Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
International anti-money laundering laws: the problems with enforcement

Purpose This paper aims to explore the underlying problem of tackling money laundering, namely, the difficulty of enforcing international laws and whether this is a problem which is too great to overcome in practice. Design/methodology/approach A doctrinal approach is used to discuss international anti-money laundering (AML) laws and question whether money laundering can be truly regarded as an international crime. A comparative approach with case studies of corruption in financial institutions illustrates the problems which law enforcement might encounter. The advantages and disadvantages of tackling money laundering will be highlighted to elucidate both the negative impacts of the crime and the reasons why some states may not be tackling money laundering as forcefully as they could. Findings Uniformity of AML laws among different countries may deter criminals from laundering money. The ratification of the Vienna Convention can help to facilitate uniformity of legal rules. States need robust domestic laws to tackle money laundering. Money laundering is an international crime, although not always a specific crime in international law. Moreover, it is generally advantageous to consider money laundering to be a specific crime under international law. Originality/value The article questions the effectiveness of current AML laws by examining the foundations of international law. Suggestions as to how uniformity can be achieved are given. A comparative approach is also used to demonstrate the extent of the crime, weaknesses in companies’ regulatory regimes and how each State responds to money laundering. The comparison also reveals State-specific issues which fuel money laundering. Moreover, the article explores the practical and legal advantages and disadvantages of money laundering being considered a specific crime in international law.
Frequency and risk factors of subclinical cardiotoxicity after anthracycline therapy in children: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND The aim of this systematic review was to summarise and appraise the published evidence with regard to the frequency and risk factors of subclinical cardiotoxicity in apparently healthy survivors of childhood cancer after anthracycline therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS A search was made in Medline for studies published between 1966 and May 2001 that included >50 children and reported on the frequency of measures of subclinical cardiotoxicity. Information about the studies was abstracted by two reviewers and a validity score was calculated for each study. RESULTS The reported frequency of subclinical cardiotoxicity varied between 0% and 57% in the 25 studies included. Differences in outcome definitions of subclinical cardiotoxicity and differences in study patients with respect to the dose of anthracycline seemed to explain part of the wide variance of the frequency of subclinical cardiotoxicity. Fourteen of the 25 studies showed serious methodological limitations. CONCLUSIONS The reported frequency of subclinical cardiotoxicity shows a wide variation. Well designed studies with accurate and precise outcome measurements in well described groups of patients, after a sufficiently long follow-up period, are needed to obtain more insight into the frequency and importance of risk factors, and the clinical consequences of anthracycline-related subclinical cardiotoxicity.
Stability of somatotypes in 4 to 10 year-old rural South African girls

In 1996, a mixed Ellisras longitudinal study (ELS) was initiated to assess the stability of somatotypes in 408 girls who comprised 99 pre-school and 309 primary school children in Ellisras rural area in the Northern Province of South Africa. The children's somatotype was assessed using the Heath-Carter anthropometric method. Anthropometric dimensions were taken according to the protocol of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). The most stable pre-school and primary school girl had migratory distances (MDs) of 2.6 and 3.4, respectively, while the least stable pre-school and primary school girl had MDs of 17.9 and 24.4, respectively. The mean somatotype of the pre-school children was mesomorph-ectomorph throughout the complete age range, while the mean somatotype of primary school girls was mesomorph-ectomorph for all the age groups except for the 9.5 years group at which it was in the balanced ectomorph. The inter-age partial correlations for endomorphy and ectomorphy were high and significant, but insignificant with regard to mesomorphy.
The Joint Commission's new tobacco-cessation measures--will hospitals do the right thing?

Few factors influence health care standards in the United States today more than the actions of the Joint Commission (formerly the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations). And few opportunities hold more promise for increasing the rate of tobacco-use cessation than patient contact with the health care system. Health care visits represent teachable moments when a patient's very real fears and concerns about tobacco use can provide a particularly powerful motivation to quit. The Joint Commission's new Tobacco Cessation Performance Measure-Set took effect on January 1, 2012. Will implementation of these measures improve smoking-cessation treatment by capitalizing on the .
Scale Expansion of Higher Education and Changes of Access among Children from Different Social Strata

Building upon empirical data and MMI and EMI theories,the article studies the changes of access to higher education among different social strata during the higher education expansion since the reform and opening-up.The results show that the overall inequality of access has been improved gradually.As far as different levels of institutions are concerned,the inequality of access to key universities increases and then decreases,and at present,some access has passed down to some middle-class students.The inequality of access to other general four-year colleges and universities and to two/three-year colleges is decreasing since the reform,which contributes to the increasing access to higher education for lower class students.
Novel Air Stimulation MR-Device for Intraoral Quantitative Sensory Cold Testing

The advent of neuroimaging in dental research provides exciting opportunities for relating excitation of trigeminal neurons to human somatosensory perceptions. Cold air sensitivity is one of the most frequent causes of dental discomfort or pain. Up to date, devices capable of delivering controlled cold air in an MR-environment are unavailable for quantitative sensory testing. This study therefore aimed at constructing and evaluating a novel MR-compatible, computer-controlled cold air stimulation apparatus (CASA) that produces graded air puffs. CASA consisted of a multi-injector air jet delivery system (AJS), a cold exchanger, a cooling agent, and a stimulus application construction. Its feasibility was tested by performing an fMRI stimulation experiment on a single subject experiencing dentine cold sensitivity. The novel device delivered repetitive, stable air stimuli ranging from room temperature (24.5°C ± 2°C) to −35°C, at flow rates between 5 and 17 liters per minute (l/min). These cold air puffs evoked perceptions similar to natural stimuli. Single-subject fMRI-analysis yielded brain activations typically associated with acute pain processing including thalamus, insular and cingulate cortices, somatosensory, cerebellar, and frontal brain regions. Thus, the novel CASA allowed for controlled, repetitive quantitative sensory testing by using air stimuli at graded temperatures (room temperature down to −35°C) while simultaneously recording brain responses. No MR-compatible stimulation device currently exists that is capable of providing non-contact natural-like stimuli at a wide temperature range to tissues in spatially restricted areas such as the mouth. The physical characteristics of this novel device thus holds promise for advancing the field of trigeminal and spinal somatosensory research, namely with respect to comparing therapeutic interventions for dentine hypersensitivity.
Determining Positive Cancer Rescue Mutations in p53 Based Cancers by using Artificial Intelligence

A mutation in a protein-coding gene in DNA can alter the protein structure coded by the same gene. Structurally altered proteins usually lose their functions and sometimes gain an undesirable function instead. These types of mutations and their effects can result in genetic diseases or antibiotic resistant bacteria, among other health issues. Important curing methods have been developed for detecting mutations against AIDS as well as genetic diseases. Another example is the influenza virus. The reasons why a vaccination developed to fight against influenza does not work the following year are (a) the mutation of its DNA and (b) the outbreak of the virus after it has been mutated especially if it is a virus that escaped the vaccinations target. Due to such reasons, it is highly important to know in advance the location of a potential mutation in a protein as well as the problems it might cause the medical sciences. In this study we have used artificial neural networks, which are one of the latest artificial intelligence technologies, to determine the effects of cancer mutations. The model we developed has given more successful results compared to other methods. We foresee that our model will bring a new dimension to medical research and the medical industry.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II but not MHC class I molecules are required for efficient control of Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in mice

Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode capable of chronic, persistent infection and hyperinfection of the host; this can lead to dissemination, mainly in immunosuppressive states, in which the infection can become severe and result in the death of the host. In this study, we investigated the immune response against Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or class II deficient mice. We found that MHC II−/− animals were more susceptible to S. venezuelensis infection as a result of the presence of an elevated number of eggs in the faeces and a delay in the elimination of adult worms compared with wild‐type (WT) and MHC I−/− mice. Histopathological analysis revealed that MHC II−/− mice had a mild inflammatory infiltration in the small intestine with a reduction in tissue eosinophilia. These mice also presented a significantly lower frequency of eosinophils and mononuclear cells in the blood, together with reduced T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines in small intestine homogenates and sera compared with WT and MHC I−/− animals. Additionally, levels of parasite‐specific immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgA, IgE, total IgG and IgG1 were also significantly reduced in the sera of MHC II−/− infected mice, while a non‐significant increase in the level of IgG2a was found in comparison to WT or MHC I−/− infected mice. Together, these data demonstrate that expression of MHC class II but not class I molecules is required to induce a predominantly Th2 response and to achieve efficient control of S. venezuelensis infection in mice.
The effects of preimmobilization training and immobilization on collagen synthesis in rat skeletal muscle.

The activities of prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PH) and galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase (GGT), both enzymes of collagen biosynthesis, and the concentration of hydroxyproline (Hyp) were measured in soleus and tibialis anterior muscle after periods of 0, 7 and 21 days of immobilization following a swimming training for a period of three weeks in rats. After swimming, the specific activities of PH and GGT were increased by 25% (N.S.) and 53% (p less than 0.01), respectively, in the soleus muscle. In the tibialis anterior muscle PH was increased by 31% (p less than 0.01) after exercise. During the first week of immobilization, PH activity in the shortened soleus muscle was decreased by 21% (p less than 0.001) and by 65% (p less than 0.001) below the control level in the trained and non-trained groups, respectively. The difference between these two groups is significant (p less than 0.001). The specific activity of PH decreased to control level after one week of immobilization in the tibialis anterior muscle. Hyp concentration increased significantly (p less than 0.05) in the shortened soleus muscle after one week of immobilization due to rapid atrophy of non-collagenous proteins, whereas in the tibialis anterior muscle no significant increase was observed until after three weeks of immobilization. The results suggest that swimming, which contains only concentric muscle work and lacks eccentric and weight bearing components, is a positive regulator of collagen biosynthesis. The results suggest also that preimmobilization training may slow down the deadaptive changes caused by disuse during the first week of immobilization.
Test of the Dynamic Effect of Monetary Policy Instruments on the Asset Prices in Different Stages

The paper focuses on the effect of different monetary policy instruments in the different periods of asset prices fluctuation.Through the SVAR model,it identifies the structure shocks of different monetary policy instruments,and analyzes the responses of asset prices to different monetary policy instruments in the periods of inflation and downturn in order to give a answer of how monetary policy control the fluctuation of asset prices.The empirical results show that the monetary policies are effective.In the period of asset prices inflation,interest rate can be used,in which especially M1 plays an important role in controlling asset prices bubbles,and loan management is strengthened simultaneously.In the period of asset prices downturn,interest rate shock has a significant and permanent effect.
Characterization of HdnoR, the Transcriptional Repressor of the 6-Hydroxy-D-nicotine Oxidase Gene of Arthrobacter nicotinovorans pAO1, and its DNA-binding Activity in Response to L- and D-Nicotine Derivatives*

Utilization of l-nicotine as growth substrate by Arthrobacter nicotinovorans pAO1 starts with hydroxylation of the pyridine ring at C6. Next, the pyrrolidine ring is oxidized by 6-hydroxy-l-nicotine oxidase, which acts strictly stereo-specific on the l-enantiomer. Surprisingly, l-nicotine also induces the synthesis of a 6-hydroxy-d-nicotine-specific oxidase in the bacteria. Genes of nicotine-degrading enzymes are located on the catabolic plasmid pAO1. The pAO1 sequence revealed that the 6-hydroxy-d-nicotine oxidase gene is flanked by two open reading frames with a similarity to amino acid permeases and a divergently transcribed open reading frame with a similarity to proteins of the tetracycline repressor TetR family. Reverse transcription PCR and primer extension analysis of RNA transcripts isolated from A. nicotinovorans pAO1 indicated that the 6-hydroxy-d-nicotine oxidase gene represents a transcriptional unit. DNA electromobility shift assays established that the purified TetR-similar protein represents the 6-hydroxy-d-nicotine oxidase gene repressor HdnoR and binds to the 6-hydroxy-d-nicotine oxidase gene operator with a Kd of 21 nm. The enantiomers 6-hydroxy-d- and 6-hydroxy-l-nicotine acted in vitro as inducers. In vivo analysis of 6-hydroxy-d-nicotine oxidase gene transcripts from bacteria grown with l- and d-nicotine confirmed this conclusion. The poor discrimination by HdnoR between the 6-hydroxy-l- and 6-hydroxy-d-nicotine enantiomers explains the presence of the 6-hydroxy-d-nicotine-specific enzyme in bacteria grown on l-nicotine.
A Raf-1 Mutant That Dissociates MEK/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Activation from Malignant Transformation and Differentiation but Not Proliferation

ABSTRACT It is widely thought that the biological outcomes of Raf-1 activation are solely attributable to the activation of the MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. However, an increasing number of reports suggest that some Raf-1 functions are independent of this pathway. In this report we show that mutation of the amino-terminal 14-3-3 binding site of Raf-1 uncouples its ability to activate the MEK/ERK pathway from the induction of cell transformation and differentiation. In NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and COS-1 cells, mutation of serine 259 resulted in Raf-1 proteins which activated the MEK/ERK pathway as efficiently as v-Raf. However, in contrast to v-Raf, RafS259 mutants failed to transform. They induced morphological alterations and slightly accelerated proliferation in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts but were not tumorigenic in mice and behaved like wild-type Raf-1 in transformation assays measuring loss of contact inhibition or anchorage-independent growth. Curiously, the RafS259 mutants inhibited focus induction by an activated MEK allele, suggesting that they can hyperactivate negative-feedback pathways. In primary cultures of postmitotic chicken neuroretina cells, RafS259A was able to sustain proliferation to a level comparable to that sustained by the membrane-targeted transforming Raf-1 protein, RafCAAX. In contrast, RafS259A was only a poor inducer of neurite formation in PC12 cells in comparison to RafCAAX. Thus, RafS259 mutants genetically separate MEK/ERK activation from the ability of Raf-1 to induce transformation and differentiation. The results further suggest that RafS259 mutants inhibit signaling pathways required to promote these biological processes.
Research on the Woodland Soil Enzyme Activities in Coal Mining Subsidence Area

Soil enzyme is involved in nutrient cycling and availability to plants and can be used as an index of soil function. Underground coal mining results in large-scope land subsidence, farmland damage and soil fertility decline. In this paper, Hanwang coal mining subsided area in Jiaozuo city, Henan province, China, was taken as an example to study on the soil enzyme activities in different sites and layers. The results show that: firstly, the activities of the hydrogen peroxidase, sucrase and dehydrogenase of the reference points exceed that of the points in the settlement zone. Similarly, the urease activity of the reference points except from the range within 0 to 5 cm is higher than that of the points in the settlement zone; By contrast, the difference of phosphatase activity between the reference points and the points in the settlement zone is not significant. Secondly, the variation of polyphenol oxidase, hydrogen peroxidase, dehydrogenase and urease from the points in the settlement zone is unconspicuous; there is some diversity of phosphatase activity between the points in the settlement zone, the significance of difference of invertase activity of the sampling points between No. 4 within the range of 5 to 15 cm and other sampling points in the settlement zone is great. Thirdly, there is no significant difference between the reference points with the hydrogen peroxidase and divertase activity in the stratum; by contraries, the differences in some stratum of the settlement zone was significant. There is some difference of between the hydrogen peroxidase and invertase activity of the reference points; by contrast, the diversity of the phosphatase and urease activity in the stratum in the settlement zone is increasing. The distribution of the dehydrogenase activity between the reference points and the points in the settlement zone is opposite to each other; the activity difference of the reference points within the range of 20 to 40 cm is the maximum, the difference is the maximum within the range of 0 to 5 cm in the ground surface. Fourthly, the ground surface subsidence is caused by the coal mining that the soil is contaminated by heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; consequently, the enzyme activity is depressed and the soil quality is degenerated, so that the soil output is reduced.
Second Asia–Pacific Consensus Guidelines for Helicobacter pylori infection

The Asia–Pacific Consensus Conference was convened to review and synthesize the most current information on Helicobacter pylori management so as to update the previously published regional guidelines. The group recognized that in addition to long‐established indications, such as peptic ulcer disease, early mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type lymphoma and family history of gastric cancer, H. pylori eradication was also indicated for H. pylori infected patients with functional dyspepsia, in those receiving long‐term maintenance proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for gastroesophageal reflux disease, and in cases of unexplained iron deficiency anemia or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. In addition, a population ‘test and treat’ strategy for H. pylori infection in communities with high incidence of gastric cancer was considered to be an effective strategy for gastric cancer prevention. It was recommended that H. pylori infection should be tested for and eradicated prior to long‐term aspirin or non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug therapy in patients at high risk for ulcers and ulcer‐related complications. In Asia, the currently recommended first‐line therapy for H. pylori infection is PPI‐based triple therapy with amoxicillin/metronidazole and clarithromycin for 7 days, while bismuth‐based quadruple therapy is an effective alternative. There appears to be an increasing rate of resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole in parts of Asia, leading to reduced efficacy of PPI‐based triple therapy. There are insufficient data to recommend sequential therapy as an alternative first‐line therapy in Asia. Salvage therapies that can be used include: (i) standard triple therapy that has not been previously used; (ii) bismuth‐based quadruple therapy; (iii) levofloxacin‐based triple therapy; and (iv) rifabutin‐based triple therapy. Both CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms and cigarette smoking can influence future H. pylori eradication rates.
Quantitation of CD8+ T Cell Expansion, Memory, and Protective Immunity After Immunization with Peptide-Coated Dendritic Cells1

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent APCs for naive CD8+ T cells and are being investigated as vaccine delivery vehicles. In this study, we examine the CD8+ T cell response to defined peptides from Listeria monocytogenes (LM), lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and murine CMV coated singly and in combination onto mature bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs). We show that immunization of mice with 2 × 105 mature BMDCs coated with multiple MHC class I peptides generates a significant Ag-specific CD8+ T cell response in both the spleen and nonlymphoid organs. This immunization resulted in a peptide-specific hierarchy in the magnitude of CD8+ T cell priming and noncoordinate kinetics in response to different peptide epitopes. Kinetics were not exclusively due to specific characteristics of the MHC class I molecule, and were not altered in an Ag-independent manner by concurrent LM infection. Mice immunized with listeriolysin O 91–99-coated BMDCs are protected against high dose challenge with virulent LM. This protection was enhanced by diversifying the memory CD8+ T cell compartment, even in the absence of a large increase in Ag-specific CD8+ memory T cells.