Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dietary fiber intake and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer defined by estrogen and progesterone receptor status—A prospective cohort study among Swedish women

There is few data on the association between dietary fiber intake and estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR)‐defined breast cancer risk. We evaluated the association between dietary fiber and ER/PR‐defined breast cancer risk stratified by postmenopausal hormone use, alcohol intake, and family history of breast cancer in the population‐based Swedish Mammography Screening Cohort comprising 51,823 postmenopausal women. Fiber intake was measured by food‐frequency questionnaire collected in 1987 and 1997. Relative risks (RRs) were estimated by hazard ratio derived from Cox proportional hazard regression models. During an average of 8.3‐year follow‐up, 1,188 breast cancer cases with known ER/PR status were diagnosed. When comparing the highest to the lowest quintile, we observed non‐significant inverse associations between total fiber intake and the risk of all tumor subtypes; the multivariate‐adjusted RRs were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.69–1.05) for overall, 0.85 (0.64–1.13) for ER+PR+, 0.83 (0.52–1.31) for ER+PR− and 0.94 (0.49–1.80) for ER−PR−. For specific fiber, we observed statistically significant risk reductions for overall (34%) and for ER+PR+ (38%) for the highest versus lowest quintile of fruit fiber, and non‐significant inverse associations for other subtypes of cancer and types of fiber. Among ever‐users of postmenopausal hormone (PMH), total fiber intake and especially cereal fiber were statistically significantly associated with ∼50% reduced risk for overall and ER+PR+ tumors when comparing the highest to the lowest quartile, but no association was observed among PMH never users. Our results suggest that dietary fiber intake from fruit and cereal may play a role in reducing breast cancer risk. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Credit channel of monetary policy in Japan: resolving the supply versus demand puzzle

The credit view is that a monetary tightening affects the real economy by shifting the supply schedule of bank credit left. While bank credit typically contracts following a monetary tightening, the financial contraction does not necessarily mean a shift of the supply schedule. Testing the credit view requires the identification of the shifts of the demand and supply schedules of credit. Using an original approach, this study shows that the credit view is supported for Japan. The credit view is, however, composed of two different views, namely the lending view and the balance-sheet view. While the balance-sheet view implies that the cutback of lending has no impact on the real economy, the lending view implies independent impacts of the cutback. Given the acceptance of the credit view, this study further attempts to test the balance-sheet view against the lending view.
Recouping after Coup-Proofing: Compromised Military Effectiveness and Strategic Substitution

ABSTRACT In order to counter the threat of a coup, states often undertake a number of strategies to “coup-proof” their militaries, such as creating institutional redundancy, severely limiting interbranch communications, and basing promotions on loyalty rather than merit. As a result of such policies, however, the fighting effectiveness of these armed forces is degraded, and the marginal return on military investment is greatly reduced. We argue that leaders who have coup-proofed their militaries undertake several substitution policies in order to offset their military weakness when faced with external threats. These policies include pursuing chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons and forging alliances. We find support for these theoretical predictions in quantitative tests on data with global coverage between 1970 and 2001.
CagA Antibodies as a Marker of Virulence in Chilean Patients With Helicobacter pylori Infection

Background The bacterial and host factors that influence the clinical outcomes of the Helicobacter pylori infection have not been fully identified. Cytotoxin-associated gene product (CagA), one of the virulence factors, has been associated with a more aggressive form of infection. The authors studied the relationship between CagA status and clinical outcome in Chilean children and adults with H. pylori infection. Methods One hundred eighty consecutive patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopic analysis were enrolled after informed consent was obtained. Rapid urease test and histologic analysis were used to detect H. pylori infection. IgA and IgG antibodies to H. pylori whole cell antigen preparation and IgG antibodies to CagA were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results H. pylori infection was detected in 42% of the patients by biopsy or urease test and in 38% and 20% of patients by IgG and IgA antibodies, respectively. The prevalence of H. pylori either by the invasive or the serologic tests was directly related to patient age. Among patients with H. pylori, there was no significant association between age and prevalence of CagA. Nearly 70% of the patients with H. pylori and peptic ulcer disease had CagA-positive strains. In contrast, only 49% of the patients with chronic gastritis alone had CagA-positive strains (P < 0.05). Conclusions In Chile, patients infected with H. pylori have a proportion of CagA-positive strains similar to that reported in developed countries. CagA prevalence was not significantly different in adults and children infected with H. pylori, suggesting that variations in clinical outcome may be related to host immune or environmental factors.
Nonparametric Estimation of Mean Willingness to Pay from Discrete Response Valuation Data

This article develops a nonparametric method to consistently estimate mean willingness to pay (WTP) in various discrete response valuation methods. The advantage of this method is that it can consistently estimate unconditional mean WTP with astonishing ease under some assumptions of the bid distribution. In addition, we develop a method for estimating the best linear predictor for conditional mean WTP using a linear projection. This method is applicable to single-bounded and double-bounded contingent valuation, and some forms of choice experiment. Copyright 2010, Oxford University Press.
CHFR hypermethylation, a frequent event in acute myeloid leukemia, is independently associated with an adverse outcome

The CpG island of the promoter region of the checkpoint with fork‐head associated and ring finger gene (CHFR), a mitotic checkpoint gene with tumor‐suppressor functions, is hypermethylated in various human cancers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of aberrant CHFR promoter methylation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in an attempt to improve prognostication. CHFR promoter methylation levels were analyzed in 358 newly diagnosed AML cases and 30 healthy donors by the use of quantitative methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction. In addition, we analyzed possible association between CHFR hypermethylation and hematological characteristics, chromosome abnormalities, genetic mutations, and survival. Hypermethylation of the CHFR promoter was observed in 24% (85 of 358) AML patients, but not in healthy individuals. CHFR hypermethylation correlated significantly with SRSF2 and DNMT3A mutations. Patients with hypermethylation exhibited lower overall survival and shorter relapse‐free survival than nonmethylated cases. In multivariate analysis, CHFR hypermethylation was an independent factor predicting poor overall survival but not relapse‐free survival. In conclusion, hypermethylation of the CHFR promoter, frequent in AML, is associated with adverse outcome, and can thus be used for risk stratification. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Predictors of Survival in a Huntington's Disease Population from Southern Italy

Background: The primary aim of the present study was to determine the survival rates and identify predictors of disease duration in a cohort of Huntington's disease (HD) patients from Southern Italy. Methods: All medical records of HD patients followed between 1977 and 2008 at the Department of Neurological Sciences of Federico II University in Naples were retrospectively reviewed and 135 patients were enrolled in the analysis. At the time of data collection, 41 patients were deceased (19 males and 22 females) with a mean ± SD age at death of 56.6 ± 14.9 years (range 18-83). Results: The median survival time was 20 years (95% CI: 18.3-21.7). Cox regression analysis showed that the number of CAG in the expanded allele (HR 1.09 for 1 point triplet increase, p=0.002) and age of onset (HR 1.05 for 1 point year increase, p=0.022) were independent and significant predictors of lower survival rates. Conclusions: We believe that these findings are important for a better understanding of the natural history of the disease and may be relevant in designing future therapeutic trials.
Role of calcium in gene delivery

The treatment of genetic diseases using therapeutic gene transfer is considered to be a significant development. This development has brought with it certain limitations, and the process of overcoming these barriers has seen a drastic change in gene delivery. Many metal ions such as Mg2+, Mn2+, Ba2+ and, most importantly, Ca2+ have been demonstrated to have significant roles in gene delivery. Recently, calcium phosphate alone, or in combination with viral and nonviral vectors, was found to exert a positive effect on gene transfer when incorporated in the colloidal particulate system, which is an advancing approach to gene delivery. This review elaborates on various successful methods of using calcium in gene delivery.
Forward Markets, Stock Markets, and the Theory of the Firm

This paper models a competitive financial market economy in which there are forward markets as well as stock and bond markets. Although there are separation theorems in the stock and forward markets literatures, this analysis shows that neither separation theorem survives in this integrated financial market economy. Next, the analysis shows that the separation results hold and are equivalent if the manager has an appropriate compensation package. Then the model is modified to allow for depreciation charges and tax credits. A positive theory of hedging is developed that shows that the corporation can preserve deductions and credits by hedging and so increase corporate value. THE THEORY OF THE firm under uncertainty has been developed along seemingly independent lines in the literature on stock market economies and the literature on forward market economies. There are some interesting parallels, but apparently no financial market model also incorporates forward markets. Some of the models in the two literatures may be viewed as extensions of the theory of the competitive firm under uncertainty developed by both Baron [1] and Sandmo [13]. In each literature, the firm manager's optimal production decision may be characterized as the production level at which expected price equals marginal cost plus a marginal risk premium. Each literature contains a separation theorem. In the stock market literature, we have the unanimity theorem, which shows that stockholders will agree on the optimal production level despite different probability beliefs and attitudes toward risk; in a competitive stock market economy, this result is equivalent to all stockholders agreeing that the firm should maximize corporate value. ' Since any competitive firm's manager finds it in his or her own best interests to maximize corporate value, despite his or her probability beliefs and attitude toward risk, the unanimity theorem is a separation theorem. In the forward market literature, we have a separation theorem that shows that any firm manager will select the production level at which the forward price equals marginal cost, again despite his or her probability beliefs and attitude toward risk.2 The purpose of this paper is to investigate the theory of the competitive firm in a financial market economy characterized by stock, bond, and forward markets. Although one might expect the separation results of the two literatures to survive this generalization, we show that they do not. We go on to show that,
High Dietary Fat Selectively Increases Catalase Expression within Cardiac Mitochondria*

Background: High dietary fat is linked to cardiac oxidative stress, however, little is known about the endogenous antioxidant response. Results: High fat feeding and fasting rapidly up-regulate catalase. Conclusion: Up-regulation of catalase is designed to protect mitochondria from oxidative damage while not perturbing H2O2-mediated signaling. Significance: Coupling fatty acid oxidation to H2O2 production creates a mechanism for sensing and communicating diet composition. Obesity is a predictor of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. One consequence of obesity is dyslipidemia characterized by high blood triglycerides. It has been proposed that oxidative stress, driven by utilization of lipids for energy, contributes to these diseases. The effects of oxidative stress are mitigated by an endogenous antioxidant enzyme network, but little is known about its response to high fat utilization. Our experiments used a multiplexed quantitative proteomics method to measure antioxidant enzyme expression in heart tissue in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. This experiment showed a rapid and specific up-regulation of catalase protein, with subsequent assays showing increases in activity and mRNA. Catalase, traditionally considered a peroxisomal protein, was found to be present in cardiac mitochondria and significantly increased in content and activity during high fat feeding. These data, coupled with the fact that fatty acid oxidation enhances mitochondrial H2O2 production, suggest that a localized catalase increase is needed to consume excessive mitochondrial H2O2 produced by increased fat metabolism. To determine whether the catalase-specific response is a common feature of physiological conditions that increase blood triglycerides and fatty acid oxidation, we measured changes in antioxidant expression in fasted versus fed mice. Indeed, a similar specific catalase increase was observed in mice fasted for 24 h. Our findings suggest a fundamental metabolic process in which catalase expression is regulated to prevent damage while preserving an H2O2-mediated sensing of diet composition that appropriately adjusts insulin sensitivity in the short term as needed to prioritize lipid metabolism for complete utilization.
The governance network of European football: introducing new governance approaches to steer football at the EU level

The authors of this article aim at introducing a new approach in the academic debate on governance failures in professional football. In recent years, political, legal and economic driving forces have led to the emergence of a governance network in European football. We state that this provides the European Union (EU) with the opportunity, if not the duty, to get a grip on the football sector through meta-governance. Further improvement of the network's democratic legitimacy through the enhancement of its democratic anchorage via the introduction of more openness, stakeholder participation and meta-governance by the EU should help the network to deal with the growing complexity of the football world. This way, governance networks in sport can be the solution to the governance failures in the sector, just like governance networks were the solution to many examples of government and market failures in modern society.
"To treat of the world": Paul Otlet's ontology and epistemology and the circle of knowledge

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to document how Paul Otlet, founding‐father of what is termed at present as “information science”, attempted to provide a complete “image of the world” (and reality in general) by establishing the scientific discipline he dubbed “documentation”. The paper also aims to focus on how Otlet represented human knowledge and reality in a systematic and unified way.Design/methodology/approach – A close reading of Otlet's primary works and some of his personal archives was undertaken.Findings – Most importantly, it is shown that Otlet's views on documentation were immersed in a cosmological, objectivist, humanitarian and ontological framework that is alien to contemporary information science. Correspondingly, his alleged affinity with positivism is reassessed.Originality/value – The philosophical foundations of the origins of information science are highlighted. Indirectly, this paper is relevant to the ongoing debate on realism and anti‐realism in information science.
Effect of a 3-hour interval between methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE This phase II study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of 3-h interval sequential methotrexate (MTX) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with leucovorin (LV) rescue in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS Forty-two patients with histologically confirmed metastatic colorectal cancer and at least one two-dimensionally measurable lesion, aged 30-74 years old, with performance status < or =2 and no or one prior chemotherapy were selected. Patients received sequential MTX 100 mg/m2 by bolus injection and 5-FU 600 mg/m2 at 3 h followed by LV rescue initiated after 24 h (15 mg per body every 6 h for six doses). The treatment was repeated every week or every 2 weeks until disease progression. All patients were treated as out-patients unless complications arose. RESULTS All 42 patients entered in this study were assessable both for response and toxicity. Fifteen patients achieved objective responses (one complete and 14 partial), for an overall response rate of 36% (95% CI: 11-51%). Response rates in pretreated patients and patients with naive chemotherapy were 27 and 42%, respectively. Sixteen patients had stable disease and 11 progressed with therapy. The median survival for all patients was 378 days. The hematological toxicity was mild with no grade 3/4 leukopenia. The major non-hematological toxicity was diarrhea (one grade 4, four grade 3). CONCLUSIONS This 3-h interval sequential MTX and 5-FU with LV rescue is an active regimen in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The treatment showed mild toxicity and was administered on an out-patient basis. The present findings suggest that this regimen warrants further investigation in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Trade Liberalisation and Export Performance in Transition: The Case of Georgia

type="main" xml:id="twec12207-abs-0001"> This paper examines export performance in Georgia in the process of transition from central planning to a market-oriented economy. Policy reforms undertaken with the support of the Bretton Woods institutions since the mid-1990s have made Georgia one of the most market-friendly economies among the Commonwealth of Independent States. However, the reforms have so far failed to transform the lopsided export structure inherited from the Soviet era in line with emerging opportunities for global economic integration. The orthodox liberalisation reforms are unlikely to improve export performance unless accompanied by concrete measures to redress supply-side constraints faced by export producers and to sustain their international competitiveness.
Do Privatization IPOs Outperform in the Long-Run?

"This paper investigates the long-run stock returns of privatization initial public offering (IPO) firms using a sample of 241 privatization IPOs from 42 countries during the period 1981-2003. We compare one-, three-, and five-year holding period returns of privatization IPOs to those of the domestic stock market indices and to size and size- and book-to-market equity ratio (BM)-matched firms from the same countries. Consistent with previous studies, we find that privatization IPOs significantly outperform their domestic stock markets in the long run. However, they show less consistent abnormal long-term stock performance relative to their size or size- and BM-matched benchmark firms. " Copyright (c) 2010 Financial Management Association International.
High-speed differential interconnection design for flip-chip BGA packages

With the advancement of semiconductor technologies, packaging interconnect becomes one of the bottlenecks in high-performance devices. The paper deals with high-speed differential interconnect commonly used in the flip-chip ball grid array (Fc-BGA) packages. Layout issues for differential interconnect are first discussed, and the emphasis is put on the investigation on the effects of the discontinuity consisting of via and solder ball on electrical performance. Overall electrical performance of one typical differential pair is characterized and -15dB return loss and -23dB isolation between neighboring pairs are achieved up to 10 GHz. The purposes of this paper are to design and optimize high-speed series differential interconnects used in Fc-BGA packages with the first-round success.
β‐arrestin‐ and c‐Src‐dependent degradation of G‐protein‐coupled receptor kinase 2

G‐protein‐coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) plays a key role in the regulation of G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs). GRK2 expression is altered in several pathological conditions, but the molecular mechanisms that modulate GRK2 cellular levels are largely unknown. We recently have described that GRK2 is degraded rapidly by the proteasome pathway. This process is enhanced by GPCR stimulation and is severely impaired in a GRK2 mutant that lacks kinase activity (GRK2‐K220R). In this report, we find that β‐arrestin function and Src‐mediated phosphorylation of GRK2 are critically involved in GRK2 proteolysis. Overexpression of β‐arrestin triggers GRK2‐K220R degradation based on its ability to recruit c‐Src, since this effect is not observed with β‐arrestin mutants that display an impaired c‐Src interaction. The presence of an inactive c‐Src mutant or of tyrosine kinase inhibitors strongly inhibits co‐transfected or endogenous GRK2 turnover, respectively, and a GRK2 mutant with impaired phosphorylation by c‐Src shows a markedly retarded degradation. This pathway for the modulation of GRK2 protein stability puts forward a new feedback mechanism for regulating GRK2 levels and GPCR signaling.
EFFECT OF MAXIMAL EXERCISE ON THE AUTONOMIC CONTROL OF HEART RATE DURING ORTHOSTATIC STRESS

Hypotension is a commonly observed phenomenon after acute maximal exercise. In some instances this can lead to lightheadedness and even syncope (1). The mechanism underlying this phenomenon has yet to be determined. Some studies have suggested that the baroreflex mechanism is altered and point to decreases in peripheral vascular resistance after a single bout of maximal exercise (2). It is possible that changes in the control of heart rate after exercise in some way contribute to the hypotension. One non-invasive way of determining autonomic input on the control of heart rate is the assessment of beat to beat changes in heart rate dynamics (3). By quanming heart rate dynamics with spectral analysis, sympathetic and parasympathetic control of cardiac function can be assessed (4). This technique has been used to investigate alterations in cardiovascular control for a wide variety of environmental stresses including altitude ( 5 ) and bed rest (6). In this study, spectral analysis was used to examine the effects of a maximal bout of aerobic exercise on the autonomic nervous system's control of heart rate during an orthostatic challenge. We hypothesized that the maximal exercise would reduce orthostatic tolerance and alter the autonomic control of heart rate. Altered autonomic functioning may help to explain syncopal episodes following exercise.