Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Europe's Fault Lines: Racism and the Rise of the Right

"An expansive investigation into the relationship between contemporary states and the far-right It is clear that the right is on the rise, but after Brexit, the election of Donald Trump and the spike in popularity of extreme-right parties across Europe, the question on everyone’s minds is: how did this happen? An expansive investigation of the ways in which a newly configured right interconnects with anti-democratic and illiberal forces at the level of the state, Europe’s Fault Lines provides much-needed answers, revealing some uncomfortable truths. What appear to be “blind spots” about far-right extremism on the part of the state are shown to constitute collusion—as police, intelligence agencies and the military embark on practices of covert policing that bring them into direct or indirect contact with the far right, in ways that bring to mind the darkest days of Europe’s authoritarian past. Old racisms may be structured deep in European thought, but they have been revitalised and spun in new ways: the war on terror, the cultural revolution from the right, and the migration-linked demonisation of the destitute “scrounger. ” Drawing on more than three decades of work for the Institute of Race Relations, Liz Fekete exposes the fundamental fault lines of racism an tarianism in contemporary Europe. "
The Water Fraction of Calendula officinalis Hydroethanol Extract Stimulates In Vitro and In Vivo Proliferation of Dermal Fibroblasts in Wound Healing

The active fraction and/or compounds of Calendula officinalis responsible for wound healing are not known yet. In this work we studied the molecular target of C. officinalis hydroethanol extract (CEE) and its active fraction (water fraction of hydroethanol extract, WCEE) on primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). In vivo, CEE or WCEE were topically applied on excisional wounds of BALB/c mice and the rate of wound contraction and immunohistological studies were carried out. We found that CEE and only its WCEE significantly stimulated the proliferation as well as the migration of HDF cells. Also they up‐regulate the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) in vitro. In vivo, CEE or WCEE treated mice groups showed faster wound healing and increased expression of CTGF and α‐SMA compared to placebo control group. The increased expression of both the proteins during granulation phase of wound repair demonstrated the potential role of C. officinalis in wound healing. In addition, HPLC‐ESI MS analysis of the active water fraction revealed the presence of two major compounds, rutin and quercetin‐3‐O‐glucoside. Thus, our results showed that C. officinalis potentiated wound healing by stimulating the expression of CTGF and α‐SMA and further we identified active compounds. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Requirement for Dicer in Survival of Proliferating Thymocytes Experiencing DNA Double-Strand Breaks

The Dicer nuclease generates small RNAs that regulate diverse biological processes through posttranscriptional gene repression and epigenetic silencing of transcription and recombination. Dicer-deficient cells exhibit impaired differentiation, activity, proliferation, and survival. Dicer inactivation in developing mouse lymphocytes impairs their proliferation and survival and alters Ag receptor gene repertoires for largely undefined reasons. To elucidate functions of Dicer in lymphocyte development and Ag receptor locus transcription and recombination, we analyzed mice with conditional Dicer deletion in thymocytes containing unrearranged or prerearranged TCRβ loci. Expression of either a preassembled functional TCRβ gene (Vβ1NT) or the prosurvival BCL2 protein inhibited death and partially rescued proliferative expansion of Dicer-deficient thymocytes. Notably, combined expression of Vβ1NT and BCL2 completely rescued proliferative expansion of Dicer-deficient thymocytes and revealed that Dicer promotes survival of cells attempting TCRβ recombination. Finally, inclusion of an endogenous preassembled DJβ complex that enhances Vβ recombination increased death and impaired proliferative expansion of Dicer-deficient thymocytes. These data demonstrate a critical role for Dicer in promoting survival of thymocytes experiencing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) during TCRβ recombination. Because DSBs are common and ubiquitous in cells, our findings indicate that impaired cellular survival in response to DSBs should be considered when interpreting Dicer-deficient phenotypes.
Gene expression profiling and its utility in prediction of local relapse after breast-conserving therapy in early breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Local relapse (LR) after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) is not accurately predicted by histological/clinical factors. Gene expression profiling was used here to discover LR-associated transcriptional alterations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Gene expression profiling was carried out of 81 early breast carcinomas obtained from 30 patients who developed a LR (LR(+)) after BCT and 51 who did not (LR(-)). LR(+) and LR(-) samples were matched for known LR risk features. RESULTS LR was not associated with a given molecular subtype. Supervised analysis identified a 212-gene signature, which was not validated in independent tumors. No gene set or biological pathway was differentially expressed between LR(+) and LR(-) groups. Twelve published prognostic expression signatures failed to distinguish these groups of carcinomas. The gene expression profiles of 9 cases of LR and the corresponding primary tumors were very similar despite the delivery of radiotherapy. CONCLUSION In this series, the onset of LR was not predicted by gene expression alterations.
Glucose Degradation Products in Peritoneal Dialysis Fluids: How they can be Avoided

♦ Objectives A patient on peritoneal dialysis (PD) uses 3 – 7 tons of PD fluid every year. The result is considerable stress on the peritoneal tissue. Aspects of PD fluids that have been considered responsible for bioincompatibility are low pH, high osmolality, high glucose and lactate concentrations, and the presence of glucose degradation products (GDPs). However, the relative importance of each factor in PD fluid has so far not been investigated. Discovering their relative importance was the aim of the present study. ♦ Methods Two main methods for investigating biocompatibility were used in this study: cytotoxicity measured as in vitro inhibition of cell growth, and in vitro AGE formation measured as albumin-linked fluorescence. ♦ Results The two most important factors for determining in vitro bioincompatibility of PD fluids were the presence of GDPs, which caused both severe cytotoxicity and strong AGE promotion, and low pH, which induced severe cytotoxicity. ♦ Conclusions The biocompatibility of PD fluids can be monitored through fairly simple in vitro methods such as cell proliferation and AGE formation. Bioincompatibility of PD fluids is caused mainly by the presence of GDPs and low pH. These findings correlate well with known clinical bioincompatibility.
Passive Stability Characteristics of Ankle Braces and Tape in Simulated Barefoot and Shod Conditions

Background Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in barefoot sport activities such as dance, gymnastics, or trampoline. At present, the use of external ankle devices for prevention of ligament injuries for barefoot activities remains unclear. Hypothesis External ankle devices have a significant loss of passive stability when used without a shoe in barefoot activities. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Twenty-five healthy subjects participated in the project (mean age, 26.2 ± 3.3 years; mean body mass, 71.2 ± 10.3 kg; mean height, 178 ± 7 cm). Passive range of motion measurements were performed with 3 different ankle stabilizers (a stirrup brace, a lace-up brace, and tape), as well as 2 different shoe conditions (cutout shoe [simulated barefoot] and normal shoe). Results In the simulated barefoot condition, a significantly reduced stabilizing effect for inversion and eversion (19% and 29%, respectively) was found for the stirrup ankle brace. Small decreases were noted with the soft brace and tape, but these were not statistically significant. Conclusion The passive stability characteristics of ankle braces depend to a great extent on being used in combination with a shoe. This is especially true for semirigid braces with stirrup design. Therefore, it is recommended that soft braces (like the one tested in the present investigation) be used in barefoot sports for restricting passive range of motion of the foot and ankle complex. Clinical Relevance This study provides useful information for clinicians to select or recommend an external ankle stabilizing device in barefoot sports to restrict passive range of motion of the foot-ankle complex most effectively.
Depleted skeletal muscle mitochondrial DNA, hyperlactatemia, and decreased oxidative capacity in HIV‐infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy

The nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), especially stavudine, may deplete mitochondrial (mt) DNA in human tissues by inhibiting the mitochondrial polymerase gamma, a setting, which is associated with hyperlactatemia. The aim of the present study was to examine whether hyperlactatemia is associated with depletion of skeletal muscle (sm)‐mtDNA and decreased oxidative capacity in HIV‐infected patients on NRTI based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and whether HIV infection itself is associated with sm‐mtDNA depletion. Sm‐mtDNA was determined in 42 HIV‐infected patients (35 patients on HAART including at least one NRTI (HIV‐NRTI) and 7 patients never treated with antiretroviral drugs (NAÏVE)) and 14 healthy controls. Whole body oxidative capacity (ΔGOX) was estimated in HIV‐infected patients by indirect calorimetry. Hyperlactatemia (≥2.0 mM) was detected in six HIV‐NRTI, who all used Stavudine (P < 0.01), displayed depleted sm‐mtDNA (P < 0.02) and decreased ΔGOX (P < 0.01) compared with normolactatemic HIV‐NRTI (n = 29). NAÏVE displayed decreased sm‐mtDNA (P < 0.05), increased HIV‐RNA (P < 0.01) and increased plasma TNF‐α (P < 0.05) compared to all HIV‐NRTI (n = 35), in turn displaying decreased sm‐mtDNA (P < 0.01) compared to healthy controls. Thus, hyperlactatemia in HIV‐NRTI may be associated with pronounced depletion of sm‐mtDNA, decreased oxidative capacity and current stavudine therapy. Further, HIV may deplete sm‐mtDNA of NAÏVE, which in part could be mediated through an enhanced pro‐inflammatory response. J. Med. Virol. 77:29–38, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Polarization of electromagnetic radiation a resource for predicting soil moisture

Abstract : This paper discusses the prediction model of soil moisture content (SMC). The purpose is to model SMC with respect to use segregation (useg), temperature, and the intensity of local solar radiation that causes polarization of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The objectives include using basic laws of radiation to assess how radiation intimately interacts with matter. The methodology consists of four method spaces dealing with: polarization of dielectric medium; hysteresis accounting for the rhythms of polarization and relaxation time; validation of temperature effects on polarization and medium susceptibility; and the nesting of the medium complex dielectric permittivity to its void capacity (n v) or the Boolean Space (BS). Solar radiation impinging on the soil a dielectric medium, is a form of EMR that generates mechanisms of charge displacement (polarizations). The study found that BS approach can adequately be a predictor resource under the ideal temperature.
Unemployment Insurance Eligibility and the Dynamics of the Labor Market

This thesis examines a number of issues regarding the Mortensen-Pissarides search and matching model’s empirical performance. Chapter 1 documents the volatility puzzle with the Canadian data. The combined data from both Canada and the United States present an additional difficulty. Even if the unobserved value of leisure is allowed to be as high as required to fit the business cycle in the United States or in Canada, the model cannot reconcile the similar labor cycles with the large policy differences in the UI benefits and income taxes in the two countries when the value of leisure is assumed to be the same in both countries. Chapter 2 takes into account the realistic institutional features of the UI system and investigates the impacts of the UI benefits on the labor market outcomes. If entitlement to UI benefits must be earned with employment, generous UI is an additional benefit to an employment relationship, so it promotes job creation. If individuals are risk neutral, UI is fairly priced, and the UI system prevents moral-hazard unemployed workers, the generosity of UI has no effect on
Acute cardiorespiratory responses in participants with heart disease during cycling at different immersion levels

Physical activity is often avoided or practised at a low‐intensity level because of the limited ability of patients with heart disease (HD) to provide sustained effort. Immersible training has been suggested as a possible alternative as hydrostatic pressure can modify some hemodynamic parameters in healthy patients and potentially increase the exercise capacity in patients with HD. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute cardiorespiratory adaptations at different levels of immersion using an immersible ergometer (IE) in patients with HD. Twenty‐one patients and 13 healthy controls (HC) participated in this study. Several cardiorespiratory parameters were assessed at two levels of immersion (hips and xiphoid) for five different pedalling rates (40, 50, 60, 70 and peak rpm). At submaximal intensity, HD and HC participants did not differ significantly for most variables. However, for nearly and/or maximal workload, HD participants showed significantly lower values for VO2 and higher values for VE/VO2 and VE/VCO2 for both immersion levels. The increase in immersion level from hips to xiphoid resulted in a significant decrease in VO2 in both HC and HD groups at the same exercise intensity. In addition, the increase in the effects of size values based on the exercise workload indicates that group differences are accentuated with the highest pedalling rates. Our data suggest that participants with HD may benefit from the hydrostatic effect during IE cycling by allowing them to alleviate their submaximal efforts and increasing their maximal cardiorespiratory capacity during hip immersion.
Effects of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation on Resting Metabolic Rate, Body Composition, and Maximum Strength in Postmenopausal Women: the Training and ElectroStimulation Trial

Kemmler, W, Schliffka, R, Mayhew, JL, and von Stengel, S. Effects of whole-body electromyostimulation on resting metabolic rate, body composition, and maximum strength in postmenopausal women: the Training and ElectroStimulation Trial. J Strength Cond Res 24(7): 1880-1887, 2010-We evaluated the effect of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) during dynamic exercises over 14 weeks on anthropometric, physiological, and muscular parameters in postmenopausal women. Thirty women (64.5 ± 5.5 years) with experience in physical training (>3 years) were randomly assigned either to a control group (CON, n = 15) that maintained their general training program (2 × 60 min·wk−1 of endurance and dynamic strength exercise) or to an electromyostimulation group (WB-EMS, n = 15) that additionally performed a 20-minute WB-EMS training (2 × 20 min·10 d−1). Resting metabolic rate (RMR) determined from spirometry was selected to indicate muscle mass. In addition, body circumferences, subcutaneous skinfolds, strength, power, and dropout and adherence values. Resting metabolic rate was maintained in WB-EMS (−0.1 ± 4.8 kcal·h−1) and decreased in CON (−3.2±5.2 kcal·h−1, p = 0.038); although group differences were not significant (p = 0.095), there was a moderately strong effect size (ES = 0.62). Sum of skinfolds (28.6%) and waist circumference (22.3%) significantly decreased in WB-EMS whereas both parameters (1.4 and 0.1%, respectively) increased in CON (p = 0.001, ES = 1.37 and 1.64, respectively), whereas both parameters increased in CON (1.4 and 0.1%, respectively). Isometric strength changes of the trunk extensors and leg extensors differed significantly (p ≤ 0.006) between WB-EMS and CON (9.9% vs. −6.4%, ES = 1.53; 9.6% vs. −4.5%, ES = 1.43, respectively). In summary, adjunct WB-EMS training significantly exceeds the effect of isolated endurance and resistance type exercise on fitness and fatness parameters. Further, we conclude that for elderly subjects unable or unwilling to perform dynamic strength exercises, electromyostimulation may be a smooth alternative to maintain lean body mass, strength, and power.
Diagnostic significance of narrow‐band imaging for detecting high‐grade dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and carcinoma in oral leukoplakia

To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the established patterns of intraepithelial microvasculature of narrow‐band imaging (NBI) in diagnosing upper aerodigestive tract neoplasm of the squamous epithelium for detecting high‐grade dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and carcinoma in oral leukoplakia.
A Novel Pathway of Chronic Allograft Rejection Mediated by NK Cells and Alloantibody

Chronic allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in murine heart allografts can be elicited by adoptive transfer of donor specific antibody (DSA) to class I MHC antigens and is independent of complement. Here we address the mechanism by which DSA causes CAV. B6.RAG1−/− or B6.RAG1−/−C3−/− (H‐2b) mice received B10.BR (H‐2k) heart allografts and repeated doses of IgG2a, IgG1 or F(ab’)2 fragments of IgG2a DSA (anti‐H‐2k). Intact DSA regularly elicited markedly stenotic CAV in recipients over 28 days. In contrast, depletion of NK cells with anti‐NK1.1 reduced significantly DSA‐induced CAV, as judged morphometrically. Recipients genetically deficient in mature NK cells (γ‐chain knock out) also showed decreased severity of DSA‐induced CAV. Direct NK reactivity to the graft was not necessary. F(ab’)2 DSA fragments, even at doses twofold higher than intact DSA, were inactive. Graft microvascular endothelial cells responded to DSA in vivo by increased expression of phospho‐extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (pERK), a response not elicited by F(ab’)2 DSA. We conclude that antibody mediates CAV through NK cells, by an Fc dependent manner. This new pathway adds to the possible mechanisms of chronic rejection and may relate to the recently described C4d‐negative chronic antibody‐mediated rejection in humans.
Televised state-sponsored antitobacco advertising and youth smoking beliefs and behavior in the United States, 1999-2000.

BACKGROUND Recent state budget crises have dramatically reduced funding for state-sponsored antitobacco media campaigns. If campaigns are associated with reduced smoking, such cuts could result in long-term increases in state health care costs. METHODS Commercial ratings data on mean audience exposure to antitobacco advertising that appeared on network and cable television across the largest 75 media markets in the United States for 1999 through 2000 were combined with nationally representative survey data from school-based samples of youth in the contiguous 48 states. Multivariate regression models were used to analyze associations between mean exposure to state antitobacco advertising and youth smoking-related beliefs and behaviors, controlling for individual and environmental factors usually associated with youth smoking and other televised tobacco-related advertising. RESULTS Mean exposure to at least 1 state-sponsored antitobacco advertisement in the past 4 months was associated with lower perceived rates of friends' smoking (odds ratio [OR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-0.88), greater perceived harm of smoking (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.11-1.42), stronger intentions not to smoke in the future (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.17-1.74), and lower odds of being a smoker (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.63-0.88). CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this study is the first to explore the potential impact of state-sponsored antitobacco media campaigns while controlling for other tobacco-related advertising and other tobacco control policies. State-sponsored antitobacco advertising is associated with desired outcomes of greater antitobacco sentiment and reduced smoking among youth. Recent cuts in these campaigns may have future negative health and budgetary consequences.
Unfolding and refolding of Escherichia coli chaperonin GroES is expressed by a three-state model.

The guanidine-hydrochloride (Gdn-HCl) induced unfolding and refolding characteristics of the co-chaperonin GroES from Escherichia coli, a homoheptamer of subunit molecular mass 10,000 Da, were studied by using intrinsic fluorescence, 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) binding, and size-exclusion HPLC. When monitored by tyrosine fluorescence, the unfolding reaction of GroES consisted of a single transition, with a transition midpoint at around 1.0 M Gdn-HCl. Interestingly, however, ANS binding and size-exclusion HPLC experiments strongly suggested the existence of an intermediate state in the transition. In order to confirm the existence of an intermediate state between the native heptameric and unfolded monomeric states, a tryptophan residue was introduced into the interface of GroES subunits as a fluorescent probe. The unfolding reaction of GroES I48W as monitored by tryptophyl fluorescence showed a single transition curve with a transition midpoint at 0.5 M Gdn-HCl. This unfolding transition curve as well as the refolding kinetics were dependent on the concentration of GroES protein. CD spectrum and size-exclusion HPLC experiments demonstrated that the intermediates assumed a partially folded conformation at around 0.5 M Gdn-HCl. The refolding of GroES protein from 3 M Gdn-HCl was probed functionally by measuring the extent of inhibition of GroEL ATPase activity and the enhancement of lactate dehydrogenase refolding yields in the presence of GroEL and ADP. These results clearly demonstrated that the GroES heptamer first dissociated to monomers and then unfolded completely upon increasing the concentration of Gdn-HCl, and that both transitions were reversible. From the thermodynamic analysis of the dissociation reaction, it was found that the partially folded monomer was only marginally stable and that the stability of GroES protein is governed mostly by the association of the subunits.
PVC-Membrane Potentiometric Sensor for the Determination of Tamoxifen in Pharmaceutical Formulations

Novel tamoxifen-selective potentiometric electrodes based on various ion associations of tamoxifen were developed. The most suitable membrane composition, which has the best potentiometric characteristics, was examined under steady-state conditions. The membrane composed of (w/w) 3% tamoxifenphosphomolibdate ion pair, 32% poly(vinylchloride), and 65% 2-nitrophenyloctylether was determined as the membrane with the best analytical properties. On the condition of pH = 2-6, the fabricated electrode exhibited linear responses over the concentration range of 9.1 × 10-6 -1 × 10-3 M tamoxifen solutions (R2 = 0.9989) with a sensitivity of 42.9 ± 0.3 mV/decade, detection limit of 7.3 ± 0.4 × 10-6 M and short response time of ≈25 s. The influences of some alkaline, alkaline earth metals, biologically significant molecules, and some pharmaceutical species over electrode responses were studied. The proposed electrode was applied for the determination of tamoxifen contents of some pharmaceutical formulations by using standard addition method. The potentiometric analysis results obtained for the pharmaceutical formulations were in good harmony with the results obtained by high performance liquid chromatography at 95% confidence level.