Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cancer Genetics Fundamentals

It is often said that cancer is genetic. What exactly does that mean? This article is our answer to that question at the turn of the millennium. We present models of carcinogenesis, review basic cancer genetics terminology, and explain some of the fundamental genetic changes common to all types of cancer. These are organized into 6 sections of (1) self-sufficiency in growth signals, (2) insensitivity to growth-inhibitory signals, (3) evasion of programmed cell death, (4) limitless replicative potential, (5) sustained angiogenesis, and (6) tissue invasion and metastases. Underlying all of these changes are the even more fundamental enabling factors of genetic instability on both the chromosomal and the gene level. Finally, we look toward the future in a field where the future is now!
environmentally complex biome Prediction of phylogeographic endemism in an

Phylogeographic endemism, the degree to which the history of recently evolved lineages is spatially restricted, reflects fundamental evolutionary processes such as cryptic divergence, adaptation and biological responses to environmental heterogeneity. Attempts to explain the extraordinary diversity of the tropics, which often includes deep phylogeographic structure, frequently invoke interactions of climate variability across space, time and topography. To evaluate historical versus contemporary drivers of phylogeographic endemism in a tropical system, we analyse the effects of current and past climatic variation on the genetic diversity of 25 vertebrates in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. We identify two divergent bioclimatic domains within the forest and high turnover around the Rio Doce. Independent modelling of these domains demonstrates that endemism patterns are subject to different climatic drivers. Past climate dynamics, specifically areas of relative stability, predict phylogeographic endemism in the north. Conversely, contemporary climatic heterogeneity better explains endemism in the south. These results accord with recent speleothem and fossil pollen studies, suggesting that climatic variability through the last 250 kyr impacted the northern and the southern forests differently. Incorporating sub-regional differences in climate dynamics will enhance our ability to understand those processes shaping high phylogeographic and species endemism, in the Neotropics and beyond. correlation coefficients, testing for significance after correcting for spatial autocorrelation. Additionally, we used SAM’s partial least-squares regression analysis to determine coefficients of determination ( r 2 ) and examine the relative explanatory power of historical versus contemporary climatic diversity in predictions of phylogeographic endemism.
A variable degree of intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation in a family with a missense mutation in the insulin-like growth factor I receptor.

CONTEXT The type 1 IGF-I receptor (IGF1R) mediates the biological functions of IGF-I. Binding of IGF-I to the IGF1R results in autophosphorylation of the intracellular beta-subunit and activation of intracellular signaling. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the functional characteristics of a novel IGF1R mutation and describe the phenotypic features of two patients with this mutation. DESIGN The study was performed in a university hospital. PATIENTS We describe a 35-yr-old female with mild intrauterine growth failure, progressive postnatal growth retardation, severe failure to thrive, and microcephaly. Her daughter was born with severe intrauterine growth retardation and also showed postnatal failure to thrive and microcephaly. RESULTS We found a heterozygous G3148-->A nucleotide substitution in the IGF1R gene, changing a negatively charged glutamic acid at position 1050 into a positively charged lysine residue (E1050K). E1050 is a conserved residue in the intracellular kinase domain. Dermal fibroblasts of the mother showed normal binding of iodinated IGF-I, but autophosphorylation and activation of downstream signaling cascades upon challenging with IGF-I was markedly reduced. Consequently, the maximal [(3)H]thymidine incorporation upon challenge with a dose range of IGF-I was reduced compared with a panel of control cells (3.65 +/- 1.79-fold vs. 6.75 +/- 4.7-fold stimulation; P < 0.01). These data suggest that the mutation results in the inactivation of one copy of the IGF1R gene. CONCLUSIONS These two patients support the key role for IGF-I in intrauterine and postnatal growth. The different phenotypes of these and earlier described patients may be associated with variability in IGF-I signaling. The degree of intrauterine growth retardation may be partially determined by the presence or absence of maternal IGF-I resistance.
Retrospective Voting and Electoral Volatility: A Nordic Perspective

This article examines why people vote for the same party, switch parties or move from voting to non-voting at consecutive elections. By using post-election survey data from Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden in the beginning of the 2000s, the main aim is to model the impact of retrospective evaluations of party performance while controlling for theoretically relevant variables. The results of the multinomial regression analyses confirm that dissatisfaction with the performance of a party correlates strongly with party defection, and that the relationship is not weakened with the inclusion of variables for general dissatisfaction with the political system and its actors, standard background factors and political variables. This suggests that many voters are concerned with valence issues and value the overall competence of politicians and parties when they are making a decision whom to vote for.
Multi-item inventory model with quantity-dependent inventory costs and demand-dependent unit cost under imprecise objective and restrictions: A geometric programming approach

A multi-item inventory model with constant demand and infinite replenishment is developed under the restrictions on storage area, total average shortage cost and total average inventory investment cost. These restrictions may be precise or imprecise. Here, it is assumed that inventory costs are directly proportional to the respective quantities, and unit purchase/production cost is inversely related to the demand. Restricted shortages are allowed but fully backlogged. First, the problem is formulated in crisp environment taking the deterministic and precise inventory parameters. It is solved by both geometric programming (GP) and gradient-based non-linear programming (NLP) methods. Later, the problem is formulated with fuzzy goals on constraints and objectives where impreciseness is introduced through linear membership functions. It is solved using the fuzzy geometric programming (FGP) method. The inventory models are illustrated with numerical values and compared with the crisp results. A sensitivity analysis on the optimum order quantity and average cost is also presented due to the variation in the tolerance of total average inventory investment cost and total average shortage cost following Dutta et al., 1993, Fuzzy Sets and Systems, 55, 133-142.
Probability of Survival as an Investment Criterion

Suppose that an investing firm is primarily interested in achieving a specified minimum return critical to its economic survival. Then it seems appropriate to maximize the probability of exceeding the aspiration level. This decision criterion will be applied in the context of several stochastic static investment models with budget constraint. As long as the aspiration level does not exceed the maximum expected return achievable with the given budget, the desired investment strategy must be sought among the efficient solutions in the Markowitz sense. For higher aspiration levels this is no longer true. For the special case of the Markowitz model we show that all investment projects with expected yield not exceeding the aspiration level (of yield) should be rejected. This is a surprising confirmation of a well-known deterministic rule of investment theory and practice in a rather different context.
Internationalization of supply networks inside and outside clusters

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare supply network strategies of district firms (from now on ID) and non‐district (non‐ID) firms with the aim of outlining emerging strategies as well as identifying similarities and differences between business models.Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is based on a quantitative approach: the TeDIS survey focuses on 45 leading Italian districts and SMEs located outside districts (Made in Italy sectors). Results refer to 630 Italian firms.Findings – There are more similarities than differences between the approach of ID and non‐ID companies to supply networks. ID firms rely more on local systems in terms of supply networks, while non‐ID firms have also invested at national level (subcontracting networks). The global geographical extension of supply networks stresses the ID companies' search for efficiency in addition to value‐added competences. Non‐ID firms have a more hierarchical approach to internationalization than ID firms, but differences decreas.
A theoretical model for participation by stakeholders concerned with information security issues in systems development processes

After discussing the general issues with user participation in information systems development and aspect of user awareness with information security processes, this article raises a series of issues concerned with user participation with the information security aspects of the user requirements during information systems development processes. These issues are then developed into a theoretical model concerned with user participation in the elicitation of information security requirements during systems development processes. While most of these issues are known in the general systems development context, when they arise in the information security context, they are easily overlooked or neglected. The theoretical model and the associated issues presented are candidates further research work within the information security domain.
Blunt Abdominal Trauma: A 5‐year Analysis of 870 Patients Requiring Celiotomy

This study represents the experience with blunt trauma to the abdomen of patients from a major regional trauma center. Eight hundred and seventy patients with blunt abdominal trauma are reviewed, representing 12.89% of the total admissions over a 5-year period. The motor vehicle continues to be the major cause (89.5%) of injury to these patients. Thirty per cent had positive blood alcohol. Intra-abdominal injuries in this group necessitating operative intervention were based on the use of peritoneal lavage. Negative celiotomies occurred in 10.2% of these patients. Of the injuries incurred, the spleen was involved 42%, the liver 35.6%, the serosa, diaphragm, bowel, and blood vessels were involved to a lesser extent. Only 0.4% of the patients suffered direct injury to the stomach, duodenum, and pancreas, data which should preclude routine exploration of retroperitoneal structures unless by obvious retroperitoneal injury is noted. Additional surgical intervention for associated injuries was seen in 50.54% of this patient group.
Globally Oriented Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises: In Search of an Integrative Framework and Competitive Determinants

This paper proposes a model that identifies the characteristics, particularities and determinants of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) operating in multiple national markets. We identify these firms as Globally Oriented SMEs (GOSMEs), a particular category of international firms that does not fit in traditional typologies of large global firms. These SMEs are driven by factors and attributes such as manager's international experience and skills, size, competitive pressures, product/market standardisation, product/service distinctiveness and value-creating strategic actions appropriate to their relatively limited resources. We propose a definition and advance propositions for a sustainable value creation for GOSMEs.
Robust Portfolio Choice with Uncertainty About Jump and Diffusion Risk

We analyze the portfolio planning problem of an ambiguity averse investor. The stock follows a jump-diffusion process. We find that there are pronounced differences between ambiguity aversion with respect to diffusion risk and jump risk. Ignoring ambiguity with respect to jump risk causes larger losses in an incomplete market, whereas ignoring ambiguity with respect to diffusion risk is more severe in a complete market. For a deterministic jump size we show that the loss from market incompleteness is always increasing in the level of ambiguity aversion with respect to one risk factor and decreasing in the level of ambiguity aversion with respect to the other risk factor.
Different Neural Substrates Mediate Cocaine Seeking after Abstinence versus Extinction Training: A Critical Role for the Dorsolateral Caudate–Putamen

Cue-induced reinstatement of extinguished drug seeking is a preclinical model of relapse. However, relapse typically occurs after abstinence rather than explicit extinction training. We show that inactivation of the dorsolateral caudate–putamen, but not other structures previously implicated in reinstatement, attenuates cocaine seeking after abstinence. This suggests that there is limited overlap in the substrates of cocaine seeking after abstinence versus extinction, and that habit learning exerts greater control over drug seeking than regions implicated in stimulus–reward associations.
Management of the complications of the synthetic slings

Purpose of review The aim of this article is to review the last year's literature on the management of vaginal erosion and obturator abscess with suburethral tapes in the treatment of female urinary incontinence. Recent findings During the past decade suburethral tapes have been approved in Europe for minimally invasive treatment of stress urinary incontinence. Consensus is, however, lacking regarding the material best suited for this surgery. Although the success rates with synthetic materials have been, in general, good, the risk of vaginal extrusion and urethral erosion is considerably greater, ranging from 0.2 to 22%. We report diagnosis and management of complications occurring after this procedure. The presenting symptoms, physical findings, diagnostic procedures, surgical treatments, and outcomes are analyzed. Pain, vaginal discharge, bleeding, recurrent urinary tract infections, and/or persistent stress urinary incontinence are suspected symptoms of vaginal erosion. All vaginal erosions are usually detected by physical examination; in cases of suspected pelvic abscess, magnetic resonance imaging is performed. Total tape removal is recommended in the majority of cases; however, patients have recurrence of incontinence. Summary Urogenital tract erosion and pelvic abscess are significant complications of suburethral tape; immediate symptom relief is expected after removal of the eroded sling.
Security and privacy in localization for underwater sensor networks

Underwater sensor networks are envisioned to enable a wide range of underwater applications such as pollution monitoring, offshore exploration, and oil/gas spill monitoring. Such applications require precise location information as otherwise the sensed data might be meaningless. On the other hand, security and privacy are critical issues as underwater sensor networks are typically deployed in harsh environments. Nevertheless, most underwater localization schemes are vulnerable to many attacks and suffer from potential privacy violations as they are designed for benign environments. However, a localization scheme that does not consider security and privacy could lead to serious consequences, especially in critical applications such as military monitoring. In this article, we discuss the security and privacy issues in underwater localization, and investigate the techniques that can provide security and preserve node privacy in underwater sensor networks.
Human resource practices as communications and the psychological contract

This article examines the psychological contract and human resource practices as communications relevant to that contract. We argue that employees, at certain times only, systematically analyze their employers' HR practices for meaning vis-ri-vis their psychological contract. Judgments about the adequacy with which their psychological contracts are fulfilled result from such systematic analyses, and these judgments have important effects on employee commitment. Practical implications of our analysis are also discussed.
Design of an efficient dynamic voltage restorer for compensating voltage sags, swells, and phase jumps

This paper presents a novel design of a dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) which mitigate voltage sags, swell, and phase jumps by injecting minimum active power in system and provides the constant power at load side without any disturbance. The design of this compensating device presented here includes the combination of PWM-based control scheme, dq0 transformation and PI controller in control part of its circuitry, which enables it to minimize the power rating and to response promptly to voltage quality problems faced by today's electrical power industries. An immense knowledge of power electronics was applied in order to design and model of a complete test system solely for analyzing and studying the response of this efficient DVR. In order to realize this control scheme of DVR MATLAB/SIMULINK atmosphere was used. The results of proposed design of DVR's control scheme are compared with the results of existing classical DVR which clearly demonstrate the successful compensation of voltage quality problems by injecting minimum active power.
Political Parties, Public Opinion and European Integration in Post-Communist Countries

The accession of post-Communist states to the European Union has important implications for EU governance and for our understanding of the political dynamics of integration processes. Existing literature, we argue, may be inadequate, primarily because it has assumed basic value consensus at mass and elite levels over market structures and the predominance of instrumental reasoning about integration. Neither of these assumptions, however, is tenable for post-Communist states. We seek, therefore, to develop an alternative theoretical framework for understanding the integration of post-Communist societies and point to promising avenues for future empirical research.
An empirical analysis of the relationship of bond yield spreads and macro economic factors

This study develops and tests a model that explores the relationship between bond yield spreads for various industries, as represented by the spread between corporate and equivalent government bond yields, and the business cycle/economic environment while at the same time controlling for default risk, tax implications and issue traits, such as liquidity, callability and the existence of sinking fund. The overall sample consists of over 50000 quarterly observations for individual corporate bonds in the industrial, utilities and transportation sectors over the period September 1990 to March 1996. The results confirm the typical direct relationship between default risk and yield spreads. More importantly, it is found that the impact of the business cycle (macro economy) on the yield spread of a corporate bond depends on the industry sector to which the issuer of the bond belongs. Thus, while in the industrial sector, bond yield premia are generally higher during recessionary periods (periods of lower industrial production), the opposite is true for utilities.
Clinical and bacteriologic epidemiology of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae in a medical intensive care unit

The epidemiology of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae was studied over a 16-month period in a medical intensive care unit (ICU). A control program involving enhanced isolation procedures, surveillance cultures at admission and then at 1-week intervals, and selective digestive decontamination (SDD) was instituted. Phenotypic and genotypic markers (plasmid content and DNA macrorestriction polymorphism determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) were used to compare 138 strains of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae. The incidence of colonization andlor infection with ESBL producers was 11.9%. ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae strains were isolated from 64 of 65 patients. Fifty-five cases were considered acquired in the ICU, while nine cases were imported. Forty-five infections occurred in 32 patients; 20 infections involved the urinary tract. SDD failed to reduce the incidence of acquisition of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae. Combined use of markers was necessary to achieve accurate differentiation of strains. A single epidemic clone (SHV-4 β-lactamase-producing K. pneumoniae) was the cause of 85% of the ICU-acquired cases. Sporadic occurrence of SHV-5, TEM-3, SHV-2, and SHV-3 producers accounted only for a few cases.
Extended Producer Responsibility Policy in the European Union: A Horse or a Camel?

Most of us know the proverb “a camel is a horse designed by a committee. ” We have also heard the arguments for extended producer responsibility (EPR), which makes producers responsible for their end-of-life (EOL) products so that they have an incentive to design them for dismantling, with recyclable materials and reusable components. Economics may not encourage EOL products to be seen as assets, so legislation is needed to force take-back. At least this gets products out of the waste stream. At best, reuse and recycling reduce the need for new materials and components, so it must make sense, at least to legislators, to mandate what proportion of EOL products are reused and recycled.
Quinone reductase 2 as a promising target of melatonin therapeutic actions

Introduction: The neurohormone melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland and shows a circadian rhythm. It has been used in pathological conditions to evaluate its protective capacity against disease, often in connection to oxidative stress. The abundance of cases reported suggests that the mechanisms of action through which melatonin confers this protection may be linked to other molecular targets besides its G-protein-coupled receptors or its intrinsic scavenging capacity. Areas covered: In this review, 300 melatonin-induced protection cases are collated together with basic facts about melatonin. Some of the experimental results lead us to believe that, at high ‘pharmacological’ concentrations (500 µM and beyond), melatonin inhibits the ‘newly’ discovered target, quinone reductase 2 (QR2). It is possible that QR2 acts through its specific capacity to reduce orthoquinone to particularly unstable chemical species, which cycle spontaneously back to orthoquinone. This process generates high quantities of radical oxygen species, which are associated with many diseases states, such as inflammation. Therefore, inhibition of QR2 could explain some of the protective activities of melatonin. Expert opinion: The tools have been generated to further study this particular and singular mechanism of action of melatonin. The property of QR2 inhibition could unify the many aspects of melatonin action reported in the literature.