Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human skeletal muscle perilipin 2 and 3 expression varies with insulin sensitivity

Background: Impaired insulin sensitivity may partly arise from a dysregulated lipid metabolism in human skeletal muscle. This study investigates the expression levels of perilipin 2, 3, and 5, and four key lipases in human skeletal muscle from the subjects that exhibit a range from normal to very low insulin sensitivity. Methods: 25 middle aged male participants were matched for lean body mass and recruited into three groups; type 2 diabetes patients (T2D), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and healthy sedentary controls (CON) according to their glucose tolerance and VO2peak. A muscle biopsy was obtained from vastus lateralis, and a two-step sequential euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp was performed. Muscle samples were analyzed by Western blot for expression of perilipin 2, 3, 5, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), endothelial lipase (EL) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Results: Perilipin 3 expression was higher in T2D compared to CON. Perilipin 2 expression was higher in CON than T2D. We observed no difference in expression of perili pin 5, ATGL, HSL, EL or LPL between the groups. Conclusions: In the present study the muscle perilipin 3 expression and perilipin 2 expression varied markedly with insulin sensitivity. This difference in perilipin expression may indicate that the lipid droplet function and thus storage and release of fatty acid-vary with insulin sensitivity.
Population structure, history and gene flow in a group of closely related land snails: genetic variation in Partula from the Society Islands of the Pacific

Previous studies of Partula land snails from the Society Islands, French Polynesia, have shown that populations within species are highly differentiated in terms of their morphology, behaviour, ecology and molecular genetic variation. Despite this level of variability, differences between species are sometimes small, possibly reflecting the fact that reproductive isolation is not always complete and there exists the opportunity for genetic exchange between taxa through hybridization. The present study uses sequence data from a mitochondrial gene to further investigate genetic variation in Society Island Partula. Most populations are found in this study to be highly differentiated, but within individual species there seems to be no simple relationship either between genetic distance and geographical proximity, or between variation in mitochondria and that in allozymes or morphological characteristics. Among species there appears to be no simple correlation between degrees of reproductive isolation and genetic relatedness according to mitochondrial DNA. The results suggest that past events as well as ongoing drift and selection may have been important in affecting patterns of variation. Similarities among species at specific localities suggest that there must have been some genetic exchange in the past, although this may not necessarily reflect ongoing rates of hybridization. The discrepancy between results for different markers probably reflects the differential effects of drift and selection on mitochondrial and nuclear genes.
GENO PROTECTIVE AND ANTI-APOPTOTIC EFFECT OF GREEN TEA AGAINST PERINATAL LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE-EXPOSURE INDUCED LIVER TOXICITY IN RAT NEWBORNS

Background: This study aims to examine the protective effect of green tea on the disturbances in oxidative stress and apoptosis related factors, mostly produced due to perinatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure, that subsequently induces liver cell damage. Materials and Methods: Anti-free radical, Antioxidant, scavenging, geno-protective, and antiapoptotic activity of aqueous green tea extract (AGTE) were assessed against LPS-induced hepatic dysfunction in newborn-rats. AGTE at doses of 100 & 200 mg/kg was orally administered daily to rat dams, during gestation and lactation. Results: AGTE was observed to exhibit protective effects by significantly attenuating LPS-induced alterations in serum AST, ALT, bilirubin, and albumin levels. Significant increase in the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), DNA contents, and reduction in nitric oxide (NO) levels were observed in AGTE treated rats comparing LPS-toxicated ones. Additionally, AGTE treatment significantly down-regulated apoptotic markers and this effect was directly correlated to the degree of hepatic fibrosis. The possible mechanisms of the potential therapeutic-liver protective effect of AGTE could be due to free radical scavenging potential and antiapoptotic properties caused by the presence of antioxidant polyphenolic components in AGTE. Conclusion: We thereby propose, based on our findings, that the anti-free radical and anti-apoptotic inducing properties of AGTE active constituents attribute to its functional efficacy as anti-fibrotic agent.
Determinants of R&D cooperation in Japanese high-tech start-ups

This paper explores the determinants of R&D cooperation in Japanese hightech start-ups. Using a sample from an original survey conducted in 2008, we examine the effects of founder-, firm-, and industry-specific characteristics on R&D cooperation by the type of partners. Our findings indicate that founder-specific characteristics, such as educational background, academic affiliation, and prior innovation output, are fairly important in determining R&D cooperation with universities and public research institutes. We also provide evidence that founders' work experience and prior innovation output have positive and significant effects on R&D cooperation with business partners. With respect to firm-specific characteristics, it is found that firms investing more in R&D tend to engage in R&D cooperation, regardless of the type of partners. Furthermore, it is found that independent firms are less likely to cooperate on R&D with universities and public research institutes, than subsidiaries and affiliated firms.
Absence of anaplastic lymphoma kinase translocations in signet ring cell carcinomas of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion oncogenes are present in multiple cancer types. The inversion of echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) genes on chromosome 2 is present in a subset of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ALK-rearranged lung cancers demonstrate a significantly higher incidence of signet ring cell histology than do ALK-negative tumors. Based on the histologic similarities of ALK-rearranged NSCLC and signet ring cell carcinomas (SRCCs) of the gastrointestinal tract, we hypothesized that SRCC of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract may also harbor ALK translocations. METHODS Thirty-five formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) diagnostic tissue specimens of SRCC or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with greater than 10% signet ring cell features originating from the upper GI tract were obtained and confirmed by a board-certified, GI pathologist. SRCC specimens were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, with an ALK (2p23) break-apart probe. RESULTS The FISH analysis revealed no evidence of ALK translocation. All 35 (100%) SRCC specimens showed intact ALK FISH signals. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that, despite histologic similarities between SRCC of the upper GI tract and ALK-positive NSCLC, ALK translocations are unlikely to be a significant contributor to the molecular etiology of SRCC. Further genomic investigations are ongoing.
Effects of a preadoption pamphlet on the success of canine adoption

In the United States there are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs, and 39% of households have at least one dog (Humane society of the United States [HSUS], 2011). Unfortunately, not all of these pets will be retained in their household for the remainder of their lives. There are 6-8 million dogs and cats entering animal shelters every year (HSUS, 2009), but shelters do not have the resources to properly care for all of these animals. As a result of resource shortages, 3-4 million animals are euthanized every year (HSUS, 2009). That is one dog or cat every eight seconds.
Rotational Wireless Video Sensor Networks with Obstacle Avoidance Capability for Improving Disaster Area Coverage

Wireless Video Sensor Networks (WVSNs) have become a leading solution in many important applications, such as disaster recovery. By using WVSNs in disaster scenarios, the main goal is achieving a successful immediate response including search, location, and rescue operations. The achievement of such an objective in the presence of obstacles and the risk of sensor damage being caused by disasters is a challenging task. In this paper, we propose a fault tolerance model of WVSN for efficient post-disaster management in order to assist rescue and preparedness operations. To get an overview of the monitored area, we used video sensors with a rotation capability that enables them to switch to the best direction for getting better multimedia coverage of the disaster area, while minimizing the effect of occlusions. By constructing different cover sets based on the field of view redundancy, we can provide a robust fault tolerance to the network. We demonstrate by simulating the benefits of our proposal in terms of reliability and high coverage.
Value-based measure: an application of EVA in small manufacturing company in Bangladesh

Performance measurement matters in today’s complex business arena irrespective of the type, nature, and volume diversity in business. If the result of performance measurement goes wrong due to the faulty or inaccurate selection of tool(s), then the total process will prove wrong in due time. This paper evaluates Economic Value Added (EVA) as a smart and powerful alternative to traditional performance measures like gross margin, percentage change in sales, net margin etc. in a small manufacturing company perspective. Small manufacturing companies are the focus of the study, as most of the people in such companies believe that EVA is truly designed for large companies and the equation of EVA cannot be applied in small companies due to the non-availability of required data. This paper results in a typical model applicable to small manufacturing companies where all adjustments and other technicalities are discussed with a real life example. Finally, the possible advantages and opportunities of using EVA as a performance measurement tool is discussed that may encourage the users/readers to incorporate EVA with their current setup to reap the potential benefits from it.
CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells Resist a Novel Form of CD28- and Fas-Dependent p53-Induced T Cell Apoptosis

Ag receptor stimulation of preactivated T cells causes rapid cell death in an IL-2– and Fas-dependent manner. This phenomenon, known as activation-induced cell death (AICD), plays a pivotal role in the removal of Ag-reactive T cells after initial expansion. In this study, we report a novel form of T cell apoptosis that is distinct from classic AICD. When peripheral T cells were activated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 Abs precoated onto plastic plates, CD4+CD25− and CD8 T cells initially expanded but underwent massive apoptosis after 4 d. Unlike classic AICD, this type of T cell apoptosis pathway requires engagement of CD28 and expression of p53, a tumor-suppressor gene. The most striking feature of this form of apoptosis was regulatory T cell resistance. Under the same stimulating conditions, CD4+CD25+ T cells grew continuously beyond 4 d. Consequently, when the entire CD4 population was cultured with plate-bound anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 Ab, CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells outgrew nonregulatory T cells and expanded >7000-fold after 11 d. The data presented herein demonstrate a novel process of Ag-induced T cell death by sustained TCR and CD28 engagement and represent a simple and efficient procedure for the expansion of regulatory T cells in vitro.
Foreign Direct Investment and Restructuring in the Automotive Industry in Central and East Europe

This paper reviews and explores the major effects of FDI on industry restructuring of the CEE automotive industry. In particular, we are interested if automotive companies have exploited the value creation potential of CEE? Which factors explain the scale and depth of automotive industry restructuring in CEE? What are the economic effects of restructuring the automotive industry in terms of employment, trade and technology? What has been the role of national and EU policies in shaping FDI and restructuring in the CEE automotive industry? Our results suggest that the value creation potential of CEE as a global automotive location has not yet been fully exploited with great differences across countries. A combination of country specific factors (proximity to EU markets, socialist heritage in automotive industry, skilled labour and privatisation policies) coupled with strategies of automotive MNCs have generated different country patterns and very different effects on industry. Improvements in productivity and technology transfer in both embodied (equipment upgrading) and disembodied form (know how) are significant in countries with large FDI in automotive industry. Employment effects are positive in particular in automotive suppliers industry. Privatisation policy in early 1990s which was followed by a policy of attracting Greenfield FDI on the eve of EU accession is crucial in explaining country differences in FDI presence. Automotive investors have foreseen EU accession and in that respect, EU membership will not bring to changes in trend but possibly a deepening of the automotive cluster in central Europe. However, whether this will happen or not will depend on the ability of CEECs to develop sector specific policies which would support the upgrading of local automotive suppliers.
Summer Climate Variability in Taiwan and Associated Large-Scale Processes

This study investigates major characteristics of summer (June–August) climate variability in Taiwan during the period of 1950–2000 and associated regulating processes imposed by large-scale background variations, including the western North Pacific summer monsoon (WNPSM), the Pacific interdecadal climate change (PICC) related to abrupt climate change in the late 1970s, and the western North Pacific (WNP) tropical cyclone (TC) activity. In Taiwan, summer rainfall and temperature anomalies tend to be opposite in sign: anomalous cold summer is often wet, and vice versa. Based upon characteristics of temperature and rainfall anomalies in Taiwan, low-level circulation pattern overlying Taiwan, and the phase of PICC, we categorize Taiwan’s summer climate variability into six major types. The major regulatory mechanism for four of these types is anomalous vertical motion over an east-west elongated low-level circulation anomaly across Taiwan, a feature associated with the WNPSM variability. For the other two types, the primary regulating mechanism is anomalous moisture transport by a southwest-northeast oriented low-level circulation anomaly over the WNP, which is a salient feature of the PICC. Influence of the WNP TC activity on Taiwan’s summer climate is examined in terms of TC rainfall (rainfall in Taiwan induced by TC passages) variability. For the types of summer climate variability with a low-level anomalous high over the WNP, the circulation enhances vertical wind shear to suppress TC genesis and the subsequent TC activity over the WNP, leading to decreased TC rainfall in Taiwan. On the other hand, increased TC rainfall does not necessarily occur in Taiwan for summer climate variability types with a low-level anomalous low over the WNP. A favorable condition for TC rainfall in Taiwan is to have more TCs forming in a region southeast of Taiwan, which are then steered by the WNP anomalous low to recurve northward toward Taiwan.
Lost but not forgotten details: repeated eyewitness recall leads to reminiscence but not hypermnesia.

In 2 experiments, the effects on participants' memory and confidence of repeatedly describing a videotaped crime and of the opportunity to review a previous description were investigated. E. Scrivner and M. A. Safer (1988) demonstrated that witnesses' successive attempts to describe such events can lead to the recall of more new information in comparison with the amount forgotten (i.e., increased net recall, or hypermnesia). In Experiment 1, a more forensically relevant procedure was used, and no support for hypermnesia was found. Witnesses did recall significantly more new information across attempts, but the amount did not exceed how much was forgotten (i.e., increased gross recall, or reminiscence). The opportunity to review a previous statement had no effect on the number of items recalled. In Experiment 2, the more traditional, repeated-recall procedure used by Scrivner and Safer was applied, and their finding of hypermnesia was replicated with the present study's materials.
Do Individual Investors Make Money? Evidence from Proprietary Short-Selling Account Data in Korea

We use proprietary trade as well as account-level dataset of short sales to investigate the profitability of individual investors’ short-selling in the Korean stock market from August 1, 2007 to May 31, 2010. An average profit is 26,810 Korean won (roughly USD 24.4) per trade per hour and we also find that about 44% of shorted trades are covered within a day. The profitability of short-selling decreases as the hours-to-cover increases, suggesting that mispricing is corrected quickly. Account-level analysis shows that investors who sell short more firms make higher profits than those who sell short fewer firms. We also find evidence that short-sellers earn persistent positive abnormal returns. Our findings suggest that individual short-sellers who employ short horizon investment have superior information.
Cooperative visualization: a design case

Purpose – In this design case, a participatory approach to visualizing a complex computational pipeline was adopted, with the goal of exploring what benefits might be derived when groups of people visualize complex information for themselves.Design/methodology/approach – Several visualization artifacts were developed to support collaborative process at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO). Researchers adopted a participatory approach, engaging directly in LIGO activities and drawing together explicitly codified data from the LIGO computational pipeline as well as structural knowledge tacitly held by project scientists. Both sources of information were critical to producing meaningful visualizations and progressing design and research efforts.Findings – This design case revealed several benefits realized when individuals or groups visualize information for themselves, especially improved communication and enhanced understanding of complex systems of information.Originality/value –.
[Treatment of the NO neck in supraglottic cancer].

INTRODUCTION Occult regional metastases in supraglottic cancer NO are the object of classical controversies. The aim of our study is to provide our experience in order to determine how neck treatment affects on regional recurrence of NO supraglottic cancer. METHODS A retrospective study of 246 patients with NO supraglottic cancer treated in our service between 1977 to 1999 is presented. RESULTS 11.4% of patients did not have any cervical treatment, with a 23% of neck recurrence amongst the evolution. 66.7% of patients were treated with a modified radical neck dissection, 24% of these presented occult metastases in the histopathological study. Global regional recurrence was 2.9% in early stages (T1/T2) and 13.1% in advanced stages (T3/T4). In pN+ patients, 85% underwent postoperative radiotherapy, with a regional recurrence of 8.8%. Postoperative clinical control without any other treatment in pN0 patients showed a neck recurrence of 6.1%. We performed a unilateral neck dissection in those patients with clear-lateral tumours. In these cases the clinical control of the contralateral neck gave a 5.5% recurrencies on that side. Patients treated with elective primary radiotherapy suffered a 5.5% of regional recurrence. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS Neck treatment of the NO supraglottic cancer is recommended. We treat neck in the same way of primary tumour (surgery or radiotherapy) with good control of regional recurrencies, less than 10%. In case of a negative pathological study of the neck careful, watching is the elective attitude. In the positive pathological study of the neck (pN+), radiotherapy is the elective treatment in those with three or more affected nodes or capsular breakdown in any of them.
A molecular mechanism for the repression of transcription by the H‐NS protein

The H‐NS protein is a major component of the bacterial nucleoid and plays a crucial role in the global gene regulation of enteric bacteria. Although H‐NS does not exhibit a high DNA sequence specificity, a number of H‐NS‐responsive promoters have been shown to contain regions of intrinsic DNA curvature located either upstream or downstream of the transcription start point. We have studied H‐NS binding to DNA and in vitro transcriptional regulation by H‐NS at several synthetic promoters with or without curved sequences inserted upstream of the Pribnow box. We show how such inserts determine the final organization of H‐NS‐containing nucleoprotein complexes and how this affects transcription. We refine a two‐step mechanism for the constitution of H‐NS assemblies that are efficient in regulation.
Tackling the adequacy trap: earnings, incomes and work incentives under the Universal Credit

Under existing tax and benefit rules, households on low-to-middle incomes frequently face high rates of withdrawal of state support as they increase their earnings. The introduction of the Universal Credit does not fundamentally change this situation, though there will be a complex mix of winners and losers. For households with the lowest earnings, the very highest withdrawal rates (where each additional £1 of income is reduced by 90p or more) will be abolished. However for others, withdrawal rates will get steeper (rising from 70 per cent to 76 per cent for existing tax credit recipients). Under reasonable assumptions about the structure of the future system, full-time workers on low wages will tend to be better-off under Universal Credit if they are supporting partners and children , but slightly worse-off if they are single. Lone parents working less than 16 hours a week will benefit, but those working longer than this will be worse-off. People who are not working will have increased incentives to do small amounts of work if they do not have a working partner, but in many cases less incentive if their partner does work. The precise pattern of winners and losers is highly sensitive to as yet unresolved details of the Universal Credit, such as how the childcare tax credit will be replaced. The nature and level of childcare support introduced will affect the ability of many families with children to earn a reasonable income, and determine whether work continues to pay.