Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A microRNA Link to Glioblastoma Heterogeneity

Glioblastomas (GBM) are one of the most malignant adult primary brain tumors. Through decades of research using various model systems and GBM patients, we have gained considerable insights into the mechanisms regulating GBM pathogenesis, but have mostly failed to significantly improve clinical outcome. For the most part GBM heterogeneity is responsible for this lack of progress. Here, we have discussed sources of cellular and microenvironmental heterogeneity in GBMs and their potential regulation through microRNA mediated mechanisms. We have focused on the role of individual microRNAs (miRNA) through their specific targets and miRNA mediated RNA-RNA interaction networks with the potential to influence various aspects of GBM heterogeneity including tumor neo-vascularization. We believe a better understanding of such mechanisms for regulation of GBM pathogenesis will be instrumental for future therapeutic options.
Perceptions Of Corporate Social Responsibility In The Capital Market

This study investigates how capital market participants such as investors and financial analysts perceive corporate social responsibility (CSR) as improving earnings quality. Managers use CSR as a signal of future financial improvement, which causes companies to invest in CSR in the current period. An expectation of future financial improvement leads to increase in the quality of earnings because it curtails the incentive to engage in earnings management. In addition, CSR is a signal to increase the reputation of the firm. If a firm values its reputation, managers of a CSR firm would refrain from earnings management to avoid damage to its reputation. We use a sample of Korean listed companies for the period 2002–2011 and a proxy for CSR involvement based on the Korea Economic Justice Institute index. When we use earnings response coefficients (ERCs) to measure investors’ perceptions of earnings quality, we find that ERCs are higher for firms with engagement in CSR activity. Further, when we use the predictive ability of past earnings in forecasting future earnings to measure analysts’ perceptions of earnings quality, we find that the predictive ability of past earnings is higher when firms engage in CSR. Our results provide evidence that capital market participants perceive CSR as a signal of improved earnings quality.
Subjective and Objective Findings in Patients With True Dehiscence Versus Thin Bone Over the Superior Semicircular Canal

Objective To compare subjective and objective findings between patients with true dehiscence versus thin bone over the superior semicircular canal (SSC). Study design Retrospective case series. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients All patients from our institution with true dehiscence or thin bone over the SSC on computed tomography temporal bone (oblique view) from 2007 to 2013. Main outcome measures Subjective test: Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Objective tests: Infrared video eye recording with varying stimuli (Tulio, Fistula, and Vibration); vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP); electrocochleography; videonystagmography; pure-tone audiometry (i.e., air-bone gap). Results Fifty-four patients (64 ears) were reviewed. Thirty-nine patients (47 ears) had true dehiscence of the SSC on temporal bone computed tomography. Fifteen patients (17 ears) had thin bone over the SSC. There was no statistical difference in DHI scores for patients with true dehiscence versus those with thin bone over the SSC. Only cervical VEMP and air-bone gap via pure-tone audiometry revealed a significant difference between the two groups. The remaining vestibular assessments did not demonstrate any difference. No significant correlations were revealed between DHI and objective test findings across and within the two groups. Conclusion Among the objective tests, cervical VEMP and pure-tone audiometry are the only tools to distinguish between true dehiscence and thin bone over the SSC. DHI does not differentiate between these two groups. Furthermore, no correlation exists between DHI and any objective finding. Further investigation is necessary to develop a validated subjective symptom index of patients with SSC syndrome.
Squaramides as potent transmembrane anion transporters.

Square peg in a round ball: squaramides are shown to be potent transmembrane anion transporters for both chloride and bicarbonate, performing better than the thiourea and urea analogues. Studies into the nature of this transport point to a mobile carrier mechanism, where the squaramide delivers the anion cargo across the lipid bilayer (see scheme, green sphere=anion). These drug-like molecules provide a platform for the development of a new generation of anion-transport systems.
Holding, Clearing and Settling Securities Through Blockchain Technology Creating an Efficient System by Empowering Asset Owners

The paper analyses the current system of holding and transferring securities. It argues that the current model makes transactions safe by next to eliminating counter-party risk. This is done at the price of exposing the holding of securities to custody risk. Investors nowadays hold securities through chains of custodians and are exposed to risk of any of these failing. Custody chains also prevent them from exercising and enforcing rights against issuers. The paper explains why somewhat counter intuitively the introduction of electronic settlement has led to an intermediated holding system which has significantly increased custody risk particularly in the UK. The paper then argues that blockchain technology would make it possible to create a system that has the same level of transactional safety as the current system and that at the same time eliminates custody risk. Existing custodians however are unlikely to bring about change that creates a system that is overall efficient. They are limited by their current business model. They are unable to fund the elimination of inefficiencies of the system as a whole when the elements that cause system-inefficiencies are factors that underpin their business model from their individual perspective. The paper recommends empowering asset owners by requiring custodians to disclose that they have outsourced custody. Custodians should also make available to their customers details about the sub-custodians they have delegated custody to enabling investors to evaluate the chain that operates between them and the issuer. This will enable asset owners to evaluate the risk associated with the custody arrangements that are on offer. The paper also encourages asset owners with market power to ask questions about the way in which the assets they look after are held. In addition to engaging with custodians, regulators should actively involve asset owners in their work on blockchain technology.
Perceptual Quality-Aware Power Reduction Technique for Organic Light Emitting Diodes

In this paper, a perceptual quality-aware power reduction algorithm is proposed. Structural similarity (SSIM) is a widely used metric to evaluate perceptual image quality between original and processed images in a display. The proposed algorithm linearly changes the curve for the gray-level mapping between the input and output considering the target SSIM value. It then modifies the SSIM equation based on the modified curve and extracts the solution, which is the slope of the curve, from the equation. Finally, the algorithm optimally controls image quality by changing the slope of the gray-level mapping curve. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm preserves image quality, regardless of image characteristics. In particular, the average SSIM and peak signal-to-noise-ratio values of the proposed algorithm were up to 0.021 and 11.203 dB higher than those of the benchmark algorithm. In addition, the average computation time of the proposed algorithm was up to 0.619 μs per pixel lower than that of the benchmark algorithm.
Isolation of Francisella tularensis by Centrifugation of Shell Vial Cell Culture from an Inoculation Eschar

ABSTRACT A 52-year-old man was admitted to the hospital following the development of an inoculation eschar and fever six days after being bitten by a tick. He was clinically diagnosed as suffering from rickettsiosis. Eschar biopsy cultures on standard bacteriological media remained sterile. However, inoculation of cells with the homogenized specimen by the centrifugation-shell vial technique (M. Marrero and D. Raoult, Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 40:197–199, 1989) resulted in the recovery of a bacterium. Determination of the sequence of the 16S rRNA gene amplified from the organism and comparison of the sequence to other sequences identified it as a strain of Francisella tularensis, whereas the specific serology was still negative. Our findings demonstrate that the centrifugation-cell culture, which is a tool for investigation of tick-transmitted diseases, may have the potential to serve as a method for the cultural isolation of F. tularensis.
Prompt constrained natural language-evolving the next generation of telephony services

The paper describes the design and development of an automated car reservation system using large vocabulary natural language speech recognition. Reservations were made over the public switched telephone network by calling an 800 number from anywhere in the United States, and car availability checked in real-time with a major international car rental company. This system was designed to support first time users without requiring extensive written instructions, using current state-of-the art product-grade speech recognition technology. A prompt constrained natural language (PCNL) paradigm was used to encourage users to respond within the constraints of the recognition technology. The results of an extended technology trial demonstrate the viability of services using automatic speech recognition to support transaction processing services. The extension of this technology to new domains is described.
Large-area YBCO films on sapphire for microwave applications

Crack-free thick YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ films are prepared on CeO/sub 2/ buffered r-cut sapphire (2 inch in diameter) with thickness up to 700 nm, smooth surfaces ('peak-to-valley' roughness <10 nm), high critical currents (J/sub c/>2 MA/cm/sup 2/ at 77 K and 0 T) and low microwave surface resistance (R/sub s/(77 K)/spl ap/1.4 m/spl Omega/ and R/sub s/(4.2 K)/spl ap/110 /spl mu//spl Omega/ at 19 GHz), comparable to the best values reported for YBCO films on structurally better matched substrates. The improvement of the critical thickness of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ on structurally poorly matched sapphire from typically d/sub c//spl ap/250-300 nm to d/sub c/>700 nm is achieved by introducing defects which do not hamper the superconducting properties of the films. The modified film growth was reflected by slightly broadened rocking curves and an altered temperature dependence of R/sub s/. The thick YBCO films were able to handle high microwave power corresponding to magnetic field amplitudes (B/sub HF/) of at least 54 and 37 mT at 4.2 and 50 K (limited by the available power), and 17 mT at 77 K (often limited by quenches). The excellent high-power performance was achieved without any degradation of the samples despite frequent thermal cycling.
Pediatric Preclinical Testing Program (PPTP) – May 2012

In vitro testing: In vitro testing was performed using DIMSCAN, a semiautomatic fluorescencebased digital image microscopy system that quantifies viable (using fluorescein diacetate [FDA]) cell numbers in tissue culture multiwell plates [1]. Cells were incubated in the presence of drug for 96 hours. Mean fluorescence values were determined for each concentration tested and then normalized to the mean control fluorescence for the line to determine relative mean fluorescence values. For analysis of in vitro testing results, a non-linear regression, sigmoidal dose-response model was fitted using GraphPad Prism 5.03 to the relative mean fluorescence values vs. the log-transformed concentration (X) for the in vitro PPTP study data:
Performance of the Tristan Computer Control Network

An N-to-N token ring network of twenty-four minicomputers controls the TRISTAN accelerator complex. The computers are linked by optical fiber cables with 10 Mbps transmission speed. The software system is based on the NODAL, a multi-computer interpreter language developed at CERN SPS. Typical messages exchanged between computers are NODAL programs and NODAL variables transmitted by the EXEC and the REMIT commands. These messages are exchanged as a cluster of packets whose maximum size is 512 bytes. At present, eleven minicomputers are connected to the network and the total length of the ring is 1.5 km. In this condition, the maximum attainable throughput is 980 kbytes/s. The response of a pair of an EXEC and a REMIT transactions which transmit a NODAL array A and one line of program `REMIT A' and immediately remit the A is measured to be 95+0.039x ms, where x is the array size in byte. In ordinary accelerator operations, the maximum channel utilization is 2%, the average packet length is 96 bytes and the transmission rate is 10 kbytes/s.
Recollections of Arthur Kornberg (1918-2007) and the beginning of the Stanford Biochemistry Department.

Arthur Kornberg died on October 26, 2007. He was one of the most remarkable scientists of our time. His discovery of DNA polymerase I (Bessman et al. 1958; Lehman et al. 1958a) and his demonstration that it faithfully copies the base sequence of a template DNA strand (Lehman et al. 1958b) led to his being awarded the Nobel Prize immediately in 1959. Earlier, the prevailing view was that enzymes function in directing a cell’s metabolism and in producing the energy a cell needs, while DNA synthesis is part of the mystery of life. In a Cold Spring Harbor Symposium paper on the structure of DNA (Watson and Crick 1953), the authors stated, ‘‘It is not obvious to us whether a special enzyme would be required to carry out the polymerization or whether the existing helical single chain could effectively act as an enzyme. ’’ Arthur’s work with DNA polymerase I changed all this, placing selfreplication of genes on an equal biochemical footing with energy metabolism and putting an end to vitalism. His discovery launched a new gold rush, pointing the way as scientists raced to find enzymes like RNA polymerase, which copies the sequence of a DNA strand into RNA, and restriction enzymes, which turned out to be specific DNA endonucleases. Arthur was born on March 3, 1918. He came from a Jewish immigrant working-class family. His father had no formal education but could speak at least six languages. Arthur was precocious and graduated from the Abraham Lincoln High School in New York at age 15. When he graduated from City College of New York at age 19, he received the best science degree in his class. In college, he worked evenings, weekends, and holidays selling men’s clothing, and he saved enough to pay for the first two years of medical school at the University of Rochester. Arthur has described his story and his accidental entry into research work in an Annual Reviews chapter (Kornberg 1989a). As a medical student, he was intrigued to find symptoms of a mild jaundice in himself, which proved to be Gilberts syndrome, a difficulty in metabolizing bilirubin. His paper describing a survey of people with this slight metabolic disorder was read by Rolla Dyer, the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and this led to his being recalled to the NIH from sea duty in the Public Health Service in 1942. Arthur’s first research involved searching for missing nutritional factors in a synthetic diet fed to rats. He was converted to searching instead for enzymes while doing postdoctoral work in 1946 with Severo Ochoa at New York University. He became a passionate advocate of using enzymes to deconstruct how cells work. His creed was simple and positive: ‘‘If a cell can do it, then a biochemist can do it and I can do it. ’’ His book about his scientific career was named ‘‘For the Love of Enzymes’’ (Kornberg 1989b), and he wrote guidelines for beginners on the ‘‘Ten Commandments’’ of using enzymes to dissect biological processes (Kornberg 2000).
Design of millimeter-wave bandpass filters with /spl lambda//sub g//4 short stubs using GaAs surface micromachining

In this paper, millimeter-wave bandpass filters with /spl lambda//sub g//4 short stubs by surface micromachining on GaAs substrate are presented. This filter show flexible bandwidth with the variation of the position of the short stub using the external quality factor, Q/sub e/ without changing the impedance value at millimeter-wave range. The bandpass filters can be realized with wide (50 %) and narrow (10 %) bandwidth just by adjusting the position of the short stubs. They show the insertion losses of 2.3 dB and 6.8 dB, and the return losses of 15 dB and 16 dB at the center frequency 60 GHz, respectively.
Variation of mesenchymal cells in polylactic acid scaffold in an osteochondral repair model.

OBJECTIVE To achieve osteochondral regeneration utilizing transplantation of cartilage-lineage cells and adequate scaffolds, it is essential to characterize the behavior of transplanted cells in the repair process. The objectives of this study were to elucidate the survival of mesenchymal cells (MCs). In a polylactic acid (PLA) scaffold and assess the possibility of MC/PLA constructs for osteochondral repair. DESIGN Bone marrow from mature male rabbits was cultured for 2 weeks, and fibroblast-like MCs, which contain mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), were obtained. A cell/scaffold construct was prepared with one million MCs and a biodegradable PLA core using a rotator device. One week after culturing, the construct was transplanted into an osteochondral defect in the medial femoral condyle of female rabbits and the healing process examined histologically. To examine the survivability of transplanted MCs, the male-derived sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene was assessed as a marker of MCs in the defect by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS In the groups of defects without any treatment, and the transplantation of PLA without cells, the defects were not repaired with hyaline cartilage. The cartilaginous matrix by safranin O staining and type II collagen by immunohistochemical staining were recognized, however the PLA matrix was still present in the defects at 24 weeks after transplantation of the construct. During the time passage, transplanted MCs numbers decreased from 7.8 x 105 at 1 week, to 3.5 x 105 at 4 weeks, and to 3.8 x 104 at 12 weeks. Transplanted MCs were not detectable at 24 weeks. CONCLUSIONS MCs contribute to the osteochondral repair expressing the cartilaginous matrix, however the number of MCs were decreasing with time (i.e. 24 weeks). These results could be essential for achieving cartilage regeneration by cell transplantation strategies with growth factors and/or gene therapy.
A polydiagnostic application of operational criteria in studies of psychotic illness. Development and reliability of the OPCRIT system.

• An operational criteria checklist for psychotic illness and computer programs designed to be used in conjunction with it constitute the OPCRIT system. This provides a simple and reliable method of applying multiple operational diagnostic criteria in studies of psychotic illness. The development of the OPCRIT system and an assessment of reliability are described. Diagnostic agreement between three raters is excellent. Item-by-item agreement, although less good, still achieves reasonable reliability despite the problem of low base rates for some items.
Brazilian Population Data on the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Loci LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8, and Gc

Gene and genotype frequencies in relation to the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), glycophorin A (GYPA), hemoglobin G gammaglobin (HBGG), D7S8, and group specific component (Gc) loci were determined in a sample of 344 unrelated individuals (250 whites and 94 mulattoes) living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. DNA was extracted from 5 mL of peripheral blood obtained from each of the 344 volunteers by the salting-out procedure. Polymerase chain reaction and reverse dot-blot analysis were performed with the Amplitype PM PCR Amplification and Typing Kit (Polymarker Multiplex; Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) under conditions recommended by the manufacturer. Estimated allele frequencies in the white sample were in the usual range of that of other United States and European population groups. In any case, genotype distributions for these loci did not deviate significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium proportions. Only 1 marginally significant (0.01 <P < 0.05) association, between loci HBGG and Gc, was detected in our mulatto sample out of a total of 20 possible pairwise comparisons of the 5 loci for both data sets. Allele frequencies were significantly different (P < 0.001) at the HBGG and Gc loci when the white and mulatto samples were compared. Biologic relationship exclusion probabilities (test powers) were calculated for the data. A Brazilian database has thus been established for the loci LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8, and Gc, 5 polymerase chain reaction-based loci systems that have been shown to be a useful tool for biologic relationship identification and exclusion.
‘It’s just a way of approaching things now’: staff perspectives of an anticipatory care programme in Edinburgh

Background. Keep Well, an anticipatory care programme aimed at reducing health inequalities in Scotland, commenced in 2006. There is currently little evidence exploring how frontline staff respond to the delivery of anticipatory care. Aim. To understand how staff view changes in practice resulting from the implementation of Keep Well. Methods. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposively selected sample of 12 Keep Well staff. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results. Keep Well was viewed positively, especially in terms of increased knowledge and skills for staff and the benefits of a holistic health check to patients. Staff believed that Keep Well has improved their practice beyond the project. Concerns were raised, relating to potential inconveniences for patients, staff turnover, increased workload and procedures. There was a view that anticipatory care should continue to be delivered to deprived communities, provided that there are adequate resources, such as staff and funding, to do so. Conclusion. Keep Well staff believe that the project should continue to be offered as a 40-minute holistic health check targeted at patients in deprived areas.
Pull attributes of the Algarve: the tourists’ view

ABSTRACT The Algarve is an internationally recognized tourist destination. The identification by tourists of the most valued attributes of this destination helps to explain the touristic demand for the Algarve. As such, the aim of this paper is twofold: to understand how tourists’ socio-demographic profile influences their assessment of the main pull attributes of the Algarve, and to understand how such assessment affects the length of stay. Data were collected using a face-to-face questionnaire survey of 554 recently arrived tourists. Our results generally support previous findings. However, two results are unexpected: (1) despite “sun and beach” being the most valued attribute of the Algarve, more educated tourists value the attribute in a complementary manner with other attributes; and (2) first-time tourists from northern European countries are less impressed with the attributes of the Algarve, and, consequently, stay for shorter periods of time compared with other tourists.