Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bidirectional Alterations of GABAA Receptor Subunit Peptide Levels in Rat Cortex During Chronic Ethanol Consumption and Withdrawal

Abstract: The pharmacological properties of γ‐aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors are altered by prolonged exposure to ethanol both in vivo and in vitro. We have shown previously that prolonged ethanol exposure elicits selective alterations in various GABAA receptor subunit mRNA levels in rat cerebral cortex. Some of these effects are rapidly reversed during ethanol withdrawal. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of prolonged ethanol exposure (dependence) and ethanol withdrawal on cerebral cortical peptide expression for several subunits. GABAA receptor α1 subunit peptide levels were decreased by nearly 40%, whereas α4 subunit peptide levels were increased by 27% in both ethanol‐dependent and withdrawn rats. These changes correlate well with observed alterations in mRNA levels following prolonged ethanol exposure in dependent rats, but do not match the effects on mRNA levels during ethanol withdrawal. β2/3 subunit peptide levels increased by ∼32% in both ethanol‐dependent rats and rats undergoing ethanol withdrawal. We observed a 30–60% increase in γ1 subunit peptide levels in both dependent rats and those undergoing withdrawal, also correlating with the previous report on ethanol‐induced alterations in mRNA levels. Peptide levels for γ2 subunits did not differ from control values in either condition. These findings show that specific alterations in GABAA receptor subunit peptide levels are associated with ethanol dependence in rats. GABAA receptor subunit peptide expression is more stable than mRNA expression, and mRNA levels are not representative of peptide expression during ethanol withdrawal. These findings are consistent with the suggestion that alterations in GABAA receptor gene expression underlie the functional properties of GABAA receptors in ethanol‐dependent rats and those undergoing ethanol withdrawal.
Game-Theoretic Analysis of Trading Processes.

Abstract: Three topics are discussed. The first is a research program to establish whether the familiar trading rules, such as sealed-bid and oral double auctions, are incentive efficient over a wide class of economic environments. The second is a review of recent studies of dynamic trading processes, and particularly the effects of impatience and private information on the timing and terms of trade; the main emphasis is on models of bilateral bargaining. The third considers prospects for embedding bargaining and auction models in larger environments so as to endogenize traders' impatience as a consequence of competitive pressures; models of dispersed matching and bargaining and a model of oral bid-ask markets are mentioned. Introduction My aim in this chapter is to describe some developments in the theory of exchange. The topics I describe share a common focus, namely the determination of the terms of trade. They also share a common methodology: the application of game theory to finely detailed models of trading processes. The aim of this work is to establish substantially complete analyses of markets taking account of agents' strategic behavior. Typically the results enable two key comparisons. One is the effect of altering the trading rules, and the other is the effect of alterations in the environment, such as changes in the number, endowments, preferences or information of the participants.
Liver Graft Susceptibility during Static Cold Storage and Dynamic Machine Perfusion: DCD versus Fatty Livers

We compared static preservation (cold storage, CS, 4 °C) with dynamic preservation (machine perfusion, MP, 20 °C) followed by reperfusion using marginal livers: a model of donation after cardiac death (DCD) livers and two models of fatty livers, the methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet model, and obese Zucker (fa/fa) rats. CS injury in DCD livers was reversed by an oxygenated washout (OW): hepatic damage, bile flow, and the ATP/ADP ratio in the OW + CS group was comparable with the ratio obtained with MP. Using fatty livers, CS preservation induced a marked release in hepatic and biliary enzymes in obese Zucker rats when compared with the MCD group. The same trend occurred for bile flow. No difference was found when comparing MP in MCD and obese Zucker rats. Fatty acid analysis demonstrated that the total saturated (SFA)/polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio was, respectively, 1.5 and 0.71 in obese Zucker and MCD rats. While preservation damage in DCD livers is associated with the ATP/ADP recovered with OW, injury in fatty livers is linked to fatty acid constituents: livers from obese. Zucker rats, with greater content in saturated FA, might be more prone to CS injury. On the contrary, MCD livers with elevated PUFA content might be less susceptible to hypothermia.
Searching for Jet Emission in LMXBs: A Polarimetric View

We present results taken from a study aiming at detecting the emission from relativistic particles jets in neutron star-low mass X-ray binaries using optical polarimetric observations. First, we focus on a polarimetric study performed on the persistent LMXB 4U 0614+091. Once corrected for interstellar effects, we measured an intrinsic linear polarization in the r-band of ~3% at a 3σ confidence level. This is in-line with the observation of an infrared excess in the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the source, reported in a previous work, which the authors linked to the optically thin synchrotron emission of a jet. We then present a study performed on the transitional millisecond pulsar PSR J1023+0038 during quiescence. We measured a linear polarization of 1.09 ± 0.27% and 0.90 ± 0.17% in the V and R bands, respectively. The phase-resolved polarimetric curve of the source in the R-band reveals a hint of a sinusoidal modulation at the source orbital period. The NIR -optical SED of the system did not suggest the presence of a jet. We conclude that the optical linear polarization observed for PSR J1023+0038 is possibly due to Thomson scattering with electrons in the disc, as also suggested by the hint of the modulation of the R-band linear polarization at the system orbital period.
Does corporate governance quality affect analyst coverage? Evidence from the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS)

We examine the impact of corporate governance quality on the extent of analyst coverage. The evidence based on nearly 3000 firms indicates that more analysts are likely to cover firms with weaker corporate governance. In particular, as corporate governance quality falls by one SD, analyst following increases by 11.40%. Our evidence is consistent with the notion that poor governance results in a wider divergence between the stock’s market price and the fundamental value. Analysts prefer to cover companies with poor governance because it allows them to generate trading commissions by offering shareholders a particularly compelling story about why a stock’s fundamental value and the current price differ.
Fetal parvovirus B19 infection

Parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy causes up to 27% cases of non‐immune hydrops in anatomically normal fetuses. The virus is believed to cause arrest of maturation of red blood cell precursors at the late normoblast stage and also causes a decrease in the number of platelets. Fetal anemia is presently thought to be responsible for the development of skin edema and effusions. Myocarditis leading to heart failure may contribute to the development of fetal hydrops. We reviewed the literature regarding prevalence, transmission rates, clinical presentation, diagnostic techniques, current invasive vs. conservative management options, outcome and postmortem findings in a total of 82 studies involving 230 invasively and 435 conservatively managed pregnancies. In this non‐selected population, the proportion of seronegative susceptible mothers ranged from 19 to 65%, seroconversion with an incubation time of up to 20 days occurred in 5.7–12.1%, and 188/230 (82%) who were transfused infected fetuses had a normal outcome as opposed to only 239/435 (55%) in the conservatively managed group. The average time from diagnosis to resolution in both groups was 6 weeks (range, 3–12 and 2–12 weeks, respectively). The most promising diagnostic techniques were PCR of amniotic fluid or fetal blood and electron microscopy. There are some reports of fetal abnormalities occurring (probably coincidentally) in cases of parvovirus, but the majority of postmortem findings were infection‐related, in particular myocarditis and hepatic abnormalities. Although management guidelines cannot be derived from this study due to the variable degree of hydrops in the analyzed studies, the present data suggest a benefit of transfusion therapy over conservative management in infected fetuses. The only study which was corrected for severity of hydrops using ultrasound criteria showed a clear benefit of intrauterine transfusion. Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Asians in the UK: gender, generations and enterprise

Purpose – Asian immigrant entrepreneurs in the UK have been used as examples of what can be done through free enterprise. Academic interest is developing in the changes taking place as newer generations emerge. Seeks to address these issues.Design/methodology/approach – A small‐scale qualitative study was undertaken with interviews of five men and five women entrepreneurs of the second generation. The issues explored included their background, the factors that have influenced, facilitated or inhibited their decision to become self‐employed, their experiences of entrepreneurship and the particular issues that confronted them. Female entrepreneurs in the sample were older and felt inhibited and more constrained than their male counterparts in their freedom to act.Findings – Both males and females of second generation entered business through attraction for the opportunities rather than as their only option in an unknown environment. Notwithstanding expectations, later generations did not enter activities ad.
Clonal architecture of CXCR4 WHIM‐like mutations in Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia

CXCR4WHIM somatic mutations are distinctive to Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia (WM), and impact disease presentation and treatment outcome. The clonal architecture of CXCR4WHIM mutations remains to be delineated. We developed highly sensitive allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction (AS‐PCR) assays for detecting the most common CXCR4WHIM mutations (CXCR4S338X C>A and C>G) in WM. The AS‐PCR assays detected CXCR4S338X mutations in WM and IgM monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) patients not revealed by Sanger sequencing. By combined AS‐PCR and Sanger sequencing, CXCR4WHIM mutations were identified in 44/102 (43%), 21/62 (34%), 2/12 (17%) and 1/20 (5%) untreated WM, previously treated WM, IgM MGUS and marginal zone lymphoma patients, respectively, but no chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, multiple myeloma, non‐IgM MGUS patients or healthy donors. Cancer cell fraction analysis in WM and IgM MGUS patients showed CXCR4S338X mutations were primarily subclonal, with highly variable clonal distribution (median 35·1%, range 1·2–97·5%). Combined AS‐PCR and Sanger sequencing revealed multiple CXCR4WHIM mutations in many individual WM patients, including homozygous and compound heterozygous mutations validated by deep RNA sequencing. The findings show that CXCR4WHIM mutations are more common in WM than previously revealed, and are primarily subclonal, supporting their acquisition after MYD88L265P in WM oncogenesis. The presence of multiple CXCR4WHIM mutations within individual WM patients may be indicative of targeted CXCR4 genomic instability.
Relationship between Adequacy of Dialysis and Nutritional Status, and Their Impact on Patient Survival on Capd in Hong Kong

Objective Superior patient survival on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) with 3 x 2-L exchanges has been reported from Hong Kong. This study examined the relationship between indices of dialysis adequacy and nutrition and patient survival on CAPD in Hong Kong. Design A cross-sectional study on prevalent CAPD patients. Patients were assessed for indices of dialysis adequacy and nutritional status with a composite nutritional index (CNI). Patients were then followed for 24 months. Survival data were analyzed according to adequacy indices and nutritional status. Setting All prevalent CAPD patients in nine dialysis centers in Hong Kong as of 1 April 1996. Main Outcome Measure Mortality. Results 937 patients were assessed: 68.2% were using 3 x 2-L exchanges per day; mean age was 54.6 ± 13 years. Mean total Kt/V was 1.83 ± 0.42 and total creatinine clearance was 55.6 ± 19.5 L/week/1.73 m2. 19% of patients were moderately to severely malnourished according to the CNI. There was no significant correlation between indices of adequacy and serum albumin or CNI. The 1- and 2-year patient survival from the time of assessment was 90.9% and 79.8%. There was a trend toward better survival in patients with Kt/V greater than 2.0, but it was not statistically significant. Peritoneal Kt/V did not impact survival in anuric patients. Malnourished patients had poorer survival than patients who were better nourished (p = 0.0259). After adjusting for age and diabetes, CNI was predictive of mortality but Kt/V and creatinine clearance were not. Conclusions This study demonstrates the importance of nutritional status over adequacy indices in predicting patient survival. There was a lack of correlation between nutritional status and conventional indices of dialysis adequacy.
Ricardo's theory of tax incidence: a comment

In a recent article in this journal, Takuo Dome examined Ricardo's theory of tax incidence by means of a formal model. In this comment, some of Dome's results are sharpened. Dome formulated sufficient conditions, which moreover contained endogenous variables. It is shown that these conditions can be replaced by conditions which are both necessary and sufficient and which contain exogenous variables only. (c) 1995 Academic Press Limited Copyright 1995 by Oxford University Press.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa 142 uses a three-component ortho-halobenzoate 1,2-dioxygenase for metabolism of 2,4-dichloro- and 2-chlorobenzoate

Cell extracts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 142, which was previously isolated from a polychlorinated biphenyl-degrading consortium, were shown to degrade 2,4-dichlorobenzoate, 2-chlorobenzoate, and a variety of other substituted ortho-halobenzoates by a reaction that requires oxygen, NADH, Fe(II), and flavin adenine dinucleotide. By using extracts that were chromatographically depleted of chlorocatechol and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activities, products of the initial reaction with 2,4- or 2,5-dichlorobenzoate and 2-chlorobenzoate were identified by mass spectrometry as 4-chlorocatechol and catechol. In contrast to the well-characterized benzoate dioxygenases or the recently described 2-halobenzoate 1,2-dioxygenase from P. cepacia 2CBS (S. Fetzner, R. Müller, and F. Lingens, J. Bacteriol. 174:279-290, 1992) that possess two protein components, the P. aeruginosa enzyme was resolved by ion-exchange chromatography into three components, each of which is required for activity. To verify the distinct nature of this enzyme, we purified, characterized, and identified one component as a ferredoxin (M(r), approximately 13,000) containing a single [2Fe-2S] Rieske-type cluster (electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic values of gx = 1.82, gy = 1.905, and gz = 2.02 in the reduced state) that is related in sequence to ferredoxins found in the naphthalene and biphenyl three-component dioxygenase systems. By analogy to these enzymes, we propose that the P. aeruginosa ferredoxin serves as an electron carrier between an NADH-dependent ferredoxin reductase and the terminal component of the ortho-halobenzoate 1,2-dioxygenase. The broad specificity and high regiospecificity of the enzyme make it a promising candidate for use in the degradation of mixtures of chlorobenzoates.
Do pregnant women prefer timing of elective cesarean section prior to versus after 39 weeks of gestation? Secondary analyses from a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objective: To evaluate women's preferences for timing of elective cesarean section (ECS) scheduled prior to versus after 39 completed weeks. Methods: Secondary analyses from a randomized controlled open-label trial were conducted at seven Danish tertiary hospitals from March 2009 to June 2011 with inclusion of singleton pregnant women with a healthy fetus. The women were allocated by a computerized telephone system to ECS scheduled at 38+3 weeks or 39+3 weeks of gestation. Dissatisfaction with timing of ECS and preferred timing of the procedure in a proposed future ECS delivery were evaluated. Data analyses were done by intention-to-treat, using logistic regression. Results: A total of 1196 women (94%) completed an online questionnaire at follow-up eight weeks postpartum. In the 38 weeks group, 61 (10%) women 601 were dissatisfied with the timing of their ECS, whereas in the 39 weeks group 157 (26%) of 595 were dissatisfied (adjOR 3.18, 95% CI 2.30; 4.40). The proportion of women who preferred the same timing in a future ECS were 272 (45%) in the 38 weeks group compared to 232 (39%) in the 39+3 weeks group (adjOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60; 0.95). Conclusions: The women in this trial preferred ECS scheduled prior to 39 weeks of gestation.
All‐Cause Mortality in Elderly Adults Diagnosed with Cardiorenal Syndrome After an Internal Medicine Unit Admission

To the Editor: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, especially in elderly adults, and it has been estimated that approximately 50% of American people aged 70 and older have been diagnosed with CKD. Moreover, impaired kidney function is associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the oldest adults. Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is a heart and kidney disorder in which the acute or chronic dysfunction of one can induce an acute or chronic dysfunction of the other (Figure 1). This syndrome is divided into five types in relation to the interaction between the two organs, that is, because of hemodynamic and neurohumoral factors. In a previous study, the clinical features of CRS were described in a cohort of patients discharged from an internal medicine unit, with Type 1 appearing to be the most frequent one. Thus, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the prognosis of different types of CRS after adequate follow-up.
The protein shuffle

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is an inherited disease in which cells from patients exhibit defects in nucleotide excision repair (NER). XP proteins A–G are crucial in the processes of DNA damage recognition and incision, and patients with XP can carry mutations in any of the genes that specify these proteins. In mammalian cells, NER is a dynamic process in which a variety of proteins interact with one another, via modular domains, to carry out their functions. XP proteins are key players in several steps of the NER process, including DNA strand discrimination (XPA, in complex with replication protein A), repair complex formation (XPC, in complex with hHR23B; XPF, in complex with ERCC1) and repair factor recruitment (transcription factor IIH, in complex with XPG). Through these protein–protein interactions, various types of bulky DNA adducts can be recognized and repaired. Communication between the NER system and other cellular pathways is also achieved by selected binding of the various structural domains. Here, we summarize recent studies on the domain structures of human NER components and the regulatory networks that utilize these proteins. Data provided by these studies have helped to illuminate the complex molecular interactions among NER factors in the context of DNA repair.
Effects of mora-timing in English rhythm control by Japanese learners

In this paper, we analyzed the durational differences between learners and native speakers in various speech units from the perspective of that the contrast between the stressed and the unstressed is one of the most important features to characterize stress-timing of English by comparison with mora-timing of Japanese. The results showed that the lengthening and shortening of learner speech were not enough to convey the difference between the stressed and the unstressed. Finally, it was confirmed that these durational differences strongly affected the subjective evaluation scores given by English language teachers.
The secular trend in the biological standard of living in the United Kingdom, 1730-1860

Corrects some of the statistical mistakes of previous studies of the trend in the height of British soldiers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Finds that heights decreased substantially in the late-18th century in keeping with many other findings. The inference is that an incipient Malthusian crisis was threatening the United Kingdom, as it did Continental Europe on the eve of the Industrial Revolution. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Running Economy is Negatively Related to Sit-and-Reach Test Performance in International-Standard Distance Runners

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between running economy (RE) and lower body flexibility. Thirty-four international-standard male distance runners (mean +/- s, age 27 +/- 5 years; body mass 64.9 +/- 4.2 kg; VO(2)max 72.8 +/- 3.7 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) gave written consent to participate in this study. The subjects performed an incremental treadmill test for the assessment of RE, lactate threshold and VO(2)max, and the sit-and-reach test was used to assess their general lower body and trunk flexibility. Running speeds below the lactate threshold were used to explore the relationship between running economy and sit-and-reach test performance. At 16.0 km x h(-1), the VO(2) was 50.6 +/- 3.7 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) (range: 44.2 to 57.1 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)). Pearson product moment correlation coefficients revealed no significant relationships between aerobic demand at 16.0 km x h(-1) and age (r = - 0.19), height (r = 0.15), body mass (r = - 0.18), or VO(2)max (r = - 0.004). However, there was a highly significant relationship between aerobic demand at 16.0 km x h(-1) and the sit-and-reach test score (r = 0.68; p < 0.0001). These results suggest that the least flexible runners are also the most economical. It is possible that stiffer musculotendinous structures reduce the aerobic demand of submaximal running by facilitating a greater elastic energy return during the shortening phase of the stretch-shortening cycle.