Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accumulation and toxicity of intravenously‐injected functionalized graphene oxide in mice

Graphene and its functionalized derivatives have recently emerged as interesting nanomaterials with promising applications in biomedicine. In this study, the long‐term in vivo biodistribution of intravenously injected nanographene oxide (NGO) functionalized with poly sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate (PSS) was systematically examined and the potential toxicity over 6 months of NGO‐PSS nanoparticles was investigated. Our results showed that the nanoparticles mainly accumulate in the lung, liver and spleen, where they persist for at least 6 months. These nanoparticles result in acute liver injury and chronic inflammation of the lung, liver and spleen, as evidenced by blood biochemistry results and histological examinations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The evolution of market orientation in Finnish retail banking – from regulation to value creation

Abstract In this paper, our aim is to study the evolution of the market orientation in Finnish retail banking from the time of regulation to the present day. That involves examining how Finnish retail banking has been shaped by regulation, deregulation, increasing competition and changing customer expectations in different periods. We approach this aim by answering the following key questions (1) What different eras are identifiable based on our analysis of market orientation development? (2) What have been the drivers or inhibitors of the market orientation evolution process in these different eras? and finally, (3) how has Finnish retail banking market orientation changed its nature during the different phases identified? Our historical evidence is based on a range of documentation focusing on Finnish retail banking. We also conducted 29 interviews with Finnish top bank management actively involved in banking business during various eras.
Detecting concealed information in less than a second: response latency-based measures

Concealed information can be accurately assessed with physiological measures. To overcome the practical limitations of physiological measures, an assessment using response latencies has been proposed. At first sight, research findings on response latency based concealed information tests seem inconsistent. Our procedural analysis of the various latency-based tests indicates that tests based on a manipulation of relevant stimulus-response compatibility, such as the oddball task (Farwell & Donchin, 1991; Seymour, Seifert, Shafto, & Mosmann, 2000), have typically produced robust results. These results are promising, but need to be extended with research examining vulnerability to faking and performance under more realistic circumstances.
Research priority setting in kidney disease: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Resources for research are insufficient to cover all unanswered questions, and therefore difficult choices about allocation must be made. Recently there has been a move toward more patient-centered research. This study aims to evaluate approaches to research prioritization in kidney disease and describe research priorities of patients with kidney disease, their caregivers, the health care providers involved in their care, and policy makers. STUDY DESIGN Systematic review. SETTING & POPULATION Studies that elicited patient, caregiver, health care provider, or policy maker priorities for research in kidney disease were included. SEARCH STRATEGY & SOURCES MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched to May 2014. ANALYTICAL APPROACH Descriptive synthesis. RESULTS We identified 16 studies (n=2,365 participants) conducted in the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and internationally. Only 4 (25%) studies explicitly involved patients. Various priority-setting methods were used, including the Delphi technique, expert panels, consensus conference, ranking or voting surveys, focus groups, and interviews, of which the process was described in detail by 11 (69%) studies. The priority areas for research most frequently identified across studies were prevention of acute kidney injury, prevention of chronic kidney disease progression, fluid and diet restrictions, improving vascular access, kidney transplant survival, access to transplantation, patient education, and psychosocial impact of chronic kidney disease. LIMITATIONS Most studies were conducted in high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS The priorities identified by kidney disease research priority-setting exercises are broad ranging, but patient involvement is uncommon and the processes often are incompletely described. Establishing research priorities using a prespecified and transparent process that engages patients, caregivers, and health care providers is needed to ensure that resources are invested to answer questions that address the shared priorities in kidney disease.
Exact Recovery for Sparse Signal via Weighted l_1 Minimization

Numerical experiments in literature on compressed sensing have indicated that the reweighted $l_1$ minimization performs exceptionally well in recovering sparse signal. In this paper, we develop exact recovery conditions and algorithm for sparse signal via weighted $l_1$ minimization from the insight of the classical NSP (null space property) and RIC (restricted isometry constant) bound. We first introduce the concept of WNSP (weighted null space property) and reveal that it is a necessary and sufficient condition for exact recovery. We then prove that the RIC bound by weighted $l_1$ minimization is $\delta_{ak} 1$, $0<\gamma\leq1$ is determined by an optimization problem over the null space. When $\gamma< 1$ this bound is greater than $\sqrt{\frac{a-1}{a}}$ from $l_1$ minimization. In addition, we also establish the bound on $\delta_k$ and show that it can be larger than the sharp one 1/3 via $l_1$ minimization and also greater than 0.4343 via weighted $l_1$ minimization under some mild cases. Finally, we achieve a modified iterative reweighted $l_1$ minimization (MIRL1) algorithm based on our selection principle of weight, and the numerical experiments demonstrate that our algorithm behaves much better than $l_1$ minimization and iterative reweighted $l_1$ minimization (IRL1) algorithm.
Learning How to Simplify From Explicit Labeling of Complex-Simplified Text Pairs

Current research in text simplification has been hampered by two central problems: (i) the small amount of high-quality parallel simplification data available, and (ii) the lack of explicit annotations of simplification operations, such as deletions or substitutions, on existing data. While the recently introduced Newsela corpus has alleviated the first problem, simplifications still need to be learned directly from parallel text using black-box, end-to-end approaches rather than from explicit annotations. These complex-simple parallel sentence pairs often differ to such a high degree that generalization becomes difficult. End-to-end models also make it hard to interpret what is actually learned from data. We propose a method that decomposes the task of TS into its sub-problems. We devise a way to automatically identify operations in a parallel corpus and introduce a sequence-labeling approach based on these annotations. Finally, we provide insights on the types of transformations that different approaches can model.
Integrated Segmentation and Interpolation of Sparse Data

We address the two inherently related problems of segmentation and interpolation of 3D and 4D sparse data and propose a new method to integrate these stages in a level set framework. The interpolation process uses segmentation information rather than pixel intensities for increased robustness and accuracy. The method supports any spatial configurations of sets of 2D slices having arbitrary positions and orientations. We achieve this by introducing a new level set scheme based on the interpolation of the level set function by radial basis functions. The proposed method is validated quantitatively and/or subjectively on artificial data and MRI and CT scans and is compared against the traditional sequential approach, which interpolates the images first, using a state-of-the-art image interpolation method, and then segments the interpolated volume in 3D or 4D. In our experiments, the proposed framework yielded similar segmentation results to the sequential approach but provided a more robust and accurate interpolation. In particular, the interpolation was more satisfactory in cases of large gaps, due to the method taking into account the global shape of the object, and it recovered better topologies at the extremities of the shapes where the objects disappear from the image slices. As a result, the complete integrated framework provided more satisfactory shape reconstructions than the sequential approach.
The Evolutionary Rate of Duplicated Genes Under Concerted Evolution

The effect of directional selection on the fixation process of a single mutation that spreads in a multigene family by gene conversion is investigated. A simple two-locus model with two alleles, A and a, is first considered in a random-mating diploid population with size N. There are four haplotypes, AA, Aa, aA, and aa, and selection works on the number of alleles A in a diplod (i = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4). Because gene conversion is allowed between the two loci, when the mutation rate is very low, either AA or aa will fix in the population eventually. We consider a situation where a single mutant, A, arises in one locus when a is fixed in both loci. Then, we derive the fixation probability analytically, and the fixation time is investigated by simulations. It is found that gene conversion has an effect to increase the “effective” population size, so that weak selection works more efficiently in a multigene family. With these results, we discuss the effect of gene conversion on the rate of molecular evolution in a multigene family undergoing concerted evolution. We also argue about the applicability of the theoretical results to models of multigene families with more than two loci.
Acellular Dermal Matrices in Breast Surgery: A Comprehensive Review

IntroductionAcellular dermal matrices (ADMs) have become increasingly popular for use in plastic surgery. There has been an increase in the number of products that have paralleled their usage in various clinical settings and specifically breast surgery. MethodsA direct comparison of the most common ADMs used in breast surgery was performed including physical characteristics, level of sterility, maximum load sustained (N), stiffness (N/mm), and tensile strength (N/cm). A comprehensive review of the literature was also performed, detailing known results and complications. ResultsThe direct comparison of most common ADMs is detailed along with a review of 26 series of breast reconstruction manuscripts involving the usage of ADMs. Specifically, Strattice and Permacol had the highest values of maximum loads sustained, stiffness, and tensile strength. ConclusionsADMs have a role in breast surgery that continues to be defined. Future long-term follow-up remains crucial to the identification of the optimal biologic mesh.
Protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 is an essential component of Notch signaling pathways

Notch receptor signaling regulates cell growth and differentiation, and core components of Notch signaling pathways are conserved from Drosophila to humans. Fringe glycosyltransferases are crucial modulators of Notch signaling that act on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats in the Notch receptor extracellular domain. The substrate of Fringe is EGF-O-fucose and the transfer of fucose to Notch by protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 is necessary for Fringe to function. O-fucose also occurs on Cripto and on Notch ligands. Here we show that mouse embryos lacking protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 die at midgestation with severe defects in somitogenesis, vasculogenesis, cardiogenesis, and neurogenesis. The phenotype is similar to that of embryos lacking downstream effectors of all Notch signaling pathways such as presenilins or RBP-Jκ, and is different from Cripto, Notch receptor, Notch ligand, or Fringe null phenotypes. Protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 is therefore an essential core member of Notch signaling pathways in mammals.
Identification of Stim1 as a Candidate Gene for Exaggerated Sympathetic Response to Stress in the Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat

The stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) is known to have exaggerated sympathetic nerve activity to various types of stress, which might contribute to the pathogenesis of severe hypertension and stroke observed in this strain. Previously, by using a congenic strain (called SPwch1.72) constructed between SHRSP and the normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY), we showed that a 1.8-Mbp fragment on chromosome 1 (Chr1) of SHRSP harbored the responsible gene(s) for the exaggerated sympathetic response to stress. To further narrow down the candidate region, in this study, another congenic strain (SPwch1.71) harboring a smaller fragment on Chr1 including two functional candidate genes, Phox2a and Ship2, was generated. Sympathetic response to cold and restraint stress was compared among SHRSP, SPwch1.71, SPwch1.72 and WKY by three different methods (urinary norepinephrine excretion, blood pressure measurement by the telemetry system and the power spectral analysis on heart rate variability). The results indicated that the response in SPwch1.71 did not significantly differ from that in SHRSP, excluding Phox2a and Ship2 from the candidate genes. As the stress response in SPwch1.72 was significantly less than that in SHRSP, it was concluded that the 1.2-Mbp congenic region covered by SPwch1.72 (and not by SPwch1.71) was responsible for the sympathetic stress response. The sequence analysis of 12 potential candidate genes in this region in WKY/Izm and SHRSP/Izm identified a nonsense mutation in the stromal interaction molecule 1 (Stim1) gene of SHRSP/Izm which was shared among 4 substrains of SHRSP. A western blot analysis confirmed a truncated form of STIM1 in SHRSP/Izm. In addition, the analysis revealed that the protein level of STIM1 in the brainstem of SHRSP/Izm was significantly lower when compared with WKY/Izm. Our results suggested that Stim1 is a strong candidate gene responsible for the exaggerated sympathetic response to stress in SHRSP.
Diagnostic utility of abbreviated fluency measures in Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia

Background: Several studies indicate semantic fluency more sensitively discriminates patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) from normal elderly persons, with disproportionate impairment of semantic over phonemic fluency. Objective: To determine the ability of abbreviated fluency measures in the clinic setting (1-minute letter F and animal fluency tests) to detect AD, and to assess whether difference scores between these measures discriminate patients with AD and vascular dementia (VaD) from normal elderly persons. Methods: The authors studied patients with AD (n = 98) meeting National Institute of Neurological Communicative Disorders and Stroke–Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria, VaD patients (n = 18) meeting National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke–Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l’Enseignement en Neurosciences criteria, cognitively impaired but not demented patients (CIND; n = 25), vascular CIND patients (VCIND; n = 24), and normal control subjects (NCs; n = 46). Results: Analysis of covariance controlling for age, education, and overall impairment indicated all groups generated fewer animal names compared with NCs, whereas only VaD patients generated fewer letter F words compared with NCs. On standardized scores, patients with AD and CIND, unlike those with VCIND and VaD, scored significantly worse on the animal fluency test than on the letter F fluency test. The animal fluency test was superior in discriminating all patient groups from NCs. Positive likelihood ratios (PLRs) revealed animal fluency scores <15 were 20 times more likely in a patient with AD than in an NC (sensitivity = 0.88; specificity = 0.96). Letter F scores <4 discriminated VaD from AD patients (PLR = 4.0; sensitivity = 0.44; specificity = 0.90). Difference scores <0 (i.e., fewer animal than letter F words) discriminated patients with VCIND from those with CIND (PLR = 2.5; sensitivity = 0.32; specificity = 1.00). Conclusions: A 1-minute semantic fluency test can assist in early detection of dementia in the memory clinic setting.
Antioxidant responses of hyper-accumulator and sensitive fern species to arsenic.

Plant species capable of hyper-accumulating heavy metals are of considerable interest for phytoremediation, and differ in their ability to accumulate metals from the environment. This work aims to examine (i) arsenic accumulation in three fern species [Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata L.), slender brake fern (Pteris ensiformis Burm. f.), and Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata L.)], which were exposed to 0, 150, or 300 muM of arsenic (Na(2)HAsO(4). 7H(2)O), and (ii) the role of anti-oxidative metabolism in arsenic tolerance in these fern species. Arsenic accumulation increased with an increase in arsenic concentration in the growth medium, the most being found in P. vittata fronds showing no toxicity symptoms. In addition, accumulation was highest in the fronds, followed by the rhizome, and finally the roots, in all three fern species. Thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances, indicators of stress in plants, were found to be lowest in P. vittata, which corresponds with its observed tolerance to arsenic. All three ferns responded differentially to arsenic exposure in terms of anti-oxidative defence. Higher levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase were observed in P. vittata than in P. ensiformis and N. exaltata, showing their active involvement in the arsenic detoxification mechanism. However, no significant increase was observed in either guaiacol peroxides or glutathione reductase in arsenic-treated P. vittata. Higher activity of anti-oxidative enzymes and lower thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances in arsenic-treated P. vittata correspond with its arsenic hyper-accumulation and no symptoms of toxicity.
Analysis of non‐ignorable missing and left‐censored longitudinal data using a weighted random effects tobit model

In a longitudinal study with response data collected during a hospital stay, observations may be missing because of the subject's discharge from the hospital prior to completion of the study or the death of the subject, resulting in non‐ignorable missing data. In addition to non‐ignorable missingness, there is left‐censoring in the response measurements because of the inherent limit of detection. For analyzing non‐ignorable missing and left‐censored longitudinal data, we have proposed to extend the theory of random effects tobit regression model to weighted random effects tobit regression model. The weights are computed on the basis of inverse probability weighted augmented methodology. An extensive simulation study was performed to compare the performance of the proposed model with a number of competitive models. The simulation study shows that the estimates are consistent and that the root mean square errors of the estimates are minimal for the use of augmented inverse probability weights in the random effects tobit model. The proposed method is also applied to the non‐ignorable missing and left‐censored interleukin‐6 biomarker data obtained from the Genetic and Inflammatory Markers of Sepsis study. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diagnostic relapse in Borderline Personality Disorder: risk and protective factors

Diagnostic Relapse in Borderline Personality Disorder: Risk and Protective Factors. (August 2003) Brian David Quigley, B.A., University of Michigan-Dearborn; M.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Leslie C. Morey Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of the more common personality disorder diagnoses observed in psychiatric inpatients and outpatients. Previous studies have found that individuals with BPD may be expected to experience difficulties throughout their lifetimes and they may repeatedly return for psychological treatment. Whereas previous studies have attempted to identify various factors related to relapse in other chronically recurring disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and substance abuse, studies examining factors associated with relapse in BPD, and personality disorders in general, are absent from the scientific literature. This exploratory study examined whether specific risk and protective factors (dynamic and/or static) identified from the general relapse literature were associated with diagnostic relapse in BPD. Results revealed that variables related to an increased likelihood for BPD relapse included: substance abuse or Major Depressive Disorder, higher Neuroticism, and lower Conscientiousness. In addition, having a steady work or school status after remission was found to protect against a BPD relapse in the presence of various risk factors.
AS03-Adjuvanted, Very-Low-Dose Influenza Vaccines Induce Distinctive Immune Responses Compared to Unadjuvanted High-Dose Vaccines in BALB/c Mice

During the 2009–2010 influenza pandemic, an adjuvanted, dose-sparing vaccine was recommended for most Canadians. We hypothesize that differences exist in the responses to AS03-adjuvanted, low antigen (Ag) dose versus unadjuvanted, full-dose vaccines. We investigated the relationship between Ag dose and the oil-in-water emulsion Adjuvant System AS03. BALB/c mice received two IM doses of AS03A or AS03B with exaggerated dilutions of A/Uruguay/716/2007 H3N2 split virion vaccine Ag. Immune responses were assessed 3 weeks after the booster. Unadjuvanted “high” (3 μg) and low-dose (0.03–0.003 μg) vaccines generated similar serum antibody titers and cytokine secretion patterns in restimulated splenocytes. Compared to unadjuvanted “high-dose” vaccination, both AS03A and AS03B-adjuvanted low-dose vaccines tended to elicit higher serum antibody titers, broader induction of cytokine secretion and generated more influenza-specific antibody secreting cells and cytokine-secreting CD4 and CD8 T cells in splenocytes. We show that varying Ag and/or AS03 dose in this influenza vaccination mouse model can strongly influence both the magnitude and pattern of the immune response elicited. These findings are highly relevant given the likelihood of expanded use of adjuvanted, dose-sparing vaccines and raise questions about the use of “standard” doses of vaccines in pre-clinical vaccine studies.
Beta4 integrin is required for hemidesmosome formation, cell adhesion and cell survival

The integrin heterodimer alpha 6 beta 4 is expressed in many epithelia and in Schwann cells. In stratified epithelia, alpha 6 beta 4 couple with BPAG1-e and BPAG2 to form hemidesmosomes, attaching externally to laminin and internally to the keratin cytoskeleton. To explore the function of this atypical integrin, and its relation to conventional actin-associated integrins, we targeted the removal of the beta 4 gene in mice. Tissues that express alpha 6 beta 4 are grossly affected. Stratified tissues are devoid of hemidesmosomes, display only a very fragile attachment to the basal lamina, and exhibit signs of degeneration and tissue disorganization. Simple epithelia which express alpha 6 beta 4 are also defective in adherence, even though they do not form hemidesmosomes. In the absence of beta 4, alpha 6 is dramatically downregulated, and other integrins do not appear to compensate for the loss of this heterodimer. These data have important implications for understanding integrin function in cell-substratum adhesion, cell survival and differentiation, and for understanding the role of alpha 6 beta 4 in junctional epidermolysis bullosa, an often lethal human disorder with pathology similar to our mice.