Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Galectin-3 Is Implicated in Tumor Progression and Resistance to Anti-androgen Drug Through Regulation of Androgen Receptor Signaling in Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)-related deaths are increasing worldwide. Therefore, clarification of the mechanisms of hormone-related tumor progression and resistance to anti-androgen drugs is useful in order to develop strategies for appropriate treatment of CRPC. Galectin-3 has been shown to be correlated with tumor progression in a variety of cancer types through the regulation of tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We examined tumor cell invasion and migration using the xCELLigence system. Control LNCaP and galectin-3-expressing LNCaP (LNCaP-Gal-3) cells were cultured with androgen-depleted medium with 5% charcoal-stripped serum. Cells were treated for 24 h with or without dihydrotestosterone alone or combined with MDV3100 and bicalutamide; gene profile was then analyzed by microarray analysis and mRNA expression was confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We evaluated tumor growth using spheroids and xenograft tumor growth in a mouse model. RESULTS In vitro, LNCaP-Gal-3 cells promoted both cell migration and invasion in an androgen-independent manner compared to control LNCaP cells. Galectin-3 also enhanced anchorage-independent growth and xenograft tumor growth even after castration. Importantly, galectin-3 greatly enhanced transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor (AR), especially on treatment with dihydrotestosterone. In microarray and qRT-PCR analyses, galectin-3 increased the expression of several AR-target genes, such as kallikrein-related peptidase 3 (KLK3), and transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2). These AR-target genes were not fully suppressed by anti-androgen drugs such as bicalutamide or MDV3100. Galectin-3 significantly inhibited the effect induced by anti-androgen drugs MDV3100 and bicalutamide, suggesting that galectin-3 may be involved in resistance to anti-androgen drug through enhancement of transcriptional activity of AR and expression of AR-related genes. CONCLUSION These results suggest that galectin-3 is a potential target molecule for future treatment of anti-androgen drug-resistant prostate cancer.
Performance of Publicly Listed Chilean Firms During the 2008-2009 Global Financial Crisis

This paper examines publicly listed Chilean firms’ performance during the 2008–09 crisis. In particular, it studies the effects from changes in external financing conditions, aggregate demand, and international trade on firms’ investment, sales, and profits, using firm-specific characteristics measured prior to the crisis. The evidence suggests that the crisis had a larger negative impact on firms with greater reliance on external financing, and firms with higher sensitivity to aggregate demand and exports. Firms with more foreign currency debt also had larger declines in sales, although their investment or profits did not differ significantly from other firms.
Family Ownership and Control in Large Firms: The Good, the Bad, the Irrelevant - and Why

There is a major debate regarding the role of concentrated family ownership and control in large firms, with three positions suggesting that such concentration is (1) good, (2) bad, or (3) irrelevant for firm performance. This article reports two studies to shed further light on this debate. Study 1 uses 744 publicly listed large firms in eight Asian countries to test competing hypotheses on the impact of the combination of family ownership and control on firm performance. On a country-by-country basis, our findings support all three positions. On an aggregate, pooled sample basis, the results support the ? irrelevant? position. Study 2, based on a sample of 688 firms from the same eight Asian countries, endeavors to answer why Study 1 obtains different results for different countries. We theorize and document that Study 1 findings may be systematically associated with the level of shareholder protection embodied in legal and regulatory institutions. Study 2 thus sketches the contours of a cross-country, institution-based theory of corporate governance. Overall, our two studies lead to a finer-grained and more cumulative understanding of the crucial debate on family ownership and control in large firms.
Using game mechanisms to foster GBL designers' cooperation and creativity

This paper focuses on ScenLRPG, a method, based on a graphic formalism, for designing game-based learning systems in a vocational training context. We detail in Section 2 the theoretical background for our hypotheses on three properties such a method should provide: 1) supporting the elicitation of the game mechanisms so as to boost learner's motivation; 2) enabling a team of designers to collectively build a game-based learning scenario; 3) improving designers' creativity. Section 3 presents the ScenLRPG method and the different types of tool we have developed using this method. Section 4 presents an evaluation study performed using a tangible version of the method, based on a board game. The aim of this study was to test whether the method effectively favours designer collaboration and creativity, but also to gather the pros and cons of a board game-based design tool versus a computer-based environment. The final section is devoted to an analysis of the obtained results.
Randomized Pilot of an Anxiety Sensitivity-Based Intervention for Individuals in a Substance Use Day Program

ABSTRACT Anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the tendency to appraise physical symptoms as intolerable or dangerous, may maintain the cycle between co-occurring anxiety and substance use disorders. This study examined preliminary efficacy of a brief intervention targeting AS for individuals with heterogeneous substance use disorders. Forty-one patients with high AS entering an addictions day program were randomized to treatment as usual (TAU) or to TAU plus a nine-hour AS-focused intervention that consisted of interoceptive exposures, psychoeducation about the cycle of problematic substance use and anxiety, and a single session of cognitive challenging (e.g., reviewing common cognitive distortions and decatastrophizing anxiety symptoms). Mixed-effects intent-to-treat models suggested that participants in the AS condition showed greater decreases in AS at post-treatment, but this effect was lost at follow-up three months later. Intervention conditions did not differ in change in percent days abstinent or self-reported anxiety, with both conditions showing significant improvement at post-treatment. Results suggest that the nine-hour AS-focused intervention led to a short-term benefit over TAU alone, but this benefit was not sustained at three months’ follow-up. Future AS interventions may need to target specific subconstructs of AS for selected populations, or target emotional distress tolerance more broadly.
Hepatectomy for metastases from non-colorectal and non-neuroendocrine tumor.

BACKGROUND The role of hepatectomy for metastases from non-colorectal (NCR) and non-neuroendocrine (NNE) tumors has not been defined. We analyzed several factors of the primary tumor and liver metastases to clarify the prognostic determinants. PATIENTS AND METHODS From 1990 to 1995, 33 patients underwent hepatectomy for metastases from NCR and NNE tumors. The primary tumors were gastric cancer in 9, biliary cancer in 7, pancreatic cancer in 6, breast cancer in 4 and miscellaneous tumor in 7 patients. RESULTS The overall 5-year survival after hepatectomy was 12.1%. Morbidity and mortality rates were 21.2% and 9.1%, respectively. The liver metastases from breast cancer, unilateral liver metastases and curative resection of liver metastases were prognostic factors in univariate analysis. CONCLUSION Resection of liver metastases from NCR and NNE tumors may offer prolonged survival for selected patients.
The Securitization of Longevity Risk and Its Implications for Retirement Security

The economic significance of longevity risk for governments, corporations, and individuals has begun to be recognized and quantified. The traditional insurance route for managing this risk has serious limitations due to capacity constraints that are becoming more and more binding. If the 2010 U.S. population lived three years longer than expected then the government would have to set aside 50% of the U.S. 2010 GDP or approximately $7.37 trillion to fully fund that increased social security liability. This is just one way of gauging the size of the risk. Due to the much larger capacity of capital markets more attention is being devoted to transforming longevity risk from its pure risk form to a speculative risk form so that it can be traded in the capital markets. This transformation has implications for governments, corporations and individuals that will be explored here. The analysis will view the management of longevity risk by considering how defined contribution plans can be managed to increase the sustainable length of retirement and by considering how defined benefit plans can be managed to reduce pension risk using longevity risk hedging schemes.
‘Buy now or Cry later’. Do scarcity messages work in online shopping? : an investigation into the functionality of scarcity as an online persuasion measure within the fashion and travel industry.

The infinite possibilities of the internet and its immense accessibility to users all over the world has made the internet an extension of the offline world. Due to the fact that the internet reaches that many people, the medium has become very popular for commercial purposes. Many retailers and service providers joined the trend and started online selling activities (Lohse, Bellman and Johnson, 2000). Companies are challenged to adapt to the new online environment and to make their online business work with adequately managed marketing communications and sales techniques. Selling often requires persuasion attempts, also when it concerns online selling. Therefore, this research aims to take a closer look at the usage and effectiveness of the principle of scarcity as a persuasion measure. Whereas scarcity messages are presented to the consumer frequently in online shopping, especially in both the fashion and travel industry, no existing literature empirically advocates for the effectiveness of online scarcity. Although it can be argued that online scarcity functions the same as offline scarcity, specific internet characteristics may influence the intention to purchase and the perceived product value. Especially the consumer’s possibility to search for alternatives by high levels of information transparency offered by the internet could negatively affect the purchase intention and the perceived product value if consumers are willing to invest time before they make the actual purchase decision. Also, three moderator factors were proposed by literature and therefore included in this study; exposure to online marketing techniques, and personality traits ‘need for uniqueness’ and ‘need for cognitive closure’. 156 consumers participated in an experiment in which scarcity appeals are tested in two different product categories. The results show differences among the tested product categories. Whereas a positive relationship between online scarcity and perceived product value was significant for the holiday, a negative relationship between decision time and purchase intention was found. None of the proposed modulating variables did have an effect on the relationship between scarcity and perceived product value. The results imply that there is empirical evidence for online effectiveness of a scarcity message to stimulate sales, yet only for the holiday that was presented. This means that online scarcity seems not to be effective for all product categories. Furthermore, the decision time negatively affects the purchase intention, which could potentially be explained by the ease to search for alternative products online. Hence, it is suggested that the frequent use of scarcity messages by online retailers is ungrounded and the actual functioning of the sales technique should be questioned and further examined for more product categories.
Anatomical comparison of sciatic nerves between adults and newborns: clinical implications for ultrasound guided block

The sciatic nerve (SN) is easily blocked under ultrasound guidance by identifying either the SN common trunk or its two components: the tibial nerve (TN) and the common peroneal nerve (CPN). The authors investigate whether there are anatomical differences between newborns and adults. The SN, TN and CPN of both lower extremities in 24 (11 neonatal and 13 adults) formolized cadavers were dissected. Distances were measured from the origin of the SN (passing under the piriformis muscle) to its division into TN and CPN, and from there to the popliteal crease. The sciatic/thigh coefficient (proportion relating SN length to thigh length) and the variation coefficient for the SN were calculated. The distance from the popliteal crease to the SN division was significantly shorter in neonates than in adults (1.04 ± 0.9 cm vs. 5.6 ± 5.1 cm, P = 0.0003). In addition, the neonatal SN divided at a proportionally more distal position in the thigh than it did in adults (86 ± 13 vs. 74 ± 15%, P = 0.0059). However, the coefficient of variation between the SN‐division distances was not statistically different in infants and adults (12.8 vs. 18.2%, P = 0.4345). The variations in the point of SN division seen in the adult SN are already seen in the neonatal period, but in newborns the SN divided in a more distal position in relation to the thigh than in adults, so this finding of anatomical variability in neonates suggests that ultrasound guidance can be useful when performing a SN block in these small patients.
Named Series: Fatigue, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity Fatigue symptoms relate to systemic inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes

Fatigue is frequent in patients with diabetes and this symptom appears to be more prominent in type 2 rather than type 1 diabetic subjects. Chronic inflammation represents one characteristic of type 2 diabe- tes that may contribute to fatigue symptoms. This possibility was assessed in a sample of 20 type 2 dia- betic patients relatively to a group of 20 type 1 diabetic subjects. Specific dimensions of fatigue, including general fatigue, physical fatigue, reduced activity, mental fatigue and reduced motivation, were assessed using the Multidimensional-Fatigue-Inventory (MFI). Biological assays comprised the measurement of serum inflammatory markers (high-sensitive C-reactive-protein (hsCRP), high-sensitive interleukin-6 (hsIL-6), high-sensitive tumor-necrosis-factor-a (hsTNF-a) and neopterin). Clinical parameters including indexes of adiposity were collected. In comparison to type 1 diabetic subjects, patients with type 2 dia- betes exhibited higher fatigue scores, notably in the dimensions of general fatigue, physical fatigue and reduced activity, together with greater levels of inflammatory markers that correlated with indexes of adiposity. Regression analyses controlling for diabetes duration, insulin treatment status, glycemic con- trol and fasting status, indicated that levels of inflammatory markers, in particular hsIL-6, hsCRP and neopterin, were associated with MFI fatigue dimensions in type 2 diabetic patients. Mediation analyses revealed that adiposity did not significantly account for the relationship of inflammatory markers with fatigue scores albeit coefficient regressions decreased somewhat when this variable was controlled for in regression models. These findings indicate that systemic low-grade inflammation relates to fatigue symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes and suggest the involvement of inflammatory processes in the pathophysiology of diabetes-related fatigue. Fatigue represents a common complaint of patients with diabe- tes as it can be reported in up to 60% of patients (Drivsholm et al., 2005; Fritschi and Quinn, 2010). This symptom not only impacts the patient's quality of life and compliance to treatment, but it is also associated with an increased risk of disease complications (Fritschi and Quinn, 2010). In a recent comparative study assessing fatigue symptoms in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, we found that fatigue was particularly prominent in patients with type 2 diabetes and concerned primarily physical aspects rather than mental components. In patients with type 1 diabetes, fatigue scores were comparable to scores measured in healthy volunteers
How Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Attributes Affect Consumer Purchase Intention

HOW CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) ATTRIBUTES AFFECT CONSUMER PURCHASE INTENTION Ran Yang Advisor: University of Guelph, 2014 Dr. Towhidul Islam This thesis is an investigation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its influence on consumers’ ethical decision-making and consumption behavior, primarily from a moral perspective. The main objective of this study is to explore consumers’ justice-related decision-making and ethical behavior in the consumption environment. Additionally, we seek to investigate whether providing extensive information regarding different degrees of justice restoration potential can play an important role in strengthening or weakening support for ethical products. Individual preferences were identified using a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE), in which products from two categories are selected: an athletic shoe and a bar soap. The results provide strong evidence for the effectiveness of deontic justice, and also illustrate that the degree of justice restoration potential has a significant impact on preference for products with social attributes. Thus, this study shows that such factors can affect consumer purchase intention with regard to products with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) attributes in both categories.
Catastrophic Cervical Spine Injuries in High School and College Football Players

Background Catastrophic cervical spine injuries in football are rare but tragic events. Purpose To update the incidence of catastrophic cervical injuries in scholastic football players and identify new injury patterns. Study Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed 196 incidents of catastrophic high school and collegiate football injuries reported to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research during 13 academic years (September 1989 through June 2002). Results There were 15.08 direct catastrophic cervical spine injuries in scholastic football participants per year, an incidence of 1.10 and 4.72 injuries per 100 000 high school and 100 000 college participants, respectively. Seventy-six athletes had quadriplegia (5.85 per year), 0.50 per 100 000 high school players and 0.82 per 100 000 college players. Spear tackling by players on defense continued to be the predominant mechanism of injury causing quadriplegia. Five athletes had a Brown-Séquard–like syndrome; only 1 made a full recovery. One athlete with Brown-Séquard–like syndrome and permanent neurologic symptoms reported a cervical cord neurapraxia event before the study period. Forty-three athletes (3.31 per year) had diagnosed cervical cord neurapraxia. In addition to hyperflexion and hyperextension injuries, axial forces were found to cause cervical cord neurapraxia. Sixteen of the 43 athletes returned to football after a cervical cord neurapraxia episode, and none of the 16 suffered a permanent quadriplegic event. Nine athletes sustained an isolated injury at the C1 or C2 level, and 7 sustained a combined injury at the C1, or C2 level and at a subaxial level. Conclusion The total number of quadriplegic events for high school and college football players is approximately 6 per year, with a higher incidence at the college level. Cervical cord neurapraxia can be caused by hyperflexion, hyperextension, and axial compression forces. Upper level cervical injuries involving the atlas and axis can occur in football players and may be associated with noncontiguous subaxial injuries.
Eccentricity in Asset Management

We describe how networks based on information theory can help measure and visualize systemic risk, enhance diversification, and help price assets. To do this, we first define a distance measure based on the mutual information between asset pairs and use this measure in the construction of minimum spanning trees. The dynamics of the shape and the descriptive statistics of these trees are analyzed in various investment domains. The method provides evidence of regime changes in dependency structures prior to market sell-offs, and as such, it is a potential candidate for monitoring systemic risk. We also provide empirical evidence that the assets that are located towards the center of the network tend to have higher returns. Finally, an investment strategy that utilizes network centrality information is shown to add value historically.
A Multiview Learning Framework With a Linear Computational Cost

Learning features from multiple views has attracted much research attention in different machine learning tasks, such as multiclass and multilabel classification problems. In this paper, we propose a multiclass multilabel multiview learning framework with a linear computational cost where an example is associated with at least one label and represented by multiple information sources. We simultaneously analyze all features by learning an integrated projection matrix. We can also automatically select more important views for subsequent classifier to predict each class. As the proposed objective function is nonsmooth and difficult to solve, we apply a novel optimization method that converts the multiview learning problem to a set of linear single-view learning problems by bridging our problem to an easily solvable approach. Compared to the conventional methods which learn the entire projection matrix, our algorithm independently optimizes each column of the projection matrix for each class, which can be easily parallelized. In each column optimization, the most computationally intensive step is pure and simple matrix-by-vector multiplication. As a result, our algorithm is much more applicable to large-scale problems than the multiview learning methods with a nonlinear computational cost. Moreover, rigorous convergence proof of the proposed algorithm is also provided. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, experimental comparisons are made with state-of-the-art algorithms in multiclass and multilabel classification tasks on many multiview benchmarks. We also report the efficiency comparison results on different numbers of data samples. The experimental results demonstrate that our algorithm can achieve superior performance to all the compared algorithms.
An exploration of organizational factors in new product development success

Purpose – This study surveys a broad spectrum of new product development (NPD) projects from the biochemistry industry in the USA, Canada, Germany, the UK, and Belgium with the purpose of exploring the role of the organizational activity factors in the NPD success.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on the resource‐based view of the firm, the authors present a set of hypotheses concerning the relationship between the people resources, development resources, testing resources, and launch resources committed to NPD projects and their financial success. In addition, the effect of the firm's international market involvement on the NPD project success is considered. In this study, testing of the hypothesized relationship is accomplished through linear probability model, binary probit model, and binary logit model.Findings – Empirical results generally support the predictions from the theory. Specifically, the findings of this study show that: the involvement of a strong champion, use of a multi‐disciplinary .