Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stress protein activation by the cyclopentenone prostaglandin 15-deoxy-delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 in human mesangial cells.

BACKGROUND The cyclopentenone prostaglandin 15-deoxy-delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15dPGJ2) affects mesangial proliferation, survival and production of proinflammatory proteins. During a survey of the mesangial cell proteome after treatment with 15dPGJ2, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was found to be the most conspicuously up-regulated protein, suggesting that stress proteins are key mediators or modulators of the effects of 15dPGJ2. Because cyclopentenone prostaglandins are highly reactive toward intracellular thiols, the role of intracellular thiol modification in the stress response to 15dPGJ2 was examined. METHODS Human mesangial cells were treated with 15dPGJ2 and intracellular thiol status was monitored by the fluorescent thiol probe monobromobimane (MBB). Specific intracellular thiol pools were manipulated by treating the cells with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) to deplete glutathione (GSH), or phenylarsine oxide (PAO) to modify protein vicinal dithiols. Transcription pathways were examined with reporter gene or adenoviral constructs. RESULTS 15dPGJ2 decreased mesangial GSH and other intracellular thiols, but depletion of GSH specifically with BSO did not induce HSP70. Thiol-replenishing reagents, which can restore modified protein thiols, attenuated 15dPGJ2-induced HSP70 levels. Furthermore, PAO mimicked the effects of 15dPGJ2 on HSP70. 15dPGJ2 also activated the stress-responsive transcription factor Nrf2, which requires thiol modification of its cytoplasmic inhibitor protein for transcriptional activity, and induced the Nrf2-dependent stress protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). CONCLUSION 15dPGJ2 activates a stress response in human mesangial cells by covalent modification of protein thiols through its unique cyclopentenone ring structure. This stress response may be beneficial in preventing renal cell injury or death during kidney inflammation or ischemia.
Coordinating Covert Action: The Case of the Yemen Civil War and the South Arabian Insurgency

Abstract Focusing on British involvement in the 1960s Yemen Civil War, this article examines the centralised mechanisms developed in Whitehall to coordinate covert action interdepartmentally. It therefore sheds new light on London's security and intelligence machine and its input into clandestine operations. Drawing on recently declassified documents and interviews, it uncovers various important but secretive actors, which have been overlooked or misunderstood in the existing literature, and outlines their functions in the most detail yet available. In doing so, it considers how these bodies evolved in relation to competing threat assessments of the local situation and the impact they had on Britain's covert intervention in the theatre. This article assesses the utility of the system and argues that it provided an effective means to ensure that any covert action sanctioned was properly scrutinised so as to reduce risks and best meet national interests.
Parasympathetic control of cycle length dependence of endocardial ventricular repolarisation in the intact feline heart during steady state conditions.

OBJECTIVE Parasympathetic modulation of the rate dependence of ventricular repolarisation in vivo during steady state conditions was investigated by analysing the effects of removing vagal activity in three groups of anaesthetised cats. METHODS Bilateral vagotomy was performed while different levels of background sympathetic tone were present in the control periods of each group: in group 1 (n = 6), cardiac sympathetic nerves were intact; in group 2 (n = 7), bilateral stellate ganglionectomy was performed; and in group 3 (n = 7), beta adrenergic blockade (propranolol, 0.5 mg.kg-1) was performed after stellate ganglionectomy. The duration of a left ventricular endocardial monophasic action potential (APD) was measured during atrial pacing at 7-10 cycle lengths (CL). The APD/CL relation was fitted to a hyperbolic function: APD = CL/[(axCL)+b]. Two parameters were considered: APDmax (1/a, ie, APD extrapolated at infinite cycle length, a rate-independent measure of APD) and CL50 (bxAPDmax, ie, the cycle length at which 50% of APDmax is reached). RESULTS In control conditions, APDmax and CL50 were longer in groups 2 and 3, when cardiac sympathetic effects were reduced or absent. Vagotomy reduced APDmax and CL50 similarly in groups 1 and 2 (APDmax, -24% and -18%; CL50, -36% and -27%) (p < 0.05 v control). In group 3, vagotomy did not affect APDmax and CL50. CONCLUSIONS No direct parasympathetic influence on the rate dependence of endocardial ventricular repolarisation was observed. The vagal modulation of sympathetic effects may take place either through vago-sympathetic reflexes or via the antagonism of circulating catecholamines distal to the beta receptor.
Research Note: Measuring Tourism Sustainability: An Empirical Comparison of Different Weighting Procedures Used in Modelling Composite Indicators

This paper compares three different procedures for weighting sustainability indicators in the construction of composite indicators of tourism sustainability (TS). The case of Croatian coastal destinations is used. The particular weighting procedures are: (a) factor analysis (FA); (b) expert panel survey; and (c) the equal weights technique. As the results of this study reveal, the weights attached to different sustainability indicators can differ significantly depending on the weighting procedure used. Accordingly, inappropriate choice of weighting procedure could distort the relative importance of different sustainability indicators and thus could result in imperfect decisions by policymakers. The authors argue that the suitability of factor analysis as a weighting procedure in the construction of composite indicators of TS is rather questionable.
How Do Local Knowledge Spillovers and Experience Affect Export Performance?

ABSTRACT This research paper tries to analyse the role that knowledge about foreign markets has in increasing firms' exports in clustered spaces. We consider two interrelated sources of this knowledge, a firm's direct experience and its indirect experience from other clustered firms. In particular, it is proposed that firms can improve their export performance by accessing others' knowledge as long as they have some previous direct experience that allows them to identify, understand and exploit these. Nevertheless, this positive influence of previous direct experience on exports continues only to a certain point, at which time it becomes less relevant or even negative. Firms with broad international experience have little to learn from local interactions, being more enriching establishing relationships with agents from outside the cluster. Empirical evidence gathered from wine producers located in La Rioja, Spain, confirms the moderating but decreasing importance of previous experience.
A new concept for high voltage MCCT with no J-FET resistance by using a very thin wafer

A high voltage non-punch-through MCCT with newly developed thyristor-centered cells was successfully fabricated for the first time. A 4.22 mm/spl square/ high voltage MCCT with its blocking voltage of 1460 V was fabricated using an inexpensive and an extremely thin bulk wafer of 200 /spl mu/m with low breakage rate of less than 4%. This low breakage rate can be attained by the improvement of wafer grinding method to smooth the wafer edge and so on. Less junction-FET resistance and the thin bulk wafer application are highly effective to achieve a superior electrical characteristic to the punch-through type device using an epi wafer.
Cellular and Biochemical Differences between Two Attenuated Poxvirus Vaccine Candidates (MVA and NYVAC) and Role of the C7L Gene

ABSTRACT The poxvirus strains NYVAC and MVA are two candidate vectors for the development of vaccines against a broad spectrum of diseases. Although these attenuated virus strains have proven to be safe in animals and humans, little is known about their comparative behavior in vitro. In contrast with MVA, NYVAC infection triggers greater cytopathic effect in a range of permissive and nonpermissive cell lines. The yields of NYVAC cell-associated virus in permissive cells (BHK-21) were slightly reduced compared with those of MVA infection. During the course of infection in HeLa cells, there is a translational block induced by NYVAC late in infection, which correlated with a marked increase in phosphorylation levels of the initiation factor eIF-2α. In contrast to MVA, the synthesis of certain late viral proteins was only blocked in NYVAC-infected HeLa cells. Electron microscopy (EM) analysis revealed that morphogenesis of NYVAC in HeLa cells was blocked at the stage of formation of immature viral forms. Phase-contrast microscopy, EM, flow cytometry, and rRNA analyses demonstrated that contrary to MVA, NYVAC infection induces potent apoptosis, a phenomenon dependent on activation of caspases and RNase L. Apoptosis induced by NYVAC was prevented when the virus gene C7L was placed back into the NYVAC genome, recovering the ability of NYVAC to replicate in HeLa cells and maintaining the attenuated phenotype in mice. Overall, our findings demonstrate distinct behavior between NYVAC and MVA strains in cultured cells, as well as a new role for the C7L viral gene as an inhibitor of apoptosis in NYVAC infection.
Credit Rationing and the Monetary Transmission Mechanism

According to Alan Blinder's (1987) model of credit rationing, "a tightening of monetary policy may have strong effects on the real sector when credit is already tight but weak effects when credit is initially plentiful" (p. 343). The tighter the state of recent monetary policy, the more likely it is that the economy's credit constraint will be binding, and hence the greater will be the output effects of monetary policy. This paper provides a test of the Blinder proposition using postwar quarterly U.S. data, and the results are then used to estimate the importance of credit rationing as a channel through which monetary policy influences the economy. I consider three alternative criteria for determining when the economy is creditrationed. The first criterion states that the economy is credit-rationed if recent monetary policy (as measured by one of two alternative monetary variables) has been "substantially" tighter than average. The second method draws on work by Otto Eckstein (1983) and Allen Sinai (1976) who developed estimates of periods of credit crunch based on a wide variety of indicators of credit market conditions. The third and final approach is based on Stephen King's (1986) estimates of the excess demand for commercial bank lending. Section I develops the specification of the tests, Section II reports regressions and analyzes the implications for the monetary transmission mechanism, and Section III presents conclusions.
On the perils of privatization

Privatization outside Eastern Europe has encountered more difficulties than are generally recognized. The firms sold by government are often endowed with market power in part because when nationalized they had been protected from competition. Consequently they are often subjected to tight regulation after becoming private. Thus, the role of market forces is kept to a minimum and regulators are repeating many of the welfare damaging mistakes their U.S. counterparts have recently been learning to avoid. This is spelled out and better regulatory procedures are described. Some brief comments on privatization in Eastern Europe are provided.
Community development venture capital: a double-bottom line approach to poverty alleviation

The community development venture capital (CDVC) industry consists of domestic and international organizations that use the investment tools of venture capital to create jobs, entrepreneurial capacity and wealth that benefit lowincome people and distressed communities. CDVC providers make equity and near-equity investments in small businesses with the intention of producing a “double bottom line” of financial and social returns, including livable wage jobs and healthy communities. This paper describes and analyzes the domestic CDVC industry, compares CDVC to other forms of venture capital, and provides an overview of recent CDVC industry trends.
An Intracranial Aneurysm and Dural Arteriovenous Fistula in a Newborn

The authors present the case of a newborn with an intracerebral aneurysm and a dural arteriovenous fistula. The patient initially presented with intraventricular hemorrhage and hydrocephalus, with evidence of remote subarachnoid hemorrhage, left hemispheric stroke, and sagittal sinus thrombosis. He was treated with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and subsequent staged endovascular obliteration of both the aneurysm and fistula. Interestingly, the aneurysm did not appear on an artery feeding the abnormal fistula. Intracerebral aneurysms in the neonatal population are rare, and dural arteriovenous fistulae even more so; we present a case of a 2-month-old infant with both, as well as a review of the literature concerning these rare vascular abnormalities.
Estimating Interregional Utility Differentials

The examination of long-term Japanese data on interregional migration revealed three stylized facts of migration behavior. Based on the facts, we formulated an operational model and estimated interregional utility differentials. We found that the interregional utility differentials have been converging until the late 1970s. We showed that the utility estimates are highly correlated with per capita real income. We also applied the model to interregional migration in the United States and Canada as well as the interindustry movement in Japan and confirmed the model’s validity.
Erythromycin and Clindamycin Resistance and Telithromycin Susceptibility in Streptococcus agalactiae

ABSTRACT The rates of resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin among Streptococcus agalactiae strains isolated in our hospital increased from 4.2 and 0.8% in 1993 to 17.4 and 12.1%, respectively, in 2001. Erythromycin resistance was mainly due to the presence of an Erm(B) methylase, while the M phenotype was detected in 3.8% of the strains. Telithromycin was very active against erythromycin-resistant strains, irrespective of their mechanisms of macrolide resistance.
Quantitative coronary angiographic studies of patients with angina pectoris and impaired glucose tolerance.

OBJECTIVE We investigated the morphological characteristics of coronary arteries in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) using computer-assisted quantitative coronary angiography. IGT is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, the morphological changes developing in the coronary arteries of patients with IGT remain unknown. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 534 patients with angina pectoris were studied. Of these, 144 patients were being treated for diabetes. The remaining 390 patients were classified as follows depending on the results of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test: normal glucose tolerance (NGT) (n = 117), impaired fasting glucose (n = 3), IGT (n = 136), and diabetes pattern (preclinical diabetes) (n = 134). The diameters of the middle section of all major coronary artery segments were measured and averaged to determine the averaged vessel diameter (AVD). We defined segments of a diameter of < or = 1.5 mm as diseased lesions and determined the averaged lesion length (ALL). RESULTS AVD and ALL were significantly different among patients with IGT and those with NGT. Patients with diabetes (preclinical and/or treated) had smaller AVD and longer ALL than those with IGT. By multivariate analysis, postprandial glucose levels were shown to be independently associated with an AVD <3.0 mm and an ALL >20 mm. CONCLUSIONS Diffuse coronary artery narrowing develops not only in patients with diabetes but also in those with IGT. This morphological change is associated with postprandial hyperglycemia.
Plasma YKL‐40, as a prognostic tumor marker in recurrent ovarian cancer

Background. YKL‐40, a member of family 18 glycosyl hydrolases, is secreted by cancer cells. The function of YKL‐40 in cancer diseases is unknown, but it is a growth factor of connective tissue cells and probably has a role in inflammation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix, a process also involved in metastatic malignant diseases. High serum YKL‐40 has been associated with poor prognosis for patients with colorectal and recurrent breast cancer.
On Marx’s Law of the Falling Rate of Profit: Disentangling Some Entangled Variables

This paper argues that Marx’s law of the falling rate of profit applies to the problematic of choice of technique in the context of accumulation of capital, and not to the problematic of choice of technique in the context of technological change or new innovation as such. In this context, Marx’s “the law itself” is correct. It is, however, true that Marx does confuse the two contexts at times; but here he seems to be following in the footsteps of Ricardo, who had also made an identical mistake.
Deficiency of claudin-18 causes paracellular H+ leakage, up-regulation of interleukin-1β, and atrophic gastritis in mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Although defects in tight junction (TJ) epithelial paracellular barrier function are believed to be a primary cause of inflammation, the mechanisms responsible remain largely unknown. METHODS We generated knockout mice of stomach-type claudin-18, a major component of TJs in the stomach. RESULTS Cldn18(-/-) mice were afflicted with atrophic gastritis that started on postnatal day 3. This coincided with a decrease in intragastric pH due to H(+) secretion from parietal cells and concomitant up-regulation of the cytokines, interleukin-1β, cyclooxygenase-2, and KC, resulting in spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM). Oral administration of hydrochloric acid on postnatal day 1 induced the expression of these cytokines in Cldn18(-/-) infant stomach, but not in Cldn18(+/+) mice. A paracellular H(+) leak in Cldn18(-/-) stomach was detected by electrophysiology and H(+) titration, and freeze-fracture electron microscopy showed structural defects in the TJs, in which the tightly packed claudin-18 (stomach-type)-based TJ strands were lost, leaving a loose meshwork of strands consisting of other claudin species. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide evidence that claudin-18 normally forms a paracellular barrier against H(+) in the stomach and that its deficiency causes paracellular H(+) leak, a persistent up-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines, chronic recruitment of neutrophils, and the subsequent development of SPEM in atrophic gastritis.
Politics in Organisations: An Essential Consideration for Decision Making

Decision making is considered an important topic in management studies. However it is postulated that current thinking in decision making is out of date and inapplicable in today's organisations. Hence, a more realistic approach needs to be considered. A political framework is offered as the alternative mechanism for understanding decision making processes in organisations.
Functional analysis of Cdc42 in actin filament assembly, epithelial morphogenesis, and cell signaling during Drosophila development.

Cdc42, a member of the Rho family of GTP binding proteins, functions in the formation of polarized actin structures, in elongation of cell shape, and in cell signaling. Although genetic mutations previously have not been available in multicellular organisms, studies have attempted to discern Cdc42 functions in organisms, including Drosophila, using dominant active or interfering alleles. Here, for the first time, we examine the functions of Cdc42 in developing tissues using loss-of-function mutations in the Drosophila Cdc42 gene. We find that Cdc42(-) epithelial cells fail to elongate into a columnar cell shape and cannot maintain a monolayered epithelial structure. In contrast to previous studies, we find no requirement for Cdc42 in cell division or in activation of the Jun N-terminal kinase pathway. In addition, Cdc42 function is not required for cytoplasmic actin filament assembly in the nurse cells during oogenesis, although it may facilitate this process. Furthermore, our results indicate that Cdc42 plays a role in intercellular interactions between the germ line and the somatic follicle cells. These results confirm the role of Cdc42 in actin filament assembly and provide new insights into its functions in epithelial morphogenesis and regulating intercellular signaling events.
Continuous distributions of NMR relaxation times applied to tumors before and after therapy with X‐rays and cyclophosphamide

In vivo measurements of T1 and T2 values in two experimental tumors growing in the legs of mice were made during tumor growth and after treatment of the tumor with either X‐rays or cyclophosphamide. The T1 and T2 values were obtained by fitting the data to continuous distributions of relaxation times. This technique gives broad distributions of relaxation times which are characterized by a number of peaks with characteristic T1 and T2 values. Before treatment, the TI and T2 values increased before a palpable tumor mass could be detected. The response to subcurative doses of either treatment method was a reduction in the T1 and T2 values and a parallel reduction in tumor weight. Although local recurrence was characterized by the same pattern of tumor growth as was observed before treatment, therapy was found to give higher relaxation time values than those measured in untreated tumors. The higher relaxation time values of tumor‐bearing legs were the result of redistribution of the peaks in the distribution and not changes in the relaxation times of the individual peaks. © 1988 Academic Press, Inc.
Low Positive Predictive Value of Hemoglobin A1c for Diagnosis of Prediabetes in Clinical Practice

Background:Positive predictive value (PPV) of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for diagnosis of prediabetes in clinical practice has not been well studied. Methods:In a prospective study, patients diagnosed with prediabetes based on HbA1c (5.7%–6.4%) underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) as the gold standard test to diagnose dysglycemia. Demographics, anthropometrics, comorbidity, concomitant prescription medications and biochemical data were collected. Results:We identified 66 patients with HbA1c-based prediabetes with a mean HbA1c of 6.00 ± 0.20%. However, based on the OGTT, 32 had normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 26 had prediabetes and 8 had diabetes yielding a PPV of HbA1c of 39.4%. In univariate analysis, the patients with the OGTT-based prediabetes administered more medications for associated medical problems compared with the NGT group (5.9 ± 2.2 versus 2.6 ± 1.8, P < 0.0001). After adjustment for baseline variables, the medication use remained significantly different between OGTT-based prediabetes and NGT groups (P = 0.041). Conclusions:PPV of HbA1c for diagnosis of prediabetes in clinical setting is low. Patients with HbA1c of 5.7% to 6.4% should undergo OGTT to confirm diagnosis of dysglycemia.
Administrative Law and Regulatory Policy: Problems, Text, and Cases

To ensure that you have the most up-to-date and complete materials for your Administrative Law class, be sure to use Administrative Law and Regulatory Policy: 2009-2010 Supplement. New cases include: Entergy Corp. v. Riverkeeper, Inc. Federal Express Corp. v. Holowecki Federal Communications Commission v. Fox Television Stations, Inc.
A Reply to Comments by John Forth and Hilary Metcalf and by Wiemer Salverda

Damian Grimshaw is Reader in Employment Studies, and Director of the European Work and Employ-ment Research Centre (EWERC), Manchester Business School; Jill Rubery is Director of EWERC andProfessor of Comparative Employment Systems, Manchester Business School; Hugo Figueiredo isResearch Assistant, EWERC, Manchester Business School. Correspondence should be addressed to JillRubery, EWERC, Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, PO Box 88, ManchesterM60 1QD, UK; email: jill.rubery@manchester.ac. uk