Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic targeting of receptor tyrosine kinases in lung cancer

Lung cancer is a difficult illness with a poor overall survival. Even though combination strategies with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery have all been utilised, the overall outcome for this disease continues to be relatively disappointing. In order to make a difference in the treatment of lung cancer, novel therapeutics will have to be developed. Through basic biological studies, a number of receptor tyrosine kinases have been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of lung cancer. In this review, the authors summarise the mechanisms of several major receptor tyrosine kinases in lung cancer, especially epidermal growth factor receptor, Her2/neu, MET, vascular endothelial growth factor and KIT. The biology associated with these receptors is described, and the various novel therapeutic inhibitory strategies that are ongoing in preclinical and clinical studies for lung cancer are detailed. Through understanding of receptor tyrosine kinases and the utilisation of specific inhibitors, it is hopeful that a dramatic impact will be made on the biology and therapy for lung cancer.
Risk factors for delayed immunization in a random sample of 1163 children from Oregon and Washington.

Despite extensive study of vaccine safety and decades of effort to immunize infants and toddlers, little is known about the comprehensiveness of vaccine coverage in US children younger than 2 years of age. Provider and parent data from a population-based sample of 1163 children from two states were analyzed to assess coverage rates at three ages and to evaluate characteristics of children and their families that predict failure to immunize on schedule. Overall, 78% of the children had received their first dose of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids with pertussis vaccine (DTP) and their first dose of oral poliovirus (OPV) by 92 days of age. Similarly, 77% had received their third dose of DTP and their second dose of OPV by their first birthday. However, by their second birthday only 60% had received the full series of four doses of DTP, three doses of OPV, and one dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines. When considered singly, several variables including child birth order, family income, maternal education, and marital status significantly predicted failure to immunize on schedule. In multivariate logistic models, only birth order and maternal education consistently predicted vaccine status at each of the three ages. Compared with first-born children, those who were later-born were 1.7 times more likely to be incompletely immunized at 2 years of age (95% confidence interval: 1.2, 2.3). Children of more educated mothers were significantly less likely to be underimmunized at all ages. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of butenafine hydrochloride, a new benzylamine derivative, on experimental dermatophytosis in guinea pigs

Butenafine hydrochloride, N-4-tert-butylbenzyl-N-methyl-1-naphthalenemethylamine hydrochloride (butenafine), is a novel antifungal agent of the class of benzylamine derivatives. Butenafine was investigated for its activity against guinea pig dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes or Microsporum canis in comparison with those of naftifine, tolnaftate, clotrimazole, and bifonazole. Topical butenafine showed excellent efficacy against dermatophytosis when it was applied once daily, and the effect was superior to those of all four reference drugs. When applied once at 24 or 48 h before infection, the drug exhibited excellent prophylactic efficacy against experimental T. mentagrophytes infection. The concentrations of butenafine in animal skin at 24 and 48 h after application of 0.2 ml of a 1% solution were several hundred times higher than those required to kill T. mentagrophytes and M. canis. The good efficacy of butenafine against dermatophytosis may be attributable to its fungicidal activity and long retention in the skin after topical application.
An Examination of Primary and Secondary Market Returns in Equity REIT IPOs

We examine primary and secondary market returns for REIT initial public offerings (IPOs). Consistent with theories regarding compensation for information production during the roadshow, we find offer-to-open returns are directly related to partial adjustment and are significantly lower for REITs holding assets in a single-property type. Matching REIT IPOs to comparable non-REIT IPOs, we also find evidence consistent with demand uncertainty. Specifically, after controlling for issue and firm characteristics, REITs post significantly lower secondary market returns despite similar primary market returns. This suggests that demand uncertainty resolves more quickly for REITs, possibly due to higher relative transparency.
Leading Learning-Focused Teacher Leadership in Urban High Schools

Drawing on findings from a national study of learning-focused leadership in challenging urban settings, this article examines the work of teacher leadership in urban high schools. In this context, a recently emerging cadre of nonsupervisory teacher leaders, working in collaboration with supervisory leaders, exercises a form of “distributed instructional leadership,” creating new channels for instructional renewal. Extensive qualitative data from four high schools in different urban districts across the United States illuminate the nature of these teacher leaders’ work in support of teaching and learning, the ways they and their supervisory counterparts worked as instructional leadership teams, and the role that they played in supporting teachers in classrooms within schools that face significant challenges. Study findings highlight the unique expertise necessary for these teacher leaders—including content expertise, pedagogical coaching skill, ability to build relational trust, and capacity to link the classroom with district- and school-determined learning improvement efforts. In conclusion, the article sketches the implications for reconfiguring supervisory leaders’ work so that the efforts of all remain productively and persistently focused on learning improvement.
Lizard tail skeletal regeneration combines aspects of fracture healing and blastema-based regeneration

Lizards are amniotes with the remarkable ability to regenerate amputated tails. The early regenerated lizard tail forms a blastema, and the regenerated skeleton consists of a cartilage tube (CT) surrounding the regenerated spinal cord. The proximal, but not distal, CT undergoes hypertrophy and ossifies. We hypothesized that differences in cell sources and signaling account for divergent cartilage development between proximal and distal CT regions. Exogenous spinal cord implants induced ectopic CT formation in lizard (Anolis carolinensis) blastemas. Regenerated spinal cords expressed Shh, and cyclopamine inhibited CT induction. Blastemas containing vertebrae with intact spinal cords formed CTs with proximal hypertrophic regions and distal non-hypertrophic regions, whereas removal of spinal cords resulted in formation of proximal CT areas only. In fate-mapping studies, FITC-labeled vertebra periosteal cells were detected in proximal, but not distal, CT areas. Conversely, FITC-labeled blastema cells were restricted to distal CT regions. Proximal cartilage formation was inhibited by removal of periosteum and could be recapitulated in vitro by periosteal cells treated with Ihh and BMP-2. These findings suggest that proximal CTs are directly derived from vertebra periosteal cells in response to BMP and Ihh signaling, whereas distal CTs form from blastema cells in response to Shh signals from regenerated spinal cords. Summary: Proximal and distal regenerated lizard tail skeletal regions form independently from different cell sources and in response to different signals.
Impact of Exercise on Seniors' Motor Control Response to External Dynamics

Research on postural stability, motor control, and fall occurrence in seniors is common, but few studies address the influence of exercise and external dynamics on elderly balance. Using pre- and post-training tests, the effects of a Fitball® exercise program on performance in eight subjects was documented. The exercise program focused on improving dynamic balance and postural stability of seniors. To evaluate progress-related changes, pre- and post-tests in a dynamic environment were applied. Center of gravity (COG) excursion, catch success rate, and balance success rate were quantified, and synchronized data collection of 3D motion capture (VICON v8i) and ground reaction force (2 KISTLER platforms) was analyzed. During pre- and post-tests, participants stood in a walklike stance and were asked to catch a weighted ball, which dropped unexpectedly. Results showed no significant changes in balance success rate. Significant improvements were found, however, in both COG control and catch success rate following training (p<0.05).
Effects of barium, lanthanum and gadolinium on endogenous chloride and potassium currents in Xenopus oocytes.

1. The effects of multivalent cations on membrane currents recorded from Xenopus oocytes were studied. 2. The hyperpolarization‐activated chloride current was reversibly blocked by lanthanum; half‐maximal block occurred at a concentration of 8 microM. Zinc, cadmium, cobalt and nickel were less potent than lanthanum, and gadolinium, manganese, barium and strontium had no effect at a concentration of 100 microM. 3. The calcium‐activated chloride current was blocked by gadolinium (50 microM), and lanthanum, cadmium, cobalt, nickel and manganese were equally effective. The actions of gadolinium and lanthanum were almost irreversible, while partial (30‐80%) recovery was observed with the other cations. Zinc (100 microM) had no effect. 4. In lanthanum (100 microM), membrane depolarizations from ‐70 mV activated an outward potassium current that was partially blocked by barium (0.1‐2 mM). The barium‐sensitive current was confined to potentials less negative than ‐70 mV. The current consisted of a time‐independent as well as a time‐dependent component, the latter of which had voltage dependence similar to the M‐current. 5. It is proposed that lanthanum, gadolinium and barium can usefully separate these endogenous membrane currents in Xenopus oocytes.
Impact of board ownership, CEO-Chair duality and foreign equity participation on auditor quality choice of IPO companies: Evidence from an emerging market

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of corporate governance on auditor quality choice by IPO companies in an emerging market setting. It seeks to identify whether efficiency or opportunism is the driving force behind the choice of auditors in Bangladeshi firms going public. We try to see whether ownership concentration in the hands of a owner-CEO wins over foreign shareholders in the contest of ensuring financial reporting quality. Design/methodology/approach - Multivariate analysis has been carried out on all IPOs made during 1990 to 2005 whose financial statements were available. Logistic regression tool has been used to identify client's corporate governance attributes affect their choice of auditors. In total, three corporate governance attributes – CEO-Chair duality, retained ownership, and foreign equity participation – were used to test the impact of ownership structure on auditor choice. Findings - Our findings from logistic regression suggest that CEO-Chair duality and the degree of foreign equity participation are significant determinants of auditor choice while proportion of board ownership is not. In addition, issuer size and whether the issuer is a green field operation also influence auditor choice while the length of a firm's operating history does not seem to matter. The findings support agency theory prediction that (at least one category of) principals (foreign shareholders in this case), are likely to trade-off higher monitoring costs (of hiring a higher quality auditor) with agency costs arising from asymmetric information, primarily borne by absentee owners. Originality/value - The work is based on empirical data directly from company financial statements. It uses audited financial statements and makes objective analysis of auditor choice dynamics in a frontier market that demonstrated significant growth of IPO activity in recent years.
Multitude multicolor chromosome banding (mMCB) – a comprehensive one-step multicolor FISH banding method

Multicolor chromosome banding (MCB) using one single chromosome-specific MCB probe set per experiment was previously reported as powerful tool in molecular cytogenetics for the characterization of all kinds of human marker chromosomes. However, a quick analysis of karyotypes with highly complex chromosomal changes was hampered by the problem that up to 24 MCB experiments were necessary for a comprehensive karyotype description. To overcome that limitation the 138 available region-specific microdissection-derived libraries for all human chromosomes were combined to one single probe set, called multitude MCB (mMCB). A typical fluorescence banding pattern along the human karyotype is produced, which can be evaluated either by transforming these profiles into chromosome region-specific pseudo-colors or more reliably by studying the fluorescence profiles. The mMCB probe set has been applied on chromosomes of normal male and female probands, two primary myelodysplastic syndromes and two solid tumor cell lines. Additionally, a cell line of Gorilla gorilla (GGO) studied previously by single chromosome-specific MCB was reevaluated by the mMCB method. All results were in concordance with those obtained in parallel or by other cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic approaches indicating that mMCB is a powerful multicolor FISH banding tool for fast characterization of complex karyotypes.
Connective Tissue Macromolecular Changes in Rats with Experimentally Induced Diabetes and Hyperinsulinism

A study of connective tissue components from skin of rats with induced diabetes and hyperinsulinism was performed. Diabetes was induced in rats by a single injection of streptozotocin (50 to 75 mg./kg. body weight) and hyperinsulinism by daily injection of NPH insulin (½ to 2½ U.). Serum was analyzed for protein-bound carbohydrates and free sugars. A decrease in serum protein-bound sugars was observed in the diabetic animals. These slightly increased in hyperinsulin state. Acid mucopolysaccharides (MPS), glycoproteins (GP) and collagen were isolated from skin of experimental animals and compared with the controls. The contents of total MPS and GP decreased in diabetic skin; these increased in hyperinsulin state, similar to that observed in human diabetes. Diabetic rat skin had more soluble collagen, while less soluble collagen was observed in hyperinsulin state. It is suggested from these observations that insulin is a driving force toward the synthesis and accumulation of these compounds in connective tissue in experimental hyperinsulinism and, perhaps, in human diabetes with prolonged insulin treatment.
Stimulation of apical and basolateral VEGF-A and VEGF-C secretion by oxidative stress in polarized retinal pigment epithelial cells.

PURPOSE To investigate whether oxidative stress modulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and VEGF-C expression and polarized secretion in a human retinal pigment epithelium cell line (ARPE-19). METHODS Long-term culture of ARPE-19 cells in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM)/F12 containing 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) on transwell filters (12 mm or 6 mm, pore size 0.4 microm) was performed to produce polarized retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) monolayers. The integrity of polarized monolayer was established by measurement of transepithelial resistance (TER) and presence of tight junctions assessed by zonula occludens (ZO-1) and occludin expression and apical Na/K ATPase localization. Paracellular permeability was studied using radiolabeled mannitol. Confluent cells were treated with tertiary butyl hydrogen peroxide (tBH) for varying durations (0-5 h) and doses (50-200 microM). VEGF-A and -C expression was evaluated by western blot and quantitative RT-PCR, while secretion to the apical and basolateral surfaces was quantitated by ELISA. RESULTS Polarity of ARPE-19 cells was verified by the localization of tight junction proteins, ZO-1 and its binding partner occludin by confocal microscopy as well as by localization of Na,K-ATPase at the apical surface. The TER in confluent ARPE-19 cells averaged 48.7+/-2.1 Omega. cm(2) and tBH treatment (0-5 h) did not alter TER significantly (46.9+/-1.9 Omega. cm(2); p>0.05 versus controls) or ZO-1 expression. Whole cell mRNA in nonpolarized ARPE-19 increased with tBH at 5 h both for VEGF-A and VEGF-C and the increase was significant (p<0.05 vs controls). A similar, maximal increase at 5 h tBH treatment was also observed for VEGF-A and VEGF-C cellular protein levels. The secretion of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in nonpolarized ARPE showed an increase with tBH exposure. The levels of secretion of VEGF-A and -C were significantly higher in polarized monolayers and were stimulated significantly with tBH at both apical and basolateral domains. The secretion of VEGF-A increased with 150 microM of tBH treatment as a function of time (1-5 h) with maximal increases at 5 h from 410 to 2080 pg/10(6) cells on the apical and 290 to 1680 pg/10(6) cells on basolateral domains. The pattern of VEGF-C secretion was similar. VEGF-A secretion was dose-dependent for the tBH range of 50-200 microM and apical secretion tended to be higher than basolateral secretion. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that oxidative stress to RPE from tBH upregulates secretion of both VEGF-A and C. The secretion to the apical side was higher than that of basolateral side for VEGF-A and C. Given the role of VEGF in choroidal neovascularization, these data may be of value in understanding pathogenic mechanisms and designing antiangiogenic therapies.
A framework for spillover effect of corporate social responsibility with a case study of Chinese dairy industry

The spillover effect of corporate social responsibility gets little attention from researchers. We articulate a research framework for studying the spillover effect of CSR and discuss some essential research issues including the existence and classification of spillover effect, influential factors of spillover effect, the dominance spillover effect and managerial strategies. The discussion results propose useful implication for further empirical research. Furthermore, we operate a case study. By using Sharpe's one-way analysis of variance to estimate the cumulative abnormal return of stocks, the paper expands the research on contagion effect and contrast effect which are two kinds of spillover effect. The results partially support the research framework, provide us some qualitative understanding of spillover effect and propose some managerial implications.
Arbitrage-Based Tests of Target-Zone Credibility: Evidence from ERM Cross-Rate Options

This paper introduces two arbitrage-based tests of target-zone credibility using a new data source, exchange-rate mechanism cross-rate options. Using daily option prices from September 1991 to August 1994, the authors assess the credibility of the pound-mark and mark-lira target zones that collapsed in September 1992 and the ongoing mark-French franc target zone. These tests are based on restrictions that must apply to all option prices within a credible target zone and are free from specification error and estimation error. The authors also identify a minimum 'intensity of realignment,' an expression indicating the probability-weighted average realignment size. Copyright 1996 by American Economic Association.
Buyback of Colombian Sovereign Debt

At a request from the Ministry of Finance, Banco de la Republica last year carried out an investigation into the feasibility to use parts of the foreign reserves to buy back some of Colombia’s outstanding sovereign U.S.-dollar debt. This project resulted in two thorough technical reports. This paper aims to complement these reports by a general discussion on the subject. Even if many economists will find the discussion and the empirical results interesting, the main target group of the paper is professionals and policy makers without a background in Economics or Finance. The paper discusses emerging market debt in general, the Colombian debt in particular, and the current level of the Colombian foreign reserves. It, thereafter, continues by discussing buyback of sovereign debt, and what a country could gain or lose from such a buyback and why. The paper also includes a cross-country empirical analysis of the relationship between the sovereign spread of the outstanding debt of a country and its foreign reserve levels.
The role of networks and matching in market entry to emerging retail markets

Purpose – The purpose is to investigate how a retailer identifies critical network actors and gains their support when entering an emerging market. and to examine the role of a firm's relationships with different types of actors on the new market.Design/methodology/approach – The study is of an exploratory nature, and based on an inductive and qualitative research method. A case study of IKEA's entry into Russia and China was conducted.Findings – It is argued that IKEA's entry into China and Russia was successful because of its dynamic utilization of matching and networking capabilities. The study explains how the support of relationships with, for example, political actors, interest groups and media supported the entry and the development of a positive consumer image.Research limitations/implications – This is a qualitative, in depth study and future research is needed in order to test the generalizability of the proposed framework and models.Practical implications – The paper shows how retail managers c.
Can performance appraisals motivate employees to improve performance? A Mexican study

In this study of Mexican employees, we examined the relationship between performance appraisal characteristics (appraisal source, appraisal purpose and feedback richness) and perceived reactions of employees to the appraisal characteristics (perceived fairness and perceived accuracy of appraisals) and appraisal outcomes (appraisal satisfaction and motivation to improve). We hypothesized that multisource appraisals, appraisals used for administrative and developmental appraisals (multipurpose appraisals) and appraisals that have a high degree of feedback richness would lead to more perceived accuracy and perceived fairness of appraisals. We further hypothesized that higher levels of perceived fairness and accuracy would lead to higher levels of employee appraisal satisfaction and motivation to improve performance in the future. Results based on a survey of Mexican employees provide support for most of the hypothesized relationships. We discuss implications of the findings for research and practice of performance appraisals in the Mexican context.