Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advantages of Pure Platelet-Rich Plasma Compared with Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Plasma in Treating Rabbit Knee Osteoarthritis

Background Concentrated leukocytes in leukocyte- and platelet-rich plasma (L-PRP) may deliver increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines to activate the NF-κB signaling pathway, to counter the beneficial effects of growth factors on osteoarthritic cartilage. However, to date no relevant studies have substantiated that in vivo. Material/Methods Autologous L-PRP and pure platelet-rich plasma (P-PRP) were prepared, measured for componential composition, and injected intra-articularly after 4, 5, and 6 weeks post-anterior cruciate ligament transection. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) was injected intraperitoneally to inhibit NF-κB activation. All rabbits were sacrificed after 8 weeks postoperative. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to determine interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations in the synovial fluid, Indian ink staining was performed for gross morphological assessment, and hematoxylin and eosin staining and toluidine blue staining were performed for histological assessment. Results Compared with L-PRP, P-PRP injections achieved better outcomes regarding the prevention of cartilage destruction, preservation of cartilaginous matrix, and reduction of IL-1β and PGE2 concentrations. CAPE injections reversed the increased IL-1β and PGE2 concentrations in the synovial fluid after L-PRP injections and improved the outcome of L-PRP injections to a level similar to P-PRP injections, while they had no influence on the therapeutic efficacy of P-PRP injections. Conclusions Concentrated leukocytes in L-PRP may release increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines to activate the NF-κB signaling pathway, to counter the beneficial effects of growth factors on osteoarthritic cartilage, and finally, result in a inferior efficacy of L-PRP to P-PRP for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Imbalance of endogenous homocysteine and hydrogen sulfide metabolic pathway in essential hypertensive children

Background Hypertension is a common disease of the cardiovascular system. So far, the pathogenesis of primary hypertension remains unclear. The elaboration of its pathogenesis is an important topic in the field which calls for urgent resolution. The aim of this study was to probe into the metabolic imbalance of homocysteine (Hcy) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in children with essential hypertension, and its significance in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Methods Twenty‐five children with essential hypertension and 30 healthy children with normal blood pressure were enrolled in the study. The medical history was investigated and a physical examination was conducted on the subjects. Plasma Hcy content was examined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). The plasma H2S level was detected by a modified method with a sulfide electrode. Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation. The t test was applied to the mean values of both groups. Pearson linear correlation analysis was applied to the plasma Hcy and H2S as well as to the systolic pressure against the plasma H2S/Hcy ratio. Results Plasma Hcy, an intermittent metabolite of the endogenous methionine pathway, was markedly increased but plasma H2S, a final product of this pathway was significantly decreased in hypertensive cases when compared with normal subjects ((Hcy: (12.68 ±9.69) &mgr;mol/L vs (6.62 ±4.79) &mgr;mol/L (t=2.996, P<0.01); H2S: (51.93±6.01) &mgr;mol/L vs (65.70 ±5.50) &mgr;mol/L) (t=‐8.670, P<0.01)). The ratio of plasma H2S/Hcy in children with hypertension was 5.83 ±2.91, while that of the control group was 11.60 ±3.30, and the difference is significant with a t= ‐6.610 and P<0.01. A negative correlation existed between plasma Hcy and H2S concentrations, r=‐0.379, P<0.05. And a negative correlation was found between systolic blood pressure and the plasma H2S/Hcy ratio, r=‐0.687, P<0.05. Conclusion There was a metabolic imbalance of homocysteine and hydrogen sulfide in essential hypertensive children.
Capabilities-based query planning in mediator systems

Summary form only given. This article addresses the impact of capability description on query planning in heterogeneous data integration system. Query planning covers the selection of data sources related to the query and the determination of subgoals' execution orders. In the context of capability description, we propose a framework for data sources description towards generating good feasible query plans. Our approach uses information such as the semantic correspondences between local schemas and mediated schemas and the query capability descriptions to investigate factors that provide a good foundation for query planning. Finally, the proposed approach is compared with the other capability description approaches described in the literature. The obtained results demonstrate that our approach will allow data sources to advertise their capabilities in a flexible way and help to efficiently query planning.
Financial Expertise of the Board, Risk Taking, and Performance: Evidence from Bank Holding Companies

Abstract Financial expertise among independent directors of U.S. banks is positively associated with balance-sheet and market-based measures of risk in the run-up to the 2007–2008 financial crisis. While financial expertise is weakly associated with better performance before the crisis, it is strongly related to lower performance during the crisis. Overall, the results are consistent with independent directors with financial expertise supporting increased risk taking prior to the crisis. Despite being consistent with shareholder value maximization ex ante, these actions become detrimental during the crisis. These results are not driven by powerful chief executive officers who select independent financial experts to rubber stamp strategies that satisfy their risk appetite.
Rely-Guarantee-Based Simulation for Compositional Verification of Concurrent Program Transformations

Verifying program transformations usually requires proving that the resulting program (the target) refines or is equivalent to the original one (the source). However, the refinement relation between individual sequential threads cannot be preserved in general with the presence of parallel compositions, due to instruction reordering and the different granularities of atomic operations at the source and the target. On the other hand, the refinement relation defined based on fully abstract semantics of concurrent programs assumes arbitrary parallel environments, which is too strong and cannot be satisfied by many well-known transformations. In this article, we propose a Rely-Guarantee-based Simulation (RGSim) to verify concurrent program transformations. The relation is parametrized with constraints of the environments that the source and the target programs may compose with. It considers the interference between threads and their environments, thus is less permissive than relations over sequential programs. It is compositional with respect to parallel compositions as long as the constraints are satisfied. Also, RGSim does not require semantics preservation under all environments, and can incorporate the assumptions about environments made by specific program transformations in the form of rely/guarantee conditions. We use RGSim to reason about optimizations and prove atomicity of concurrent objects. We also propose a general garbage collector verification framework based on RGSim, and verify the Boehm et al. concurrent mark-sweep GC.
The Effect of an Exercise Program in Conjunction With Short-Period Patellar Taping on Pain, Electromyogram Activity, and Muscle Strength in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Background: McConnell recommended that patellar tape be kept on all day, until patients learn how to activate their vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) during an exercise program. This application may pose problems because prolonged taping may be inadvisable for some patients or even contraindicated owing to skin discomfort, irritation, or allergic reaction. Hypothesis: Wearing patellofemoral tape for a shorter duration during an exercise program would be just as beneficial as a prolonged taping application. Study Design: Prospective cohort. Methods: Twelve patients and 16 healthy people participated. Patients underwent short-period patellar taping plus an exercise program for 3 months. Numeric pain rating, muscle strength of the knee extensors, and electromyogram activity of the vastus lateralis and VMO were evaluated. Results: There were significant differences in electromyogram activity (P = .04) and knee extensor muscle strength (P = .03) between involved and uninvolved sides before treatment. After treatment, pain scores decreased, and there were no significant differences between involved and uninvolved sides in electromyogram activity (P = .68) and knee extensor strength (P = .62). Before treatment, mean VMO activation started significantly later than that of vastus lateralis, as compared with the matched healthy control group (P = .01). After treatment, these differences were nonsignificant (P = .08). Conclusion: Short-period patellar taping plus an exercise program improves VMO and vastus lateralis activation. Clinical Relevance: A shorter period of taping for the exercise program may be as beneficial as a prolonged taping application.
The Effects of Writing to Learn (WTL) on Academic Achievement and Attitude to Lesson in English Classes

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of applying the writing letter activity of writing to learn strategies on the English Language Academic Achievement and Attitude level of 11 th grade students. The research was carried out with 84 students (43 male, 41 female) at one of the state schools in Black Sea Region of Turkey. Mixed method was used in the research. A non-equivalent control group model which is one of the quasi-experimental methods was used in the quantitative part of the research. Simple Past Tense Achievement Test (SPTAT) developed by the researcher and Attitude to English Lesson Questionnaire (AELQ) developed by Erdem (2007) were used to obtain the quantitative data. Structured interview questions were asked to the six students chosen from the experimental groups using the maximum variety technique. At the end of the research, it is detected that using writing to learn strategies in English classes makes statistically significant difference for the benefit of experiment groups on the level of academic success and attitude to lesson.
Reading suffering : an empirical inquiry into empathic and reflective responses to literary narratives

In this dissertation, I provide preliminary answers to four research questions concerning our relation to (literary) narratives about suffering: (I) What are readers’ motives to read about suffering? (II) To what extent do literary narrative texts about suffering evoke affective responses during reading, reflection, empathy towards others and prosocial behavior in comparison to non-literary texts? (III) To what extent do personal characteristics of readers influence those affective responses, reflection, empathy towards others and prosocial behavior? (IV) To what extent and how do affective responses during reading influence reflection, empathy towards others and prosocial behavior?
An Efficient Support Based Ant Colony Optimization Technique for Lung Cancer Data

Lung cancer is one of the most dangerous cancer's type in the world. Early detection can save the life and survivability of the patients. In this paper we want to propose a solution in the direction of lung cancer symptom detection. In this paper we proposed a new algorithm that is support based ant colony optimization technique (SPACO). Our algorithm is broadly divided into three parts, in the first part we accept the data set of cancer symptoms which is a generalized way for creating the patterns for Lung Cancer Framework, and in the second part we find the relevant data from the patterns. We can choose the frequent symptoms only by using the support count value. According to the support value we decide the ants and pheromone value. We initialize the pheromone value which is the support of the pattern of cancer symptoms. It is updated in each trial. By updating the pheromone value in each step we can check the symptom quality which either increases the prediction or decreases the prediction. Finally by result analysis we can prove the effectiveness of our algorithm.
Polypeptide Multilayer Self-Assembly Studied by Ellipsometry

A polypeptide nanofilm made by layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly was built on a surface that mimics nonwoven, a material commonly used in wound dressings. Poly-L-lysine (PLL) and poly-L-glutamic acid (PLGA) are the building blocks of the nanofilm, which is intended as an enzymatically degradable lid for release of bactericides to chronic wounds. Chronic wounds often carry infection originating from bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and a release system triggered by the degree of infection is of interest. The dry nanofilm was studied with ellipsometry. The thickness of the nanofilm was 60% less in its dry state than in its wet state. The measurements showed that a primer was not necessary to build a stable nanofilm, which is practically important in our case because a nondegradable primer is highly unwanted in a wound care dressing. Added V8 (glutamyl endopeptidase) enzymes only showed adsorption on the nanofilm at room temperature, indicating that the PLL/PLGA “lid” may remain intact until the dressing has been filled with wound exudate at the elevated temperature typical of that of the wound.
An Optimization-Based Model for Full-body Reaching Movements

Background The development of a simulation model of full body reaching tasks that can predict endeffector trajectories and joint excursions consistent with experimental data is a non-trivial task. Because of the kinematic redundancy inherent in these multi-joint tasks there are an infinite number of postures that could be adopted to complete them. By developing models to simulate full-body reaching movements in 3D space we can begin to explore cost functions that may be used by the central nervous system to plan and execute these movements. Methods A robust simulation model was developed using 1) graphic-based modeling tools to generate an inverse dynamics controller (SimMechanics), 2) controller parameterization methods, and 3) cost function criteria. An adaptive weight coefficient based on the final motor task error (i.e. distance between end-effector and target at the end of movement) was proposed to balance motor task error and physiological cost terms (e.g. joint power). The output of the simulation models using different cost controller functions based on motor task error or motor task error and various physiological cost terms (e.g. joint power, center of mass displacement) were compared to experimental data from 15 healthy participants performing full body reaching movements. Results In sum, the best fit to the experimental data was obtained by minimizing motor task error, joint power, and center of mass displacement. Simulation and experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method is effective for the simulation of large-scale human skeletal systems. Conclusions This method can reasonably predict the whole body reaching movements including final postures, joint power and movement of COM using simple algebraic calculations of inverse dynamics and forward kinematics.
Searching for unity in variety: The role of aesthetics and philosophy of science

Abstract This article attempts to deconstruct the concept of aesthetics using the postulates of various scholars that have contributed to expanding the frontiers of knowledge in this field, as a guide. Adopting literature review as methodology, it subjects some of these postulates such as Immanuel Kant’s aesthetic judgements, David Hume’s standard of taste, and Denis Dutton’s aesthetic universals, to rigorous philosophical interrogation, with a view to establishing their validity in terms of how well they explain human behaviour. It also attempts to explain the construct, philosophy of science, and highlights the thoughts of leading intellectuals in this domain of knowledge. It dwells extensively on Thomas Kuhn’s scholarly work: ‘The Structure of Scientific Revolutions,’ which provides the main philosophical framework used in developing this aspect of the paper. It highlights Kuhn’s paradigmatic evolution of science from normal science to revolutionary science and cites some relevant examples that support the Kuhnian historical trajectory of science. The article further assays to establish a correlation between aesthetics and human feelings on the one hand; and between philosophy of science and human behaviour on the other hand. Finally, it attempts to find a conjunction between aesthetics, philosophy of science and the human person. This is the key thrust of the paper. The paper submits that there is a close relationship between aesthetics and philosophy of science, which are in the same search for unity in a variety of human experiences.
Photometric study of new southern SU UMa-type dwarf novae and candidates: III. NSV 10934, MM Sco, AB Nor and CAL 86

We photometrically observed four southern dwarf novae in outburst (NSV 10934, MM Sco, AB Nor and CAL 86). NSV 10934 was confirmed to be an SU UMa-type dwarf nova with a mean superhump period of 0.07478(1) d. This star also showed transient appearance of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) during the final growing stage of the superhumps. Combined with the recent theoretical interpretation and with the rather unusual rapid terminal fading of normal outbursts, NSV 10934 may be a candidate intermediate polar showing SU UMa-type properties. The mean superhump periods of MM Sco and AB Nor were determined to be 0.06136(4) d and 0.08438(2) d, respectively. We suggest that AB Nor belongs to a rather rare class of long-period SU UMa-type dwarf novae with low mass-transfer rates. We also observed an outburst of the suspected SU UMa-type dwarf nova CAL 86. We identified this outburst as a normal outburst and determined the mean decline rate of 1.1 mag d 1 .
Cholinergic Dysfunction Alters Synaptic Integration between Thalamostriatal and Corticostriatal Inputs in DYT1 Dystonia

Projections from thalamic intralaminar nuclei convey sensory signals to striatal cholinergic interneurons. These neurons respond with a pause in their pacemaking activity, enabling synaptic integration with cortical inputs to medium spiny neurons (MSNs), thus playing a crucial role in motor function. In mice with the DYT1 dystonia mutation, stimulation of thalamostriatal axons, mimicking a response to salient events, evoked a shortened pause and triggered an abnormal spiking activity in interneurons. This altered pattern caused a significant rearrangement of the temporal sequence of synaptic activity mediated by M1 and M2 muscarinic receptors in MSNs, consisting of an increase in postsynaptic currents and a decrease of presynaptic inhibition, respectively. Consistent with a major role of acetylcholine, either lowering cholinergic tone or antagonizing postsynaptic M1 muscarinic receptors normalized synaptic activity. Our data demonstrate an abnormal time window for synaptic integration between thalamostriatal and corticostriatal inputs, which might alter the action selection process, thereby predisposing DYT1 gene mutation carriers to develop dystonic movements.
Conditioned suppression of compulsive behavior in an adolescent diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder

ABSTRACT Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent and ritualized acts that often have no social behavioral function. These behaviors commonly co-occur with anxiety. We used a mild punisher to suppress compulsive behaviors in a 16-year-old male diagnosed with OCD. We paired a “hands down” instruction with red paper and systematically reduced paper size and added a red wristband while continuing to reduce paper size. Conditioned suppression by the wristband was then generalized to a novel setting and staff.
Glucolipotoxicity : Fuel Excess and-Cell Dysfunction

Montreal Diabetes Research Center (V.P.), Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, and Departments of Medicine, Nutrition, and Biochemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada H1W 4A4; and Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98122; and Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology (R.P.R.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
Longitudinal patterns of employment and postsecondary education for adults with autism and average-range IQ

This study examined correlates of participation in postsecondary education and employment over 12 years for 73 adults with autism spectrum disorders and average-range IQ whose families were part of a larger, longitudinal study. Correlates included demographic (sex, maternal education, paternal education), behavioral (activities of daily living, maladaptive behaviors, autism symptoms), and family (size of maternal social network; maternal depressive symptoms, anxiety, and pessimism) factors. Although two-thirds of adults with autism spectrum disorder participated in competitive employment/postsecondary education during the study, fewer than 25% maintained these activities over the study period. Behavioral characteristics distinguished those who never had competitive employment/postsecondary education from those who sometimes or consistently participated in these activities. Women were considerably less likely than men to maintain employment/postsecondary education over time.
Music Alters Visual Perception

Background Visual perception is not a passive process: in order to efficiently process visual input, the brain actively uses previous knowledge (e.g., memory) and expectations about what the world should look like. However, perception is not only influenced by previous knowledge. Especially the perception of emotional stimuli is influenced by the emotional state of the observer. In other words, how we perceive the world does not only depend on what we know of the world, but also by how we feel. In this study, we further investigated the relation between mood and perception. Methods and Findings We let observers do a difficult stimulus detection task, in which they had to detect schematic happy and sad faces embedded in noise. Mood was manipulated by means of music. We found that observers were more accurate in detecting faces congruent with their mood, corroborating earlier research. However, in trials in which no actual face was presented, observers made a significant number of false alarms. The content of these false alarms, or illusory percepts, was strongly influenced by the observers' mood. Conclusions As illusory percepts are believed to reflect the content of internal representations that are employed by the brain during top-down processing of visual input, we conclude that top-down modulation of visual processing is not purely predictive in nature: mood, in this case manipulated by music, may also directly alter the way we perceive the world.