Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neural stem cells as delivery vehicles

The discovery of neural stem cells (NSCs) has changed our long-held view that the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is postmitotic and lacks the capability for self-repair. The role of NSCs in physiological and pathological processes in the brain is slowly emerging. We are now able to isolate, expand, genetically engineer and transplant NSCs. An important characteristic of NSCs, not fully understood so far, is their migratory ability and their tropism to brain pathology. The migratory ability of NSCs and their capacity to differentiate into all neural phenotypes gives us a potentially powerful tool for the treatment of both diffuse and localised neurologic disorders. The delivery of gene products by NSCs to specific sites in the CNS can maximise the efficiency of delivery and minimise the unwanted exposure of surrounding intact tissue. Here, the recent preclinical advances in the use of NSCs for the delivery of therapeutic products are reviewed, in particular the employment of their migratory potential and the homing ability to pathology in the nervous system.
Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Proposed Optimal Management During Surgery and Delivery

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) is an autosomal recessive disorder of platelet function. Conventional management is by platelet transfusion, given before invasive interventions. Alloimmunization resulting in platelet refractoriness and an unpredictable response to platelet infusion have provided particular management difficulties in the past. More recently recombinant (r)VIIa (Novoseven) has a valuable role in the treatment of platelet function disorders. Treatment of a patient with GT during two pregnancies and spinal surgery is reported. An algorithm is presented to provide a structured and consistent approach to treatment.
The Financial Turmoil of 2007-?: A Preliminary Assessment and Some Policy Considerations

The unfolding financial turmoil in mature economies has prompted the official and private sectors to reconsider policies, business models and risk management practices. Regardless of its future evolution, it already threatens to become one of the defining economic moments of the 21st century. This essay seeks to provide a preliminary assessment of the events and to draw some lessons for policies designed to strengthen the financial system on a long-term basis. It argues that the turmoil is best seen as a natural result of a prolonged period of generalised and aggressive risk-taking, which happened to have the subprime market at its epicentre. In other words, it represents the archetypal example of financial instability with potentially serious macroeconomic consequences that follows the build-up of financial imbalances in good times. The significant idiosyncratic elements, including the threat of an unprecedented involuntary "reintermediation" wave for banks and the dislocations associated with new credit risk transfer instruments, are arguably symptoms of more fundamental common causes. The policy response, while naturally taking into account the idiosyncratic weaknesses brought to light by the turmoil, should be firmly anchored to the more enduring factors that drive financial instability. This essay highlights possible mutually reinforcing steps in three areas: accounting, disclosure and risk management; the architecture of prudential regulation; and monetary policy.
The Aordable Care Act in an Economy with Public Disability Insurance

This paper examines the eects of the Aordable Care Act (ACA) by considering an important interaction between health insurance and disability insurance, which has received little attention in prior literature. Since the ACA provides insurance coverage to the otherwise uninsured, it increases this group’s health investment and reduces their demand for disability insurance. In order to capture this dynamic link, the paper extends the Bewley-Huggett-Aiyagari incomplete markets model by endogenizing health accumulation, insurance, and disability decisions. The model is calibrated to match the 2006 U.S. economy and used to examine the inuence of three main components of the ACA: Medicaid expansion, insurance subsidies, and the individual mandate. Findings suggest that the ACA raises tax rates, but reduces the fraction of working-age people receiving disability benets from 5.7 to 4.9 percent.
The Effect of Cognitive Skills on Aboriginal People's Employment Outcomes

v List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used . vi Acknowledgements . vii Chapter
Biomarkers in acute coronary syndromes and their role in diabetic patients

Diabetic patients with acute coronary syndromes are at high risk for cardiovascular complications but risk stratification in these patients remains challenging. Regularly, diabetic patients have a less typical clinical presentation, which could lead to delayed diagnosis and subsequent delayed initiation of treatment. Since diabetic patients derive particular benefit from aggressive anti-platelet therapy, early diagnostic and therapeutic risk stratification of these patients is of critical importance to improve their adverse outcome. Although the electrocardiogram remains a pivotal diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients suspected of having an acute coronary syndrome, only significant ST-segment changes provide reasonable prognostic information. Therefore, repeated assessment of circulating protein biomarkers represents a valuable diagnostic tool for improving efficacy and safety of decision-making in these patients. The combined use of biomarkers reflecting distinct pathophysiological aspects, such as myocardial necrosis, vascular inflammation, oxidative stress and neurohumoral activation, may significantly improve triage of patients with chest pain. These tools may identify those patients that are at particularly high risk for short-term and/or long-term cardiovascular events. Eventually, tailored medical and interventional treatment of diabetic patients should help to prevent these cardiac events in a cost-effective manner.
Systematic Noise and News-Driven Return Reversals

We provide systematic evidence of stock return reversals for trades placed in anticipation of an impending news release. Using quarterly earnings announcements as the information event, we find that pre-announcement returns are robust positive predictors of unexpected earnings, but robust negative predictors of announcement window returns. Selling firms with large positive preannouncement returns and buying firms with large negative pre-announcement returns earns abnormal returns of 108 basis points over the three-day announcement period. Returns are positive in 74 of 79 quarters from 1990-2009 and strongest during periods of bullish investor sentiment. Cross-sectional analyses shows that this return pattern is most pronounced among “glitter” firms and firms with poor information environments. Taken together, our results are consistent with systematic noise trades influencing pre-announcement prices that are subsequently reversed with the revelation of news.
Helicobacter pylori infection does not affect the serum level of homocysteine

TO THE EDITOR: Hyperhomocysteinemia has been reported to cause vascular endothelial damage with resulting coronary arteriosclerosis (1). Malabsorption of vitamins caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may affect the serum homocysteine concentration (2), and result in arteriosclerosis (3, 4). However, the findings of previous studies concerning the effect of H. pylori infection on homocysteine concentration are still conflicting (5, 6, 7, 8). Recently, we have found that H. pylori-seropositive elderly Japanese individuals have a significantly lower serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration than H. pylori-seronegative ones (9), suggesting that long-term infection with H. pylori may have an effect on the development of arteriosclerosis and the onset of cardiovascular disease. However, there was no difference in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level between H. pylori-positive and negative individuals under the age of 60 yr. Therefore, we investigated the serum homocysteine concentration in H. pylori-positive and negative individuals to clarify whether H. pylori infection affects homocysteine metabolism as a cause of arteriosclerosis in middle-aged individuals. The subjects were 45 healthy volunteers with H. pylori infection (mean age 39.8 yr, range 29–53 yr, 24 men), and 45 age-matched controls without infection (mean age 39.4 yr, range 31–53 yr, 19 men). The subjects' H. pylori infection status had been determined previously by both 13C-urea breath test and serology. None of the subjects had undergone eradication therapy for H. pylori infection. After obtaining the subjects' written informed consent, serum samples were collected, and total homocysteine concentrations were measured by the previously established method using high-performance liquid chromatography. Statistical analysis was performed by the Mann-Whitney U test using the SPSS statistical package (Version 6.1J for Macintosh, SPSS, Chicago, IL). Differences at p < 0.05 were considered to be significant.
Disentangling the performance effects of efficiency and bargaining power in horizontal growth strategies: An empirical investigation in the global retail industry

type="main" xml:id="smj2244-abs-0001"> Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and organic growth are two common strategies to achieve horizontal growth. In this study, we disentangle two distinct sources of firm performance corresponding to different theoretical perspectives on firm size: firms' bargaining power with respect to suppliers and customers, and operating efficiency arising from scale economies. We conceptually argue and empirically show that relatively, M&A enhance bargaining power in the short term while organic growth enhances operating efficiency over the long term. In order to disaggregate these effects, we use accounting rather than financial or managerial data and test our predictions in the global retail industry over a 20-year period. We examine implications of these results for sustainability of size-based competitive advantages . Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Corticosteroids and corticotrophin in the treatment of Crohn's disease.

EDITORIAL SYNOPSIS This paper presents results in the treatment of 105 patients suffering from Crohn's disease retrospectively analysed after 10 years, ofwhom 30 were treated with corticosteroids. The treatment was most useful in patients with extensive small bowel disease and those with recurrent disease after resection. Immediate improvement was seen in 22 out of the 30 patients, but the longterm results of treatment were only moderately encouraging: seven patients needed continued treatment; eight subsequently required operation; four died; and only three were able to give up the treatment altogether.
Emotional responses of tactile icons: Effects of amplitude, frequency, duration, and envelope

This paper is concerned with emotional responses of tactile icons. Using three sets of tactile icons in which four physical parameters-amplitude, frequency, duration, and envelope-were systematically varied, we estimated their valence and arousal scores in a perceptual experiment with 24 participants. Results showed that the four parameters have clear relationships to the emotional responses of tactile icons. Our tactile icons spanned to a large region in the valence-arousal space, but they did not elicit very positive-relaxing or very negative-relaxing emotional responses. These findings provide the design guidelines of tactile icons that have desired emotional properties.
Chemotherapeutic agent-mediated elimination of myeloid-derived suppressor cells

ABSTRACT Immunotherapy has shown great promise in the fight against cancer, as evidenced by the clinical efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T cells in hematologic malignancies and checkpoint blockade in certain solid tumors. However, a considerable number of patients fail to respond to these therapies. Induction of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) by growing tumors has been shown to be one important factor limiting the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Recently, several chemotherapeutic agents used in conventional cancer chemotherapy have been found to reduce MDSC numbers in tumor tissues as well as in the peripheral lymphoid organs, and combining these agents with immunotherapy improved survival of tumor-bearing hosts. In this review, we will highlight the effects of chemotherapeutic agents on MDSC accumulation, and examine the various factors likely to influence these effects.
On a Multiple Hilbert-Type Integral Inequality with the Symmetric Kernel

We build a multiple Hilbert-type integral inequality with the symmetric kernel and involving an integral operator. For this objective, we introduce a norm, two pairs of conjugate exponents and, and two parameters. As applications, the equivalent form, the reverse forms, and some particular inequalities are given. We also prove that the constant factors in the new inequalities are all the best possible.
elf-compassion as a mediator between attachment anxiety and body ppreciation : An exploratory model risha

Body appreciation has been found to be linked to interpersonal and intrapersonal factors, with attachment styles and self-compassion separately identified as important correlates. The present study examined these variables together in a model, and we hypothesized that maternal attachment anxiety was related to peer and romantic attachment anxiety, which, in turn, was associated with self-compassion and body appreciation. Using structural equation modeling, this cross-sectional study with a sample of 1306 incoming first year college women found that the proposed model explained 40% of the variance in body
Blue light-induced oxidative stress in human corneal epithelial cells: protective effects of ethanol extracts of various medicinal plant mixtures.

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of visible light on human corneal epithelial cells and the impact of natural antioxidants on oxidative stress produced by overexposure to light. METHODS Light-emitting diodes with various wavelengths (410-830 nm) were used to irradiate human corneal epithelial cells, and cell viability was assessed. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was analyzed using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA). Ethyl alcohol (EtOH) extracts were prepared from mixtures of medicinal plants. After application of the EtOH extracts, the free radical scavenging activity was measured using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The induction of antioxidant enzymes including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), peroxiredoxin-1 (Prx-1), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD-2) by the extracts was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The ability of the extracts to inhibit ROS was also analyzed using DCF-DA. RESULTS The viability of corneal epithelial cells was diminished after irradiation of blue light (above 10 J at 410 nm and 50 J at 480 nm). Reactive oxygen species production was induced by irradiation at 410 and 480 nm at doses of 5 J/cm(2) and higher. Ethyl alcohol extracts had potent radical scavenging activity. Application of the extracts not only increased the expression of HO-1, Prx-1, CAT, and SOD-2, but it also attenuated the ROS production induced by blue light in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS Overexposure to blue light (410-480 nm) may have a harmful effect on human corneal epithelial cells compared with other visible light wavelengths. Medicinal plant extracts can have potent protective effects on blue light-induced oxidative stress.
A Longitudinal Examination of Individual, Organizational, and Contextual Factors on Sales Technology Adoption and Job Performance

This longitudinal research examines the impact of individual differences, organizational factors, and contextual influences on intention to adopt and adoption of sales force automation (SFA) technology, and the corresponding effect of adoption on sales performance. Data were collected prior to the introduction of SFA and six months later from 156 salespeople at a major manufacturing firm. In addition to demonstrating that training, customer pressure, and peer use play important roles in SFA adoption, this research is the first to indicate that one's goal orientation also affects adoption behaviors. Beyond examining factors that drive technology adoption, the longitudinal methodology employed in this study provides unique evidence that the adoption of sales technology tools enhances job performance.
The effect of certain chelating substances (EDTA) upon cholesterol metabolism in the rat.

7 ml. to each rat by continuous infusion over the ensuing 24-hour into cannulated lumbar vein. At the end of this 24-hour interval all rats were bled for determination of plasma cholesterol. cholesterol content as previously described (13). Nine rats received a daily subcutaneous injection of 30 mg. of disodium EDTA for 3 days prior to collection of bile and during the 24-hour period of collection of bile each rat also received 7.2 ml. of solution (pH 7.25) containing 50 mg. of disodium EDTA by continuous intravenous injection into a cannulated lumbar vein. The remaining 8 rats served as controls and during the bile collection interval each rat received a continuous intravenous injection of 5 per cent glucose solution. Plasma cholesterol was determined in all rats at the end of the collection period.
An examination of the effects of service quality and satisfaction on customers' behavioral intentions in e‐shopping

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of service quality and satisfaction on three consumer behavioral intentions, namely word‐of‐mouth, site revisit, and purchase intentions in the context of internet shopping.Design/methodology/approach – To achieve this objective 240 online interviews were carried out (response rate 24 percent) from a randomly generated sample of 1,052 online shoppers using the database of a leading Internet provider in Greece as the sample frame.Findings – Data analysis involved the comparison of three rival models using structural equations modeling. The prevailed model reveals that e‐service quality has a positive effect on e‐satisfaction, while it also influences, both directly and indirectly through e‐satisfaction, the consumer's behavioral intentions, namely site revisit, word‐of‐mouth communication and repeat purchase.Research limitations/implications – The results confirm that cognitive evaluations precede emotional responses and that quality is a strong.
A Cross-Cultural Perspective on the Role of Branding in Financial Services: The Small Business Market

Research in services marketing has recognised the role of brands as aids to customers’ decision making, particularly in situations where credence qualities and perceived risk may be high. In practice, there is limited empirical evidence for the role played by brands in highly intangibly contexts such as financial services. This paper explores the role of the brand in relation to bank selection by small business customers in two culturally distinct countries, namely Egypt and the UK. The results indicate that there is considerable similarity in the role played by brands in both countries and suggest that greater emphasis should be placed on brands when developing marketing strategies for the small business market.
Sleep disorders in Wilson’s disease

Background: Wilson’s disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive inherited disease with copper accumulation; neurodegeneration is associated with dopaminergic deficit. The aim of the study is to verify sleep co‐morbidity by questionnaire and objective sleep examinations (polysomnography, multiple sleep latency test).
Using Gagne’s 9 Events of Instruction to Enhance Student Performance and Course Evaluations in Undergraduate Nursing Course

Teaching large numbers of students can be a challenge for both teachers and students. Implementing new teaching strategies may be 1 way to address the problem. This article presents the impact of using Gagne’s 9 events of instruction on student learning and course evaluations over a 3-semester period. Student evaluations indicated enhanced teacher mastery, effectiveness, and enthusiasm. Overall student final grades increased.
Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems ( PACIS ) 7-15-2012 Enabling Interorganizational System Integration : The Compromise Perspective

Firms have been increasingly using inter-organizational systems (IOS) to enhance transaction efficiency. IOS integration thus has become critical in facilitating tighter integration between trading partners. Firms, however, still face various difficulties that impede the implementation of IOS integration, such as potential adversarial behaviors and conflicts. Thus, exploring how to effectively promote IOS integration is significant for both theory development and practice. This study applies the concept of compromise and develops interfirm process compromise and technology compromise based on the relational view. These two compromise constructs, as relational preconditions, are proposed to affect the achievement of better IOS integration. The results of this study support the hypothesized direct effect of technology compromise on IOS integration based on 44 matched-pair samples gathered from the top 1000 Taiwanese manufacturing firms. We also propose and show the indirect effect of interfirm process compromise on IOS integration, mediated by technology compromise. Our results provide the theoretical and practical implications that contribute a better understanding of the role of compromises in developing IOS integration. The model and findings of this study should be able to serve as a basis for future research in examining IOS integration.
Signs, symbols and metaphor: linking self with text in inquiry-based learning

The focus in this article is on the role of symbol and metaphor in the development of student self-awareness and engagement in the process of learning. It draws on a case-study which explored the process of an inquiry-based learning project in an Indigenous learning centre in a school in New South Wales, Australia. The data used for this article were taken from the first stage of the inquiry project – the construction of a shared language for learning. The article argues that developing a rich and local language for learning, that links to the collective consciousness of a community through metaphors and symbols, is a crucial prerequisite for inquiry-based learning. It reveals how the naming of native Australian animals as icons for learning power, the co-construction of a learning story and the creation of a self-portrait as a learner collage provide mechanisms through which the students can performatively re-represent and recall their identities as learners. The processes enable the students to make connections between self and the meanings carried in the pictorial texts to develop self-awareness and responsibility for their own learning. It also provides the learners and their mentors with the necessary symbols and metaphors to scaffold the process of the inquiry in ways that allowed them to use the metaphors associated with the symbols to talk about change and to begin to engage with the formal requirements of the curriculum.