Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the loss of retinal ganglion cells in diabetic retinopathy

Endoplasmic reticulum stress is closely involved in the early stage of diabetic retinopathy. In the present study, a streptozotocin-induced diabetic animal model was given an intraperitoneal injection of tauroursodeoxycholic acid. Results from immunofluorescent co-localization experiments showed that both caspase-12 protein and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 phosphorylation levels significantly in-creased, which was associated with retinal ganglion cell death in diabetic retinas. The C/ERB mologous protein pathway directly contributed to glial reactivity, and was subsequently responsible for neuronal loss and vascular abnormalities in diabetic retinopathy. Our experimental findings dicate that endoplasmic reticulum stress plays an important role in diabetes-induced retinal neu-ronal loss and vascular abnormalities, and that inhibiting the activation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway provides effective protection against diabetic retinopathy.
The application of dynamic programming to optimal inventory control

This paper concerns a class of deterministic impulse control problems, arising in inventory control. A notable feature of the problem formulation is the presence of an end-point constraint. In consequence, the value function may be discontinuous. Viability theory provides a characterization of the value function as the unique lower semicontinuous solution to a Bensoussan-Lions type quasi-variational inequality (QVI), suitably interpreted for nondifferentiable, extended valued functions. Yet there are few examples in the literature of the use of this analytical machinery. This paper provides such an example. The example, which concerns a problem for which the value function is neither everywhere finite valued nor continuously differentiable on the interior of its effective domain, illustrates what is involved in calculating subdifferentials and checking satisfaction of QVI (in a generalized sense). This paper also provides a summary of the underlying theory, and gathers in the Appendix proofs of key results.
Analysis of Influencing Factors of Chinese Residents' SWB:A Comprehensive Analytical Framework

Based on data from the World Values Survey(WVS),we analyzed the trend of evaluation of the residents' subjective well-being and its influencing factors over the past two decades.We found that Chinese residents' subjective well-being can be explained by "Income-happiness paradox". We built an analytical framework from the demographic factors,economic factors,family factors,work factors,relationship factors and emotional factors on subjective well-being,and found that these factors are significant in statistics.Economic,family and work factors are the most important factors,and people obtain higher income,have good family relationships,satisfied with the job,have interpersonal harmony and positive feelings are happier.The results show that we must vigorously promote social development and the progress of civilization after a certain stage of rapid economic development,meet the increasing variety of non-material needs of the people,and then improve effectively the level of residents' subjective well-being.
Reconstruction with loss of the hyomandibular complex in excision of large cancers.

Surgeons treating large cancers of the head and neck find that tumors in two locations present particularly formidable problems. One of these areas is the base of the tongue, where large neoplasms are difficult to remove without sacrifice of the essential blood supply to both sides of the tongue. This results usually in total glossectomy and must often be followed by removal of the larynx, even though this important structure be entirely free of tumor. If laryngectomy is not performed, the patient may succumb to aspiration pneumonia, due to inability to keep food and saliva out of the trachea in the absence of a tongue. A second particularly troublesome tumor is one that involves the symphysis of the mandible and related muscles supporting the hyoid bone, larynx, and tongue. Removal of this important functional unit may leave the patient unable to breathe by way of the larynx and unable to
Impacts of the WTO accession on Chinese exports

Abstract Using firm-level panel data of the Chinese electrical machinery and communication equipment manufacturers, this paper reveals that, after the entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO, henceforth), the export of Chinese firms was accelerated by a rise of productivity, but was not uniform among ownership structures. Classifying the firms into private domestic firms, state-owned enterprises, and foreign-invested enterprises, our empirical estimation concludes that the entry into the WTO had a ‘productivity effect’ on Chinese exports, and an asymmetric ‘ownership effect,’ which was less favorable to the exports for state-owned enterprises.
Is it time for preemptive drug treatment of asymptomatic (smoldering) multiple myeloma?

Abstract Asymptomatic (smoldering) multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous plasma cell proliferative disorder with a variable rate of progression to active multiple myeloma or related disorders. Hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, anemia, bone lesions or recurrent bacterial infections characterize active multiple myeloma. Some patients with asymptomatic myeloma develop active disease rapidly, and others can stay asymptomatic for many years. Those who are likely to progress within the first 2 years of diagnosis have been categorized as having high-risk disease. The availability of novel agents in the treatment of active multiple myeloma and our better understanding of the heterogeneity of asymptomatic multiple myeloma have spurred interest in the early treatment of these patients. We have reviewed the current proposed definitions of high-risk asymptomatic multiple myeloma, the concerns about future therapy in view of the transient nature, remissions and toxicities of the therapies, and the eventual relapses that characterize this incurable disease.
Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy for pancreatic carcinoma: the Mayo Clinic experience (1975-2005).

PURPOSE To determine prognostic factors and impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) on overall survival (OS) after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective review 472 consecutive patients who underwent complete resection with negative margins (R0) for invasive carcinoma (T1-3N0-1M0) of the pancreas between 1975 and 2005 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Exclusion criteria included metastatic or unresectable disease at surgery, positive surgical margins, and indolent tumor types (islet cell tumors and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma). Median RT dose was 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions; 98% of RT patients also received concurrent fluorouracil-based CT. RESULTS Six patients died within 30 days of surgery. For the 466 surviving patients, median follow-up was 32.4 months; median OS was 21.6 months. Median OS after adjuvant CT-RT was 25.2 versus 19.2 months after no adjuvant therapy (P = .001). Two-year OS was 50% versus 39%, and 5-year OS was 28% versus 17%. Adverse prognostic factors identified by univariate and multivariate analysis included positive lymph nodes (risk ratio [RR] = 1.3; P < .001), high histologic grade (RR = 1.2; P < .001), and no adjuvant therapy (RR = 1.3; P < .001). Tumor extension beyond the pancreas was an adverse prognostic factor by univariate analysis alone (P = .03). Patients receiving adjuvant therapy had more adverse prognostic factors than those not receiving adjuvant therapy (P = .001). CONCLUSION This study represents one of the largest, single-institution, retrospective reviews of adjuvant therapy in patients after R0 resection of carcinoma of the pancreas. Overall survival was better in patients who received adjuvant CT-RT.
Tunnel FET with non-uniform gate capacitance for improved device and circuit level performance

We propose and report the significant improvement obtained by a non-uniform gate capacitance made by appropriate combination of high-k and low-k regions over the tunneling and the channel regions of a heterostucture TFET (called HKLKTFET). In addition to significantly enhanced ION and subthreshold swing, we find that this structure offers great improvements for the dynamic switching energy (66% saving) and propagation delay (~3X fast operation) compared to a heterostructure TFET (HeTFET) due to the reduction of the Miller effect. We compare and benchmark the proposed device against a 65nm low stand-by power (LSP) CMOS technology, and we show that at a supply voltage of VDD = 0.4V , TFETs can have smaller propagation delays compared to CMOS operating in the subthreshold region.
Early Growth Response Genes Regulate B Cell Development, Proliferation, and Immune Response1

Egr-1 (early growth response gene-1) is an immediate early gene encoding a zinc finger motif-containing transcription factor. Upon cross-linking of BCR, mature B cells undergo proliferation with an increase in Egr-1 message. Immature B lymphoma cells that express Egr-1 message and protein constitutively are growth inhibited when Egr-1 is down-regulated by negative signals from BCR or by antisense oligonucleotides. To test the hypothesis that Egr-1 is important for B cell development, we examined B cells from primary and secondary lymphoid organs in Egr-1−/− mice. Marginal zone B cell development was arrested in these mice, whereas the B cells in all other compartments were increased. To test the hypothesis that Egr-1 function may be partially compensated by other Egr family members, we developed transgenic mice expressing a dominant negative form of Egr-1, which lacks the trans activation domain but retains the DNA-binding domain, in a B cell-specific manner. There was a decrease in B lymphopoiesis in the bone marrow accompanied by a reduction in splenic immature and mature B cells as well as marginal zone B cells in the transgenic mice. Moreover, transgenic mice respond poorly to BCR cross-linking in vitro and T-independent and T-dependent Ags in vivo.
Foreign Resource Inflows and Domestic Revenue Mobilization in Ethiopia: A Co-integration & Granger Causality Analysis

This study examines the effect of foreign resource inflows and domestic revenue mobilization in Ethiopia over the period 1980 to 2014 using co-integration and vector error correction analysis. All the necessary time series tests such as stationary test, model sufficiency, co-integration test are conducted. The variables in the model are co-integrated and show long run relations. The empirical result from the model shows that aid and grant have positive effect on domestic revenue mobilization in the long run. Also, the granger causality analysis reveals that there is a bi-directional causal relationship between real GDP growth and domestic revenue mobilization in Ethiopia. This implies that the country has to give strong emphasis on domestic revenue mobilization for the sustainable economic development of the country. Therefore, aid recipient country like Ethiopia has to work hard on how to enhance domestic revenue raising capacity of the country which is at the heart of meeting the capital required for the sustainable economic growth and development in times of short falls and precariousness of external sources of finance. Keywords : Domestic Revenue; Foreign Aid; Foreign Grant; External Borrowing; Ethiopia
Noise parameters of SiGe HBTs in mmW range: towards a full in situ measurement extraction

In this paper, an in-situ extraction of the four noise parameters (NF<inf>min</inf>, R<inf>n</inf>, Γ<inf>opt</inf>) of SiGe HBTs in mmW range (D-Band, 130–170 GHz) is described. Because an external mechanical tuner features high losses in such frequency mmW range, the first idea was to integrate an in-situ tuner directly on the silicon wafer. The concept was then extended in order to integrate more elements on silicon.
Deoxy-ribonucleic acid repair genes XRCC1 and XPD polymorphisms and brain tumor risk.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether polymorphisms in the deoxy-ribonucleic acid (DNA) repair genes XRCC1 and XPD, have efficacy in the development of brain tumors. METHODS This is a case-population based study, including 135 cases of brain tumors, and 87 population based age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We examined the role of XRCC1 Arg 399Gln gene and XPD Lys751Gln gene polymorphisms, in the context of brain tumor risk for the Turkish population between 2004 and 2007 at Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey. Patients with brain tumors were subdivided into glial tumors (n=71), meningiomas (n=35), pituitary adenomas (n=21), and metastases to the brain (n=8). The diagnoses of brain tumors in all patients were analyzed by histopathological examination. Genomic DNA of leukocytes for polymerase chain reaction analysis was isolated. RESULTS Association of genotype of both XRCC1 Arg399Gln and XPD Lys751Gln genotypes with tumor types, tumors according to brain subtypes were, 71 (52.6%) meningiomas, 35 glial (25.9%), 21 (15.55%) pituitary adenomas, and 8 (5.9%) metastases to the brain. Between subtypes of tumors, there was a significant difference in XRCC1 Arg399Gln genotypes, and not in XPD Lys751Gln genotypes. CONCLUSION The results indicated no elevated risk for brain tumors in individuals with the XRCC1 Arg399Gln and XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism risk.
Transcriptional Orchestration of the Global Cellular Response of a Model Pennate Diatom to Diel Light Cycling under Iron Limitation

Environmental fluctuations affect distribution, growth and abundance of diatoms in nature, with iron (Fe) availability playing a central role. Studies on the response of diatoms to low Fe have either utilized continuous (24 hr) illumination or sampled a single time of day, missing any temporal dynamics. We profiled the physiology, metabolite composition, and global transcripts of the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum during steady-state growth at low, intermediate, and high levels of dissolved Fe over light:dark cycles, to better understand fundamental aspects of genetic control of physiological acclimation to growth under Fe-limitation. We greatly expand the catalog of genes involved in the low Fe response, highlighting the importance of intracellular trafficking in Fe-limited diatoms. P. tricornutum exhibited transcriptomic hallmarks of slowed growth leading to prolonged periods of cell division/silica deposition, which could impact biogeochemical carbon sequestration in Fe-limited regions. Light harvesting and ribosome biogenesis transcripts were generally reduced under low Fe while transcript levels for genes putatively involved in the acquisition and recycling of Fe were increased. We also noted shifts in expression towards increased synthesis and catabolism of branched chain amino acids in P. tricornutum grown at low Fe whereas expression of genes involved in central core metabolism were relatively unaffected, indicating that essential cellular function is protected. Beyond the response of P. tricornutum to low Fe, we observed major coordinated shifts in transcript control of primary and intermediate metabolism over light:dark cycles which contribute to a new view of the significance of distinctive diatom pathways, such as mitochondrial glycolysis and the ornithine-urea cycle. This study provides new insight into transcriptional modulation of diatom physiology and metabolism across light:dark cycles in response to Fe availability, providing mechanistic understanding for the ability of diatoms to remain metabolically poised to respond quickly to Fe input and revealing strategies underlying their ecological success.
Directional sexual selection on chroma and within–pattern colour contrast in Labeotropheus fuelleborni

Speciation via intersexual selection on male nuptial colour pattern is thought to have been a major force in promoting the explosive speciation of African haplochromine cichlids, yet there is very little direct empirical evidence of directional preferences within populations. In this study, we used objective spectrophotometry and analyses based on visual physiology to determine whether females of the Katale population of Labeotropheus fuelleborni, a Lake Malawi haplochromine, prefer males that have higher chroma and more within–pattern colour contrast. In paired male preference tests, female Katale L. fuelleborni showed increasing preferences for males with more relatively saturated colours on their flanks. They also showed increasing preferences for males with relatively higher contrast levels among flank elements. This is the first empirical evidence, to our knowledge, for male colour as a directionally sexually selected trait within a haplochromine cichlid population.
Pharmacological actions of the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine: A review

Clozapine [8‐chloro‐11‐(4‐methyl‐1‐piperazinyl)‐3H‐dibenzo (b,e)(1,4) diazepinel, or clozaril, is a member of the dibenazepine class of antipsychotic drugs. Initially, studies in animals using a number of neurochemical, biochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral paradigms indicated that clozapine was markedly different from various typical antipsychotic drugs such as haloperidol and chlorpromazine. Subsequently, clinical studies have shown that clozapine is effective in ameliorating the core symptoms, as well as the negative symptoms, in schizophrenia. However, clozapine has a much lower propensity for inducing neurological side effects after acute or repeated administration compared to various typical neuroleptics. Furthermore, clozapine is therapeutically effective in treating about 30% of schizophrenic patients who are resistant to standard antipsychotic drugs. Based on the above information, clozapine has been designated an atypical antipsychotic drug. However, at this time, it is not entirely clear why clozapine is such a unique antipsychotic drug.
Detectability of newborn chirp-evoked ABR in the frequency domain at different stimulus rates

Abstract Objective: The present paper reports the results of a study on a group of newborns whose chirp-evoked auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were recorded at different repetition rates. The study was aimed at finding an optimum repetition rate for the chirp stimulus that facilitates a short response detection time in the frequency domain. Design: Chirp-evoked ABR were recorded at six different stimulation rates between 20/s and 100/s. The stimulation level was 35 dB nHL. The mean harmonic related SNR was calculated, and the response detection time and rate were assessed using a detection algorithm. Study sample: A group of 80 sleeping and 27 awake newborns with normal hearing were included. Results: The highest mean harmonic-related SNR in both groups was found at 60/s. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was significantly smaller for the awake newborns. A significantly shorter detection time can be achieved for both newborn groups at 60/s compared to the other rates tested. Response detection in the group of awake newborns profited more from the change to 60/s compared to the sleeping newborns. Conclusions: It can be expected that with this optimized stimulus paradigm a shorter test time and a higher specificity of the hearing screening can be reached.
On a spatial smoothing technique for multiple source location

This correspondence presents an alternate proof for the spatial smoothing technique recently proposed for multiple source location. Specifically, it is proved that the number of subarrays required to ensure a nonsingular covariance matrix is m + 1 where m is the nullity of the source covariance matrix. Also, it is shown that this number can be reduced if a specific basis can be found for the null eigenspace of the covariance matrix satisfying certain properties.
Avoidable maternal deaths: Three ways to help now

Abstract The current paper examines the realities of women delivering in resource-poor settings, and recommends cost-effective, scalable strategies for making these deliveries safer. Ninety-five percent of maternal deaths occur in poor settings, and the largest proportion of these deaths are women who deliver at home, far away from health care facilities, and without financial access to skilled providers. This situation will improve only when policymakers and programme planners refocus their attention on service delivery and financing interventions, with the potential to reach the largest portion of women living in places where mortality is the highest. We suggest three feasible interventions that can potentially minimise both demand and supply side problems of safe delivery: (1) misoprostol to treat postpartum haemorrhage, an easy to use and heat stable technology to reduce the leading cause of maternal deaths; (2) alternative providers, such as clinical officers, trained to offer emergency obstetric care services; (3) financing safe delivery through vouchers or other mechanisms that can be implemented in poor settings and made attractive to the donor community through output-based assistance (OBA).
Successful Exit Processes of SMEs in Australia

Whilst it may be an idealistic notion that businesses will continue to grow and long outlast their founders, the reality is that most businesses have finite lives with the vast majority of Australian business start-ups ceasing to exist within fifteen years. The reasons for business expiration are essentially: failure, voluntary closure, and harvest. The nature of SMEs in Australia is that there are many start-ups and almost as many failures each year. Whilst there are significant studies on business cessation, there has been very little research focus on business exits (harvesting) that does not include business liquidation (voluntary or involuntary). The main aim of this research was to undertake an empirical study of Australian SME exits to identify the process that owners of SMEs undertake to execute a successful exit. A research framework for business exits was developed that consisted of a process with three overlapping stages: exit contemplation, exit planning, and exit execution. This study was based on an exploratory case methodology which focussed on the exit process undertaken by twelve Australian SMEs. From the results of the study the findings revealed that Australian SMEs undertake two types of exit process; one for reactive scenarios where owners responded to unsolicited offers from buyers, and proactive scenarios where owners prepare their businesses for an exit, identify potential buyers, and then execute an exit. Reactive exits are simpler and quicker to conduct than proactive exits. They are also less expensive to transact, less disruptive to their businesses, and because of their quick transaction time, pose a lower overall risk. The major management implication for exiting owners from this study is that exit preparation, not planning, is the key to achieving a successful exit. Preparation was identified to take two forms: deliberate or inadvertent. These activities contribute or build towards the business’s saleability by removing potential exit barriers and enhancing the businesses brand, potential, and profitability. For buyers of small businesses this study concludes that in cases of craftsman style owners, an exit is often not about the price. For these owners, exits coincided with waning satisfaction because of management complexity, changed lifestyle requirements, or simply, longevity.