Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hyper-insulinaemia and cancer, meta-analyses of epidemiological studies

Abstract Background: A substantial body of evidence links sex hormones, diet, excess body weight and physical activity to the risk of developing cancer at several sites common in affluent countries. The hypothesis that high circulating levels of insulin could be the underlying factor increasing cancer risk has been proposed. Epidemiological studies on markers of hyper-insulinaemia and cancer are reviewed and summarized. Methods: Studies of cancers of the colon and rectum, pancreas, breast, and endometrium examining the association with blood levels of C-peptide, insulin, glucose, glycated haemoblobin (HbA1c) were searched in PubMed. Multivariate, adjusted relative risks (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals were abstracted and summarized by meta-analyses. Results: Most of the studies identified were cohorts that relied on measurements obtained at baseline or assessed in blood stored at low temperature several years before the onset of cancer. The meta-analyses showed excess risks of colorectal and pancreatic cancers associated with higher levels of circulating C-peptide/insulin and with markers of glycaemia. Significant heterogeneity was found among four epidemiological studies of endometrial cancer and C-peptide giving a summary RR compatible with no association. Overall breast cancer risk was significantly higher in the upper categories of C-peptide/insulin, however, the excess derived entirely from retrospective studies. Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that subjects who develop colorectal and pancreatic cancers have increased pre-diagnostic blood levels of insulin and glucose.
Post-crisis monetary policy modelling

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis many central banks cut their policy rates close to zero or even below and introduced non-standard monetary policy measures. The financial crisis and the European debt crisis that followed demonstrated the importance of the linkages between financial markets and the real economy. In this article we survey the open issues in economic research posed by limits on how low central banks are able to cut policy rates, and the unconventional measures, especially forward guidance and large scale asset purchase programmes.
Nitrogen and Photosynthesis in the Flag Leaf of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Yecora 70) plants were grown with various concentrations of nitrate nitrogen available to the roots. Sampling of flag leaves began after they had reached full expansion and continued throughout senescence. Rates of gas exchange, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuP(2)) carboxylase activity, and the amounts of chlorophyll, soluble protein, nitrogen, and phosphorus were determined for each flag leaf. Rate of CO(2) assimilation was uniquely related to total leaf nitrogen irrespective of nutrient treatment, season, and leaf age. Assimilation rate increased with leaf nitrogen, but the slope of the relationship declined markedly when leaf nitrogen exceeded 125 millimoles nitrogen per square meter. Chlorophyll content and RuP(2) carboxylase activity were approximately proportional to leaf nitrogen content. As leaves aged, RuP(2) carboxylase activity and calculated Hill activity declined in parallel. With normal ambient partial pressure of CO(2), the intercellular partial pressure of CO(2) was always such that rate of assimilation appeared colimited by RuP(2) carboxylation and RuP(2) regeneration capacity.The initial slope of rate of CO(2) assimilation against intercellular partial pressure of CO(2) varied nonlinearly with carboxylase activity. It is suggested that this was due to a finite conductance to CO(2) diffusion in the wall and liquid phase which causes a drop in CO(2) partial pressure between the intercellular spaces and the site of carboxylation. A double reciprocal plot was used to obtain an estimate of the transfer conductance.
Transabdominal chorionic villus sampling in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy: Chromosome quality, reporting time, and feto‐maternal bleeding

Transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (TA‐CVS) was performed in 210 pregnancies from 13 to 38 weeks using a double‐needle technique. The sampling success was comparable to first‐trimester TA‐CVS and the diagnostic success rate was 98.2 per cent for the short‐term technique and 99.3 per cent for cultured villi. Two fetuses could not be karyotyped. We found the chromosome quality to be similar to that in the first trimester, comparing the number of G‐bands and other chromosome attributes. There were no unintended losses in a group (n = 142) with no sonographic abnormality, except for one death in utero at 38 weeks, 20 weeks after sampling. Chromosomal aberrations were seen in 19 per cent of cases with abnormal sonograms (n = 58). One case of a discordant karyotype was found (false‐negative prediction of Down's syndrome by the short‐term preparation). There were no cases of fetal demise due to feto‐maternal bleeding. It is suggested that double‐needle TA‐CVS in advanced pregnancies combines the advantages of rapid karyotyping of chromosomes of good quality and low risk for the fetus, and seems to be easier to practise and is probably safer than cordocentesis.
The relationship between cost stickiness and financial reporting quality in Tehran Stock Exchange

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between financial reporting and cost stickiness in companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Design/methodology/approach Data of all Iranian manufacturing listed companies gathered for testing hypotheses during 2010–2016 and R statistical software are employed in order to analyzing data. Findings The results of this study indicate that there is a significant relationship between administrative, sale, material, labor and overhead costs and the financial reporting qualities of the companies under study. Originality/value The study focuses on relationship between financial reporting and cost stickiness in companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange, which is the first study of its type in Iran.
The quality of life in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS We aimed to determine the quality of life in treated and untreated hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. METHODS Ninety-five chronic renal failure patients with positive antiHCV/HCV-RNA were enrolled in this prospective study. All patients were questioned using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey to evaluate life quality after the treatment. Fifty-five (ALT>1.5 ULN) were treated with interferon-alpha-2b [3MU/tiw, sc, 6 (30 patients) and 12 (25 patients) months], and 40 (11 renal transplanted) were untreated. Fifteen patients had renal transplantation in a mean of 24.6+/-12.5 months after interferon-alpha treatment. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 37+/-10 years, and 58 were male. The mean durations of hemodialysis and renal transplantation were 6.4+/-3.8 and 5.9+/-4.6 years, respectively. Interferon treatment had a negative effect on general health perception, physical activity and anxiety about the disease (p<0.05) when compared with the untreated patients. General health perception scores were positively slightly increased in interferon responder patients (p>0.05). General health and physical activity were better in transplanted patients than patients undergoing hemodialysis (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS General health perception slightly increased positively in interferon responder patients. However, general health perception and physical activity were affected negatively by interferon treatment in the whole group analysis. Renal-transplanted patients have a better life quality compared with those on hemodialysis.
Predicting the growth of high-growth SMEs: evidence from family business firms

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to arrive at high-growth firm (HGF) and predict the growth of rapid-growth firms using the set of balance-sheet ratios. Design/methodology/approach The source of data came from the AIDA database, a commercial database provided by Bureau van Dijk. A total of 45,000 family business small- and medium-scale enterprises of Italy were selected for the study. Liquidity ratio, solvency ratio, firm age, cash flow, and working capital are considered as predictors of the firm growth. Probit regression is used for predicting the growth of the firms. Findings The result of the study indicated that the most important financial indicators were the liquidity ratio, solvency ratio, firm age, cash flow, and working capital are most important predictors of firm growth. The ROC of the model is 70.78, which shows that the model is fair. Originality/value The present study considers an innovative approach that considers balance sheet issued the year prior to the observation of rapid growth as predictors of firm growth (similar to the credit-scoring models, i.e. the Z-score model, to measure the probability of default).
Visible-light photocatalysis using plasmonic coupling effect for optofluidic microreactors

The near-field enhancement of localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the metal nanoparticles can improve the photocatalytic activity of the semiconductor connected to it. The SPR effect of the Au nanoparticles and the coupling effect of the neighboring Au nanoparticles and the gold film improves the visible-light absorption of TiO2. The simulation result is consistent with the measured absorption spectrum. The photocurrent density of this plasmonic coupling photocatlyst is enhanced significantly compared to the bare TiO2 under the visible light illumination.
Explaining Auditors’ Propensity to Issue Going‐Concern Opinions in Australia after the Global Financial Crisis

We document an increase in auditors issuing going-concern opinions in Australia over a prolonged period since the Global Financial Crisis that is not fully explained by changes in client risk. Overall, our evidence is consistent with auditors reporting more conservatively with the increased level of scrutiny from Australian Securities and Investments Commission inspections and other increased regulation, and in particular, the negative attention following the 2011–2012 inspections. As a result, auditor reports with reference to going-concern issues have become less informative regarding future corporate failure.
Paraventricular Neurones Elicit a Volume Expansion‐Like Change of Activity in Sympathetic Nerves to the Heart and Kidney in the Rabbit

The role of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus in the cardiovascular response induced by blood volume expansion was examined in anaesthetised rabbits, in which simultaneous recordings were made from a renal sympathetic nerve and one of other sympathetic nerves, the inferior cardiac nerve, a splanchnic nerve and an adrenal nerve. Activation of PVN neurones, by discrete injections (25‐100 nl) of d,l‐homocysteic acid (DLH, 0.2 M) produced one main pattern of sympathetic nerve activity accompanying a pressor response (57‐86% of PVN sites). This was a decrease in renal sympathetic activity (27 +/− 12%) and an increase in splanchnic (60 +/− 12%), adrenal (31 +/− 9%) and cardiac (42 +/− 8%) sympathetic activity. Sites in the PVN from which these combinations of nerve activity were obtained were not confined to a specific subnucleus. An increase in renal sympathetic activity which was reversed to a decrease by reducing the volume of DLH injected was obtained at 10 sites in the PVN. These sites were mainly located in the dorsal parvocellular subnucleus. Varying combinations of sympathetic activation were obtained at a minority of sites. It is concluded that the PVN can evoke a differential pattern of sympathetic discharge which may be functionally significant in the control of blood volume regulation, as it mimics that seen on acute volume expansion.
Towards engineering distinct multi‐lamellated outer and inner annulus fibrosus tissues

The annulus fibrosus (AF) of the intervertebral disc (IVD) has a zonal distribution of phenotypically distinct cells. The outer AF (OAF) cells produce an extracellular matrix (ECM) rich in type I collagen with little proteoglycans, whereas the ECM of the inner AF (IAF) has abundant type II collagen and proteoglycans. The inhomogeneous distribution of the ECM in the AF may reflect the complex mechanical forces that the IVD experiences. A bioengineered AF tissue should recapitulate both the inner and outer zones in order to have proper functionality. The aim of this study is to generate multi‐lamellated OAF and IAF tissues with ECM compositions that resemble their zonal origin using polycarbonate urethane (PU) scaffolds. It was observed that supplementation of the media with insulin‐transferrin‐selenium (ITS) and proline yielded tissues with good cellularity. However, IAF cells accumulated only type I collagen, similar to OAF cells. Addition of dexamethasone and sodium pyruvate induced the accumulation of IAF tissues rich in type II collagen and aggrecan, without altering the accumulation of type I collagen in OAF tissues. Dexamethasone stimulated mitochondrial membrane potential in both tissues in the presence of sodium pyruvate, suggesting a relationship between the mitochondrial aerobic respiratory state and dexamethasone signalling during the in vitro‐tissue formation by OAF and IAF cells. Inhibition of the glucocorticoid receptor blocked the stimulation of mitochondrial membrane potentials and type II collagen accumulation. In summary, biologically distinct multi‐lamellated OAF and IAF tissues can be generated, which will facilitate advancement towards the goal of engineering a biological IVD replacement. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:1346–1355, 2018.
The Relations between Television Exposure and Executive Function in Chinese Preschoolers: The Moderated Role of Parental Mediation Behaviors

The present study examined the relations between preschoolers’ television exposure and executive functions (EF). One hundred and nineteen 3- to 6-year-old children and their parents participated. Parents filled in a questionnaire regarding children’s television viewing time, television content and parental mediation behaviors about their child’s television viewing. The children were asked to finish six EF tasks, including the backward digit span task, the spatial span task, the boy–girl Stroop, the Simon task, the flanker task and the Tower of Hanoi task that assessed working memory, inhibition and planning, respectively. Children’s vocabulary was tested using Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and included as control variables in addition to socioeconomic status of the participated families. The results showed that television viewing time and child-directed educational programs were positively associated with EF. In addition, television content fully mediated the effect of television viewing time on EF and parental restrictive approach strategies moderated the effect of television viewing time on EF.
Gestational Changes in Renal Responsiveness to Cortisol in the Ovine Fetus

ABSTRACT: The ontogenetic renal responsiveness to exogenous cortisol was examined in the chronically cannulated ovine fetus. The contribution of effects at proximal and distal tubule of the kidney were studied also. Cortisol (81.5 µg/h) was infused into immature ovine fetuses (mean gestational age —113.9 days) on five occasions and increased blood cortisol from 0.8 ± 0.5 to 21.3 ± 6.2 nmol/liter. This dose of cortisol produced a highly significant diuresis and natriuresis, in part due to an increase in GFR and in part due to a significant decrease in proximal tubular reabsorption of sodium. Cortisol (107.2 ± 4.7 µg/h) was infused into mature fetuses (mean gestational age 133.4 days) and produced an increase in blood cortisol concentration from 11.4 ± 5.6 to 33.7 ± 6.8 nmol/liter. No natriuresis or diuresis was seen in the mature fetuses. Cortisol caused a significant depression of proximal tubular sodium reabsorption in mature fetuses, but this extra load was reabsorbed in the distal tubule in these fetuses. The inability of the premature or very low birth wt baby to maintain normal sodium balance on a standard salt intake may be due, at least in part, to a “fetal” renal response to the high plasma cortisol concentrations found in such babies. As the kidney matures it becomes capable of increasing distal tubular sodium reabsorption to compensate for any increased distal tubular fluid delivery.
Trypanosoma brucei CTP synthetase: A target for the treatment of African sleeping sickness

The drugs in clinical use against African sleeping sickness are toxic, costly, or inefficient. We show that Trypanosoma brucei, which causes this disease, has very low levels of CTP, which are due to a limited capacity for de novo synthesis and the lack of salvage pathways. The CTP synthetase inhibitors 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) and α-amino-3-chloro-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazoleacetic acid (acivicin) reduced the parasite CTP levels even further and inhibited trypanosome proliferation in vitro and in T. brucei-infected mice. In mammalian cells, DON mainly inhibits de novo purine biosynthesis, a pathway lacking in trypanosomes. We could rescue DON-treated human and mouse fibroblasts by the addition of the purine base hypoxanthine to the growth medium. For treatment of sleeping sickness, we propose the use of CTP synthetase inhibitors alone or in combination with appropriate nucleosides or bases.
A review on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma by the Neuroendocrinology Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism

ABSTRACT Clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) are the most common pituitary tumors after prolactinomas. The absence of clinical symptoms of hormonal hypersecretion can contribute to the late diagnosis of the disease. Thus, the majority of patients seek medical attention for signs and symptoms resulting from mass effect, such as neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms and hypopituitarism. Other presentations include pituitary apoplexy or an incidental finding on imaging studies. Mass effect and hypopituitarism impose high morbidity and mortality. However, early diagnosis and effective treatment minimizes morbidity and mortality. In this publication, the goal of the Neuroendocrinology Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism is to provide a review of the diagnosis and treatment of patients with NFPA, emphasizing that the treatment should be performed in reference centers. This review is based on data published in the literature and the authors’ experience. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2016;60(4):374-90
Quadrature subunits in directionally selective simple cells: Counterphase and drifting grating responses

Abstract Here we examine further the basis for directional selectivity (DS) in simple cells of the cat's striate cortex. We use a distinctly different input stimulus and different analysis of the output signal for the same type of space-time inseparable receptive field (RF) that was measured with flashing bars in the companion paper (Emerson, 1997). As in the companion paper, we have mimicked a popular “linear” model with a single “branch” that consists of a linear spatiotemporal filter followed by a soft threshold, which should mimic any simple cells that have a single subunit. Counterphase sinusoidal measurements of such a configuration always generate elliptically shaped polar plots of amplitude versus temporal phase, often pinched along the minor axis because of a high threshold. However, for many spatiotemporal frequencies, such polar phase plots, as measured in simple cells by others, show a consistent rotational phase skew. Here we apply counterphase analysis to the same 2-branch model as developed in the companion paper. We show that the model accounts for the skew as the summation of signals from linear filters separated spatially and temporally by approximately 90 deg (i.e. in spatiotemporal phase quadrature), each separated from the output stage by a soft-threshold nonlinearity. We also prove conclusively that such skew cannot be generated by a single-subunit configuration. This demonstration supports the proposed two-subunit structure for DS simple cells, such as in the example from the companion paper, which has strong linear contributions from its inseparable RF. The presence of at least two nonlinear subunits appears to be an obligatory concomitant of DS in all visual cortical cells. The primary function of these subunits may be to enhance the strength of responses to images moving in the preferred direction, as in complex cells. However, subunits may also aid in identifying the moving object through overcoming, at least partially, the phase-concealing properties of the neuron's threshold by generating a steady signal that effectively decreases the threshold for the preferred direction.
SUP35 expression is enhanced in yeast containing [ISP+], a prion form of the transcriptional regulator Sfp1

[ISP+] is a prion form of the global transcriptional regulator Sfp1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that manifests phenotypically as an antisuppressor of specific sup35 nonsense suppressor mutations. Although SUP35 is a Sfp1 target, the mechanism of antisuppression is unclear. Here we show that the level of SUP35 transcription in [ISP+] cells containing the sup35 mutation is increased relative to [isp-] cells and cells with a SFP1 deletion. As a result, [ISP+] cells have increased amounts of Sup35 encoded by the mutant allele. Indeed, additional experiments showed that increased amounts of mutant Sup35 may cause antisuppression. Remarkably, [ISP+] effects are not equivalent to those produced by SFP1 deletion, so [ISP+] represents an obvious example of a functionally active prion form of a protein. This feature distinguishes [ISP+] from other yeast prions, where prion switch often has the same effect as inactivation of a prion host gene. We suggest that enhancement of SUP35 expression in [ISP+] cells is caused by specific interaction of Sfp1 in its prion form with some negative SUP35 regulator. We also demonstrate that the advantage of [ISP+] strains over [isp-] strains described in our earlier work is specific for certain genetic background and growth conditions.
Entrepreneurial Finance: Unifying Themes and Future Directions

We overview the papers of this special issue of the Journal of Corporate Finance and explain how they fit within the different segments of the entrepreneurial finance literature, including equity crowdfunding, angel investors, debt, venture capital, and private equity. We point to the growing importance of different sources of capital for entrepreneurs and emerging research trends pertinent to academics, practitioners, and policymakers. We explain common questions and suggest scope in future work for combining segments.