Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rethinking Path Creation: A Geographical Political Economy Approach

Abstract A burgeoning strand of evolutionary economic geography (EEG) research is addressing questions of regional path creation, based on the idea that place-specific legacies and conditions play a critical role in supporting the emergence of new economic activities. Yet there has been little effort thus far to take stock of this emerging body of research. In response, the aims of this article are to offer a fresh synthesis of recent work and to develop a broader theoretical framework to inform future research. First, it presents a critical appraisal of the state of the art in path creation research. In an effort to address identified gaps in EEG research, this incorporates insights from sociological perspectives, the global production networks approach, and transition studies. Second, the article’s development of a systematic theoretical framework is based on the identification of key dimensions of path creation and their constitutive interrelations. This contribution is underpinned by a geographical political economy (GPE) approach that provides the ontological basis for the integration of the five key dimensions of path creation within an overarching framework and the positioning of regional processes in relation to the broader dynamics of uneven development. Informed by GPE, the argument is that knowledgeable actors, operating within multiscalar institutional environments, create paths through the strategic coupling of regional and extraregional assets to mechanisms of path creation and associated markets. To inform further research, the article outlines four concrete propositions regarding the operation of path creation processes in different types of regions and explores these through case studies of Berlin and Pittsburgh.
Complexity of Response Evaluation During Primary Systemic Therapy of Breast Cancer: Scoring Systems and Beyond-Preliminary Results.

BACKGROUND Precise and standardized response evaluation enables clinicians to tailor primary systemic therapy (PST). PATIENTS AND METHODS Breast cancer patients underwent (18)F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography and computerized tomography (FDG-PET/CT) before and after PST. Response was assessed by maximal Standardized Uptake Value (SUVmax); morphological changes and Ki-67 labeling index (LI). In parallel response assessment was performed by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC); PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (PERCIST); World Health Organization (WHO); Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST); Chevallier and Sataloff classifications, and by a novel Ki-67 score. Accuracy of different scoring systems was evaluated. RESULTS In the 42 enrolled patients, SUVmax, size, and Ki-67 LI decreased significantly on PST. Significant differences between patients with versus those without pathological complete response were observed for pre-treatment Ki-67 LI and SUVmax and for post-treatment Ki-67 LI, SUVmax and size. Change in Ki-67 LI was the best predictor of pathological complete response. Correlation patterns of the directly measured metabolic, morphological, and proliferation responses differed from those determined by scoring methods. CONCLUSION During PST, FDG-PET/CT enables for robust assessment of treatment efficacy, but more reliable scoring systems are still needed for more precise response evaluation.
Comparisons of soft tissue chin thickness in adult patients with various mandibular divergence patterns.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between soft tissue at the chin (STC) thickness and mandibular divergence. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nongrowing patients seeking orthodontic treatment (n = 190; 113 women and 77 men), who had an average age of 26.94 years (range = 18.10-53.50 years), were stratified in four subgroups based on cephalometric mandibular plane inclination to anterior cranial base (MP/SN): low = MP/SN ≤ 27° (n = 48); medium-low = 27° < MP/SN ≤ 32° (n = 60); medium-high = 32° < MP/SN < 37° (n = 37); and high = MP/SN ≥ 37° (n = 45). The STC thicknesses were measured at pogonion (Pog), gnathion (Gn), and menton (Me). Group differences were evaluated with two-way analysis of variance and Student's t-test. The Pearson product moment correlation gauged associations between parameters. RESULTS The STC values were greater in men than women (P < .02) and were smaller in the high group (7.47 ± 2.42 mm) than in all other groups at Gn (mean values = 9.00 mm < STC < 9.58 mm; P < .001) and at Me (high group = 6.30 ± 1.89 mm; other groups = 7.15 mm < STC< 7.57 mm; P = .011). CONCLUSION The STC is thinner at Gn and Me in hyperdivergent facial patterns, apparently in contrast to Pog. This differential thickness warrants focused research as it implies that it is possible (1) to vertically grow hard tissues impinging on the inferior soft tissue envelope in patients with severe hyperdivergence and (2) to plan for genioplasty in such patients when more advancement of the chin might be needed to compensate for the increased vertical height.
Night blindness–associated mutations in the ligand‐binding, cysteine‐rich, and intracellular domains of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 6 abolish protein trafficking

Mutations in the GRM6 gene, which encodes the metabotropic glutamate receptor 6 (mGluR6), lead to autosomal recessive congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB), which is characterized by loss of night vision due to a defect in signal transmission from photoreceptor to the adjacent ON‐bipolar cells in the retina. So far, the sequence variations that have been described in six different families include nonsense, frameshift, and missense mutations. Here we investigated the impact of missense mutations in the ligand‐binding domain, a conserved cysteine‐rich domain, and the intracellular domain on the localization of the protein. We visualized and discriminated between surface and intracellular protein. Here we demonstrate that the wild‐type (wt) protein localizes to the cell surface, and to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi compartments. This also holds true for a mGluR6 variant containing a polymorphic, nondisease‐associated amino acid exchange in the ligand‐binding domain. In contrast, all disease‐associated missense mutations lead to retention of the protein in the ER, while dimerization seems not to be affected. This is the first report that shows that CSNB‐associated mutations in three different domains of mGluR6 abolish proper protein trafficking. We propose that the ligand‐binding and the poorly characterized cysteine‐rich domains, in addition to the intracellular domains, have a pivotal role in correct trafficking of metabotropic glutamate receptors to the cell surface. Hum Mutat 28(8), 771–780, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is the dominant nutritional cause of hyperhomocysteinemia in a folic acid-fortified population

Abstract Prevalence rates for folate deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia have been markedly reduced following the introduction of folic acid fortification in the United States. We report the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in a population of community-dwelling elderly Latinos in the post-folic acid fortification era. We measured homocysteine, total vitamin B12, holotranscobalamin, red blood cell folate, and serum creatinine in 1096 subjects aged ≥60years. Hyperhomocysteinemia (>13μmol/L) was observed in 16.5% of the subjects. The population attributable risk percentages for hyperhomocysteinemia were 29.7% for total B12 <148pmol/L, 36.4% for holotranscobalamin <35pmol/L, and 41.4% for creatinine >115μmol/L. In contrast, the population attributable risk percentage for hyperhomocysteinemia was only 0.3% for red blood cell folate <365nmol/L. We conclude that in the post-folic acid fortification era, low vitamin B12 status has become the dominant nutritional determinant of hyperhomocysteinemia. Steps to either reduce the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency or to identify and treat individuals with vitamin B12 deficiency could further reduce the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia.
Impact of mode of delivery on skin microcirculation in term healthy newborns within the first day of life

Abstract Background: Microcirculation is an important component of hemodynamic physiology. It can be assessed simply by clinical scores or by a variety of techniques including sidestream dark field (SDF) imaging and peripheral perfusion index (PI) measurements. Mode of delivery may have affects on microcirculation during transitional period. The aim of this study was to compare skin microcirculation in newborns born via vaginal delivery (VD) or cesarian section (C/S). Methods: Term healthy newborns not requiring NICU admission were included. Vital signs were recorded. Skin microcirculation was determined by clinical scoring including capillary refill time, skin color, warmth of extremities, by SDF imaging where capillary density and microvascular flow is determined and by PI measurements where pulsatile and nonpulsatile capillary flow is measured. Assessments were done at 30 min and 24 h of life. Results were compared between VD and C/S groups and overtime. Results: There were 12 newborns in VD group and 25 newborns in C/S group. No difference was observed in microcirculation assessments between groups. However VD group had increased hyperdynamic flow overtime. Conclusion: In healthy term newborns microcirculation does not seem to be affected by mode of delivery, however results may differ in sick or preterm newborns.
Parental Obesity and Higher Pre-intervention BMI Reduce the Likelihood of a Multidisciplinary Childhood Obesity Program to Succeed - A Clinical Observation

OBJECTIVE To assess the effects and identify factors associated with success of a combined, structured multidisciplinary weight management program in obese children and adolescents. METHODS Seventy-seven obese children (age 6-16 years) participated in a 12-month combined dietary-behavioral-exercise intervention. Thirty-seven (age and maturity comparable) obese children who did not participate in the structured program served as controls. Body weight, BMI, and BMI percentiles were measured at baseline, after 6 months, and at the end of the intervention. RESULTS The combined intervention was associated with a significant decrease in BMI (from 25.9+/-0.4 to 24.5+/-0.4 kg/m2, p <0.0005) and BMI percentile (from 97.3+/-0.2% to 92.6+/-0.9%, p <0.0005). In contrast, obese children who did not participate in the structured program gained weight (from 51.4+/-3.6 to 57.7+/-3.7 kg, p <0.0005), increased their BMI (from 25.2+/-1.0 to 26.6+/-0.9 kg/m2, p <0.0005), and had a non-significant increase in BMI percentiles (from 94.9+/-0.8% to 95.4+/-0.9%, NS). Children with higher BMI percentiles and parental overweight tended to respond less favorably to the combined multidisciplinary program (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS A prolonged (12 mo), combined, structured multidisciplinary intervention for childhood obesity resulted in a significant decrease in BMI and BMI percentiles. Higher pre-intervention BMI percentiles and parental obesity were associated with less favorable responses to the combined intervention.
Sterol-modulated Glycolipid Sorting Occurs in Niemann-Pick C1 Late Endosomes*

The Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) protein and endocytosed low density lipoprotein (LDL)-derived cholesterol were shown to enrich separate subsets of vesicles containing lysosomal associated membrane protein 2. Localization of Rab7 in the NPC1-containing vesicles and enrichment of lysosomal hydrolases in the cholesterol-containing vesicles confirmed that these organelles were late endosomes and lysosomes, respectively. Lysobisphosphatidic acid, a lipid marker of the late endosomal pathway, was found in the cholesterol-enriched lysosomes. Recruitment of NPC1 to Rab7 compartments was stimulated by cellular uptake of cholesterol. The NPC1 compartment was shown to be enriched in glycolipids, and internalization of GalNAcβ1–4[NeuAcα2–3]Galβ1–4Glcβ1–1′-ceramide (GM2) into endocytic vesicles depends on the presence of NPC1 protein. The glycolipid profiles of the NPC1 compartment could be modulated by LDL uptake and accumulation of lysosomal cholesterol. Expression in cells of biologically active NPC1 protein fused to green fluorescent protein revealed rapidly moving and flexible tubular extensions emanating from the NPC1-containing vesicles. We conclude that the NPC1 compartment is a dynamic, sterol-modulated sorting organelle involved in the trafficking of plasma membrane-derived glycolipids as well as plasma membrane and endocytosed LDL cholesterol.
Perceived Job Insecurity and Sustainable Wellbeing: Do Coping Strategies Help?

For workers, perceived job insecurity represents a threat and an obstacle towards achieving a decent and sustainable dimension of wellbeing at work and in life. Using the theoretical background of the psychology of sustainability and sustainable development, the aim of this study is to deepen the relation between subjective job insecurity, self-related health and life satisfaction considering the effect of personal resources, such as specific coping strategies that people may undertake facing job insecurity perceptions. The hypotheses were tested in a convenience sample of 769 employees in France. Data were collected with a self-report questionnaire and analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Science (IBM SPSS). Results showed that job insecurity was negatively related to self-reported health and life satisfaction; furthermore, problem-focused coping of the type of job, social support and training searching behaviors resulted in worsening this negative relationship. This study expanded the understanding of coping in the context of job insecurity and showed the limitations that proactive coping strategies have against job insecurity. These results encourage the debate on how far is it possible to attain sustainable wellbeing by relying on personal resources when job insecurity is experienced.
Effect of personality traits on trust and risk to phishing vulnerability: Modeling and analysis

In cyberspace, various types of social engineering attacks have made humans in a system more vulnerable than ever. One of the popular social engineering attacks is a phishing attack, exploiting humans' vulnerability in order to obtain individuals' private or credential information. Recent studies have found that the so called `phishing susceptibility' (i.e., the likelihood of being phished) is closely correlated with the individuals' personality traits. In particular, the relations between phishing susceptibility and Big Five personality traits have been analyzed via empirical studies in diverse domains. However, little prior work has proposed a mathematical model investigating the effect of an individual's personality traits on perceived trust or risk and decision performance. This work proposes a probability model using Stochastic Petri Nets in order to examine the effect of an individual human's personality traits on perceived trust and risk, and decision performance. Our results show that agreeableness and neuroticism have significant effect on perceived trust and risk, and decision performance particularly when openness and conscientiousness is very low. The developed mathematical model can be applied to predict what personality profiles in an organization are more exposed to social engineering, suggesting customized security training scenarios.
Improving genetic health care: A Northern New England pilot project addressing the genetic evaluation of the child with developmental delays or intellectual disability

In 2006, all clinical genetics practices in Northern New England (Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine) formed a learning collaborative with the purpose of improving genetic health care and outcomes. This article describes the current status of this effort. The methodology is based on our own modifications of the Institute of Healthcare Improvement “Breakthrough Series” and the Northern New England Cystic Fibrosis Consortium. Because of similarities across practices and the availability of existing published practice parameters, the clinical genetics evaluation of the child with developmental delay or intellectual disability was chosen as the topic to be studied. The aim was to improve the rate of etiological diagnosis of those with developmental delays referred to each genetics center by improving the processes of care. Process and outcomes were evaluated. Four of five sites also evaluated the impact of array comparative genomic hybridization (a‐CGH) laboratory testing of such patients. There was significant site‐to‐site variation in the rate of new diagnoses by a‐CGH with the average new diagnosis rate of 11.8% (range 5.4–28.8%). Barriers to implementation of the process and outcome data collection and analysis were significant and related to time pressures, lack of personnel or staff to support this activity, and competing quality improvement initiatives at the institutional home of some genetics centers. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Labour Taxation and Inclusive Growth

The importance of tackling income inequality has been stressed in the context of the European Pillar of Social Rights. In this context, the 2018 Annual Growth Survey underlined the relevance of labour taxes to pursue inclusive growth, as it has an important impact on economic growth but also on income inequality. Not all labour tax reforms, however, can simultaneously foster growth and reduce income inequality: some reforms imply a trade-off while others offer a win-win situation. This paper focusses on those labour tax reforms which offer complementarities between growth and income inequality objectives. It expands on work carried out for the Eurogroup (tax wedge, financing labour tax cuts) and the Economic Policy Committee (secondary earners, design of labour taxation) in supporting the EU political imperative of addressing income inequalities while fostering growth.
Subthalamic Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson’s Disease under Different Anesthetic Modalities: A Comparative Cohort Study

Background: The efficacy and feasibility of bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) for Parkinson’s disease (PD) under general anesthesia (GA) has not been evaluated. Objective: We compared the outcome of patients under GA with those who were operated on under local anesthesia (LA). Material and Methods: Thirty-three patients were assigned to the GA group (desflurane) and 19 patients were assigned to the LA group. Microelectrode recording (MER) was performed in both groups. The surgical outcomes of the patients were evaluated using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) after at least 12 months after surgery. Results: Postoperatively, there was no significant difference on the UPDRS scores in either groups. A significant deterioration in cognitive function in the GA group was observed (p = 0.017). The recorded electrode coordinates, the average tracts for the MER, and STN depth were comparable in both groups. The overall incidence of adverse effects did not show any difference except that the incidence of sialorrhea and dysarthria was significantly higher in the GA group. Conclusion: Desflurane GA was shown to be a good alternative anesthetic method for PD patients undergoing DBS. Although the motor outcomes were comparable, a significant cognitive decline may be seen in the GA group with a higher occurrence of stimulation side effects.
The Replication Fork Barrier Site Forms a Unique Structure with Fob1p and Inhibits the Replication Fork

ABSTRACT The replication fork barrier site (RFB) is an ∼100-bp DNA sequence located near the 3′ end of the rRNA genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The gene FOB1 is required for this RFB activity. FOB1 is also necessary for recombination in the ribosomal DNA (rDNA), including increase and decrease of rDNA repeat copy number, production of extrachromosomal rDNA circles, and possibly homogenization of the repeats. Despite the central role that Foblp plays in both replication fork blocking and rDNA recombination, the molecular mechanism by which Fob1p mediates these activities has not been determined. Here, I show by using chromatin immunoprecipitation, gel shift, footprinting, and atomic force microscopy assays that Fob1p directly binds to the RFB. Fob1p binds to two separated sequences in the RFB. A predicted zinc finger motif in Fob1p was shown to be essential for the RFB binding, replication fork blocking, and rDNA recombination activities. The RFB seems to wrap around Fob1p, and this wrapping structure may be important for function in the rDNA repeats.
The Industry Anatomy of the Transatlantic Productivity Growth Slowdown

By merging KLEMS data sets and aggregating over the ten largest Western European nations (EU-10), we are able to compare and contrast productivity growth up through 2015 starting from 1950 in the U.S. and from 1972 in the EU-10. Data are provided at the aggregate level, as well as for 16 industry groups within the total economy and 11 manufacturing subindustries. The analysis focuses on outcomes over four time intervals: 1950-72, 1972-95, 1995- 2005, and 2005-15. We interpret the EU-10 performance as catching up to the U.S. in stages, with its rapid growth of 1950-72 representing a delayed adoption of the inventions that propelled U.S. productivity growth in the first half of the 20th century, and the next EU-10 stage for 1972-95 as imitating the U.S. outcome for 1950-72. A striking finding is that for the total economy the "early-to-late" productivity growth slowdown from 1972-95 to 2005-15 in the EU-10 (-1.68 percentage points) was almost identical to the U.S. slowdown from 1950-72 to 2005-15 (-1.67 percentage points). There is a very high EU-U.S. correlation in the magnitude of the early-to-late slowdown across industries. This supports our overall theme that the productivity growth slowdown from the early postwar years to the most recent decade was due to a retardation in technical change that affected the same industries by roughly the same magnitudes on both sides of the Atlantic.
Interaction of Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen Leader Protein (EBNA-LP) with HS1-Associated Protein X-1: Implication of Cytoplasmic Function of EBNA-LP

ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen leader protein (EBNA-LP) consists of W1W2 repeats and a unique C-terminal Y1Y2 domain and has been suggested to play an important role in EBV-induced transformation. To identify the cellular factors interacting with EBNA-LP, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen, using EBNA-LP cDNA containing four W1W2 repeats as bait and an EBV-transformed human peripheral blood lymphocyte cDNA library as the source of cellular genes. Our results were as follows. (i) All three cDNAs in positive yeast colonies were found to encode the same cellular protein, HS1-associated protein X-1 (HAX-1), which is localized mainly in the cytoplasm and has been suggested to be involved in the regulation of B-cell signal transduction and apoptosis. (ii) Mutational analysis of EBNA-LP revealed that the association with HAX-1 is mediated by the W1W2 repeat domain. (iii) A purified chimeric protein consisting of glutathioneS-transferase fused to EBNA-LP specifically formed complexes with HAX-1 transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. (iv) When EBNA-LP and HAX-1 were coexpressed in COS-7 cells, EBNA-LP was specifically coimmunoprecipitated with HAX-1. (v) Careful cell fractionation experiments of an EBV-infected lymphoblastoid cell line revealed that EBNA-LP is localized in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus. (vi) When EBNA-LP containing four W1W2 repeats was expressed in COS-7 cells, EBNA-LP was detected mainly in the nucleus by immunofluorescence assay. Interestingly, when EBNA-LP containing a single W1W2 repeat was expressed in COS-7 cells, EBNA-LP was localized predominantly in the cytoplasm and was colocalized with HAX-1. These results indicate that EBNA-LP is in fact present and may have a significant function in the cytoplasm, possibly by interacting with and affecting the function of HAX-1.