Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nucleus Pulposus Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Acidic Conditions Mimicking Degenerative Intervertebral Discs Give Better Performance than Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The microenvironment of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is characterized by matrix acidity, hypoxia, hyperosmolarity and limited nutrition, which are major obstacles to stem cell-based regeneration. Our recent work showed that nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSCs) had advantages over traditional sources of cell therapy under IVD-like hypoxic and hyperosmotic conditions. Here, we examined the viability, proliferation and matrix metabolism of NPMSCs compared with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) under IVD-like acidic conditions in vitro. ADMSCs and NPMSCs from Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured at four different pH levels representing the standard condition (pH 7.4) and the normal, mildly degenerated and severely degenerated IVD (pH 7.1, 6.8 and 6.5, respectively). Cell viability was examined by annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining. Cell proliferation was measured using a cell counting kit cell proliferation assay. The expression of aggrecan, collagen-I, collagen-II, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-4 (ADAMTS4) and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) was measured at mRNA and protein levels by RT-PCR and Western blotting. In both cell types, acidic pH inhibited cell viability and proliferation, downregulated the expression of aggrecan, collagen-I, collagen-II and TIMP-3, and upregulated the expression of MMP-2 and ADAMTS4. Compared with ADMSCs, NPMSCs were significantly less inhibited in viability and proliferation; they expressed significantly higher levels of aggrecan and collagen-II, and lower levels of MMP-2 and ADAMTS4. Thus, an acidic environment is a major obstacle for IVD regeneration by ADMSCs or NPMSCs. NPMSCs appeared less sensitive to inhibition by acidic pH and might be promising candidates for cell-based IVD regeneration.
Myofibroblasts and the progression of crescentic glomerulonephritis.

BACKGROUND The cellular and humoral factors involved in the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis and renal fibrosis following a crescentic glomerulonephritis have not been fully elucidated. Myofibroblasts and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) have been implicated in the development of experimental and clinical renal fibrosis. We have attempted to identify these mediators in crescentic glomerulonephritis and determine their role in the progression of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS We studied retrospectively 21 patients with crescentic and necrotizing glomerulonephritis (CNG) with emphasis on the renal expression (detected by immunohistochemistry) of myofibroblasts (alpha-smooth muscle actin+ cells), TGF-beta and collagen (III and IV) as well as their relationship with the clinical outcome of these patients. In situ hybridization histochemistry was applied to determine the site of synthesis of TGF-beta1 and collagen III. All the patients were treated by immunosuppression and followed up for a median period of 14 months. RESULTS Myofibroblasts and TGF-beta were detected in the crescents as well as in the periglomerular and tubulointerstitial areas in CNG biopsies. TGF-beta1 was also detected within renal tubular cells. The percentage of glomeruli with fibrotic and fibrocellular crescents was positively correlated with the severity of Bowman's capsule disruption (r = 0.631, P < 0.01) and with the intensity of myofibroblast expression in the interstitium (r = 0.504, P < 0.05). Strong interstitial immunostain for myofibroblasts and TGF-beta was also noted in association with interstitial fibrosis. In situ hybridization revealed the site of synthesis of TGF-beta1 to be the renal tubular cells of patients with CNG. By contrast, the site of synthesis of collagen III appeared to be confined to interstitial cells surrounding vessels, tubules and the glomeruli in a distribution identical to that of myofibroblasts. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of interstitial alpha-SMA+ cells and both interstitial TGF-beta (r = 0.591, P < 0.01) and interstitial collagen IV (r = 0.588, P < 0.01). In addition, the number of interstitial alpha-SMA+ cells and the extent of immunostain for collagen IV were positively correlated with the final serum creatinine (r = 0.517, P < 0.05 and r = 0.612, P < 0.01 respectively) and partially predicted functional outcome (R2 = 26.7% and 37.5% respectively) as well as the response to treatment. An association was observed between periglomerular myofibroblasts and the generation of fibrotic and fibrocellular crescents. CONCLUSION These observations suggest a causal link between myofibroblasts and fibrotic crescent formation. We also believe that interstitial myofibroblasts are actively involved in the pathogenesis of interstitial fibrosis in CNG.
Contour binning: a new technique for spatially-resolved X-ray spectroscopy applied to Cassiopeia A

We present a new technique for choosing spatial regions for X-ray spectroscopy, called “contour binning”. The method chooses regions by following contours on a smoothed image of the object. In addition we re-explore a simple method for adaptively smoothing X-ray images according to the local count rate, we term “accumulative smoothing”, which is a generalisation of the method used by FADAPT. The algorithms are tested by applying them to a simulated cluster data set. We illustrate the techniques by using them on a 50 ks Chandra observation of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant. Generated maps of the object showing abundances in eight different elements, absorbing column density, temperature, ionisation timescale and velocity are presented. Tests show that contour binning reproduces surface brightness considerably better than other methods. It is particularly suited to objects with detailed spatial structure such as supernova remnants and the cores of galaxy clusters, producing aesthetically pleasing results.
Disclosure Regulations and Financial Reporting Requirements : An Analysis of Two Tools for Enhancing Firm Value

This paper examines the role of disclosure regulations and nancial reporting requirements in enhancing the value of disclosing rms. Disclosure regulations refer to regulations that require disclosure of information that the rm has voluntarily decided to acquire (conditional disclosure), while reporting requirements refer to regulations that require rms to acquire certain information and disclose it (unconditional disclosure). In this paper, acquisition of information is endogenous, and information has value for the rm's operations and for reducing the costliness of information asymmetry in the capital markets. By focusing on the acquisition of information stage, the paper provides insights into the unique role played by each of the two regulatory tools, which, otherwise, would serve a similar purpose (inducing full disclosure). The paper shows that requiring rms to report information cannot strictly enhance their values, unless this requirement has a real e ect on their operations. This suggests that reporting requirements cannot be valuable for the sole purpose of reducing the rm's cost of capital, but can serve as a tool to discipline rms' investment activity. This result is consistent with the observation that a main source of reporting requirements is IPO's, where rms commit to ex-post provide periodic nancial reports about their uses of the capital raised. In contrast, disclosure regulation can be bene cial without a ecting the real activity of rms. In fact, it is shown that the e ciency of disclosure regulation is robust when information is used to reduce the level of information asymmetry in the capital market, but not when the information has real e ect on the rms operations.
Effect of Titanium Dioxide Nano Particles Incorporation on Mechanical and Physical Properties on Two Different Types of Acrylic Resin Denture Base

The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of different concentrations of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Nps) on the properties of two types of heat polymerized acrylic resin. The tested parameters were flexural strength, impact strength, and microhardness. The two types of acrylic resin used in this study were conventional unmodified (Implacryl, Vertex) and high impact heat polymerized acrylic resin (Vertex-Dental, Netherlands). Both types of acrylic resin were modified by using 1% and 5% TiO2 Nps powder. Specimen’s dimensions were prepared according to the American Dental Association Specification No. 12. Three types of specimens were prepared: 1) flexural strength specimens 50 mm × 10 (±0.2) mm × 3 (±0.2) mm, 2) impact strength test specimens 60 mm × 6.0 mm × 4.0 mm, 3) microhardnesss specimens 25 mm × 10 mm × 3 (±0.2) mm. For each test 6 groups were prepared (each group containing 5 samples). Thirty specimens were prepared in each of the three tests, amounting to a total number of 90 specimens. Mechanical properties such as flexural strength (FS), impact strength and microhardness of the above mentioned specimens were determined using universal testing machine, Izod pendulum impact testing machine and Vickers microhardness tester, respectively. ISO Specification No. 1567 was followed in microhardness test. The data was collected and statistically analyzed. Flexural strength considerably decreased by increasing TiO2 concentration in both types of acrylic resin. Impact strength of the conventional acrylic resin modified by 1% of additives significantly increased. The microhardness is significantly increased by addition of 5% of TiO2 Nps. The Incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles into acrylic resins can adversely affect its flexural strength. Meanwhile, the impact strength can be modified by small percentage of additives (abt. 1%). This effect is directly correlated with the concentration of nanoparticles. On the other hand, concentrations of TiO2 Nps (abt. 5%) positively affect the microhardness of both types of acrylic resin used in the present study.
Interracial Families and the Racial Identification of Mixed-Race Children: Evidence from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study

In this article, a nationally-representative sample of kindergarten-aged children is used from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study to explore the structure of parental racial designation of mixed-race children. The variation in these parental designations of a variety of mixed-race children is described. Parental racial designations in the three most common majority-minority interracial couplings – White/Hispanic, Black/White and Asian/White – are predicted using multinomial logistic regression models. The results may indicate a movement by the parents of these multiracial children away from minority status through racial labeling and towards "multiracial" and "White" – movements that are predicated upon gender, class and context. Critical discussions of the implications of these results as well as directions for future research are offered.
Maternal Perspectives: Qualitative Responses about Perceived Barriers to Care among Children with Orofacial Clefts in North Carolina

Objective To examine maternal perceptions of barriers to care of children with orofacial clefts (OFC) in a population-based survey that solicited open-ended qualitative responses. Design and Setting In 2006, a combination mail/phone survey was sent to all mothers of children with OFC. The questionnaire included 76 items. A final open-ended question was included for additional information about cleft-related care. The analysis included responses to the open-ended question and sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents. Qualitative responses were transcribed and entered into a qualitative software package for analysis, and common themes were elucidated. Participants/Patients The North Carolina Birth Defects Monitoring Program was used to identify all resident infants born with OFC from 2001 to 2004. Of 478 eligible mothers, 52.9% (n = 248) responded to the survey, and 39.5% (n = 98) responded to the final open-ended question. Main Outcome Measures Percentage reporting problems accessing care, frequency of positive and negative comments, and indicators of financial, personal, and structural barriers to care. Results Of the 98 respondents, the majority (n = 95, 96.99%) were the biological mother. Almost 40% of mothers indicated that accessing primary craniofacial care was a problem. Of those citing perceived barriers to care, the major issues cited were financial, structural, and personal barriers. Conclusions Collaborative efforts between craniofacial centers and teams, health care systems, and birth defects registries are warranted to reduce perceived barriers to care among families of children with OFC. Further exploration of the themes and factors associated with barriers to care and services is needed.
Foundations of the unified modeling language

Object-oriented analysis and design is an increasingly popular software development method. The Unified Modeling Language (UML) has recently been proposed as a standard language for expressing object-oriented designs. Unfortunately, in its present form the UML lacks precisely defined semantics. This means that it is difficult to determine whether a design is consistent, whether a design modification is correct and whether a program correctly implements a design. Formal methods provide the rigor which is lacking in object-oriented design notations. This provision is often at the expense of clarity of exposition for the non-expert. Formal methods aim to use mathematical techniques in order to allow software development activities to be precisely defined, checked and ultimately automated. This paper aims to present an overview of work being undertaken to provide (a sub-set of) the UML with formal semantics. The semantics will facilitate the use of the UML in the software development process by allowing development steps to be defined and checked.
Subprime Lending and the Housing Bubble: Tail Wags Dog?

ABSTRACT The cause of the "housing bubble" associated with the sharp rise and then drop in home prices over the period 1998-2008 has been the focus of significant policy and research attention. The dramatic increase in subprime lending during this period has been broadly blamed for these market dynamics. In this paper we empirically investigate the validity of this hypothesis vs. several other alternative explanations. A model of house price dynamics over the period 1998-2006 is specified and estimated using a cross-sectional time-series data base across 20 metropolitan areas over the period 1998-2006. Results suggest that prior to early 2004, economic fundamentals provide the primary explanation for house price dynamics. Subprime credit activity does not seem to have had much impact on subsequent house price returns at any time during the observation period, although there is strong evidence of a price-boosting effect by investor loans. However, we do find strong evidence that a credit regime shift took place in late 2003, as the GSE's were displaced in the market by private issuers of new mortgage products. Market fundamentals became insignificant in affecting house price returns, and the price-momentum conditions characteristic of a "bubble" were created. Thus, rather than causing the run-up in house prices, the subprime market may well have been a joint product, along with house price increases, (i.e., the "tail") of the changing institutional, political, and regulatory environment characteristic of the period after late 2003 (the "dog").
Ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery and shunt infections in children with non-tumour hydrocephalus at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.

OBJECTIVE To study infections complicating ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery in children with non-tumour hydrocephalus at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. DESIGN A retrospective survey. SETTING Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi between January 1982 and December 1991. SUBJECTS Three hundred and forty five patients who underwent V-P shunt placement for non-tumour hydrocephalus. RESULTS Three hundred and forty five patients underwent V-P shunt placement for non-tumour hydrocephalus. There were 107 infection episodes involving 85 patients. The ages of these patients ranged from three months to 12 years. Most of the patients had congenital hydrocephalus. The infection rate was high (24.6%) although comparable to infection rates reported for clean surgery in the hospital. Fever, septic wounds and features of shunt malfunction were the main presenting features. Bacteriological studies confirmed Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative staphylococci as the two most commonly isolated micro-organisms. CONCLUSION This study emphasises need to reduce infection rate in ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Definitive surgical treatment for hydrocephalus was in most cases delayed and this problem was also observed during revision of infected shunts. Late presentation was often due to ignorance and the fact that many patients went for traditional forms of treatment first before going to hospital.
Selective Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Waters and Waste Waters Using Ion Exchange Methods

© 2012 Hubicki and Kolodynska, licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Selective Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Waters and Waste Waters Using Ion Exchange Methods
Role of adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of surgically resected pediatric nonrhabdomyosarcomatous soft tissue sarcomas: A Pediatric Oncology Group Study.

PURPOSE To prospectively study the value of adjuvant chemotherapy in pediatric patients with surgically resected nonrhabdomyosarcomatous soft tissue sarcomas (NRSTS). PATIENTS AND METHODS From June 1986 to May 1992, after complete surgical resection (+/-radiotherapy) of their NRSTS, 81 eligible patients either received adjuvant chemotherapy comprising vincristine, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin or were observed. Only 30 patients accepted randomization, and 15 were assigned to each regimen. Of the remaining 51 patients, 19 elected adjuvant chemotherapy and 32 elected observation. RESULTS Patients were predominantly male, and 69% of all patients were white. The median age at diagnosis was 12.3 years (range, 9.2 to 20.7 years). For the 81 eligible patients, the 5-year overall survival estimate was 84.5% +/- 4.4% and event-free survival was 72.2% +/- 5.4%. Among randomized patients, the 5-year estimated overall survival rate was 93.3% +/- 7%, and the event-free survival rate was 86.7% +/- 9.5% for the observation group, compared with 69.2% +/- 13% and 40.7% +/- 14%, respectively, for those who received chemotherapy. The significantly worse outcome of patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy disappeared when survival was stratified by tumor grade. Among all patients, a grade 3 lesion conferred a significant disadvantage with respect to event-free survival (P =.0001). CONCLUSION The administration of adjuvant chemotherapy according to the schedule and dosages used in our trial did not improve the outcome of children with resected NRSTS. In this study, tumor grade was the most important predictor of clinical outcome in patients with resected NRSTS, and this factor should be incorporated into the stratification of patients in future trials.
Behavioural abnormalities in a novel mouse model for Silver Russell Syndrome

Abstract Silver Russell Syndrome (SRS) syndrome is an imprinting disorder involving low birth weight with complex genetics and diagnostics. Some rare SRS patients carry maternally inherited microduplications spanning the imprinted genes CDKN1C, PHLDA2, SLC22A18 and KCNQ1, suggesting that overexpression of one of more of these genes contributes to the SRS phenotype. While this molecular alteration is very rare, feeding difficulties are a very common feature of this condition. Given that SRS children also have very low body mass index, understanding the underpinning biology of the eating disorder is important, as well as potential co-occurring behavioural alterations. Here, we report that a mouse model of this microduplication exhibits a number of behavioural deficits. The mice had a blunted perception of the palatability of a given foodstuff. This perception may underpin the fussiness with food. We additionally report hypoactivity, unrelated to anxiety or motoric function, and a deficit in the appropriate integration of incoming sensory information. Importantly, using a second genetic model, we were able to attribute all altered behaviours to elevated expression of a single gene, Cdkn1c. This is the first report linking elevated Cdkn1c to altered behaviour in mice. Importantly, the findings from our study may have relevance for SRS and highlight a potentially underreported aspect of this disorder.
Biceps to Triceps Transfer in Tetraplegic Patients

Background: Management and indications for surgery in the tetraplegic patient are highly complex because of the substantial functional deficits that they present and their effect on their daily activity. Our purpose was to evaluate the functional outcome in tetraplegic patients who underwent biceps-to-triceps transfer surgery according to Zancolli’s modified technique. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 6 biceps-to-triceps transfers using Zancolli’s modified technique in 4 patients. Mean follow-up was 45 months. We evaluated each patient’s DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) score before surgery and 12 months later. Results: In the 6 arms that underwent surgery, full and active elbow extension against gravity at 12 months after surgery was achieved. The mean DASH score was 73.2 preoperatively and 20.8 twelve months postoperatively. One complication occurred. One patient reported loss of elbow flexion preventing thigh lift for transfers. This was resolved with a program of rehabilitation and specific muscle strengthening Conclusions: Zancolli’s modified technique is simple and effective, with few complications, whereby we can provide more autonomy for the tetraplegic patient.
The Optimal Structure of Technology Adoption and Creation: Basic Research vs. Development in the Presence of Distance to Frontier

This paper presents a theoretical model and empirical evidence to explain the observation that a country in which the level of technology approaches the technology frontier tends to rely more on technology creation than adoption, and to invest more in basic research than in development. The model shows that technology creation involves both basic and development research processes while technology adoption uses only the latter process. Thus, research and development (RD Republic of Korea; and Taipei,China show that the narrower the technological distance to the frontier, the higher the growth effect of basic R&D, indicating that the share of basic R&D matters for economic growth. Last, these also show that the quality of tertiary education has a significantly positive effect on the productivity of R&D.