Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
rapid communication Interleukin-1 b induces apoptosis in GL15 glioblastoma-derived human cell line

Interleu-kin-1 b induces apoptosis in GL15 glioblastoma-derived human cell line. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 279: C2043–C2049, 2000. —Interleukin 1- b (IL-1 b ) induces apoptosis in a glio-blastoma-derived human cell line, exhibiting a poorly differentiated astrocytic phenotype. The apoptotic effect was demonstrated by analyzing nuclear morphology, in situ DNA fragmentation, and by ELISA detection of cytoplasmatic nucleosomes. We correlated the degree of differentiation of GL15 cells with the apoptotic response: 1 ) 4 9 ,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, combined with glial ﬁbrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoﬂuorescence, showed that the cells with apoptotic nuclei express low levels of GFAP; and 2 ) at 13 days of subculture, in a more differentiated state, GL15 cells did not respond with apoptosis to IL-1 b . In this cell line, nonrandom chromosome changes and the expression of SV40 early region have been previously shown. The involvement of p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in the induction of apoptosis by IL-1 b was hypothesized. Previous studies have shown that SV40 small T antigen partially inhibits phosphatase 2A, leading to an enhance-ment of the steady-state activity of p42/p44 MAPK pathway. PD-098059, speciﬁc inhibitor of p42/p44 MAPK pathway, counteracts the apoptotic effect of IL-1 b , whereas SB-203580, speciﬁc inhibitor of p38 stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) pathway, is ineffective. The imbalance between MAPK and SAPK pathways has been proposed as a key factor in determination of cell fate. Our results demonstrate that a further stimulation of p42/p44 MAPK pathway can constitute a death signal in tumor cells in which genomic damage and MAPK pathway control alterations occur.
Novel Silicon Photomultipliers for PET Applications

Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) with quantum efficiency maximized for a wavelength between 420 and 470 nm have been developed at ITC-irst Trento (Italy), and are being tested for their application in the construction of a ultra high resolution small animal PET tomograph. The devices have an area of 1 mm times 1 mm and 625 microcells. The breakdown voltage is around 30 V, and the gain of the order of 106. The intrinsic timing resolution is 70 ps rms at the single photoelectron level. The first tests as readout for scintillators show an energy resolution of 21% FWHM with Na-22 employing LSO crystals. The first matrices of SiPMs have been produced and are being tested.
Insight into Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) (Diptera: Culicidae) Species from Brazil

Abstract Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) benarrochi s.l. , Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) oswaldoi s.l. , and Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) konderi s.l. collected in Acrelândia, state of Acre, Brazil, were identified based on morphological characters of the male genitalia, fourth-instar larvae, and pupae. Morphological variation was observed in the male genitalia of these species in comparison with specimens from other localities in Brazil. DNA sequence from the nuclear ribosomal second internal transcribed spacer of individuals identified as An. benarrochi s.l. by using male genitalia characteristics showed that the various morphological forms are conspecific but are distinct from An. benarrochi B from Colombia. Anopheles konderi s.l. and An. oswaldoi s.l. both misidentified as An. oswaldoi s.s. (Peryassú) throughout Brazil, may actually comprise at least two undescribed species. Diagnostic morphological characteristics of the male genitalia are provided to distinguish Anopheles benarrochi s.l. , Anopheles oswaldoi s.l. , and Anopheles konderi s.l. from morphologically similar species. Incrimination of An. oswaldoi s.s. in malaria transmission in Brazil needs further investigation because other undescribed species from Acre may have been confounded with this taxon.
Intelligence: Knowns and unknowns.

Ulric Neisser (Chair) Gwyneth Boodoo Thomas J. Bouchard, Jr. A. Wade Boykin Nathan Brody Stephen J. Ceci Diane E Halpern John C. Loehlin Robert Perloff Robert J. Sternberg Susana Urbina Emory University Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Howard University Wesleyan University Cornell University California State University, San Bernardino University of Texas, Austin University of Pittsburgh Yale University University of North Florida
What's Behind the Smooth Dividends? Evidence from Structural Estimation

I study the driving forces behind dividend smoothing by developing a dynamic agency model in which dividends signal the firms' earnings persistence. In equilibrium, managers treat dividends and earnings as informational substitutes, and they smooth dividends relative to earnings to smooth negative news releases and lower their turnover risk. Empirical estimates of the model parameters imply that 36% of observed dividend smoothness among US firms is driven by managers' own career concerns instead of shareholders' preferences. Managers cut investments and adjust external financing policies to accommodate this career concern-based dividend smoothing. These effects destroy firm value by 2.09%.
Canada's Low-level Radioactive Waste Disposal Problem: Voluntarism Reconsidered

Voluntary siting methods are no more successful than conventional regulatory or market-based methods in siting new low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) disposal facilities. The promise of voluntarism, I argue, is diminished by the excessively local conception of public participation that typically informs voluntary siting attempts. This is evident in Canada's search for an LLRW disposal facility in Ontario. Placing strong boundaries around municipalities for purposes of public participation violates two key conditions of democratic siting policy - maximising social inclusiveness and ensuring a large unit of review. Selecting a larger unit of public deliberation would have permitted a more socially inclusive participatory analysis of the political, economic and social implications of managing radioactive wastes. A regional approach to LLRW management can therefore provide a more just and democratic framework for resolving siting disputes that jointly involve neighbouring communities.
Application of the mixture design to decolourise effluent textile wastewater using continuous stirred bed reactor

Important pollutants in textile effluents are mainly recalcitrant organics, colours, toxicants and inhibitory compounds, surfactants, chlorinated compounds (AOX), pH and salts. An aerobic system using a continuous stirred bed reactor (SBR) was continuously operated at constant temperature and fed with textile wastewater (pH 7 and total chemical oxygen demand (COD) 1 700 mg/l). This report is focused on the decolourisation treatment of effluent by a bacterial consortium (Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Bacillus sp. and filamentous bacteria). The influence of the different mixtures of 3 strains on the decolourisation of effluent (cell density fixed at OD600 = 1) was studied using an equilateral triangle diagram and mixture experimental design to assess colour and COD removal during species evolution. With the aid of analysis software (Minitab 14.0), the formulation of pure culture was optimised for several responses and the best formulation obtained. The results suggested that the highest predictable specific decolourisation rate and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 86.72% and 75.06%, respectively. Regression coefficients between the variables and the responses of decolourisation and COD removal were, respectively, R2 = 72.48% and 54.28%, which indicated excellent evaluation of experimental data by the polynomial regression model. UV-visible analysis confirmed biodegradation of effluent. Keywords : textile wastewater, bacterial decolourisation, response surface, mixture design, SBR
Attitudes of veterinary students to pain in cattle

Three hundred veterinary students were divided randomly into two groups to answer a questionnaire inquiring how painful they considered 23 conditions affecting cattle (seven of which were illustrated) to be, on either a numerical rating scale (NRS) or a visual analogue scale (VAS). The individual responses were used to assess whether cluster analysis could be used to divide the population into distinct groups. The ratios of men to women in the two groups were similar. The NRS scores ranged from 1 to 10 and the VAS scores ranged from 0 to 10. The conditions that were illustrated with a picture had a wider range of scores (2·65 to 9·0 v 2·67 to 7·93) and a slightly higher mean score (5·71 v 5·34) than those without pictures. Fracture of the tuber coxae, dystocia requiring the help of two people, and serious mastitis, were scored as the most painful conditions in adult cattle. Using the median score of each student as an outcome, their sex and year of enrolment and the scoring scale were significant. Women scored 0·9 points higher than men. Cluster analysis revealed two distinct groups in both the VAS and NRS, but the distribution was more even among the students using the VAS. This group was used in further analysis, and one cluster had the most men and more students with several siblings.
Actin machinery and mechanosensitivity in invadopodia, podosomes and focal adhesions

The invasiveness of cells is correlated with the presence of dynamic actin-rich membrane structures called invadopodia, which are membrane protrusions that are associated with localized polymerization of sub-membrane actin filaments. Similar to focal adhesions and podosomes, invadopodia are cell-matrix adhesion sites. Indeed, invadopodia share several features with podosomes, but whether they are distinct structures is still a matter of debate. Invadopodia are built upon an N-WASP-dependent branched actin network, and the Rho GTPase Cdc42 is involved in inducing invadopodial-membrane protrusion, which is mediated by actin filaments that are organized in bundles to form an actin core. Actin-core formation is thought to be an early step in invadopodium assembly, and the actin core is perpendicular to the extracellular matrix and the plasma membrane; this contrasts with the tangential orientation of actin stress fibers anchored to focal adhesions. In this Commentary, we attempt to summarize recent insights into the actin dynamics of invadopodia and podosomes, and the forces that are transmitted through these invasive structures. Although the mechanisms underlying force-dependent regulation of invadopodia and podosomes are largely unknown compared with those of focal adhesions, these structures do exhibit mechanosensitivity. Actin dynamics and associated forces might be key elements in discriminating between invadopodia, podosomes and focal adhesions. Targeting actin-regulatory molecules that specifically promote invadopodium formation is an attractive strategy against cancer-cell invasion.
Microglial M1/M2 polarization and metabolic states

Microglia are critical nervous system‐specific immune cells serving as tissue‐resident macrophages influencing brain development, maintenance of the neural environment, response to injury and repair. As influenced by their environment, microglia assume a diversity of phenotypes and retain the capability to shift functions to maintain tissue homeostasis. In comparison with peripheral macrophages, microglia demonstrate similar and unique features with regards to phenotype polarization, allowing for innate immunological functions. Microglia can be stimulated by LPS or IFN‐γ to an M1 phenotype for expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines or by IL‐4/IL‐13 to an M2 phenotype for resolution of inflammation and tissue repair. Increasing evidence suggests a role of metabolic reprogramming in the regulation of the innate inflammatory response. Studies using peripheral immune cells demonstrate that polarization to an M1 phenotype is often accompanied by a shift in cells from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis for energy production. More recently, the link between polarization and mitochondrial energy metabolism has been considered in microglia. Under these conditions, energy demands would be associated with functional activities and cell survival and thus, may serve to influence the contribution of microglia activation to various neurodegenerative conditions. This review examines the polarization states of microglia and their relationship to mitochondrial metabolism. Additional supporting experimental data are provided to demonstrate mitochondrial metabolic shifts in primary microglia and the BV‐2 microglia cell line induced under LPS (M1) and IL‐4/IL‐13 (M2) polarization.
Pronóstico de inflación en Argentina: ¿modelos individuales o pooling de pronósticos?

El pronóstico de la inación juega un papel central en la formulación de la política monetaria. Al mismo tiempo la evidencia empírica internacional reciente sugiere que con el descenso de la inación en los últimos años, como un fenómeno bastante extendido, la dinámica conjunta de esta variable y sus potenciales predictores, como el dinero o distintas medidas del grado utilización de los recursos, ha cambiado y la inación se ha tornado más impredecible. Utilizando como benchmark un modelo univariado, evaluamos la capacidad predictiva de algunos modelos causales asociados a distintas teorías de la inación, como la curva de Phillips y un V AR monetario. También estudiamos la capacidad predictiva de modelos que utilizan como predictores factores que resumen la variabilidad conjunta de un gran número de series del ciclo económico. Comparamos su desempeño relativo utilizando un conjunto de tests paramétricos y no paramétricos propuestos por Diebold y Mariano (1995). Encontramos que si bien el modelo univariado es en general el de mejor desempeño, a medida que se extiende el horizonte de pronóstico, los modelos multivariados se acercan al desempeño de los univariados. En particular un V AR monetario llega a superar al modelo ARMA univariado para el horizonte de un año. Sin embargo, cuando se calculan tests para evaluar la signicatividad estadística de las diferencias en capacidad predictiva de los modelos, tomando como benchmark un modelo ARMA univariado, las diferencias no resultan estadísticamente signi cativas. Finalmente se combinan los modelos estimados mediante un pool de pronósticos. Los resultados indican que alguna de las combinaciones de pronósticos supera al mejor pronóstico individual para un horizonte de un año. Teniendo en cuenta que el horizonte de un año es el relevante para la toma de decisiones de política económica, la posibilidad de combinar modelos tanto univariados como multivariados para pronóstico es interesante porque permite además responder a preguntas especí cas de política económica. Clasi cación JEL: C32, E31, E37.
Evaluation of QSARs for ecotoxicity: A method for assigning quality and confidence

Validation of a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) is now considered as an integral part of its development. Assessment of the quality of a QSAR and the confidence that may be placed in predictions from it are vital to any validation procedure. A number of terms associated with the quality of a QSAR, confidence in that QSAR, or both may be quantified. These terms include the: (1) goodness of fit of the model (r 2); (2) predictivity of the model (Q 2); (3) stability of the model described as the difference between fit and predictivity (D fp); (4) number of compounds used in the training set (N c); (5) number of descriptors used in the model (N d); (6) range of toxicity values (T r); (7) number of mechanisms of toxic action covered by the training set (N m), as well as two factors associated with the biological data-confidence associated with, (8) reproducibility of the data (R conf) and (9) confidence in the source of the data (S conf). While all these factors may influence the quality of, and/or confidence in a particular QSAR, each varies within different limits. To enable a quantitative assessment of quality and confidence in a QSAR, the terms deemed to be important were weighed and combined to create a Confidence Index (CI):[Formula: See Text]
Monocyte Chemotactic Protein‐3 Is a Myocardial Mesenchymal Stem Cell Homing Factor

MSCs have received attention for their therapeutic potential in a number of disease states, including bone formation, diabetes, stem cell engraftment after marrow transplantation, graft‐versus‐host disease, and heart failure. Despite this diverse interest, the molecular signals regulating MSC trafficking to sites of injury are unclear. MSCs are known to transiently home to the freshly infarcted myocardium. To identify MSC homing factors, we determined chemokine expression pattern as a function of time after myocardial infarction (MI). We merged these profiles with chemokine receptors expressed on MSCs but not cardiac fibroblasts, which do not home after MI. This analysis identified monocyte chemotactic protein‐3 (MCP‐3) as a potential MSC homing factor. Overexpression of MCP‐3 1 month after MI restored MSC homing to the heart. After serial infusions of MSCs, cardiac function improved in MCP‐3‐expressing hearts (88.7%, p < .001) but not in control hearts (8.6%, p = .47). MSC engraftment was not associated with differentiation into cardiac myocytes. Rather, MSC engraftment appeared to result in recruitment of myofibroblasts and remodeling of the collagen matrix. These data indicate that MCP‐3 is an MSC homing factor; local overexpression of MCP‐3 recruits MSCs to sites of injured tissue and improves cardiac remodeling independent of cardiac myocyte regeneration.
Effect of ethanol on action potential and ionic membrane currents in rat ventricular myocytes

Aim: Even though alcohol intoxication is often linked to arrhythmias, data describing ethanol effect on cardiac ionic channels are rare. In addition, ethanol is used as a solvent of hydrophobic compounds in experimental studies. We investigated changes of the action potential (AP) configuration and main ionic membrane currents in rat cardiomyocytes under 20–1500 mm ethanol.
Recommendation of Early Surgery from the Viewpoint of Daily Quality of Life

Summary: We surveyed pre‐ and postoperative levels of satisfaction with a range of the daily quality‐of‐life (QOL) domains in 132 sets of epilepsy surgery patients and their families. All patients underwent resective surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy and were monitored for >2 years. Patient and family assessments showed patients’ overall QOL markedly improves after surgery, depending on freedom from seizures. However, factors such as social contacts, family relations, or financial status improved little. Some families and patients were not satisfied with the postsurgical status, despite freedom from seizures. Patients who had surgery at a later age were not so satisfied with their postsurgical status as were patients who had surgery at a younger age, particularly on the QOL domains of role activities, memory function, leisure activities, or emotional well‐being. This lower satisfaction level in older patients likely results from a variety of problems affecting patients during the long‐lasting epileptic process; social handicaps, psychologic conflicts, and deterioration of cognitive/behavioral functions. Based on each case, we recommend that investigations start at an early stage of the illness, so that surgical intervention may be considered as early as possible.
The Population Dynamics and Control of Tuberculosis

More than 36 million patients have been successfully treated via the World Health Organization’s strategy for tuberculosis (TB) control since 1995. Despite predictions of a decline in global incidence, the number of new cases continues to grow, approaching 10 million in 2010. Here we review the changing relationship between the causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and its human host and examine a range of factors that could explain the persistence of TB. Although there are ways to reduce susceptibility to infection and disease, and a high-efficacy vaccine would boost TB prevention, early diagnosis and drug treatment to interrupt transmission remain the top priorities for control. Whatever the technology used, success depends critically on the social, institutional, and epidemiological context in which it is applied.
Lack of Functional Pit-1 and Pit-2 Expression on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Lines

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are an important target for retroviral gene transfer. However, transduction efficiency in these HSC is extremely low compared to fibroblasts or more mature hematopoietic cells. This infection block was analyzed in the HSC line FDC-Pmix. The infection frequency with the amphotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV-A) is more than 100-fold lower in FDC-Pmix cells as compared to fibroblasts. Pseudotyping with the env of the 10A1 strain (MLV-10A1), which uses both the amphotropic receptor (Pit-2) and the receptor for gibbon ape leukemia virus (Pit-1), did not improve the infection efficiency. Vectors pseudotyped with VSV G protein were found to overcome the infection block in FDC-Pmix, confirming that the block is at the level of virus binding and possibly penetration. Accordingly, we could not detect virus binding of MLV-A or MLV-10A1 to FDC-Pmix cell lines. Northern blot analysis was performed to detect whether the defect is at the level of transcription. Surprisingly, similar levels of Pit-2 receptor transcripts were detected in all cell types. The overexpression of rat Pit-2 DNA in CHO but not in FDC-Pmix cells improved amphotropic infection frequency after introducing rat Pit-2 DNA into the cells. Taken together these results show that the inefficient infection of FDC-Pmix is due to a lack of functional receptors. Either the receptor protein is incorrectly processed in these cells or a cofactor is missing in FDC-Pmix cells that is necessary for efficient binding and/or penetration.
Local community involvement in rural tourism development: The case of Kastamonu, Turkey

The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential of local stakeholders in developing a rural tourism product. With this aim, a traditional harvest day event was initiated by the researchers and the event was organized and set up by the local stakeholders. Kastamonu, a rural destination in Turkey with a great potential for but with very limited rural tourism development, was selected for the conduct of this harvest day event. Participant observations and in-depth interviews are used to identify the factors that facilitate involvement of the local community in rural tourism product deve- lopment. The results are expected to provide insights for the development of a framework relating to the assessment of the potential for sustainable rural tourism development in a given area.
The Role of Sovereign Ratings in M&A Markets: Empirical Evidence from Latin America and South East Asia

Sovereign ratings have not only been regarded as an indicator of country risk for foreign investors, but also as a determining factor for capital market conditions of domestic firms. Although they have attracted growing interest in academic research, the extant literature has so far rendered only minor attention to their role in corporate strategic investment decisions. This paper focuses on the influence of sovereign ratings on domestic and cross‐border M&A decisions in a sample of Latin American and South East Asian countries. The empirical results lend support to the proposition that sovereign ratings condition the level of activity in domestic M&A markets as well as the attractiveness of domestic M&A targets for foreign acquirers. Moreover, the foreign bidders’ choice of ownership stakes in acquisitions appears to be affected. The paper thus highlights the relevance of sovereign ratings as a country‐level factor to be considered in studies of corporate investment behavior.