Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preliminary and Incomplete – Comments Welcomed The Competitive Effects of Common Ownership : Economic Foundations and Empirical Evidence

A large fraction of US public stock is held by institutional investors that frequently hold shares in multiple firms in the same industry (“common ownership”). Concerns have been raised that common ownership might harm competition if it confers influence over important strategic decisions. Using data from the airline industry, we estimate the effects of common ownership on airline prices using price regressions and a structural oligopoly model consistent with the theory of partial ownership proposed in O’Brien and Salop (2000). Contrary to recent empirical research based on the same data, we find no evidence that common ownership raises airline prices.
3‐nitropropionic acid‐induced mitochondrial permeability transition: Comparative study of mitochondria from different tissues and brain regions

The adult rat striatum is particularly vulnerable to systemic administration of the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor 3‐nitropropionic acid (3NP), which is known to induce degeneration of the caudate‐putamen, as occurs in Huntington's disease. The aim of the present study was to compare the susceptibility of isolated mitochondria from different rat brain regions (striatum, cortex, and cerebellum) as well as from the liver, kidney, and heart to mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) induced by 3NP and Ca2+. In the presence of micromolar Ca2+ concentrations, 3NP induces MPT in a dose‐dependent manner, as estimated by mitochondrial swelling and a decrease in the transmembrane electrical potential. A 3NP concentration capable of promoting a 10% inhibition of ADP‐stimulated, succinate‐supported respiration was sufficient to stimulate Ca2+‐induced MPT. Brain and heart mitochondria were generally more sensitive to 3NP and Ca2+‐induced MPT than mitochondria from liver and kidney. In addition, a partial inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by 3NP resulted in more pronounced MPT in striatal mitochondria than in cortical or cerebellar organelles. A similar inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase activity was observed in rat tissue homogenates obtained from various brain regions as well as from liver, kidney, and heart 24 hr after a single i.p. 3NP dose. Mitochondria isolated from forebrains of 3NP‐treated rats were also more susceptible to Ca2+‐induced MPT than those of control rats. We propose that the increased susceptibility of the striatum to 3NP‐induced neurodegeneration may be partially explained by its susceptibility to MPT, together with the greater vulnerability of this brain region to glutamate receptor‐mediated Ca2+ influx. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genome chaos: Survival strategy during crisis

Genome chaos, a process of complex, rapid genome re-organization, results in the formation of chaotic genomes, which is followed by the potential to establish stable genomes. It was initially detected through cytogenetic analyses, and recently confirmed by whole-genome sequencing efforts which identified multiple subtypes including “chromothripsis”, “chromoplexy”, “chromoanasynthesis”, and "chromoanagenesis". Although genome chaos occurs commonly in tumors, both the mechanism and detailed aspects of the process are unknown due to the inability of observing its evolution over time in clinical samples. Here, an experimental system to monitor the evolutionary process of genome chaos was developed to elucidate its mechanisms. Genome chaos occurs following exposure to chemotherapeutics with different mechanisms, which act collectively as stressors. Characterization of the karyotype and its dynamic changes prior to, during, and after induction of genome chaos demonstrates that chromosome fragmentation (C-Frag) occurs just prior to chaotic genome formation. Chaotic genomes seem to form by random rejoining of chromosomal fragments, in part through non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Stress induced genome chaos results in increased karyotypic heterogeneity. Such increased evolutionary potential is demonstrated by the identification of increased transcriptome dynamics associated with high levels of karyotypic variance. In contrast to impacting on a limited number of cancer genes, re-organized genomes lead to new system dynamics essential for cancer evolution. Genome chaos acts as a mechanism of rapid, adaptive, genome-based evolution that plays an essential role in promoting rapid macroevolution of new genome-defined systems during crisis, which may explain some unwanted consequences of cancer treatment.
Fight or Flight: Managing Stigma in Executive Careers

We examine the labor market consequences borne by executives who remain at financially distressed firms relative to those who flee to another employer to avoid the stigma of failure. Our study makes two contributions. First, we document an ex ante dimension of executive labor markets unaccounted for by ex post settling up models. Specifically, we show that executives who ‘jump ship’—change employers in the two years prior to the failure—suffer fewer labor market consequences than their counterparts who remain with the failing firm. Second, we extend the study of bankruptcy stigma to examine how stigma might be managed by jumping ship. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chinese Cultural Values and Personal Referral Sources in International Education Choice

China offers the greatest growth potential for international education across the global markets. To better understand the motivations of students, a survey of 420 university students was conducted and results revealed that students who rated abasement and personal activity orientation as important values were more likely to find personal referral sources influential. Students who rated situation orientation and interdependence as important values were less likely to find personal referral sources more influential. However, there is no significant difference in authority, face, and group orientation. This suggests the complex role of Chinese cultural values in the process of globalization and industrialization.
Lysophosphatidic acid modulates the association of PTP1B with N‐cadherin/catenin complex in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells

LPA (lysophosphatidic acid) is a natural phospholipid that plays important roles in promoting cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastases. We previously reported that LPA induces ovarian cancer cell dispersal and disruption of AJ (adherens junction) through the activation of SFK (Src family kinases). In this study, we have investigated the regulatory mechanisms during the early phase of LPA‐induced cell dispersal. An in vitro model of the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 for cell dispersal was used. LPA induces rapid AJ disruption by increasing the internalization of N‐cadherin‐β‐catenin. By using immunoprecipitations, LPA was shown to induce increased tyrosine phosphorylation of β‐catenin and alter the balance of β‐catenin‐bound SFK and PTP1B (phosphotyrosine phosphatase 1B). The altered balance of tyrosine kinase/phosphatase correlated with a concomitant disintegration of the β‐catenin‐α‐catenin, but not the β‐catenin—N‐cadherin complex. This disintegration of β‐catenin from α‐catenin and the cell dispersal caused by LPA can be rescued by blocking SFK activity with the chemical inhibitor, PP2. More importantly, PP2 also restores the level of PTP1B bound to β‐catenin. We propose that LPA signalling alters AJ stability by changing the dynamics of tyrosine kinase/phosphatase bound to AJ proteins. This work provides further understanding of the early signalling events regulating ovarian cancer cell dispersal and AJ disruption induced by LPA.
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Vitamin C Iontophoresis in Melasma

Background: Vitamin C is known to both inhibit melanin formation and reduce oxidized melanin. However, vitamin C does not easily penetrate the skin. In this study, vitamin C iontophoresis was employed in order to enhance vitamin C penetration. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin C iontophoresis for melasma patients. Methods: Twenty-nine females with melasma were enrolled. For iontophoresis, a vitamin C solution was applied to one side of the face, while distilled water was applied to the other side as a control. The L (luminance) value was measured by a colorimeter to obtain an objective pigmentation parameter. Results: Twelve weeks after iontophoresis, the colorimeter of the treated site showed a significant decrease in the L value (from 4.60 to 2.78, p = 0.002), compared to that of the control site (from 4.45 to 3.87, p = 0.142). Conclusion: Vitamin C iontophoresis may be an effective treatment modality for melasma.
Autonomous Navigation of Mobile Robots Using Optimal Control of Finite State Automata

This paper presents a novel approach to autonomous intelligent navigation of mobile robotic platforms, which is based on the concept of language-theoretic discrete-event supervisory control. The proposed algorithm combines real-time sensor data and model-based information on motion dynamics into a probabilistic finite state automaton model to dynamically compute a time-varying supervisory algorithm. The performance and robustness of the autonomous intelligent navigation algorithm have been experimentally validated on Segway RMP robotic platforms
PRELIMINARY : COMMENTS WELCOME IDENTIFYING SOURCES OF INEFFICIENCY IN HEALTHCARE *

In medicine, the reasons for variation in treatment rates across hospitals serving similar patients are not well understood. Some interpret this variation as unwarranted, and push standardization of care as a way of reducing allocative inefficiency. However, an alternative interpretation is that hospitals with greater expertise in a treatment use it more because of their comparative advantage, suggesting that standardization is misguided. We develop a simple economic model that provides an empirical framework to separate these explanations. Estimating this model with data on treatments for heart attack patients, we find evidence of substantial variation across hospitals in both allocative inefficiency and comparative advantage, with most hospitals overusing treatment in part because of incorrect beliefs about their comparative advantage. A stylized welfare-calculation suggests that eliminating allocative inefficiency would increase the total benefits from this treatment by about a third. * Contact: Amitabh_Chandra@Harvard.EDU and Douglas.Staiger@Dartmouth.EDU. This research was funded by the National Institute of Aging (NIA) P01 AG19783-02. We thank Josh Angrist, Janet Currie, Joe Doyle, Mark Duggan, Amy Finkelstein, Jonathan Skinner, Heidi Williams for comments that have greatly improved our paper. We obtained access to the proprietary data used in this paper through a data use agreement between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Dartmouth Medical School. Readers wishing to use these data must obtain them from CMS, but programs and output are available from the authors.
Protection of macaques against vaginal SHIV challenge by systemic or mucosal and systemic vaccinations with HIV-envelope

Background:Worldwide, the majority of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections occur by heterosexual transmission. Thus, the development of a vaccine that can prevent intravaginal HIV infection is an important goal of AIDS vaccine research. Objectives:To determine which single or combination of systemic and mucosal routes of immunizations of female rhesus macaques with an HIV-1SF162 envelope protein vaccine induced protection against intravaginal challenge with SHIV. Design:Female rhesus macaques were immunized with an HIV-1SF162 envelope protein vaccine administered systemically (intramuscularly), or mucosally (intranasally), or as a sequential combination of both routes. The macaques were then challenged intravaginally with SHIVSF162P4, expressing an envelope that is closely matched (homologous) to the vaccine. Results:Macaques receiving intramuscular immunizations, alone or in combination with intranasal immunizations, were protected from infection, with no detectable plasma viral RNA, provirus, or seroconversion to nonvaccine viral proteins, and better preservation of intestinal CD4+ T cells. Serum neutralizing antibodies against the challenge virus appeared to correlate with protection. Conclusions:The results of this study demonstrate that, in the nonhuman primate model, it is possible for vaccine-elicited immune responses to prevent infection after intravaginal administration of virus.
Evolutionary path planning for autonomous underwater vehicles in a variable ocean

This paper proposes a genetic algorithm (GA) for path planning of an autonomous underwater vehicle in an ocean environment characterized by strong currents and enhanced space-time variability. The goal is to find a safe path that takes the vehicle from its starting location to a mission-specified destination, minimizing the energy cost. The GA includes novel genetic operators that ensure the convergence to the global minimum even in cases where the structure (in space and time) of the current field implies the existence of different local minima. The performance of these operators is discussed. The proposed algorithm is suitable for situations in which the vehicle has to operate energy-exhaustive missions.
Bacterial evolution and the cost of antibiotic resistance.

Bacteria clearly benefit from the possession of an antibiotic resistance gene when the corresponding antibiotic is present. But do resistant bacteria suffer a cost of resistance (i.e., a reduction in fitness) when the antibiotic is absent? If so, then one strategy to control the spread of resistance would be to suspend the use of a particular antibiotic until resistant genotypes declined to low frequency. Numerous studies have indeed shown that resistant genotypes are less fit than their sensitive counterparts in the absence of antibiotic, indicating a cost of resistance. But there is an important caveat: these studies have put resistance genes into naive bacteria, which have no evolutionary history of association with the resistance genes. An important question, therefore, is whether bacteria can overcome the cost of resistance by evolving adaptations that counteract the harmful side-effects of resistance genes. In fact, several experiments (in vitro and in vivo) show that the cost of antibiotic resistance can be substantially diminished, even eliminated, by evolutionary changes in bacteria over rather short periods of time. As a consequence, it becomes increasingly difficult to eliminate resistant genotypes simply by suspending the use of antibiotics.
Location Decisions of Italian Banks: Drivers of Expansion into Emerging and Transition Economies

Since the mid-1990s, internationally active banks around the world have pursued policies to expand their presence in emerging markets. Growing volumes of cross border banking activities have triggered a burgeoning literature on financial FDI, mainly focused on merits and pitfalls of foreign-bank presence. Yet, little attention has been paid to how that presence is established. This paper aims to explain banks' location choices into emerging and transition markets from the perspective of the Italian banks. Entry decisions are analysed using ordered probit regressions that model organizational forms to be dependent on several "push" and "pull" factors. The former apply to home country/sector characteristics motivating internationally active banks to expand their operations abroad. The latter refer to host country/sector features that amplify the attractiveness of domestic markets. The results validate most of the ex-ante expectations but pose some questions. Firstly, the "follow the client" strategy appears fairly important but clearly not sufficient to explain the actual broadening of foreign activities of Italian banks. Second, the lack of significance of the variables representing risk, apart from the M2 ratio, together with the relevance of the index of comparative advantage in institutional quality requires further analyses on the spillovers from international banking activities, especially during crisis periods.
Growth hormone prevents the development of autoimmune diabetes

Significance Although the relationship between endocrine and immune systems is well documented, few studies have been performed on autoimmune disorders other than those that are sex hormone-related. We studied a murine model of autoimmune diabetes, showing that growth hormone (GH) modifies the immune response to render diabetic mice resistant to disease development. The mechanism involves a GH-mediated effect on β-cell survival and/or proliferation and a direct effect on immune cells. GH triggers a cytokine environment that promotes anti-inflammatory macrophage polarization, maintains the activity of the suppressor T cells, and limits Th17 cell plasticity. This study provides evidence of the importance of endocrine control of immune functions and indicates that therapies based on GH analogs should be considered for treatment of autoimmune diabetes. Evidence supports a relationship between the neuroendocrine and the immune systems. Data from mice that overexpress or are deficient in growth hormone (GH) indicate that GH stimulates T and B-cell proliferation and Ig synthesis, and enhances maturation of myeloid progenitor cells. The effect of GH on autoimmune pathologies has nonetheless been little studied. Using a murine model of type 1 diabetes, a T-cell–mediated autoimmune disease characterized by immune cell infiltration of pancreatic islets and destruction of insulin-producing β-cells, we observed that sustained GH expression reduced prodromal disease symptoms and eliminated progression to overt diabetes. The effect involves several GH-mediated mechanisms; GH altered the cytokine environment, triggered anti-inflammatory macrophage (M2) polarization, maintained activity of the suppressor T-cell population, and limited Th17 cell plasticity. In addition, GH reduced apoptosis and/or increased the proliferative rate of β-cells. These results support a role for GH in immune response regulation and identify a unique target for therapeutic intervention in type 1 diabetes.
Satellite attitude estimation in a novel operational environment

Space missions require on-board sensors for computing inputs for control applications spanning orbit determination; guidance, navigation, and control; rendezvous and grappling; and determination of relative pose and angular rates. To achieve high performance Satellite applications, a detailed knowledge regarding the orientation of sensor packages relative to the core Satellite is required. An initial calibration of the sensing systems is performed on-ground to minimize the error sources in the signal processing that allows the sensor systems to recover mission critical data in real time. This work presents recent experimental work performed at Khalifa University Spacecraft Platform for Astronautic and Celestial Emulation (SPACE) Laboratory for calibrating hardware sensor platforms in an operationally relevant ground-based environment. Gaussian nonlinear differential correction is used to recover the critical system parameters.
Activin A in combination with ERK1/2 MAPK pathway inhibition sustains propagation of mouse embryonic stem cells

The Activin/Nodal/TGF‐β signaling pathway plays a major role in maintaining mouse epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs). The EpiSC‐maintaining medium, which contains Activin A and bFGF, induces differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to EpiSCs. Here, we show that Activin A also has an ability to efficiently propagate ESCs without differentiation to EpiSCs when combined with a MEK inhibitor PD0325901. ESCs cultured in Activin+PD retained high‐level expression of naive pluripotency‐related transcription factors. Genomewide analysis showed that the gene expression profile of ESCs cultured in Activin+PD resembles that of ESCs cultured in 2i. ESCs cultured in Activin+PD also showed features common to the naive pluripotency of ESCs, including the preferential usage of the Oct4 distal enhancer and the self‐renewal response to Wnt pathway activation. Our finding shows a role of Activin/Nodal/TGF‐β signaling in stabilizing self‐renewal gene regulatory networks in ESCs.
The N-terminal Region of Neuregulin Isoforms Determines the Accumulation of Cell Surface and Released Neuregulin Ectodomain*

Two neuregulin-1 isoforms highly expressed in the nervous system are the type III neuregulin III-β1a and the type I neuregulin I-β1a. The sequence of these two isoforms differs only in the region that is N-terminal of the bioactive epidermal growth factor-like domain. While the biosynthetic processing of the I-β1a isoform has been well characterized, the processing of III-β1a has not been reported. In this study, we compared III-β1a and I-β1a processing. Both III-β1a and I-β1a were synthesized as transmembrane proproteins that were proteolytically cleaved to produce an N-terminal fragment containing the bioactive epidermal growth factor-like domain. For I-β1a, this product was released into the medium. However, for III-β1a, this product was a transmembrane protein. In cultures of cells expressing III-β1a, the amount of neuregulin at the cell surface was much greater, and the amount in the medium was much less than in cultures expressing I-β1a. Phorbol ester treatment and truncation of the cytoplasmic tail had markedly different effects on III-β1a and I-β1a processing. These results demonstrate an important role for the N-terminal region in determining neuregulin biosynthetic processing and show that a major product of III-β1a processing is a tethered ligand that may act as a cell surface signaling molecule.
Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation using internally cooled wet electrodes for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using internally cooled wet electrodes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS From March 2008 to October 2010, 122 patients with 129 HCCs (mean size, 2.2 ± 0.6 [SD] cm; range, 0.7-4 cm) were treated with RFA using internally cooled wet electrodes. Primary technical effectiveness, the frequency of major complications, and local tumor progression rates were evaluated. RESULTS Two patients (2%) had major complications (liver abscess, significant pleural effusion) after RFA. When evaluated 1 month after RFA, the primary technical effectiveness rate was 99%. The 1- and 2-year local tumor progression rates were 8% and 12%, respectively. Additionally, there was no difference in effectiveness and complication rates between patients with subcapsular HCC and those with nonsubcapsular HCC. CONCLUSION Percutaneous RFA using internally cooled wet electrodes is safe and provides successful local tumor control in patients with HCC. The safety and effectiveness of RFA using internally cooled wet electrodes are comparable to those reported in the literature using conventional RFA electrodes and are similar for nonsubcapsular and subcapsular tumors.
[Preparation of genistein-loaded chitosan microspheres].

OBJECTIVE To optimize the preparation of genistein chitosan microspheres with central composite design (CCD). METHOD The chitosan microspheres were prepared by the O/W/O multiple emulsion method. Second-order polynomial and linear equations were fitted to the data, and the resulting equations were used to produce response surface graphs and the best experiment conditions. RESULT The theoretical drug content was 13%-15%, the concentration of organic phase was 30%-40% and the concentration of oil phase was 68%-72%. CONCLUSION The best experiment conditions can be obtained by central composite design and response surface methodology. The observed values agree well with model predicted values.