Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Right Not to Have Rights: Posted Worker Acquiescence and the European Union Labor Rights Framework

Abstract The emergence of the European Union citizenship agenda has mainly taken place along the evolution of mobility rights, with the goal of creating a pan-European labor market. Mobility undermines the nationally embedded notion of industrial citizenship. Industrial citizenship protects workers’ rights and secures their participation in national political systems. The Europeanization of labor markets severs the relationship between state, territory and citizen on which industrial citizenship has been built, undermining worker collectivism and access to representation. This is legitimated in terms of building market-citizenship, i.e., enabling mobile workers as market actors. However, the way mobility is regulated in the EU has the purpose and effect of weakening collective labor institutions, which also undermines workers’ ability to act as autonomous market actors. The same factors which undermine the industrial citizenship of mobile workers also prevent them from being effective free market agents: i.e., they can neither negotiate nor enforce individual contracts effectively in the face of systematic employer fraud and wage theft. The “Arendtian dilemma” of the “right to have rights” — a dilemma that derives from the claim that rights depend on the existence of a political community, which until now is the territorially exclusive nation-state, rather than universal personhood — emerges as industrial citizenship is internationalized. By disembeddeding workers from host-country industrial relations systems, EU regulation provides the social context in which workers’ rights become alienable.
Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A and vascular endothelial growth factor-C as prognostic factors for non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND Understanding and controlling angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis could lead to effective strategies for cancer treatment. The aim of our study was to clarify the clinical value of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and VEGF-C in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIAL/METHODS One hundred and fifty-three patients with NSCLCs were studied to investigate intratumoral expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C by immunohistochemistry. Simultaneously, we evaluated tumor angiogenesis using CD34 immunostaining. RESULTS Seventy-eight carcinomas (51.0%) were VEGF-A-positive, and 64 carcinomas (41.8%) were VEGF-C-positive. There was no correlationship between VEGF-A expression and VEGF-C expression in NSCLCs. The frequency of hypervascular tumors was significantly higher in VEGF-A-positive NSCLCs than in VEGF-A-negative NSCLCs (p=0.0442), while there was no correlation between intratumoral VEGF-C expression status and tumor vascularity. Concerning survival of NSCLC patients, intratumoral expression of VEGF-A was one of the significant prognostic factors in NSCLC patients (relative risk=2.012, p=0.0101), especially in patients with adenocarcinomas (relative risk=3.816, p=0.0025). On the other hand, intratumoral expression VEGF-C was one of the significant prognostic factors in patients with squamous cell carcinomas (relative risk=3.946, p=0.0143). CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrated that intratumoral VEGF-A expression is one of the significant prognostic factors in patients with adenocarcinomas, and that intratumoral VEGF-C expression is one of the significant prognostic factors in patients with squamous cell carcinomas. These different functions of the VEGF family in relation to tumor histology might reflect the clinical behaviors of NSCLCs.
Maternal Nanos represses hid/skl-dependent apoptosis to maintain the germ line in Drosophila embryos

Nanos (Nos) is an evolutionarily conserved protein essential for the survival of primordial germ cells. In Drosophila, maternal Nos partitions into pole cells and suppresses apoptosis to permit proper germ-line development. However, how this critical event is regulated by Nos has remained elusive. Here, we report that Nos represses apoptosis of pole cells by suppressing translation of head involution defective (hid), a member of the RHG gene family that is required for Caspase activation. In addition, we demonstrate that hid acts in concert with another RHG gene, sickle (skl), to induce apoptosis. Expression of skl is induced in pole cells by maternal tao-1, a ste20-like serine/threonine kinase. Tao-1-dependent skl expression is required to potentiate hid activity. However, skl expression is largely suppressed in normal pole cells. Once the pole cells lack maternal Nos, Tao-1-dependent skl expression is fully activated, suggesting that skl expression is also restricted by Nos. These findings provide the first evidence that the germ line is maintained through the regulated expression of RHG genes.
Robust reputation-based ranking on multipartite rating networks

The spread of online reviews, ratings and opinions and its growing influence on people's behavior and decisions boosted the interest to extract meaningful information from this data deluge. Hence, crowdsourced ratings of products and services gained a critical role in business, governments, and others. We propose a new reputation-based ranking system utilizing multipartite rating subnetworks, that clusters users by their similarities, using Kolmogorov complexity. Our system is novel in that it reflects a diversity of opinions/preferences by assigning possibly distinct rankings, for the same item, for different groups of users. We prove the convergence and efficiency of the system and show that it copes better with spamming/spurious users, and it is more robust to attacks than state-of-the-art approaches.
Infantile Fibrosarcoma of the Hand Associated with Coagulopathy

Background: Large congenital neoplasms of the extremities may be associated with coagulopathies and significant hemorrhage in the neonatal period. At times, the differences between coagulation derangements can be very subtle, leading to errors in diagnosis. Infants with vascular lesions and coagulopathies are often found to have the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon, which is a platelet-trapping coagulopathy. However, other neoplasms or vascular malformations can be accompanied by disseminated intravascular coagulation. It is important to obtain accurate diagnoses of the neoplasm and the coagulopathy because the treatments of similar-appearing tumors and coagulopathies can be markedly different. Methods: The authors report the case of a newborn with a congenital tumor of the left hand that was accompanied by a coagulopathy that caused significant bleeding. Results: A presumption was made by the neonatal critical care physicians and hematologists that the infant had a kaposiform hemangioendothelioma along with the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon. However, steroid treatment did not reduce the size of the mass or correct the coagulopathy. Only after obtaining consultation with a hand surgeon and a tissue diagnosis was it learned that the patient had an infantile fibrosarcoma that was accompanied by disseminated intravascular coagulation. Limb-sparing resection of the lesion along with chemotherapy markedly improved the patient’s condition. Conclusions: Large congenital neoplasms presenting with attendant bleeding diatheses must be rapidly and accurately diagnosed with both a biopsy-proven tissue diagnosis and a hematologic characterization of the nature of the coagulopathy. The differential diagnosis of a vascular-appearing mass in the extremity can be subtle, and presumptive diagnosis, as occurred in this case, can lead to incorrect or delayed treatment. Specifically, kaposiform hemangioendothelioma must be differentiated from infantile fibrosarcoma. The principles of infantile fibrosarcoma treatment are limb-sparing resection and chemotherapy.
[Genetic screening of mutation hot-spots for nonsyndromic hearing loss in southern Jiangsu province with SNaPshot].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mutation frequency in 7 mutation hot-spots of deafness gene in southern Jiangsu province and verify the performance of the SNaPshot technology platform, designed for genetic screening of non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) in Chinese. METHODS One hundred and twenty-five NSHL patients were enrolled. Amplification of 235delC, 299-300delAT in GJB2 gene, IVS7-2A>G, 2168 A>G in SLC26A4 gene, and 1555A>G, 7445 A>G and 3243 A>G in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was performed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. Afterwards, the sequence-specific probe interrogated each locus and labeled it at the 3' end using fluorescent dideoxynucleotide chemistry by the SNaPshot Multiplex Kit, the resulting products were then separated electrophoretically in ABI PRISM R 3130 Genetic Analyzer and analyzed in the presence of a fifth-dye-labeled size standard. Finally, the genotyping results were verified by direct sequencing or PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS (1) The total mutation frequency for the 7 mutation hot-spots was 53.6%. The mutation frequency of 235delC was 24.0%, 299-300delAT was 5.6% in the GJB2 gene, IVS7-2A>G was 15.2%, 2168A>G was 3.2% in the SLC26A4 gene. The mutation frequency of 1555A>G and 7445 A>G in mtDNA was 4.8% and 0.8% respectively. The mutation 3243 A>G was not detected. (2) The SNaPshot results were consistent with that from direct sequencing or PCR-RFLP, and the specificity and sensitivity of detection were 100%. CONCLUSION (1) More than half of the patients with deafness in southern Jiangsu province carry the mutations of the seven hot-spots. (2) The genetic screening technology platform based on SNaPshot can detect 7 mutations in one reaction, and is efficient and suitable for clinical practice.
Axon‐bearing amacrine cells of the macaque monkey retina

A new and remarkable type of amacrine cell has been identified in the primate retina. Application of the vital dye acridine orange to macaque retinas maintained in vitro produced a stable fluorescence in the somata of apparently all retinal neurons in both the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers. Large somata (∼15‐20 μm diam) were also consistently observed in the approximate center of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Intracellular injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) made under direct microscopic control showed that the cells in the middle of the IPL constitute a single, morphologically distinct amacrine cell subpopulation. An unusual and characteristic feature of this cell type is the presence of multiple axons that arise from the dendritic tree and project beyond it to form a second, morphologically distinct arborization within the IPL; these cells have thus been referred to as axon‐bearing amacrine cells.
Treatment of Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis by Application of Autologous Serum

Purpose. To determine the efficacy of autologous serum drops in the treatment of superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK). Methods. Twenty-two eyes of 11 patients were diagnosed with SLK. All eyes were treated with 20% diluted autologous serum eyedrops 10 times a day in addition to ongoing treatment of dry eye. Fluorescein and rose bengal staining scores, as well as subjective symptom gradings, were performed before and after 4 weeks of therapy. Results. Nine of the 11 patients responded well to treatment (82%). The average rose bengal and fluorescein score improved (p < 0.05), and there was subjective improvement. Conclusion. Autologous serum application can be used as an alternative mode of therapy in SLK.
Suppressor cells in the spleen of tumor-allosensitized mice.

C57BL/6 mice were sensitized i.p. with 20 X 10(6) P-815 mastocytoma cells. Spleen and lymph node cells from these tumor-allosensitized mice become hyporesponsive in mixed-lymphocyte culture. The hyporesponsiveness appears to be due to the presence of suppressor cells. These suppressor cells can be demonstrated by their ability to inhibit the mixed-lymphocyte culture reactivity of normal mouse spleen cells. Suppressor activity in the spleen of tumor-allosensitized mice remains long after cytotoxic activity disappears. The mixed-lymphocyte culture suppressor cells do not adhere to glass and are cortisone resistant, X-irradiation resistant, anti-immunoglobulin serum resistant, but are anti-theta (Thy 1.2) serum sensitive. Adsorption of tumor-allosensitized spleen on specific allogeneic monolayers removes cytotoxic but not suppressor cells. On the basis of the kinetic data, cortisone sensitivity, antisera sensitivity, and adsorption results, we conclude that the suppressor cell is a thymus-derived lymphocyte that is separate from the cytotoxic thymus-derived lymphocyte.
Prevalence of Metatarsus Adductus in Symptomatic Hallux Valgus and Its Influence on Functional Outcome

Background: Metatarsus adductus (MA) increases the risk of developing symptomatic hallux valgus (HV). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MA in patients with symptomatic HV and to evaluate how it affected the functional outcome after scarf osteotomy. Methods: Between January 2007 and June 2012, a total of 206 patients who underwent scarf osteotomy for symptomatic HV at a tertiary hospital were included. The metatarsus adductus angle (MAA) was determined using the Modified Sgarlato method, and these patients were categorized into 2 groups: MA (MAA > 20 degrees); and Control (MAA ≤ 20 degrees). The patients were prospectively followed for 2 years. Results: The prevalence of MA was 33% (68/206) with a mean MAA of 24 ± 4 degrees (range = 20-39). There was a 21 ± 12 degrees and 18 ± 9 degrees improvement in hallux valgus angle for the MA and Control groups, respectively (P = .061), whereas there was a 6 ± 4 degrees and 6 ± 3 degrees improvement in intermetartarsal angle for the MA and Control groups, respectively (P = .475). The visual analog scale, AOFAS Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Scale, and Physical and Mental Component Scores were comparable between the 2 groups both preoperatively and at 2 years’ follow-up (all P > .05). Two patients in the control group required revision surgery for recurrence symptomatic HV. Conclusion: The authors conclude that MA did not predispose the patient to poorer functional outcome after scarf osteotomy with the advent of good operative techniques. Level of Evidence: Level II, prospective comparative study.
Induction of heme oxygenase-1 and heat shock protein 70 in rat hepatocytes: The role of calcium signaling

Stress response genes including heat shock proteins are induced under a variety of conditions to confer cellular protection. This study investigated the role of calcium signaling in the induction of two stress response genes, heme oxygenase-1/hsp32 and hsp70, in isolated rat hepatocytes. Both genes were induced by cellular glutathione depletion. This induction could be inhibited by BAPTA-AM. Culturing in a calcium-free medium prevented the induction of hsp70 gene expression after glutathione depletion without affecting heme oxygenase-1 gene expression. Thapsigargin increased the gene expression of heme oxygenase-1 but not that of hsp70. Thapsigargin-induced heme oxygenase-1 induction was completely inhibited by BAPTA-AM. Incubation with the Ca2+-ionophore A23187 augmented heme oxygenase-1 (two-fold) and hsp70 (5.2-fold) mRNA levels. Our data suggests a significant role of Ca2+-dependent pathways in the induction of the two stress genes. An increase in the cytoplasmic Ca2+ activity seems to play a key role in the cascade of signaling leading to the induction of the two genes. However, the source of Ca2+ that fluxes into the cytoplasm seems to be different. Our data provides evidence for a compartmentalization of calcium fluxes, i.e. the Ca2+ flux from intracellular stores (e.g. the endoplasmic reticulum) plays a major role in the induction of heme oxygenase-1. By contrast, Ca2+ flux from the extracellular medium seems to be a mechanism initiating the cellular signaling cascade leading to hsp70 gene induction.
Sentinel lymph-node biopsy compared to axillary lymph-node dissection for axillary staging in breast cancer patients.

AIMS The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of sentinel lymph-node biopsy in breast cancer patients at our institution and to compare the results of sentinel node (SN) biopsy to standard axillary lymph-node dissection (ALND). METHODS In a retrospective study the percentage of lymph-node positive patients and the number of micrometastases in 165 breast cancer patients following SN biopsy was compared to 195 patients who underwent ALND of level I and II without SN biopsy. The SN was identified using a combination of vital blue dye and a radiolabelled colloid. RESULTS Patients and tumour characteristics were comparable between both groups. SN biopsy found no significant difference in the number of node positive T1 cancer patients (SN group: 31/108 (28.7%) -- ALND group: 21/92 (22.8%)) and T2 tumours (SN group: 27/57 (47.4%) -- ALND group: 49/103 (47.6%)) between both groups. Micrometastases were more frequently found in the SN group when compared to the ALND group (six of 70 positive nodes) (P=0.04). CONCLUSION SN biopsy may be as accurate as standard axillary lymph-node dissection for the evaluation of the axillary lymph-node status in breast cancer patients.
P-TELU: Parametric Tan Hyperbolic Linear Unit Activation for Deep Neural Networks

This paper proposes a new activation function, namely, Parametric Tan Hyperbolic Linear Unit (P-TELU) for deep neural networks. The work is inspired from two recently proposed functions: Parametric RELU (P-RELU) and Exponential Linear Unit (ELU). The specific design of P-TELU allows it to leverage two advantages: (1) the flexibility of tuning parameters from the data distribution similar to P-RELU and (2) better noise robustness similar to ELU. Owing to larger gradient and early saturation of tan hyperbolic compared to exponential function, the proposed activation allows a neuron to reach/exit from the noise robust deactivation state earlier and faster. The performance of the proposed function is evaluated on CIFAR10 and CI-FAR100 image dataset using two convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures: KerasNet, a small 6 layer CNN model, and on 76 layer deep ResNet architecture. Results demonstrate enhanced performance of the proposed activation function in comparison to the existing activation functions.
Cell Signaling Model Connects Vorinostat Pharmacokinetics and Tumor Growth Response in Multiple Myeloma Xenografts

Multiple myeloma is a fatal hematological malignancy with high rates of drug resistance and relapse. Vorinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, has shown promise in enhancing efficacy when combined with current myeloma therapies. In this study, temporal changes of critical proteins and cell proliferation were measured in myeloma cells exposed to vorinostat. A model linking biomarker dynamics to cell proliferation was developed that captured vorinostat effects on signal transduction and cell viability. The model structure and parameters were fixed to describe tumor dynamics in vivo, and tumor‐specific growth and death rate parameters were estimated. The signaling model captured tumor growth inhibition in murine xenografts for a range of dose levels and regimens. This model may be used as a mechanistic bridge to link vorinostat exposure to molecular events and pharmacodynamic (PD) outcomes. It may also provide a translational platform to explore vorinostat activity as a single agent and in combination regimens.
Functional Outcome for Children with Thumb Aplasia Undergoing Pollicization

Background: Hand function is difficult to evaluate in young patients. It is helpful to assess young children after surgery for trauma or congenital anomaly to see how they cope as they progress through their developmental milestones. Methods: Functional outcome in 10 children (12 upper extremities) who had previous pollicization for a congenitally absent or severely hypoplastic thumb were evaluated by standard radiographs, thumb total active range of motion, grip and pinch strength, parent questionnaire, modified Jebsen functional testing, and a pegboard Functional Dexterity Test. Results: Grip strength was significantly less (p = 0.008) in the hands that had been operated on (mean, 2 kg) compared with the hands that had not been operated on (mean, 5.6 kg). Pinch strength was also significantly less (p = 0.008) in the hands that had been operated on (mean, 1.0 kg) compared with those that had not been operated on (mean, 2.1 kg). In most, hands that had been operated on and those that had not been operated on tested outside the 2-SD range of age-matched normals for pinch and grip strength and also for the Functional Dexterity Test. In contrast, total Jebsen Hand Function Test time was not significantly different from hands that had not been operated on, except that some subtests were significantly different, such as checker stacking (p = 0.016; mean difference, 7.2 seconds) and page turning (p = 0.031; mean difference, –10 seconds). The total active range of motion in hands that had been operated on and those that had not been operated on was also not significantly different. All children used their reconstructed thumbs in a normal pattern. Parent questionnaires revealed satisfaction with appearance and good social interactions. Functional activities showed greatest difficulty handling small objects, especially when simultaneous pinch strength was required, such as fastening buttons and small snaps. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of evaluating multiple aspects of functional outcome for congenital hand problems and of using comparative age-appropriate validated norms. Pollicization is a rewarding procedure for children with thumb aplasia.
Genomics of isolation in hybrids

Hybrid zones are common in nature and can offer critical insights into the dynamics and components of reproductive isolation. Hybrids between diverged lineages are particularly informative about the genetic architecture of reproductive isolation, because introgression in an admixed population is a direct measure of isolation. In this paper, we combine simulations and a new statistical model to determine the extent to which different genetic architectures of isolation leave different signatures on genome-level patterns of introgression. We found that reproductive isolation caused by one or several loci of large effect caused greater heterogeneity in patterns of introgression than architectures involving many loci with small fitness effects, particularly when isolating factors were closely linked. The same conditions that led to heterogeneous introgression often resulted in a reasonable correspondence between outlier loci and the genetic loci that contributed to isolation. However, demographic conditions affected both of these results, highlighting potential limitations to the study of the speciation genomics. Further progress in understanding the genomics of speciation will require large-scale empirical studies of introgression in hybrid zones and model-based analyses, as well as more comprehensive modelling of the expected levels of isolation with different demographies and genetic architectures of isolation.
Platelet gel stimulates proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts in vitro.

BACKGROUND Platelet gel is a source of many soluble proteins that can modulate tissue regeneration. Dermal fibroblasts play an important role in tissue remodeling and wound healing. OBJECTIVE The study was performed to investigate the influence of platelet gel and its active ingredients on the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts in vitro. METHODS A fibroblast culture was established from a normal human skin biopsy. Platelet gel was prepared from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) following the addition of calcified thrombin solution. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. RESULTS We showed that platelet gel, PRP, and thrombin stimulate the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts, and that stimulation by PRP is dose dependent. CONCLUSION Platelet gel can be used to treat chronic skin defects.