Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) overexpression in transgenic mice downregulates insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and -4 mRNA

An in vivo approach was taken to assess the biological significance of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) using transgenic mice. Transgenic mice were generated using the pIRES-EGFP vector expressing a bicistronic mRNA containing both human HB-EGF (hHB-EGF) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) coding sequences under the regulation of the cytomegalovirus immediate–early (CMV-IE) promoter. As a marker for transgene expression, EGFP fluorescence in 5 μm tissue sections was evaluated. To confirm HB-EGF expression in EGFP-containing tissues, HB-EGF mRNA was analyzed by RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis. Protein levels of HB-EGF and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), a molecule that stabilizes IGFs, which in turn helps to promote growth, were analyzed by Western blot. Also, the weights of transgenic mice were compared with the weights of wild type non-transgenic littermates over a 10-week period. EGFP fluorescence, RT-PCR and Northern analysis of a variety of tissues from hHB-EGF transgenic mice indicate recombinant EGFP/hHB-EGF mRNA expression in kidney, liver, lung and stomach. Western blot analysis confirmed that HB-EGF protein levels were greater in these tissues from hHB-EGF transgenic mice compared to wild type non-transgenic littermates. IGFBP-3 protein was absent in serum of transgenic mice prior to the onset of puberty, but indistinguishable from wild type non-transgenic mice after puberty. Furthermore, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-4 mRNA were downregulated in the kidney, but not liver or lung of the transgenic mice. In accordance with reduced IGFBP-3 and -4 levels, hHB-EGF transgenic mice exhibited a 20% decrease in weight prior to 6 weeks of age compared to wild type non-transgenic littermates. Our laboratory has generated a biologically functional transgenic mouse model exhibiting increased expression of hHB-EGF in kidney, liver, lung and stomach. Overexpression of hHB-EGF affected the growth rate of these transgenic mice possibly through a pathway involving IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-4.
A Multistate Life Table Approach to Understanding Return and Reentry Migration between Mexico and the United States During Later Life.

BACKGROUND Empirical research describes retirement migration to Mexico as a viable option for some older Americans. However, far less research examines this phenomenon among Mexican immigrants in the United States. The literature that does address this topic treats international migration as a singular occurrence and does not examine the possibility of return and subsequent reentry between countries. This omission creates an important gap in our knowledge of international retirement migration considering the strong transnational ties that Mexican immigrants maintain to the home and destination countries. OBJECTIVE Using a multistate life table approach, this study examines the rate of return to Mexico and reentry back into the United States among Mexican males aged 50 and older with U.S. migration experience, as well as the number of years spent in both countries. RESULTS Results show that the rate of reentry from Mexico into the United States declined from 3.33% at age 50-54 to less than 1% at age 70 and older (p-value<0.05). In contrast, the rate of return to Mexico from the United States increased from 3.19% at age 50 to 54 to 4.44%at age 65 to 69 and dropped to less than 2% at age 70 and older (p-value<0.05). CONCLUSIONS While rates of return and reentry among this population are relatively low, they provide insight on the potential life course factors driving the migration patterns of a population of increasing size and relevance in the United States.
Developing Intercultural Communicative Competence: an Example of the New College English Textbook Series

The development of intercultural communication has received renewed attention in the professional literature in the past decade. In response to changes brought about by a globalizing world and educational industry, our understanding of culture – and its role in language teaching - has changed. This is clearly indicated by the emerging 21 st century educational frameworks that put inter- and cross-cultural skills as one of the core competencies for students to be successful in a rapidly changing world. Research on language teaching materials has found that there has been a shift in cultural representations, moving from mono-cultural portrays to more dynamic, inter-cultural, even hybrid cultural depictions. Yet, two areas need further consideration: a) While the above might be true for materials developed for international markets, how is culture represented in locally produced English language textbooks? b) What tasks are used in the materials to develop the skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed for successful intercultural communication? This paper set out to examine a widely used and locally published English language textbook series by using Byram’s (1997a) framework and found that although the material has a potential to develop intercultural competence, it does not provide tasks that would engage students in such learning.
Risk of mortality and heart failure exacerbations associated with inhaled beta-adrenoceptor agonists among patients with known left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES Recent studies suggest that myocardial beta(2)-adrenoceptors may be important in chronic heart failure. We sought to determine if use of selective beta(2)-agonists was associated with hospitalization for heart failure and all-cause mortality. METHODS We studied a cohort of patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). The outcome was the first hospitalization with a primary diagnosis of chronic heart failure or death from any cause. The exposure was the average number of beta-agonist canisters filled per month in the 90 days prior to and 15 days after enrollment. RESULTS Among 1,529 subjects, the relative risk (RR) of chronic heart failure hospital admission associated with inhaled beta-agonists followed a dose-response relationship: RR for one canister per month, 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9 to 2.0), RR for two canisters per month, 1.7 (95% CI, 1.2 to 2.5), and RR for three canisters per month, 2.1 (95% CI, 1.4 to 3.1). The RR of death demonstrated a similar finding: RR for one canister per month, 0.9 (95% CI, 0.5 to 1.5), RR for two canisters per month, 1.3 (95% CI, 0.9 to 2.1), and RR for three canisters per month, 2.0 (95% CI, 1.3 to 3.1). Adjusting for potential confounding factors did not affect the estimates. CONCLUSION Among subjects with LVSD, inhaled beta-agonists were associated with an increased risk of heart failure hospitalization, and all-cause mortality. Clinicians should carefully consider the etiology of dyspnea when prescribing beta-agonists to patients with LVSD.
Computer assisted image analysis to assess colonization of recipient seminiferous tubules by spermatogonial stem cells from transgenic donor mice

Transplantation of spermatogonial stem cells from fertile, transgenic donor mice to the testes of infertile recipients provides a unique system to study the biology of spermatogonial stem cells. To facilitate the investigation of treatment effects on colonization efficiency an analysis system was needed to quantify colonization of recipient mouse seminiferous tubules by donor stem cell‐derived spermatogenesis. In this study, a computer‐assisted morphometry system was developed and validated to analyze large numbers of samples. Donor spermatogenesis in recipient testes is identified by blue staining of donor‐derived spermatogenic cells expressing the E. coli lacZ structural gene. Images of seminiferous tubules from recipient testes collected three months after spermatogonial transplantation are captured, and stained seminiferous tubules containing donor‐derived spermatogenesis are selected for measurement based on their color by color thresholding. Colonization is measured as number, area, and length of stained tubules. Interactive, operator‐controlled color selection and sample preparation accounted for less than 10% variability for all collected parameters. Using this system, the relationship between number of transplanted cells and colonization efficiency was investigated. Transplantation of 104 cells per testis only rarely resulted in colonization, whereas after transplantation of 105 and 106 cells per testis the extent of donor‐derived spermatogenesis was directly related to the number of transplanted donor cells. It appears that about 10% of transplanted spermatogonial stem cells result in colony formation in the recipient testis. The present study establishes a rapid, repeatable, semi‐interactive morphometry system to investigate treatment effects on colonization efficiency after spermatogonial transplantation in the mouse. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 53:142–148, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Enhanced Hematovascular Contribution of SCL 3′ Enhancer Expressing Fetal Liver Cells Uncovers Their Potential to Integrate in Extramedullary Adult Niches

Fetal liver (FL) hematopoietic progenitors have superior blood engraftment competence compared with adult bone marrow (BM), however less is known about FL in vivo vascular capacity. Here we show in transplantation assays that FL cells possess enhanced vascular endothelial potential compared with adult bone marrow. We generated high‐level hematopoietic chimeras using donor cells from mice transgenic for the stem cell leukaemia 3′ enhancer human placental alkaline phosphatase (SCL3′Enh‐PLAP) reporter construct, active in vascular endothelium, and blood progenitor and stem cells. Long‐term lineage tracing analysis revealed PLAP+ vascular‐like patches in FL‐derived chimeras, whereas adult BM‐derived chimeras presented only rare and scattered PLAP+ cells. PLAP+ vascular‐like patches were formed following transplantation into both newborn and adult recipient mice, although their frequency was reduced in adult recipients. Confocal analysis of multiple labeled tissues revealed that whereas most liver and heart PLAP+ vascular patch‐associated cells were endothelial, PLAP+ vascular patches in the kidney contained endothelial, hematopoietic, and putative hemangioblastic cells. Moreover, fluorescence‐activated cell sorting assays showed that only FL PLAPbright+ donor cells can generate PLAP+ vascular patches upon transplantation. Taken together, these data demonstrate superior vascular contribution potential of FL cells, and not only provide new insights into the developmental pathways controlling endothelial development but also may prove informative when addressing the mechanisms involved in vascular regeneration and hemangiogenic recovery in a clinical context. STEM CELLS 2010;28:100–112
Inhibition by tunicamycin of mucin synthesis, not morphological changes, in epidermis during retinol‐induced mucous metaplasia of chick embryonic cultured skin

Our previous studies have shown that epidermal mucous metaplasia of chick embryonic skin can be induced by culture in medium containing 20 μM retinol for only 8 hr and then in a chemically defined medium without retinol for 2 days and that retinol primarily affects the dermal cells, which then transform the epithelial cells into mucus‐secreting cells.
Lost in Transition? Drivers and Barriers in the Eco-Innovation Road to the Circular Economy

Understanding which drivers and barriers exist in the development of a circular economy (CE) is a relevant and timely endeavour. The aim of this paper is to contribute to this debate by analysing evidence regarding the different factors helping and hampering the development of a CE. Specifically, this paper focuses on the eco-innovation (EI) pathway towards a CE, and tries to coordinate available but fragmented findings regarding how “transformative innovation” can foster this transition while removing obstacles to sustainability. Drawing upon a new corpus of both academic and non-academic literature, this work offers a framework for analysis, as well as an evidence-based survey of the challenges, for a green structural change of the economy. We argue that the combination of the innovation systems' view with the more recent “transformation turn” in innovation studies may provide an appropriate perspective for understanding the transition to a CE. Ultimately, the paper aims to capitalise on these insights to contribute to the design of policy guidelines and organisational strategies.
Basal ganglion stroke presenting as subtle behavioural change

Cerebral infarctions can have many presentations ranging from hemiparesis to subtle behavioural changes. A case is presented in which the only sign of a left basal ganglion infarct was isolated abulia. This case highlights the importance of a thorough evaluation in cases of acute unexplained changes in behaviour.
Determinants of Money Demand in Ghana

This paper examines the factors that influence money demand in Ghana using the ARDL approach as the baseline estimator. We find strong evidence of existence of long-run equilibrium relationship between money demand and its determinants. The results also indicate that expected inflation and real exchange rate are the key determinants of money demand both in the short-run and long-run. The role of real interest rate is only recognized in the long-run whereas the impact of financial innovation resulting from the on-going financial sector reforms only affect the transitional dynamics of the money market conditions. There is also an ample evidence of instability in the money demand relationship as a result of inflation and exchange rate volatility. Moreover, given that the wealth effect phenomena holds in Ghana, the paper concludes by suggesting that policies directed towards regulating and maintaining stable exchange rates and low and steady inflation would be necessary to maintain stable money demand and thus enhance the effectiveness of monetary policy in Ghana.
[Practical considerations on detection of publication bias].

The present review aims to answer 3 questions: does publication bias need to be assessed in meta-analyses? ; what procedures, not requiring complex statistical approaches, can be applied to detect it? ; and should other factors be taken into account when interpreting the procedures? The first question is easy to answer. Publication bias is a potential threat to the validity of the conclusions of meta-analyses. Therefore, both the MOOSE and QUOROM statements include publication bias in their guidelines; nevertheless, many meta-analyses do not use these statements (e.g., meta-analyses conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration), perhaps because they use a comprehensive search strategy. There are many methods to assess publication bias. The most frequently used are funnel plots or <<Christmas trees>>, <<trim and fill>> (which allow the effects of bias to be estimated), and methods based upon regression on plots, such as Egger's method and funnel plot regression. An advantage of these methods is that they can only be applied using published data. However, agreement between these methods in detecting bias is often poor. Therefore, application of more than one method to detect publication bias is recommended. To correctly interpret the results, the number of pooled studies should be more than 10 and the existence of heterogeneity in the pooled estimate must be taken into account.
HEARING FROM THE 8%: PERCEPTIONS OF PRE-COLLEGE EXPERIENCES FROM SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM LOW AND MODERATE SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS

Lawrence Hodgkins, HEARING FROM THE 8%: PERCEPTIONS OF PRE-COLLEGE EXPERIENCES FROM SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM LOW AND MODERATE SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS (Under the direction of Dr. Matthew Militello). Department of Educational Leadership, April 2017. A college degree is an important gateway for entering our modern economy; the net value of a college degree is more than $800,000 above a high school diploma. Nationally only 8% of students from families in the lowest income quartile earn a four-year degree by age 24 compared to 82% of students from the top income quartile. The purpose of this study was to understand high school success factors from the perspective of successful college students from low and moderate socioeconomic backgrounds. The InQuiry process was used to assess student perspectives. InQuiry is a research technique that combines a sorting activity to collect quantitative data and follow-up focus group interviews to gather qualitative data. Four distinct student perspectives emerged from the data collected in this study. They were designated: (1) Self Determination High School, (2) Utopia High School, (3) On My Own High School, and (4) Great Expectations High School. The findings indicated that beyond important internal factors there are a number of easy to implement external strategies that may have an immediate impact
B lymphocytic clonal expansion in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To learn whether rheumatoid factor (RF), HLA-DR4, or current therapy influences clonal expansion of B lymphocytes (B cells) in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS We measured clonal expansion by analysis of cell surface staining for immunoglobulin light chains. Double staining methods detected a B cell marker (CD19) plus either kappa or lambda on peripheral blood lymphocytes from subjects with RA (n = 26) and controls (n = 26). The difference between frequency histograms of surface kappa and lambda staining was determined by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic D that represents the fraction of clonally expanded B cells. RESULTS The mean D value in RA was over 50% higher than in the controls [0.225 +/- SD 0.155 versus 0.144 +/- 0.025 (p < 0.0001)]. Ten subjects with RA had values exceeding +2 SD for controls (p = 0.0007). Mean D correlated with RF titer (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient rSp + 0.53, p = 0.006). All 10 high D values were found in the RA subgroups with positive serum tests for RF and with the HLA-DR4 positive genotype. The channel of maximal difference between kappa and lambda staining was higher in the RA group than in controls, showing that clonal expansion was most marked among brightly staining cells. Patients with RA currently receiving low dose methotrexate (MTX) tended to have higher D values than those not receiving MTX (mean 0.29 versus 0.18, respectively, p < 0.025). The RA group currently receiving MTX had a higher frequency of abnormal D values (7 of 11 versus 3 of 15 not currently receiving MTX, p = 0.03). This probably reflects preferential use of MTX for severely affected individuals. Confirmatory studies to detect clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements were attempted in selected individuals with high D values, but none was demonstrated in total leukocytic or B cell enriched fractions. CONCLUSION Findings consistent with B cell clonal expansion occur in about 40% of persons with RA, particularly in the subgroups with positive serum tests for RF and with the HLA-DR4 genotype. However, the clonal expansion level must be below the sensitivity of confirmatory methods.
The Hydroxypyridinone Iron Chelator CP94 Can Enhance PpIX‐induced PDT of Cultured Human Glioma Cells

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with the pro‐drugs 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) or methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) utilizes the combined interaction of a photosensitizer, light and molecular oxygen to ablate tumor tissue. To potentially increase accumulation of the photosensitizer, protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), within tumor cells an iron chelator can be employed. This study analyzed the effects of ALA/MAL‐induced PDT combined with the iron chelator 1, 2‐diethyl‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐one hydrochloride (CP94) on the accumulation of PpIX in human glioma cells in vitro. Cells were incubated for 0, 3 and 6 h with various concentrations of ALA/MAL with or without CP94 and the resulting accumulations of PpIX, which naturally fluoresces, were quantified prior to and following light irradiation. In addition, counts of viable cells were recorded. The use of CP94 in combination with ALA/MAL produced significant enhancements of PpIX fluorescence in human glioma cells. At the highest concentrations of each prodrug, CP94 enhanced PpIX fluorescence significantly at 3 h for ALA and by more than 50% at 6 h for MAL. Cells subsequently treated with ALA/MAL‐induced PDT in combination with CP94 produced the greatest cytotoxicity. It is therefore concluded that with further study CP94 may be a useful adjuvant to photodiagnosis and/or PpIX‐induced PDT treatment of glioma.
Securing UAV Communications via Joint Trajectory and Power Control

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication is anticipated to be widely applied in the forthcoming fifth-generation wireless networks, due to its many advantages such as low cost, high mobility, and on-demand deployment. However, the broadcast and line-of-sight nature of air-to-ground wireless channels give rise to a new challenge on how to realize secure UAV communications with the destined nodes on the ground. This paper aims to tackle this challenge by applying the physical layer security technique. We consider both the downlink and uplink UAV communications with a ground node, namely, UAV-to-ground (U2G) and ground-to-UAV (G2U) communications, respectively, subject to a potential eavesdropper on the ground. In contrast to the existing literature on the wireless physical layer security only with the ground nodes at fixed or quasi-static locations, we exploit the high mobility of the UAV to proactively establish favorable and degraded channels for the legitimate and eavesdropping links, through its trajectory design. We formulate new problems to maximize the average secrecy rates of the U2G and G2U transmissions, by jointly optimizing the UAV’s trajectory, and the transmit power of the legitimate transmitter over a given flight period of the UAV. Although the formulated problems are non-convex, we propose iterative algorithms to solve them efficiently by applying the block coordinate descent and successive convex optimization methods. Specifically, both the transmit power and UAV trajectory are optimized, with the other being fixed in an alternating manner, until the algorithms converge. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithms can improve the secrecy rates for both U2G and G2U communications, as compared to other benchmark schemes without power control and/or trajectory optimization.
Convergence in corporate governance systems and sustainability culture

The aim of this paper is to encourage a debate about the effective adoption of a sustainability approach by companies' boards, being a substantial factor of convergence between insider and outsider corporate governance systems. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability are based on good corporate governance, grounded on stakeholder engagement, fairness, transparency and accountability. All these principles are related to sustainable boards and determine a governance approach directed to the growth of corporate value in the long-term. Leadership aiming at sustainability requires CSR to be transferred from top management to the entire organisation, spreading a real culture of sustainability into organisation. In this sense, the CSR, if properly realised, can be considered as a factor of substantial convergence between the different systems of corporate governance existing worldwide.
Intra‐lesional interleukin‐2 therapy for in transit melanoma

Intra‐lesional interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) is effective in treating in transit melanoma metastases. Results from multiple studies were examined to evaluate the efficacy of IL‐2 for in transit disease. In the published literature, complete response ranged from 0% to 69% per patient, and 41% to 96% per lesion, with excellent tolerability. Combining the results of six studies show complete response in 50% of patients and 78% of lesions. Intra‐lesional IL‐2 should be considered early in the course of treatment for in transit disease, ahead of other, more toxic therapies. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 109:327–331. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.