Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pregnancy Causes a Decrease in the Number and Affinity of Myometrial Angiotensin II Receptors

The pressor response to exogenously infused angiotensin II is decreased in normal human and ovine pregnancy when compared to the nonpregnant state. This study was designed to determine the mechanism for decrease in target organ sensitivity by examining pregnancy-induced changes in the affinity and number of angiotensin II receptors in myometrium from pregnant and nonpregnant sheep. Tissues were obtained from four ovariectomized sheep given 50 /μg estradiol-17β on days 3 and 5 postsurgery and from four pregnant sheep (mean gestational age 136 days). Binding of 125I-angiotensin II was determined in particulate fractions of myometrium prepared by differential centrifugation. The 125I-angiotensin II binding to myometrial preparations was specific, saturable, and linear with protein concentration. In the nonpregnant group, binding capacity for angiotensin II in myometrium was 502 ± 76 fmol/mg protein, whereas in the pregnant group it was 184 ± 65 fmol/mg protein (P <.01). Receptor affinity also was less (Kd 1.72 ± 0.39 nM) during pregnancy compared with the nonpregnant sheep uterus (3.9 ± 0.80 nM; P <.01). These data support the hypothesis that the decrease in target organ sensitivity to exogenously administered angiotensin II during pregnancy in human and ovine species may be secondary to a decrease in the total number and affinity of specific angiotensin II receptors.
Examining the Gap in the Earned Income Tax Credit

One of the largest federal anti-poverty programs, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), is implemented through the tax code and helps lift millions of workers above the poverty threshold. The EITC provides workers with increased financial flexibility and in many cases incentivizes saving among those who would not otherwise be able to set money aside. However, a large disparity exists in the size of the credit for workers with and without dependents, as workers with children receive more than six times the amount a childless worker receives. Because of the benefits associated with the EITC, including its poverty-reduction capabilities and labor supply incentives, many policymakers are calling for an expansion of the program to mitigate this gap. In addition to analyzing the EITC in its current form and several proposed expansions, this article also examines an evaluation of a pilot expansion program occurring in New York and Atlanta.
Lymph node metastasis density (ND)-factor association with malignant degree and ND40 as "non-curative factor" in gastric cancer.

UNLABELLED Advanced gastric cancer is not controlled by surgery alone, although early gastric cancer can be cured by curative gastrectomy. The TNM factor, representing physical tumor spread, accurately predicts patient prognosis in advanced gastric cancer, however, more elaborate prognostic factors reflecting the malignant degree are necessary in order to determine the therapeutic target. The purpose of this study was to select a significant prognostic indicator of gastric cancer with curative intent, independent of TNM stage among daily-feasible clinical parameters. The current study included 382 patients with stage IB to III gastric cancer after curative surgery, in which the robust univariate prognostic predictors were age (p < 0.0001), lymph node metastasis density of 40% or over (ND40) (p < 0.0001), and preoperative high value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (preCEA) (p = 0.0012), as well as TNM stage, preoperative high value of CA19-9 (preCA19-9), a glyco-chain antigen recognized by monoclonal antibody NS19-9, and vascular invasion. In multivariate prognostic analysis, age (p = 0.0002), ND40 (p = 0.02), and preCEA (p = 0.03) remained independent prognostic factors. The ND-factor provided excellent prognostic stratification within the same stage, and stage III ND40 predicted a similar prognosis to stage IV and could be considered a non-curative factor. Interestingly, ND40 relevance was validated in the prospective and independent set of gastric cancer patients (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION The ND factor reflects the malignant degree of gastric cancer, and ND40 is a novel "non-curative factor" in gastric cancer patients. A search for the molecules associated with higher ND value within an identical stage could lead to objective determination of the degree of malignancy and development of novel strategies against advanced gastric cancer.
Modeling Multivariate Volatilities via Latent Common Factors

Volatility, represented in the form of conditional heteroscedasticity, plays an important role in controlling and forecasting risks in various financial operations including asset pricing, portfolio allocation, and hedging futures. However, modeling and forecasting multi-dimensional conditional heteroscedasticity are technically challenging. As the volatilities of many financial assets are often driven by a few common and latent factors, we propose in this article a dimension-reduction method to model a multivariate volatility process and to estimate a lower-dimensional space, to be called the volatility space, within which the dynamics of the multivariate volatility process is confined. The new method is simple to use, as technically it boils down to an eigenanalysis for a nonnegative definite matrix. Hence, it is applicable to the cases when the number of assets concerned is in the order of thousands (using an ordinary PC/laptop). On the other hand, the model has the capability to cater for complex conditional heteroscedasticity behavior for multi-dimensional processes. Some asymptotic properties for the new method are established. We further illustrate the new method using both simulated and real data examples.
Exchange Rate and Output in the Aftermath of the Great Depression and During the Transition Period in Central Europe

The author compares the influence of the exchange rate on economic activity during two distinct historical episodes: the aftermath of the Great Depression and the second stage of transition in Central Europe (1994–1998). The main hypothesis is that benefits from devaluation may actually be derived from the coordination of international economic policy. This is an important distinction because benefits from devaluation lead to the policy prescription “if all devalue, everybody is better off,” while benefits from coordination lead to a much more carefully implemented exchange rate policy. The author finds that large devaluations/depreciations in transition countries always seem to be detrimental to growth, while small fluctuations in the exchange rate seem to support various output scenarios, depending on the initial conditions and/or the speed of market reforms (where the latter depend on the former) and historical circumstances (such as membership in the FSU). Where seeming benefits from devaluation did appear, they may have occurred simply because some small and open economies had successfully coordinated their monetary policies with their main trading and financial partners. Many of the “benefits” from devaluation in the aftermath of the Great Depression can be attributed to the successful coordination between the Scandinavian countries and their main trading partner – Great Britain. From a comparison of two very distinct historical episodes, the author concludes that devaluation is not a good strategy for an individual country and the approach “if all devalue, everyone is better off” cannot automatically be established as a policy prescription. In many cases, the costs of devaluation may exceed the benefits. The results in this paper point beyond the usual economists’ credo that no single currency regime is right for all countries at all times. The results indicate that the international propagation mechanisms and the issues of international economic policy coordination are crucial in determining the impact of devaluation.
Membrane Type 4 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT4-MMP, MMP-17) Is a Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored Proteinase*

Among the five membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs), MT1-, MT2-, MT3-, and MT5-MMPs have about a 20-amino acid cytoplasmic tail following the transmembrane domain. In contrast, a putative transmembrane domain of MT4-MMP locates at the very C-terminal end, and the expected cytoplasmic tail is very short or nonexistent. Such sequences often act as a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring signal rather than as a transmembrane domain. We thus examined the possibility that MT4-MMP is a GPI-anchored proteinase. Our results showed that [3H]ethanolamine, which can be incorporated into the GPI unit, specifically labeled the MT4-MMP C-terminal end in a sequence-dependent manner. In addition, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C treatment released the MT4-MMP from the surface of transfected cells. These results indicate that MT4-MMP is the first GPI-anchored proteinase in the MMP family. During cultivation of the transfected cells, MT4-MMP appeared to be shed from the cell surface by the action of an endogenous metalloproteinase. GPI anchoring of MT4-MMP on the cell surface indicates a unique biological function and character for this proteinase.
Predictive Analysis of the ITER Poloidal Field Conductor Insert (PFCI) Test Program

In this paper, we discuss the predictive analysis performed in support of the test program of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) poloidal field conductor insert (PFCI). A subset of the test program items was considered, with particular emphasis on DC performance and AC losses. The results and implications of the comparison of selected predictions from different laboratories will be presented.
Correlates of Treatment Response in Depressed Older Adults With Bipolar Disorder

Aims: To identify baseline clinical factors associated with acute treatment response in depressed older adults with bipolar disorder (BD) receiving lamotrigine. Methods: Secondary analysis of a multisite, 12-week, open-label, uncontrolled study of add-on lamotrigine in 57 adults 60 years and older with BD I or II depression. Measures included the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). Cardiometabolic risk was measured with total serum cholesterol and the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale–Geriatric (CIRS-G) item #13 (endocrine/metabolic burden). Neurocognitive (executive) function was evaluated using the Trail Making Test. Results: Greater reduction in MADRS from baseline was associated with higher baseline cardiometabolic burden at 6 and 9 weeks and lower YMRS scores at 9 weeks. At 12 weeks, improvement in the MADRS from baseline was no longer significantly related to baseline cardiometabolic burden or YMRS scores. A longitudinal mixed model of MADRS scores corroborated these findings with a significant finding of time-by-baseline cholesterol level interaction. In a subset of participants, better baseline executive function was related to greater improvement in the MADRS at 9 weeks but not at 6 or 12 weeks. Among all participants, higher baseline YMRS scores were related to greater likelihood of dropout. Conclusions: Lamotrigine appears to work best in depressed elderly patients with BD who have high cardiometabolic risk and low level of mania. Agents like lamotrigine that act primarily on neuroprogressive pathways involving oxidative stress, neurotrophins, and inflammation may be particularly effective in individuals with BD who have significant cardiometabolic burden because of their effects on shared vulnerability factors in BD and medical illness.
The roles of community seed banks in climate change adaption

ABSTRACT Although community level seed-saving initiatives have been around for about 30 years, until recently they have received little attention in the scientific literature on climate change adaptation and plant genetic resources. Based on research experiences from various countries, this article argues that community seed banks can enhance the resilience of farmers, in particular of communities and households most affected by climate change. Community seed banks can secure improved access to, and availability of, diverse, locally adapted crops and varieties, and enhance related indigenous knowledge and skills in plant management, including seed selection, treatment, storage, multiplication, and distribution.
Spatial S-R Compatibility with Centrally Presented Stimuli: An Event-Related Asymmetry Study on Dimensional Overlap

Lateral presentation of relevant information facilitates manual responses if the side of relevant information corresponds to the side of the response. Recently, temporally overlapping EEG asymmetries over the central motor cortex and posterior sites were reported as a possible correlate of the sensory-motor integration of spatial information. The present study investigated whether sensory-motor integration of spatial information can occur with symbolic spatial information the same way as with laterally presented stimuli. The task required participants to respond to arrows (target stimuli), which were flanked (from above and below) by neutral stimuli or by other arrows (compatible or not). In Experiment 1, this task was compared to the same task with letters as stimuli and to an incompatible task where participants had to respond against the arrow direction. The effect of the flankers on response times was largest if subjects had to respond to the arrows in the common way. This was also the only task of Experiment 1 for which marked EEG asymmetries related to the direction of the flankers were observed. In Experiment 2, the onsets of target stimulus and flankers differed in time. Event-related lateralizations of the EEG over sensory and primary motor areasas a lateralized readiness potentialwere always, apparently automatically, evoked by flanking arrows, indicating automatic response activation evoked by symbolic spatial information. In accordance to recent theories of temporally decaying response activation, manual responses were affected only if the target was either shortly preceded by or appeared simultaneously with the flankers. The temporal overlap of EEG asymmetries related to direction encoding, automatic response activation, and to response preparation indicated that a widespread cortical network is activated by any salient directional information that enables subjects to respond quickly if the directional code of the stimulus overlaps with the directional code of the response.
Political participation in Japan

There is a large volume of studies on political participation, including motivations for citizens to become involved in various channels of engagement. Building on this extensive literature, the present study examines factors that affect participation, with particular attention on the linear (conservative vs. progressive) and curvilinear (moderate vs. radical) impact of ideological orientations, and also considers the influence exerted by political interest and partisanship. Utilizing data from Japan spanning nearly three decades, we analyze changes and continuities in patterns of participation in four categories of activities: election turnout; campaigning; system-affirming; and elite-challenging. Empirical analysis reveals that radicals take a more active part in campaigning than moderates, and progressives are more inclined toward elite-challenging activities than conservatives, while no consistent results are found for turnout. The study also discusses possible causes and consequences of a long-term decline in participation in Japan.
Effect of raloxifene on parathyroid hormone in osteopenic and osteoporotic postmenopausal women with chronic kidney disease stage 5.

INTRODUCTION This study was aimed to investigate the effects of raloxifene on intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) level and bone mineral density (BMD) for 8 months in women on hemodialysis and women with chronic kidney disease stage 5 not dependent on dialysis to determine its effect on secondary hyperparathyroidism and osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-one women on hemodialysis and 9 with chronic kidney disease stage 5 were randomly assigned to receive oral raloxifene, 60 mg/d, or placebo for 8 months. Baseline blood determinations and BMD were done and repeated after 8 months. Serum levels of total calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and intact PTH were measured. RESULTS Serum levels of intact PTH significantly decreased in both groups, and there was no difference between the two groups after 8 months (P = .37). Serum phosphorus levels also decreased by 1.8% in the two groups. After 8 months of treatment, the BMD of the lumbar spine and femural neck decreased by 1.9% in the control group, while an increase in BMD was observed in the raloxifene group,with an average increase in both BMDs of the lumbar spine and the femural neck by 2% (significant in the lumbar spine; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS Raloxifene has proven to be an effective medication in terms of improving BMD, with no adverse effects. However, it had no effect on controlling hyperparathyroidism in our patients. Long-term studies should be done to investigate the effects of raloxifene in chronic kidney disease and dialysis patients.
The influence of attention and age on the occurrence of mirror movements

This study utilised a finger force task to investigate the influence of attention and age on the occurrence of motor overflow in the form of mirror movements in neurologically intact adults. Forty right-handed participants were recruited from three age groups: 20–30 years, 40–50 years, and 60–70 years. Participants were required to maintain a target force using both their index and middle fingers, representing 50% of their maximum strength capacity for that hand. Attention was directed to a hand by activating a bone conduction vibrator attached to the small finger of that hand. Based on Cabeza's (2002) model of hemispheric asymmetry reduction in older adults, it was hypothesised that mirror movements would increase with age. Furthermore, it was expected that when the attentional demands of the task were increased, motor overflow occurrence would be exacerbated for the older adult group. The results obtained provide support for the model, and qualified support for the hypothesis that increasing the attentional demands of a task results in greater motor overflow. It is proposed that the association between mirror movements and age observed in this study may result from an age-related increase in bihemispheric activation that occurs in older adults, who, unlike younger adults, benefit from bihemispheric processing for task performance. (JINS, 2005, 11, 855–862.)
A systematic review of the impact of mindfulness on the well-being of healthcare professionals.

OBJECTIVE Among efforts to improve the well-being of healthcare professionals are initiatives based around mindfulness meditation. To understand the value of such initiatives, we conducted a systematic review of empirical studies pertaining to mindfulness in healthcare professionals. METHOD Databases were reviewed from the start of records to January 2016. Eligibility criteria included empirical analyses of mindfulness and well-being outcomes acquired in relation to practice. 81 papers met the eligibility criteria, comprising a total of 3,805 participants. Studies were principally examined for outcomes such as burnout, distress, anxiety, depression, and stress. RESULTS Mindfulness was generally associated with positive outcomes in relation to most measures (although results were more equivocal with respect to some outcomes, most notably burnout). CONCLUSION Overall, mindfulness does appear to improve the well-being of healthcare professionals. However, the quality of the studies was inconsistent, so further research is needed, particularly high-quality randomized controlled trials.
Brief Report: Chikungunya Viral Arthritis in the United States: A Mimic of Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arthritogenic mosquito‐transmitted alphavirus that spread to the Caribbean in 2013 and to the US in 2014. CHIKV‐infected patients develop inflammatory arthritis that can persist for months or years, but little is known about the rheumatologic and immunologic features of CHIKV‐related arthritis in humans, particularly as compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this study was to describe these features in a group of 10 American travelers who were nearly simultaneously infected while visiting Haiti in June 2014.
Temperature‐sensitive TREK currents contribute to setting the resting membrane potential in embryonic atrial myocytes

TREK channels belong to the superfamily of two‐pore‐domain K+ channels and are activated by membrane stretch, arachidonic acid, volatile anaesthetics and heat. TREK‐1 is highly expressed in the atrium of the adult heart. In this study, we investigated the role of TREK‐1 and TREK‐2 channels in regulating the resting membrane potential (RMP) of isolated chicken embryonic cardiac myocytes. At room temperature, the average RMP of embryonic day (ED) 11 atrial myocytes was −22 ± 2 mV. Raising the temperature to 35°C hyperpolarized the membrane to −69 ± 2 mV and activated a large outwardly rectifying K+ current that was relatively insensitive to conventional K+ channel inhibitors (TEA, 4‐AP and Ba2+) but completely inhibited by tetracaine (200 μm), an inhibitor of TREK channels. The heat‐induced hyperpolarization was mimicked by 10 μm arachidonic acid, an agonist of TREK channels. There was little or no inwardly rectifying K+ current (IK1) in the ED11 atrial cells. In marked contrast, ED11 ventricular myocytes exhibited a normal RMP (−86.1 ± 3.4 mV) and substantial IK1, but no temperature‐ or tetracaine‐sensitive K+ currents. Both RT‐PCR and real‐time PCR further demonstrated that TREK‐1 and TREK‐2 are highly and almost equally expressed in ED11 atrium but much less expressed in ED11 ventricle. In addition, immunofluorescence demonstrated TREK‐1 protein in the membrane of atrial myocytes. These data indicate the presence and function of TREK‐1 and TREK‐2 in the embryonic atrium. Moreover, we demonstrate that TREK‐like currents have an essential role in determining membrane potential in embryonic atrial myocytes, where IK1 is absent.
The effects of globalization on English language learning: Perspectives from Senegal and the United States

This study is an analytical comparison among perspectives about English as a nonnative language and its function in Senegal, West Africa and the U.S. Midwest. The purpose of this study is to establish a better understanding of the effects of globalization in both countries by focusing on the increasing use of the English language (Crystal, 2003) and how it is used within diverse societies. Globalization can be defined as “the interconnections of global economic, political, cultural and environmental processes that continually transform present conditions” (Steger, 2003, p.7-8). Within the context of globalization, this topic allows for a broader understanding of the attitudes regarding the English language and its function not only in the United States, but also in another continent. Using the ethnomethodology theoretical framework, the researcher conducted a literature review, observations, and ethnographic interviews in order to answer the following research questions: (1): How has globalization affected the perceptions of the process of English language learning in Senegal and the U.S. Midwest? (2) What are the perceived functions of English as a nonnative language relating to accessibility of education? The data collected from the current study were analyzed and it was concluded that English is used as an instrument to communicate across the globalized world, and that knowledge of English provides individuals with additional educational opportunities. EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON ENGLISH 3