Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Younger and Older Adults’ Associative Memory for Social Information: The Role of Information Importance

The ability to associate items in memory is critical for social interactions. Older adults show deficits in remembering associative information but can sometimes remember high-value information. In two experiments, younger and older participants studied faces, names, and occupations that were of differing social value. There were no age differences in the recall of important information in Experiment 1, but age differences were present for less important information. In Experiment 2, when younger adults’ encoding time was reduced, age differences were largely absent. These findings are considered in light of value-directed strategies when remembering social associative information.
Amplification of human papillomavirus genomes in vitro is dependent on epithelial differentiation

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) infect squamous epithelium and establish their genomes as episomes in proliferating basal cells. As infected cells differentiate, the viral DNA is amplified to high copy number and infectious virus is produced. Viral production has not yet been observed in vitro due to the inability of standard culture methods to duplicate most stages of epithelial differentiation. In this study, we have examined a cell line derived from a low-grade cervical lesion and found that it contained episomal copies of an HPV-31 subtype, HPV-31b, at approximately 50 copies per cell. When allowed to stratify at the air-liquid interface of in vitro raft cultures, this cell line differentiates in a manner which histologically resembles a low-grade cervical lesion in vivo. We have observed the amplification of HPV-31b genomes in distinct foci in the upper portion of the in vitro-stratified epithelium similar to that found in productive HPV infections in vivo. Although transcripts from the late region of HPV-31b were also detected specifically in stratified raft cultures, no capsid protein was found. These studies duplicate one important aspect of a productive HPV infection in vitro, the differentiation-dependent amplification of papillomavirus genomes.
Expression of bone morphogenetic protein messenger RNAs by normal rat and human prostate and prostate cancer cells

Human prostate cancer cells are known to produce several growth regulatory factors, including transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and heparin‐binding fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), which may play as‐yet‐undefined roles in prostate gland morphogenesis, as well as in prostate cancer cell behavior. Recently, a family of proteins in the extended TGFβ family, the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), has been identified which stimulates bone formation in vivo, and in which, the proteins are likely involved in a variety of morphogenetic processes during embryogenesis. These powerful morphogenetic factors are capable of redirecting muscle mesenchyme cells to differentiate along the lines of bone tissue. We examined a number of well‐characterized rat and human prostate cancer cell lines for the expression of BMP 2, 3, 4, and 6 messenger RNA. Poly(A + )‐RNA was isolated from normal human and rat ventral prostate, from the rat prostate adenocarcinoma PAIII tumor and cultured cells derived from it, and from human prostate cancer cell lines PC‐3, LNCaP, and DU‐145. BMP mRNA levels were measured using BMP 2, 3, 4 and Vgr‐1 (BMP 6) cDNA probes. Both normal and neoplastic prostate tissue expressed these BMP mRNAs, although the level of expression varied from tumor to tumor. Normal human prostate expressed BMP 4 mRNA predominantly, as did the human prostate cancers PC‐3 and DU‐145. PC‐3 also expressed BMP 2 mRNA and BMP 3 mRNA in large amounts. Normal rat ventral prostate expressed all these BMP mRNAs, but the rat prostate adenocarcinoma PAIII expressed predominantly BMP 3 mRNA. The reason that different BMPs are expressed in varying amounts by these normal and neoplastic cells is unknown. However, if these BMPs are expressed in biologically active form, they could be responsible for important effects on normal prostate growth and morphogenesis, on neoplastic prostate cell behavior, and could even contribute to the capacity of prostatic cancer cells to stimulate new bone formation at metastatic tumor sites in bone. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of platelet function and lack of response to epinephrine in pregnant women

Previous studies in healthy subjects have demonstrated a lack of response of platelets to epinephrine at a rate of 16–40% on an aggregometer. An association between the increased procoagulant factors during pregnancy and venous thromboembolism is known, and it has also been shown that prolactin levels increase platelet aggregation. We evaluated whether platelet functions in pregnant women and also assessed the lack of response to epinephrine during this period. We compared 27 healthy and volunteering pregnant women with 26 similar control subjects. Platelet functions were assessed with an aggregometer and a Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA‐100). Less than 40% response to epinephrine on the aggregometer was defined as an impaired epinephrine response. The aggregation response of epinephrine was normal in 25 of the 27 pregnant women, while two of them showed a late‐rising response. Eight of the 26 subject control group (30.8%) showed an impaired response to epinephrine. When we compared the 25 pregnant and 18 control subjects with normal aggregation responses, the maximum aggregation responses to ADP and epinephrine, and the Col/Epi and Col/ADP cartridge closure time values were significantly lower in pregnant women. There were no difference beetween second and third trimesters as regards platelet function parameters. The fact that no impaired response to epinephrine was detected in pregnant women while a 30% rate was observed in non‐pregnant women indicates that the platelet malfunction caused by a disorder in the Gi protein and intracellular mechanisms is bypassed during pregnancy thanks to some physiological changes.
Advanced Medical Video Services through Context-Aware Medical Networks

The aim of this paper is to present a framework for advanced medical video delivery services, through network and patient-state awareness. Under this scope a context-aware medical networking platform is described. The developed platform enables proper medical video data coding and transmission according to both a) network availability and/or quality and b) patient status, optimizing thus network performance and telediagnosis. An evaluation platform has been developed based on scalable H.264 coding of medical videos. Corresponding results of video transmission over a WiMax network have proved the effectiveness and efficiency of the platform providing proper video content delivery.
Reappearance of electroencephalogram slow waves in extended sleep with delayed bedtime.

A three-part study using prolonged nights of sleep was undertaken to verify Broughton's hypothesis of an approximate 12-h ultradrian rhythm of human slow wave sleep (SWS). Part I consisted of 2 8-h adaptation nights followed by a prolonged 15-h night of sleep with bedtime at midnight. A significant return of SWS occurred 12 h and 32 min after the first appearance of SWS. In part II, after 1 adaptation night, subjects were asked to sleep for 15 h but bedtime was delayed until 0400 h. A two-peak return of SWS was observed with a first significant return at 1228 h and a second significant return at 1745 h (i.e., 13 h and 32 min after the first appearance of SWS). In part III, bedtime was again delayed to 0400 h; but subjects were given 3 nights to adapt before the 15 h extended sleep. A single significant return of SWS was then observed at 1656 h, i.e., 12 h and 24 min after the first appearance with no peaks around 1200 h, thus exhibiting the same pattern as in part I. These results suggest that the return of SWS seen normally between 1200 and 1500 h is relatively well entrenched since it remained present in the extended night following sudden bedtime delay. It appears, moreover, that SWS does follow a bimodal 12-h rhythm, which is seen immediately upon extended delayed sleep and can be fully phase-shifted with habituation.
Intracellular IL-1 receptor antagonist promoter: cell type-specific and inducible regulatory regions.

The objective of these studies was to examine the molecular mechanisms involved in transcriptional regulation of the gene for the intracellular structural variant of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (icIL-1Ra) molecule. By reverse transcription-PCR analysis, constitutive expression of endogenous icIL-1Ra mRNA was observed in the epithelial cell lines A431 and HT-29, but not in the macrophage cell lines RAW 264.7 and U937, or in the lymphocyte cell lines Raji and Jurkat. However, icIL-1Ra mRNA expression was observed in response to stimulation with LPS in RAW 264.7 cells and to PMA and LPS in U937 cells. To examine the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation, 4.5 kb of the 5' flanking sequence was isolated from the human icIL-1Ra gene, sequenced, cloned into a luciferase expression vector (pIC4525.Luc), and examined in transfection studies. The pIC4525.Luc construct exhibited a pattern of expression in epithelial and macrophage cell lines similar to that of the endogenous icIL-1Ra gene. To obtain a generalized map of cell type-specific and inducible cis-acting DNA elements, nested 5' deletional mutants of the icIL-1Ra promoter were constructed. Results from transfection studies with these icIL-1Ra promoter/luciferase fusion constructs indicated that constitutive expression in epithelial cells was under the control of three positively acting regions located between bases -4525 to -1438, -288 to -156, and -156 to -49. In contrast, basal expression of pIC4525.Luc in transfected but unstimulated RAW 264.7 cells was under the control of a weak inhibitory region located between bases -4525 to -1438 and a strong positive element between -156 and -49. LPS induction of icIL-1Ra transcription in RAW 264.7 cells was regulated by strong positively acting DNA regions between bases -1438 to -909 and -156 to -49. In summary, the proximal region of the icIL-1Ra promoter, between bases -156 to -49, contains positive cis-acting elements that are needed for expression in both epithelial and monocyte cell lines. However, our results indicate that the ability of this proximal promoter region to control expression is strongly influenced, both positively and negatively, by other upstream cis-acting elements in a cell type-specific manner.
RNAi screen of the protein kinome identifies checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) as a therapeutic target in neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer that is often fatal despite intense multimodality therapy. In an effort to identify therapeutic targets for this disease, we performed a comprehensive loss-of-function screen of the protein kinome. Thirty kinases showed significant cellular cytotoxicity when depleted, with loss of the cell cycle checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1/CHEK1) being the most potent. CHK1 mRNA expression was higher in MYC–Neuroblastoma-related (MYCN)–amplified (P < 0.0001) and high-risk (P = 0.03) tumors. Western blotting revealed that CHK1 was constitutively phosphorylated at the ataxia telangiectasia response kinase target site Ser345 and the autophosphorylation site Ser296 in neuroblastoma cell lines. This pattern was also seen in six of eight high-risk primary tumors but not in control nonneuroblastoma cell lines or in seven of eight low-risk primary tumors. Neuroblastoma cells were sensitive to the two CHK1 inhibitors SB21807 and TCS2312, with median IC50 values of 564 nM and 548 nM, respectively. In contrast, the control lines had high micromolar IC50 values, indicating a strong correlation between CHK1 phosphorylation and CHK1 inhibitor sensitivity (P = 0.0004). Furthermore, cell cycle analysis revealed that CHK1 inhibition in neuroblastoma cells caused apoptosis during S-phase, consistent with its role in replication fork progression. CHK1 inhibitor sensitivity correlated with total MYC(N) protein levels, and inducing MYCN in retinal pigmented epithelial cells resulted in CHK1 phosphorylation, which caused growth inhibition when inhibited. These data show the power of a functional RNAi screen to identify tractable therapeutical targets in neuroblastoma and support CHK1 inhibition strategies in this disease.
Integrating the IS with the enterprise: key EAI research challenges

Enterprise application integration (EAI) technologies provide the means to integrate strategic business solutions within and across the component parts of organisational information system infrastructures. The continuing development of both digitally integrated business models, through various eCommerce and eBusiness initiatives, has meant that the importance of EAI within enterprise IS, has increased significantly. Noting that EAI incurs not only technological but stakeholder‐level commitments, this paper outlines the product of a sustained investigation into key challenges within enterprise IS and EAI, and provides a framework for future research and investigation into this emerging and evolving area.
Standards for head injury management in acute hospitals: evidence from the six million population of the Eastern region

Objectives: To develop standards of care for head injury and thereby identify and prioritise areas of the service needing development; to report the findings from a survey of compliance with such standards in the Eastern region of UK. Methods: The standards were collaboratively developed through an inclusive and iterative process of regional surveys, multidisciplinary conferences, and working groups, following a method similar to that used by the Society of British Neurological Surgeons. The standards cover seven topics relating to all aspects of service delivery, with standards within each objective. Each standard has been designated a priority level (A, B, or C). The standards were piloted using a self-assessment questionnaire, completed by all 20 hospitals of the Eastern region. Results: Full compliance was 36% and a further 30% of standards were partially met across the region, with some areas of service delivery better than others. Seventy eight per cent of level A standards were either fully or partially met. Results were better in the north of the region compared with the south. Conclusion: A survey of compliance with the head injury standards indicate that, with their whole systems approach and subject to further refinement, they are a useful method for identifying deficiencies in service provision and monitoring for quality of care both within organisations and regionally.
Release area confinement in contour mode resonators

In this paper we propose a modified fabrication process to finely define the region surrounding the resonator that undergoes Si etching in CMRs. The unpredictable undercut has been shown to lead to Q instability within microns' variation. High aspect ratio SiO2 trenches were used as barrier to confine the release area. Thanks to the high selectivity of SF6 over SiO2, long Si etch steps can be performed without changing the release area. Our results show an excellent Q stability over etching time (<4%) which allows relaxation of Si etching and fine control of the released area. Moreover, since the geometry of the released area is known and set by design, models including the emptied region can be used as predictive tools.
Estimación de modelos de volatilidad en series de rendimientos bursátiles: 2000-2014

The time series of high frequency observed in the financial and currency markets are characterized by asymmetric, leptokurtic, volatility clustering, show a high persistence in volatility, correlations in the Square, leverage effect, etc. These features are known in the econometric literature as stylized facts. To collect these characteristics of the time series have been raised nonlinear models, among which stand out the ARCH and GARCH models and their possible variants each. In this paper, we will · analyze the different results obtained from the estimation of the proposed models, applied to yields of stock indices. There are different methods for measuring volatility clustering in financial series, in which the assumption of the error distribution determines the structure of the estimated log likelihood function. In this document the flexibility of ARCH models is exploited to capture the groupings of the volatility of returns. The results indicate that the GARCH ( 3/7, 3/7 ) models in variance exceeds other specification , try to measure the volatility clustering of the major stock indexes in the world.
Mergers in Chinese higher education: lessons for studies in a global context

ABSTRACT Since the 1990s, there have been more than 400 cases of university mergers in China, representing various types and involving 1000 public institutions. While China has provided good and abundant cases for studies on university mergers, such an opportunity has not yet been fully exploited by international scholars of university merger research. This paper tries to enhance communications between the Chinese and international literature on mergers by drawing lessons from merger studies in Chinese higher education to scholars doing university merger studies in a global context. The focus of our literature analysis is on key issues pertinent to understanding of merger outcomes, which is a general research gap in university merger studies. As a result, three issues are identified as important, namely environmental drives for university mergers, criteria for evaluation merger outcomes and organization factors affecting merger outcomes.
AMP‐activated protein kinase – development of the energy sensor concept

The LKB1→AMPK cascade is switched on by metabolic stresses that either inhibit ATP production (e.g. hypoxia, hypoglycaemia) or that accelerate ATP consumption (e.g. muscle contraction). Any decline in cellular energy status is accompanied by a rise in the cellular AMP: ATP ratio, and this activates AMPK by a complex and sensitive mechanism involving antagonistic binding of the nucleotides to two sites on the regulatory γ subunits of AMPK. Once activated by metabolic stress, AMPK activates catabolic pathways that generate ATP, while inhibiting cell growth and biosynthesis and other processes that consume ATP. While the AMPK system probably evolved in single‐celled eukaryotes to maintain energy balance at the cellular level, in multicellular organisms its role has become adapted so that it is also involved in maintaining whole body energy balance. Thus, it is regulated by hormones and cytokines, especially the adipokines leptin and adiponectin, increasing whole body energy expenditure while regulating food intake. Some hormones may activate AMPK by an LKB1‐independent mechanism involving Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase kinases. Low levels of activation of AMPK are likely to play a role in the current global rise in obesity and Type 2 diabetes, and AMPK is the target for the widely used antidiabetic drug metformin.
Determinants of Economic Freedom: A Case Study of Greece

This paper discusses the political processes, which determine the level of Economic Freedom existing in individuals countries. Public choice theory is used to indicate how the vote-buying policies of politicians lead to reduced economic freedom but notes that their efforts are constrained by existing political cultures and public attitudes. The increases in freedom that have been observed in the past are attributed to the actions of strong political leaders, which have in the past emerged in the wake of economic crises. The increases can also result from pressures by international organizations, which make financial assistance to such countries conditional upon the acceptance of reforms required to restore economic freedom. The recent history of Greece is used to illustrate the causes and effects of changes in economic freedom observed in that country.
A Proinflammatory Role for Proteolytically Cleaved Annexin A1 in Neutrophil Transendothelial Migration

Neutrophil extravasation, a critical component of innate immunity must be tightly regulated to prevent inadvertent or prolonged inflammation and subsequent tissue damage. We have shown previously that endothelial ERK1/2 signaling essential for neutrophil transendothelial migration is induced by a soluble factor produced by activated neutrophils. In this study, we demonstrate that the soluble neutrophil factor is a truncated form of annexin A1 (AnxA1) that can be generated by calpain 1 cleavage of the N terminus, thus identifying a novel proinflammatory function to AnxA1. In contrast, neither the full-length protein nor the N-terminal 26 aa peptide, previously shown to be antiinflammatory, were able to activate Erk. Our data suggest that two different fragments of AnxA1 have opposing functions in inflammation. We also provide evidence that C-terminal AnxA1 functions by increasing ICAM1 clustering around adherent neutrophils to anchor them to the endothelium and promote transmigration through the transcellular route.
A Low Power Cascaded Feed-Forward Delta-Sigma modulator for RF Wireless Applications

This paper presents a design of a novel cascaded third-order feed-forward delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter (ADC). This ADC is realized using fully differential switched capacitor architecture and produces a 12-bit resolution at a data output rate (DOR) of 2.5 MS/s for RF wireless applications. The delta-sigma modulator consists of a second-order single-bit feed-forward modulator cascaded with a multi-bit first-order modulator. The cascaded feed-forward third-order (2-1) ADC is simulated using Matlab and Simulink. The delta-sigma modulator was designed using Cadence Virtuoso in TSMC 0.18 μm CMOS technology. The power consumption of the designed modulator is 12.74 mW, and the resolution is 11.85 bits for an over-sampling ratio (M = 32). The figure of merit is 1.38 pJ at a sample rate of 80 MS/s. The proposed delta-sigma modulator is compared with other state-of-the-art low-pass delta-sigma modulators in terms of their speed, power, DOR, and the proposed modulator has one of the lowest power consumption.
Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy in Non-small Cell Carcinoma Lung in Elderly: Initial Experience from a Rural Tertiary Cancer Centre

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and outcome of early stage non-small cell lung carcinoma in elderly patients treated with SABR in a tertiary care cancer centre in rural India. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study. All cases of histopathologically proven, stage 1 lung cancer patients in whom surgical management was not feasible due to various reasons were included. It included patients treated from 2013 to 2018 at our centre. Case records and radiation treatment plans were reviewed and data was collected. All were T1/T2N0 cases. Dose schedules employed were 48 Gy in 4 fractions, 60 Gy in 5 fractions and 60 Gy in 3 fractions. The primary end point was the tolerance and toxicity profile. Results: A total of 5 patients were treated at our center from 2013 to 2017. All were males. Mean age was 72 years. One had squamous cell and four had adenocarcinoma histology. The dose fractionation schedules employed where 48 Gy in 4 fractions, 60 Gy in 5 fractions and 60 Gy in 3 fractions. All tolerated treatment well. No grade 3 or 4 toxicities were observed. Conclusion: SABR is a feasible alternative curative treatment modality in stage 1 NSCLC. It is feasible and was tolerated well even in the elderly age group. This can be offered to medically inoperable patients as a curative treatment and is possible in a resource constrained setting also. This modality is a promise to future for operable stage 1 NSCLC also. But more randomized studies need to be carried out before applying it to operable lung cancer patients.