Taxpayer Compliance, Trust, and Power

Self-assessment system as adopted in Indonesia, focusing on taxpayer awareness. Therefore trust should be the spearhead of tax compliance rather than power. This study aims to examine how trust and power play a role in improving tax compliance by the slippery slope framework. Method of data collection in this research surveys in Central Java. The sampling technique is a multi-stage sampling that combines stratified random sampling and convenience sampling. Data has been collected from October 2015-April 2016, and 242 instruments were collected (86.4 percent response rate). By using multiple regression tests, the results of this study indicate that trust and power both simultaneously and partially affect tax compliance. Based on the coefficient different test, power has a greater impact than trust in creating tax compliance. This means that the compliance created in Indonesia is mandatory compliance that denies from self-assessment system that based on voluntary compliance.JEL Classification: H26; G41DOI: https://doi.org/10.26905/jkdp.v22i2.158

Structure and regulation of the Asr gene family in banana

Abscisic acid, stress, ripening proteins (ASR) are a family of plant-specific small hydrophilic proteins. Studies in various plant species have highlighted their role in increased resistance to abiotic stress, including drought, but their specific function remains unknown. As a first step toward their potential use in crop improvement, we investigated the structure and regulation of the Asr gene family in Musa species (bananas and plantains). We determined that the MusaAsr gene family contained at least four members, all of which exhibited the typical two exons, one intron structure of Asr genes and the “ABA/WDS” (abscisic acid/water deficit stress) domain characteristic of Asr genes. Phylogenetic analyses determined that the MusaAsr genes were closely related to each other, probably as the product of recent duplication events. For two of the four members, two versions corresponding to the two sub-genomes of Musa, acuminata and balbisiana were identified. Gene expression and protein analyses were performed and Asr expression could be detected in meristem cultures, root, pseudostem, leaf and cormus. In meristem cultures, mAsr1 and mAsr3 were induced by osmotic stress and wounding, while mAsr3 and mAsr4 were induced by exposure to ABA. mASR3 exhibited the most variation both in terms of amino acid sequence and expression pattern, making it the most promising candidate for further functional study and use in crop improvement

The presence of M2 macrophages in ovarian cancer is influenced by tumor stage and grade, not by the administration of Paclitaxel-Carboplatin: a pilot study

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ID8-Fluc: a syngeneic mouse model for ovarian cancer

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Plasma-rich fibrin in neurosurgery: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage represents an important and sometimes challenging complication in both cranial and spinal surgery. Current available options for dural closure pose inherent problems regarding safety, efficacy, immunogenicity, cost, and invasiveness. In this article, the use of leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) derived from the patient's own blood is proposed to facilitate dural closure. We aim to describe the safety, feasibility, and applicability of L-PRF membranes and plugs in cranial and spinal neurosurgery. METHODS: A retrospective study reviewing clinical and surgical characteristics was conducted in 47 patients in whom the use of L-PRF was attempted to reinforce dural closure at a single institution during 1 year. Procedures included skull base, posterior fossa, and spinal revision surgeries. RESULTS: L-PRF membranes and/or plugs were used in 44 surgeries. The preparation of L-PRF failed in three cases. L-PRF membranes were used as onlay grafts to augment sealing or sutured into a defect. No short-term complications related to the use of L-PRF were recorded. Postoperative CSF leakage was present in two endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgeries and in one spinal CSF leak repair. CONCLUSION: L-PRF is safe, inexpensive, and completely autologous and can be rapidly and non-invasively harvested to aid in dural closure. Theoretical advantages include a regenerative bioactive potential, which could lead to improved wound healing and reduced infection rates. These findings warrant larger prospective studies to determine the potential role of L-PRF in neurosurgery.status: publishe

Opposite Macrophage Polarization in Different Subsets of Ovarian Cancer: Observation from a Pilot Study

The role of the innate immune system in ovarian cancer is gaining importance. The relevance of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) is insufficiently understood. In this pilot project, comprising the immunofluorescent staining of 30 biopsies taken from 24 patients with ovarian cancer, we evaluated the presence of total TAM (cluster of differentiation (CD) 68 expression), M1 (major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II expression), and M2 (anti-mannose receptor C type 1 (MRC1) expression), and the blood vessel diameter. We observed a high M1/M2 ratio in low-grade ovarian cancer compared to high-grade tumors, more total TAM and M2 in metastatic biopsies, and a further increase in total TAM and M2 at interval debulking, without beneficial effects of bevacizumab. The blood vessel diameter was indicative for M2 tumor infiltration (Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.65). These data mainly reveal an immune beneficial environment in low-grade ovarian cancer in contrast to high-grade serous ovarian cancer, where immune suppression is not altered by neoadjuvant therapy.status: publishe

Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells: Key Drivers of Immunosuppression in Ovarian Cancer

The presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is associated with a longer overall survival in advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer. Despite the prognostic impact of TILs, response to checkpoint-inhibitors and antigen-specific active immunotherapy is limited in ovarian cancer. The goal of our study was to investigate the interaction between ovarian cancer and the innate and adaptive immune system in the ID8-fLuc syngeneic ovarian cancer mouse model. For the in vivo experiments C57BL/6, B6.129S7-Rag1tm1Mom/J, and B6.129P2(SJL)-Myd88tm1.1Defr/J mice were inoculated with ID8-fLuc. In vivo depletion experiments were performed using clodronate liposomes (CL), anti-CD8a, anti-GR1, anti-colony stimulating factor 1 (anti-CSF1), and TMβ1 (anti-CD122). Immune read out was performed by fluorescent activated cell sorting analysis for effector T cells, regulatory T cells, natural killer cells, B cells, macrophages, and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC), immunohistochemistry for MDSC and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) and immunofluorescence for M1 and M2 TAM in the vascular context. The effect of MDSC on T cell proliferation and phenotype were studied in vitro. We discovered that the absence of T and B cells did not influence tumor growth or survival of B6.129S7-Rag1tm1Mom/J mice compared to immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice. CL-induced macrophage depletion promoted tumor proliferation and shortened survival in C57BL/6 mice (p = 0.004) and in B6.129S7-Rag1tm1Mom/J mice (p = 0.0005). During CL treatment, we observed a clear increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines (p ≤ 0.02) and monocytic MDSC (p ≤ 0.01). Selective depletion of MDSC by anti-GR1 improved survival, certainly in comparison to mice treated with anti-CSF1 (p = 0.01-median survival 91 vs. 67.5 days). B6.129P2(SJL)-Myd88tm1.1Defr/J mice displayed to a longer median survival compared to C57BL/6 mice (90 vs. 76 days). MDSC activated by ID8-fLuc conditioned medium or ascites of tumor-bearing mice showed T cell suppressive functions in vitro. Based on these findings, we conclude that the adaptive immune system does not efficiently control tumor growth in the ID8-fLuc model. In addition, we discovered a prominent role for MDSC as the driver of immunosuppression in the ID8-fLuc ovarian cancer mouse model.status: publishe

Increased Immunosuppression Is Related to Increased Amounts of Ascites and Inferior Prognosis in Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM: The presence of ascites in ovarian cancer patients is considered a negative prognostic factor. The underlying mechanisms are not clearly understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The amount of ascites was evaluated, preferably, using diffusion-weighted MRI at primary diagnosis in a retrospective cohort of 214 women with ovarian cancer, in an ordinal manner (amount of ascites: none, limited, moderate, abundant). In a prospective cohort comprising 45 women with ovarian cancer, IL-10 (interleukin), VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), TGF-β (transforming growth factor) and CCL-2 [chemokine (C-C) motif ligand 2] were measured at diagnosis (and at interval debulking, when available). RESULTS: Gradually increasing amounts of ascites were correlated significantly, even after correction for FIGO stage, with reduced survival (p<0.0001) and stronger immunosuppression (IL10 and VEGF). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy reduced immunosuppression, which was observed as a reduction in CCL-2, IL-10 and VEGF. CONCLUSION: The amount of ascites is an independent predictor of survival and correlates with increased immunosuppression.status: publishe