Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Celution® System: Automated Processing of Adipose-Derived Regenerative Cells in a Functionally Closed System.

Objective: To develop a closed, automated system that standardizes the processing of human adipose tissue to obtain and concentrate regenerative cells suitable for clinical treatment of thermal and radioactive burn wounds. Approach: A medical device was designed to automate processing of adipose tissue to obtain a clinical-grade cell output of stromal vascular cells that may be used immediately as a therapy for a number of conditions, including nonhealing wounds resulting from radiation damage. Results: The Celution® System reliably and reproducibly generated adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) from tissue collected manually and from three commercial power-assisted liposuction devices. The entire process of introducing tissue into the system, tissue washing and proteolytic digestion, isolation and concentration of the nonadipocyte nucleated cell fraction, and return to the patient as a wound therapeutic, can be achieved in approximately 1.5 h. An alternative approach that applies ultrasound energy in place of enzymatic digestion demonstrates extremely poor efficiency cell extraction. Innovation: The Celution System is the first medical device validated and approved by multiple international regulatory authorities to generate autologous stromal vascular cells from adipose tissue that can be used in a real-time bedside manner. Conclusion: Initial preclinical and clinical studies using ADRCs obtained using the automated tissue processing Celution device described herein validate a safe and effective manner to obtain a promising novel cell-based treatment for wound healing.
Intertemporal Price Cap Regulation Under Uncertainty

This paper examines the intertemporal price cap regulation of a firm that has market power. Under uncertainty, the unconstrained firm 'waits longer' before investing or adding to capacity and as a corollary, enjoys higher prices over time than would be observed in an equivalent competitive industry. In the certainty case, the imposition of an inter-temporal price cap can be used to realise the competitive market solution; by contrast, under uncertainty, it cannot. Even if the price cap is optimally chosen, under uncertainty, the monopoly firm will generally (a) under-invest and (b) impose quantity rationing on its customers. Copyright 2004 Royal Economic Society.
Extending strategic international human resource management research and pedagogy to the non-profit multinational

This article calls for the inclusion of multinational non-profit organizations in the research and pedagogy of strategic international human resource management. Multinational non-profit enterprise is increasingly influential, both economically and philosophically, as economic and socio-cultural boundaries become more interdependent. Yet the multinational non-profit sector has been ignored by international human resource management scholars. When research and pedagogy overlook practice, a concern exists with regard to their relevance. By outlining the international development of multinational non-profit enterprise, the article contextualizes strategic international human resource management in multinational intermediate private aid and development agencies. Analysis of a particular example, World Vision Australia, illustrates the discussion.
Evaluation of agreement of placental growth factor (PlGF) tests and the soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1)/PlGF ratio, comparison of predictive accuracy for pre-eclampsia, and relation to uterine artery Doppler and response to aspirin

Abstract Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate agreement between PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio tests and compare their predictive accuracy for pre-eclampsia in high-risk women. Also, to examine for associations of abnormal PlGF or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio with abnormal uterine artery Doppler and platelet response to aspirin. Methods: Prospective cohort study, 150 pregnant women at high risk of pre-eclampsia prescribed 75 mg aspirin daily. Uterine artery Dopplers were assessed at 20+0–23+6 weeks. At 33+0–35+6 weeks platelet function aspirin metabolites, PlGF and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were measured. Outcome: Measures were all pre-eclampsia and pre-eclampsia requiring delivery prior to 37 weeks. Results: Overall percent agreement was 89.3% for PlGF tests but 74.7–78% for PlGF tests and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. AUCs were 0.70–0.75 for prediction of any pre-eclampsia and 0.92–0.99 for preterm pre-eclampsia. We found a significant association between abnormal PlGF or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and abnormal uterine artery Doppler (χ2 5.47, p = .019), but no association with platelet response to aspirin (χ2 0.12, p = .913). There were no associations between suboptimal aspirin adherence and either abnormal angiogenic markers or uterine artery Dopplers (χ2 0.144, 0.038, p = .704, .846, respectively). Conclusions: There was good agreement between PlGF tests and limited agreement between PlGF tests and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. All tests have heightened predictive accuracy for preterm pre-eclampsia. Abnormal PlGF or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio relates to abnormal uterine artery Doppler but not platelet response to aspirin.
A Social Ecological Perspective of the Influential Factors for Food Access Described by Low-Income Seniors

ABSTRACT Understanding the factors that affect food access and consumption by seniors will lead to improved comprehension and measurement of food security for this subgroup. Semi-structured interviews with low-income, community-living seniors (n = 18) were tape-recorded and transcribed. Interviews were coded and themes were identified using a constant comparison method of analysis. Applying a social ecological framework, three spheres of influence were described: intrapersonal (e.g., health and budget), interpersonal (e.g., informal assistance and socializing) and environmental (e.g., city transportation and grocery stores). Although preliminary, these results demonstrate the importance of interpersonal and environmental factors on food access and security for seniors.
The role of unemployment insurance during the economic and financial crisis

The aim of this paper is to discuss the role of unemployment insurance during recession. Firstly, it presents a brief literature review, according to which unemployment insurance works as a built-in stabilizer for the economy. Secondly, it highlights certain characteristics of these programs in developed and developing countries, in recession periods. Also, it analyzes the evolution of Romanian unemployment insurance indicators during 2004-2009 and finds that public expenditures had an opposite trend to that of GDP and budgetary revenues, decreasing during periods of economic growth and increasing during the current recession, which suggests an interaction with the economic cycle.
New Hedonic Estimates of Regional Constant Quality House Prices

This paper employs a new national data set to estimate constant quality dwelling prices for four regions of the country. The data set, collected by the National Association of Realtors, provides sale prices, locations and characteristics of 5581 dwellings sold during the years 1986 - 1992 inclusive. The paper provides the first national hedonic analysis based upon transaction prices of sample dwellings. The estimated equation implies that more than half of dwelling price increases during the period resulted from quality improvements in dwellings.
Magnitude X on the Richter Scale: Welfare Cost of Business Cycles in Developing Countries

Economic fluctuations are much stronger in developing countries than in the United States. Yet, while a large literature debates what constitutes a reasonable estimate of the welfare cost of business cycles in the US, it remains an open question how large that cost is in developing countries. Using several model economies, we provide such a measure for a large number of low--income countries. Our first main result is that the welfare cost of output fluctuations per se is far from trivial in those countries, and typically averages 15 to 30 times the corresponding estimate for the US. Our second major result is that, in many poor countries, that cost may in fact exceed the welfare cost of significantly lower growth.
The Quality Organization: A Conceptual Framework

Abstract The quality organization has implemented a set of interdependent behaviors aimed at satisfying its stakeholders. Stakeholders' dissatisfaction inhibits management's ability to implement the behaviors, and management's failure to implement the behaviors leads to stakeholders' dissatisfaction. A challenge managers are confronted with is how to implement the behaviors and reconcile stakeholders' conflicting needs and demands. Subsequent to the development of this framework, the writer asked employed MBA students to rate the extent their corporations practice contemporary thought, as they perceive it. Propositions were fully discussed in class prior to the ratings. Students were asked to prepare a term paper describing the rationality for their ratings. The findings are that today's organizations pay a lot of attention to the external environment, their organizational structures are still too tall, and the Theory X managerial mindset is still more prevalent than the Theory Y mindset. This study's limitation is that it involved only MBA students enrolled in the writer's management and organization course in the school of business at Montclair State University. Therefore, the findings cannot be tested scientifically or generalized. The practical implication of the findings is that organizations need to establish a system where there is more internal communication, cooperation and collaboration among their subunits.
Adverse events following smallpox vaccination with ACAM2000 in a military population.

BACKGROUND Generalized vaccinia and benign exanthems are 2 adverse events that have been associated with the smallpox vaccination. Accurate incidence and prevalence rates of each are not readily available, but these events are thought to be uncommon. To our knowledge, this is the first case series to provide clinical as well as pathologic descriptions of multiple papulovesicular eruptions occurring after receiving the second-generation smallpox vaccine, ACAM2000 (Acambis, Canton, Massachusetts), among a vaccinia-naïve military population. In addition, we report the first confirmed case, to our knowledge, of generalized vaccinia following administration of the ACAM2000 vaccine. OBSERVATIONS All patients received primary smallpox immunization as well as 1 to 3 concurrent or near-concurrent (within the preceding 21 days) immunizations for typhoid, anthrax, hepatitis B, and/or seasonal influenza. One patient presented with a flulike prodrome and diffuse vesiclopustules covering the face, neck, chest, back, and upper and lower extremities. Vaccinia polymerase chain reaction confirmed generalized vaccinia. The remaining 7 patients presented with unusual, painful, and pruritic papulovesicular eruptions occurring on the extensor surfaces of their upper and lower extremities without systemic symptoms. Histologic findings revealed 2 general patterns, including a dermal hypersensitivity reaction with lymphocytic vasculitis and a vesicular spongiotic dermatitis with eosinophils. CONCLUSIONS We present the first confirmed case of generalized vaccinia following immunization with the second-generation smallpox vaccine ACAM2000. In addition, we describe 7 cases of benign, acral, papulovesicular eruptions thought to be associated with ACAM2000 administration. Further research is needed to discern the pathogenesis of these benign eruptions as well as their incidence and prevalence and that of generalized vaccinia with ACAM2000.
Autoassociative Memory Evolving System Based on Fuzzy Basis Functions

Autoassociative Memory Evolving System Based on Fuzzy Basis Functions This paper proposes a neuro-fuzzy architecture of evolving autoassociative memory network. Learning of a given construction is based on fuzzy basis functions. The algorithm of membership functions centres determination is described and processes of fundamental memory patterns accumulation and their retrieval are considered. This hybrid neuro-fuzzy system combines advantages of artificial neural networks, fuzzy inference systems and evolving systems and its using allows researchers to increase autoassociative memory capacity without considerable complication of its construction. Uz izplūdušām bāzes funkcijām balstīta autoasociatīvās atmiņas evolucionējoša sistēma Rakstā piedāvāta evolucionējošas autoasociatīvas atmiņas neironu-izplūduma arhitektūra. Dotās konstrukcijas apmācības algoritms balstīts uz izplūdušu bāzes funkciju izmantošanu. Piedāvāts bāzes funkciju jeb piederības funkciju centru noteikšanas algoritms, kā arī izskatīti fundamentālās atmiņas tēlu uzkrāšanas un to turpmākas atjaunošanas procesi. Apskatītās arhitektūras apmācības process tiek realizēts pēc principa "neironi datu punktos" tādā veidā, lai piederības funkciju centri sakristu ar iegaumējamo tēlu projekciju koordinātām. Piedāvātā hibrīdā evolucionējošā neironu-izplūduma sistēma ietver mākslīgo neironu tīklu, izplūdušā izveduma sistēmu un evolucionējošo sistēmu priekšrocības, un tās izmantošana ļauj paaugstināt autoasociatīvās atmiņas lielumu, nesarežgījot tās konstrukciju. Ieviestajai evolucionējošās neironu-izplūduma asociatīvās atmiņas sistēmai piemīt plašas funkcionālās iespējas, un tā ļauj realizēt atjaunošanu svērtā fundamentālās atmiņas tēlu kombināciju formā. Эволюционирующая система автоассоциативной памяти на основе нечётких базисных функций В статье предложена нейро - фаззи архитектура эволюционирующей автоассоциативной памяти. Алгоритм обучения данной конструкции основан на использовании нечетких базисных функций. Представлен алгоритм определения центров базисных функций или функций принадлежности, а также рассмотрены процессы накопления образов фундаментальной памяти и их последующего восстановления. Процесс обучения данной архитектуры реализуется по принципу -нейроны в точках данных - так, что центры функций принадлежности совпадают с координатами проекций запоминаемых образов. Предложенная гибридная эволюционирующая нейро - фаззи система сочетает в себе преимущества искусственных нейронных сетей, систем нечеткого вывода, и эволюционирующих систем, а её использование позволяет повысить емкость автоассоциативной памяти без существенного усложнения конструкции. Введенная система эволюционирующей нейро - фаззи ассоциативной памяти обладает расширенными функциональными возможностями и позволяет производить восстановление в форме взвешенной комбинации образов фундаментальной памяти.
Choosing Whether to Buy or Make: The Contracting Out of Employment Reintegration Services by Dutch Municipalities

The Western welfare states are under reform. An important part of these reforms is the introduction of market type mechanisms for the deliverance of public services. Over the years, many countries have chosen to contract out employment reintegration services. The underlying notion of contracting out is the belief that the introduction of market elements in the production of public services increases effectiveness and efficiency. In addition to the cost benefit argument for contracting out public services, ideology is often brought forward as an important factor explaining why public services are provided in-house. In this article, we analyze to what extent cost benefit arguments and ideology affect the make or buy decision of Dutch municipalities. The Dutch employment reintegration market poses an interesting case in point since Dutch municipalities have the option to either provide employment reintegration services themselves or to buy services on the market. Our analysis shows that cost benefit arguments do not play a role in the make or buy decision of Dutch municipalities. Ideology, however, does. Municipalities that adhere to the principles of New Public Management more often opt to buy employment reintegration services on the market. Also the outcomes of municipal elections have been found to be of importance - left-wing municipalities more often choose in-house service provision.
The role of respiratory epithelium in a rat model of obliterative airway disease.

BACKGROUND The etiology and pathogenesis of obliterative bronchiolitis after lung transplantation remain to be fully elucidated. Using a rat model of heterotopically transplanted trachea grafts, we have examined the role airway epithelium plays in obliterative airway disease (OAD). METHODS Rat trachea isografts were denuded of epithelium by protease digestion. Grafts were inoculated either with or without native airway epithelial cells and transplanted into the omentum of recipient animals. RESULTS Airway epithelium removal resulted in OAD in denuded isogeneic trachea grafts. Reseeding of the denuded grafts with epithelial cells significantly reduced airway obliteration from 78% to 22% luminal occlusion. CONCLUSIONS Non-immune-mediated injury will cause OAD, and epithelial cell replacement in denuded isografts can significantly reduce the fibrotic progression of the disease.
Measuring efficiency of Higher Education institutions

In this paper, we use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Stochastic Frontier (SF) analysis to obtain efficiency ranking and scores of Italian universities. The results are then compared. Differences between DEA and SF results are more attributable to heterogeneity among universities than to differences in methodologies. Indeed, after clustering universities in homogenous groups, similarities between DEA and SF results emerge. Finally, some policy implications are derived.
Food Desertification: Situating Choice and Class Relations within an Urban Political Economy of Declining Food Access

While food deserts create whole sets of tangible consequences for people living within them, the problem has yet to be the subject of much normative, in-depth evaluation as an urban political economy of food access. This paper provides a critical analysis of a specific food desert and its responses, drawing on a case study of the low-income, spatially segregated North End of the small city of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The main thrust of the paper is that the food desert remains a useful yet underexplored phenomenon through which to reveal the complexities and tensions surrounding the treatment of “choice” in a classed society. Understood as an urban political economy of declining food access, the food desert phenomenon reveals capital’s complex role in the promotion or violation of dignity through the urban geographies of acquiring food for oneself, family, or household. Through the data presented here, the article also argues for a collective pause among critical scholars to radicalize, rather than reject, the role of consumer choice in a more just food system, and for further normative engagement with urban landscapes of retail consolidation.
The extent of informational efficiency in the credit default swap market: evidence from post-earnings announcement returns

Under semi-strong market efficiency future returns are unpredictable from previously released information. We test the degree of semi-strong form market efficiency in the credit default swap (CDS) market by examining the relationship between subsequent CDS returns and previously announced quarterly earnings surprises and quarterly accruals, both of which have been the source of stock market anomalies. We conduct our analysis over three time periods: (1) before the credit crisis that spanned from July 2007 to June 2009, (2) during the credit crisis, and (3) after the credit crisis. Both before and after the credit crisis, the CDS market was efficient, exhibiting no systematic relation between subsequent CDS returns and previously announced accounting information. During the credit crisis, however, we find that both quarterly earnings surprises and quarterly accruals are associated with systematic patterns in subsequent CDS returns that are consistent with underreaction to both measures. In the latter stages of the crisis, the pattern reverses, consistent with the CDS market overreacting to both measures although the overreaction is short-lived. Collectively, our results indicate that the CDS market is efficient during periods of relative economic stability but call into question its efficiency during less stable economic periods.
Private Voluntary Organizations Engaged in International Assistance, 1939-2004

U.S.-based private and voluntary organizations (PVOs) play an important role in international assistance. To assess this role, the authors constructed a new data set that covers more than 1,600 secular and religious PVOs that registered with the U.S. federal government between 1939 and 2004. In the post—World War II period, major revenue patterns are the rise of Evangelical PVOs, decline of Jewish PVOs, and rapid growth of secular PVOs from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. The authors analyze the determinants of changes in PVO size, gauged by real revenue. They focus on the interplay between public revenue (from the federal government, international organizations, and other governments) and private revenue. Specifically, they investigate whether funds from the federal government and other public entities serve as a magnet for subsequent private support.
Changes in skin reactivity and associated factors in patients sensitized to house dust mites after 1 year of allergen-specific immunotherapy

Background Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) can significantly improve symptoms and reduce the need for symptomatic medication. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate changes in skin reactivity to house dust mites (HDMs) as an immunologic response and associated factors after 1 year of immunotherapy. Methods A total of 80 patients with allergic airway diseases who received subcutaneous SIT with HDMs from 2009 to 2014 were evaluated. The investigated parameters were basic demographic characteristics, skin reactivity and specific IgE for HDM, serum total IgE level, blood eosinophil counts, and medication score. Results The mean levels of skin reactivity to HDMs, blood eosinophil counts, and medication scores after 1 year were significantly reduced from baseline. In univariate comparison of the changes in skin reactivity to HDMs, age ≤30 years, HDMs only as target of immunotherapy, and high initial skin reactivity (≥2) to HDMs were significantly associated with the reduction in skin test reactivity. In multivariate analysis, high initial skin reactivity and HDMs only as target allergens were significantly associated with changes in skin reactivity to HDMs. In the receiver operating characteristic curve of the initial mean skin reactivity to HDMs for more than 50% reduction, the optimal cutoff value was 2.14. Conclusion This study showed significant reductions in allergen skin reactivity to HDMs after 1 year of immunotherapy in patients sensitized to HDMs. The extent of initial allergen skin reactivity and only HDMs as target allergen were important predictive factors for changes in skin reactivity.
k-Means Algorithm in Statistical Shape Analysis

In this work it is shown how the k-means method for clustering objects can be applied in the context of statistical shape analysis. Because the choice of the suitable distance measure is a key issue for shape analysis, the Hartigan and Wong k-means algorithm is adapted for this situation. Simulations on controlled artificial data sets demonstrate that distances on the pre-shape spaces are more appropriate than the Euclidean distance on the tangent space. Finally, results are presented of an application to a real problem of oceanography, which in fact motivated the current work.