Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gross Placental Structure in a Low-Risk Population of Singleton, Term, First-Born Infants

Suboptimal fetal growth has been associated with an increased risk of adult disease, which may be exacerbated by an increased placental weight–to–fetal weight ratio. Placental weight is a summary measure of placental growth and development throughout pregnancy. However, measures of placental structure, including the chorionic disk surface area and thickness and eccentricity of the umbilical cord insertion, have been shown to account for additional variance in birth weight beyond that explained by placental weight. Little is known of the variability of these placental parameters in low-risk populations; their association with maternal, pregnancy, and neonatal characteristics; and the agreement between manual and digital measures. This study used manual and digital image analysis techniques to examine gross placental anatomy in 513 low-risk, singleton, term, first-born infants. Parametric methods compared groups and examined relationships among variables. Maternal birth weight, prepregnancy weight, and body mass index were associated with increased placental and birth weight (all P < 0.005), but only maternal birth weight was associated with increased placental surface area (P < 0.0005) and thickness (P = 0.005). Smoking during pregnancy reduced birth weight and increased the eccentricity of umbilical cord insertion (P = 0.012 and 0.034, respectively). The variability in these placental parameters was consistently lower than that reported in the literature, and correlations between digital and manual measurements were reasonable (r = .87–.71). Detailed analyses of gross placental structure can provide biologically relevant information regarding placental growth and development and, potentially, their consequences.
[Relationship between cytokine gene polymorphism and development of gastric adenocarcinoma].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) promoter genes and susceptibility to gastric adenocarcinoma or gastric adenocarcinoma with helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. METHODS The SNPs of the TNF-alpha (-238G/A and -308G/A) were determined by gene chip in 130 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and 142 healthy controls. The sera concentrations of IgG, IgM and IgA of Hp antibodies were measured by ELISA in all cases and controls. RESULTS H. pylori infection was detected in 69.2% of the 130 patients and 46.5% of the 142 controls (P < 0.01). The frequencies of TNF-alpha-238GA genotype and A allele in the patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than that in the healthy controls (P < 0.01, P < 0.01). The frequencies of TNF-alpha-238GA genotype and A allele in the patients with gastric adenocarcinoma with Hp infection were significantly higher than that in the Hp-negative patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). No association was found between any of the other polymorphisms and the patients with gastric adenocarcinoma or patients with gastric adenocarcinoma with Hp infection. CONCLUSION TNF-alpha-238GA genotype and A allele are significantly related to susceptibility to gastric adenocarcinoma or susceptibility to gastric adenocarcinoma with Hp infection.
Helper (CD4(+)) and cytotoxic (CD8(+)) T cells promote the pathology of dystrophin-deficient muscle.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and mdx mouse dystrophy result from mutations in the dystrophin gene. Although these mutations are primarily responsible for the defects that underlie the pathology of dystrophinopathies, other factors may contribute importantly to the pathology. In the present investigation, we tested whether T cells present in mdx muscles are activated and contribute significantly to the pathological process. Flow cytometric analyses showed a significantly higher frequency of activated CD44(high) T cells in the blood and muscle of mdx mice when compared to normal B10 mice. However, the frequency of activated T cells was not elevated in mdx lymph nodes, suggesting muscle-specific T cell activation. In vivo antibody-mediated depletions of CD4(+) T cells from mdx mice significantly reduced the amount of histologically discernible muscle pathology by 61% in mdx mice, while depletion of CD8(+) T cells resulted in a 75% decrease in pathology. Finally, adoptive transfer of mdx immune cells in combination with muscle extracts resulted in muscle pathology in healthy murine recipients. These results indicate that T cells promote the mdx pathology and suggest that immune-based therapies may provide benefit to DMD patients.
Protein translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane: role of import receptors in the structural organization of the TOM complex.

The mitochondrial outer membrane contains a multi-subunit machinery responsible for the specific recognition and translocation of precursor proteins. This translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) consists of three receptor proteins, Tom20, Tom22 and Tom70, the channel protein Tom40, and several small Tom proteins. Single-particle electron microscopy analysis of the Neurospora TOM complex has led to different views with two or three stain-filled centers resembling channels. Based on biochemical and electron microscopy studies of the TOM complex isolated from yeast mitochondria, we have discovered the molecular reason for the different number of channel-like structures. The TOM complex from wild-type yeast contains up to three stain-filled centers, while from a mutant yeast selectively lacking Tom20, the TOM complex particles contain only two channel-like structures. From mutant mitochondria lacking Tom22, native electrophoresis separates an approximately 80 kDa subcomplex that consists of Tom40 only and is functional for accumulation of a precursor protein. We conclude that while Tom40 forms the import channels, the two receptors Tom22 and Tom20 are required for the organization of Tom40 dimers into larger TOM structures.
Cyclins: Roles in mitogenic signaling and oncogenic transformation

Cyclins are the regulatory subunits of kinases that control progress through the cell cycle. This review focuses on cyclins that are targets for extracellular signaling and frequently deregulated during oncogenesis, particularly cyclin D1. Receptor tyrosine kinases and adhesion molecules act through various effector pathways to modulate cyclin D1 abundance at multiple levels including transcription, translation and protein stability. In contrast, cyclin E-Cdk2 activity appears to be more commonly regulated by means other than regulation of cyclin E abundance. The importance of these pathways during oncogenesis is illustrated by the dependence of oncogenes such as Ras and Neu/ErbB2 on cyclin D1. Thus, understanding the roles of cyclins in growth factor and adhesion signaling is important for understanding the biology of both normal and neoplastic cells.
Innovativeness perspective on entrepreneurial orientation: Developing a conceptual model

This paper proposes a model that uses risk-taking, pro-activeness, autonomy, and competitive aggressiveness to enhance and manage a firm’s innovativeness. A number of factors are suggested as possible moderators of the modelled relationships. This new perspective requires entrepreneurial orientation be considered as a five-element, multi-dimensional concept. The paper provides a potential tool for managers to build and manage innovative and entrepreneurial organisations, and calls for empirical validation of the proposed model.
Get your campus ready for Generation Z

WASHINGTON, D.C. — If you've noticed a shift in your traditional-aged students' behaviors and expectations in the last couple of years, that's because you're seeing Generation Z arrive on campus. The first students from this generation started as freshmen in 2013, said Corey Seemiller, assistant professor of leadership studies at Wright State University; and Meghan Grace, new member orientation director for Sigma Phi Epsilon. Seemiller and Grace, the authors of Generation Z Goes to College, spoke at the Association of American Colleges and Universities annual meeting.
Linking Generative Adversarial Learning and Binary Classification

In this note, we point out a basic link between generative adversarial (GA) training and binary classification -- any powerful discriminator essentially computes an (f-)divergence between real and generated samples. The result, repeatedly re-derived in decision theory, has implications for GA Networks (GANs), providing an alternative perspective on training f-GANs by designing the discriminator loss function.
Networks and interactivity: making sense of front-line governance in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Australia

Networks arise when actors become engaged in ongoing interaction. Networks describe the architecture of this interactivity and networking defines the style and intensity of actor-to-actor engagement. Applied to public policy, networking arises from the ongoing interactions of officials in different agencies who use professional contacts to resolve problems, trade information, get resources and help clients. We hypothesized that national differences in patterns of networking would reflect one of three "regimes' - the market type, the managed partnership type and the standard bureaucratic type. Using structured interviews and questionnaires we examined the level and intensity of engagement between officials, and identified three distinct networking types - basic , public and civic . These reflect different patterns of engagement among government, for-profit and non-profit agencies occupying the same policy field, producing the same type of public service. The different repertoires help to explain the different forms of networking in the three countries, but there are also important differences between agency types within countries.
Exchange Rate Pass-through

This article investigates the exchange rate pass-through for Indian export and import prices. A markup model for aggregate export/import prices is set up, and the analysis is carried out using Johansen–Juselius cointegration and error correction models. The evidence shows partial pass-through into export prices, but more than complete pass-through into import prices, with the long-run pass-through coefficients being larger than the short-run coefficients. Thus, the Indian exporter does appear to have a little bargaining power, but it is not so with the Indian importer. The results cast a question mark over the efficacy of exchange rate changes as a policy tool in correcting trade balances, and also point to the risk of imported inflation.
Basic Residues within the Kruppel Zinc Finger DNA Binding Domains Are the Critical Nuclear Localization Determinants of EKLF/KLF-1*

EKLF/KLF-1 is an erythroid-restricted transcription factor essential for expression of the adult β-globin gene. EKLF/KLF-1 is a 358-amino acid nuclear protein with an amino-terminal proline-rich domain and a carboxyl-terminal DNA binding domain. The nuclear localization signal (NLS) of EKLF/KLF-1 has not been empirically determined. We generated a series of epitope-tagged deletion and point mutants and assessed their subcellular localization. Our results delimit the NLS to the 83-amino acid (amino acids 276–358) DNA binding domain that consists of three Kruppel zinc fingers. All three zinc fingers are necessary for efficient nuclear localization; deletion of any individual finger results in cytoplasmic accumulation. Fusion of the three zinc fingers to green fluorescent protein (GFP) targeted GFP to the nucleus, demonstrating that the zinc finger domain is sufficient for nuclear localization. EKLF/KLF-1 containing histidine to alanine mutations that disrupt the structure of all three fingers retains appropriate nuclear localization, indicating that neither the tertiary structure of the zinc fingers nor specific DNA binding are necessary for nuclear localization. We demonstrate that basic residues within the fingers are the critical determinants for nuclear localization; mutations of these basic residues to alanine resulted in cytoplasmic mislocalization. The basic residues of all mammalian Kruppel zinc fingers are highly conserved; therefore we propose that these basic residues are a common NLS shared by all Kruppel family members.
Renal Ischemia and Transplantation Predispose to Vascular Constriction Mediated by Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor-Activating Antibodies

Background We previously described angiotensin II type 1 receptor–activating antibodies (AT1R-Abs) in renal transplant recipients with vascular rejection and malignant hypertension. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that AT1R-Abs can cause renal artery contraction by AT1R activation with renal ischemia representing a key permissive factor and therefore contribute to renal pathologic condition. Methods Isolated renal and mesenteric arteries from Lewis rats were incubated with purified AT1R-Abs from patients with human leukocyte antigen antibody–negative vascular rejection. Vascular contraction was measured using small vessel myography. The measurements were repeated with renal arteries derived from native kidneys subjected to ischemia-reperfusion or after transplantation in a low-responder Fischer 344-to-Lewis rat kidney-transplantation model. Results AT1R-Abs acted in a vascular bed–specific manner and caused small contractions only in native rat renal arteries but not in mesenteric arteries. AT1R-Abs did not alter the vascular reactivity to phenylephrine, angiotensin II, or acetylcholine in native renal arteries. In contrast, AT1R-Abs caused a pronounced (>10-fold) contraction of renal arteries after ischemia and after allogeneic transplantation. Pretreatment with pharmacologic AT1R blocker only partially inhibited the AT1R-Abs–induced contraction, which was almost completely abolished by neutralizing peptides targeting epitopes of AT1R-Abs on the second loop of AT1R. Conclusions These data demonstrate that AT1R-Abs can induce renal vascular contraction under predisposing conditions such as in ischemic or transplanted kidneys. Neutralizing antibodies against specific epitopes in the AT1R can ameliorate this contraction.
Relationships between salivary free testosterone and the expression of force and power in elite athletes.

AIM This study examined the predictive relationships between the salivary free testosterone (T) concentrations of elite athletes and the expression of force and power. METHODS A group of elite male rugby players (N.=64) were assessed for peak force (PF), peak rate of force development (PRFD), force at 100 milliseconds (F100 ms) and 250 milliseconds (F250 ms) during an isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and/or peak power (PP) and height during a countermovement jump (CMJ). Saliva samples were collected before testing and assayed for free T. Relationships between individual T concentrations and performance were assessed as a pooled group and 4 sub-groups of equal size. RESULTS As pooled data sets, none of the IMTP and CMJ performance variables were significantly correlated with free T in either the PF or PP groups (r=0.01-0.23). The PF and PP abilities of the 4 sub-groups were significantly different, so that PF1>PF2>PF3>PF4 (P<0.001) and PP1>PP2>PP3>PP4 (P<0.01). When the 4 sub-groups were analysed, the T concentrations of the PF4 group were significantly (P<0.05-0.01) correlated to PRFD (r=0.69) and F100 ms (r=0.55) during the IMTP, as was F100 ms in the PF1 group (r=0.66). In the PP1 group, free T also correlated to CMJ height (r=0.62). CONCLUSION The key conclusion is that the expression of force and power in an elite athletic group may be dependent, to some extent, on individual variation in salivary free T concentrations and existing strength or power levels. The current results also confirm that the grouping of elite athletes of mixed strength or power ability may bias predictive results in a manner not reflective of sub-groups within this population.
Regularized Coulomb Friction Laws for Ice Sheet Sliding: Application to Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica

The choice of the best basal friction law to use in ice‐sheet models remains a source of uncertainty in projections of sea level. The parameters in commonly used friction laws can produce a broad range of behavior and are poorly constrained. Here we use a time series of elevation and speed data to examine the simulated transient response of Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica, to a loss of basal traction as its grounding line retreats. We evaluate a variety of friction laws, which produces a diversity of responses, to determine which best reproduces the observed speedup when forced with the observed thinning. Forms of the commonly used power law friction provide much larger model‐data disagreement than less commonly used regularized Coulomb friction in which cavitation effects yield an upper bound on basal friction. Thus, adoption of such friction laws could substantially improve the fidelity of large‐scale simulations to determine future sea level.
Five-year prospective follow-up of 430 laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repairs in 275 patients.

INTRODUCTION Favourable short-term results, with respect to less postoperative pain and earlier return to physical activity, have been demonstrated with laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair compared with open mesh repair. However, there is limited data regarding long-term results. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study cohort consisted of 275 consecutive patients undergoing TEP repair between 1996 and 2002. Patient demographics, details of surgery, postoperative complications, recurrence and chronic pain were collected from patient records and from a prospective database. All patients were seen at 6 weeks and then annually for 5 years following surgery. RESULTS A total of 430 repairs were performed in the 275 patients (median age, 56 years; range, 20-94 years; men, 97.5%). Bilateral repair was performed in 168 patients (61.1%) and recurrent hernia repair in 79 patients (28.7%). Two patients were converted to an open procedure. Five-year follow-up was achieved in 72% of patients. Eleven patients (4%) died during the follow-up period due to unrelated causes. Hernia recurrence rate at 5 years was 1.1% per patient (three repairs). Recurrences were noted at 7 months, 2 years and 4 years following surgery. Chronic groin pain was reported by 21 patients (7.6%), seven of whom required referral to the pain team. CONCLUSIONS TEP hernia repair is associated with a recurrence rate of 1% at 5 years in this series. Chronic groin symptoms are also acceptably few. This recurrence rate following TEP repair compares extremely favourably with open mesh repair, particularly as it includes a high proportion of recurrent repairs. As well as the proven early benefits, TEP repair can be considered a safe and durable procedure with excellent long-term results.
Donut Shops and Speed Traps: Evaluating Models of Supervision on Police Behavior

Several recent articles outline the formal logic of supervision and compliance (e.g., Bianco and Bates 1990; Holmstrom 1982; Kreps 1990; and Miller 1992). These models lead to widely varying conclusions about what makes for effective supervision, indeed, whether supervision can induce compliance among subordinates at all. Our paper evaluates these models by extending the formal logic into models of the systemic component of the stochastic processes of police behavior. In other words, when is it time to lay a speed trap, and when is it time to go to the donut shop?
Momentum Trading: Evidence from Futures Markets

This paper tests the hypothesis that some participants in index futures markets engage in feedback trading. The analysis is based on a modified dynamic Capital Asset Pricing Model that assumes two types of investors: i) expected utility maximizers, and ii) positive feedback traders who sell during market declines and buy during market advances. According to the model, the actions of the latter group, if present, would induce negative time varying autocorrelation. The model is tested using data from four popular international stock index futures contracts. There is some evidence of time-varying negative autocorrelation, consistent with the notion that some participants are feedback traders. However, other important aspects of the model are not supported by the evidence.
Bridge priority provisioning for maximizing equal cost shortest path availability

Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) is a new layer 2 switching technology which is the latest on the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet evolution path and provides improved scalability. It is suitable for large-scale cloud data center networks that require hundreds or thousands of switches (or bridges) to connect up to tens of thousands of servers. In SPB, 16 ECT (equal cost tree) algorithms are introduced to select one of multiple equal cost shortest paths (ECSPs). However, some ECSPs may not be selected by these ECT algorithms at all. In this paper, we propose provisioning bridge priority to address this issue. The proposed distinct XOR relation (DXR) constraint on the bridge priority is shown to allow maximum number of ECSPs to be selected by the ECT algorithms.
T cells acquire cell surface determinants of APC via in vivo trogocytosis during viral infections

Trogocytosis describes the transfer of surface determinants between immune cells and has been implicated in immune regulation. Most findings are based on in vitro studies since in vivo trogocytosis of immune cells is difficult to detect under physiological conditions. We used low frequencies of memory P14 T cells to demonstrate that T cells perform trogocytosis in vivo if in contact with APC pulsed with GP33‐peptide or expressing the antigen endogenously. Furthermore, in vivo trogocytosis of T cells is demonstrated during infections with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and vaccinia virus. Trogocytosis‐positive T cells revealed higher expression of activation marker and cytokines, showing a more activated phenotype compared to trogocytosis‐negative T cells.
Two types of ATP‐sensitive potassium channels in rat portal vein smooth muscle cells

1 . Single‐channel recordings were made from single, enzymatically isolated smooth muscle cells of rat portal vein by the patch‐clamp technique. 2 . Unitary potassium currents were identified through two types of K‐channels with conductances in 60:130 mM K‐gradient of 50 and 22 pS; these are referred to as LK and MK channels respectively. 3 . The LK channels became extremely active if isolated patches were created into nucleotide‐free solution; activity was inhibited by ATP applied to the inner surface of the patch with a half maximal inhibition (Ki) of 11–23 μm. Channel activity declined and disappeared with time and could be regenerated by a brief application of Mg‐ATP or a nucleoside diphosphate such as UDP (in the presence of Mg). LK channel activity was rarely stimulated by levcromakalim and not by pinacidil (K‐channel openers, KCOs) but was blocked by glibenclamide. 4 . Activity of MK channels declined if isolated patches were created into nucleotide free solution; activity reappeared if UDP or ATP alone (in the presence of Mg) was applied; pinacidil or levcromakalim in the presence of ATP or UDP further increased channel activity which was blocked by glibenclamide. 5 . The LK channel inhibited by ATPi is very similar in its conductance and other properties to the KATP channel described in tissues other than smooth muscle, in its conductance and properties the MK channel resembles the KNDP channel we have previous described as present in other smooth muscles and opening in responses to KCOs.