Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular cloning and cartilage gene expression of equine stromelysin 1 (matrix metalloproteinase 3).

OBJECTIVE To clone and determine molecular structure of equine stromelysin 1 (matrix metalloproteinase 3) and examine stromelysin expression in articular cartilage. SAMPLES AND PROCEDURE: Total RNA was harvested from equine arthritic cartilage specimens and was used for reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction amplification to develop overlapping complementary DNA (cDNA) clones. Four cDNA sequences were ligated into plasmid (pGEM3Z) constructs and subcloned into bacterial expression vectors, and sequence was determined by automated dye terminator sequencing. Stromelysin mRNA expression was assessed in normal and arthritic cartilage and synovium by northern blotting. Interleukin 1 (IL-1) regulation of stromelysin transcriptional activity in articular chondrocytes cultured in the presence of 0, 20, and 50 ng of IL-1 alpha/ml was assessed by northern blotting of total RNA isolated from the cell layer and probed with 32P-labeled stromelysin cDNA. RESULTS 4 overlapping clones provided the full-length cDNA sequence of equine stromelysin, including portions of untranslated 5' and 3' regions, and the entire translated portion coding for the stromelysin prepropeptide. The coding region of 1,431 base pairs was well conserved between species, with 86, 83, and 78% sequence homology to that of human, rabbit, and mouse stromelysin, respectively. Predicted amino-acid (AA) sequence data indicated highly conserved features. Comparison of the equine AA sequence revealed 89, 88, and 84% homology to the AA structure in human, rabbit, and mouse stromelysin, respectively. Minimal stromelysin mRNA expression was evident in normal cartilage and synovium, and increased expression was evident in arthritic cartilage. Marked dose-dependent up-regulation of stromelysin transcriptional activity was evident in chondrocyte cultures exposed to 20 and 50 ng of IL-1/ml. CONCLUSIONS Stromelysin DNA sequence in horses is similar to that in people and rodents. Constitutive stromelysin message amounts in normal cartilage and synovium are low, but considerably increased in arthritic cartilage and in chondrocytes exposed to IL-1.
Accounting and the government of the agricultural economy: Arrigo Serpieri and the Reclamation Consortia

ABSTRACT Drawing on primary sources gathered from repositories in Abruzzo, Bologna and Rome, this study – underpinned by the framework of governmentality – analyses the accounting, financial and governmental practices deployed as a consequence of the Reclamation Consortia in Fascist Italy. In a scenario stimulated by the ascent of the Fascist discourse on the Agricultural Corporative Economy, this analysis seeks to show the new technologies of government deployed by the State and local communities through the Reclamation Consortia Reform. The study also unveils the leading role in the change process played by Arrigo Serpieri who, besides acting as Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture in Mussolini’s government, was considered at the time Italy’s most important agricultural expert.
Layer 1 Virtual Private Networks in Multidomain Next-Generation Networks

High-capacity e-science and consumer applications require transport networks that are dynamically provisioned. Rapid advances in next-generation SONET/SPH and optical switching along with GMPLS control have enabled many new services' provisioning capabilities. In particular, a key paradigm is the new layer 1 virtual private network framework, which allows clients to directly provision their own services without deploying expensive infrastructures. This article presents an overview of L1-VPN and describes a resource management scheme that will enable transport network virtualization across a multidomain network infrastructure. The scheme is implemented in both centralized and distributed control frameworks, and allows for dynamic sharing of transport resources. A case study of performance analysis results is presented showing a distributed control plane in a multidomain network architecture achieving higher VPN carrying capacity than a centralized control plane
The propensity of third sector organisations to borrow money in the UK

ABSTRACT In recent years there has been much policy interest in the development of social investment initiatives. Many such proposals depend upon third sector organisations (TSOs) loaning working capital in order to bridge gaps in cash flow. Existing studies on the willingness of TSOs to borrow have tended to used selective samples, which may have led to an exaggeration of market demand. This article explores, with reference to robust evidence on the attitudes and behaviours of representative samples of TSOs from the Third Sector Trends Study in Northern England, the extent of interest in borrowing for a range of purposes including to buy or upgrade property, buy equipment or facilities, or borrow working capital. The article makes observations on current and future market demand for loans in light of the way that TSO leaders’ balance their dependence on given, earned and borrowed money.
Animal Spirits and Financial Instability - A Disequilibrium Macroeconomic Perspective

This thesis aims to develop a set of dynamic models that (i) systematically investigate the fiscal/credit-driven monetary dynamics under an alternative quantitative framework and (ii) analyze how bounded rationality of credit-creating financial institutions induces credit cycles and propagates macroeconomic instability. Chapter 2 surveys the literature of Keynesian disequilibrium macroeconomics by examining the relationship between the origin of disequilibrium macroeconomic thinking and the development of disequilibrium macroeconomic models. Keynes alludes to the idea of disequilibrium macroeconomics in his General Theory. It has inspired the ongoing development of disequilibrium macroeconomic literature that strives to formalize Keynes’s disequilibrium thinking with the use of advanced tools in nonlinear dynamic systems. We discuss two particular strands of modelling approaches: the Keynes-Metzler-Goodwin approach and the Weidlich-Haag-Lux approach. Chapter 3 takes a critical look at the “Modern Money Theory” (a.k.a Neo-Chartalism) from a dynamic perspective. In this chapter, we propose a set of dynamic models that aim to investigate the monetary dynamics as well as its real and inflationary consequences. We contend that some of the MMT’s claims are questionable due to a general lack of formal quantitative analysis that justifies and measures its policy effects and consequences, especially the long run inflationary consequence of the fiscal/credit-driven monetary expansion. This chapter also provides a modelling framework that is further adopted in the subsequent two chapters of the thesis. Chapter 4-5 systematically construct the CDGZ model that aims to examine (i) how bounded rationality and heterogeneity in the banking sector induces credit cycles due to “animal spirits”-driven bounded rationality of financial institutions and how it propagates macroeconomic instability and (ii) the dynamics of interbank market over the course of credit cycles. The idea of “animal spirits” has been widely treated in the literature with particular reference to investment in the productive sector. Chapter 4 takes a different view and analyses from a theoretical perspective the role of banks’ collective behaviour in the creation of credit that, ultimately, drives the credit cycles. We further investigate the mechanisms of interbank market in chapter 5. The policy implications regarding UMP as well as Tobin-type tax are thoroughly discussed. The analytical as well as numerical simulations of the final 8D CDGZ model may potentially be useful in providing relevant policy recommendations.
Alteration of GyrA Amino Acid Required for Ciprofloxacin Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates in China

ABSTRACT Resistance to ciprofloxacin was detected in 111 (48.1%) isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae from China. GyrA alterations were identified in the ciprofloxacin-resistant and ciprofloxacin-susceptible isolates. The results, including previously published data, indicate that the single substitution Ser83→Ile and three types of double mutations at Ser83 and Asp87 were required for ciprofloxacin resistance (P < 0.05).
Antiepileptic drugs for the primary and secondary prevention of seizures after intracranial venous thrombosis.

BACKGROUND Intracranial venous thrombosis (ICVT) commonly presents with seizures in the acute period, and some people may develop recurrent seizures in the long term. The prophylactic use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for the management of post-ICVT seizures is controversial, and there is currently no consensus on the optimal management of post-ICVT seizures. This is an updated version of the original Cochrane review published in The Cochrane Library 2006, Issue 3. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of AEDs for the primary and secondary prevention of seizures related to ICVT. (1) For the question of primary prevention, we aimed to examine whether AEDs reduce the likelihood of seizures in people who have had an ICVT but have not had a seizure. (2) For the question of secondary prevention, we aimed to examine whether AEDs reduce the likelihood of further seizures in people who have had an ICVT and at least one seizure. SEARCH METHODS We aimed to identify relevant studies in the Cochrane Epilepsy Group and Cochrane Stroke Group Specialised Registers. We also undertook specialised searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library 2013, Issue 7) and MEDLINE (Ovid 1946 to 22 August 2013) and checked the reference lists of articles retrieved from the searches. SELECTION CRITERIA We considered all randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials in which participants were assigned to a treatment group (that is, receiving at least one AED) or control group (receiving placebo or no drug). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Both review authors independently screened and assessed the methodological quality of the studies. If studies had been included in the review, then one review author would have extracted the data and the other would have checked the extracted data. MAIN RESULTS No relevant studies were found. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There is no evidence to support or refute the use of antiepileptic drugs for the primary or secondary prevention of seizures related to intracranial venous thrombosis. Well-designed randomised controlled trials are urgently needed to inform practice. Since the last version of this review no new studies have been found.
Economic Analysis Aids Alcohol Research

Economic research contributes to our understanding of alcohol use and the prevention and treatment of alcohol-related problems in several ways. This article reviews three areas in which the tools of economic analysis have produced significant insights in recent years. First, economic researchers have analyzed the effects of beverage prices and taxation on alcohol consumption and on adverse consequences associated with alcohol use. Second, analyses of the costs and cost-effectiveness of treatment for alcohol use disorders have provided insight into the long-term costs and benefits of alternative approaches to alcoholism treatment. Finally, studies have incorporated economic techniques in estimating the overall magnitude of the burden placed on society by the misuse of alcoholic beverages.
Volatile Agents in Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Units: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

OBJECTIVE To comprehensively assess published randomized peer-reviewed studies related to volatile agents used for sedation in intensive care unit (ICU) settings, with the hypothesis that volatile agents could reduce time to extubation in adult patients. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. SETTING Intensive care units. PARTICIPANTS Critically ill patients. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The BioMedCentral, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register databases of clinical trials were searched systematically for studies on volatile agents used in the ICU setting. Articles were assessed by trained investigators, and divergences were resolved by consensus. Inclusion criteria included random allocation to treatment (volatile agents versus any intravenous comparator, with no restriction on dose or time of administration) in patients requiring mechanical ventilation in the ICU. Twelve studies with 934 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The use of halogenated agents reduced the time to extubation (standardized mean difference = -0.78 [-1.01 to -0.55] hours; p for effect<0.00001; p for heterogeneity = 0.18; I(2) = 32% in 7 studies with 503 patients). Results for time to extubation were confirmed in all subanalyses (eg, medical and surgical patients) and sensitivity analyses. No differences in length of hospital stay, ICU stay, and mortality were recorded. CONCLUSIONS In this meta-analysis of randomized trials, volatile anesthetics reduced time to extubation in medical and surgical ICU patients. The results of this study should be confirmed by large and high-quality randomized controlled studies.
Building the Stator of the Yeast Vacuolar-ATPase

The vacuolar (H+)-ATPase (or V-ATPase) is a membrane protein complex that is structurally related to F1 and F0 ATP synthases. The V-ATPase is composed of an integral domain (V0) and a peripheral domain (V1) connected by a central stalk and up to three peripheral stalks. The number of peripheral stalks and the proteins that comprise them remain controversial. We have expressed subunits E and G in Escherichia coli as maltose binding protein fusion proteins and detected a specific interaction between these two subunits. This interaction was specific for subunits E and G and was confirmed by co-expression of the subunits from a bicistronic vector. The EG complex was characterized using size exclusion chromatography, cross-linking with short length chemical cross-linkers, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. The results indicate a tight interaction between subunits E and G and revealed interacting helices in the EG complex with a length of about 220 Å. We propose that the V-ATPase EG complex forms one of the peripheral stators similar to the one formed by the two copies of subunit b in F-ATPase.
Inherent Agency Conflict Built into the Auditor Remuneration Model

Abstract This paper provides a model for audit market interventions. The study asks whether interventions in the audit market result in excessive premiums at the cost of quality and independence. The model was tested based on a historical data sample of 1,927 companies’ fiscal year financial statements, observed for the period 2010–2013. The testing strategy combined statistical analysis of the market concentration and regression of abnormal results. The findings do not support, for the Polish market, the conclusion that the audit market is used as a leverage for consulting services. This paper discusses possibilities of systematic risk for policymakers as a result of the negative interaction between regulated and non-regulated markets.
Mutation of interfaces in domain‐swapped human βB2‐crystallin

The superfamily of eye lens βγ‐crystallins is highly modularized, with Greek key motifs being used to form symmetric domains. Sequences of monomeric γ‐crystallins and oligomeric β‐crystallins fold into two domains that pair about a further conserved symmetric interface. Conservation of this assembly interface by domain swapping is the device adopted by family member βB2‐crystallin to form a solution dimer. However, the βB1‐crystallin solution dimer is formed from an interface used by the domain‐swapped dimer to form a tetramer in the crystal lattice. Comparison of these two structures indicated an intriguing relationship between linker conformation, interface ion pair networks, and higher assembly. Here the X‐ray structure of recombinant human βB2‐crystallin showed that domain swapping was determined by the sequence and not assembly conditions. The solution characteristics of mutants that were designed to alter an ion pair network at a higher assembly interface and a mutant that changed a proline showed they remained dimeric. X‐ray crystallography showed that the dimeric mutants did not reverse domain swapping. Thus, the sequence of βB2‐crystallin appears well optimized for domain swapping. However, a charge‐reversal mutation to the conserved domain‐pairing interface showed drastic changes to solution behavior. It appears that the higher assembly of the βγ‐crystallin domains has exploited symmetry to create diversity while avoiding aggregation. These are desirable attributes for proteins that have to exist at very high concentration for a very long time.
Role of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL‐15 in the tumour progression of a melanoma cell line MELP, derived from an IL‐2 progressor patient

MELP is an interleukin (IL)-2 receptor (IL-2R; α+β+γ) melanoma cell line that was derived, before the beginning of the immunotherapy, from a patient whose metastasis increased in size during treatment with IL-2/interferon-α. In these cells, continuous culture in the presence IL-2 (1000 Ul/ml) causes the selection of a cell sub-line (termed MILG) expressing the γ-chain which is tumorigenic in nude mice. Here, we further analysed the characteristics of MELP and MILG cells as well as clones selected at limiting dilution in the presence of high concentrations of IL-2 or IL-15, or those selected after transfection for the expression of a human IL-2 transgene (MELP-CL1). MELP cells, but not six other melanomas cell lines, shed two soluble immunosuppressive molecules, CD25 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1, whose levels also strongly increase in vivo during immunotherapy. In vitro MELP cells express transcripts for IL-6, transforming growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular-endothelial growth factor. Cloning at limiting dilution was obtained in culture fed with IL-2 or IL-15. All these clones, as MILG cells, express the transcript for the IL-2Rγ chain. This could favour improved interactions with cytokines using this chain. By contrast, MELP-CL1 cells, which secrete low amounts of biologically active IL-2 (200 UI/106 cells) exhibit a phenotype and growth characteristics similar to those of the parental MELP cells. Indeed, a crosslinking experiment with 125I-IL-2, has showed that MELP and MELP-CL1 cells display a scant IL-2 binding ability that is strongly increased in MELP cells fed for 1 week with 1000 Ul/ml IL-2. These cells, as well as MILG cells express a βγ-complex which can also bind IL-15. IL-2 induces a rapid tyrosine phoshorylation in MILG cells, which is followed by a prolonged induction of c-fos and c-jun genes. By contrast, in MELP cells IL-2 only causes a delayed induction of c-myc gene. All MELP derivatives, but not MILG cells, express the transcripts for IL-15, which is not secreted but is present as an intracellular protein. All MELP cells express the transcript for the IL-15Rα chain. MELP-CL1 cells are not tumorigenic in nude mice, whereas MILG cells form rapidly growing tumours in 75% of the mice. Coinjection at the same site of MILG and MELP-CL1 cells causes the rapid regression of MILG tumours in 80% of the mice, whereas their bilateral injection causes the rapid development of MILG tumours in 100% of the nude mice. Finally, treatment in nude mice of MILG cells with low amounts of IL-2 (1000 Ul per mouse) and IL-15 (50 ng per mouse) induces the development of much more aggressive tumours. The expression of functional IL-2Rs in a subset of human melanomas could be responsible for tumour progression.
Prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B and C Infections and an Assessment of HCV-Genotypes and Two IL28B SNPs among People Who Inject Drugs in Three Regions of Nepal

As part of a comprehensive health care programme for people who use drugs in Nepal, HIV and viral hepatitis B and C status—including risk factors, HCV-genotypes and co-infections—as well as two IL28B Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were assessed for a random sample of 401 people who inject drugs in three regions of Nepal: mid-western Terrai (Nepalgunj), the eastern region (Dharan, Biratnagar) and the central region (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Chitwan). Individuals were included who showed at least a minimum of health care seeking behaviour. This latter criterion was defined by being registered with any organisation offering health services. The average age of the participants was 30.5 yrs, and the average length of intravenous drug use was 8.5 yrs. The prevalence rates of HBsAg, anti-HIV antibodies and HCV-RNA were 3.5%, 13.8% and 41.9%, respectively. Spontaneous HCV clearance was evident in 16% of all of those who tested positive for anti-HCV antibodies. Independent risk factors for HCV-RNA positivity were age, gender, geographical region, duration of injecting drug use, history of imprisonment and HIV co-infection. In the age group ≤24 yrs, the rate of spontaneous HCV clearance was 43.5%. Overall, 59.8% of HCV infections were caused by HCV genotype 3 and 40.2% by HCV genotype 1. No other HCV genotypes were identified in this study. The IL28B SNP rs12979860 and rs8099917 were identified in 122 patients, and 75.4% of all participants had both favourable genotypes rs12979860 C/C and rs8099917 T/T.
Behaviors Associated With Onset of Gastroesophageal Reflux Episodes in Infants

To identify behaviors associated with the onset of gastroesophageal reflux episodes in infants both systematically and prospectively, each of 10 patients (aged 2 to 32 weeks) was studied during 2 hours of intraluminal esophageal pH probe monitoring, using a split-screen audiovisual recording technique. Videotape analysis of eight infants who had scoreable reflux events revealed six discrete behaviors closely associated temporally (P<.001 to <.05) with the onset of reflux events: "discomfort" (crying or frowning), "emission" (of liquid or gas, i.e., regurgitation, drooling, or burping), yawning, stridor, stretching, and mouthing. Three behaviors (hiccuping, sneezing, and thumb-sucking) were infrequent but were significantly associated with onset of reflux events in one or two patients each. A tenth behavior, coughing or gagging, was significantly associated with onset of reflux events in two patients, but not in the rest, despite relatively frequent occurrence. Exploration of temporal relations between reflux and each behavior suggested that discomfort, emission, mouthing, and cough-gag may have caused reflux episodes, and that all 10 of the behaviors may have been caused by reflux episodes. These findings and a "quiet period" immediately preceding episodes in six of the infants suggest interesting pathophysiologic mechanisms in infants which require further evaluation.