Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nationalization or Privatization? The Fragmentation of the Mainstream

The 2008 global crisis brought about curiously inconsistent changes in state ownership: asset sales by governments and purchases of private stocks increased sharply and simultaneously. These concurrent instances of nationalization and privatization, on a major scale in historical terms, deserve attention. The paper examines why both now seem appropriate tools for crisis management in Europe and in the USA. It also estimates the scale of changes after 2008. The author argues that the rapid alternation, including parallel applications and mixed, ‘silent’ forms of nationalization and privatization, reflects ambiguity in political, theoretical and popular views. The uncertainty far exceeds ownership issues to include the role of the state in general, revealing fragmentation of measures in each direction: neither nationalization nor privatization has been based on any integrated, defined paradigm of economic policy.
Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with all-trans-retinoic Acid and anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

PURPOSE We analyzed the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MNs) in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in first complete remission (CR). PATIENTS AND METHODS From 1996 to 2008, 1,025 patients with APL were enrolled onto three sequential trials (LPA96, LPA99, and LPA2005) of the Programa Español para el Tratamiento de Enfermedades Hematológicas and received induction and consolidation therapy with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracycline-based chemotherapy. RESULTS Seventeen of 918 patients who achieved CR developed t-MN (10 with < 20% and seven with > or = 20% of bone marrow blasts) after a median of 43 months from CR. Partial and complete deletions of chromosomes 5 and 7 (nine patients) and 11q23 rearrangements (three patients) were the most common cytogenetic abnormalities. Overall, the 6-year cumulative incidence of t-MN was 2.2%, whereas in low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients, the 6-year incidence was 5.2%, 2.1%, and 0%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified age more than 35 years and lower relapse risk score as independent prognostic factors for t-MN. The median overall survival time after t-MN was 10 months. CONCLUSION t-MN is a relatively infrequent, long-term, and severe complication after first-line treatment for APL with ATRA and anthracycline-based regimens. Therapeutic strategies to reduce the incidence of t-MN are warranted.
Blood lead levels among children of lead-exposed workers: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND To further assess the utility of targeted blood lead screening for children from households with members having occupational lead exposures, we conducted a meta-analysis of all available reports of take-home lead exposures. Our objective was to estimate the blood lead levels among U.S. children (ages 1-5) from households with lead-exposed workers. METHODS Reports considered for inclusion were cited in Medline, Toxline, Excerpta Medica, and Bio-Med plus all unpublished reports available at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health through 1994. The a priori criteria for inclusion of U.S. reports required their having data on: (1) venous blood lead levels for children, (2) children's ages, (3) data for at least five children, (4) workers' occupations, (5) workers' blood lead levels, and (6) data collection methods. RESULTS Based on a meta-analysis of 10 reports from 1987 through 1994, the children (n=139) of lead-exposed workers (n=222) had a geometric mean blood lead level of 9.3 microg/dL compared to a U.S. population geometric mean of 3.6 microg/dL (P=0.0006). Also in this group, 52% of the children had blood lead levels (BLLs) >/= 10 microg/dL compared to 8.9% in the U.S. (P=.0010), and 21% of the children had BLLs >/= 20 microg/dL compared to 1.1% in the U.S. (P=. 0258). CONCLUSIONS We estimate, based on 1981-83 survey data, that there are about 48,000 families with children under six living with household members occupationally exposed to lead. If the findings from this meta-analysis (admittedly limited by small numbers) are generalizable, about half of the young children in these families may have BLLs >/= 10 microg/dL. Data were too sparse to determine if children of workers with elevated blood leads were at greater risk than children whose parents were only known to be lead exposed. Our findings support the position that children of lead-exposed workers should be targeted for blood lead screening. Am. J. Ind. Med. 36:475-481, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Training failure among yearling horses.

OBJECTIVE To compare financial returns between pinhooked yearling horses (ie, bought and trained for approximately 5 months with the goal of selling the horse at "2-year-olds in training" sales) that had mild or severe training failure and horses that had planned versus nonplanned training failure. ANIMALS 40 Thoroughbred pinhooked yearling horses. PROCEDURE During the period from September 1998 through and April 1999, 20 horses had mild training failure (1 to 11 days lost), and 20 horses had severe training failure (13 to 108 days lost). Horses were assigned to these 2 groups on the basis of frequency distribution (median) of days lost during training. Horses were also categorized on the basis of type of training failure (planned vs nonplanned training failure). The outcome of primary interest was financial return. Median financial returns were compared among groups by use of the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS Median financial returns for horses that had severe training failure ($1,000) were significantly different, compared with horses that had mild training failure ($24,000). Analysis of results also indicated that median returns were significantly different among horses that had planned training failure (-$2,000; eg, horses with radiographic abnormalities detected during routine prepurchase examinations that required surgical treatment, resulting in days lost during training), compared with horses that did not ($10,000). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Training failure has an economic impact on revenues in pinhooked yearling horses. Lameness, planned training failure, respiratory disease, and ringworm were common and important causes of training failure.
Advances in Brief Refinement of Regional Loss of Heterozygosity for Chromosome 11 p 15 . 5 in Human Breast Tumors I

The familial association of breast cancer with other tumors such as rhabdomyosarcoma that show loss of heterozygosity (LOH) for chromosome llp15 as well as limited analyses showing LOH for chromosome l ip in breast tumors suggests the presence of a pleiotropic tumor suppressor gene in this region. In order to test this idea, we analyzed DNA samples for 50 matched normal and tumor tissues from unselected breast cancer patients for LOH at loci throughout the chromosome 11p15.5 region. We found that 12.5% of informative cases showed LOH at HRAS1, 26.8% at TH, and 33.3% at both DI1S860 and HBB, providing genetic support for this hypothesis. In contrast to previous observations which excluded the involvement of 11p15.5 regions distal to the HBB cluster, our results indicate that the subregion between TH and HBB is a critical region in breast cancer. This region is identical to that identified for the clinically associated tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, and thus warrants intensive molecular analysis.
Finnish high-tech startups: How do national cultures and the global mindset play a role in their choices of international entry modes?

Research Objectives: This study is aimed at understanding the influence of national cultures and the global mindset simultaneously on Finnish high-tech startups’ entry mode choices in international markets. In order to address this problem, the study identifies the aspects of national cultures and the global mindset that drive the entry mode decisions in Finnish high-tech startups. In addition, the study aims to understand how these two factors influence the entry mode choices by describing in detail the reasoning process behind the decisions and the actual dynamics behind the entry modes chosen in the case companies. Methodology: This study is a qualitative multiple case study research. The empirical data for this research were mainly collected through five objective semi-structured thematic interviews with CEOs from five Finnish high-tech startups. The selected cases were prototypical ones with minimized exceptional features so that the findings can have the greatest generalizability. The informants were chosen for their thorough understanding of the companies’ business decisions. Additional information was also collected through the companies’ websites and blogs. The data were interpreted using different analysis techniques. Findings: The findings of this study show that national cultures and the global mindset simultaneously have impacts on Finnish high-tech startups’ entry mode choices, but not in a linear pattern. It is suggested that differences in national cultures drove the case companies to choose contractual agreement as their entry mode even when the managers are internationally experienced in the target markets. The global mindset of the managers resulted in establishing wholly owned subsidiary even in culturally distant countries. Joint venture was not used and export was employed by only two of the case companies. The findings also suggest the important roles of product and industry specifics in Finnish high-tech startups’ entry mode decisions. Product specifics that require confidentiality prevent the use of joint venture and partially lead to wholly owned subsidiary or export with the presence of national culture differences and the global mindset. Industry specifics that either facilitate direct meeting with customers or eliminate the need of face-to-face meeting also allow startups to use export as an entry mode.
Intraoviductal introduction of plasmid DNA and subsequent electroporation for efficient in vivo gene transfer to murine oviductal epithelium

Various growth factors and proteins produced by oviductal cells have been demonstrated to interact with developing embryos. However, little is known concerning the function of mammalian oviducts at the molecular biological level. This may be partly due to lack of efficient gene transfer to oviductal cells. In this study, we developed an efficient method for transfection of oviductal epithelium using in vivo electroporation (EP) in mice. One microliter of solution containing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression plasmid (0.5 μg) and 0.05% trypan blue (TB) were directly introduced into the ampulla of the eCG‐hCG‐treated B6C3F1 females at embryonic day (E) 0.6 of pregnancy (corresponding to 14:00–15:00 of the day the plug was recognized). The entire oviduct was then electroporated using tweezer‐type electrodes attached to a T820 electroporator (BTX Genetronics, Inc., San Diego, CA) with eight square‐wave pulses, 50 V in strength and 50 msec in duration. On E 3.4, embryos at morula/early blastocyst stages were collected and their number, morphology, and EGFP‐derived fluorescence recorded. Fluorescence in oviducts was also examined. In some cases, these fluorescent oviducts were subjected to cryostat sectioning. Strong fluorescence was observed in some of the oviductal epithelia, with a maximum level of 36%. Neither the number nor morphology of the collected embryos was affected by EP. Some embryos possessed fluorescence in the blastocoel, but not cytoplasm, suggesting incorporation of EGFP present in the oviductal luminal fluid. This system may enable development of new factors regulating development of preimplantation embryos and offers the prospect of a new approach to understanding oviductal function. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of interferon on human papillomaviruses associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Summary. A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, trial of leucocyte interferon showed that, contrary to previous reports, interferon had no significant effect on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) when applied topically in a geld. DNA hybridization of cervical scrapes was used to monitor the effect of interferon on the human papillomaviruses (HPV) associated with CIN. There was, however, no significant difference in the expression of HPV 6 or 16 in the cervical epithelium of patients treated with interferon compared with those given a placebo. By using superficial cells scraped from the surface of the cervical epithelium as a source of DNA for viral studies, we were able to investigate the relation between HPV and CIN without interfering withthe natural history of the disease. HPV 16 was detected in lesions which persisted while HPV 6 only was detected in one lesion that regressed. Regression was clearly associated with reduction in the number of copies of viral DNA per cell in this case. Dual infection with HPV types 6 and 16 were recorded in two patients with persistent lesions. In one patient, hybridization studies indicated that infectionwith HPV 16 could have occurred after infection with type 6 was established, and it is postulated that this may have changed the nature of the cervical lesion.
Peptide Bond Formation in Nonribosomal Peptide Biosynthesis

Recently, considerable insight has been gained into the modular organization and catalytic properties of nonribosomal peptide synthetases. However, molecular and biochemical aspects of the condensation of two aminoacyl substrates or a peptidyl and an aminoacyl substrate, leading to the formation of a peptide bond, have remained essentially impenetrable. To investigate this crucial part of nonribosomal peptide synthesis, an in vitro assay for a dipeptide formation was developed. Two recombinant holomodules, GrsA (PheATE), providing d-Phe, and a C-terminally truncated TycB, corresponding to the first, l-Pro-incorporating module (ProCAT), were investigated. Upon combination of the two aminoacylated modules, a fast reaction is observed, due to the formation of the linear dipeptided-Phe-l-Pro-S-enzyme on ProCAT, followed by a noncatalyzed release of the dipeptide from the enzyme. The liberated product was identified by TLC, high pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, 1H and 13C NMR, and comparison with a chemically synthesized standard to be the expectedd-Phe-l-Pro diketopiperazine. Further minimization of the two modules was not possible without a loss of transfer activity. Likewise, a mutation in a proposed active-site motif (HHXXXDG) of the condensation domain giving ProCAT(H147V), abolished the condensation reaction. These results strongly suggest the condensation domain to be involved in the catalysis of nonribosomal peptide bond formation with the histidine 147 playing a catalytic role.
Combined use of stent angioplasty and mechanical thrombectomy for acute tandem internal carotid and middle cerebral artery occlusion

Purpose Tandem internal carotid and middle cerebral artery occlusion carries a grave prognosis, with intravenous and intra-arterial thrombolytics having low efficacy. Currently, endovascular therapy is a promising means for treatment in which the proximal carotid lesion can be treated with angioplasty and stenting, whilst mechanical thrombectomy can be used for the treatment of the distal occlusion. Two approaches can be used – the antegrade (proximal-to-distal) approach or the retrograde (distal-to-proximal) approach, although there has not yet been any consensus on which is the better approach. Case report We present two patients with tandem occlusions, one treated using the antegrade and one using the retrograde approach, with different revascularization outcomes, despite having similar functional outcome on follow-up. Conclusion The combined use of stent angioplasty and mechanical thrombectomy can be used to treat tandem occlusions, and with procedural modifications, the antegrade approach may more easily achieve technical success.
Combining fuzzy logic and level set methods for 3D MRI brain segmentation

We propose to segment volumetric brain structures with a level set method including a fuzzy decision in the design of the evolution force. The role of fuzzy logic is to fuse gradient-based and region-based information into a single force term, to take advantage of their properties. The gradient-based approach increases the level set speed in high-contrasted areas, whereas the region-based approach is useful to treat nonhomogeneous tissues and areas of complex shapes, on which borders do not appear clearly. This fusion does not require any manually-tuned parameter to balance the respective influence of the gradient and region terms. We integrated this segmentation algorithm in a fully automatic succession of operations involving a registration step from known data to decrease the computation time. Experimental results on the MNI Brainweb dataset and on a database of real MRI volumes are presented and discussed.
The macro economy and irrigation agriculture in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa

The overall objective of this study was to develop a model capable of quantifying the economywide impacts of market risk and other exogenous factors, with specific reference to efficient irrigation water use along the banks of the middle and lower Orange River in the Northern Cape Province (NCP). The study is based on the second of two parts of a larger Water Research Commission (WRC) funded project, titled: “Market risk, water management and the multiplier effects of irrigation agriculture with reference to the NCP”. One of the sub-objectives was to simulate the effects of selected market change(s), i.e. a change in the world price of fruit, on the provincial economy as well as to quantify the economy-wide impact of selected regional shocks and structural changes. A second sub-objective includes recommendations on institutional responses that will increase effective water management for regions where irrigation agriculture makes a major contribution to the economy such as the NCP. The ability to quantify and/or simulate the economic-wide effects of different exogenous shocks or risk factors influencing agriculture and specifically irrigation agriculture therefore contributes to the group of already existing decision support systems available to role-players and decision makers in South Africa. In order to reach the first specific sub-objective, two sets of economic linkages between the micro and macro economic models were applied, i.e. one bottom-up or micro-to-macro and the other a top-down or macro-to-micro. The top-down linkage, utilizes the simulated results from a static
A Signaling Pathway Involving the Diguanylate Cyclase CelR and the Response Regulator DivK Controls Cellulose Synthesis in Agrobacterium tumefaciens

ABSTRACT The production of cellulose fibrils is involved in the attachment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to its plant host. Consistent with previous studies, we reported recently that a putative diguanylate cyclase, celR, is required for synthesis of this polymer in A. tumefaciens. In this study, the effects of celR and other components of the regulatory pathway of cellulose production were explored. Mutational analysis of celR demonstrated that the cyclase requires the catalytic GGEEF motif, as well as the conserved aspartate residue of a CheY-like receiver domain, for stimulating cellulose production. Moreover, a site-directed mutation within the PilZ domain of CelA, the catalytic subunit of the cellulose synthase complex, greatly reduced cellulose production. In addition, deletion of divK, the first gene of the divK-celR operon, also reduced cellulose production. This requirement for divK was alleviated by expression of a constitutively active form of CelR, suggesting that DivK acts upstream of CelR activation. Based on bacterial two-hybrid assays, CelR homodimerizes but does not interact with DivK. The mutation in divK additionally affected cell morphology, and this effect was complementable by a wild-type copy of the gene, but not by the constitutively active allele of celR. These results support the hypothesis that CelR is a bona fide c-di-GMP synthase and that the nucleotide signal produced by this enzyme activates CelA via the PilZ domain. Our studies also suggest that the DivK/CelR signaling pathway in Agrobacterium regulates cellulose production independent of cell cycle checkpoint systems that are controlled by divK.
Simple Fall Criteria for MEMS Sensors: Data Analysis and Sensor Concept

This paper presents a new and simple fall detection concept based on detailed experimental data of human falling and the activities of daily living (ADLs). Establishing appropriate fall algorithms compatible with MEMS sensors requires detailed data on falls and ADLs that indicate clearly the variations of the kinematics at the possible sensor node location on the human body, such as hip, head, and chest. Currently, there is a lack of data on the exact direction and magnitude of each acceleration component associated with these node locations. This is crucial for MEMS structures, which have inertia elements very close to the substrate and are capacitively biased, and hence, are very sensitive to the direction of motion whether it is toward or away from the substrate. This work presents detailed data of the acceleration components on various locations on the human body during various kinds of falls and ADLs. A two-degree-of-freedom model is used to help interpret the experimental data. An algorithm for fall detection based on MEMS switches is then established. A new sensing concept based on the algorithm is proposed. The concept is based on employing several inertia sensors, which are triggered simultaneously, as electrical switches connected in series, upon receiving a true fall signal. In the case of everyday life activities, some or no switches will be triggered resulting in an open circuit configuration, thereby preventing false positive. Lumped-parameter model is presented for the device and preliminary simulation results are presented illustrating the new device concept.
Postdiagnosis Change in Bodyweight and Survival After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Background: Weight gain after diagnosis is common among women with breast cancer, yet results have been inconsistent among the few studies examining its effects on survival. Methods: We examined the effects of weight gain on mortality among a cohort of 1436 women diagnosed with a first primary breast cancer in 1996–1997, on Long Island, NY. Subjects were interviewed soon after diagnosis and again after approximately 5 years. Weight was assessed at each decade of adult life; 1 year before, at, and 1 year after diagnosis; and at the time of follow-up. Mortality through the end of 2005 was assessed using the National Death Index. Proportional hazards regression was used while using a selection model to account for missing data. Results: Compared with women who maintained their prediagnosis weight (±5%), those who gained more than 10% after diagnosis had worse survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.67; [95% credible interval = 1.37–5.05]). The effect was more pronounced during the first 2 years after diagnosis (>5% gain: all-cause mortality in the first 2 years, HR = 5.87 [0.89–47.8] vs. after 2 years, 1.49 [0.85–2.57]); among women overweight before diagnosis (overweight women: all-cause HR = 1.91 [0.91–3.88] vs. ideal-weight women, 1.39 [0.62–3.01]); and for women who had gained at least 3 kg in adulthood before diagnosis (≥3-kg gain before diagnosis: 1.80 [0.99–3.26 vs. <3 kg gain before diagnosis: 1.07 [0.30–3.37]. Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of weight maintenance for women after breast cancer diagnosis.