Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cystic fibrosis: A disorder with defective autophagy

The accumulation of misfolded and/or ubiquitinated protein aggregates with a perturbation of autophagy has been described in several human pathologies. A sequestration of misfolded cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and cross-linked PPARγ has been observed in airway epithelia of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. CF airways are also characterized by chronic inflammation, pro-oxidative environment and increased transglutaminase 2 (TG2) levels. We showed that defective CFTR drives autophagy inhibition through reactive oxygen species (ROS)-TG2- mediated aggresome sequestration of the Beclin 1 interactome. Rescuing Beclin 1 at the level of the endoplasmic reticulum and autophagy favors clearance of aggresomes, improves CFTR trafficking and ameliorates CF lung inflammation both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, rescuing autophagy interrupts the vicious cycle linking defective CFTR and lung inflammation and may pave the way to the development of a novel class of drugs for the treatment of CF.
Investigation of Cell-Mediated Lympholysis

Multiple lineage-specific surface molecules have recently been defined on human T lymphocytes. Although some of these appear during late intrathymic ontogeny and are maintained on all peripheral T cells (T3), others (T4, TS) arise earlier in differentiation and are selectively expressed on functional subpopulations of human T lymphocytes (1-3). In the case of the 20,000-mol wt T3 surface molecule, both its appearance in intrathymic ontogeny at the time of acquisition of immunologic competence (1, 4) and its critical role in T lymphocyte function suggested that it was closely linked to a recognition receptor for antigen. Thus, antibodies directed against T3 were able to block both the induction and the effector phase of cell-mediated lympholysis, inhibit T lymphocyte proliferative responses to soluble antigen, and be mitogenic for T lymphocytes (5-8). Anti-T4 and anti-T8 monoclonals also blocked cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) 1 (9, 10). However, whereas anti-T3 inhibited all cytolytic effector clones, anti-T4 and anti-T8 selectively abrogated killing of T4 + or T8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), and this inhibition occurred on the level of target cell recognition and/or binding (8, 11). Moreover, unlike T3, they did not inhibit antigen-induced proliferation. Furthermore, the correlation of T4 and T8 surface expression on CTL cells with differential recognition of class II vs. class I molecules on target cells, respectively (9, 12), implied that these T cell surface structures might be functioning in associative recognition. Given that T lymphocytes recognize antigen in a precise fashion (13-17), there must exist, in addition, discriminative surface recognition structures that are unique to individual antigen-responsive T cell clones (clonotypic). To delineate such molecules, we produced monoelonal antibodies in the present study against a human cytolytic T cell clone, CTSm (target specificity: HLA-A3), and developed a screening
Diagnostic value of routine radioisotope bone scanning in a series of 63 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Routine use of diagnostic radioisotope bone scanning in patients with sarcoidosis has not previously been evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess whether routine radioisotope bone scanning might be of value in the detection of osseous lesions in sarcoidosis. METHODS 63 consecutive Caucasian patients (32 men) with a median age of 39 years (range 17-66) and biopsy proven pulmonary sarcoidosis were included. None had symptoms suggesting osseous sarcoidosis. Extrathoracic, non-osseous sarcoidosis was present in 24 patients; 13 patients were on oral steroids. Radioisotope bone scanning was performed with a gammacamera after intravenous injection of 99mTechnetium-methylenediphosphonate. An abnormal bone scan was followed by a radiograph of the region of interest. RESULTS 39 patients (61.9%) had normal bone scans. Minor bone scan abnormalities were found in 24 patients (38.1%). Of these, 11 patients had bone foci (8 in the vertebral spine, 9 in the ribs, 1 in a finger). Radiographically only one of these 11 patients had a bony lesion being typical of sarcoidosis, located in the second finger. 17 patients had joint foci. Radiographs of the joints showed sequelae after a fracture in 1 patient, and degenerative osteoarthritis in 1 patient. There was no difference between clinical and paraclinical variables in patients with normal and abnormal bone scans. CONCLUSIONS There appears to be no indication for routine radioisotope bone scanning in patients with sarcoidosis. Scanning should be restricted to patients with clinical suspicion of osseous sarcoidosis.
Functional Results of Vibrant Soundbridge Middle Ear Implants in Conductive and Mixed Hearing Losses

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the results of Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) in conductive or mixed hearing loss. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five adult patients (29 ears) with a mixed or conductive hearing loss and various etiologies were included in this retrospective study. The preoperative ipsilateral pure tone average was 71 ± 3.0 dB, and the average bone conduction threshold was 42 ± 2.8 dB (n = 29). The transducer was placed on the long apophysis of the incus (n = 16), in the round window (n = 10) or on the stapes (n = 3). Results: No complications were noted. The bone conduction threshold remained unchanged. VSB was activated in all cases. The postoperative pure tone average without VSB was 63 ± 3.9 dB (n = 24) and with VSB in free-field condition 24 ± 2.1 dB (n = 22). Conclusions: VSB is safe and efficacious for auditory rehabilitation in conductive and mixed hearing losses.
Long-acting phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, tadalafil, and superoxide dismutase mimetic, tempol, protect against acute hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats

Long-acting phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, tadalafil, was recently approved for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Apart from being a PDE5 inhibitor, tadalafil also possesses antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to probe whether tadalafil has any beneficial effect over tempol owing to its antioxidant action in addition to PDE5 inhibitory activity. Albino Wistar rats were pretreated with tadalafil (10 mg/kg) or vehicle 2 h before hypoxic exposure, whereas tempol (20 mg/kg) was given 5 min before induction of hypoxia. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), right ventricular contractility (RVdP/dtmax) and cardiac output (CO) were recorded while subjecting rats to acute hypoxia for 30 min. Lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione were estimated in serum before and after hypoxia exposure. Tadalafil as well as tempol significantly prevented hypoxia-induced rise in RVSP (p < 0.001) and RVdP/dtmax (p < 0.05). Both tadalafil and tempol pretreatment partially prevented (p < 0.01) the rise in CO due to hypoxia. Tadalafil did not produce any significant change in MAP, whereas tempol led to a significant fall (p < 0.01) in MAP. Acute hypoxia increased the oxidative stress levels. Tadalafil pretreatment partially prevented hypoxia-induced oxidative stress, while tempol pretreatment completely prevented hypoxia-induced oxidative stress. Results suggest that tadalafil because of its antioxidant action in addition to PDE5 inhibitory activity is more appropriate for the prevention of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension than tempol. Tempol also produced undesirable systemic hypotension as side effect, which was not seen with tadalafil because of its pulmonary selective action.
Bank Loan Renegotiation and Credit Default Swaps

Abstract Using Roberts (2015) loan-level data from 2000 to 2011, we find that the inception of CDS trading on reference firms’ debt is associated with a decreased number and lower probability of amendments, restatements, and rollovers to existing lenders of bank loans. Reference firms are also less likely to terminate loans prematurely or refinance with different lenders after the inception of CDS trading and tend to exhibit longer loan maturities. Our evidence is consistent with the empty creditor problem arising from CDS trading and the resulting decrease in the negotiation power of borrowers. Our research contributes to understanding how financial innovations alter bank-lending relationships.
Kinetics of batch fermentations for ethanol production with Zymomonas mobilis growing on Jerusalem Artichoke juice

A flocculent strain of Zymomonas mobilis was used for ethanol production from Jerusalem Artichoke juice containing 113–245 g/L sugar in batch fermentation. The kinetic and yields parameters are calculated using a new method based on polynomial equations for the variation of biomass, ethanol, and sugar concentrations with time. The results show that. Z. mobilis can convert rapidly and efficiently Jerusalem Artichoke juice to ethanol. When a sugar concentration of 248 gL was used, 100 g/L ethanol was formed with an ethanol yield based on sugar utilized of 0.47 g/g (92% of theoretical LP).
Depression, fatigue, and pain in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): relationship to the American College of Rheumatology SLE neuropsychological battery.

OBJECTIVE To examine the frequency and reliability of depression, fatigue, and pain self-report measures in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy controls, and to examine the relationship between a cognitive impairment index (CII) derived from the American College of Rheumatology neuropsychology research battery of tests for SLE (ACR-SLE battery) and measures of depression, pain, fatigue, and perceived cognitive dysfunction. METHODS Thirty-one patients with SLE with a history of overt neuropsychiatric symptoms (neuropsychiatric SLE [NPSLE]), 22 patients with SLE without overt neuropsychiatric symptoms (non-NPSLE), and 25 healthy controls completed the following measures at baseline and 1-month followup: ACR-SLE battery, perceived cognitive difficulties, depression, fatigue, and pain. RESULTS Patients with SLE (both NPSLE and non-NPSLE) showed higher symptoms of depression, higher levels of fatigue, greater pain, and more perceived cognitive problems. All measures except the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) demonstrated adequate reliability across the SLE groups at retest. Only patients with NPSLE had significant correlations between CII and depression, fatigue, and pain. Neither the non-NPSLE patients nor the controls had significant relationships with the CII and these behavioral measures. CONCLUSION Patients with SLE report higher levels of cognitive difficulties, depression, pain, and fatigue compared with controls. Reliability for all measures, except the CES-D, was established in the SLE group. Overall, results suggest that cognitive dysfunction, pain, fatigue, and depression in patients with NPSLE may represent global changes in the central nervous system that require ongoing evaluation and treatment.
Do Integrated Traceability Methods Cause Conflict of Interest in the Farm-raised Atlantic salmon Industry?

Farm-raised Atlantic salmon is the most important finfish species produced by the Canadian aquaculture industry, which has been facing drastic reduction in its demand since the food incidence of polychlorinated biphenyls occurred. Different policies at various stages of production, processing, distribution and marketing channels have been proposed to assure consumers that farm-raised Atlantic salmon is safe. Amongst the suggested policies, the integrated traceability methods and quality control system may be the right policy that benefits both consumers and producers. It consists of different methods applied to the food chain, such as the Global GAP and Quality Management Program, the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, and the radio frequency identification and quick response code-systems. The implementation of traceability system, however, imposes additional cost to the industry that may neither be absorbed by producers nor be paid by consumers. As a result, conflicting interests between producers and consumers may arise. In addition, consumers’ decisions may be affected by their lack of knowledge about different stages of aquaculture production processes. A traceability system can help consumers make informed decisions in purchasing certified farm-raised Atlantic salmon. Reviewing Policy Article Haghiri; AJEBA, 2(1): 1-11, 2017; Article no.AJEBA. 30800 2 the existing literature, this article examines the impact on producers and consumers of implementing the integrated traceability methods on the farm-raised Atlantic salmon industry in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The article concludes by suggesting the use of intermediary firms to facilitate the implementation of integrated traceability systems in the industry.
Changes In Special Items And Future Firm Growth

This study examines the effect of changes in special items on future firm growth. We find that a decrease in special items reverses almost completely through one-year-ahead earnings, whereas an increase in special items is positively associated with the next year’s earnings growth. We also find that the information embedded in changes in special items is incremental to that of fundamental signals documented in the literature, thereby identifying changes in special items as an additional fundamental signal. Furthermore, we find that both an increase and a decrease in special items lead to decreases in future sales and net operating assets, suggesting an inverse U-shaped relation between changes in special items and growth in these measures. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of considering various growth measures in understanding the implication of changes in special items for future firm growth.
Conformity and dietary disinhibition: a test of the ego-strength model of self-regulation.

OBJECTIVE Ego-strength depletion was examined as an explanation for dietary disinhibition in restrained eaters. We predicted that the depletion of ego strength resulting from having to choose whether to conform would undermine dietary restraint. METHOD Participants completed an Asch-type conformity task, after which they completed a taste-rating task in which food intake was measured. RESULTS As predicted, restrained eaters who repeatedly exercised choice ate significantly more than did restrained eaters who did not exercise choice. DISCUSSION An ego-strength model of dietary restraint is discussed.
Substitution, Risk Aversion, and the Temporal Behavior of Consumption and Asset Returns: A Theoretical Framework

This paper develops a class of recursive, but not necessarily expected utility, preferences over intertemporal consumption lotteries. An important feature of these general preferences is that they permit risk attitudes to be disentangled from the degree of intertemporal substitutability. Moreover, in an infinite horizon, representative-agent context, these preference specifications lead to a model of asset returns in which appropriate versions of both the atemporal CAPM and the intertemporal consumption CAPM are nested as special cases. In the authors' general model, systematic risk of an asset is determined by covariance with both the return to the market portfolio and consumption growth. Copyright 1989 by The Econometric Society.
FROM LAPLACE TO SUPERNOVA SN 1987 A : BAYESIAN INFERENCE

The Bayesian approach to probability theory is presented as an alternative to the currently used long-run relative frequency approach, which does not o er clear, compelling criteria for the design of statistical methods. Bayesian probability theory o ers unique and demonstrably optimal solutions to well-posed statistical problems, and is historically the original approach to statistics. The reasons for earlier rejection of Bayesian methods are discussed, and it is noted that the work of Cox, Jaynes, and others answers earlier objections, giving Bayesian inference a rm logical and mathematical foundation as the correct mathematical language for quantifying uncertainty. The Bayesian approaches to parameter estimation and model comparison are outlined and illustrated by application to a simple problem based on the gaussian distribution. As further illustrations of the Bayesian paradigm, Bayesian solutions to two interesting astrophysical problems are outlined: the measurement of weak signals in a strong background, and the analysis of the neutrinos detected from supernova SN 1987A. A brief bibliography of astrophysically interesting applications of Bayesian inference is provided.
Blood Coagulation and Thrombosis in Patients with Ovarian Malignancy

Summary Ovarian cancer cells appear to be capable of both thrombin formation and induction of fibrin degradation which may be essential prerequisites for the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as well as the spread of malignancy. To study further this coagulation – cancer interaction in 60 patients with untreated ovarian cancer of FIGO stage I-IV the incidence of DVT was recorded pre-operatively, postoperatively on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, before each of six cycles of Cisplati- num/Epirubicin/Cyclophosphamide chemotherapy, during follow-up and in the post-operative period of second look surgery. In addition, blood coagulation tests results were determined prospectively. Two patients were excluded from these calculations due to previous DVT 5 to 6 weeks before the diagnosis of ovarian cancer but all patients were eligible for surgery and randomized to receive either daily low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (n = 28) or unfractionated heparin (UFH) (n = 32) for perioperative thrombosis prophylaxis until the 7th postoperative day. According to the FIGO stage, patients were equally distributed in the 2 heparin treatment groups. The predictive value of pre-operative coagulation test results, clinical parameters, and type of heparin used were tested in univariate and multivariate analysis for development of post-operative DVT and overall patients survival. Impedance plethysmography for DVT screening was used. The presence of DVT was then confirmed by phlebography. Only D-dimer and fibrinogen levels were correlated significantly with the FIGO stage while antithrombin, protein C, and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity were not. The incidence of DVT was 6.7% (4/60) up to the 7th and 8.3% (5/60) between the 8th and 29th post-operative day. DVT occurred in 10.6 % (5/47) during chemotherapy. Pre-operative coagulation test results, the type of heparin used, and clinical parameters were not significant risk factors for post-operative DVT development in univariate analysis. The D-dimer and fibrinogen levels were significant risk factors for reduced overall survival in univariate analysis but only the FIGO stage was an independent predictor (in multivariate analysis). After a median follow up of 26.5 months (min. 8 months, max. 41 months), 21.4% of LMWH treated and 37.5% of UFH-treated patients died of cancer (p = 0.26). Pre-operative test results were neither predictive for DVT nor the outcome of cancer but patients showed an improved though not statistically significant overall survival after LMWH treatment.
Optimum Design of Antennas (Invited)

The paper studies the optimum design of antennas. The objective function to be maximized is the ratio of gain to quality factor (Q) (i.e., the product of gain and bandwidth) in a specified direction. The theoretical upper bounds for the ratio of gain to Q are first re-derived by using a different definition of antenna Q from the traditional one. The ratio of gain to Q may be reduced to an eigenvalue equation which can then be solved, yielding an optimum current distribution that maximizes the ratio of gain to Q in a specified direction. Numerical examples for small antennas have been presented to demonstrate how the theoretical upper bounds for the ratio of gain to Q can be approached by optimizing antenna geometries as well as the current distributions.
Revisiting Class-Size Effects: Where They Come From and How Long They Last

Using data from the Tennessee Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio experiment and subsequent follow-up surveys, we estimate unconditional quantile treatment e ects of being assigned to a small-size class and a regular-size class with an aide, compared to regular-size one. Results show that mid-achievers pro t the most from being assigned to a small class. Students at the bottom or top of the achievement distribution experience almost no gain. The analysis also reveals a positive and signi cant e ect of a regular class with teacher's aide for students at the bottom of the achievement distribution, an effect stronger for boys and disadvantaged pupils. In line with previous research, we show that being assigned to a small class during K-3 grades has a positive e ect test scores in later grades, on the likelihood of on-time high school graduation, and on taking the ACT/SAT exam. However, these positive e ects are driven mostly by students who were high achievers during Project STAR, suggesting that the long-term bene ts of being in a small class shrink very quickly for low- and mid-achieving students.
Study of Low Cost Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter Based on MCU

Arc fault is the arc that may cause damage to the society. Arc is with high temperature and massive heat. If arc fault appears in the low voltage supply environment, it will lead to fire or disaster. So detection and protection of arc fault is essential. In order to prevent the damage of fault arc, a new apparatus named Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) has been proposed. In the paper, arc fault features of the circuit with different load are studied. Then an arc fault detection method is proposed. Then a low cost AFCI is designed so as to promote AFCI. Experimental results show it has the ability to protect the arc fault.
Cardiac beta-adrenoceptor-effector coupling in portal vein-stenosed rats.

Cardiac beta-adrenergic signal transduction was examined in chronic portal vein-stenosed rats. Basal tension and maximum rate of tension development were significantly depressed in left ventricular papillary muscles (0.21 +/- 0.03 N/cm2 and 8.2 +/- 1.7 N.s-1.cm-2, respectively) compared with sham-operated controls (0.51 +/- 0.05 N/cm2 and 19.9 +/- 4.4 N.s-1.cm-2, respectively). The positive inotropic response to isoproterenol was also attenuated. Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate formation was decreased significantly when GTP (-41.9%), isoproterenol with GTP (-45.3%), or guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (-52.4%) was used to stimulate adenylyl cyclase, but not when Mn2+ or forskolin was used. Beta-Adrenoceptor density (sham operated 24.6 +/- 2.0 fmol/mg; portal vein stenosed 26.4 +/- 2.1 fmol/mg) and the apparent dissociation constant (sham operated 0.26 +/- 0.04 nM; portal vein stenosed 0.29 +/- 0.04 nM) were unaffected. Portal venous hypertension did not alter beta-adrenergic receptor affinity for isoproterenol. However, it was necessary for isoproterenol to occupy three times the number of receptors in papillary muscles from stenosed animals to produce an equal increase in force generation. These data suggest that although portal vein stenosis does not alter cardiac beta-adrenoceptor density or affinity for ligands, transduction of the signal between the receptor and adenylyl cyclase is adversely influenced and may be responsible for the diminished responsiveness of beta-adrenoceptors in the myocardium.