Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional spectral domain optical coherence tomography of retina in choroidal metastasis due to uterine endometrial carcinoma

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) three-dimensional (3D) imaging in choroidal metastasis, due to uterine endometrial carcinoma, is reported for the first time. SD-OCT revealed a dome-shaped elevation of the retina. Neurosensory detachment with splitting of the retinal layers, at some places, was observed. 3D SD-OCT allows evaluation of secondary retinal pigment epithelial and intraretinal changes due to metastatic choroidal lesion.
Exclusive corporate philanthropy: rethinking the nexus of CSR and corporate philanthropy

Purpose - This article adds to a better understanding of relationship of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate philanthropy. We argue that corporate philanthropy is exclusive to CSR because of their different characteristics. Design/methodology/approach - This article is based on a profound literature review and discusses the relationship of CSR and corporate philanthropy from a theoretical point of view. By conceptually combining the CSR pyramid and the triple bottom line approach we show that corporate philanthropy has a special role outside of the classical CSR concept. Findings - Four fundaments of corporate philanthropy - economic, motivational, creative, and moral – are described that illustrate the importance and outstanding role of corporate philanthropy for today’s businesses. Based on these, we formulate three new forms of corporate giving, volunteering, and foundations, which we subsume under the novel notion of ‘exclusive corporate philanthropy’. Research limitations/implications - The main contribution of this paper for future research is to regard corporate philanthropy as exclusive to CSR. Future studies might therefore consider the different characteristics of corporate philanthropy and engage in an empirical investigation of this new type. Practical implications - Our model of exclusive corporate philanthropy provides practitioners with a better understanding of how corporate philanthropy can be rolled out today. Originality/value - This paper offers a new perspective on the relationship of CSR and corporate philanthropy. Based on the economic, motivational, creative, and moral characteristics of corporate philanthropy, we establish a clear distinction between the two concepts.
Yeast Derlin Dfm1 interacts with Cdc48 and functions in ER homeostasis

Recent studies have identified Derlin‐1, a protein that associates with the AAA‐ATPase p97 and is implicated in late steps in ER‐associated protein degradation (ERAD). Derlin‐1 has two Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologues, Der1p and Dfm1p. While Der1p has been studied extensively, little is known about Dfm1p. Accordingly, we investigated the role of Dfm1p in ERAD, ER homeostasis and interactions with the yeast p97 homologue Cdc48p. Dfm1p was not involved in the degradation of a number of Der1‐dependent or ‐independent ERAD substrates, neither was it redundant with either Der1p or Sec61p in ERAD. However, Dfm1p had a role in ER homeostasis, since Dfm1p loss or overexpression could stimulate the unfolded protein response (UPR). Furthermore, Dfm1p interacted both genetically and physically with Cdc48p, the yeast p97 homologue, and this interaction required an eight amino acid sequence found in the C‐terminus of Dfm1p that we have termed the SHP box. Our genetic studies are consistent with the lack of a role for Dfm1p in ERAD, but indicate it participates in ER‐related Cdc48p actions distinct from retrotranslocation. Finally, sequence analysis indicated that the UPR‐related and Cdc48p interaction functions of Dfm1p could be separated, implying this protein probably has numerous actions in the cell. Thus, the interaction between Derlins and p97 is conserved between yeast and mammals, although its function in ERAD is not. Furthermore, Dfm1p interacts with Cdc48p through its SHP boxes, and so defines a new motif for interaction with this widely‐employed AAA‐ATPase. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interpretation and Use of the Western Blot Assay for Serodiagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infections

The development of sensitive and specific tests to according to size by polyacryla. ,ide gel electrophorescreen for antibody to human immunodeficiency sis. The viral proteins are then transferred onto nitrovirus type 1 (HIV-I) progressed rapidly after the cellulose paper and probed wit11 the patient’s serum. retrovirus was identified as the cause of AIDS. The HIV antibody is detected by an antihuman IgG antiuses of the tests include diagnosis of HIV-1 infection body conjugated with an enzyme that, in the presence in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, counselof substrate, will produce a colored band. Positive and ing and testing programs, seroprevalence surveys, negative control sera are run simultaneously to allow blood donor screening and others. identification of viral proteins. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is the most widely used serologic test for HIV-l antibody detection. Serum samples that are repeatedly reactive by, the EIA test for HIV-l antibody are then retested with a supplemental and more specific test, the most common of which is the Western blot.l-:c To date, only one commercial Western blot test (DuPont, Wilmington, Delaware) has been licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ‘Ihe purpose of this article is to provide guidance in interpretation of Western blot test results and their use in the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in patients. The Western blot assay is a method in which individual proteins of an HIV-l lysate are separated Table 1 lists the major structural proteins coded for by the HIV genome. Antibodies to HIV-l groupspecific antigen sug protein ~24, and its precursor ~55, are the earliest detected by Western blot after infection and tend to decrease or become undetectable with onset or progression of clinical symptoms. +” In contrast, antibodies to the envelope mu precursor protein gp160 and the final envelope proteins gp120 and gp41 can be detected in virtually all HIV-infected persons regardless of clinical stage. +” Antibodies to the polymerase pal gene products (~31, p51 and ~66) are also commonly detected if these antigens are present on the Western blot strips. However, in a recent study the protein with a mobility of 160 kilodaltons (kd) present in commercially avatlable Western blots and viral lysate antigen preparations was identified as a multimer of the gp41 protein.1”,11 Furthermore, this study presented evidence that the reaction observed against the gp120 on certain Western blots may have in part also resulted from a reaction with a multimeric form of the gp41. In fact, the true gp120 was shown to be absent from some commercial Western blot antigens. When using these reagents, sera with only gp41 antibodies would produce bands at the 41, 120 and 160 kd positions. Although the overall sensitivity and specificity of the Western blot for detection of antibodies to the various viral proteins is high, there has been substantial debate over the best interpretive criteria. The currently licensed DuPont Western blot test specihes
What Do Management Earnings Forecasts Convey About the Macroeconomy?

We decompose quantitative management earnings forecasts into macroeconomic and firm-specific components to determine the extent to which voluntary disclosure provided by management has macroeconomic information content. We provide evidence that the forecasts of bellwether firms, which are defined as firms in which macroeconomic news explains the greatest amount of variation in the forecasts, provide timely information to the market about the macroeconomy when bundled with earnings announcements. Further, we show that bellwether firms provide timely information about both industry-specific events and broader economic events. Finally, we document that the macroeconomic news in individual forecasts is more pronounced for bad news and point forecasts.
Exploring sustained participation in firm-hosted communities in China: the effects of social capital and active degree

ABSTRACT Firm-hosted online communities are user-centred, and their efficacy depends on the users’ sustained participation. This study investigated the impact of social capital on users’ continued usage intention. Specifically, since very little work has been done to explore the antecedents of social capital, we tested the role of operator-related and individual-related factors in cultivating social capital by proposing an integrated research model to fill this gap. Furthermore, to gain deeper insights into continuance intention, we postulate that active degree moderates the relationship between social capital and users’ continued usage intention. Our model is empirically examined using survey data collected from 373 members of a well-known firm-hosted online community in China. The results reveal that the firm’s reaction, offline activities, interaction support, seeking reputation and perceived enjoyment are the significant antecedents of social capital. Additionally, social tie and shared vision exert a stronger effect on continued usage intention for active users, whereas identification has a higher influence on continued usage intention for inactive users. Finally, this study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and provides possible directions for future research.
Wearable, Cuff-less PPG-Based Blood Pressure Monitor with Novel Height Sensor

A truly wearable non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) sensor- light-weight, compact, unobstrusive, and essentially unnoticeable to the patient-could revolutionize healthcare delivered beyond the traditional walls of medical facilities, offering new ways to care for patients in their everyday surroundings. This paper presents results from our work towards the development of a self-contained, wearable blood pressure sensor. A PPG-based approach to blood pressure monitoring is presented. The design enables significant miniaturization of traditional oscillometric devices without the need for occlusive circumferential pressures. It will be shown how natural raising and lowering of the arm replaces the need for bulky actuators. Additionally, a dual-accelerometer height sensor that is tetherless is proposed and supported by experimental results
Resting coronary flow velocity in the functional evaluation of coronary artery stenosis: study on sequential use of computed tomography angiography and transthoracic Doppler echocardiography.

AIMS Accelerated flow at the site of flow-limiting stenosis can be detected by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE). We studied feasibility and accuracy of sequential coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) and TTDE in detection of haemodynamically significant coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS AND RESULTS We prospectively enrolled 107 patients with intermediate (30-70%) pre-test likelihood of CAD. All patients underwent CTA using a 64-slice scanner. Using TTDE, the ratio of maximal diastolic flow velocity to pre-stenotic flow velocity (M/P ratio) was measured in the coronary segments with stenosis in CTA. In all patients, the results were compared with invasive coronary angiography, including measurement of fractional flow reserve when appropriate. All analyses were done blinded. TTDE was feasible in 276 of 285 evaluated coronary segments. Significant coronary stenoses were associated with a higher M/P ratio than non-significant stenoses (3.59 ± 1.82 vs. 1.28 ± 0.60, P < 0.001). The optimal M/P ratio for detection of significant stenosis was 2.2 (area under receiver operating characteristic curve 0.92, P < 0.001). Compared with the strategy of CTA alone, sequential CTA and focused TTDE had a better positive predictive value (PPV; 61 vs. 78%) and diagnostic accuracy (93 vs. 96%, P = 0.006) without impairment of the negative predictive value (97 vs. 97%). CONCLUSION Sequential use of CTA and TTDE is feasible for combined anatomic and functional evaluation of coronary stenoses. Compared with coronary CTA alone, addition of TTDE improved PPV for detection of significant CAD.
Marginal Jobs, Heterogeneous Firms, & Unemployment Flows

This paper introduces a notion of fir m size into a search and matching model with endogenous job destruction. The outcome is a rich, yet analytically tractable framework that can be used to analyze a broad set of features of both the cross section and the dynamics of the aggregate labor market. In a set of quantitative applications we show that the model can provide a coherent account of a) the salient features of the distributions of employer size, and employment growth across establishments; b) the amplitude and propagation of cyclical fluctuations in flows between employment and unemployment; c) the negative comovement of unemployment and vacancies in the form of the Beveridge curve; and d) the dynamics of the distribution of employer size over the business cycle.
A systematic review of the performance of instruments designed to measure the dimensions of pressure ulcers

The objective was to undertake a systematic review of the performance of wound measurement instruments used for patients with pressure ulcers. Studies of any design, evaluating methods for estimating wound diameter, depth, surface area, or volume in patients with pressure ulcers were included. Eligible evaluations had to report intra‐ or inter‐rater reliability, accuracy, agreement, or feasibility of methods. Electronic databases and other sources were accessed for study identification. Included studies were critically appraised using a modified checklist for diagnostic test evaluations. Twelve studies were included. Most had methodological problems and/or used inappropriate statistical methods. Reliable methods for measuring pressure ulcer surface area may include: grid tracings from photographs combined with whole plus partial square count; a portable digital pad; and stereophotogrammetry combined with computerized image analysis. The agreement between photographic tracing and direct transparency tracing may be satisfactory (both methods being combined with computerized planimetry). No definitive conclusions could be reached about studies of diameter or depth; this means that there is little evidence to underpin recommendations in clinical guidelines. Evaluations of volume measurement were of poor quality, and there were few data on feasibility. Further primary research is needed to evaluate methods of wound measurement used in clinical practice.
CD4 T-Cell Dysregulation in Psoriatic Arthritis Reveals a Regulatory Role for IL-22

Dysregulation of interleukin-22 (IL-22) has been associated with autoimmune diseases but divergent effects upon inflammation have hampered efforts to define its contribution to pathogenesis. Here, we examined the role of IL-22 in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). In the peripheral blood of PsA patients, there was a decrease in IL-22+CD4+ T cells compared with healthy controls resulting in a heightened CD4+ IFNγ+/IL-22+ ratio accompanied by diminished CCR6 expression. IL-22 expressing cells were depleted primarily from the central memory CD4 T-cell subset in PsA patients. Paradoxically IL-22 and particularly interferon-gamma (IFNγ) production were elevated within a CD4+ T-cell subset with phenotypic markers characteristic of naïve T cells (CD3+CD4+CD27+CD45RA+CCR7+CD95−IL-2Rβ−) from PsA patients with the highest IFNγ+/IL-22+ ratio of all the CD4 subsets. These unconventional “naïve” CD4+ T cells from PsA patients displayed some phenotypic and functional characteristics of memory cells including a marked proliferative response. Increased IFNγ production from these unconventional “naïve” T cells from PsA patients promoted greater expression of the chemo-attractant CXCL9 by HaCaT keratinocytes compared with their healthy counterparts. Treatment with anti-TNF therapy reversed these abnormalities in this T-cell subset though did not affect the frequency of IL-22+ T cells overall. Furthermore, blockade of IL-22 enhanced the IFNγ mediated release of CXCL-9. These results reveal CD4+ T-cell dysregulation in patients with PsA which can be reversed by anti-TNF and highlight the regulatory properties of IL-22 with important implications for therapeutic approaches that inhibit its production.
Fighting Corruption and the Use of Bribes in the Palestinian Territories: With or Without Social Capital

The presence of dysfunctional formal institutions in the Palestinian Territories might drive the citizens to concentrate on alternative forms of governance more community-oriented. Under these circumstances the set of informal institutions embedded in the social capital of the Palestinian community might help to explain the Palestinians attitude towards corrupt aversion. Hence, by using a unique Palestinian survey conducted in 2007 in West Bank and Gaza Strip, we analyse the relationship between social capital and Palestinians attitude towards corrupt aversion. The variables of social capital refer to voluntary activities and civic attitude while corrupt aversion is captured by the Palestinians’ attitudes towards the use of bribes at work and the importance of fighting corruption. A bivariate probit model reports that corrupt aversion increases with civic attitude and is lower among Palestinians involved in voluntary activities. Predicted conditional probabilities suggest that under negative view of formal institutions and lack of social trust, Palestinians need more civic attitude to cope with corrupt aversion.
Perfil epidemiológico da hanseníase em um município brasileiro, no período de 2000 a 2006 Epidemiological profile of leprosy in a Brazilian municipality between 2000 and 2006

Introduction: Leprosy is considered to be a major public health problem in developing countries. It is estimated that notifications are issued only in relation to 1/3 of the patients and that, among these patients, many undergo irregular treatment or drop out, thus increasing the impact of the disease. The objective this paper was to describe the epidemiological profile of the population with a diagnosis of leprosy in the municipality of Uberaba, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between 2000 and 2006. Methods: This was a retrospective study using data from notifications of leprosy cases in the Notifiable Disease Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Results: There were 455 recorded cases of leprosy, and 55.4% of these were among males. The most affected age group was 34 to 49 years (31.4%), while nine cases of leprosy (2%) were found in children under the age of 15 years. The commonest clinical form was the borderline type (69.1%) and the operational class was multibacillary (87%). These findings are a matter of concern, considering that the age group that is most economically active is potentially the principal group spreading the disease. Conclusions: The finding that 87% of the cases were multibacillary indicates that the diagnoses were late. It is therefore necessary to decentralize the leprosy care services and train more professionals to enable earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Attitudes towards job protection legislation: Comparing insiders and outsiders in Finland, Norway and Sweden

This article investigates employees’ attitudes towards job protection legislation and attitudinal differences between employees with different levels of job security. National surveys from three Nordic countries, using different measures of insider–outsider positions in the labour market, do not support the assumption that outsiders (those with insecure jobs) prefer laxer job protection legislation. On the contrary, workers in secure jobs seem more likely to prefer laxer regulation.
Psychosomatic aspects of coronary artery bypass graft surgery

101 consecutive male patients were examined by means of clinical interviews and depression, anxiety, personality, psychometric and life stress tests. The examinations took place preoperatively. on the 9th postoperative day (average) and 7.5 months after surgery. The mean age of the patients was 52.2 years and the mean duration of CHD was 6.7 years. Prior to surgery 77% had experienced myocardial infarction and 85% belonged to NYHA class III or IV. 74% had a 3‐vessel disease. When the NYHA classification was used as criterion for rehabilitation the result was excellent. Postoperatively 80% belonged to NYHA class I or II. Hospital mortality rate was 4% and one patient died from myocardial infarction prior to the final follow‐up.
Omeprazole Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces G0/G1 Cell Cycle Arrest through Up-regulating miR-203a-3p Expression in Barrett’s Esophagus Cells

Existing data suggest that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), particularly omeprazole, have significant anti-tumor action in monotherapy and or combination chemotherapy. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway represents a leading candidate as a molecular mediator of Barrett’s esophagus (BE). Studies have indicated reduced miRNAs in BE progression, however, little is known about the latent anti-neoplasm effects of miRNAs in BE cells. Here, we investigated whether omeprazole could inhibit BE progression by regulating Hh pathway and explored the promising Hh-targeted miRNAs in BE cells. We conducted qRT-PCR and immunoblotting assay to evaluate the effects of omeprazole on the expression of Hh signaling components and miR-203a-3p in CP-A and CP-B cells. The promising target genes of miR-203a-3p were predicted by bioinformatics methods, and verified by luciferase assays and qRT-PCR. The effects of omeprazole on BE cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution were determined. The overexpression or silencing of miR-203a-3p was performed to test its anti-proliferative effects. Finally, rescue experiments that miR-203a-3p inhibitor alleviated the effects of omeprazole on decreasing the levels of Gli1 mRNA, protein and luciferase were performed. Mechanistic studies showed that omeprazole could inhibit the expression of Gli1 and the nuclear localization of Gli1. Moreover, we determined that omeprazole could selectively up-regulated the expression of miR-203a-3p, and Gli1 was a bona fide target of miR-203a-3p. miR-203a-3p inhibitor alleviated the suppressing effects of omeprazole on Gli1 luciferase activity, mRNA and protein level. The functional assay suggested that omeprazole could dose-dependently inhibit BE cell growth and induce cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. Additionally, overexpression and silencing of miR-203a-3p in BE cells disrupted cell cycle progress, resulting in suppressing and accelerating cell proliferation, respectively. Taken together, these data provide a novel mechanism of potentially anti-neoplastic effects for omeprazole through modulation of miR-203a-3p expression and thus suppressing Hh/Gli1 signaling in BE cells.