Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Putative Oncoprotein Bcl-3 Induces Cyclin D1 To Stimulate G1 Transition

ABSTRACT Bcl-3 is a distinctive member of the IκB family of NF-κB inhibitors because it can function to coactivate transcription. A potential involvement of Bcl-3 in oncogenesis is highlighted by the fact that it was cloned due to its location at a breakpoint junction in some cases of human B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and that it is highly expressed in human breast tumor tissue. To analyze the effects of Bcl-3 dysregulation in breast epithelial cells, we created stable immortalized human breast epithelial cell lines either expressing Bcl-3 or carrying the corresponding vector control plasmid. Analysis of the Bcl-3-expressing cells suggests that these cells have a shortened G1 phase of the cell cycle as well as a significant increase in hyperphosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. Additionally, the cyclin D1 gene was found to be highly expressed in these cells. Upon further analysis, Bcl-3, acting as a coactivator with NF-κB p52 homodimers, was demonstrated to directly activate the cyclin D1 promoter through an NF-κB binding site. Therefore, our results demonstrate that dysregulated expression of Bcl-3 potentiates the G1 transition of the cell cycle by stimulating the transcription of the cyclin D1 gene in human breast epithelial cells.
Financing of road maintenance in Sub-Saharan Africa : reforms and progress towards second generation road funds

The paper on financing of road maintenance in Sub-Saharan Africa discusses the evaluation criteria for assessing second generation road funds and gives an overview of their performance. It also identifies the constraints encountered by road funds in their move towards second generation road funds. The objective of the analysis is to deepen the understanding of best practice in order to provide guidance to countries setting up or restructuring road funds. This paper presents the result of an analysis of a data base used as a tracking system that summarizes the state of advance of reform implementation in 30 countries in SSA with a particular emphasis on road funds performance. The findings are supported by visits to a number of SSA countries and a survey conducted among road fund managers to measure performance indicators of the road sector institutions. Overall, the road maintenance needs are becoming more visible. Road funds have secured a more stable and predictable flow of funds for road maintenance but country progress varies widely and, although a country might have established a road fund, this does not necessarily mean that it is either fully efficient, or fully autonomous. In most cases, the establishment of a road fund has not resolved the insufficiency of funds for road maintenance. The results also show that more efforts are required to capture and sustain the efficiency gains that could derive from the improvement of road management practices and better use of available resources.
Trends in Health Insurance Coverage

This Issue Brief presents data on trends in health insurance coverage between 1987-1995. In 1995, 70.7 percent of the nonelderly population had private health insurance coverage, compared with 75.9 percent in 1987. During this period, the percentage of the nonelderly population with employment-based health insurance declined from 69.2 percent to 63.8 percent, while the percentage covered by Medicaid program increased from 8.6 percent to 12.5 percent. The percentage of the nonelderly population without any form of health insurance increased from 14.8 percent in 1987 to 17.4 percent, or 40.3 million individuals, in 1995. The percentage of nonelderly Americans with employment-based coverage fell for both individuals with coverage in their own name and those with coverage as dependents. In 1995, 32.7 percent of the nonelderly population had coverage in their own name, compared with 33.8 percent in 1987. Similarly, 31.1 percent of the nonelderly population had employment-based health insurance as dependents in 1995, compared with 35.4 percent in 1987. One of the most important determinants of health insurance coverage is work status and hours of work. While employment-based health insurance received directly from worker's employer decreased between 1987 and 1995 from 66.2 percent of 63.2 percent among full-time workers, the percentage of part-time workers with employment-based health insurance coverage in their own name increased from 17.2 percent to 20.1 percent. The percentage of workers with dependent coverage fell for both full-time and part-time workers, as did the percentage of nonworkers with dependent coverage. Workers in the manufacturing industry are most likely to have employment-based health insurance; they are also the workers most likely to have experienced a decrease in employment-based coverage between 1987 and 1995. In contrast, workers employed in most of the service sectors, experienced an increase in employment-based health insurance, self-employed workers experienced a decrease, and government workers experienced a slight increase. Cost is one of the primary factors contributing to the decline in employment-based health insurance coverage. While health insurance premium cost increases have slowed during the past three years, many health care analysts are predicting an increase in health insurance premiums during the next few years. Inflationary pressure may come from health care providers, health insurers, consumers, and/or policymakers. If inflationary pressure increases health insurance premiums, we are likely to see a continued decline in employment-based health insurance and a subsequent increase in both Medicaid and uninsured populations.
Verification and Validation of the Spring Model Parachute Air Delivery System in Subsonic Flow

Abstract : A mesoscale spring-mass model is used to mimic fabric surface motion. Through coupling with an incompressible fluid solver, the spring-mass model is applied to the simulation of the dynamic phenomenon of parachute inflation. Our model is shown to be numerically convergent under the constraints that the summation of points masses is constant and that both the tensile stiffness and the angular stiffness of the spring conform with the material's Young modulus and Poisson ratio. Complex validation simulations conclude the effort via drag force comparisons with experiments.
New alkenyl derivative from Piper malacophyllum and analogues: Antiparasitic activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania infantum

Alkylphenols isolated from Piper malacophyllum (Piperaceae), gibbilimbols A and B, showed interesting activity against the parasites Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania infantum. In continuation to our previous work, a new natural product from the essential oil of the leaves of P. malacophyllum was isolated, the 5‐[(3E)‐oct‐3‐en‐1‐il]‐1,3‐benzodioxole, and also a new set of five compounds was prepared. The antiparasitic activity of the natural product was evaluated in vitro against these parasites, indicating potential against the promastigote/trypomastigote/amastigote forms (IC50 32–83 μm) of the parasites and low toxicity (CC50 > 200 μm) to mammalian cells. The results obtained to the synthetic compounds indicated that the new derivatives maintained the promising antiparasitic activity, but the cytotoxicity was considerably lowered. The amine derivative LINS03011 displayed the most potent IC50 values (13.3 and 16.7 μm) against amastigotes of T. cruzi and L. infantum, respectively, indicating comparable activity to the phenolic prototype LINS03003, with threefold decreased (CC50 73.5 μm) cytotoxicity, leading the selectivity index (SI) towards the parasites up to 24.5. In counterpart, LINS03011 has not shown membrane disruptor activity in SYTOX Green model. In summary, this new set showed the hydroxyl is not essential for the antiparasitic activity, and its substitution could decrease the toxicity to mammalian cells.
Strategic entrepreneurship and performance of small and medium enterprises in South Africa.

2 DECLARATION 3 DEDICATION 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 LIST OF TABLES 9 LIST OF FIGURES 9 LIST OF APPENDICES 10 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 11 1.1 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 11 1.2 CONTEXT OF THE STUDY 11 1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT 12 1.4 PURPOSE STATEMENT/OBJECTIVE 13 1.5 HYPOTHESES 13 1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 14 1.5 DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 14 1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS 15 1.7 ASSUMPTIONS 17 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 18 2.
Unsupervised and Semi-Supervised Multilingual Learning for Resource-Poor Languages

Název práce: Neř́ızené a poloř́ızené v́ıcejazyčné učeńı pro jazyky s nedostatkem zdroj̊u Autor: Manh-Ke Tran Katedra: Ústav formálńı a aplikované lingvistiky Vedoućı diplomové práce: RNDr. Daniel Zeman, Ph.D., Ústav formálńı a aplikované lingvistiky & Marco A. Wiering, Assistant professor, Artificial Intelligence department, University of Groningen Abstrakt: Práce se zaměřuje na neř́ızenou morfologickou segmentaci, jednu ze základńıch úloh poč́ıtačového zpracováńı přirozeného jazyka. V této úloze je ćılem rozložit slova na morfémy. Popisuji a reimplementuji model navržený v Lee et al. (2011) a vyhodnocuji ho na 4 jazyćıch. Nav́ıc navrhuji generativńı model, který dokáže využ́ıt reprezentaci slov jako př́ıdavné rysy. Slovńı reprezentace jsou rovněž źıskávány neř́ızeným zp̊usobem pomoćı strojového učeńı a neuronového jazykového modelu. Pokusy ukazuj́ı, že s využit́ım těchto př́ıdavných rys̊u celková úspěšnost neř́ızeného modelu vzr̊ustá. Kĺıčová slova: neř́ızené učeńı, morfematická segmentace Title: Unsupervised and Semi-Supervised Multilingual Learning for Resource-Poor Languages Author: Manh-Ke Tran Institute: Institute of Formal and Applied Linguistics Supervisor: RNDr. Daniel Zeman, Ph.D., Institute of Formal and Applied Linguistics & Marco A. Wiering, Assistant professor, Artificial Intelligence department, University of Groningen Abstract: This thesis focuses on unsupervised morphological segmentation, the fundamental task in NLP which aims to break words into morphemes. I describe and re-implement a model proposed in Lee et al. (2011) and evaluate it on 4 languages. Moreover, I present a generative model that could use word representation as extra features. The word representations are leant in unsupervised manner using neural language model. The experiment shows that using extra features improves the performance of the unsupervised model.
Anticipatory Traumatic Reaction: Outcomes Arising From Secondary Exposure to Disasters and Large-Scale Threats

Two studies, with a total of 707 participants, developed and examined the reliability and validity of a measure for anticipatory traumatic reaction (ATR), a novel construct describing a form of distress that may occur in response to threat-related media reports and discussions. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a scale comprising three subscales: feelings related to future threat; preparatory thoughts and actions; and disruption to daily activities. Internal consistency was . 93 for the overall ATR scale. The ATR scale demonstrated convergent validity through associations with negative affect, depression, anxiety, stress, neuroticism, and repetitive negative thinking. The scale showed discriminant validity in relationships to Big Five characteristics. The ATR scale had some overlap with a measure of posttraumatic stress disorder, but also showed substantial separate variance. This research provides preliminary evidence for the novel construct of ATR as well as a measure of the construct. The ATR scale will allow researchers to further investigate anticipatory traumatic reaction in the fields of trauma, clinical practice, and social psychology.
A review of estrogen receptor &agr; gene (ESR1) polymorphisms, mood, and cognition

Objective:There are significant individual differences in the extent to which mood and cognition change as a function of reproductive stage, menstrual phase, postpartum, and hormone therapy use. This review explores the extent to which variations or polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor &agr; gene (ESR1) predict cognitive and mood outcomes. Methods:A literature search was conducted from 1995 to November 2009 through PubMed, Embase, and PsychINFO. Twenty-five manuscripts that summarize investigations of ESR1 in mental health were reviewed. Results:Among studies investigating ESR1 in relation to cognition, 11 of 14 case-control studies reported an association between ESR1 polymorphisms and risk for developing dementia. Three of four prospective cohort studies reported an association between ESR1 polymorphisms and significant cognitive decline. There are inconsistencies between case-control and cohort studies regarding whether specific ESR1 alleles increase or decrease the risk for cognitive dysfunction. The relationships between ESR1 and cognitive impairment tend to be specific to or driven by women and restricted to risk for Alzheimer disease rather than other dementia causes. Three of five studies examining ESR1 polymorphisms in relation to anxiety or depressive symptoms found significant associations. Significant associations have also been reported between ESR1 polymorphisms and childhood-onset mood disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Conclusions:A strong relationship between ESR1 variants and cognitive outcomes is evident, and preliminary evidence suggests a role of the ESR1 gene in certain mood outcomes. Insights into the discordant results will come from future studies that include haplotype analyses, analyses within specific ethnic/racial populations, and sex-stratified analyses.
In-Hospital Mortality and Unintentional Falls Among Older Adults in the United States

Purpose of the Study: To estimate the odds of death associated with documented unintentional falls and acute care hospitalization among older adults in the United States. Design and Method: Data were abstracted from the 2005 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and odds of death were modeled using logistic regression. Results: The age 65 and older fall rate per 1,000 discharges was 53.0 while the mortality rate for those who fell was 33.2. Older-old (odds ration [OR] = 2.93; confidence interval [CI] = [2.50, 3.43]), men (OR = 1.64, CI = [1.54, 1.75]), and non-White (OR = 1.09; CI = [1.01, 1.19]) had higher odds of death compared to younger-old, women, and Whites. Additional comorbidity (OR = 3.41, CI = [3.05, 3.82]), dehydration (OR = 1.14; CI = [1.05, 1.25]) and intracranial fractures (OR = 4.46; CI = [4.02, 4.95]) resulted in greater odds of death. Implications: Among older adults who experienced a fall and hospitalization, odds of mortality appear influenced by factors beyond injury severity related to falling. Additional research is necessary to delineate the mechanisms behind these phenomena to inform the public about falls-prevention programs.
Decomposing the value of department store shopping into utilitarian, hedonic and social dimensions: Evidence from Finland

– The purpose of this paper is to decompose total customer value as perceived by department store shoppers into utilitarian, hedonic and social dimensions, and empirically test this conceptualization in a Finnish department store shopping context. , – Data were collected by a questionnaire administered over three days at a department store that generates the second largest turnover in Finland. A total of 364 shoppers completed the questionnaire. , – Empirical evidence supports our tripartite conceptualization of total customer value. In particular, social value is an independent construct. Further, social value varies by day‐of‐week, with a significant increase on Saturday (versus weekdays) when the store is more crowded, whereas no such differences in utilitarian and hedonic values were detected. , – The principal contribution is a tripartite conceptualization of total customer value that incorporates utilitarian, social and hedonic value dimensions in a department store shopping context. Individually these dimensions are all well rooted in streams of consumer behavior literature, albeit mostly at the product or brand, not the store, level. Increasing our understanding of these softer aspects of shopping, particularly the social dimension, is important because they represent possible differentiating factors in the highly competitive and often commoditized retail markets.
Involvement of Matrix Metalloproteinase-Mediated Proteolysis of Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule in the Development of Cerebral Ischemic Neuronal Damage

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is a membrane protein abundantly expressed in the central nervous system. Recently, it has been reported that dysfunction of NCAM is linked to human brain disorders. Furthermore, NCAM is one of the proteolysis targets of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), whose activation is implicated in neuronal damage. The aim of this study was to elucidate the involvement of MMP-mediated proteolysis of NCAM in the development of ischemic neuronal damage. Male ddY and MMP-9 knockout (KO) C57BL/6J mice were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). In MCAO model mice, development of infarction and behavioral abnormality were clearly observed on days 1 and 3 after MCAO. Protein levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly increased on days 1 and 3 after MCAO. In addition, full-length NCAM (180 kDa) was significantly decreased, but its metabolite levels increased on day 1 by ischemic stress per se. NCAM small interfering RNA significantly increased the neuronal damage induced by MCAO. MMP inhibition or MMP-9 gene KO attenuated the infarction, behavioral abnormalities, and decrease of NCAM (180 kDa) observed after MCAO in mice. The present findings clearly suggest that MMP-2/MMP-9-mediated NCAM proteolysis is implicated in the exacerbation of ischemic neuronal damage.
Therapeutic monitoring of antiepileptic drugs for epilepsy.

BACKGROUND The aim of drug treatment for epilepsy is to prevent seizures without causing adverse effects. To achieve this, drug dosages need to be individualised. Measuring antiepileptic drug levels in body fluids (therapeutic drug monitoring) is frequently used to optimise drug dosage for individual patients. OBJECTIVES To review the evidence regarding the effects of therapeutic drug monitoring upon outcomes in epilepsy. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group Specialised Register (September 2006), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2005, Issue 4), MEDLINE (January 1966 to April 2005) and EMBASE (1974 to May 2005). No language restrictions were imposed. We checked the reference lists of retrieved articles for additional reports of relevant studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials comparing the outcomes of antiepileptic drug monotherapy guided by therapeutic drug monitoring with drug treatment without the aid of therapeutic drug monitoring. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We based this review on published aggregate data. The main outcomes measured were the proportions of patients achieving a 12-month remission from seizures, reporting adverse effects, and being withdrawn from the treatment they had been randomised to receive. MAIN RESULTS Only one study met the inclusion criteria for the review. In this open study, 180 patients with newly-diagnosed, untreated epilepsy were randomised to treatment with the antiepileptic drug selected by their physician either with or without therapeutic drug serum level monitoring as an aid to dosage adjustments. The antiepileptic drugs used were carbamazepine, valproate, phenytoin, phenobarbital and primidone. A 12-month remission from seizures was achieved by 60% of the patients randomised to therapeutic drug monitoring (intervention group) and by 61% in the control group. A total of 56% in the intervention group and 58% in the control group were seizure free during the last 12 months of follow up. Adverse effects were reported by 48% in the intervention group and 47% of the control group patients. Of those randomised to therapeutic drug monitoring, 62% completed the two-year follow up compared with 67% of the control group. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We found no clear evidence to support routine antiepileptic drug serum concentration measurement with the aim of reaching predefined target ranges for the optimisation of treatment of patients with newly-diagnosed epilepsy with antiepileptic drug monotherapy. However, this does not exclude the possible usefulness of therapeutic drug monitoring of specific antiepileptic drugs during polytherapy, in special situations or in selected patients, although evidence is lacking.
Effect of oral magnesium supplementation on physical performance in healthy elderly women involved in a weekly exercise program: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Magnesium deficiency is associated with poor physical performance, but no trials are available on how magnesium supplementation affects elderly people's physical performance. OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to investigate whether 12 wk of oral magnesium supplementation can improve physical performance in healthy elderly women. DESIGN In a parallel-group, randomized controlled trial, 139 healthy women (mean ± SD age: 71.5 ± 5.2 y) attending a mild fitness program were randomly allocated to a treatment group (300 mg Mg/d; n = 62) or a control group (no placebo or intervention; n = 77) by using a computer-generated randomization sequence, and researchers were blinded to their grouping. After assessment at baseline and again after 12 wk, the primary outcome was a change in the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB); secondary outcomes were changes in peak torque isometric and isokinetic strength of the lower limbs and handgrip strength. RESULTS A total of 124 participants allocated to the treatment (n = 53) or control (n = 71) group were considered in the final analysis. At baseline, the SPPB scores did not differ between the 2 groups. After 12 wk, the treated group had a significantly better total SPPB score (Δ = 0.41 ± 0.24 points; P = 0.03), chair stand times (Δ = -1.31 ± 0.33 s; P < 0.0001), and 4-m walking speeds (Δ = 0.14 ± 0.03 m/s; P = 0.006) than did the control group. These findings were more evident in participants with a magnesium dietary intake lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowance. No significant differences emerged for the secondary outcomes investigated, and no serious adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS Daily magnesium oxide supplementation for 12 wk seems to improve physical performance in healthy elderly women. These findings suggest a role for magnesium supplementation in preventing or delaying the age-related decline in physical performance.
Financing Constraints And Financial Development: Evidence From Selected African Countries

Economic theory posits that financial development eases firm level financing constraints by mitigating information asymmetry and contracting imperfections. This paper empirically tests for this notion by using firm level data from selected African countries. The sampled firms show positive and significant investment cash flow sensitivity coefficients indicating they are financially constrained. Financial development is found to have a significant and negative effect on the estimated cash flow sensitivity coefficients indicating it reduces firm financial constraints. The result further shows that such positive role of financial development is attributed to financial intermediary development and not to stock market development. A unique result to the African reality is that even firms in countries with high level of financial development are financially constrained. This implies the financial development in Africa is too weak and more policy attention is needed in this regard.