Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research of RMB Exchange Rate Forecasting Based on the NARX Model

Based on the characteristics of the current RMB exchange rate,a new forecasting model should take into account the qualitative studies of exchange rate theories,the quantitative research of historical tendencies and the impact elicited by policy issuing.The nonlinear auto regressive model with exogenous inputs,NARX for short,was adopted to forecast RMB exchange rate,and the non-deliverable forward exchange rate,known as NDF,was selected as an external input of the NARX model to improve the forecasting performance in face of sudden policy and news.By empirical testing,it was found that the NARX model with NDF performs much better than the NARX model without NDF.Moreover,selecting the training data from a wide range and with the historical values impacting exchange rate tends to affect the model's generalization performance to a large extent.
Cytoplasmic accumulation of connexin32 protein enhances motility and metastatic ability of human hepatoma cells in vitro and in vivo

Connexins have long been believed to suppress tumour development during carcinogenesis by exerting gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). Although GJIC is abrogated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), connexin32 (Cx32) protein tends to remain expressed in cytoplasm, but not in cell–cell contact areas; thus, it is incapable of forming gap junctions. Hypothesising that cytoplasmic Cx32 protein that has accumulated in HCC should have its proper functions, which are independent of GJIC, we established an inducible expression system of Cx32 in human HuH7 HCC cells, which were unable to support the formation of Cx32‐mediated gap junctions, so that Cx32 protein could be overexpressed by doxycycline (Dox) withdrawal. Although the established clone HuH7 Tet‐off Cx32 cells exhibited a 4‐fold increase in Cx32 expression after Dox withdrawal, none of them were dye‐coupled, and Cx32 protein was retained in the Golgi apparatus. However, the proliferation rate of the HuH7 Tet‐off Cx32 cells was significantly higher in the Dox‐free medium than in the Dox‐supplemented one. Transwell assays also revealed that Dox withdrawal enhanced serum‐stimulated motility and invasiveness into Matrigel of the HuH7 Tet‐off Cx32 cells. Furthermore, when HuH7 Tet‐off Cx32 cells were xenografted into the liver of SCID mice, only the mice to which no Dox was administered developed metastatic lesions, indicating that overexpression of cytoplasmic Cx32 protein induced metastasis of HuH7 cells. Our results suggest that, while Cx32‐mediated GJIC suppresses the development of HCCs, cytoplasmic Cx32 protein exerts effects favourable for HCC progression, such as invasion and metastasis, once the cells have acquired a malignant phenotype. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Induction of N-acetylglucosamine-catabolic pathway in spheroplasts of Candida albicans.

Synthesis of N-acetylglucosamine-catabolic enzymes, namely permease (high-affinity uptake system), kinase and deaminase was studied in the spheroplasts of the yeast Candida albicans. The presence of N-acetylglucosamine as inducer is essential for the induced synthesis of these enzymes in the spheroplasts, which were active for at least 8--9 h. However, some of the newly synthesized kinase and deaminase leaked out from the spheroplasts into the medium during induction. Experiments with inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis indicate that the appearance of new enzyme activities is dependent on concomitant new protein synthesis and the inducer operates at a transcriptional level. However, inhibitors of DNA synthesis, e.g. mitomycin-C and hydroxyurea, had no effect on the synthesis of these enzymes.
Systematic Appraisal of the Role of Metallic Endobiliary Stents in the Treatment of Benign Bile Duct Stricture

Objective:To carry out a systematic appraisal of the current status of the use of metallic endobiliary stents in the treatment of benign biliary strictures. Methods:A computerized search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases identified 37 studies providing detailed clinical course data on outcome of metallic endobiliary stent placement in 400 patients. Pooled data were examined for etiology of stricture, indications for stent placement, procedure-related complications, and outcome with reference to stent patency. Results:The median (range) number of patients per report was 8 (2–54) with a median recruitment period of 44 (9–126) months. The most frequent indications were postoperative biliary strictures in 123 (31%), stenosed biliary-enteric anastomoses in 79 (20%), and biliary strictures following liver transplantation in 88 (22%). During a median follow up of 31 (1–111) months, 139 (35%) stents occluded, and there are little patency data beyond 2 years after deployment, with 99 (25%) known to be patent at 3 years from stent placement. Conclusions:These pooled data on 400 patients constitute the largest collective report to date on the use of metallic endobiliary stents for benign biliary strictures. The results show a critical lack of data on long-term patency such that at the present time, metallic endobiliary stents should not be used for benign stricture in those patients with a predicted life expectancy greater than 2 years.
A comparative study of serum and synovial fluid levels of uric acid between patients with gout and other arthritides.

BACKGROUND The urate levels and the correlations of urate levels between the serum and synovial fluid (SF) of many arthritic diseases have not been well described. OBJECTIVE Compare urate levels in the serum and SF of gouty arthritis, calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), septic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD Paired samples of serum and SF from 95 patients comprised of 33 patients with gout, 22 with CPPD, 18 with RA, nine with septic arthritis, three with AS, and 10 with OA were collected simultaneously for urate measurement by photometric test. RESULTS Ninety-five patients, including 53 males, with mean (SD) age of 64.1 (15.3) years were recruited. In gout, serum and SF urate levels were significantly higher than those of CPPD, RA, septic arthritis, AS, and OA ( p 0.01). In all the study population, the serum/SF ratios of urate levels of gout were not different across all groups. However, after excluding 24 patients with creatinine >1.5 mg/dl, the serum/SF ratios of urate were significantly lower in gout compared with the others ( 0.02). There were strongly positive correlations between serum and SF urate levels in gout similar to CPPD, RA, septic arthritis, AS, an dOA (r = 0.81-0.91, p 0O.01). CONCLUSION Despite the highest level of serum and SF urate across all groups, the serum/SF urate ratio in gout patients was the lowest, which suggests that SF urate levels are uniquely higher than their serum. In addition, the levels of serum urate of the entire groups strongly reflect their SF levels.
Cleavage of Oligoribonucleotides by the 2′,5′-Oligoadenylate- dependent Ribonuclease L (*)

RNase L, the 2′,5′ oligoadenylate-dependent ribonuclease, is one of the enzyme systems important in the cellular response to interferon. When activated in the presence of 2′,5′-linked oligoadenylates, RNase L can catalyze the cleavage of synthetic oligoribonucleotides that contain dyad sequences of the forms UU, UA, AU, AA, and UG, but it cannot catalyze the cleavage of an oligoribonucleotide containing only cytosines. The primary site of the cleavage reaction with the substrate CUUC has been defined to be 3′ of the UU dyad by labeling either the 5′ or the 3′ end of the oligoribonucleotide and by examining the reaction products on polyacrylamide sequencing gels. Reaction time courses have been used to determine the kinetic parameters of the cleavage reactions. The effect of the overall length of the oligomeric substrate as well as the sequence of the bases around the position of the cleavage site on the kinetics of the cleavage reaction has been examined. The efficiency with which activated RNase L catalyzes the cleavage of the substrate CUUC is 1.9 × 107M s. Because the cleavage of the synthetic oligoribonucleotide can be used to monitor the steady-state kinetics of catalysis by activated RNase L, this method offers an advantage over previous methods of assay for RNase L activity.
Immune activation and immune aging in HIV infection

Purpose of reviewThe development of serious non-AIDS-related pathologies typically associated with aging, and the premature immune aging that characterizes HIV-1-infected patients, even with suppressive antiretroviral therapy, have raised increasing concerns in recent years. Deciphering the causes of these phenomena is key for our understanding of HIV pathogenesis and for the clinical care of patients living with the virus. Recent findingsAn important basis for the immune parallels between HIV infection and aging lies in the exhaustion of the lymphopoietic capacity of infected individuals, which eventually affects all compartments of the immune system. The alleged cause for these immune alterations, and the onset of age-related comorbidities, is the systemic chronic immune activation that is established in patients. However, there is a multiplicity of contributors to this immune activation. SummaryOur understanding of the precise link between immune activation and aging in HIV infection is complicated by the influence of coinfections and life style factors. Developing rational interventions to reduce the hyper-inflammatory status of HIV-1-infected patients requires a clearer delineation of the factors contributing to the increased levels of systemic immune activation.
MACROECONOMIC INSTABILITY AND ITS IMPACT ON GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT An Empirical Analysis of Pakistan

This study tries to answer the question, “has macroeconomic instability detrimental impact on gross domestic product of Pakistan over the period of 1980 to 2012? ” For reviewing macroeconomic instability a comprehensive macroeconomic instability index is constructed by incorporating inflation rate, unemployment rate, trade deficit and budget deficit. Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model has been used for examining the cointegration among the variables of the models and Vector Error-Correction model is used for short-run dynamics of the models. For investigating the causal relationship among the variables of the model Granger causality test has been applied. The empirical results of the study confirm the existence of cointegration between macroeconomic instability and gross domestic product in Pakistan. The results of the study show that macroeconomic instability has deep rooted and detrimental impact on gross domestic product of Pakistan. Hence, for achieving desired level of gross domestic product, Pakistan should make macroeconomic environment stable.
Evolution game model about symbiosis of asymmetric logistics alliance

Based on the theory of evolution game,the symbiosis problem of logistics enterprises alliance which have the same property during asymmetric state is discussed.Through the description about the characteristics of asymmetric logistics alliance,the basic conditions for evolution game is standardized,the replicated dynamic equation is designed to analyze the cooperative evolution game,the phase diagram is used to express the evolution process about the symbiosis of logistics alliance,and the variance relationship between cooperative probability and each relevant factors.The result shows that the stability of logistics alliance is related to cooperative costs,retained profits,alliance profits and interest rate of distribution.The greater alliance profits and interest rate of distribution,the stronger cooperative willingness of the two sides of the game,and the alliance becomes steadier.Finally,an example is designed to test the feasibility of the analyzed results.
Simultaneous measurement of serotonin and melatonin from the intestine of old mice: the effects of daily melatonin supplementation

Abstract: Ageing is associated with important changes in gastrointestinal function and in the levels of intestinal hormones secreted. Enterochromaffin (EC) cells containing serotonin (5‐HT) and melatonin may play a major role in maintaining gut function during ageing. Our aim was to characterise the mucosal availability of 5‐HT and melatonin in the ileum and colon of a mouse model of ageing. Female young mice (2–5 month; n = 6), aged mice (22–24 months; n = 6) and aged mice treated with melatonin (n = 6; 10 mg/kg/day) were examined. Electrochemical methods were used to measure 5‐HT and melatonin concentrations near the mucosal surface of ileum and distal colon. Amperometry studies showed that steady state levels of 5‐HT from ileum and colon were decreased in aged mice treated with melatonin when compared to aged mice, while compression‐evoked 5‐HT release was unchanged. Differential pulse voltammetry studies showed that young mice had concentrations of 5‐HT of 4.8 ± 0.8 μm in the ileum and 4.9 ± 1.0 μm in the colon. Concentrations of melatonin were 5.7 ± 1.4 μm in the ileum and 5.6 ± 1.9 μm in the colon. Compared to young mice, the levels of 5‐HT and melatonin were increased in aged mice (combined ileum and colon: 5‐HT = 130% and melatonin = 126% of young mice) and decreased in melatonin‐treated mice (5‐HT = 94% and melatonin = 82%). In conclusion, our data show that the availability of gut 5‐HT and melatonin is increased in aged mice and melatonin treatment suppresses natural gastrointestinal production of 5‐HT and melatonin in the aged mouse intestine.
Magnetic stimulation of curved nerves

Magnetic stimulation of nerves is attracting increased attention recently, as it has been found to be useful in therapy of neural disorders in humans. In an effort to explain the mechanisms of magnetic stimulation, we focus in this paper on the dependence of magnetic stimulation on neuronal morphology and in particular on the importance of curvature of axonal bundles. Using the theory of passive membrane dynamics, we predict the threshold power (the minimum stimulation power required to initiate an action potential) of specific axonal morphologies. In the experimental section, we show that magnetic stimulation of the frog sciatic nerve follows our theoretical predictions. Furthermore, the voltage length constant of the nerve can be measured based on these results alone.
INCREASE OF ACETYLCHOLINE‐RECEPTOR SENSITIVITY BY ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE: A NOVEL ACTION OF ATP ON ACh‐SENSITIVITY

1 The sensitivity of the nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh)‐receptor, measured as the amplitude of ACh‐current induced by iontophoretic application of ACh to the frog skeletal muscle endplate, was increased by the action of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) 2 This potentiation was not due to the effect of ATP on ACh‐esterase, since the increase of the sensitivity could also be demonstrated by use of carbachol (CCh) 3 Kinetic analysis of the effect of ATP on the dose‐response curve of CCh‐current suggests that ATP increases the ACh‐sensitivity by acting on the allosteric site of receptor‐ionic channel complex without changing the affinity of ACh for its recognition site 4 The equilibrium potential and the life‐time of the endplate current (e.p.c.) are not altered by the presence of ATP 5 These results suggest that ATP increases the ACh‐sensitivity by increasing either the conductance of unit channels or the total number of available channels.
Do cognitive functions in obsessive–compulsive disorder change after treatment? A systematic review and a double case report

Background: Neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies have documented that patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) have cognitive difficulties dependent upon fronto-striatal circuits in the brain. It is, however, unclear whether the cognitive difficulties change after treatment. Answering this question could help establish whether cognitive difficulties in OCD are state dependent or more trait-like. Aim: To determine whether cognitive functions in OCD change after treatment, based on a systematic literature review, supplemented by a double case report of monozygotic twins with OCD. Methods: For the literature review, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO from the earliest dates available to September 2010. For the double case report, monozygotic twins underwent blood samples and magnetic resonance imaging before treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), antidepressants and small doses of antipsychotic medication. Before and after CBT they were assessed with measures of content and severity of OCD symptoms, and with a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests to assess cognitive functions. Results: Results from the studies under review (n = 14) were so inconsistent that it could not be concluded whether cognitive functions in OCD change after treatment. The twins improved some of their cognitive functions after treatment. Conclusions: A better understanding of whether cognitive dysfunctions in OCD are state dependent or trait-like could bring important implications in understanding the pathology and future treatment of OCD.
Information Acquisition in the Era of Fair Disclosure: An Application of Asymmetric Awareness

Abstract As the cost of financial information dissemination continues to decline, investors, firms, and regulators are gradually adopting the principle of fair disclosure, which requires no preferential public disclosure. We use a simple model to examine the impact of this change on information acquisition with two alternative assumptions: (1) Investors have symmetric awareness about the underlying uncertainties, or (2) this awareness is asymmetric among them. Under the first assumption, the change reduces information asymmetry among investors and induces acquisition of high-quality information. Under the second assumption, however, the reduction of information asymmetry may be limited, and information acquisition is either reduced or less efficient. Specifically, investors with high awareness may either acquire high-quality information at a higher cost or not acquire it; investors with low awareness only acquire low-quality information. The loss in overall information quality is greater when awareness asymmetry is moderate than when it is high or low; this causes information asymmetry between the insiders and outside investors as a whole. These results offer explanations for intriguing empirical findings regarding the effect of a recent accounting regulation (Regulation Fair Disclosure).
Overreaction and Underreaction to REIT Dividend Announcements and the Role of Monetary Policy

Executive Summary. This paper examines the reactions of investors in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to 11,650 REIT dividend announcements that occurred between January 1, 1970 and March 31, 2007. Depending on the situation, there is evidence consistent with the overreaction hypothesis, the uncertain information hypothesis, overoptimism, and with market efficiency. The market reaction to a given dividend announcement by a REIT depends not only on the direction of change in the dividend, but also on the prevailing monetary environment in which the announcement is made, and on whether the announcement is seen as good news, or whether the market views the announcement as concomitant with bad news.
Characterization of a polymer microlens fabricated by use of the hydrophobic effect.

We report a means of fabricating hydrophilic domains in a hydrophobic background by lithographically patterning an adhesive hydrophobic layer. Polymer microlenses were fabricated on these substrates by use of a dip-coating technique. Various lens shapes (circular, elliptical, square) were fabricated on a variety of substrates (SiO(2), SiN, GaAs, InP, etc.), ranging in size from 2 to 500 microm in diameter, with fill factors of up to 90%. Plano-convex and double-convex lenses were fabricated, with f-numbers as low as 1.38 and 1.2, respectively. Optimum lens surfaces deviated from spherical by just +/-5 nm . The lenses are stable at room temperature and exhibit minimal degradation after 24 h at 105 degrees C. The transfer of these polymer lenses to an underlying substrate was also demonstrated.
Relationship between Expression Levels and Atherogenesis in Scavenger Receptor Class B, Type I Transgenics*

Both in vitro and in vivostudies of scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) have implicated it as a likely participant in the metabolism of HDL cholesterol. To investigate the effect of SR-BI on atherogenesis, we examined two lines of SR-BI transgenic mice with high (10-fold increases) and low (2-fold increases) SR-BI expression in an inbred mouse background hemizygous for a human apolipoprotein (apo) B transgene. Unlike non-HDL cholesterol levels that minimally differed in the various groups of animals, HDL cholesterol levels were inversely related to SR-BI expression. Mice with the low expression SR-BI transgene had a 50% reduction in HDL cholesterol, whereas the high expression SR-BI transgene was associated with 2-fold decreases in HDL cholesterol as well as dramatic alterations in HDL composition and size including the near absence of α-migrating particles as determined by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The low expression SR-BI/apo B transgenics had more than a 2-fold decrease in the development of diet-induced fatty streak lesions compared with the apo B transgenics (4448 ± 1908 μm2/aorta to 10133 ± 4035 μm2/aorta; p < 0.001), whereas the high expression SR-BI/apo B transgenics had an atherogenic response similar to that of the apo B transgenics (14692 ± 7238 μm2/aorta) but 3-fold greater than the low SR-BI/apo B mice (p < 0.001). The prominent anti-atherogenic effect of moderate SR-BI expression provides in vivosupport for the hypothesis that HDL functions to inhibit atherogenesis through its interactions with SR-BI in facilitating reverse cholesterol transport. The failure of the high SR-BI/apo B transgenics to have similar or even greater reductions in atherogenesis suggests that the changes resulting from extremely high SR-BI expression including dramatic changes in lipoproteins may have both pro- and anti-atherogenic consequences, illustrating the complexity of the relationship between SR-BI and atherogenesis.
Elimination of Field Colonies of a Mound-Building Termite Globitermes sulphureus (Isoptera: Termitidae) by Bistrifluron Bait

ABSTRACT The efficacy of Xterm, which contains 1% bistrifluron, in the form of cellulose bait pellets was evaluated for its efficacy in eradicating field colonies of the mound-building termite Globitermes sulphureus (Haviland) (Isoptera: Termitidae). The termite mounds were dissected at the end of the experiment to determine whether the colonies were eliminated. By ≈2 mo postbaiting, the body of termite workers appeared marble white, and mites were present on the body. The soldier—worker ratio increased drastically in the colonies, and the wall surface of the mounds started to erode. Colony elimination required at least a 4-mo baiting period. Mound dissection revealed wet carton materials (food store) that were greatly consumed and overgrown by fast-growing fungi. Decaying cadavers were scattered all over the nests. On average, 84.1 ± 16.4 g of bait matrix (68.9 ± 13.4%, an equivalent of 841 ± 164 mg of bistrifluron) was consumed in each colony. Moreover, we found that a mere 143 mg of bistrifluron was sufficient to eliminate a colony of G. sulphureus.