Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Pattern of CPP32/Caspase-3 Expression Reflects the Biological Behavior of the Human Pancreatic Duct Cell Tumors

Caspase-3/CPP32, a member of the Ced-3-family of cysteine proteases, is an important mediator of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor of the pancreas (IPMT) is a unique tumor that grows intraductally with rare stromal invasion. However, it is not possible to distinguish noninvasive from invasive IPMT preoperatively. To examine whether caspase-3 expression reflects the biological behavior of pancreatic tumors, we investigated this enzyme expression by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry in 22 pancreatic duct cell carcinomas (PDC) and 13 IPMT cases. Caspase-3 mRNA was overexpressed in PDC and IPMT with carcinoma when compared with normal pancreatic tissue or IPMT with adenoma. The immunoreactivity of this enzyme was predominantly found in the cytoplasm of invasive tumors (PDC and invasive IPMT). There was a significant correlation between the cytoplasmic staining and malignant grade of the tumors. In contrast, the nuclear expression of this enzyme was significantly higher in noninvasive than in invasive tumors (p = 0.0015). Cytoplasmic expression of caspase-3 may be related to the invasiveness of pancreatic tumors. In contrast, nuclear expression of this enzyme may reflect the benign biological behavior of IPMT.
Misconceptions about the Causes of Cancer

The major causes of cancer are: 1) smoking, which accounts for 31% of U.S. cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths; 2) dietary imbalances which account for about another third, e.g., lack of sufficient amounts of dietary fruits and vegetables. 3) chronic infections, mostly in developing countries; and 4) hormonal factors, which are influenced primarily by lifestyle. There is no cancer epidemic except for cancer of the lung due to smoking. Cancer mortality rates have declined 19% since 1950 (excluding lung cancer). Regulatory policy that focuses on traces of synthetic chemicals is based on misconceptions about animal cancer tests. Recent research indicates that rodent carcinogens are not rare. Half of all chemicals tested in standard high-dose animal cancer tests, whether occurring naturally or produced synthetically, are “carcinogens”; there are high-dose effects in rodent cancer tests that are not relevant to low-dose human exposures and which contribute to the high proportion of chemicals that test positive. The focus of regulatory policy is on synthetic chemicals, although 99.9% of the chemicals humans ingest are natural. More than 1000 chemicals have been described in coffee: 30 have been tested and 21 are rodent carcinogens. Plants in the human diet contain thousands of natural “pesticides” produced by plants to protect themselves from insects and other predators: 71 have been tested and 37 are rodent carcinogens.
Do life insurance stocks provide superior returns?

This paper examines the risk/return relationship for life insurance stock returns using generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic-capital asset pricing model (CAPM-GARCH). Prior studies use the traditional CAPM and fail to find risk-adjusted returns. Using CAPM-GARCH, we find that life insurance stocks provided 7.96 per cent risk-adjusted returns for the period 1985–2003. For the subperiods 1991–96 and 1997–2003, we find that life insurance stocks produced abnormal returns of 14.61 and 12.85 per cent, respectively. Based on these findings, we feel that financial analysts should recommend life insurance stocks for any well-diversified portfolio.
Mammalian prions

Upon prion infection, abnormal prion protein (PrPSc) self-perpetuate by conformational conversion of α-helix-rich PrPC into β sheet enriched form, leading to formation and deposition of PrPSc aggregates in affected brains. However the process remains poorly understood at the molecular level and the regions of PrP critical for conversion are still debated. Minimal amino acid substitutions can impair prion replication at many places in PrP. Conversely, we recently showed that bona fide prions could be generated after introduction of eight and up to 16 additional amino acids in the H2-H3 inter-helix loop of PrP. Prion replication also accommodated the insertions of an octapeptide at different places in the last turns of H2. This reverse genetic approach reveals an unexpected tolerance of prions to substantial sequence changes in the protease-resistant part which is associated with infectivity. It also demonstrates that conversion does not require the presence of a specific sequence in the middle of the H2-H3 area. We discuss the implications of our findings according to different structural models proposed for PrPSc and questioned the postulated existence of an N- or C-terminal prion domain in the protease-resistant region.
Induced Earthquakes from Long‐Term Gas Extraction in Groningen, the Netherlands: Statistical Analysis and Prognosis for Acceptable‐Risk Regulation

Recently, growing earthquake activity in the northeastern Netherlands has aroused considerable concern among the 600,000 provincial inhabitants. There, at 3 km deep, the rich Groningen gas field extends over 900 km2 and still contains about 600 of the original 2,800 billion cubic meters (bcm). Particularly after 2001, earthquakes have increased in number, magnitude (M, on the logarithmic Richter scale), and damage to numerous buildings. The man‐made nature of extraction‐induced earthquakes challenges static notions of risk, complicates formal risk assessment, and questions familiar conceptions of acceptable risk. Here, a 26‐year set of 294 earthquakes with M ≥ 1.5 is statistically analyzed in relation to increasing cumulative gas extraction since 1963. Extrapolations from a fast‐rising trend over 2001–2013 indicate that—under “business as usual”—around 2021 some 35 earthquakes with M ≥ 1.5 might occur annually, including four with M ≥ 2.5 (ten‐fold stronger), and one with M ≥ 3.5 every 2.5 years. Given this uneasy prospect, annual gas extraction has been reduced from 54 bcm in 2013 to 24 bcm in 2017. This has significantly reduced earthquake activity, so far. However, when extraction is stabilized at 24 bcm per year for 2017–2021 (or 21.6 bcm, as judicially established in Nov. 2017), the annual number of earthquakes would gradually increase again, with an expected all‐time maximum M ≈ 4.5. Further safety management may best follow distinct stages of seismic risk generation, with moderation of gas extraction and massive (but late and slow) building reinforcement as outstanding strategies. Officially, “acceptable risk” is mainly approached by quantification of risk (e.g., of fatal building collapse) for testing against national safety standards, but actual (local) risk estimation remains problematic. Additionally important are societal cost–benefit analysis, equity considerations, and precautionary restraint. Socially and psychologically, deliberate attempts are made to improve risk communication, reduce public anxiety, and restore people's confidence in responsible experts and policymakers.
Clinical findings and prognostic factors for dogs undergoing cholecystectomy for gall bladder mucocele.

OBJECTIVE To report clinical findings and explore prognostic factors for dogs that had cholecystectomy for gall bladder mucocele. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS Dogs (n = 43) with gall bladder mucoceles. RESULTS Diagnosis of gall bladder mucoceles was confirmed by histopathology and 74% were diagnosed based on preoperative abdominal ultrasonography. Intraoperative evidence of gall bladder rupture was noted in 10 dogs (23%), and 16 (37%) had evidence of previous leakage in the abdominal cavity. One dog had positive bacterial growth from the gall bladder content. The most common histopathologic findings in liver biopsies obtained at surgery were cholangiohepatitis, biliary hyperplasia, or cholestasis. Univariate analysis showed evidence of postoperative hypotension (P = .05) to be significantly negatively associated with survival. Significant difference in mean postoperative serum lactate (P = .034) and postoperative packed cell volume (P = .063) between dogs that survived and died was also noted. CONCLUSIONS Elevations in postoperative serum lactate concentrations and immediate postoperative hypotension in dogs undergoing cholecystectomy for gall bladder mucoceles are associated with poor clinical outcome.
Impaired Pulmonary Clearance of Pneumococci in Neonatal Rats

ABSTRACT. Lung infections are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. To evaluate neonatal lung defenses against pneumococci, we challenged rats with aerosols of encapsulated pneumococci in an airborne infection apparatus. Whereas adult rats cleared >95% of inhaled type 1 or type 25 pneumococci within 4 h, pneumococci proliferated in the lungs of newborn rats and reached 200-600% of the baseline value by 4 h and 1000-1700% by 24 h. As neonatal rats matured, their ability to clear inhaled pneumococci improved, but compared with adults some impairment in clearance was present until approximately 4 wk of age. Newborn rats had significantly fewer resident alveolar macrophages per g of lung tissue than did adults (p < 0.001). Although the number of resident macrophages increased with time, a significant deficit in alveolar macrophages persisted for the first 3 wk of life (p < 0.01). Aerosols of pneumococci caused an influx of granulocytes into the lungs of adult rats within 4 h, compared with 24 h for neonatal rats. Even at 24 h after pneumococcal challenge, newborn rats had significantly fewer granulocytes per g of lung tissue (p < 0.05) than did adults, although 7-day-old rats had reached an adult level by this time. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in granulocyte chemotactic activity were observed in lavage fluids of adult, but not newborn, rats after pneumococcal challenge. Thus, impaired clearance of pneumococcal aerosols by neonatal rats was associated with an age-dependent deficiency in numbers of resident alveolar macrophages and impaired generation of chemotactic activity and recruitment of granulocytes to the lung.
A good alternative to reduce the kidney shortage: kidneys from nonheartbeating donors.

BACKGROUND Because of the shortage of kidneys available for transplantation, we began in 1985 to harvest kidneys from non-heartbeating (NHB) donors. METHODS We compared the results of a group of 66 kidney recipients from NHB donors (NHB group) with 122 kidney recipients from heartbeating donors (HB group). We analyzed, in the NHB group, the influence of ischemia times in graft survival and we tested the best cut-offs by receiver operating characteristic curves. We also studied, using a univariate and multivariate Cox hazard model, the capacity of different variables to predict graft loss. RESULTS Patient and graft survival were similar in both groups during the follow-up. The percentage of delayed graft function was the only significant difference between both groups (NHB group 62% vs. HB group 32%; P=0.0001). Delayed graft function, in the NHB group, is influenced by the warm ischemia time, which is directly related to the number of days to achieve a serum creatinine<300 mmol/L (P=0.0001). The best cut-off times in this group were 45 min for warm ischemia time and 22 hr for cold ischemia time. Recipients have a greater likelihood of losing the graft beyond those limits (P=0.017, relative risk: 7.3). The incidence of acute rejection was similar in both groups, and it was the only predictor factor of graft loss in the complete series of patients (P=0.0001), in the NHB group (P=0.007), and in the HB group (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS Reducing the incidence of acute rejection and shortening ischemia time are conditions needed to guarantee a long graft survival of kidneys from NHB donors.
A simple stimulatory device for evoking point-like tactile stimuli: a searchlight for LFP to spike transitions.

Current neurophysiological research has the aim to develop methodologies to investigate the signal route from neuron to neuron, namely in the transitions from spikes to Local Field Potentials (LFPs) and from LFPs to spikes. LFPs have a complex dependence on spike activity and their relation is still poorly understood(1). The elucidation of these signal relations would be helpful both for clinical diagnostics (e.g. stimulation paradigms for Deep Brain Stimulation) and for a deeper comprehension of neural coding strategies in normal and pathological conditions (e.g. epilepsy, Parkinson disease, chronic pain). To this aim, one has to solve technical issues related to stimulation devices, stimulation paradigms and computational analyses. Therefore, a custom-made stimulation device was developed in order to deliver stimuli well regulated in space and time that does not incur in mechanical resonance. Subsequently, as an exemplification, a set of reliable LFP-spike relationships was extracted. The performance of the device was investigated by extracellular recordings, jointly spikes and LFP responses to the applied stimuli, from the rat Primary Somatosensory cortex. Then, by means of a multi-objective optimization strategy, a predictive model for spike occurrence based on LFPs was estimated. The application of this paradigm shows that the device is adequately suited to deliver high frequency tactile stimulation, outperforming common piezoelectric actuators. As a proof of the efficacy of the device, the following results were presented: 1) the timing and reliability of LFP responses well match the spike responses, 2) LFPs are sensitive to the stimulation history and capture not only the average response but also the trial-to-trial fluctuations in the spike activity and, finally, 3) by using the LFP signal it is possible to estimate a range of predictive models that capture different aspects of the spike activity.
Match Rates, Individual Development Accounts, and Saving by the Poor

Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) provide poor people with matches for savings used for home purchase, post-secondary education, or microenterprise. Match rates for IDAs in the American Dream Demonstration (ADD) were typically 1:1 or 2:1 but ranged as high as 7:1. How did the match rate affect IDA savings? The analysis here controls for a number of confounding factors often ignored in similar studies of 401(k) plans. In ADD, higher match rates were generally associated on the extensive margin with a greater likelihood of saving something in IDAs and—on the intensive margin for those who saved something—a lower level of IDA savings.
Speculative Trading in the Gold Market

In this paper we use a recently developed econometric test to identify bubble-like price behaviour in the gold market. We find that the price of gold followed an explosive price process between 2002 and 2012 and exhibited super-exponential growth between 2002 and 2008, indicating excessive speculative trading and exuberance in the gold market. We also provide a theoretical foundation for such bubble tests based on a behavioural model in which chartists can cause episodes of explosive price dynamics.The identification strategy yields economically intuitive results and is a simple alternative to using more complex estimation techniques commonly used in the heterogeneous agents literature.
A Sensor To Detect the Early Stages in the Development of Crystalline Proteus mirabilis Biofilm on Indwelling Bladder Catheters

ABSTRACT A simple sensor has been developed to detect the early stages of urinary catheter encrustation and avoid the clinical crises induced by catheter blockage. In laboratory models of colonization by Proteus mirabilis, the sensor signaled encrustation at an average time of 43 h before catheters were blocked with crystalline biofilm.
Choice of strategic variables under relative profit maximization in asymmetric oligopoly: non-equivalence of price strategy and quantity strategy

We considerÂ choice of strategic variables under relative profit maximizationÂ in an asymmetric oligopoly with differentiatedÂ goods such that there are three firms,Â Firm 2 and 3 have the same cost function, but Firm 1 has a different cost function. Â We show that there are two pure strategy sub-game perfect equilibria. 1) All firms choose the outputs as their strategic variables,Â 2)Firm 2 and 3 choose the outputs as their strategic variables, and Firm 1 chooses the price as its strategic variable.
Measuring Accessibility: A Review and Proposal

An attempt is made to clarify some of the confusion about the notion of accessibility by examining the limitations, strengths, and conceptual bases of distance, topological, gravity, and cumulative-opportunity measures of accessibility. In their aggregate and disaggregate states the measures are practical, enabling measurement into the future and measurement with a minimum of data, but the assumptions that all nodes are potential destinations and that all origins are known severely restrict the meaning and uses of the measures. Time—space measures of accessibility do not make these assumptions although they are data hungry, retrospective, and share with the other measures the narrow conception of accessibility as a property of the built environment. It is proposed that accessibility be thought of as a vacancy in an activity routine and that it be measured in terms of the disruption involved in creating it.
Tudor Domain Containing Protein TDRD12 Expresses at the Acrosome of Spermatids in Mouse Testis

Tdrd12 is one of tudor domain containing (Tdrd) family members. However, the expression pattern of Tdrd12 has not been well studied. To compare the expression levels of Tdrd12 in various tissues, real time-polymerase chain reaction was performed using total RNAs from liver, small intestine, heart, brain, kidney, lung, spleen, stomach, uterus, ovary, and testis. Tdrd12 mRNA was highly expressed in testis. Antibody against mouse TDRD12 were generated using amino acid residues SQRPNEKPLRLTEKKDC of TDRD12 to investigate TDRD12 localization in testis. Immunostaining assay shows that TDRD12 is mainly localized at the spermatid in the seminiferous tubules of adult testes. During postnatal development, TDRD12 is differentially expressed. TDRD12 was detected in early spermatocytes at 2 weeks and TDRD12 was localized at acrosome of the round spermatids. TDRD12 expression was not co-localized with TDRD1 which is an important component of piRNA pathway in germ cells. Our results indicate that TDRD12 may play an important role in spermatids and function as a regulator of spermatogenesis in dependent of TDRD1.
The impairment of lignocaine clearance by propranolol--major contribution from enzyme inhibition.

To account for a 40% lowering of the systemic clearance of lignocaine by propranolol treatment it has been proposed that propranolol reduces liver blood flow by 25% and causes a 50% decrease in the intrinsic clearance of lignocaine by enzyme inhibition. In theory, the contribution of direct enzyme inhibition is best evaluated using oral administration of lignocaine when models of hepatic drug clearance predict that propranolol could increase the AUCpo of lignocaine by 100-140%. This hypothesis was tested in six healthy men who received 200 mg lignocaine HCl X H2O orally with and without propranolol pre-treatment (80 mg twice daily for 3 days). Propranolol treatment increased the mean plasma AUCpo of lignocaine by 113 +/- 58 s.d. % (P less than 0.005); it increased the peak plasma lignocaine concentration by 79 +/- 50 s.d. % (P less than 0.025) and it prolonged the elimination half-life of lignocaine by 20 +/- 13 s.d. % (P less than 0.05). Propranolol treatment lowered indocyanine green clearance by 11 +/- 15 s.d. %, but this change was not significant statistically. These experimental results are in accord with the theoretical predictions suggesting that propranolol lowers the systemic clearance of lignocaine mainly by direct inhibition of its metabolism rather than by a lowering of the hepatic blood flow.
Dynamic Recapitalization Policies and the Role of Call Premia and Issue Discounts

Abstract In a dynamic framework, the advantage of leverage depends upon the firm's recapitalization policy. We show that if bonds are callable at par, then equityholders have an incentive to recapitalize too early. Call premia and issue discounts, however, mitigate the agency problem of early recapitalization. The model provides the optimal call premium and issue discount as a function of firm-specific characteristics. An analysis of a bond sample supports the model's prediction that the optimal call premium is positively related to firm risk.
Measuring technical progress in matching models of the labour market

Technical Progress in matching models of the labour market has not received serious attention. This article examines the impact on the results of these models when an attempt is made to allow time to enter in a realistic fashion, and finds that recently published results on the possibility of multiple equilibria are overturned. Also, different parametric representations of the matching technology are compared, with problems of more general forms not satisfying regularity conditions being identified. While the possibility of Pareto-improving government intervention due to multiple equilibria arising out of increasing returns to scale cannot be supported, the results suggest a role for government intervention in the labour market.
A Three-Dimensional Biomechanical Evaluation of Quadriceps and Hamstrings Function Using Electrical Stimulation

Neurological disorders such as stroke impair locomotor control and result in abnormal 3-D gait kinematics. Establishment of effective rehabilitation strategies requires an understanding of how individual muscles contribute to pathological movement. Forward dynamic simulations account for complexities of interjoint coupling and can be used to predict dynamic muscle function. However to date, limited experimental validations of dynamic models have been performed. Our objective was to measure 3-D movement induced by the biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus lateralis (VL) in limb configurations corresponding to the swing phase of gait, and to assess the biomechanical factors that affect dynamic function. Subjects were positioned in a robotic gait orthosis that included a compliant interface. Electrical stimulation was introduced into individual muscles while induced hip and knee joint movements were recorded. Measured hip to knee sagittal plane acceleration ratios were consistent with dynamic musculoskeletal model simulations. However RF and VL induced substantially larger frontal plane hip movements than model-based predictions. Sensitivity analyses on musculoskeletal model parameters revealed that muscle function depends primarily on moment arm assumptions. Though generic musculoskeletal models are suitable for predicting sagittal plane muscle function, improvements in moment arm accuracy are essential for investigation of 3-D pathological gait.
Quality Part-time Work: Can Law Provide a Framework?

Abstract This article reviews the existing legal mechanisms for women to seek access to part-time work in order to reconcile their family responsibilities with their work The main avenue used has been anti-discrimination law, where women have claimed that an employer's refusal to allow them to return to work from maternity leave part time is indirect discrimination. Despite the success of several cases on this ground, there are other cases which suggest it is not a firm foundation for an entitlement. Even if it was firmly established, it is inadequate, as it does not assist fathers who seek part-time work, and it is vague and difficult to access. Nor does it ensure that the part-time work available will be of good quality and that women will still be taken seriously in the workforce. It is concluded that specific reforms similar to the ‘right to request’ flexible work provision n the UK would be strongly preferable.