Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α + 489 G / A gene polymorphism is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process, in which the pro-inflammatory cytokine Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α is considered to play a role. In the present study the putative involvement of TNF-α gene polymorphisms in pathogenesis of COPD was studied by analysis of four TNF-α gene polymorphisms in a Caucasian COPD population. Methods: TNF-α gene polymorphisms at positions -376G/A, -308G/A, -238G/A, and +489G/A were examined in 169 Dutch COPD patients, who had a mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of 37 ± 13%, and compared with a Dutch population control group of 358 subjects. Results: The data showed that the TNF-α +489G/A genotype frequency tended to be different in COPD patients as compared to population controls, which was due to an enhanced frequency of the GA genotype. In line herewith, carriership of the minor allele was associated with enhanced risk of development of COPD (odds ratio = 1.9, p = 0.009). The other TNF-α gene polymorphisms studied revealed no discrimination between patients and controls. No differences in the examined four TNF-α polymorphisms were found between subtypes of COPD, which were stratified for the presence of radiological emphysema. However, comparison of the COPD subtypes with controls showed a significant difference in the TNF-α +489G/A genotype in patients without radiological emphysema (χ2test: p < 0.025 [Bonferroni adjusted]), while no differences between COPD patients with radiological emphysema and controls were observed. Conclusion: Based on the reported data, it is concluded that COPD, and especially a subgroup of COPD patients without radiological emphysema, is associated with TNF-α +489G/A gene polymorphism.
Effects of Fiscal Stimulus in Structural Models

The paper assesses, using seven structural models used heavily by policymaking institutions, the effectiveness of temporary fiscal stimulus. Models can, more easily than empirical studies, account for differences between fiscal instruments, for differences between structural characteristics of the economy, and for monetary-fiscal policy interactions. Findings are: (i) There is substantial agreement across models on the sizes of fiscal multipliers. (ii) The sizes of spending and targeted transfers multipliers are large. (iii) Fiscal policy is most effective if it has some persistence and if monetary policy accommodates it. (iv) The perception of permanent fiscal stimulus leads to significantly lower initial multipliers.
Mass Belief Systems Revisited

EXAMINING THE STRUCTURE of mass attitudes over a period from 1956 through 1972, Norman H. Nie and Kristi Andersen present evidence of "major increases" in the level of attitude constraint within the mass public beginning in 1964 and continuing through 1972.1 The evidence presented is pair-wise associations between respondents' positions on issues in five issue areas measured by the Tau-gamma coefficient.2 The data for 1972 are somewhat ambiguous until pair-wise relationships with the size of government variable are excluded. Then the pattern becomes clear:
Germanium-on-Silicon Mid-Infrared Arrayed Waveguide Grating Multiplexers

In this letter, we describe the use of a germanium-on-silicon waveguide platform to realize an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) operating in the 5 μm wavelength range, which can be used as a wavelength multiplexer for mid-infrared (midIR) light engines or as the core element of a midIR spectrometer. Ge-on-Si waveguide losses in the range 2.5-3.5 dB/cm for TE polarized light and 3-4 dB/cm for TM polarized light in the 5.15-5.4 μm wavelength range are reported. A 200 GHz channel spacing 5-channel AWG with an insertion loss/crosstalk of 2.5/3.1 dB and 20/16 dB for TE and TM polarization, respectively, is demonstrated.
Protein folding simulation by all-atom CSAW method

Conditioned self-avoiding walk (CSAW) is a novel ab initio protein folding simulation model based on Langevin equation and Monte-Carlo method. The polypeptide chain is divided into effectively rigid crank units lined by covalent bonds. The only degrees of the freedom are rotations around these bonds. Instead of a hard sphere, the amino acid side chains are modeled by real atom conformation in this paper. The particular feathers of each side chain are considered in calculating the hydrophobic and electrostatic energy in all-atom CSAW. By introducing long range electrostatic interactions, not only the alpha helixes in 1A7W but also beta sheets/strands in 3AIT are successfully simulated for the first time by improved CSAW.
Funding of Pensions and Economic Growth: Are They Really Related?

We examine whether changes in the degree of pension funding affect economic growth. Our sample consists of 54 countries, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as well as non-OECD, during 2001â€“10. We do not find any effect of changes in the degree of funding on growth in the short-run. For the long-run the evidence is mixed. Although a growth model with overlapping observations suggests that there is a positive effect of funding changes on economic growth, we find no effect in a simple cross-sectional model.
Acetylation of KLF5 Alters the Assembly of p15 Transcription Factors in Transforming Growth Factor-β-mediated Induction in Epithelial Cells*

KLF5 plays important roles in a variety of cellular processes including proliferation and differentiation. Recently KLF5 was shown to reverse its function in proliferative and p15 regulation upon transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)-mediated acetylation. To understand how KLF5 acetylation functions in TGFβ-induced p15 transcription, we characterized the interactions of KLF5 with other transcription factors and promoter DNA elements in the context of TGFβ. KLF5 interacted with Smad2–4 and Miz-1 in a TGFβ-independent manner, but interacted with Myc only when TGFβ was activated, and at least some of the interactions had an additive effect on TGFβ-induced p15 transcription. Oligo pulldown assays showed that binding of Myc to the Inr element was KLF5-dependent, and TGFβ could enhance the binding when more KLF5 was available. Furthermore, TGFβ induced an interaction between KLF5 and the p300 acetylase, and acetylation of KLF5 was necessary for Smad4 to associate with p300. Failure in KLF5 acetylation not only prevented p300-assembled Smad4-KLF5 complex formation on p15 promoter but also affected the binding of Smad4 and FOXO3 on the p15 promoter in vivo. These findings suggest that without TGFβ, some KLF5 associates with Smads in the nucleus and other KLF5 associates with Miz-1 on the p15 promoter to repress its transcription. Activation of TGFβ recruits p300 to the KLF5-Smad complex to acetylate KLF5, and the complex with acetylated KLF5 binds to the Smad binding element and alters the binding of other factors to p15 promoter to induce its transcription.
Cytochemical Demonstration of Oxidative Damage in Alzheimer Disease by Immunochemical Enhancement of the Carbonyl Reaction with 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine

Formation of carbonyls derived from lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids is common during oxidative stress. For example, metal-catalyzed, “site-specific” oxidation of several amino acid side-chains produces aldehydes or ketones, and peroxidation of lipids generates reactive aldehydes such as malondialdehyde and hydroxynonenal. Here, using in situ 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine labeling linked to an antibody system, we describe a highly sensitive and specific cytochemical technique to specifically localize biomacromolecule-bound carbonyl reactivity. When this technique was applied to tissues from cases of Alzheimer disease, in which oxidative events including lipoperoxidative, glycoxidative, and other oxidative protein modifications have been reported, we detected free carbonyls not only in the disease-related intraneuronal lesions but also in other neurons. In marked contrast, free carbonyls were not found in neurons or glia in age-matched control cases. Importantly, this assay was highly specific for detecting disease-related oxidative damage because the site of oxidative damage can be assessed in the midst of concurrent age-related increases in free carbonyls in vascular basement membrane that would contaminate biochemical samples subjected to bulk analysis. These findings demonstrate that oxidative imbalance and stress are key elements in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease.
Spaces of Innovation: Patent Activity in Indiana Metropolitan Areas, 1990 to 1998

Organizations and individuals may express their capacity for innovation through patents for new products and services. This study examines one region’s recent history of innovation. How do Indiana’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) compare with other MSAs when measuring patent productivity? Some Indiana MSAs reflect a capacity for innovation, whereas others show less patent activity. Some Indiana MSAs look better nationally when measured in terms of patents per 10,000 employees. Indiana MSAs demonstrate strengths in pharmaceuticals and medical systems, electrical and electronic components, automobiles, and computers. The diffusion of patent volumes among Indiana MSAs varies with distance from Indianapolis. When compared with three MSAs with strengths in the life sciences (Minneapolis-St. Paul, San Diego, and San Francisco), the Indianapolis MSA lags in annual patent production. Life science patents from these three MSAs grew substantially in the late 1990s, whereas the Indianapolis MSA’s life science patent output dropped each year.
Human capital and growth in Romanian small firms

Purpose – The objective of this paper is to examine the impact that certain human capital variables have over employment growth of small firms in Romania.Design/methodology/approach – The human capital components considered in this paper are education, previous work experience, employment motivations, the presence of entrepreneurial teams, and the presence of family members in the firm. To attain the objective of the paper we carry out a regression analysis using a rich data set of 635 Romanian firms for the year 2006.Findings – Consistent with different employment growth measures, the empirical findings indicate that human capital matters for explaining small firms' employment growth. Previous work experience, the presence of entrepreneurial teams and the proportion of family members working in the business appear as determinant components. In addition, the results indicate that an active involvement of the entrepreneur in managerial tasks increases the intensity with which the entrepreneur makes use of .
Eating Disorders in Adolescents

According to International Classification of Diseases by World Health Organization, eating disorders are behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances. Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, atypical bulimia nervosa, overeating associated with other psychological disturbances and vomiting associated with other psychological disturbances. Maladaptive eating pattern and inadequate physical activity are seen in adolescents with eating disorders and obesity. Those with comorbid eating disorder and obesity have a poorer prognosis and are at higher risk for future medical problems.
Transoral robotic surgery for advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES To determine the oncologic and functional outcomes in patients undergoing primary transoral robotic surgery followed by adjuvant therapy as indicated with a minimum of 18-month follow-up for advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma. DESIGN Prospective single-center cohort study. SETTING Academic university health system and tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Forty-seven adults with newly diagnosed and previously untreated advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma. INTERVENTION Transoral robotic surgery with staged neck dissection and adjuvant therapy as indicated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Margin status, recurrence, disease-specific and disease-free survival, gastrostomy tube dependence, and safety and efficacy end points. RESULTS In the 47 patients enrolled with stages III and IV advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma, mean follow-up was 26.6 months. There was no intraoperative or postoperative mortality. Resection margins were positive in 1 patient (2%). At last follow-up, local recurrence was identified in 1 patient (2%), regional recurrence in 2 (4%), and distant recurrence in 4 (9%). Disease-specific survival was 98% (45 of 46 patients) at 1 year and 90% (27 of 30 patients) at 2 years. Based on pathologic risk stratification, 18 of 47 patients (38%) avoided chemotherapy, and 5 patients (11%) did not receive adjuvant radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy in their treatment regimen. At minimum follow-up of 1 year, only 1 patient required a gastrostomy tube. CONCLUSIONS This novel transoral robotic surgery treatment regimen offers disease control, survival, and safety commensurate with standard treatments and an unexpected beneficial outcome of gastrostomy dependency rates that are markedly lower than those reported with standard nonsurgical therapies.
Meta-Analysis on Randomized Controlled Trials of Vaccines with QS-21 or ISCOMATRIX Adjuvant: Safety and Tolerability

Background and Objectives QS-21 shows in vitro hemolytic effect and causes side effects in vivo. New saponin adjuvant formulations with better toxicity profiles are needed. This study aims to evaluate the safety and tolerability of QS-21 and the improved saponin adjuvants (ISCOM, ISCOMATRIX and Matrix-M™) from vaccine trials. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted from MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library and Clinicaltrials.gov. We selected for the meta-analysis randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of vaccines adjuvanted with QS-21, ISCOM, ISCOMATRIX or Matrix-M™, which included a placebo control group and reported safety outcomes. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Jadad scale was used to assess the study quality. Results Nine RCTs were eligible for the meta-analysis: six trials on QS-21-adjuvanted vaccines and three trials on ISCOMATRIX-adjuvanted, with 907 patients in total. There were no studies on ISCOM or Matrix-M™ adjuvanted vaccines matching the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis identified an increased risk for diarrhea in patients receiving QS21-adjuvanted vaccines (RR 2.55, 95% CI 1.04–6.24). No increase in the incidence of the reported systemic AEs was observed for ISCOMATRIX-adjuvanted vaccines. QS-21- and ISCOMATRIX-adjuvanted vaccines caused a significantly higher incidence of injection site pain (RR 4.11, 95% CI 1.10–15.35 and RR 2.55, 95% CI 1.41–4.59, respectively). ISCOMATRIX-adjuvanted vaccines also increased the incidence of injection site swelling (RR 3.43, 95% CI 1.08–10.97). Conclusions Our findings suggest that vaccines adjuvanted with either QS-21 or ISCOMATRIX posed no specific safety concern. Furthermore, our results indicate that the use of ISCOMATRIX enables a better systemic tolerability profile when compared to the use of QS-21. However, no better local tolerance was observed for ISCOMATRIX-adjuvanted vaccines in immunized non-healthy subjects. This meta-analysis is limited by the relatively small number of individuals recruited in the included trials, especially in the control groups.
Expression of I-A by macrophages from Bcgr and Bcgs mice. Transient expression of I-A is due to degradation of MHC class II glycoproteins.

Murine peritoneal macrophages from mice that are resistant to Mycobacterium bovis (strain BCG) can be induced to continuously express MHC class II (Ia) glycoproteins. In contrast, macrophages from BCG susceptible mice will only transiently express Ia. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the biochemical basis of continuous or transient Ia expression. We therefore compared Ia biosynthesis by macrophages from C.D2Bcgr mice to that by macrophages from congenic BALB/c.Bcgs mice. We show that macrophages from both strains of mice synthesize Ia initially and that very little synthesis occurs after 5 days of in vitro culture. No differences in the amount of Ia synthesized by the macrophages was apparent as determined by quantitative immunoprecipitation and by ELISA. Despite the lack of synthesis, macrophages from C.D2Bcgr mice continue to express Ia. The results of pulse-chase experiments indicate that macrophages from BALB/c.Bcgs mice degrade newly synthesized MHC class II glycoproteins whereas the majority of Ia remains associated with macrophages from the C.D2Bcgr mice. The addition of chloroquine to cultures of macrophages from BALB/c.Bcgs mice prevented the degradation and prolonged the expression of Ia. The results of this investigation show that there are no differences in the synthesis of Ia by macrophages from the two congenic strains of mice. The transient expression of Ia by macrophages from BALB/c.Bcgs mice is due to its degradation.
Performance Optimization for UAV-Enabled Wireless Communications under Flight Time Constraints

In this paper, the effective use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as flying base stations that can provide wireless service to ground users is investigated. In particular, a novel framework for optimizing the performance of such UAV-based wireless systems, in terms of the average number of bits (data service) transmitted to users under flight time constraints, is proposed. In the considered model, UAVs are deployed over a given geographical area to serve ground users that are distributed within a given area based on an arbitrary spatial distribution function. In this case, based on the maximum possible flight times of the UAVs, the average data service delivered to the users is maximized by finding the optimal cell partitions associated to the UAVs, under a fair resource allocation scheme. To this end, using the powerful mathematical framework of optimal transport theory, a gradient-based algorithm is proposed for optimally partitioning the geographical area based on the users' distribution, flight times, and locations of the UAVs. Simulation results show that the proposed cell partitioning approach yields a significantly higher fairness among the users compared to the classical weighted Voronoi diagram. In particular, by using our approach, the Jain's fairness index is improved by a factor of 2.6.
Software metrics for enhanced business excellence: An investigation of research issues from a macro perspective

Abstract Software measurement is a challenging as well as an essential element of a wholesome and highly efficient software engineering culture. ‘Software metrics’ refers to the collective term underlying the wide range of activities associated with measurement in software engineering. There are numerous taxonomies to organize software metrics (based on entities, type of measure etc), but all of them fundamentally fit into three broad domains, namely resource, process and product metrics. The number of metrics in each of these categories is ever increasing with the result that practitioners are overwhelmed with data as they get quantitative inputs on a variety of attributes. This poses a real problem for decision-makers and analysts as many times it is unclear which attributes should be managed so as to augment the overarching goal of productivity or quality improvement. This paper aspires to address the research issues with respect to ably managing the subject of software metrics in a structured and coordinated manner. The present work deals with the concept of software measurement and metrics and argues that a great degree of simplification is required as, otherwise, the cornucopia of metrics would defeat the very purpose of the measurement approach, which is to quantify the key characteristics of interest in order to extract meaningful inferences about them and their relationships with one another. A cause-analytic model is also proposed, which if validated empirically would help to throw light on certain key metrics that could form the foundation for the further realization of the measurement and metrics approach. To encapsulate, the proposed research adopts a holistic approach in that it encompasses all categories of metrics in its analysis and it takes a macro-perspective in the sense that the sole purpose is to better organize the body of research with respect to software metrics.
Small Cell and Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinomas of the Pancreas are Genetically Similar and Distinct From Well-differentiated Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) of the pancreas are rare malignant neoplasms with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the clinicopathologic and genetic features of poorly differentiated NECs and compare them with other types of pancreatic neoplasms. We investigated alterations of KRAS, CDKN2A/p16, TP53, SMAD4/DPC4, DAXX, ATRX, PTEN, Bcl2, and RB1 by immunohistochemistry and/or targeted exomic sequencing in surgically resected specimens of 9 small cell NECs, 10 large cell NECs, and 11 well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) of the pancreas. Abnormal immunolabeling patterns of p53 and Rb were frequent (p53, 18 of 19, 95%; Rb, 14 of 19, 74%) in both small cell and large cell NECs, whereas Smad4/Dpc4, DAXX, and ATRX labeling was intact in virtually all of these same carcinomas. Abnormal immunolabeling of p53 and Rb proteins correlated with intragenic mutations in the TP53 and RB1 genes. In contrast, DAXX and ATRX labeling was lost in 45% of PanNETs, whereas p53 and Rb immunolabeling was intact in these same cases. Overexpression of Bcl-2 protein was observed in all 9 small cell NECs (100%) and in 5 of 10 (50%) large cell NECs compared with only 2 of 11 (18%) PanNETs. Bcl-2 overexpression was significantly correlated with higher mitotic rate and Ki67 labeling index in neoplasms in which it was present. Small cell NECs are genetically similar to large cell NECs, and these genetic changes are distinct from those reported in PanNETs. The finding of Bcl-2 overexpression in poorly differentiated NECs, particularly small cell NEC, suggests that Bcl-2 antagonists/inhibitors may be a viable treatment option for these patients.
Migration, tourism and international trade: Evidence from the UK

This paper examines the hypothesis that a greater stock of migrants and flows of tourists in the United Kingdom from a particular country increases bilateral trade between the United Kingdom and country of origin. The literature and empirical findings show that migrants and tourists can stimulate trade. We use a panel data technique within a framework of a gravity model. Our panel includes 23 countries for the years 2001 to 2006. Our empirical findings show that immigration and tourist flows have export-enhancing effect. Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United States.
Measuring International Skilled Migration: A New Database Controlling for Age of Entry

Recent data on international migration of skilled workers define skilled migrants by education level without distinguishing whether they acquired their education in the home or the host country. This article uses immigrants' age of entry as a proxy for where they acquired their education. Data on age of entry are available from a subset of receiving countries that together represent 77 percent of total skilled immigration to countries of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). Using these data and a simple gravity model to estimate the age-of-entry structure of the remaining 23 percent, alternative brain drain measures are proposed that exclude immigrants who arrived before ages 12, 18, and 22.