Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Credit Supply and Housing Speculation

Credit supply expansion boosts housing speculation and amplifies the housing cycle. The surge in private-label mortgage securitization in 2003 fueled a large expansion in mortgage credit supply by lenders financed with noncore deposits. Areas more exposed to these lenders experienced a large relative rise in transaction volume driven by a small group of speculators, and these areas simultaneously witnessed an amplified housing boom and bust. Consistent with the importance of belief heterogeneity, house price growth expectations of marginal buyers rose during the boom, while housing market pessimism among the general population increased.
From the policymakers’ desks to the classrooms: the relationship between language policy, language-in-education policy and the foreign language teaching-learning process

This article aims to discuss the relationship between language policy, language-in-education policy and the foreign language teaching-learning process. In so doing, a critical review of relevant literature is offered with the purpose to clarify how the areas of enquiry related to language and language-in-education policymaking and enactment are intertwined to the practicalities of foreign language curriculum development and syllabus design. Such connection is represented by the politically-, ideologically- and socioculturally-driven choices of policymakers and policy enactors, as well as their influence on everyday foreign language practice. Criticality and authorship are advocated throughout this article as strategies on which teachers and students should rely in order to challenge predetermined and/or decontextualised directives concerning the foreign language teaching-learning process.
Rapid detection of Listeria monocytogenes in raw milk with loop-mediated isothermal amplification and chemosensor.

UNLABELLED Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) allows a rapid amplification of nucleic acids under isothermal conditions. It can be combined with a rhodamine-based dual chemosensor for much more efficient, field-friendly detection of Listeria monocytogenes. In this report, LAMP was performed at 63 °C for 10 min, followed by a rapid reaction of DNA amplification and the byproduct, pyrophosphate ion, with a rhodamine-based dual chemosensor and Cu(2+) is visualized as a disappearance of red color. The detection limit of L. monocytogenes by the LAMP-chemosensor was 8 to 10 cells per reaction tube, and the total assay time including 10 min for rapid DNA extraction was approximately 30 min. Data on naturally contaminated raw milk samples indicated that the LAMP method was highly specific and sensitive, giving 100% concordance with the ISO 10560 reference method. The results showed that the LAMP-chemosensor method has the advantages of better sensitivity and speed and less dependence on equipment than the standard Polymerase Chain Reaction for specifically detecting low levels of L. monocytogenes DNA, and this can be useful in the field as a routine diagnostic tool. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The LAMP-chemosensor method reported here provided a powerful tool for detection of L. monocytogenes in raw milk samples due to its specificity, sensitivity, and rapidity.
Institutional Changes and Income Inequality: Some Aspects of Economic Change and Evolution of Values in CEE Countries

This article examines the effects of institutional changes on the dynamics of income inequality in postcommunist countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The results of a panel analysis suggest two types of institutional changes: endogenous, in the first period of transition, associated with worsening income distribution, and exogenous, in the second period of transition, associated with stabilization in income distribution. The persistence of high income inequality in the second period of transition is explained by a post-transitional tolerance for inequality, which reflects economic evolution but also indicates a possible evolution of values in CEE countries.
System-level evaluation of a downlink OFDM switched-beam system with Kalman-based joint channel estimation and beam selection

In this paper, we evaluate the performance of an OFDM switched-beam system based on Kalman filtering for joint channel estimation and beam selection. For this purpose, we develop a system-level simulator which computes the signal to interference ratio (SIR) for a reference mobile user. For a given system capacity in terms of average number of users per cell, the resulting SIR distribution collected from a large number of system-level snapshots translates the link-level throughput vs. SNR results into a system-level cumulative distribution function (cdf) of the user throughput from which different meaningful system-level performance measures such as the average throughput can be computed. Simulations suggest that the proposed Kalman-based OFDM switched-beam system offers improved performance over slow fading channels in terms of link-level frame error rate (FER) and system-level capacity or average throughput per user or cell.
Coping with depression: a pilot study to assess the efficacy of a self-help audio cassette.

BACKGROUND The self-help audio cassette 'Coping with Depression' was produced and widely distributed as part of the national Defeat Depression Campaign. A central aim was to improve public understanding and encourage the use of cognitive-behavioural techniques. AIM To formally assess the ability of the audio cassette to change attitudes to depression in primary care and the degree to which patients are motivated to practice its recommended coping strategies. DESIGN OF STUDY Comparison of Likert ratings of agreement completed by patients, before and after listening to the audio cassette at home. SETTING General practitioners (GPs) in central Leeds chosen randomly from the 1998 West Yorkshire Practice Directory. METHOD Fifty out of 71 patients aged over 16 diagnosed as depressed by their GP completed the hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) Scale and Likert ratings of agreement with key messages on the audio cassette. General practitioners provided feedback on the utility of the audio cassette in routine practice. RESULTS A clinically significant improvement in overall attitudes and knowledge of 13% (95% confidence interval = 7-20%, P = 0.001) was seen. Negative attitudes decreased most among those not taking antidepressants (P = 0.007). Hearing a description of depressive symptoms and practical advice on coping were rated as the main benefits. Thirty (60%) patients stated that they had already begun to try out the cognitive-behavioural suggestions within the first week. CONCLUSIONS Larger randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of self-help audio cassettes for depression. This tape may be most helpful to patients with negative attitudes towards treatment, especially those who initially decline antidepressant medication.
A pH-dependent Conformational Change of NhaA Na+/H+ Antiporter of Escherichia coli Involves Loop VIII–IX, Plays a Role in the pH Response of the Protein, and Is Maintained by the Pure Protein in Dodecyl Maltoside*

Digestion with trypsin of purified His-tagged NhaA in a solution of dodecyl maltoside yields two fragments at alkaline pH but only one fragment at acidic pH. Determination of the amino acid sequence of the N terminus of the cleavage products show that the pH-sensitive cleavage site of NhaA, both in isolated everted membrane vesicles as well as in the pure protein in detergent, is Lys-249 in loop VIII–IX, which connects transmembrane segment VIII to IX. Interestingly, the two polypeptide products of the split antiporter remain complexed and co-purify on Ni2+-NTA column. Loop VIII–IX has also been found to play a role in the pH regulation of NhaA; three mutations introduced into the loop shift the pH profile of the Na+/H+ antiporter activity as measured in everted membrane vesicles. An insertion mutation introducing Ile-Glu-Gly between residues Lys-249 and Arg-250 (K249-IEG-R250) and Cys replacement of either Val-254 (V254C) or Glu-241 (E241C) cause acidic shift of the pH profile of the antiporter by 0.5, 1, and 0.3 pH units, respectively. Interestingly, the double mutant E241C/V254C introduces a basic shift of more than 1 pH unit with respect to the single mutation V254C. Taken together these results imply the involvement of loop VIII–IX in the pH-induced conformational change, which leads to activation of NhaA at alkaline pH.
Antioxidant enzyme activities in healthy Chinese adults: influence of age, gender and smoking *

Objective: Specific antioxidant enzymes play a vital role in regulating and maintaining oxidant species. The aim of this study was to determine these antioxidant enzyme activities (i.e. catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) in erythrocytes from a group of healthy Chinese subjects and to study the influence of age, gender and smoking habits on the enzyme activities.
Maquiladora Mortality: Manufacturing Plant Closure in Mexico

Abstract Manufacturing plant closure has been the subject of much national concern, and an extensive literature principally focused on the developed world. This study extends the findings on plant closure with an analysis of export-oriented manufacturers (maquiladoras) in Mexico, 1996–2006. The foci of this research are hypothesised variables of maquiladora closure: product manufactured (value-added), size of plant, plant location, and size of urban place. The results of a logistical regression model indicate that plant size and value-added are highly probable determinants of plant closure; large, high value-added product maquiladoras have low rates of plant closure. Maquiladoras manufacturing low value-added products have high rates of closure; however, these manufacturers also have significant numbers of surviving plants. This suggests that multiple manufacturing platforms are viable among Mexico’s export-oriented industry. The findings also suggest that much plant closure is a result of exogenous factors,exiting plants in a global search for cheap labour. Mexico, however, has a geographic comparative advantage that, for many maquiladoras, trumps wages in more distant locations.
[Effects of oxidized low-density lipoprotein on endothelial progenitor cells survival and activity mediated by lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor].

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) affects the survival and activity of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) and whether the effects are mediated by lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor (LOX-1). METHODS CD34+ cells isolated from human umbilical blood were cultured in endothelial cell growth medium-2 (EGM-2). After 14 days of culture, some EPCs were stimulated with 10, 25, 50 microg/ml of oxLDL for 48 hours; some were preincubated with LOX-1 mAb, a blocking antibody of LOX-1, for 24 hours, then exposed to 50 microg/ml oxLDL for 48 hours; others without any further treatment were used as control. The survival of EPC and the ability of adhesion, migration, and tube formation were examined. The levels of LOX-1 protein and mRNA expression were also assayed. RESULTS Incubation with oxLDL at concentrations of 25 microg/ml or higher resulted in a dose-dependent increase of EPC apoptosis [25 microg/ml: (15.8 +/- 1.1.0%, 50 microg/ml: (18.8 +/- 2.0)% versus control: (9.0 +/- 1.2)%; P < 0.05]. Treated with oxLDL led to a significantly reduced migratry rate [25 microg/ml: (5.7 +/- 1.0)%, 50 microg/ml: (5.1 +/- 0.8)% versus control: (9.5 +/- 0.8)%; P < 0.05]. EPC treated with oxLDL showed a dose-dependent reduction of adhesion to fibronectin (25 Kg/ml: 33 +/- 2, 50 microg/ml: 30 +/- 3 versus control: 37 +/- 5; P < 0.05). Treatment with oxLDL impaired the in vitro vasculogenesis ability of EPCs. The total length of the tube structures in each photograph was decreased [25 microg/ml: (2.9 +/- 0.5) mm, 50 microg/ml: (1.8 +/- 0.5) mm versus control: (5.0 +/- 0.6) mm; P < 0.05]. The tube structure was severely disrupted, resulting in an incomplete and sparse tube network. However, all the detrimental effects on EPC were attenuated by pretreatment of EPC with LOX-1 mAb. In addition, Western blot analysis revealed that oxLDL increased LOX-1 protein expression from 100% to (172 +/- 8)% at a dose of 50 microg/ml. Furthermore, oxLDL caused an increase in LOX-1 mRNA expression from 100% to (174 +/- 39)% at a dose of 50 microig/ml. CONCLUSION OxLDL can directly inhibit EPC survival and activity and these effects are mediated by its receptor, LOX-1.
Autoantibodies against the high-affinity IgE receptor as a cause of histamine release in chronic urticaria.

BACKGROUND Most urticarias are induced by vasoactive mediators such as histamine released from mast cells. Although mast cells are activated by allergens through cross-linking of cell-surface--bound IgE, this mechanism does not appear to explain most cases of chronic urticaria, which, when allergic, infectious, drug-induced, or physical causes cannot be identified, are classified as idiopathic. METHODS We recruited 26 patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria, in whom intradermal injection of autologous serum caused a wheal-and-flare response. Serum from four patients that induced marked histamine release from basophils from a donor with very low serum IgE levels was studied with respect to the IgE dependence of the histamine release, the activity of the IgG fractions, and the neutralizing effect of a recombinant preparation of the soluble extracellular domain of the alpha subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor (sFc epsilon RI alpha). RESULTS The histamine-releasing activity of the serum was abolished by passive sensitization of basophils with myeloma IgE, enhanced after dissociation of IgE by treatment with lactic acid, and induced by IgG fractions from the serum of all four patients. Preincubation of the serum and isolated IgG with sFc epsilon RI alpha resulted in almost complete neutralization. CONCLUSIONS Histamine-releasing IgG autoantibodies against the alpha subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor are present in the circulation of some patients with chronic urticaria. Autoantibody-induced cross-linking of IgE receptors may be an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of chronic urticaria and other diseases mediated by mast cells.
CD40 Ligation in the Presence of Self-Reactive CD8 T Cells Leads to Severe Immunopathology1

Previous work has shown that stimulation of APCs via CD40 strongly influences the outcome of a CD8 T cell response. In this study, we examined the effect of CD40 ligation on peripheral tolerance induction of self-reactive CD8 T cells in an adoptive transfer model. Naive CD8 T cells from TCR-transgenic (tg) mice specific for the gp33 epitope of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus were tolerized when transferred into H8-tg mice expressing the gp33 epitope under the control of a MHC class I promoter. However, if the H8 recipient mice were treated with agonistic anti-CD40 Abs, TCR-tg cells vigorously proliferated, and induced destruction of lymphoid organs and hepatitis. Break of peripheral tolerance induction was B cell independent and did not require CD28/B7 interactions. These findings provide further in vivo evidence for the crucial role of the activation state of the APC in peripheral tolerance induction and suggest the need for caution in systemically activating APC via CD40 ligation in the presence of self-reactive T cells.
Treatment with liraglutide may improve markers of CVD reflected by reduced levels of apoB

Dislipidaemia and increased levels of apolipoprotein B (apoB) in individuals with obesity are risk factors for development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of weight loss and weight maintenance with and without liraglutide treatment on plasma lipid profiles and apoB.
Augmentation Genioplasty Using Double Folded Dermal Graft

Introduction:The chin is a very important aesthetic subunit of the face. The diverse materials and methods for chin augmentation can be classified according to autologous tissues and artificial ones. Among them, reports on the effectiveness of dermal graft for chin augmentation are scarce. The authors report on our new techniques and surgical results regarding chin augmentation using a dermal graft. Patients and Methods:From July 2010 to January 2013, the authors performed supraperiosteal chin augmentation using a double folded dermal graft for 58 patients (15 men and 43 women; range of age: 20–45, average was 29.4). Periodic sonography was performed routinely to measure the change of thickness of the dermal graft (preoperative, postoperatively 1, 6, and 12 months). Results:Thickness of the survived dermal graft was 8.33 ± 1.21 mm and 7.99 ± 1.19 mm at postoperative 6 and 12 months separately. Statistics showed that the average resorption rate was 32.17% (SD = 10.99) at postoperative 6 months and 34.93% (SD = 10.74) at postoperative 12 months. Of 56 patients 54 (2 patients were excluded from the study) did not request additional surgery during the 3-year follow-up period and showed a high level of satisfaction with the surgical results. Conclusions:The authors consider that our unique design and surgical techniques of double folded dermal graft have many advantages and provide consistent evidence-based results to meet patients’ desire for a natural appearance after chin augmentation, particularly patients who refuse to get artificial implants.
The role of the integrin LFA‐1 in T‐lymphocyte migration

Summary: A successful immune response depends on the migration of lymphocytes into lymph nodes or inflamed tissues where they make contact with antigen‐presenting cells. We are interested in how one member of the integrin family, leukocyte function‐associated antigen‐1 (LFA‐1), controls the function and, in particular, the migration of immune cells. We find that this integrin operates not only as an adhesion receptor for T lymphoblasts (T cells) but also induces their migration in vitro at approximately 15 μm/min. Migration requires active myosin light chain kinase at the leading edge and Rho kinase at the trailing edge of the cell. Two active conformations of LFA‐1 are differently distributed on the T‐cell membrane and regulate independent aspects of migration. High‐affinity LFA‐1 is located in a midcell ‘focal zone’ and influences the speed of migration, whereas intermediate affinity LFA‐1 controls leading edge adhesions. Manipulating LFA‐1 conformation in vivo can be performed, for example, by creating the active conformation in a transgenic mouse, and this model gives further insight into the role of LFA‐1 in migration. In humans, the beneficial effect of functioning CD18 integrins in combating infections in vivo is illustrated by rare patients displaying two forms of leukocyte adhesion deficiency. In summary, we speculate that T cells have evolved a mode of rapid migration that is of paramount importance in achieving the high‐speed immune surveillance upon which depends the body’s protection against diverse invaders from pathogens to cancer cells.
Oxyresveratrol suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in murine macrophages

Excessive inflammation is considered a critical factor in many human diseases. Oxyresveratrol(trans-2,3′,4,5′-tetrahydroxystilbene), a natural hydroxystilbene, has been shown to possess antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of oxyresveratrol (OxyR) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of inflammatory cytokines and mediators and further explored the mechanism of action in RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line. Production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs; extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38), and the activation of nuclear factor κ-light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) with OxyR were assayed in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. OxyR inhibited the productions of NO, PGE2, IL-6, and GM-CSF significantly in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. OxyR suppressed mRNA and protein expressions of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and GM-CSF in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. OxyR suppressed the phosphorylation of Akt and JNK and p38 MAPKs and the translocation of NFκB p65 subunit into the nucleus. These results indicate that OxyR inhibits LPS-stimulated inflammatory responses though the blocking of MAPK and NFκB signaling pathway in macrophages, and suggest that OxyR possesses anti-inflammatory effects.
A Neuropsychological-Neuropathological Case Study of Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

We report the first neuropsychological-neuropathological case study of a patient with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) who was seen at the early stages of the disease, and whose cognitive functioning was monitored in the following months until his death. At presentation, his neuropsychological profile included impaired ability to retain new episodic information, deficits on tests of retrieval from semantic memory, and impairments on tests of memory for public knowledge, such as famous personalities. Tests of executive function were also performed poorly. Picture recognition memory and autobiographical memory were relatively spared, as was performance on tests of face perception and complex copying ability. Neuropsychological testing may be useful in monitoring the progression of vCJD, and we provide evidence to show a steady rate of decline in perceptual and naming tasks over a 4-month period. Post-mortem findings showed neuronal loss in the caudate, putamen, dorsal thalamus, cerebellum and occipital cortex. Spongiform changes were found throughout the brain, including the entorhinal cortex and anterior thalamus. Prion protein accumulation was noted in the hippocampus. We hypothesize that primary subcortical damage to structures in the thalamus and neostriatum, together with secondary frontal lobe dysfunction, combine to yield the pattern of neuropsychological impairment and neuropsychological sparing that was found.
Understanding Determinants of Demand for Higher Education : Macroeconomic Evidence from Nigeria

Observed data in Nigeria, like many African countries, have shown that despite high level of youth unemployment or underemployment, and poverty level, there has been an increasing demand for higher education in the last two decades. The current study examines core determinants of this growing higher education demand and discusses their effects. Using annual time series data and error correction techniques of analysis, results show that unemployment and inflation rates have negative impacts on the demand for higher education whereas population growth, lending rate, government expenditure on education as well as gross domestic product per person employed contribute positively to the demand for higher education. Higher education policy therefore deserves a distinct role in development policy in Nigeria. By implication, developing economies with large human population growth may treat education goal in a manner similar to economic growth pursuit.