Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reconstitution of Virus-mediated Expression of Interferon α Genes in Human Fibroblast Cells by Ectopic Interferon Regulatory Factor-7*

Type I interferons constitute an important part of the innate immune response against viral infection. Unlike the expression of interferon (IFN) B gene, the expression of IFNA genes is restricted to the lymphoid cells. Both IFN regulatory factor 3 and 7 (IRF-3 and IRF-7) were suggested to play positive roles in these genes expression. However, their role in the differential expression of individual subtypes of human IFNA genes is unknown. Using various IFNA reporter constructs in transient transfection assay we found that overexpression of IRF-3 in virus infected 2FTGH cells selectively activated IFNA1 VRE, whereas IRF-7 was able to activate IFNA1, A2, and A4. The binding of recombinant IRF-7 and IRF-3 to these VREs correlated with their transcriptional activation. Nuclear proteins from infected and uninfected IRF-7 expressing 2FTGH cells formed multiple DNA-protein complexes with IFNA1 VRE, in which two unique DNA-protein complexes containing IRF-7 were detected. In 2FTGH cells, virus stimulated expression of IFNB gene but none of the IFNA genes. Reconstitution of IRF-7 synthesis in these cells resulted, upon virus infection, in the activation of seven endogenous IFNA genes in which IFNA1 predominated. These studies suggest that IRF-7 is a critical determinant for the induction of IFNA genes in infected cells.
Peripheral and prostatic vein steroid concentrations in benign prostatic hypertrophy patients before and after removal of the adenoma.

The concentrations of androgenic steroids and some of their precursors were determined in the prostatic and peripheral veins of 16 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The same steroids were also measured in the peripheral vein after removal of the adenoma. The mean concentration of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in prostatic vein (4.40 nmol/l +/- 0.37, mean +/- S.E.M.) was significantly higher than in peripheral vein (2.63 nmol/l +/- 0.30, mean +/- S.E.M.) indicating secretion of this steroid by the adenoma. We did not observe any correlation between the weight of the removed tissue and the secretion of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. The concentrations of pregnenolone, progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, testosterone and androsterone were the same in the prostatic and peripheral veins. There were no changes in the concentrations of steroids measured before and 1 and 6 months after removal of the BPH adenoma. It therefore appears that the secretion of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone by the adenoma is insufficient to influence the circulating levels of this steroid.
Expression of pro‐apoptotic Bax and anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 proteins in human retinoblastoma

Regulation of apoptosis is a complex process that involves a number of genes, including Bcl‐2, Bcl‐x, Bax and other Bcl‐2 family members. The aim of the present study is to assess the expression of Bcl‐ 2 and Bax in retinoblastoma, and correlate them with clinical and histopathological parameters.
The U-Shaped Oil Price: A Theory and Some Evidence

An empirical test for the theory of exhaustible resources requires an estimate of the extraction rent, that generally is not observable. This paper introduces a model of exploratory and developmental oil-well drilling, with geological constraints that cap the speed of pumping oil out of the ground. In contrast to the established view, as actuated by the Hotelling rule, that extraction rents rise more or less at the rate of discount, the extraction rent of this model rises or falls depending on whether or not new reserves can offset depletion effects in extraction. This extraction rent is empirically constructed for a state-level panel dataset on US oil exploitation and tests show that it rationalizes the data. In particular, estimating the model’s dynamic efficiency condition yields a point estimate for the discount rate of twenty percent, which is in line with reported industry rates. Moreover, it is observed that uncertain returns from drilling effort introduced precautionary behavior in the depletion of producing US oil reserves over the period 1955 to 2002.
IL-21 and CD40L Synergistically Promote Plasma Cell Differentiation through Upregulation of Blimp-1 in Human B Cells

After undergoing Ig somatic hypermutation and Ag selection, germinal center (GC) B cells terminally differentiate into either memory or plasma cells (PCs). It is known that the CD40L and IL-21/STAT3 signaling pathways play critical roles in this process, yet it is unclear how the B cell transcription program interprets and integrates these two types of T cell–derived signals. In this study, we characterized the role of STAT3 in the GC-associated PC differentiation using purified human tonsillar GC B cells and a GC B cell-like cell line. When primary GC B cells were cultured under PC differentiation condition, STAT3 inhibition by AG490 prevented the transition from GC centrocytes to preplasmablast, suggesting that STAT3 is required for the initiation of PC development. In a GC B cell-like human B cell line, although IL-21 alone can induce low-level Blimp-1 expression, maximum Blimp-1 upregulation and optimal PC differentiation required both IL-21 and CD40L. CD40L, although having no effect on Blimp-1 as a single agent, greatly augmented the amplitude and duration of IL-21–triggered Jak-STAT3 signaling. In the human PRDM1 locus, CD40L treatment enhanced the ability of STAT3 to upregulate Blimp-1 by removing BCL6, a potent inhibitor of Blimp-1 expression, from a shared BCL6/STAT3 site in intron 3. Thus, IL-21 and CD40L collaborate through at least two distinct mechanisms to synergistically promote Blimp-1 activation and PC differentiation.
The Sensitivity of the Credit Default Swap Market to Financial Analysts’ Forecast Revisions

We examine the impact of analysts’ earnings per share (EPS) and cash flow per share (CPS) forecast revisions on the market for credit default swaps. We find that while the issuance of both EPS and CPS forecast revisions are inversely associated with changes in credit default swap (CDS) spreads, cash flow forecast revisions have a larger effect. We demonstrate that the relationship between CPS forecast revisions and CDS spreads tends to be stronger in cases of financial distress. We provide evidence that cash flow forecasts dominate earnings forecasts in some situations and that participants in the CDS market discriminate between analysts' forecast revisions and recommendation changes.
Nascent polypeptide chains emerge from the exit domain of the large ribosomal subunit: immune mapping of the nascent chain.

The site of the nascent polypeptide chain as it leaves the ribosome has been localized on the "exit domain" of the Escherichia coli ribosome by using IgG antibodies directed against the enzyme beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23). Thus, a functional site has been mapped on intact 70S ribosomes. The exit site is on the large subunit, approximately 70 A from the interface between subunits and nearly 150 A from the central protuberance, the likely site of peptide transfer. It is adjacent to the region corresponding to the rough endoplasmic membrane binding region of the eukaryotic ribosome but distant from ribosomal components participating in mRNA recognition and polypeptide elongation (i.e., distant from the "translational domain"). These results, together with the protease protection experiments of others, provide evidence that the nascent protein chain probably passes through the ribosome in an unfolded, fully extended conformation.
The human G-protein beta3 subunit C825T polymorphism is associated with coronary artery vasoconstriction.

AIMS Abnormal coronary vasomotion plays a role in the clinical expression of coronary artery disease. We hypothesized that the functional C825T polymorphism located in the ubiquitous G-protein beta3 subunit, implicated in the cellular signal transduction of many receptors, could modify artery coronary vasomotion. We assessed the potential association of the pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) gene C825T polymorphism on coronary vasomotion in humans. METHODS AND RESULTS We examined the response of angiographically normal human coronary arteries (n=131) after intravenous injection of methylergonovine maleate, a vasoconstrictor, followed by injection of isosorbide dinitrate, a vasodilator, according to GNB3 genotypes. Coronary vasomotion was assessed with quantitative coronary angiography. Subjects bearing at least one T allele had greater susceptibility to vasoconstriction in response to methylergonovine maleate than CC subjects, whereas vasodilation in response to isosorbide dinitrate did not differ among the different genotypes. CONCLUSION The C825T polymorphism of the G-protein beta3 subunit may be a genetic determinant of coronary artery vasomotion in humans.
Self-reported health, self-reported fitness, and all-cause mortality: prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES Self-reported health has a well established relationship to later mortality, although the reasons are not entirely understood. This study examined the association of a similar self-reported measure of fitness with mortality and compared it to that of self-reported health. DESIGN The study had a prospective cohort design with multiple sampling points. METHODS Participants were 858 men and women from Glasgow and the surrounding area of Scotland, aged 59 when self-reported health and fitness data were first collected in 1991/92. They were re-interviewed at age 64 and 69 and mortality was tracked for 16.5 years in total. Hazard ratios for all cause mortality were estimated for those that reported poor health or poor fitness relative to others their age, taking into account a range of covariates, some of which were also time varying. RESULTS In both unadjusted and covariate adjusted models, self-reported fitness was at least as good a predictor of mortality as self-reported health. In a mutually adjusted model, both again emerged as significant predictors. Poor subjective health with poor subjective fitness appeared to be a particularly lethal combination. CONCLUSION Both self-reported health and self-reported fitness were independent predictors of mortality. Where the objective assessment of aerobic fitness is not feasible, a simple measure of subjective fitness could prove a useful alternative.
Comparison of Performance and Cost-Effectiveness of Direct Fluorescent-Antibody, Ligase Chain Reaction, and PCR Assays for Verification of Chlamydial Enzyme Immunoassay Results for Populations with a Low to Moderate Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection

ABSTRACT Many laboratories use a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with verification testing to diagnose Chlamydia trachomatisinfections in an effort to contain costs. This study was designed to compare the performance and cost-effectiveness of direct fluorescent-antibody assay (DFA), commercial PCR, and ligase chain reaction (LCR) for the verification of EIA results. Cervical specimens were screened by EIA. DFA, PCR, and LCR were compared as verification tests for EIA-reactive specimens and negative greyzone (NGZ) specimens at 50% below the cutoff value. These samples were also tested by in-house PCR, which was used in the analysis of verification results. A total of 477 (7%) of 6,571 samples were reactive or within the NGZ. EIA results with verification by DFA testing (EIA/DFA results) agreed with 93% of the true results compared with 97% for EIA/PCR results for one set of 242 samples; there was 97% agreement with true results for EIA/DFA results versus 95% for EIA/LCR results for another set of 235 samples. Ten samples were false positive by LCR. Time and costs were equivalent for EIA with the DFA, PCR, or LCR as the verification test but were two- to threefold greater for PCR or LCR alone than for EIA with verification. Since it is important to balance cost containment with public health objectives, DFA, PCR, and LCR as EIA verification tests for cervical samples offer acceptable sensitivities and specificities at reasonable cost for low- to moderate-risk populations and therefore can be extended to a broader spectrum of at-risk populations.
p53 codon 72 Pro homozygosity increases the risk of cutaneous melanoma in individuals with dark skin complexion and among noncarriers of melanocortin 1 receptor red hair variants

Background p53 has a common polymorphism at amino acid 72, encoding either arginine or proline. p53Arg and p53Pro exhibit differences in various biological activities, such as cell‐cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Numerous epidemiological studies have examined the role of this polymorphism in several human malignancies, including cutaneous cancers, with contradictory results.
The Impact of the Financial Crisis and Policy Responses in Croatia

We conduct simulations of the impact of the financial crisis on the Croatian economy using the newly developed DSGE model for Croatia. The impact of the crisis is modeled by proxying it with two distinct shocks: an increase in the foreign interest rate (cost of foreign borrowing) and a drop in export demand. Furthermore, we introduce a monetary policy response in the form of regulatory requirement reduction. The results to a large extent match the actual data, confirming the early impact of the crisis. More precisely, the financial crisis led to a significant slowdown in real activity, international trade and financial aggregates. Real activity is in decline, despite significant monetary policy response. With a monetary policy regime based on a stable exchange rate, the central bank is limited in its attempt to counter the impact of foreign shocks and significantly stimulate real activity by adjusting the regulatory framework. By decreasing the regulatory burden and thereby increasing bank liquidity, the CNB has managed to offset the negative impact of foreign shock(s) only partially and to a small extent. However, this limited success must be evaluated in the context of a highly euroized small open economy, where the primary goal of the monetary authority is to keep the exchange rate broadly stable.
Yield enhancement through fast statistical scan test analysis for digital logic

To enable fast technology ramp up and stable high yield a good understanding and fast detection of yield detractors is required. This paper focuses on fast statistical analysis of failures in the logic circuit part of SOC's, especially during ramp-up of a new product or technology. The failing chips response to the production test program is the key for a statistical search for systematic yield losses. The scan test method allows diagnosing the failing circuit nodes in the logic based on the chips misbehavior. Intelligent processing and analysis of this information enables identification of important yield detractors. A description of the approach and experimental results are provided
Cardiac vagal reflex modulates intestinal vascular capacitance and ventricular preload in anesthetized dogs with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of the cardiac vagal reflex on intestinal vascular capacitance and cardiac filling pressure during experimental acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS AND RESULTS AMI was induced in anesthetized dogs through injection of microspheres into the left main coronary artery. Intestinal blood volume was measured with blood-pool scintigraphy. Portal venous pressure was varied through graded inflation of a portal venous constrictor to determine the intestinal vascular pressure-volume relation. Induction of AMI decreased intestinal blood volume to 88 +/- 3% of the control value (P < .01) and shifted the pressure-volume relation toward the pressure axis. This change was associated with increased left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) (from 6 +/- 1 to 17 +/- 2 mm Hg, P < .01) and LV segment length (to 112 +/- 4% of the control value, P < .01). During AMI, blockade of the cardiac vagal reflex by intrapericardial application of 2% lidocaine further decreased intestinal blood volume (to 83 +/- 3% of the control value, P < .05, versus AMI without lidocaine), increased LVEDP (to 22 +/- 2 mm Hg, P < .05, versus AMI without lidocaine), and tended to increase LV segment length (to 115 +/- 5%, P < .10). Lidocaine had no effect in dogs with AMI that had been vagotomized. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the cardiac vagal reflex modulates the decrease in the intestinal vascular capacitance induced by AMI and modulates ventricular preload through pooling of blood in the intestinal circulation.
Design and construction of a hyperthermia system with improved interaction of magnetic induction-heating

For the applications of localized hyperthermia, an improved magnetic induction-heating system is described. The associated components of this system, for example, coils for generating magnetic field, magnetic circuit for flux path, and ferrite needles for generating heat by magnetic induction, all have been explained. An animal experiment of induction-heating hyperthermia for rat's liver is also carried out, and the consequent pathology of Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain and NADPH oxidase activity assay are also conducted for evaluation.
Inclusive Growth Criteria and Indicators: An Inclusive Growth Index for Diagnosis of Country Progress

: This paper constructs a composite inclusive growth index at the country level. For this purpose it identifies suitable indicators in the areas of (a) growth, productive employment, and economic infrastructure, (b) income poverty and equity (including gender equity), (c) human capabilities, and (d) social protection. It uses these indicators to suggest a diagnostic approach, based on weights and ‘scores’, which can help countries assess their progress in achieving inclusive growth. The composite index could also be used by ADB as a starting point to diagnose how to maximize its support for a country’s inclusive growth objectives. The usefulness of this methodology is tested in case studies of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan.
Age of Parkinson's disease onset as a predictor for the development of dyskinesia

The risk of developing levodopa‐associated dyskinesia is known to vary inversely with the age of Parkinson's disease onset. This study quantifies dyskinesia risks for different Parkinson's onset ages in a patient population treated at the Parkinson's Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Medical records were reviewed to determine age of Parkinson's onset, medication history, and dyskinesia onset. Dyskinesia risks were determined by using Kaplan‐Meier analysis. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare age groups and to perform multivariate modeling. This study included 109 patients with Parkinson's, 105 of whom had onset of symptoms after 1989. At 5 years of levodopa treatment, the dyskinesia risk for patients with onset age 40–49 was 70%, decreasing to 42% for onset ages 50–59, 33% for onset ages 60–69, and 24% for onset ages 70–79. Pairwise comparisons between the 40–49 age group and the other age groups were statistically significant in time‐to‐event models. After 5 years of levodopa treatment, dyskinesia risks became uniformly high regardless of age of onset. These results suggest it is appropriate to use different baseline dyskinesia risks in clinical decision‐making for patients on the basis of their ages of onset. However, the most significant difference occurs between ages 40–49 and ages 50–79, and if more than 5 years of levodopa therapy are anticipated, dyskinesia risk may have less utility when deciding upon Parkinson's therapy. Drug studies for Parkinson's disease should also take age of Parkinson's onset into account when analyzing dyskinesia outcomes. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Single pass tangential flow filtration to debottleneck downstream processing for therapeutic antibody production

As the therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) market continues to grow, optimizing production processes is becoming more critical in improving efficiencies and reducing cost‐of‐goods in large‐scale production. With the recent trends of increasing cell culture titers from upstream process improvements, downstream capacity has become the bottleneck in many existing manufacturing facilities. Single Pass Tangential Flow Filtration (SPTFF) is an emerging technology, which is potentially useful in debottlenecking downstream capacity, especially when the pool tank size is a limiting factor. It can be integrated as part of an existing purification process, after a column chromatography step or a filtration step, without introducing a new unit operation. In this study, SPTFF technology was systematically evaluated for reducing process intermediate volumes from 2× to 10× with multiple mAbs and the impact of SPTFF on product quality, and process yield was analyzed. Finally, the potential fit into the typical 3‐column industry platform antibody purification process and its implementation in a commercial scale manufacturing facility were also evaluated. Our data indicate that using SPTFF to concentrate protein pools is a simple, flexible, and robust operation, which can be implemented at various scales to improve antibody purification process capacity. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:962–970. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A High-Power and Scalable 2-D Phased Array for Terahertz CMOS Integrated Systems

This work introduces a 2-D phased array architecture that is suitable for high power radiation at mm-Wave and Terahertz frequencies. We address the challenge of signal generation above the cut-off frequency of transistors by presenting a radiation method based on the collective performance of a large number of synchronized sources. As theory shows, both frequency locking/tuning and beam steering can be independently achieved by manipulating the local coupling between the nearest neighbors. This control method results in a dynamical network that is insensitive to array dimensions and is scalable to the point that can achieve a level of output power and spectral purity beyond the reach of conventional sources. To demonstrate the concept, we implement a 4 ×4 version of this phased array at 340 GHz using a 65 nm bulk CMOS process. The paper presents the design and implementation of the oscillators, couplings and the integrated antennas. The measured results at 338 GHz reveal a peak equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) of +17.1 dBm and a phase noise of -93 dBc/Hz at the 1 MHz offset frequency. This chip presents the first fully integrated terahertz phased array on silicon. Furthermore, the output power is higher than any lens-less silicon-based source above 200 GHz and the phase noise is lower than all silicon radiating sources above 100 GHz.
Evaluation of responsive load participation in optimal satisfying system security constraints

With liberalizing electricity market, consumers are incurred more electricity price volatilities. Accordingly, they may present parts of their demand as responsive loads (RLs) with the purpose of reducing the prices and providing favorable reliability level for the system. RLs are identified as resources from demand-side which can participate in reliability-triggered events and/or ancillary services by different demand response (DR) programs. In this paper, RLs take part in Emergency Demand Response Programs (EDRPs) during reliability-triggered events while Demand-Side Ancillary Services Programs (DSASPs) are implemented along with spinning and non-spinning reserves from generation-side to satisfy the system security constraints economically. The Reserve procurement from both sides is carried out by risk curve formed for each bus of system base on the credibility and expected consequences of contingencies and also the responding rate of reserve resources in a short-term stochastic security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC) model. The RBTS and IEEE-RTS are considered to illustrate the effects of participating RLs in the joint energy and reserve market.