Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Delayed treatment with a p53 inhibitor enhances recovery in stroke brain

Cerebral ischemia can activate endogenous reparative processes, such as proliferation of endogenous neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in the subventricular zone (SVZ). Most of these new cells die shortly after injury. The purpose of this study was to examine a novel strategy for treatment of stroke at 1 week after injury by enhancing the survival of ischemia‐induced endogenous NPCs in SVZ.
The Determinants of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Oil & Gas Industry: Evidence from Canadian and American Transactions

The study investigates the determinants of mergers and acquisitions in the oil and gas industry over the ten-year period from 2002 to 2011. Our large sample analysis results indicate that in the OG (2) value bidders generate greater abnormal returns relative to glamour bidders in Canadian market; (3) the geographical proximity of headquarters cannot generate pronounced synergies, and even destroys penny stock bidder’s value; and (4) there is no mispricing effect in the penny stocks, but they are more illiquid and have a higher level of idiosyncratic risk. We also examine three cases in 2012-2013 to verify our results and to identify several firm specific factors that are not considered in the large sample analysis. Consistent with our expectations, the Canadian transaction is more straightforward whereas the U.S. transactions depend more on pre-existing connections between the firms and suggest more corporate governance concerns.
University of Birmingham Antimicrobial electrospun fibers of polyester loaded with engineered cyclic gramicidin analogues

: Biodegradable polyester fibers have been loaded with two engineered analogues of gramicidin soviet. In these cyclic peptide derivatives, which were designed in a previous work to stabilize the bioactive conformation while enhancing the antimicrobial activity, the D-Phe was replaced by D-Pro, and the L-Pro was changed by 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid (Ac 3 c) or by an Ac 3 c derivative with two vicinal phenyl substituents in a trans relative disposition ( S , S -c 3 diPhe). The diameter, topography, thermal stability and wettability of the polyester ﬁbers, which have been obtained by electrospinning, strongly depend on the molecular constraints and stability of the loaded peptides. More speciﬁcally, unloaded and linear gramicidin-loaded ﬁbers (used as control) are hydrophobic, rough and micrometric, while ﬁbers loaded with the cyclic peptides are hydrophilic, ultra-smooth, nanometric and less thermally stable. The activity of the two cyclic peptides increases when loaded into polyester ﬁbers, suggesting that the polymeric matrix stabilizes the bioactive β -sheet structure. The peptide with S , S -c 3 diPhe displays higher antibiotic potency and biocompatibility than that with Ac 3 c, which indicates not only that the bioactive conformation is better preserved by the former but also the signiﬁcant role played by the phenyl rings in the recognition by living cells. (ii) (iii) PE44 and (iv) the ﬁrst order straight the as the logarithm of the cumulative percentage of release versus time, which reﬂects that the PE44
Revisiting Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) at the Individual Internet Banking Adoption Level

The purpose of this article is to examine convergence or divergence of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) based studies in Internet Banking (IB) services on adoption patterns. Literature survey was conducted using convenience sampling in order to cover wide range of journals. A keyword search was conducted and 24 closely related studies were selected for the systematic review in order to provide a comprehensive picture of the existing studies. The review concluded that culture which plays significant role in technology adoption has been ignored in context of 18 adoption. This findings show that models with attitude as mediating variable are better predictors of individual IB adoption. Further, it is observed that technological factors such as technological complexity, experience and trust in technology have received very less attention which studying adoption patterns of technology such as lB. This article contributes to existing body of 18 adoption literature by incorporating culture as moderating variable into the framework ofT AM. In addition, study advances 18 literature on attitude and adoption patterns. This article is novel in terms of incorporating cultural dimensions (i.e., uncertainty avoidance, and individualism/ collectivism) as moderators into the frame of extended TAM in context of 18.
Impact of smoking status at diagnosis on disease recurrence and death in upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of urothelial carcinoma; however, the impact of smoking on outcomes after surgery for upper tract urothelial carcinoma is unknown. One study suggests that patients with a smoking history have an increased risk of recurrence in the bladder compared with never smokers but these patients did not differ with respect to time to pelvic recurrence or distant metastasis. We subdivided smokers into current and former smokers and performed multivariate analyses that showed that smoking status was not an independent predictor of recurrence when traditional prognostic factors were taken into account. In addition, competing risks analyses showed that although current smoking did not increase the risk of recurrence, it imparted a significant risk of dying compared with former and never smoking.
Socioeconomic Uses of Non-Timber Forest Products among Urban Dwellers in Oyo State, Nigeria.

This study assessed the socioeconomic importance of Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) among the urban dwellers in Oyo State. Two hundred and thirty (230) structured questionnaires were administered at household level. Both random and proportionate sampling techniques were adopted. Data were sourced on the basis of senatorial districts. The three senatorial districts are Oyo South, Oyo Central and Oyo North with a population size of 1,764,217, 1,906,814 and 1,909,863 respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents; the multiple regression analysis was employed to determine the factors affecting the utilization of NTFPs. The result of the multiple regression coefficient of 0.79 indicates that 79% of the independent variables explain the dependent variable. Therefore educational level, marital status, household size and household income explain significant variation in the level of utilization of NTFPs in the study area, while variables such as age and sex were not significant in determining the variation in the level of the utilization of NTFPs. Some of the reasons given by the respondents for using the NTFPs include cheapness, availability and accessibility and some of the sources where they obtain the NTFPs were given as market, hawkers, forest and friends. Efforts should therefore be made by government and relevant research institutes to train the people on the domestication of these NTFPs to achieve sustainability, Pharmaceutical involvement to make more refine herbal or medicinal products, and create more awareness about efficacy of NTFPs in nutrition and medicine. Keywords: Nontimber forest products, Utilization, Urban Dwellers,
Immigration and Innovation

We combine firm-level innovation data with area-level Census data to examine the relationship between local workforce characteristics, especially the presence of immigrants and local skills, and the likelihood of innovation by firms. We examine a range of innovation outcomes, and test the relationship for selected subgroups of firms. We find a positive relationship between local workforce characteristics and average innovation outcomes in labour market areas, but this is accounted for by variation in firm characteristics such as firm size, industry, and research and development expenditure. Controlling for these influences, we find no systematic evidence of an independent link between local workforce characteristics and innovation.
Coding theorems using Rényi information measures

We present single-shot coding theorems for standard problems in information theory and show that the results retain the form of their asymptotic counterparts, with Rényi information measures replacing the corresponding Shannon information measures. In particular, the code sizes for fixed-length lossless source codes are bounded in terms of Rényi entropy and conditional Rényi entropy; code sizes for channel coding and for lossy source coding are bounded in terms of appropriate notions of Rényi mutual information. As a corollary, we identify simple sufficient conditions for asymptotic optimal rates to not depend on the probability of error, i.e., for the strong converse property to hold, in the lossless source coding and the channel coding problems.
Enrichment of Human CCR6+ Regulatory T Cells with Superior Suppressive Activity in Oral Cancer

Human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) constitutes an inflammatory microenvironment enriched with chemokines such as CCL20, which promote cancer cell invasion and tumor progression. We found that in OSCC there is a correlation between the expression of CCL20 and FOXP3 mRNA. Therefore, we hypothesized that OSCC may favor the recruitment and retention of regulatory T (Treg) cells that express the CCL20 receptor, CCR6. Interestingly, most (∼60%) peripheral blood Treg cells express CCR6, and CCR6+ Treg cells exhibit an activated effector/memory phenotype. In contrast, a significant portion (>30%) of CCR6− Treg cells were found to be CD45RA+ naive Treg cells. Compared to CCR6− naive or memory Treg cells, CCR6+ Treg cells exhibit stronger suppressive activity and display higher FOXP3 expression along with lower methylation at the Treg-specific demethylated region of the FOXP3 gene. This predominance of CCR6+ Treg cells was also found in the draining lymph nodes and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of OSCC patients with early or late clinical staging. Moreover, CCR6+ Treg cells isolated from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes or draining lymph nodes maintained similar phenotypic and suppressive characteristics ex vivo as did their counterparts isolated from peripheral blood. These results suggest that CCR6 marks activated effector or memory Treg phenotypes with superior suppressive activity in humans.
Preclinical and phase I clinical studies with the nonclassical antifolate thymidylate synthase inhibitor nolatrexed dihydrochloride given by prolonged administration in patients with solid tumors.

PURPOSE A phase I, multicenter trial of the thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor THYMITAQ (nolatrexed dihydrochloride; Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc, San Diego, CA) given by 5-day continuous infusion was performed to establish the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and to investigate pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor effects. METHODS In vitro and in vivo preclinical studies demonstrated increased activity with prolonged nolatrexed exposure. In 32 patients, nolatrexed was given as a 5-day infusion at 96 to 1,040 mg/m2/d for 5 days. Pharmacokinetics were determined from high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses of plasma and urine. In addition to studying toxicity, plasma deoxyuridine (UdR) elevations were measured as a marker of TS inhibition. RESULTS The MTD was 904 mg/m2/d for 5 days and the recommended phase II dose is 800 mg/m2/d for 5 days. The dose-limiting toxicity was neutropenia with clinically significant thrombocytopenia and mucositis. These antiproliferative toxicities of nolatrexed were predictable and reversible. A partial response that lasted 3 months occurred in a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer. Pharmacokinetics were nonlinear, with the median plasma clearance (CI) decreasing from 151 mL/min/m2 (range, 124 to 211) at 96 mg/m2/d for 5 days to 49 mL/min/m2 (range, 30 to 84) at 768 mg/ m2/d for 5 days. The half-life (t1/2) was 173 minutes (range, 43 to 784) and 18% (range, 9% to 35%) of the dose was excreted unchanged in the urine. Plasma UdR increased, but returned to pretreatment levels after the end of infusion. Hematologic toxicity was significantly related to nolatrexed plasma concentrations and dose. CONCLUSION Nolatrexed can be safely administered to patients at a dose of 800 mg/m2/d over 5 days by continuous intravenous infusion and this schedule is associated with antitumor effects. The phase II evaluation of nolatrexed is ongoing.
Cow-Calf Industry Expansion on the Horizon? Market Signals vs. Outside Factors

The cow-calf industry has been in a contraction state since 2008 despite improved calf prices in 2010 and 2011 and what appeared to be a market signal toward expansion. Instead, 2012 and 2013 appear to be headed to two more years of contraction. We examine factors impacting a cow-calf producer’s decision on heifer retention to gain a better understanding of a producer’s decision. Results help to explain the continued decrease in the U.S. herd size despite price signals that appear to favor expansion.
Subjective Vitality as Mediator and Moderator of the Relationship between Life Satisfaction and Subjective Happiness

In this study, the mediator and moderator effects of subjective vitality on the relationship between life satisfac- tion and subjective happiness were investigated. The participants were 378 university students who completed a questionnaire package that included the Subjective Vitality Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Subjective Happiness Scale. The results of hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that subjective vitality partially mediated the relationship between life satisfaction and subjective happiness. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that subjective vitality did not moderate the relationship between life satisfaction and subjec- tive happiness.
Cytocidal and Apoptotic Effects of the ClyA Protein from Escherichia coli on Primary and Cultured Monocytes and Macrophages

ABSTRACT Cytolysin A (ClyA) is a newly discovered cytolytic protein ofEscherichia coli K-12 that mediates a hemolytic phenotype. We show here that highly purified ClyA and ClyA-expressing E. coli were cytotoxic and apoptogenic to fresh as well as cultured human and murine monocytes/macrophages.
The Value Relevance of Financial Reporting on the Oslo Stock Exchange over the Period 1964-2003

This article focuses on the value relevance of financial statements in Norway over the 40-year period from 1964 to 2003. Since Norwegian generally accepted accounting principles are based on an earnings-oriented conceptual view rather than a balance-oriented conceptual framework, like the ones adopted by the IASB and the FASB, this study provides interesting empirical evidence on the value relevance of earnings-oriented conceptual frameworks. Our main finding is that the value relevance of financial reporting for investors trading on the Oslo Stock Exchange has increased significantly over the past four decades. This result is obtained by evaluating the adjusted R2-metric from a stock market return regression over time using deflated earnings and deflated change in earnings as explanatory variables, and controlling for changes in underlying economic variables over the period. A significant time trend is consistent with the view that Norwegian accounting regulators and standard setters have been successful in achieving more value relevant financial statements over time. Norway is an example where employing an earnings-oriented conceptual framework has improved the value relevance of accounting information.
Effective Diversity Management Initiatives

Diversity characteristics defines into four areas; personality, internal and external characteristics, and organizational characteristics. Today it is hard to find individuals, organizational and management styles all similar to each other. Twenty-first century leaders face diversity challenges in many arenas and it is a fact that leaders have to live with these diversities. Values affects on the management and organization systems. The global values gain importance and remove the sources of diversities. The leaders believe that the values should be mostly protected. This article focuses on effective diversity management initiatives.
Effect of heat treatment on anti-rotavirus activity of bovine colostrum

Rotavirus is the leading cause of infectious diarrhoea in infants and children throughout the world (Davidson, 1996). In developed countries, rotavirus is associated with significant morbidity, while it causes a high rate of infant mortality in developing countries (Blacklow & Greenberg, 1991). At present there is no effective treatment or vaccine against human rotavirus. Although considerable effort is being put into developing such a vaccine (Molyneaux, 1995; Midthun & Kapikian, 1996), researchers are encountering difficulty in obtaining sufficiently broad protection against the great variety of human rotavirus serotypes (Kapikian & Chanock, 1985). Passive immunization has been tried as an alternative, and clinical trials have shown that oral intake of bovine colostrum containing anti-human rotavirus antibodies is effective in preventing rotavirus infection and transmission in experimental animals, infants and children (Davidson, 1996). Since cross reactivity has been found between bovine and human rotavirus strains (Kapikian & Chanock, 1985), a product containing specific antibodies against human or bovine rotavirus strains may exert a protective effect in human babies. Such a product would be a useful temporary measure while an effective vaccine is developed. Furthermore, these products could be valuable for immunocompromised patients in preventing rotavirus infections. However, such products would be subjected to processes such as pasteurization or ultra high temperature treatments, so it would be necessary to know the effect of heat on the biological activity of the antibodies. We have previously studied the effect of heat on the structure of bovine colostrum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM and evaluated the kinetics of heat denaturation by measuring the loss of their ability to bind to specific antibodies directed against them (Mainer et al. 1997). In the present study we have investigated the effect of different heat treatments on the biological activity of immunoglobulins from bovine colostrum by measuring the virus-neutralizing activity (VNA) of heat-treated colostrum containing anti-rotavirus immunoglobulins against a bovine strain. In addition, we have studied the distribution of the VNA between the different classes of immunoglobulins of the anti-rotavirus colostrum.
Mask ventilation in the early management of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare disorder of breathing which is due to abnormal autonomic control; it is characterised by alveolar hypoventilation that is most marked during non rapid eye movement sleep.1 This condition has been linked to autonomic nervous system dysregulation, and affected children may manifest other autonomic abnormalities such as Hirschsprung’s disease. It usually arises as a new genetic mutation, but an autosomal dominant inheritance has been suggested in some cases.2 Although the first case was reported as early as 1970,3 delays still occur in diagnosis because of its rarity and poor recognition by paediatricians. The diagnosis is usually made for an infant who remains ventilator-dependent by exclusion of neuromuscular, lung and cardiac problems. More recently, polyalanine expansion mutation of paired-like homeobox 2B (PHOX2B) genes located on chromosome 4p12 has been identified in >90% of affected children.2 Traditionally, as soon as the diagnosis is made, affected infants undergo tracheostomy to facilitate long-term invasive ventilatory support.4 These children tend to stay in hospital for several months after the initial diagnosis in order to optimise ventilatory support and while awaiting organisation of appropriate community care. Home support includes provision of qualified nurses or trained carers to look after the children, especially those being invasively ventilated via tracheostomy. Children need life-long ventilatory support in the community, usually only at night, but in the most severe cases 24 h/day. The condition therefore has a considerable impact on resources. The paediatric department at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent has one of a small number of paediatric sleep study centres in the UK and manages children with a wide range of sleep-related breathing disorders, including CCHS. In recent years, 15 children with CCHS with a variety of ventilatory support systems such as intermittent …
Comparison of microsurgical suture and CO2 laser‐welded anastomoses of rabbit uterine cornua

and paper presented at 6th Congress of the International ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 10. von Klitzing L. Grosspietzsch R. Klink F. Endell W. Wolfaietrich H. Oberheuser F: Surgical sterilization by nieans of a laser we would like to thank J, ~~~~~~d ~ i ~ ~ . , ~ ~ , MD, technique. Animal experiment study. Fortschr Med 96(7):357359. 1978. DPhil (Oxon). Chief of Surgery and Donald Spratt, MD,
Competition and Stability in Banking

More competition among banks typically enhances the welfare of consumers. However, it may also involve a threat to financial stability, that is of vital importance for the functioning of economies. Read also the accompanying press release . This study reveals that many forms of competition do not endanger financial stability, however. For instance, intensified competition among incumbent banks usually has little impact on financial stability. Moreover, in cases where competition does affect financial stability, the latter might best be safeguarded by sound prudential regulation or good corporate governance.
Integrating biological data across multiple platforms using importance-weighted transfer learning and applications to breast cancer data sets

Traditional machine learning approaches are based on the premise that the training and testing samples come from a common probability distribution. Transfer learning refers to situations where this assumption does not necessarily hold. Integrating biological data measured on diverse platforms is a major challenge. Transfer learning is a natural candidate for achieving such integration. In this paper, we adapt the ¿1 — norm SVM using the importance weighting approach to fit into the paradigm of Transfer Learning under Covariate Shift, with the aim of integrating biological data sources from diverse platforms. The conditional probability of the testing data with respect to the training data is estimated using a small number of testing samples. The weights of the ℓ1-norm SVM are adapted using this estimated conditional probability, also known as the importance weight. To validate our approach, we applied the proposed algorithm to the problem of classifying breast cancer tumors as ERpositive or ER-negative, which is the first step in personalizing therapy to the patient. Then we compared it against conversion to Z-scores, which is the current best practice. The ℓ1-norm SVM modified via importance weighting shows better performance than using Z-scores, on five different test data sets.