Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased P-35, EBI3 Transcripts and Other Treg Markers in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Breast Cancer Patients with Different clinical Stages.

PURPOSE Currently, cancer as a major problem around the world threatens human health and has a high incidence in developing countries. Many reports have indicated that patients suffering from cancer demonstrate decreased antitumor immune responses as well as a high prevalence of T regulatory population. It has been reported that Foxp3(+)Tregs exert suppression by cell contact-dependent mechanisms which are mediated by soluble factors such as immunosuppressive cytokines like IL-10, TGF-β and IL-35. Consequently there is a great need to identify prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers of regulatory T cells for vaccine and drug development. METHODS In this study IL-10, TGF-β, IL-35 and Foxp3 mRNA gene expression has been measured in peripheral blood of 40 breast cancer patients and 40 normal age-matched women using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method with Master Mix reaction containing SYBER Green. GAPDH gene was used as housekeeping gene. RESULTS Our data demonstrated a significant up-regulation of IL-10, TGF-β, P35, EBI3 and Foxp3 gene expression in patients' peripheral blood compared to normal healthy controls (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The data suggests that the immune system is suppressed in breast cancer patients, which may be due to elevated Treg cells population. These results may be useful for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. However it may require more investigations.
The effects of lifestyle interventions in dynapenic-obese postmenopausal women

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of caloric restriction (CR) and resistance training (RT) on body composition, metabolic profile and physical capacity in dynapenic-obese postmenopausal women. Methods Thirty-eight dynapenic-obese postmenopausal (age, 62.6 ± 4.1 y) women were randomly assigned to one of four groups (1, CR; 2, RT; 3, CR + RT; and 4, control) for a 12-week intervention. The independent variables were body weight, fat mass, and lean body mass (using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), waist circumference, fasting lipids and glucose, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and physical capacity (6-min walk, chair stand, and one-leg stand tests). Results Body weight, fat mass, and waist circumference decreased similarly in the CR and CR + RT groups (all P ⩽ 0.05). However, only changes in the CR + RT group were significantly different from the control group (all P ⩽ 0.05). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased in the CR group (all P ⩽ 0.05); whereas total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure decreased in the CR + RT group (P ⩽ 0.05). Physical capacity improved significantly in the RT and CR + RT groups (all P ⩽ 0.05), with significant greater improvements in the RT group (P ⩽ 0.05). Conclusions Our results suggest that CR with or without RT is effective in improving metabolic profile, whereas RT is effective in improving physical capacity. The combination of RT and CR may be particularly relevant in maximizing improvements in physical capacity in dynapenic-obese postmenopausal women.
Risk groups of myeloma patients by histologic pattern and proliferative activity.

We investigated the histologic pattern and the cell proliferative activity of myeloma cells by the analysis of the nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in bone marrow biopsy specimens from 150 multiple myelomas at diagnosis. The objective was an attempt to define risk groups of myeloma patients. On univariate analysis, the percentage of bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC%), the pattern of infiltration, the degree of plasma cell (PC) atypia, the marrow fibrosis, and the number of AgNOR/PC were correlated with survival time. On multivariate analysis, only AgNOR counts and pattern of infiltration retained independent prognostic significance. At 4-year followup, all patients with BMPC% < or = 20, interstitial pattern of invasion, and well-differentiated (G1) PC plus AgNOR/cell < or = 3.32 were alive, while no patient with BMPC% >50, diffuse pattern of infiltration, and poorly differentiated (G3) PC plus AgNOR/cell >5.15 survived (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, the histologic pattern and proliferative activity of myeloma cells, evaluated by AgNOR counts, are reliable predictors of survival in myeloma. Both parameters can be easily assessed in the same biopsy specimen, are reproducible, and permit identification of a group of patients with favourable outcome at 4-year followup. Thus, bone marrow biopsy should always be included in the diagnostic procedures for myeloma patients.
Pharmacology and clinical assessment of cariporide for the treatment coronary artery diseases

Myocardial protection through pharmacological approaches represents a large therapeutic challenge and is an important therapeutic strategy in patients with coronary artery disease, particularly after myocardial infarction. Extensive animal experiments have repeatedly demonstrated the efficacy of sodium-hydrogen exchange (NHE) inhibition as a potent cardioprotective approach. The heart possesses primarily the NHE1 isoform which has led to the development of NHE1 specific inhibitors for cardiovascular therapeutics. Cariporide (HOE 642) is the first of such agents to have been developed and subjected to clinical trial. Preclinical studies with cariporide revealed excellent protection against necrosis, apoptosis, arrhythmias and mechanical dysfunction in hearts subjected to ischaemia and reperfusion. Cariporide has recently been evaluated in a large dose-finding Phase II/Phase III clinical trial (GUARDIAN) to assess its efficacy in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Overall results failed to demonstrate protection but sub-group analysis revealed significant risk reductions with the highest cariporide dose (120 mg t.i.d.) especially in high risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. This suggests that insufficient dosage may have accounted, at least in part, for the less than optimum results. Another NHE1 inhibitor, eniporide, is currently in Phase II clinical trial (ESCAMI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) who are given angioplasty or thrombolysis. Although the study has not been completed interim findings appear positive. Both drugs were well-tolerated and produced no excess side effects compared with placebo. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of NHE1 inhibitors for the treatment of coronary heart disease, even so initial results are encouraging.
Comparing Tax and Transfer Systems: How Might Incentive Effects Make a Difference?

This paper compares a stylized version of a basic income flat tax system (BI/FT) with a means tested graduated tax system (MT/GT), with particular attention paid to potential labor supply effects of taxes. A highly simplified simulation model is developed in which individuals are homogeneous except for the wage they face, and there is a single means-tested benefit. In this model, moving towards universal benefits can raise labor force participation and such effects can outweigh the labor supply reductions of working taxpayers. The number of losers is found to be quite small relative to the number of winners. If a fully universal system is not adopted, a move towards it, by reducing the taper on means tested benefits at the expense of a higher tax rate, can lead to significant winners without losers. These findings do not appear to be sensitive to assumptions about the individuals' utility function defined over income and leisure. Copyright 2002 by The Economic Society of Australia.
Social Work's Partnership in Community-Based Stroke Prevention for Older Adults

Abstract Stroke prevention includes public education and community-based screenings to identify stroke risks. Even though more than half of all strokes are preventable, the incidence has increased in recent years and remains the leading cause of adult disability. Age is highly associated with stroke and twice as likely to occur with each decade after age 55. Risks fall into one of two categories. One category, such as obesity and high blood pressure, are controllable through behavior change and/or preventive medical care. The other category of risks, such as age or race, are not controllable. Stroke risks tend to occur in multiples that interact to heighten individual effects, thus, interdisciplinary methods to identify and reduce risk may be required. Social workers can play a key role in these partnerships. Social work's skills base in gerontology, psychosocial interventions, and empowerment through community organization are ideal for early intervention and behavior change. This article describes a collaborative community-based model for screening older adults for stroke risk and lessons learned from a three-month risk reduction follow-up.
Pestivirus NS3 (p80) protein possesses RNA helicase activity

The pestivirus bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) p80 protein (referred to here as the NS3 protein) contains amino acid sequence motifs predictive of three enzymatic activities: serine proteinase, nucleoside triphosphatase, and RNA helicase. We have previously demonstrated that the former two enzymatic activities are associated with this protein. Here, we show that a purified recombinant BVDV NS3 protein derived from baculovirus-infected insect cells possesses RNA helicase activity. BVDV NS3 RNA helicase activity was specifically inhibited by monoclonal antibodies to the p80 protein. The activity was dependent on the presence of nucleoside triphosphate and divalent cation, with a preference for ATP and Mn2+. Hydrolysis of the nucleoside triphosphate was necessary for strand displacement. The helicase activity required substrates with an un-base-paired region on the template strand 3' of the duplex region. As few as three un-base-paired nucleotides were sufficient for efficient oligonucleotide displacement. However, the enzyme did not act on substrates having a single-stranded region only to the 5' end of the duplex or on substrates lacking single-stranded regions altogether (blunt-ended duplex substrates), suggesting that the directionality of the BVDV RNA helicase was 3' to 5' with respect to the template strand. The BVDV helicase activity was able to displace both RNA and DNA oligonucleotides from RNA template strands but was unable to release oligonucleotides from DNA templates. The possible role of this activity in pestivirus replication is discussed.
Impact of Wind Electricity Forecasts on Bidding Strategies

The change in the generation mix from conventional electricity sources to renewables has important implications for bidding behaviour and may have an impact on prices. The main goal of this work is to discover the role played by expected wind production, together with other relevant factors, in explaining the day-ahead market price through a data panel model. The Spanish market, given the huge increase in wind generation observed in the last decade, has been chosen for this study as a paradigmatic example. The results obtained suggest that wind power forecasts are a new key determinant for supply market participants when bidding in the day-ahead market. We also provide a conservative quantification of the effect of such trading strategies on marginal prices at an hourly level for a specific year in the sample. The consequence has been an increase in marginal price to levels higher than what could be expected in a context with notable wind penetration. Therefore, the findings of this work are of interest to practitioners and regulators and support the existence of a wind risk premium embedded in electricity prices to compensate for the uncertainty of wind production.
Bacterial Accumulation at the Air-Water Interface

Accumulation at the air−water interface of four bacterial strains with different hydrophobicities was studied. To exclude system influences, both a static batch system and a dynamic system involving rising bubbles were used. All bacteria accumulated at the air−water interface in both systems. Generally, attachment to the air−water interface increased with bacterial surface hydrophobicity. Ac cumulation of two hydrophilic bacteria decreased with decreasing ionic strength, indicating that electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged bacteria and the negatively charged air−water interface influenced the attachment. No such influence was found for hydrophobic bacteria. The calculation of DLVO interaction energies revealed that additional attractive forces were needed to explain the observed attachment. Hydrophobic interactions were calculated on the basis of contact angles and were shown to promote the accumulation. A colloid−chemical approach combining DLVO interactions and hydrophobic interactions.
Does Beta Explain Global Equity Market Volatility - Some Empirical Evidence

The purpose of this study is to assess the diversification benefits resulting from international asset allocation. In this study, we examine Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) in its international ontext (ICAPM) using the monthly equity returns for 26 countries (18 developed and 8 emerging markets) between July 1996 and June 2011 and adopting the US investor’s perspective. We verify the beta-return trade-off employing two approaches: the unconditional trade-off and the conditional relationship. In this latter case, we find the country beta to be a significant variable explaining the cross-country variation of returns. Next, we test the degree of market integration in the light of the ICAPM. The results of this test indicate that country-idiosyncratic risks are generally not priced. In the subsidiary outcomes of our verification procedure, we argue that country betas are time-varying and that currently, global factors are the dominant source of equity market volatility. Consequently, the opinion regarding emerging market assets and their role in global portfolio management should be reconsidered. The results of the entire study may provide essential implications for fund managers because the decreasing international diversification gains have been identified.
Clinically applicable labeling of mammalian and stem cells by combining superparamagnetic iron oxides and transfection agents.

PURPOSE To label mammalian and stem cells by combining commercially available transfection agents (TAs) with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three TAs were incubated with ferumoxides and MION-46L in cell culture medium at various concentrations. Human mesenchymal stem cells, mouse lymphocytes, rat oligodendrocyte progenitor CG-4 cells, and human cervical carcinoma cells were incubated 2-48 hours with 25 microg of iron per milliliter of combined TAs and SPIO. Cellular labeling was evaluated with T2 relaxometry, MR imaging of labeled cell suspensions, and Prussian blue staining for iron assessment. Proliferation and viability of mesenchymal stem cells and human cervical carcinoma cells labeled with a combination of TAs and ferumoxides were evaluated. RESULTS When ferumoxides-TA or MION-46L-TA was used, intracytoplasmic particles stained with Prussian blue stain were detected for all cell lines with a labeling efficiency of nearly 100%. Limited or no uptake was observed for cells incubated with ferumoxides or MION-46L alone. For TA-SPIO-labeled cells, MR images and relaxometry findings showed a 50%-90% decrease in signal intensity and a more than 40-fold increase in T2s. Cell viability varied from 103.7% +/- 9 to 123.0% +/- 9 compared with control cell viability at 9 days, and cell proliferation was not affected by endosomal incorporation of SPIO nanoparticles. Iron concentrations varied with ferumoxides-TA combinations and cells with a maximum of 30.1 pg +/- 3.7 of iron per cell for labeled mesenchymal stem cells. CONCLUSION Magnetic labeling of mammalian cells with use of ferumoxides and TAs is possible and may enable cellular MR imaging and tracking in experimental and clinical settings.
A force control approach of robotic manipulators in non-rigid environments

In this paper, the application of an impedance control scheme to drive a robot with a desired force profile in the presence of non-rigid environments is considered. Fine force control obtained with the usual impedance based control schemes reveal some difficulties especially for non-rigid environments. Moreover, robot dynamic model and environmental uncertainties, can seriously affect the force tracking performance. In this paper, alternative control methodologies like predictive control and neural network compensation are used to design an impedance force control with an accurate force tracking performance. Thus, a predictive algorithm is designed to compute the virtual trajectory for the impedance controller. Further, the constrained acceleration produced by the impedance controller is compensated by an on-line neural network scheme in order to reduce the force errors. The performance of the proposed force controller is illustrated by simulation for a two degree-of-freedom PUMA 560 robot, which end-effector is forced to move along a surface on the vertical plane. Simulation results reveal an accurate force tracking performance for the proposed control scheme in the presence of non-rigid environments.
Social determinants of intra-regional dispersion of FDI in India

The foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy has imbued India’s once stagnant industrial sector with capital and job opportunity. However, as India’s GDP grows ever larger, there is a concern that the growth within the country is not evenly distributed and may in fact exacerbate current economic disparities. This paper seeks to look at potential avenues poorer states can take to attract FDI if they choose to as a method to stay competitive within the country. Our hypothesis is that measures such as power rating (as a proxy for infrastructure), literacy, and minimum wage would be highly significant related to inward FDI.
Velocity of Money in Post-Reform China: 1978–2011

Abstract This study examines the proximate determinants of velocity of money in post-reform China. The study confirms that China is still in the first phase (declining) of U-shaped velocity behavior witnessed in other industrialized countries. The empirical results also show that the decline in M2 velocity is more pronounced than that of M1 velocity, and that the long-run determinants of velocity are primarily influenced by transactions demand for money and to a lesser extent by alternative cost of holding money. Finally, the study brings into the focus of the increasing role of financial innovation in explaining velocity behavior of monetary aggregates in China.
Investment intermediaries in economic development: Linking public pension funds to urban revitalization

It is difficult for large investors, such as pension funds, to make investments in EDMs because they must make very large investments. The investments in communities of need, however, are usually small. The most successful strategy to overcome these two problems is for investors to work in concert with intermediaries that can aggregate the investments and community partners that understand both the need of communities and know how to tell “the story” to investors.
Extraction Sentence Extraction Sentence Translation MediaWiki API DBpedia Spotlight NLTK Google Translate Entity Annotation SentiWordNet Target Entity Sentiment AnalysisResult Analysis

In this paper we take an important step towards better understanding the existence and extent of entity-centric languagespecific bias in multilingual Wikipedia, and any deviation from its targeted neutral point of view. We propose a methodology using sentiment analysis techniques to systematically extract the variations in sentiments associated with realworld entities in different language editions of Wikipedia, illustrated with a case study of five Wikipedia language editions and a set of target entities from four categories.
Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants Among College Students: Associations with Attention‐Deficit‐Hyperactivity Disorder and Polydrug Use

Study Objective. To define, among a sample of college students, the nature and extent of nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NPS), including both overuse and use of someone else's drug, for attention‐deficit‐hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); to characterize NPS among individuals not medically using a prescription stimulant for ADHD; and to determine whether NPS and overuse of a medically prescribed stimulant for ADHD were independently associated with an increased risk of other illicit drug use and dependence on alcohol and marijuana.
Method-Shifting in Aggressive Earnings Reporting: The Case of the Us Software Industry's Response to New Us Regulation

Under rationality, firms should shift to alternative earnings management methods to achieve their earnings management goals whenever the alternatives provide greater benefit. New accounting regulation can alter the net benefit derivable from existing earnings management methods and thus may provide the impetus for method-shifting. This study investigates whether firms circumvent regulatory-imposed restrictions on their use of specific methods for accelerating earnings by shifting to alternative methods. Specifically, the study examines whether the US's adoption of a reporting standard that placed restrictions on the recognition of software revenue prompted US software-firm managers to method-shift to expense components for accelerated earnings reporting. A comparison of discretionary revenue and expense accruals and discretionary R&D expenses before and after the adoption of the standard confirmed a reduction of accelerated revenue recognition after the adoption and supported the hypothesized method-shift to expense components for accelerated earnings reporting. Copyright (c) 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Allocation of Decision and Ownership Rights in Franchise Relationships

Abstract In this paper we examine the allocation of decision and ownership rights in franchise relationships. By applying the property rights approach decision rights must be allocated according to the distribution of intangible knowledge assets (know-how) between the franchisor and franchisee, and ownership rights must be assigned to those who have the residual rights of control (residual decision rights). Consequently an efficient channel structure requires colocation of knowledge and decision rights and complementarity between decision and ownership rights to maximize the value of the franchisor's and franchisee's knowledge assets. Our property rights analysis derives two hypotheses concerning the decision and ownership structure in franchise relationships which are tested in the Austrian franchise sector. This study presents the first empirical evidence that the property rights structure of franchising is characterized by colocation of knowledge assets and decision rights and complementarity between decision and ownership rights.