Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-Dose Growth Hormone Treatment with Diet Restriction Accelerates Body Fat Loss, Exerts Anabolic Effect and Improves Growth Hormone Secretory Dysfunction in Obese Adults

Growth hormone (GH) can induce an accelerated lipolysis. Impaired secretion of GH in obesity results in the consequent loss of the lipolytic effect of GH. Dietary restriction as a basic treatment for obesity is complicated by poor compliance, protein catabolism, and slow rates or weight loss. GH has an anabolic effect by increasing insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I. We investigated the effects of GH treatment and dietary restriction on lipolytic and anabolic actions, as well as the consequent changes in insulin and GH secretion in obesity. 24 obese subjects (22 women and 2 men; 22–46 years old) were fed a diet of 25 kcal/kg ideal body weight (IBW) with 1.2 g protein/kg IBW daily and were treated with recombinant human GH (n = 12, 0.18 U/kg IBW/week) or placebo (n = 12, vehicle injection) in a 12-week randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. GH treatment caused a 1.6-fold increase in the fraction of body weight lost as fat and a greater loss of visceral fat area than placebo treatment (35.3 vs. 28.5%, p < 0.05). In the placebo group, there was a loss in lean body mass (–2.62 ± 1.51 kg) and a negative nitrogen balance (–4.52 ± 3.51 g/day). By contrast, the GH group increased in lean body mass (1.13 ± 1.04 kg) and had a positive nitrogen balance (1.81 ± 2.06 g/day). GH injections caused a 1.6-fold increase in IGF-I, despite caloric restriction. GH response to L-dopa stimulation was blunted in all subjects and it was increased after treatment in both groups. GH treatment did not induce a further increase in insulin levels during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) but significantly decreased free fatty acid (FFA) levels during OGTT. The decrease in FFA area under the curve during OGTT was positively correlated with visceral fat loss. This study demonstrates that in obese subjects given a hypocaloric diet, GH accelerates body fat loss, exerts anabolic effects and improves GH secretion. These findings suggest a possible therapeutic role of low-dose GH with caloric restriction for obesity.
Tolerance, aesthetics, amenities or jobs? Dutch city attraction to the creative class

Richard Florida stated that it is not (only) job opportunities or urban amenities which attract creative high-educated people to cities but, rather, tolerance and aesthetics. We have tested this hypothesis in a cross section of Dutch cities. Our conclusion is that the tolerance/creative class nexus empirically fails to materialize for the Netherlands. However, the aesthetic assets of cities do provide a strong explanation for both share and growth of the creative class in Dutch cities. Beside that, job opportunities and urban amenities are still the most important factors influencing the choice for a place of residence.
Distinct roles of FKF1, GIGANTEA, and ZEITLUPE proteins in the regulation of CONSTANS stability in Arabidopsis photoperiodic flowering

Significance In many plants, seasonal flowering is a crucial aspect of maximizing reproductive fitness. Changes in day length (or photoperiod) provide the most reliable cue that enables plants to anticipate approaching seasonal variation in the surrounding environment. The induction of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene controlled by the light-stabilized CONSTANS (CO) protein is the key mechanism for photoperiodic flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana. The CO/FT module is highly conserved in many plant species, including major crops. In Arabidopsis, blue-light–signaling pathways are essential for the stabilization of CO protein. Here we show a unique role of GIGANTEA in photoperiodic flowering through the interactions with two homologous proteins, FLAVIN-BINDING, KELCH REPEAT, F-BOX1 and ZEITLUPE, which antagonistically control CO stability. Many plants measure changes in day length to synchronize their flowering time with appropriate seasons for maximum reproductive success. In Arabidopsis, the day-length–dependent regulation of CONSTANS (CO) protein stability is crucial to induce FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) expression for flowering in long days. The FLAVIN-BINDING, KELCH REPEAT, F-BOX1 (FKF1) protein binds to CO protein specifically in the long-day afternoon and stabilizes it, although the mechanism remains unknown. Here we demonstrated that the FKF1-interacting proteins GIGANTEA (GI) and ZEITLUPE (ZTL) are involved in CO stability regulation. First, our immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry analysis of FKF1 revealed that FKF1 forms an S-phase kinase-associated protein 1 (Skp1)/Cullin(CUL)/F-box complex through interactions with Arabidopsis Skp1-like 1 (ASK1), ASK2, and CUL1 proteins and mainly interacts with GI protein in vivo. GI interacts with CO directly and indirectly through FKF1. Unexpectedly, the gi mutation increases the CO protein levels in the morning in long days. This gi-dependent destabilization of CO protein was cancelled by the fkf1 mutation. These results suggest that there are other factors likely influenced by both gi and fkf1 mutations that also control CO stability. We found that ZTL, which interacts with GI and FKF1, may be one such factor. ZTL also interacts with CO in vivo. The CO protein profile in the ztl mutant resembles that in the gi mutant, indicating that ZTL activity also may be changed in the gi mutant. Our findings suggest the presence of balanced regulation among FKF1, GI, and ZTL on CO stability regulation for the precise control of flowering time.
Forecasting Housing Approvals in Australia: Do Forecasters Herd?

Price trends in housing markets may reflect herding of market participants. A natural question is whether such herding, to the extent that it occurred, reflects herding in forecasts of professional forecasters. Using more than 6,000 forecasts of housing approvals for Australia, we did not find evidence of forecaster herding. On the contrary, forecasters anti‐herd and, thereby, tend to intentionally scatter their forecasts around the consensus forecast. The extent of anti‐herding seems to vary over time. We also found that more pronounced anti‐herding leads to less accurate forecasts.
Longitudinal micro-CT provides biomarkers of lung disease that can be used to assess the effect of therapy in preclinical mouse models, and reveal compensatory changes in lung volume

ABSTRACT In vivo lung micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is being increasingly embraced in pulmonary research because it provides longitudinal information on dynamic disease processes in a field in which ex vivo assessment of experimental disease models is still the gold standard. To optimize the quantitative monitoring of progression and therapy of lung diseases, we evaluated longitudinal changes in four different micro-CT-derived biomarkers [aerated lung volume, lung tissue (including lesions) volume, total lung volume and mean lung density], describing normal development, lung infections, inflammation, fibrosis and therapy. Free-breathing mice underwent micro-CT before and repeatedly after induction of lung disease (bleomycin-induced fibrosis, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, pulmonary cryptococcosis) and therapy (imatinib). The four lung biomarkers were quantified. After the last time point, we performed pulmonary function tests and isolated the lungs for histology. None of the biomarkers remained stable during longitudinal follow-up of adult healthy mouse lungs, implying that biomarkers should be compared with age-matched controls upon intervention. Early inflammation and progressive fibrosis led to a substantial increase in total lung volume, which affects the interpretation of aerated lung volume, tissue volume and mean lung density measures. Upon treatment of fibrotic lung disease, the improvement in aerated lung volume and function was not accompanied by a normalization of the increased total lung volume. Significantly enlarged lungs were also present in models of rapidly and slowly progressing lung infections. The data suggest that total lung volume changes could partly reflect a compensatory mechanism that occurs during disease progression in mice. Our findings underscore the importance of quantifying total lung volume in addition to aerated lung or lesion volumes to accurately document growth and potential compensatory mechanisms in mouse models of lung disease, in order to fully describe and understand dynamic processes during lung disease onset, progression and therapy. This is highly relevant for the translation of therapy evaluation results from preclinical studies to human patients. Summary: Quantifying not only aerated lung volume or lesion volumes but also the total lung volume from micro-CT is essential to document growth as well as potential compensatory mechanisms in the evaluation of mouse models of lung diseases and their therapy.
Compensation for I/Q Imbalances and Bias Deviation of the Mach–Zehnder Modulators in Direct-Detected Optical OFDM Systems

We demonstrate an equalization technique to simultaneously compensate for the fiber chromatic dispersion and the distortions induced by the in-phase/quadrature-phase (I/Q) imbalances and bias deviation in the Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs). With this technique, the requirement for the monitoring circuits at the transmitter could be relaxed or even eliminated, and thus simplifies the system design and reduces the system cost. The system exhibits a good performance with our proposal over a broad range of imbalances and bias deviation in the MZM. With deliberately introducing I/Q imbalances and bias deviation, we have observed a 2- and 4-dB optical signal-to-noise ratio improvement, for the back-to-back and 800 km of uncompensated standard single-mode fiber transmission, respectively, with our proposed scheme.
Conditional Skewness in Asset Pricing Tests

If asset returns have systematic skewness, expected returns should include rewards for accepting this risk. We formalize this intuition with an asset pricing model that incorporates conditional skewness. Our results show that conditional skewness helps explain the cross-sectional variation of expected returns across assets and is significant even when factors based on size and book-to-market are included. Systematic skewness is economically important and commands a risk premium, on average, of 3.60 percent per year. Our results suggest that the momentum effect is related to systematic skewness. The low expected return momentum portfolios have higher skewness than high expected return portfolios.
Fishery dynamics: a North Atlantic cod fishery

a constant proportion of the fish stock. Discounting is shown to imply a longer fishing season, and only in special cases should the stock be depleted to an uneconomic level as quickly as possible. Then the relative merits of periodic and sustained fishing of a stock consisting of several cohorts are studied by simulating a Beverton-Holt model of a cod fishery. The impact of cost, discounting, and natural fluctuations on the time-pattern of fishing is discussed, as well as the practicability of periodic fishing.
Mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo2 is inhibited by D-GsMTx4

ABSTRACT Enterochromaffin (EC) cells are the primary mechanosensors of the gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium. In response to mechanical stimuliEC cells release serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT). The molecular details ofEC cell mechanosensitivity are poorly understood. Recently, our group found that human and mouseEC cells express the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo2. The mechanosensitive currents in a humanEC cell model QGP-1 were blocked by the mechanosensitive channel blocker D-GsMTx4. In the present study we aimed to characterize the effects of the mechanosensitive ion channel inhibitor spider peptide D-GsMTx4 on the mechanically stimulated currents from both QGP-1 and human Piezo2 transfected HEK-293 cells. We found co-localization of 5-HT and Piezo2 in QGP-1 cells by immunohistochemistry. QGP-1 mechanosensitive currents had biophysical properties similar to dose-dependently Piezo2 and were inhibited by D-GsMTx4. In response to direct displacement of cell membranes, human Piezo2 transiently expressed in HEK-293 cells produced robust rapidly activating and inactivating inward currents. D-GsMTx4 reversibly and dose-dependently inhibited both the potency and efficacy of Piezo2 currents in response to mechanical force. Our data demonstrate an effective inhibition of Piezo2 mechanosensitive currents by the spider peptide D-GsMTx4.
Antiretroviral therapy adherence and drug–drug interactions in the aging HIV population

It is estimated that by 2015 more than half of all HIV-infected individuals in the United States will be 50 years of age or older. As this population ages, the frequency of non-AIDS related comorbidities increases, which includes cardiovascular, metabolic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and psychiatric disorders. As a result, medical management of the aging HIV population can be complicated by polypharmacy and higher pill burden, leading to poorer antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Adherence to ART is generally better in older populations when compared to younger populations; however, cognitive impairment in elderly patients can impair adherence, leading to worse treatment outcomes. Practical monitoring tools can improve adherence and increase rates of viral load suppression. Several antiretroviral drugs exhibit inhibitory and/or inducing effects on cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, which are responsible for the metabolism of many medications used for the treatment of comorbidities in the aging HIV population. The combination of ART with polypharmacy significantly increases the chance of potentially serious drug–drug interactions (DDIs), which can lead to drug toxicity, poorer ART adherence, loss of efficacy of the coadministered medication, or virologic breakthrough. Increasing clinicians awareness of common DDIs and the use of DDI programs can prevent coadministration of potentially harmful combinations in elderly HIV-infected individuals. Well designed ART adherence interventions and DDI studies are needed in the elderly HIV population.
Clinical and radiographic evaluation of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite with or without platelet-rich fibrin membrane in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects

Background: Nano-sized ceramics may represent a promising class of bone graft substitutes due to their improved osseointegrative properties. Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (NcHA) binds to bone and stimulate bone healing by stimulation of osteoblast activity. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), an intimate assembly of cytokines, glycan chains, and structural glycoproteins enmeshed within a slowly polymerized fibrin network, has the potential to accelerate soft and hard tissue healing. The present study aims to explore the clinical and radiographical outcome of NcHA bone graft with or without PRF, in the treatment of intrabony periodontal defects. Materials and Methods: In a split-mouth study design, 20 patients having two almost identical intrabony defects with clinical probing depth of at least 6 mm were selected for the study. Selected sites were randomly divided into two groups. In Group I, mucoperiosteal flap elevation followed by the placement of NcHA was done. In Group II, mucoperiosteal flap elevation, followed by the placement of NcHA with PRF was done. Clinical and radiographic parameters were recorded at baseline and at 6-month postoperatively. Results: Both treatment groups showed a significant probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, clinical attachment gain, increase bone density 6-month after surgery compared with baseline. However, there was a significantly greater PPD reduction and clinical attachment gain when PRF was added to NcHA. Conclusion: The NcHA bone graft in combination with PRF demonstrated clinical advantages beyond that achieved by the NcHA alone.
On the conditions for the cooperative relations between family businesses: the role of trust

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the conditions underpinning the cooperative relationships between family businesses. The role of trust is also explored, given the focus on informal conditions nested within the cooperation between firms. Design/methodology/approach – A case study research method is adopted in this paper. This research is conducted within a cooperative association in Cyprus where 40 retail family businesses trade under the same brand. Findings – The findings suggest that cooperation between family businesses emerges and unfolds as a result of the presence and interrelationships between a number of critical conditions: trust, altruism, collective thinking, stewardship, friendship, and family values congruence. The work illustrates that trust becomes a catalyst to the emergence and maintenance of cooperative relations between family businesses. Trust between family leaders is important in building altruism, collective thinking, and stewardship norms amongst them, and hel.
Effects of Age and Comorbidities on Complication Rates and Adverse Outcomes After Lumbar Laminectomy in Elderly Patients

Study Design. This is a retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample database. Objective. The objective is to report mortality and complications after lumbar laminectomy in the elderly. Summary of Background Data. — As the population continues to age in the United States, it is important to consider the surgical complications and outcomes in the elderly. A review of the literature reveals controversy over the safety of lumbar laminectomy in the elderly and disagreement over estimates of risks in this population. Methods. Outcome measures were abstracted from the National Inpatient Sample. Multivariate analysis was performed to analyze the effect of patient and hospital characteristics on outcome measures. Results. A total of 471,215 patients underwent lumbar laminectomy without fusion for lumbar stenosis from 1993 to 2002. The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.17%, and the complication rate was 12.17%. Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma (5.2%) and nonspecific renal complications (2.8%) were the most common complications. Complication and mortality rates increased with age and comorbidities with an 18.9% complication rate and 1.4% mortality rate in patients over the age of 85 with 3 or more comorbidities, 14.7% complication rate and 0.22% mortality rate in patients over 85 with no comorbidities, and only a 6% complication rate and 0.05% mortality rate in patient between 18 and 44 with no comorbidities. Multivariate analysis revealed increased odds of mortality with increasing number of comorbidities and complications in the greater than 85 year age group. Increasing age, number of comorbidities, complication rate, and female sex also increased the odds of discharge to institution other than home. Conclusion. Elderly patients with comorbidities are at a higher risk for complications and adverse outcome after lumbar spine surgery. The effects of age and comorbidities on patient outcomes have been quantified. This information is critical in counseling elderly patients about the risk of surgery in their age group.
Inserting the Ulnar Prosthesis into Radius as a Novel Salvage Surgery for Revision Total Elbow Arthroplasty with Massive Bone Defect

Background:Infection and aseptic loosening are common complications of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) and often require revision surgery. However, bone defects, along with other complications, bring an extra difficulty to the second surgery, especially for patients with a massive bone defect in the proximal ulna. Several methods including allograft or autograft have been introduced into practice, but none sufficiently solves these problems. Methods:We conducted a new surgical method for patients with a massive ulnar bone defect needing revision TEA. During revision arthroplasty, the ulnar prosthesis was inserted into the radius as a salvage procedure. Four consecutive patients received revision arthroplasty with this method between 2013 and 2016. Patients’ data were collected to evaluate the clinical outcome. Results:All patients had a Grade III ulnar bone defect. At the last follow-up session, all patients reported a painless, functional elbow joint. Three patients suffered from a periprosthetic infection that was completely cured using the two-stage method. No major complications, including infection, aseptic loosening, or wound problems were found. One patient had a transient ulnar neuritis, and another had a transient radial neuritis. Both patients had full recovery at the last follow-up session. Conclusions:Inserting an ulnar prosthesis into the radius is a novel procedure for patients with a massive bone defect due to infection or aseptic loosening. It is a safe, quick, and effective treatment with a promising short-term outcome. This method should be provided as a salvage procedure for patients with a nonreconstructable ulnar bone defect.
The FARE: a new way to express falls risk among older persons including physical activity as a measure of exposure

Objectives Common expressions of falls risk do not include exposure to hazards. We compared two expressions: the commonly used population incidence (fallers per 1000 person-years) and the FARE (FAlls Risk by Exposure): the number of fallers per 1000 physically active person-days. Methods Prospective follow-up study among community dwelling older persons (N=771) aged between 71 and 96 years in the Netherlands, 2005. Baseline data on age, gender, disabilities (vision, mobility) and number of days per week with minimally 30 min of physical activity were collected. Falls were registered monthly. Falls risk was expressed as the number of falls per 1000 person-years and as the FARE. A balance control difficulty score was based on the sumscore of 11 disability items. Results Increased difficulty controlling balance was linearly associated with reduced exposure to risky situations (Spearman correlation coefficient= −0.56) and to an increased falls risk per 1000 person-years. In contrast, the FARE score increased exponentially, which is more indicative of the real risk people face, taking into account their activity restriction. Conclusions The FARE is recommended for use in public health policy and research on falls prevention because it takes into account reduced physical activity of older persons who experience increased difficulty controlling their balance.
Surface tension of airway aspirates withdrawn during neonatal resuscitation reflects lung maturity

The indications for treatment of neonates with exogenous pulmonary surfactant are still discussed controversially. Some premature neonates are sufficiently treated by CPAP, others need conventional ventilation and/or surfactant. The available lung maturity tests have limitations. The captive bubble surfactometer (CBS) provides measurement of surface activity from rather small amounts of surfactant.
Anchoring and Adjustment In Probabilistic Inference in Auditing

Auditors are faced with the task of formulating opinions about the fairness of their clients' financial statements. In doing so, they use their professional judgment to determine the type and amount of information to collect, the timing and manner of collecting it, and the implications of the information collected. This information is rarely, if ever, perfectly reliable or perfectly predictive of the "true" state of a client's financial statements. Nevertheless, auditors may be held liable at common law or under the federal securities laws should the audited financial statements prove to be unrepresentative of this true state. Thus, it is important for auditors to have the ability to formulate appropriately judgments based on probabilistic data. In this paper, we describe the results of experiments designed to assess whether auditors formulate judgments in accordance' with normative principles of decision making or whether a particular alternative to the normative model of decision making under uncertainty 's employed. In the next section, we discuss several alternatives to normative decision models, focusing on the anchoring and adjustment heuristic which forms the basis for our experiments.