Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heat‐Induced bFGF gene expression in the absence of heat shock element correlates with enhanced AP‐1 binding activity

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been shown to be a potent mitogen and a promoter of angiogenesis. It has been hypothesized that the expression of the bFGF gene may be induced by stress of various types. To test that hypothesis, we investigated the expression of the bFGF gene during heat treatment in adriamycin‐resistant (MCF‐7/ADR) and‐sensitive (MCF‐7) human breast carcinoma cells. Under normal growth conditions, the bFGF mRNA was detected in MCF‐7/ADR cells, while it was not detectable in MCF‐7 cells by Northern blot analysis. During heating at 41°C, the level of bFGF mRNA increased in MCF‐7/ADR cells and the message became detectable in the MCF‐7 cell line. However, after continuous heating at 41°C for 24 h, the bFGF mRNA level decreased to control level in MCF‐7/ADR cells. Interestingly, simultaneous treatment with heat and 60 m̈g/ml H‐7 (1‐(isoquinolinylsulfonyl)‐2‐methylpiperzine, a potent PKC inhibitor) decreased the level of bFGF mRNA in MCF‐7/ADR cells. These results suggest that a protein kinase, likely PKC, is involved in the transcriptional regulation of the heat‐enhanced bFGF gene expression in human breast carcinoma cells. Although no heat shock element can be identified in the promoter of the bFGF gene, we observed that the AP‐1 binding activity to a TPA responsive element (TRE)‐like sequence in the promoter of bFGF gene was enhanced by heat, as tested by mobility shift assay. Antibody developed against the c‐Jun and c‐Fos proteins inhibited the AP‐1 binding activity to TRE. Therefore, the AP‐1 complex appears to be responsible for the heat‐enhanced binding to the TRE‐like motif of the bFGF gene. Furthermore, the increased AP‐1 binding activity does not require new protein synthesis but activation of the preexisting c‐Jun proteins. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The ability of the ECB to control inflation in a global environment

In this paper, we study the global determinants of euro area inflation and show that they are large - they explain around 50% of inflation dynamics – and make it impossible for the ECB to fully control headline inflation. Nevertheless, we show that the ECB retains some control on the domestic part of euro area inflation. We therefore argue in favour of a change in the inflation target pursued by the ECB. Unless a change occurs, the ECB should promote cooperation with other central banks in order to match its CPI inflation target at 2% as 40 to 50% of CPI determinants is related to foreign yields and foreign output growths.
Topological instability along filamented invariant surfaces.

In dynamical systems with a zero Lyapunov exponent, weak mixing can be governed by a specific topological structure of some surfaces that are invariant with respect to particle dynamics. In particular, when the genus of the invariant surfaces is more than one, they may have weak mixing and the corresponding fractional kinetics. This possibility is demonstrated by using a typical example from plasma physics, a three-dimensional resistive pressure-gradient-driven turbulence model. In a toroidal geometry and with a low-pressure gradient, this model shows the emergence of quasicoherent structures. In this situation, the isosurfaces of the velocity stream function have a web structure with filamentary surfaces emerging from the outer region of the torus and covering the inner region. The filamentary surfaces can result in stochastic jets of particles that cause a "topological instability. " In such a situation, particle transport along the surfaces is of the anomalous superdiffusion type.
We are different : a case study of entrepreneurship education in Malaysia

In this thesis the aim is to question the extent to which different pedagogies used in teaching entrepreneurship education influence individual skill development, and how this translates into a likelihood of entrepreneurial intention. A quasi-experimental design and analysis of interview data, shows that although a student-centered approach is widely accepted practice in western education, a teacher-centered approach is more effective in Malaysia due to the system of collective culturally based education.
Metacaspase Activity of Arabidopsis thaliana Is Regulated by S-Nitrosylation of a Critical Cysteine Residue*

Nitric oxide (NO) regulates a number of signaling functions in both animals and plants under several physiological and pathophysiological conditions. S-Nitrosylation linking a nitrosothiol on cysteine residues mediates NO signaling functions of a broad spectrum of mammalian proteins, including caspases, the main effectors of apoptosis. Metacaspases are suggested to be the ancestors of metazoan caspases, and plant metacaspases have previously been shown to be genuine cysteine proteases that autoprocess in a manner similar to that of caspases. We show that S-nitrosylation plays a central role in the regulation of the proteolytic activity of Arabidopsis thaliana metacaspase 9 (AtMC9) and hypothesize that this S-nitrosylation affects the cellular processes in which metacaspases are involved. We found that AtMC9 zymogens are S-nitrosylated at their active site cysteines in vivo and that this posttranslational modification suppresses both AtMC9 autoprocessing and proteolytic activity. However, the mature processed form is not prone to NO inhibition due to the presence of a second S-nitrosylation-insensitive cysteine that can replace the S-nitrosylated cysteine residue within the catalytic center of the processed AtMC9. This cysteine is absent in caspases and paracaspases but is conserved in all reported metacaspases.
Asymmetries of oxygen uptake transients at the on‐ and offset of heavy exercise in humans.

1. At work rates which do not result in a sustained increase in blood lactate ([L‐]), oxygen uptake (VO2) approaches the steady state with first‐order kinetics. However, when [L‐] is increased, at least two kinetic components are required to characterize the VO2 response dynamics. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether these more‐complex kinetics are best represented as: (a) two components which operate throughout the exercise or (b) a delayed slow component which is consequent to the lactic acidaemia and which does not influence the early development of the O2 deficit. 2. Six healthy subjects underwent an incremental ramp test on a cycle ergometer, to the limit of tolerance, for determination of the maximum VO2 (micro VO2) and and estimation [symbol: see text] of the threshold for lactic acidaemia (theta L) non‐invasively. Subjects then performed, on different days, two to four repetitions of square‐wave exercise from a baseline of unloaded pedalling ('O' Watts (W)) to work rates (WR) less than theta L (90% theta L) and greater than theta L (half‐way between theta L and micro VO2). Ventilatory and pulmonary gas exchange variables were determined breath‐by‐breath. For each subject, the VO2 transitions were averaged prior to fitting a least‐squares algorithm to the on‐ and off‐transient responses. 3. The less than theta L test resulted in a mono‐exponential VO2 response, with a time constant of 31.3 and 31.5 s for the on‐ and off‐transients, respectively. 4. The VO2 responses to the greater than theta L test were fitted to three competing models: (a) a single exponential for the entire period; (b) a double exponential for the entire period; and (c) an initial single exponential with a subsequent phase of delayed onset. Model (c) yielded a significantly lower residual mean‐squares error than methods (a) and (b), with a time constant for the initial component of 40.2 s for the on‐transient and 32.9 s for the off‐transient and a subsequent phase of VO2 increase for the on‐transient which averaged 230 ml min‐1. The delta VO2/delta WR for the early kinetics of the greater than theta L test were not different from the less than theta L test (9.6 and 9.5 ml min‐1 W‐1, respectively). 5. These data suggest that the slow phase of the greater than theta L VO2 kinetics is a delayed‐onset process. This being the case, the O2 deficit during heavy exercise, as conventionally estimated, would be overestimated.
The metabolism of the isolated artificially perfused guinea pig placenta I. Excretion of hydrogen ions, ammonia, carbon dioxide and lactate, and the consumption of oxygen and glucose

In the isolated, perfused guinea pig placenta glucose seems to be a major nutrient of energy metabolism, because the excreted amounts of carbon dioxide and lactate can be explained solely by the catabolism of glucose. In steady state experiments hydrogen ions, ammonia, lactate and carbon dioxide are excreted for at least 90 minutes in rather constant amounts. The production of lactate shows no significant dependence on the glucose concentration in the perfusion fluid. The guinea pig placenta seems to cover its energy requirement mainly by means of anaerobic glycolysis. Of the utilized glucose 76% are metabolized anaerobically. The placenta produces significant quantities of lactate, although it is well oxygenated. A reduction of the oxygen tension in the perfusion fluid does not result in an increase of the production of lactate. Of the hydrogen ions excreted nearly 50% are excreted as ammonia. Although the excreted amounts are small compared with the known transfer rates, they have to be taken into consideration, when studying transplacental transfers of these metabolites.
The Early Dissemination Defect Attributed to Disruption of Decorin-Binding Proteins Is Abolished in Chronic Murine Lyme Borreliosis

ABSTRACT The laboratory mouse model of Lyme disease has revealed that Borrelia burgdorferi differentially expresses numerous outer surface proteins that influence different stages of infection (tick-borne transmission, tissue colonization, dissemination, persistence, and tick acquisition). Deletion of two such outer surface proteins, decorin-binding proteins A and B (DbpA/B), has been documented to decrease infectivity, impede early dissemination, and, possibly, prevent persistence. In this study, DbpA/B-deficient spirochetes were confirmed to exhibit an early dissemination defect in immunocompetent, but not immunodeficient, mice, and the defect was found to resolve with chronicity. Development of disease (arthritis and carditis) was attenuated only in the early stage of infection with DbpA/B-deficient spirochetes in both types of mice. Persistence of the DbpA/B-deficient spirochetes occurred in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice in a manner indistinguishable from that of wild-type spirochetes. Dissemination through the lymphatic system was evaluated as an underlying mechanism for the early dissemination defect. At 12 h, 3 days, 7 days, and 14 days postinoculation, DbpA/B-deficient spirochetes were significantly less prevalent and in lower numbers in lymph nodes than wild-type spirochetes. However, in immunodeficient mice, deficiency of DbpA/B did not significantly decrease the prevalence or spirochete numbers in lymph nodes. Complementation of DbpA/B restored a wild-type phenotype. Thus, the results indicated that deficiency of DbpA/B allows the acquired immune response to restrict early dissemination of spirochetes, which appears to be at least partially mediated through the lymphatic system.
Health Professionals' Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices about Pharmacovigilance in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Spontaneous or voluntary reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is one of the vital roles of all health professionals. In India, under-reporting of ADRs by health professionals is recognized as one of the leading causes of poor ADR signal detection. Therefore, reviewing the literature can provide a better understanding of the status of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of Pharmacovigilance (PV) activities by health professionals. Methods A systematic review was performed through Pubmed, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar scientific databases. Studies pertaining to KAP of PV and ADR reporting by Indian health professionals between January 2011 and July 2015 were included in a meta-analysis. Results A total of 28 studies were included in the systematic review and 18 of them were selected for meta-analysis. Overall, 55.6% (95% CI 44.4–66.9; p<0.001) of the population studied were not aware of the existence of the Pharmacovigilance Programme in India (PvPI), and 31.9% (95% CI 16.3–47.4; p<0.001) thought that "all drugs available in the market are safe". Furthermore, 28.7% (95% CI 16.4–40.9; p<0.001) of them were not interested in reporting ADRs and 74.5%, (95% CI 67.9–81.9; p<0.001) never reported any ADR to PV centers. Conclusion There was an enormous gap of KAP towards PV and ADR reporting, particularly PV practice in India. There is therefore an urgent need for educational awareness, simplification of the ADR reporting process, and implementation of imperative measures to practice PV among healthcare professionals. In order to understand the PV status, PvPI should procedurally assess the KAP of health professionals PV activities in India.
Prevalence of Multi-Drug Resistant Salmonella typhi among Clinically Diagnosed Typhoid Fever Patients in Lagos, Nigeria

A total of 635 clinically diagnosed typhoid fever patients were bled from three different health institutions in the metropolis of Lagos, Nigeria over a period of 15 months, May 1997 to July 1998. Out of the total blood cultured, 101 (15.9% ) isolates of Salmonella species were isolated of which 68 (67.3% ) were S. typhi, 17 (16.8% ) and 16 (15.8% ) were S. paratyphi A and S. arizonae respectively. The overall isolation rate of S. typhi among patients is 10.7% , with most isolates 45.9% found among the severely-ill young adults, age group 1 6 -30 years. All isolates were subjected to anti-microbial susceptibility testing using 12 different antibiotics: chloramphenicol, ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, gentamicin, colistin sulfate, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, cefotaxime, tetracycline, streptomycin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. All the S. typhi and S. paratyphi A isolates showed resistance to two or more of the 10 of 12 antibiotics tested particularly the 3-first-line antibiotics commonly used (chloramphenicol, ampicillin and cotrim oxazole) in the treatment of typhoid fever in Nigeria. No isolate showed resistance to ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, however, nalidixic acid and gentamicin showed a moderate and appreciable inhibition to most of our isolates.
Convex programming for semi-globally optimal resource allocation

We present a high-speed solution of an optimal resource allocation problem in financial services market. In spite of the fact that our solution involves inequalities, prior information, likelihood, locked agreements and predictions this approach can be used for any resource allocation including, but not limited to, Pontryagin principle applications of control theory or even estimation tasks. The motivation for the solution of this problem originated from one of the ten world’s largest economies. Implementation is dedicated for the national multi-bank (consortium of more than 30 banks) cash operator infrastructure system. It distributes cash remittances to more than hundred central warehouses located across the country. The prediction and period to allocate for was one month. The aim of the resource allocation was to distribute cash flows so that multiple constraints are satisfied, including likelihood of bank remittances based on historic records. The requirements consisted of computation scalability, his.
Puncture of solid pancreatic tumors guided by endoscopic ultrasonography: a pilot study series comparing Trucut and 19-gauge and 22-gauge aspiration needles.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS The aim of this prospective study was to compare endoscopic ultrasonography-guided Trucut needle biopsy (EUS-TNB) with EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNAB) using 19- and 22-gauge needles for biopsy from different sites in patients with solid pancreatic cancers. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixteen consecutive patients with masses in the uncinate process (n = 3), the head (n = 5), or the body and tail (n = 8) of the pancreas underwent both EUS-TNB and EUS-FNAB. The specimens obtained were evaluated by histopathological analysis alone RESULTS Tissue specimens were obtained by Trucut needle, and by 19-gauge and 22-gauge aspiration needles in 69 %, 69 %, and 100 % of patients respectively. Sensitivity for malignancy was 69 % for all needles. Tissue sampling by Trucut and by 19-gauge aspiration needle from masses in the uncinate process was impossible. The sensitivity of the Trucut and 19-gauge aspiration needles was 100 % in the 11 patients with successful procedures. If Trucut or 19-gauge aspiration needles had been used for body and tail masses, and the 22-gauge aspiration needle for masses in the uncinate process and head, the sensitivity for malignancy would have been 81 %. CONCLUSIONS EUS-TNB allows reliable tissue sampling for the diagnosis of pancreatic masses, but its use is limited to lesions in the body and tail of the pancreas. EUS-FNAB using a 22-gauge needle may be useful for accurate diagnosis in some patients with masses in the uncinate process or the head of the pancreas.
Surveillance for asthma--United States, 1980-1999.

PROBLEM/CONDITION Asthma, a chronic disease occurring among both children and adults, has been the focus of clinical and public health interventions during recent years. In addition, CDC has outlined a strategy to improve the timeliness and geographic specificity of asthma surveillance as part of a comprehensive public health approach to asthma surveillance. REPORTING PERIOD COVERED This report presents national data regarding self-reported asthma prevalence, school and work days lost because of asthma, and asthma-associated activity limitations (1980-1996); asthma-associated outpatient visits, asthma-associated hospitalizations, and asthma-associated deaths (1980-1999); asthma-associated emergency department visits (1992-1999); and self-reported asthma episodes or attacks (1997-1999). DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEMS CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) conducts the National Health Interview Survey annually, which includes questions regarding asthma and asthma-related activity limitations. NCHS collects physician office-visit data in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, emergency department and hospital outpatient data in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, hospitalization data in the National Hospital Discharge Survey, and death data in the Mortality Component of the National Vital Statistics System. RESULTS During 1980-1996, asthma prevalence increased. Annual rates of persons reporting asthma episodes or attacks, measured during 1997-1999, were lower than the previously reported asthma prevalence rates, whereas the rates of lifetime asthma, also measured during 1997-1999, were higher than the previously reported rates. Since 1980, the proportion of children and adults with asthma who report activity limitation has remained stable. Since 1995, the rate of outpatient visits and emergency department visits for asthma increased, whereas the rates of hospitalization and death decreased. Blacks continue to have higher rates of asthma emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths than do whites. INTERPRETATION Since the previous report in 1998 (CDC. Surveillance for Asthma--United States, 1960-1995. MMWR 1998;47[No. SS-1]:1-28), changes in asthma-associated morbidity and death have been limited. Asthma remains a critical clinical and public health problem. Although data in this report indicate certain early indications of success in current asthma intervention programs (e.g., limited decreases in asthma hospitalization and death rates), the continued presence of substantial racial disparities in these asthma endpoints highlights the need for continued surveillance and targeted interventions.
The Economics of Self-Governance in Online Virtual Societies

THE ECONOMICS OF SELF-GOVERNANCE IN ONLINE VIRTUAL SOCIETIES Robert S. Cavender, Ph.D. George Mason University, 2015 Dissertation Director: Dr. Richard E. Wagner Online games have exploded in popularity over the past twenty years alone, from just over 50,000 active participants by 1997 to over 22 million worldwide as of 2011. It is becoming more and more apparent that virtual reality worlds are not only here to stay, but provide for us the opportunity to explore a new empirical frontier in economic development. Given the notable absence in these environments of the usual sorts of government intervention prevalent in most advanced economies, this dissertation explores how individuals in online virtual societies go about establishing the institutions necessary for economic exchange.
Epigenetic Modification Is Central to Genome Reprogramming in Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

The recent high‐profile reports of the derivation of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from human blastocysts produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) have highlighted the possibility of making autologous cell lines specific to individual patients. Cell replacement therapies have much potential for the treatment of diverse conditions, and differentiation of ESCs is highly desirable as a means of producing the ranges of cell types required. However, given the range of immunophenotypes of ESC lines currently available, rejection of the differentiated cells by the host is a potentially serious problem. SCNT offers a means of circumventing this by producing ESCs of the same genotype as the donor. However, this technique is not without problems because it requires resetting of the gene expression program of a somatic cell to a state consistent with embryonic development. Some remodeling of parental DNA does occur within the fertilized oocyte, but the somatic genome presented in a radically different format to those of the gametes. Hence, it is perhaps unsurprising that many genes are expressed aberrantly within “cloned” embryos and the ESCs derived from them. Epigenetic modification of the genome through DNA methylation and covalent modification of the histones that form the nucleosome is the key to the maintenance of the differentiated state of the cell, and it is this that must be reset during SCNT. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which this is achieved and how this may account for its partial failure in the “cloning” process. We also highlight the potential dangers this may introduce into ESCs produced by this technology.
Gender- and puberty-dependent association between physical activity and depressive symptoms: national survey among Chinese adolescents.

BACKGROUND The study aims to understand the possible gender difference in the associations between physical activity and depressive symptoms during pubertal transition. METHODS Participants were 30,399 children and adolescents of Han ethnicity from urban and rural areas in 8 cities in China. Physical activity (PA) and depressive symptom was assessed by adapted Youth Risk Behavior Survey and Children Depression Inventory (CDI), respectively. Pubertal development was assessed by trained physicians. RESULTS In China, over 30% boys and 40% girls reported having no vigorous PA (VPA) or moderate PA (MPA) in the past week. In girls, participating in VPA 1 to 2 days/week showed protective effect for depressive symptoms; whereas in boys, participating in MPA 1 to 2 days/week showed protective effect for depressive symptoms at and after genital stage III (G3). CONCLUSIONS Moderate frequency (1 to 2 days/week) in PA undertaken might be encouraged to prevent depressive symptoms among adolescents.