Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Emission d'obligations convertibles : un signal riche sur la qualité de l'entreprise

Malgre l'anciennete et l'importance croissante des obligations convertibles, leur role reste encore mal connu. Les theories actuelles modelisent ces titres en tant que versions deguisees de financements classiques et leurs predictions sont contredites par de nombreux resultats empiriques sur les marches internationaux. Dans une premiere partie, nous proposons une extension du modele de Myers et Maijluf (1984) pour expliquer les decisions de financement et d'investissement avec obligations convertibles. L'originalite de notre approche provient de la modelisation explicite des asymetries informationnelles sur les deux dimensions de l'entreprise, sa valeur esperee et son risque. Le contexte privilegie la composante optionnelle des titres. Les entreprises dont le risque est surestime emettent des convertibles a forte option de conversion car cette derniere est surevaluee. Au contraire, les entreprises dont le risque est sous-estime emettent des convertibles assorties de clause de remboursement anticipe. Cette approche permet d'expliquer, pour la premiere fois l'existence de deux types de convertibles dans un cadre unifie. Dans la deuxieme partie, nous testons notre modele en confrontant ses predictions avec les resultats empiriques. L'originalite de notre approche est de positionner les convertibles dans un systeme a trois dimensions (action, obligation et option) par le Delta de ces titres. La revue des resultats empiriques sur les marches internationaux demontre que la dimension "optionnelle" des convertibles joue un role preponderant pour les dirigeants et les investisseurs. Notre recherche met en evidence le role des convertibles dans des configurations peu analysees par la litterature actuelle et correspondant mieux a leur vraie utilisation. Les convertibles augmentant l'efficience du marche et permettent la realisation de projets rentables dans des contextes ou les titres classqiues, leur combinaison ou d'autres titres hybrides restent inefficients.
Irony Detection in Twitter

Irony has been proven to be pervasive in social media, posing a challenge to sentiment analysis systems. It is a creative linguistic phenomenon where affect-related aspects play a key role. In this work, we address the problem of detecting irony in tweets, casting it as a classification problem. We propose a novel model that explores the use of affective features based on a wide range of lexical resources available for English, reflecting different facets of affect. Classification experiments over different corpora show that affective information helps in distinguishing among ironic and nonironic tweets. Our model outperforms the state of the art in almost all cases.
The Maximal Downstroke of Epicardial Potentials as an Index of Electrical Activity in Mouse Hearts

The maximal upstroke of transmembrane voltage (dV<i>m</i>/dt<sub>max</sub>) has been used as an indirect measure of sodium current I<sub>Na</sub> upon activation in cardiac myocytes. However, sodium influx generates not only the upstroke of V<i>m</i>, but also the downstroke of the extracellular potentials V including epicardial surface potentials V<sub>es</sub>. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the magnitude of the maximal downstroke of V<sub>es</sub> (|dV<sub>es</sub>/dt<sub>min</sub>|) as a global index of electrical activation, based on the relationship of dV<i>m</i>/dt<sub>max</sub> to I<sub>Na</sub>. To fulfill this purpose, we examined |dV<sub>es</sub>/dt<sub>min</sub>| experimentally using isolated perfused mouse hearts and computationally using a 3-D cardiac tissue bidomain model. In experimental studies, a custom-made cylindrical “cage” array with 64 electrodes was slipped over mouse hearts to measure V<sub>es</sub> during hyperkalemia, ischemia, and hypoxia, which are conditions that decrease I<sub>Na</sub>. Values of |dV<sub>es</sub>/dt<sub>min</sub>| from each electrode were normalized (|dV<sub>es</sub>/dt<sub>min</sub>|<i>n</i>) and averaged (|dV<sub>es</sub>/dt<sub>min</sub>|<sub>na</sub>). Results showed that |dV<sub>es</sub>/dt<sub>min</sub>|<sub>na</sub> decreased during hyperkalemia by 28, 59, and 79% at 8, 10, and 12 mM [K<sup>+</sup>]<i>o</i>, respectively. |dV<sub>es</sub>/dt<sub>min</sub>| also decreased by 54 and 84% 20 min after the onset of ischemia and hypoxia, respectively. In computational studies, |dV<sub>es</sub>/dt<sub>min</sub>| was compared to dV<i>m</i>/dt<sub>max</sub> at different levels of the maximum sodium conductance G<sub>Na</sub>, extracellular potassium ion concentration [K<sup>+</sup>]<i>o</i>, and intracellular sodium ion concentration [Na<sup>+</sup>]<i>i</i>, which all influence levels of I<sub>Na</sub>. Changes in |dV<sub>es</sub>/dt<sub>min</sub>|<i>n</i> were similar to dV<i>m</i>/dt<sub>max</sub> during alterations of G<sub>Na</sub> , [K<sup>+</sup>]<i>o</i>, and [Na<sup>+</sup>]<i>i</i>. Our results demonstrate that |dV<sub>es</sub>/dt<sub>min</sub>|<sub>na</sub> is a robust global index of electrical activation for use in mouse hearts and, similar to dV<i>m</i>/dt<sub>max</sub>, can be used to probe electrophysiological alterations reliably. The index can be readily measured and evaluated, which makes it attractive for characterization of, for instance, genetically modified mouse hearts and drug effects on cardiac tissue.
Effects of the Oxygenation Level on Formation of Different Reactive Oxygen Species During Photodynamic Therapy

We examined the effect of the oxygenation level on efficacy of two photosensitizing agents, both of which target lysosomes for photodamage, but via different photochemical pathways. Upon irradiation, the chlorin termed NPe6 forms singlet oxygen in high yield while the bacteriopheophorbide WST11 forms only oxygen radicals (in an aqueous environment). Photokilling efficacy by WST11 in cell culture was impaired when the atmospheric oxygen concentration was reduced from 20% to 1%, while photokilling by NPe6 was unaffected. Studies in a cell‐free system revealed that the rates of photobleaching of these agents, as a function of the oxygenation level, were correlated with results described above. Moreover, the rate of formation of oxygen radicals by either agent was more sensitive to the level of oxygenation than was singlet oxygen formation by NPe6. These data indicate that the photochemical process that leads to oxygen radical formation is more dependent on the oxygenation level than is the pathway leading to formation of singlet oxygen.
[Research on EGCG improving the degenerative changes of the brain in AD model mice induced with chemical drugs].

OBJECTIVE To study the effect and mechanism of (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the degeneretive changes of the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD) model mice induced with chemical drugs. METHODS AD model mice were established by subcutaneously injecting with 3% D-gal at the dose of 150 mg/kg body weight once daily for 6 weeks. From the third week, the mice of D-gal + V(E) 280 U/kg group, D-gal + EGCG 2 mg/(kg x d) group and D-gal + EGCG 6 mg/(kg x d) group were intragastricly given with 5.6% V(E) at the dose of 280 IU/kg and EGCG at the dose of 2 mg/kg x d or 6 mg/kg x d respectively after injection of D-gal. The mice of control group, D-gal + dd H2O group and D-gal + oil group were administered with same volume vehicle distilled water and soybean oil respectively. The pathological changes of the brain in AD model mice were observed by HE staining analysis, the immunohistochemical analysis of beta-amyloid (Abeta) and evaluating the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the hippocampus of mice by Western blot analysis. RESULTS EGCG 2 mg/(kg x d) or 6 mg/(kg x d) 4 weeks, ig evidently released neuronal injury in the hippocampus of the AD mice induced by D-gal, and significantly reduced the express of Abeta and APP in the hippocampus of AD model mice induced by D-gal (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION EGCG has a protective effect on AD model mice induced by D-gal by decreasing the expression of APP and beta-Amyloid in the hippocampus of mice.
Loss of the small GTPase Arl8b results in abnormal development of the roof plate in mouse embryos

Lysosomes are acidic organelles responsible for degrading both exogenous and endogenous materials. The small GTPase Arl8 localizes primarily to lysosomes and is involved in lysosomal function. In the present study, using Arl8b gene‐trapped mutant (Arl8b−/−) mice, we show that Arl8b is required for the development of dorsal structures of the neural tube, including the thalamus and hippocampus. In embryonic day (E) 10.5 Arl8b−/− embryos, Sox1 (a neuroepithelium marker) was ectopically expressed in the roof plate, whereas the expression of Gdf7 and Msx1 (roof plate markers) was reduced in the dorsal midline of the midbrain. Ectopic expression of Sox1 in Arl8b−/− embryos was detected also at E9.0 in the neural fold, which gives rise to the roof plate. In addition, the levels of Bmp receptor IA and phosphorylated Smad 1/5/8 (downstream of BMP signaling) were increased in the neural fold of E9.0 Arl8b−/− embryos. These results suggest that Arl8b is involved in the development of the neural fold and the subsequently formed roof plate, possibly via control of BMP signaling.
Encapsulation of Antihypertensive Peptides from Whey Proteins and Their Releasing in Gastrointestinal Conditions

Antihypertensive peptide fraction from whey protein hydrolysate <3 kDa (measured as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity %) was isolated and encapsulated into three composite materials: alginate–collagen, alginate Arabic gum, and alginate–gelatin. The release behavior of peptide fraction from capsules was analyzed according to the encapsulation material efficiency, the characteristics of the capsules, and the released antihypertensive peptides during gastrointestinal digestion. The highest encapsulation efficiency was found in capsules of alginate Arabic gum (95%). In this case, the released peptides incremented their ACE activity (85%) after the digestion process, with respect to the initial ACE activity (74%). Whey antihypertensive fraction revealed five peptide sequences; however, other amino acid sequences were released from digested capsules. Protein databases confirmed some antihypertensive sequences indicating the peptides content from β-Lg and α-La. Consequently, new peptides could be revealed from whey antihypertensive fraction.
Dissatisfaction with medical services among Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that Medicare beneficiaries who have difficulties performing activities of daily living (ADLs) are more likely to report dissatisfaction with their health care than those without ADL difficulties. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Sample from the 1998 Medicare Current Beneficiaries Survey. PARTICIPANTS A population-based sample (N=19,650) of noninstitutionalized Medicare beneficiaries. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Satisfaction with overall quality and 9 specific aspects of medical services received in the last year. RESULTS After adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, and system characteristics and compared with those without ADL difficulties, Medicare enrollees were more likely to report dissatisfaction with the overall quality of their health care as their number of activity restrictions increased (1-2 ADLs: odds ratio [OR]=1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.0; 3-4 ADLs: OR=1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4; 5-6 ADLs: OR=1.9; 95% CI, 1.4-2.8). Analysis of satisfaction with the 9 specific aspects of care yielded similar results. CONCLUSION Disability is a significant independent risk factor for dissatisfaction with health care in the Medicare population. Efforts should be made to identify individuals with ADL difficulties and to improve their ease and convenience of getting to a doctor, the availability of care off hours, the access to specialists, and the follow-up care received.
Human β‐defensins differently affect proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of osteoblast‐like MG63 cells

Purpose of this study was to investigate whether human β‐defensins (hBDs) affect maturation and proliferation of osteoblast‐like MG63 cells in vitro. Osteoblast‐like MG63 cells were stimulated with hBD‐1, ‐2, and ‐3 under control conditions and with hBD‐2 during experimental inflammation (induced by interleukin‐1β, tumor necrosis factor‐α, toll‐like receptor‐2 and ‐4 agonists). Expression of different osteogenic markers and hBDs were analyzed by real‐time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme activity and biomineralization as markers for differentiation were monitored. All tested hBDs were expressed on mRNA and protein level in MG63 cells. Only stimulation with hBD‐2 elevated the proliferation rate. hBD‐2 and hBD‐3 positively affected the differentiation of osteoblast‐like cells provided by increased transcript levels of osteogenic markers, up‐regulated ALP enzyme activity and enhanced mineralized nodule formation. All pro‐inflammatory stimuli enhanced interleukin‐6 and hBD‐2 expression and down‐regulated markers of osteoblastic differentiation. In accordance, inflammation increased transcript level of Notch‐1 (an inhibitor of osteoblastic differentiation). hBD‐2 was not able to revert effects of inflammation on differentiation. In bone cells human β‐defensins exhibit further functions than antimicrobial peptide activity. These include stimulation of proliferation and differentiation. Differentiation arrest due to inflammation could not be overcome by hBD‐2 alone. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 994–1003, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 gene (CRHR1) are associated with quantitative trait of event-related potential and alcohol dependence.

BACKGROUND Endophenotypes reflect more proximal effects of genes than diagnostic categories, hence providing a more powerful strategy in searching for genes involved in complex psychiatric disorders. There is strong evidence suggesting the P3 amplitude of the event-related potential (ERP) as an endophenotype for the risk of alcoholism and other disinhibitory disorders. Recent studies demonstrated a crucial role of corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) in the environmental stress response and ethanol self-administration in animal models. The aim of the present study was to test the potential associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CRHR1 gene and the quantitative trait, P3 amplitude during the processing of visual target signals in an oddball paradigm, as well as alcohol dependence diagnosis. METHODS We analyzed a sample from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) comprising 1049 Caucasian subjects from 209 families (including 472 alcohol-dependent individuals). Quantitative transmission disequilibrium test (QTDT) and family-based association test (FBAT) were used to test the association, and false discovery rate (FDR) was applied to correct for multiple comparisons. RESULTS Significant associations (p < 0.05) were found between the P3 amplitude and alcohol dependence with multiple SNPs in the CRHR1 gene. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that CRHR1 may be involved in modulating the P3 component of the ERP during information processing and in vulnerability to alcoholism. These findings underscore the utility of electrophysiology and the endophenotype approach in the genetic study of psychiatric disorders.
LRP1 Receptor Controls Adipogenesis and Is Up-Regulated In Human and Mouse Obese Adipose Tissue

The cell surface low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1, LRP1, plays a major role in lipid metabolism. The question that remains open concerns the function of LRP1 in adipogenesis. Here, we show that LRP1 is highly expressed in murine preadipocytes as well as in primary culture of human adipocytes. Moreover, LRP1 remains abundantly synthesised during mouse and human adipocyte differentiation. We demonstrate that LRP1 silencing in 3T3F442A murine preadipocytes significantly inhibits the expression of PPARγ, HSL and aP2 adipocyte differentiation markers after adipogenesis induction, and leads to lipid-depleted cells. We further show that the absence of lipids in LRP1-silenced preadipocytes is not caused by lipolysis induction. In addition, we provide the first evidences that LRP1 is significantly up-regulated in obese C57BI6/J mouse adipocytes and obese human adipose tissues. Interestingly, silencing of LRP1 in fully-differentiated adipocytes also reduces cellular lipid level and is associated with an increase of basal lipolysis. However, the ability of mature adipocytes to induce lipolysis is independent of LRP1 expression. Altogether, our findings highlight the dual role of LRP1 in the control of adipogenesis and lipid homeostasis, and suggest that LRP1 may be an important therapeutic target in obesity.
Investigating the Effects of Stable Profitability and Free Cash Flow on Stock Returns of Companies Listed in Tehran Stock Exchange

Given economical conditions being dominated in Iran and recent changes in domestic industries, the attention given by different groups, specifically by investors and financial analysts, to the status of enterprises and especially their efficiency has been multiplied. The managers, on the other hand, are also looking to improve their position in the competitive scene. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between free cash flow, return on equity, and factors affecting it. A sample of 84 companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange was selected through classified random sampling which were investigated for 8 years. Chow and Hausman test were used to specify the statistical methods; finally, results of the regression models indicated a strong relationship between free cash flow and return on equity. Although companies' stable or unstable profitability does not affect this relationship, it can adversely influence efficiency.
Understanding Ambivalence in Anorexia 0

People with anorexia often feel ambivalent about whether they wish to maintain it or recover from it. One place where individuals can communicate their experiences of wanting to maintain their anorexia is through pro-anorexia websites. This study investigated the experiences and understandings of those who wish to maintain their anorexia and looked at how these understandings may affect their treatment experiences. Data were collected online and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Anorexia denoted meanings of a ‘tool’ an ‘entity’ and a ‘disease’. Participants felt ambivalent about whether their anorexia gave them control or controlled them, whether it played a positive or negative role and whether they wished to maintain their behaviours or recover. Participants also discussed barriers to recovery. Theoretical and treatment implications are discussed.
Structure-from-motion based hand-eye calibration using L∞ minimization

This paper presents a novel method for so-called hand-eye calibration. Using a calibration target is not possible for many applications of hand-eye calibration. In such situations Structure-from-Motion approach of hand-eye calibration is commonly used to recover the camera poses up to scaling. The presented method takes advantage of recent results in the L∞-norm optimization using Second-Order Cone Programming (SOCP) to recover the correct scale. Further, the correctly scaled displacement of the hand-eye transformation is recovered solely from the image correspondences and robot measurements, and is guaranteed to be globally optimal with respect to the L∞-norm. The method is experimentally validated using both synthetic and real world datasets.
Membrane Potential and Bicarbonate Secretion in Isolated Interlobular Ducts from Guinea-pig Pancreas

The interlobular duct cells of the guinea-pig pancreas secrete HCO3 − across their luminal membrane into a HCO3 −-rich (125 mM) luminal fluid against a sixfold concentration gradient. Since HCO3 − transport cannot be achieved by luminal Cl−/HCO3 − exchange under these conditions, we have investigated the possibility that it is mediated by an anion conductance. To determine whether the electrochemical potential gradient across the luminal membrane would favor HCO3 − efflux, we have measured the intracellular potential (Vm) in microperfused, interlobular duct segments under various physiological conditions. When the lumen was perfused with a 124 mM Cl−-25 mM HCO3 − solution, a condition similar to the basal state, the resting potential was approximately −60 mV. Stimulation with dbcAMP or secretin caused a transient hyperpolarization (∼5 mV) due to activation of electrogenic Na+-HCO3 − cotransport at the basolateral membrane. This was followed by depolarization to a steady-state value of approximately −50 mV as a result of anion efflux across the luminal membrane. Raising the luminal HCO3 − concentration to 125 mM caused a hyperpolarization (∼10 mV) in both stimulated and unstimulated ducts. These results can be explained by a model in which the depolarizing effect of Cl− efflux across the luminal membrane is minimized by the depletion of intracellular Cl− and offset by the hyperpolarizing effects of Na+-HCO3 − cotransport at the basolateral membrane. The net effect is a luminally directed electrochemical potential gradient for HCO3 − that is sustained during maximal stimulation. Our calculations indicate that the electrodiffusive efflux of HCO3 − to the lumen via CFTR, driven by this gradient, would be sufficient to fully account for the observed secretory flux of HCO3 −.
A Real-Time Semiautonomous Audio Panning System for Music Mixing

A real-time semiautonomous stereo panning system for music mixing has been implemented. The system uses spectral decomposition, constraint rules, and cross-adaptive algorithms to perform real-time placement of sources in a stereo mix. A subjective evaluation test was devised to evaluate its quality against human panning. It was shown that the automatic panning technique performed better than a nonexpert and showed no significant statistical difference to the performance of a professional mixing engineer.
Histopathological analysis of the placental lesions in pregnancies complicated with IUGR and stillbirths in comparison with noncomplicated pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE Placental factors and hypoxemia are the keys to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and stillbirth. The aim of the study is to analyze histological changes in placentas of IUGR fetuses in pregnancies with no apparent etiologic factor and unexplained intrauterine fetal deaths. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 110 placentas were collected; 26 placentas of IUGR fetuses with no apparent cause, 58 placentas from unexplained intrauterine deaths over 20 weeks of gestation, and 26 placentas from uncomplicated pregnancies who delivered a healthy live baby. Microscopic examinations of placentas were performed for histopathological analyzes. RESULTS Gestational age at delivery was 33.67±4.37 weeks, 29.15±8.36 weeks, and 39.0±1.52 weeks in women in group I, group II and group III, respectively (p<0.01). Infarction and intervillous thrombosis are significantly more frequent in placentas of Group I and group II. Chronic villitis occurred in 69%, 63% and 30% of group I, group II, and group III, respectively. Placental intravascular thrombi (Group I, 31% and group II, 26%), perivillous fibrin deposition and fibrinoid necrosis (65% in Group I and 53% in group II), infarction, intervillous thrombosis, chronic villitis, hemorrhagic endovasculitis, placental intravascular thrombi, perivillous fibrin deposition, fibrinoid necrosis, erythroblastosis and villous edema were found in the study group. CONCLUSION The results reported here indicate that a relationship exists between morphological changes in the placentas of IUGR and intrauterine fetal deaths.