Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Collagen Scaffold With Bcl-2-Modified Adipose-Derived Stem Cells on Diabetic Mice Wound Healing

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of collagen scaffold with Bcl-2-modified adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on wound repair in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. A round full thickness skin defect with a diameter of 7 mm was made in the mice model. The experimental mice were divided into 4 groups (n = 12 each): group A (control group), group B (scaffold group), group C (ADSCs-scaffold group), and group D (Bcl-2-ADSCs-scaffold group). On days 3, 7, 10, and 14 after surgery, characteristics of wound healing was observed, and wound tissues were sampled for histology characteristics via hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining. Compared with other groups, the wound healing rate was significantly higher in group D a week after operation (P < .05). On the seventh day postoperation, group D exhibited higher blood vessel in the wounds granulation tissue than other groups according to results of hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that collagen scaffold with Bcl-2 modified ADSCs may effectively improve the wound healing process in diabetic mice.
The Ammonoid Recovery After the End-Permian Mass Extinction: Evidence from the Iran-Transcaucasia Area, Siberia, Primorye, and Kazakhstan

Investigations of the Upper Permian strata in the Iran-Transcaucasia resulted in identification of 32 ammonoid genera. The majority of ammonoids in this collection belong to the order Ceratitida (75%). Among Dzhulfian ceratitid ammonoids representatives of the family Araxoceratidae (Otoceratoidea) are most abundant. The assemblage structure changed radically during latest Permian (Dorashamian) time, bringing a domination of the family Dzhulfitidae. The Induan (Lower Triassic) succession in the Verkhoyansk area provided a few groups of ammonoids which are Palaeozoic in type: families Episageceratidae (Episageceras), Xenodiscidae (Aldanuceras and Metuphiceras), and Dzhulfitidae (Tumpuphiceras) and superfamily Otoceratoidea (Otuceras and Vaviluvites). It demonstrates the survival of ammonoids belonging to these groups the Permian—Triassic (P—T) boundary extinction event and their quick migration to the vast areas of higher latitudes (together with some representatives of the Mesozoic-type families). Induan—Olenekian ammonoid successions in South Primorye, Mangyshlak, and Arctic Siberia illustrate the high rate of Early Triassic ammonoid recovery in both the Tethys and the Boreal realm. New ammonoid taxa are described: Proptychitina subordo nov., Ussuritina subordo nov., Subbalhaeceras shigetai gen. and sp. nov. (Flemingitidae), Mesohedenstruemia ulgae sp. nov. (Hedenstrormiidae), and Inyuites sedini sp. nov. (Inyoitidae).
Goodness of fit for the extreme value distribution

SUMMARY In this paper we present goodness of fit tests for the extreme value distribution, based on the empirical distribution function statistics W2, U2 and A2. Asymptotic percentage points are given for each of the three statistics, for the three cases where one or both of the parameters of the distribution must be estimated from the data. Slight modifications of the calculated statistics are given to enable the points to be used with small samples.
ZnO@TiO2 Core Shell Nanorod Arrays with Tailored Structural, Electrical, and Optical Properties for Photovoltaic Application

ZnO has prominent electron transport and optical properties, beneficial for photovoltaic application, but its surface is prone to the formation of defects. To overcome this problem, we deposited nanostructured TiO2 thin film on ZnO nanorods to form a stable shell. ZnO nanorods synthesized by wet-chemistry are single crystals. Three different procedures for deposition of TiO2 were applied. The influence of preparation methods and parameters on the structure, morphology, electrical and optical properties were studied. Nanostructured TiO2 shells show different morphologies dependent on deposition methods: (1) separated nanoparticles (by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) in Ar), (2) a layer with nonhomogeneous thickness (by PLD in vacuum or DC reactive magnetron sputtering), and (3) a homogenous thin layer along the nanorods (by chemical deposition). Based on the structural study, we chose the preparation parameters to obtain an anatase structure of the TiO2 shell. Impedance spectroscopy shows pure electron conductivity that was considerably better in all the ZnO@TiO2 than in bare ZnO nanorods or TiO2 layers. The best conductivity among the studied samples and the lowest activation energy was observed for the sample with a chemically deposited TiO2 shell. Higher transparency in the visible part of spectrum was achieved for the sample with a homogenous TiO2 layer along the nanorods, then in the samples with a layer of varying thickness.
Gamogenetic cycle, condition index and meat yield of the Noah’s Ark shell (Arca noae Linnaeus, 1758) from Gerence Bay, Aegean Sea Turkey

Bu calismada Gerence Korfezi’nde (Ege Denizi, Turkiye) Arca noae Linnaeus, 1758 turunun (Nuhun gemisi) gametogenik dongusu, kondisyon indeksi ve et verimi Agustos 2009 ve Temmuz 2010 tarihleri arasinda takip edilmistir. Her ornekleme doneminde sicaklik, tuzluluk, klorofil-a, partikul organik ve partikul inorganik madde icerigi belirlenmistir. Yapilan histolojik calismalara gore dinlenme safhasi Eylul ayinda %100 olarak tespit edilmistir. Eylul ayinin disinda, dol atimi tum yil boyunca gozlenmis ve Nisan ile Haziran aylari arasinda yuksek degerlerde oldugu belirlenmistir. Cinsiyet orani esit olarak tespit edilmemistir ve disiler populasyonda baskindir (2:1). Et verimi, kondisyon indeksi ve gonadindeksi arasinda pozitif iliski tespit edilmistir (P≤0.05). Cevresel parametreler icerisinde sadece partikul inorganik madde ile ureme arasinda ters iliski oldugu tespit edilmistir (P≤0.05).
Regulatory T Cells Induce Metastasis by Activating Tgf-Β and Enhancing the Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition

Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer; a substantial percentage of patients present with distant metastases. However, the mechanism of metastasis is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that the administration of exogenous regulatory T cells (Tregs) into melanoma tumor-bearing mice results in a significant increase in lung metastasis. An increase in the invasive and metastatic phenotype of melanoma was mediated by cell-to-cell contact between melanoma cells and Tregs, which elevated the expression level of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and the subsequent induction of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). B16-BL6 melanoma tumors co-cultured with Tregs showed a larger population of migrating cells compared to B16-BL6 tumors cultured without Tregs. Additionally, the injection of exogenous Tregs into B16-BL6 melanoma tumors led to the recruitment and infiltration of endogenous Tregs into tumor tissues, thus increasing the overall Treg percentage in the tumor infiltrating lymphocyte population. Collectively, our findings propose novel mechanisms in which exogenous Treg-dependent upregulation of TGF-β and mesenchymal markers is important for augmenting the migration capacity and invasiveness of melanoma, thereby contributing to the metastasis.
Day-to-day variation in yield, composition and somatic cell count of saleable milk in hand-milked zebu dairy cattle.

The aim of the study was to determine the relative day-to-day variation in yield and composition of zebu cows. Ten multiparous zebu cows in day 41 ± 1.6 of lactation were used in the study. After a 14 day adaptation period, milk production was recorded daily for four consecutive weeks. Cows had access to natural pasture for 6.5 h per day and were also supplemented with hay, cottonseed cake and molasses. The cows were hand-milked and calves were used to stimulate milk ejection before and during milking. Average yield of saleable milk was 2.08 ± 0.23 l/day with a relative day-to-day variation of 18 -21%. The variation of saleable milk was 23 - 25% for fat, 12 - 14% for protein, 6% for lactose and 8% for somatic cell count. The variation in fat content was higher in strip milk (19 - 46%) than in saleable milk. The results indicated a larger variation in composition of milk from hand-milked Bos indicus Zebu than from machine-milked Bos taurus cows. The most likely reasons for the difference in variation are the suckling by the calf and that hand-milking entails larger variation in the degree of emptying machinemilking does.
Loss of FoxA2 accelerates neoplastic changes in the intrahepatic bile duct partly via the MAPK signaling pathway

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is characterized by a highly aggressive nature and a dismal outcome. FOXA2 is an archetypal transcription factor involved in cholangiocyte proliferation. Results: FOXA2 expression was negatively correlated with tumor stage (p = 0.024). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that low FoxA2 expression was associated with tumor relapse and survival. At 20 weeks after TAA administration, FoxA2-/- mice displayed significant manifestations of neoplasia, while WT mice did not. RNA sequencing analysis showed that the expression of genes in the MAPK signaling pathway was significantly higher in FoxA2-/- mice. IHC and Western blot results showed that p-ERK1/2, CREB1 and RAS were highly expressed in FoxA2-/- mice. Furthermore, using in vitro experiments with siRNA, we found that low expression of FoxA2 could exacerbate the metastatic potential of ICC. The expression of p-ERK1/2 and RAS, which are key mediators of the MAPK signaling pathway, was significantly increased. Conclusion: Low FOXA2 expression negatively affected the prognosis of patients with ICC. Loss of FoxA2 expression could promote intrahepatic bile duct neoplasia partly via activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Materials and methods: In all, the data of 85 patients with ICC were retrospectively collected and analyzed. TAA was used to induce ICC in FoxA2-/- mice and WT mice. RNA-sequencing analysis was used to identify the expression of different genes.
Self-Assembly Supramolecular Systems Based on Guanidinium Salts Modified Hyperbranched Polyamidoamine and Cationic Acrylamide Copolymers

Herein, novel hyperbranched polyamidoamine guanidinium salts (GS-h-PAMAM) and two cationic acrylamide copolymers P(AM-DAC-ABSM) and P(AM-DAC-AMTU) were successfully prepared. Then, self-assembly supramolecular systems were synthesized by directly mixing GS-h-PAMAM with copolymers in aqueous solution, and the mechanism of the self-assembly process was speculated. FT-IR, NMR, and SEM were used for structural confirmation. Furthermore, the excellent solution properties revealed that the supramolecular systems had potential application in clay hydration inhibitors. More importantly, utilizing functionalized hyperbranched polyamidoamine in the synthesis self-assembly supramolecular systems was an effective strategy for expanding their application fields and developing new functional materials, providing a powerful reference for the next study.
Comparison of the Effect of Tanacethum Parthenium, 5-Hydroxy Tryptophan, and Magnesium (Aurastop) versus Magnesium Alone on Aura Phenomenon and Its Evolution

None of the clinical trials on migraine conducted thus far have focused on the possibility to modulate the phenomenon of aura. Furthermore, whether proper management of aura results in a better control of the headache phase has been poorly investigated. In the setting of a single-center, pilot, clinical trial, we aimed at comparing the effects of Aurastop (a combination of tanacetum parthenium (150 mg extracted at 0.8% = 1.2 mg di of active parthenolide), griffonia simplicifoila (20 mg of 5-hydroxy tryptophan), and magnesium (185 mg of magnesium pidolatum)) with those of magnesium alone (2.25 grams/tablet, corresponding to 184 mg of Mg++) in the treatment of acute attacks of migraine with aura. Between June 2017 and June 2018, 50 consecutive patients (27/23 male/female; mean age, 31 [18–57] years) with at least 3 episodes of aura per year were included (t0). Participants were instructed to keep track of the following 4 episodes of migraine with aura (t1) and invited to assume (1) a tablet of Aurastop at the beginning of the following 2 episodes of aura and (2) a magnesium tablet alone at the occurrence of the third and fourth aura attacks. Forty-eight patients (96.0%) had >50% reduction in aura duration when treated with Aurastop vs. 7 patients (14.0%) when treated with magnesium alone (p < 0.001); 48 patients (96.0%) had >50% reduction of aura-related disability when receiving Aurastop vs. 5 patients (10.0%) when treated with magnesium alone (p < 0.001); however, patients receiving Aurastop did not need to take pain killers in 35% of aura attacks vs. 3% when assuming magnesium (p < 0.001). These results support the hypothesis that Aurastop might be effective in interfering with the phenomenon of aura and provide evidence that the clinical benefit attributable to this combination of molecules might be greater than that obtained with single compounds of proven effect on the biology of migraine.
Concentration on the few? R&D and innovation in German firms between 2001 and 2013

[Introduction] Innovation expenditures in Germany have increased at an impressive rate in the course of the last two decades. Between 1995 and 2013, businesses in Germany raised their spending for developing and introducing new products and new processes from €60.8bn to €144.6bn resulting in a compound annual growth rate of 4.9% (Rammer et al. 2015). While these numbers suggest that German firms have become ever more focused on innovation, they hide the fact that this rise has mainly been driven by large firms belonging to a few sectors. When we look at the above numbers by firm size we find that firms with fewer than 500 employees experienced only a very modest increase in their innovation expenditures (€25.7bn in 1995 vs. €34.5bn in 2013, i.e. 1.6% per year) whereas large firms with more than 500 employees increased their spending from €35.1bn in 1995 to €110.1bn in 2013 (6.6% per year). In line with these observations we also find a concentration of the activities on fewer firms. In particular, the share of innovators – firms that have introduced at least one product or process innovation during the preceding three years – has similarly declined since the late 1990s. Having reached a peak in 1999 at 55.5%, it dropped to 43.7% in 2007 and further declined to 37.1% in 2013. A look at the sector distribution conveys a similar concentration. In 1995, the R&D intensive manufacturing sectors (pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electronics, machinery & equipment, vehicles) spent €30.9bn on innovation and increased that figure to €92.6bn in 2013 (+6.3% per year). Low-tech manufacturing and service sectors expanded their innovation expenditure by an average annual rate of 3.1%. These developments would not be problematic if they were due to firms from high-tech sectors growing at an above-average rate. While some well-known examples of this phenomenon also exist in Germany, e.g. the software company SAP, the absolute numbers of such cases is very limited. Moreover, the share of value added of highly R&D-intensive sectors has remained fairly stable in Germany. This makes this explanation implausible. [. ]
Preconditioning Effect of Aerobic Exercise with Vitamin D3 Intake on VEGF Levels in 6-OHDA-Lesioned Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Background and Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the preconditioning effect of aerobic exercise with vitamin D3 consumption on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat model of Parkinson’s disease. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight male rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly assigned to 6 groups: healthy control, Parkinson’s control, sham, exercise-Parkinson’s, vitamin-Parkinson’s, and vitamin+exercise-Parkinson’s groups. The exercise groups exercised for 4 weeks, 5 days per week for 30 minutes on a treadmill at the speed of 15 m/min and with the slope of zero. The vitamin groups received vitamin D3 for 4 weeks, 2 days per week and at a dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight. After 4 weeks of exercising and taking the vitamin, an experimental model of Parkinson's disease was developed using stereotactic surgery and injection of 6-OHDA into the striatum. Three weeks later, apomorphine-induced rotational test was conducted in order to verify the parkinsonian condition in rats and then VEGF levels in the striatum were measured by ELISA method after the isolation and extraction of the striatum of the rats’ brain. Results: The results showed that four weeks of treadmill aerobic exercise in combination with vitamin D3 intake before 6-hydroxydopamine injection could significantly increase VEGF levels in the striatum (pConclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that preconditioning with aerobic exercise combined with D3 intake can increase the protection of dopaminergic neurons against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced damage by increasing the levels of VEGF and thus play a protective role against Parkinson's disease.
An empirical assessment of the determinants of bank profitability in Nigeria: Bank characteristics panel evidence

Given the recent developments in the Nigerian banking industry, only a profitable banking sector is better able to withstand negative shocks and contribute to the stability of the financial system. This assertion compels an in depth investigation of the determinants of the profitability of deposit money banks in Nigeria. Our data set is made up of 147 bank level observations over a 10-year period from 2001 to 2010 in respect of 15 banks that satisfied the study requirements. Data were obtained from the annual reports and accounts of the sampled banks. Pooled OLS (Pooled ordinary least square) stated in a multiple regression form was used to estimate the coefficients. Major outcomes of the analysis include that increase in size (higher total assets) may not necessarily lead to higher profits due to diseconomies of scale; higher capital-assets ratio and loans and advances contribute strongly to bank profitability. Overall, the paper suggests bank size, capital and asset composition as the major endogenous determinants of bank profitability in Nigeria. Key words: Profitability, bank size, asset composition, liquidity, capital adequacy
The Risk Environment for Adopting and Continuing Injecting Drug Use: A Qualitative Study in Uyo, Nigeria

Abstract Background: The bulk of research on adoption of injecting is from Europe and America, despite the existence of syndemics of drug injecting, HIV, and viral hepatitis globally. Objectives: This study explores adoption and continuation of injecting drug use. Methods: The study draws on in-depth interviews with 41 (n = 41) current male and female people who inject drugs recruited via snow-ball sampling in Uyo, Nigeria. A thematic and descriptive analysis was undertaken informed by the risk environment framework and focused on accounts of the factors influencing the process. Results: Accounts emphasized injecting adoption and continuation as a process influenced by individual, social, and structural factors within the risk environment, including concerns for pleasure/efficiency, prestige, exposure to/support for injecting within peer and sexual relationships, availability and purity of drugs, and dependence and increased cost of drug use. Conclusions/implications: Findings highlight the need to prevent adoption of injecting, reduce prevalence of injecting, and promote safe injecting through multi-level interventions, including peer-driven education, drug treatment services, needle and syringe distribution, oral drug substitution, and law enforcement targeting drug suppliers. The need for equivalent pleasure with minimal risk points to the strategic importance of peer interactions for inculcating new understandings of drug use and pleasure.
International outsourcing over the business cycle: some intuition for Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia

In this paper, we assess the extent to which multinational firms – in the first instance, the German ones – may adjust their international outsourcing over the business cycle in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. For that purpose, we have used monthly data of production for the manufacturing sector as a whole and some of its sub-sectors, since 2000 onwards. Our econometrical estimates suggest that there would be an asymmetry in the international outsourcing across the states of the economy, meaning that multinationals firms would be engaged differently in outsourcing activities, depending on whether bad or good economic times occur. Yet, such an asymmetry is found increasing over the time for German and French multinationals operating in the transport equipment sector of Slovakia. Another conclusion is that international outsourcing made by multinational firms in Slovakia may account for a portion of its large business cycles volatility.
Toward a Low-Carbon Economy: Municipal Financing for Energy Efficiency and Solar Power

he economic and environmental need to transition to a low-carbon economy is now at the forefront of energy science, engineering, and policy discussions in the United States and internationally. Former Vice President Al Gore has called for a carbon-free electricity supply in the United States by 2018, and in California, Japan, and the United Kingdom, a growing list of municipalities have legislated 70–80 percent or higher reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions over the next four to five decades. These cuts are consistent with the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Thus far much of the effort has been focused on technology and policy solutions, with very little attention given to how this change can be enabled through creative financing.
Taking Stock - Credit Measures in Monetary Transmission

Empirical research on the monetary transmission mechanism considering credit developments is almost exclusively limited to the amount of outstanding credit in an economy. Two issues arise out of this. First, stock-flow inconsistencies might occur. Second, the change of the outstanding amount of credit on banks' balance sheets does not consist only of new lending activity, but also incorporates other factors. As central banks should predominantly be focused on the amount of newly created credits in an economy while analysing the impact of monetary policy towards lending activity, using the change in the stock of lending can lead to distorted results, because of the incorporation of data on maturing loans, revaluations, securitization, and write-offs into this variable. The majority of existing credit channel literature does not really account for these issues. This paper makes a case to better caption new lending activity in monetary policy research. What is shown in this paper is that empirical investigations might lead to differing results when accounting for the other factors in the stock data. Central bank policy might therefore be biased.