4% vs. 28.7%, p < 0.05) and (4) In type 2 diabetic patients, the occurrence of diabetes nephropathy in genotype 4G/4G, 4G/5G and 5G/5G is 35.0%, 30.2% and 21.4%, respectively. Conclusions: (1) Plasma PAI-1 level was elevated in Type 2 diabetic patients; (2) The level of plasma PAI-1 is closely related to PAI-1 gene 4G/5G polymorphism and (3) PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism is associated with the development and progression of predominant proteinuria diabetes nephropathy.
The input ambiguity hypothesis and case blindness: an account of cross-linguistic and intra-linguistic differences in case errors

ABSTRACT English-acquiring children frequently make pronoun case errors, while German-acquiring children rarely do. Nonetheless, German-acquiring children frequently make article case errors. It is proposed that when child-directed speech contains a high percentage of case-ambiguous forms, case errors are common in child language; when percentages are low, case errors are rare. Input to English and German children was analyzed for percentage of case-ambiguous personal pronouns on adult tiers of corpora from 24 English-acquiring and 24 German-acquiring children. Also analyzed for German was the percentage of case-ambiguous articles. Case-ambiguous pronouns averaged 63·3% in English, compared with 7·6% in German. The percentage of case-ambiguous articles in German was 77·0%. These percentages align with the children's errors reported in the literature. It appears children may be sensitive to levels of ambiguity such that low ambiguity may aid error-free acquisition, while high ambiguity may blind children to case distinctions, resulting in errors.
Evidence for rapid face recognition from human scalp and intracranial electrodes

It is still generally believed that complex visual analysis is not carried out within the first 100 ms. Here we show that intra-and extracranial visual evoked potentials (VEPs) differentiate previously seen faces from novel faces as early as 50 ms after stimulus onset. EEG was recorded from scalp electrodes in 12 male healthy volunteers (group I) and intracranially from implanted depth electrodes in the temporal and frontal cortex of seven epilepsy patients (group II). Both groups were engaged in a face recognition task. All subjects showed significant differential responses which occurred very early (50–90 ms) and later (190–600 ms). In group II, the early responses were recorded more frequently in the right hemisphere, whereas the late differential VEPs were found in both hemispheres. Both types of VEPs were more frequent in the temporal neocortex, underlining its role as a major contributor to these fast recognition processes.
ASSESSMENT OF LINEAR GROWTH OF CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY: USE OF ALTERNATIVE MEASURES TO HEIGHT OR LENGTH

Various linear measurements were made of 100 children with cerebral palsy to evaluate the effects of various factors on growth, and to investigate the use of alternative measurements to height or recumbent length. Linear growth was more retarded in children with spastic quadriplegia than in those with less widespread spasticity, and there was a tendency for the older children to be more growth‐retarded. Upper‐arm and lower‐leg lengths provided useful information about linear growth. Growth charts using these alternative measurements have been developed which can be used to assess linear growth of children with cerebral palsy when it is difficult or impossible to measure height or recumbent length because of joint contractures. These charts should improve the assessment of the nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy.