Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vivo evidence suggesting reciprocal renal hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 upregulation and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation in response to hypoxic and non‐hypoxic stimuli

In vitro studies suggest that combined activation of hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) promotes the hypoxia response. However, their interrelationship in vivo remains poorly defined. The present study investigated the possible relationship between HIF‐1 upregulation and STAT3 activation in the rodent kidney in vivo. Activation of HIF‐1 and STAT3 was analysed by immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis in: (i) models of hypoxia‐associated kidney injury induced by radiocontrast media or rhabdomyolysis; (ii) following activation of STAT3 by the interleukin (IL)‐6–soluble IL‐6 receptor complex; or (iii) following HIF‐1α stabilization using hypoxic and non‐hypoxic stimuli (mimosine, FG‐4497, CO, CoCl2) and in targeted von Hippel‐Lindau‐knockout mice. Western blot analysis and immunostaining revealed marked induction of both transcription factors under all conditions tested, suggesting that in vivo STAT3 can trigger HIF and vice versa. Colocalization of HIF‐1α and phosphorylated STAT3 was detected in some, but not all, renal cell types, suggesting that in some cells a paracrine mechanism may be responsible for the reciprocal activation of the two transcription factors. Nevertheless, in several cell types spatial concordance was observed under the majority of conditions tested, suggesting that HIF‐1 and STAT3 may act as cotranscription factors. These in vivo studies suggest that, in response to renal hypoxic‐stress, upregulation of HIF‐1 and activation of STAT3 may be both reciprocal and cell type dependent.
Producing Goods and Projecting Power: How What You Make Influences What You Take

How does a state’s source of wealth condition the domain in which it seeks to project influence? We argue that what a state makes conditions what they take. Specifically, the less states rely on land rents to acquire wealth, the less interested they will be in seeking control over territory and the more interested they will be in securing access to distant markets. We develop and test several observable implications that should follow whether this proposition is true. First, as states become less economically dependent on territory, they should be less likely to fight over territory; second, those states should be more likely to both invest in power projection capabilities and subsequently project power at greater distances. Our findings support our theory. These results are robust across a variety of model specifications that take into account potential confounds, such as regime type, economic development, threat, and geography.
Fabrication of magnetometers with multiple-SQUID arrays

We have designed and fabricated magnetometers with multiple-SQUID arrays to achieve higher signal to noise ratio compared to that for a single SQUID. In our directly coupled scheme, ten SQUIDs are connected in parallel with the same pickup coil composed of four parallel rectangular loops. Each SQUID having inductance of 70 pH and junctions of 1.5 /spl mu/m width was fabricated from an Au/YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-/spl delta// thin film on a SrTiO/sub 3/ bicrystal substrate with 30/spl deg/ misorientation angle. To avoid forming superconducting loops between junctions of adjoining SQUIDs, a Au wiring layer interrupts a current bias line. The obtained critical current of 20I/sub c/ and normal resistance of R/sub n//20 including contact resistance for the Au wiring layer are 350 /spl mu/A and 0.4 /spl Omega/, respectively. The modulation voltage of 25 /spl mu/V for multiple-SQUIDs is the same level as for a single SQUID. On the other hand, the modulation current of 40 /spl mu/A is several times larger than that for a single SQUID, but rather smaller than the expected value when all SQUIDs have equal parameters. A flux noise level of 15 /spl mu//spl Phi//sub 0//Hz/sup 1/2/ at 100 Hz, including preamplifier noise, was observed by using flux-locked loop electronics in a magnetically shielded room.
Keratin 7 expression as an early marker of reflux-related columnar mucosa without intestinal metaplasia in the esophagus.

BACKGROUND The role of Barrett esophagus in carcinogenesis is widely accepted, but the significance of esophageal columnar mucosa without histological intestinal metaplasia, known as columnar-lined esophagus, is debated. MATERIAL/METHODS We studied 128 patients free of Helicobacter pylori with reflux-related symptoms and columnar mucosa in the esophagus at endoscopy, 106 patients with Barrett esophagus (referred to as the Barrett group) and 22 patients without intestinal metaplasia (columnar group). Samples from 20 subjects free of H. pylori were used as controls. Immunostaining for keratin 7 (KRT7), keratin 20 (KRT20), caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2), mucin 2, oligomeric mucus/gel-forming (MUC2), and tumor protein p53 (TP53) was assessed. RESULTS Samples taken 1 cm above the gastroesophageal junction showed KRT7 staining in all cases in the Barrett and columnar groups and none in the control group. Immunostaining for TP53 was absent in the control group, and more frequent in the columnar group (7, 31.8%) compared with the Barrett group (14, 13.2%, P=0.033). In the columnar group, low grade dysplasia and TP53 expression was seen in 7 of 22 biopsy specimens (31.8%) at baseline and in 4 additional specimens after 2 years, for a total of 11 specimens (50.0%). CONCLUSIONS The expression of KRT7 might help to explain the pathological, reflux-related nature of columnar-lined esophagus, as aberrant expression in a very early stage of the multistep Barrett esophagus progression. Expression of KRT7 may occur in basal glandular cells as a result of their multipotentiality and susceptibility to immunophenotype changes induced by reflux.
Suppression of mode-conversion by DNG material placed on differential-paired lines with bend discontinuities

This paper newly attempts to propose a method for compensating the mode-conversion by double negative (DNG) material, for establishment of SI performance and suppression of imbalance (common-mode: CM) component and EMI generated by differential-paired lines with bend discontinuities. To demonstrate the impact of the DNG material on CM component, the simulated |Scd21|, which is defined as the conversion from differential-mode (DM) to CM, are evaluated. The significant suppression effectiveness of |Scd21| in the case study is achieved around 100MHz by DNG material. The suppression effectiveness at 70MHz is 10dB. It is estimated that the proposed structure is suitable for improving the SI performance and suppressing the CM in the case study. The results validate the proof of concept. The proposed method is good candidate for suppressing mode-conversion due to phase-difference.
General Bayesian Learning in Dynamic Stochastic Models: Estimating the Value of Science Policy

We integrate climate scientists into an economic model of climate change by calibrating a statistical model for updating beliefs about the climate's sensitivity to greenhouse gas emissions to the actual history of scientific progress. We find that nonconjugate priors are critical for representing the observed dynamics of scientific knowledge. In order to investigate the implications for policy, we extend recursive dynamic programming methods to allow for nonconjugate learning about an uncertain parameter. We find that today's policymaker must set emission policy without the expectation that new information will enable timely revisions to policy. Improving scientific monitoring and climate modeling to enable faster learning would be worth up to \$XX dollars.
Capital asset pricing model and the three factor model: empirical evidence from emerging African stock markets

This thesis explores two celebrated asset pricing models by investigating whether or not the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and the Fama-French three factor model apply in Emerging African Stock Markets (EASM). While Sharpe (1964) and Lintner (1965) developed the capital asset pricing model (CAPM), it has been widely tested by finance researchers and applied in practice. The central theme of the CAPM is that the only risk variable that affects asset returns is the market factor (beta). However, empirical evidence suggests that the beta alone is not sufficient to wholly explain variation in asset returns (Jensen, 1968; Jensen et al, 1972). A search for an appropriate asset pricing model has led to the development of multifactor models (Ross, 1976; Fama and French, 1992; Carhart, 1997). Fama and French (1992 and 1993) introduced the size and BE/ME anomalies to the academic literature and advocates that it might be driven by changes in microeconomic factors missed by the single factor CAPM. This study adopts Jensen (1968) version of Sharpe-Lintner CAPM and follows Jensen et al. (1972) and Fama and French (1993) time-series approaches. The study provides substantial evidence of the benefits of volatility as augmenting factor in the classic CAPM in explaining asset returns in a new application to Africa and other emerging markets with similar economic characteristics. It was demonstrated that a pricing model that includes both market risk premium and volatility risk premium significantly captures patterns of returns in Africa than the classic CAPM or Fama-French model. Furthermore, this study makes three more important contributions to the literature on emerging African capital markets as follows: 1. That beta on its own cannot fully explain risk in Africa per CAPM’s assertion as returns can be related to other non-beta factors. 2. The evidence here produces firm contradiction to the growing literature that size and BE/ME are fundamental risk factors. These two variables are not risk factors and indeed, small and value firms do no attract additional compensation for risk in Africa. 3. Lack of integration of African stock markets with the world market means that country specific risk as measured by volatility is persistent across all five countries and therefore volatility augmented asset pricing model is more appropriate than classic CAPM or multifactor model with size and BE/ME. Unlike Fama-French and liquidity augmented models, this model is underpinned by theory. Even, in circumstances where volatility risk premium is negative as documented elsewhere and in this study for certain assets in Africa; the model provides useful information for portfolio construction/allocation and hedging in line with Merton (1973) ICAPM.
Differential motor and sensory functional recovery in male but not female adult rats is associated with remyelination rather than axon regeneration after sciatic nerve crush

Peripheral nerve functional recovery after injuries relies on both axon regeneration and remyelination. Both axon regeneration and remyelination require intimate interactions between regenerating neurons and their accompanying Schwann cells. Previous studies have shown that motor and sensory neurons are intrinsically different in their regeneration potentials. Moreover, denervated Schwann cells accompanying myelinated motor and sensory axons have distinct gene expression profiles for regeneration-associated growth factors. However, it is unknown whether differential motor and sensory functional recovery exists. If so, the particular one among axon regeneration and remyelination responsible for this difference remains unclear. Here, we aimed to establish an adult rat sciatic nerve crush model with the nonserrated microneedle holders and measured rat motor and sensory functions during regeneration. Furthermore, axon regeneration and remyelination was evaluated by morphometric analysis of electron microscopic images on the basis of nerve fiber classification. Our results showed that A&agr; fiber-mediated motor function was successfully recovered in both male and female rats. A&dgr; fiber-mediated sensory function was partially restored in male rats, but completely recovered in female littermates. For both male and female rats, the numbers of regenerated motor and sensory axons were quite comparable. However, remyelination was diverse among myelinated motor and sensory nerve fibers. In detail, A&bgr; and A&dgr; fibers incompletely remyelinated in male, but not female rats, whereas A&agr; fibers fully remyelinated in both sexes. Our result indicated that differential motor and sensory functional recovery in male but not female adult rats is associated with remyelination rather than axon regeneration after sciatic nerve crush.
Assessment of the Effects of Perineoplasty on Female Sexual Function.

BACKGROUND The scar tissue formed by episiotomy during vaginal delivery, and the related pain, is very frequent. The change in the normal anatomy can cause cosmetic and physiologic problems. It can affect and cause deterioration in sexual functions. Therefore, making the right diagnosis and applying the right surgical procedures are very important. AIMS Our aim was to examine the effect of the perineoplasty operation on the sexual dysfunctions that present due to vaginal delivery. STUDY DESIGN Self-controlled study. METHODS Forty patients, who attended our clinic between April 2012 and May 2013, and who were between the ages of 20 and 50 years, were included in the study. The patients had complaints of scar tissue in the perineum and various sexual dysfunctions after vaginal delivery, and they were suitable for perineoplasty. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire was applied to the patients before and 6 months after the operation, and the results were compared. RESULTS After the perineoplasty operation, there was a statistically significant improvement in the patients in the domains of sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction (p<0.005). However, there was no significant improvement in the feeling of pain during sexual intercourse (p=0.184). The mean±SD total FSFI score increased significantly after the operation (p<0.005). CONCLUSION The sexual dysfunctions that develop due to perineal damage during vaginal delivery can benefit significantly from the perineoplasty operation if the indications are correct. However, vaginal perineoplasty did not provide an improvement in dyspareunia.
Occlusal Outcomes in Combined Orthodontic and Orthognathic Treatment

Objective To investigate the treatment outcome in terms of the malocclusion features and the changes in the occlusion of patients undergoing orthodontic/orthognathic treatment using the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) and the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need (ICON) and to test the application of the Index of Orthognathic Functional Treatment Need (IOFTN) on this sample as a measure of orthognathic pre-treatment need. Design Retrospective longitudinal cohort study. Setting The orthodontic department at the Eastman Dental Hospital. Material and methods The study models of a sample of 100 orthodontic/orthognathic patients who were treated at the Eastman Dental Hospital were measured using the PAR index and ICON at three stages: pre-treatment, pre-surgery and at debond. Treatment need was assessed by measuring IOTN and IOFTN using start study models. Results 99% of the sample showed an improvement in PAR score, with 82% of the sample being greatly improved. ICON showed that 95% of the sample had an improvement of different degrees with 5% being not improved or worse. The IOFTN qualified 97% of the patients for orthognathic treatment when used retrospectively on the sample while the DHC of IOTN qualified the whole sample for orthodontic treatment. Conclusions Orthodontic/orthognathic treatment showed improved and acceptable overall results. The PAR index and ICON were valid measures to investigate the outcome of orthognathic treatment. IOFTN proved to be a useful tool in determining and prioritizing orthognathic treatment based purely on functional need.
Antecedents of a memorable hotel experience: Finnish hotels perspective

ABSTRACT This study explores the antecedents of a memorable hotel experience. The findings are based on the transcripts from interviews with 16 participants representing 11 different nationalities. Memorable hotel experiences were related to the warm and welcoming attitude of the staff, a comfortable room, the location of the accommodation and breakfast. Among the managerial implications, accommodation service providers in similar contexts offering warm and welcoming hospitality that meets the customer-specific needs and wants, comfortable room, located in the proximity of tourist attractions and offering a good breakfast service, are likely to offer guests a memorable experience.
A non-invasive risk score for predicting incident diabetes among rural Chinese people: A village-based cohort study

Objective To develop a new non-invasive risk score for predicting incident diabetes in a rural Chinese population. Methods Data from the Handan Eye Study conducted from 2006–2013 were utilized as part of this analysis. The present study utilized data generated from 4132 participants who were ≥30 years of age. A non-invasive risk model was derived using two-thirds of the sample cohort (selected randomly) using stepwise logistic regression. The model was subsequently validated using data from individuals from the final third of the sample cohort. In addition, a simple point system for incident diabetes was generated according to the procedures described in the Framingham Study. Incident diabetes was defined as follows: (1) fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 7.0 mmol/L; or (2) hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥ 6.5%; or (3) self-reported diagnosis of diabetes or use of anti-diabetic medications during the follow-up period. Results The simple non-invasive risk score included age (8 points), Body mass index (BMI) (3 points), waist circumference (WC) (7 points), and family history of diabetes (9 points). The score ranged from 0 to 27 and the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) of the score was 0.686 in the validation sample. At the optimal cutoff value (which was 9), the sensitivity and specificity were 74.32% and 58.82%, respectively. Conclusions Using information based upon age, BMI, WC, and family history of diabetes, we developed a simple new non-invasive risk score for predicting diabetes onset in a rural Chinese population, using information from individuals aged 30 years of age and older. The new risk score proved to be more optimal in the prediction of incident diabetes than most of the existing risk scores developed in Western and Asian countries. This score system will aid in the identification of individuals who are at risk of developing incident diabetes in rural China.
Is postspinal hypotension a sign of impaired cardiac performance in the elderly? An observational mechanistic study

Background We have previously reported that stroke volume is reduced in a majority of elderly patients undergoing surgical repair of hip fracture before and after intrathecal injection of anaesthetic. We aimed to investigate these observations further in a prospective study of elderly patients undergoing elective hip or knee arthroplasty under spinal anaesthesia. Methods Patients ≥65 yr undergoing elective arthroplasty were monitored with LiDCOplus™ preoperatively (baseline), before and continuously for 45 min after spinal anaesthesia. Postspinal hypotension was defined as systolic blood pressure (bp) < 100 mm Hg or > 30% decrease from baseline. Associations between post-spinal hypotension and haemodynamic changes before (i.e. between baseline and before injection) spinal anaesthesia were analysed by logistic regression analysis. Results Twenty patients with a mean age of 74 (range 66-89) yr were included. Stroke volume index decreased by 14% (95% CI 9.3%-19%) before spinal anaesthesia. When patients were categorised according to post-spinal hypotension (Y/N) the patterns of haemodynamic changes differed. In the hypotensive patients, cardiac index progressively decreased whereas it increased initially in the non-hypotensive patients. Reduction of cardiac index from baseline before spinal anaesthesia was associated with increased risk of hypotension: OR 0.79 (95% CI 0.60, 0.91). The predictive value of reduced cardiac index was good (AUC under ROC curve 0.91). Conclusions A decrease in cardiac output from baseline before spinal anaesthesia and an inability to increase it after induction may be important features of postspinal hypotension in elderly patients.
Dexamethasone Potentiates Keratinocyte Growth Factor-Stimulated SP-A and SP-B Gene Expression in Alveolar Epithelial Cells

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF, or fibroblast growth factor 7) was previously reported to enhance the synthesis of surfactant in alveolar type II cells. We investigated the possible interactions between KGF and a glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (Dex), on surfactant protein (SP) gene expression. In cultured fetal rat type II cells, KGF and Dex induced greater-than-additive stimulating effects on SP-A and SP-B expressions that were enhanced threefold and 30-fold, respectively, but had only additive effects on SP-C expression. Using murine lung epithelial (MLE) cells, KGF increased SP-A, SP-B (up to two-fold), and SP-C (up to threefold) mRNA levels in a dose-dependent way. Dex 10−9 to 10−7 M increased SP-A and SP-B mRNA 1.5-fold and SP-C mRNA two-fold. Consistent with type II cell findings, simultaneous treatment by KGF and Dex induced a synergistic increase of SP-A and SP-B transcripts (three-fold and 4.5-fold, respectively), but not of SP-C transcripts. SP-A protein was present in MLE-15 and was increased about three-fold by KGF plus Dex. Expression study of a reporter gene placed under either the SP-A or the SP-B gene regulatory sequences and transfected in MLE-15 cells indicated that the Dex-KGF synergy was achieved mainly through a transcriptional effect for SP-A, and both transcriptional and nontranscriptional effects for SP-B. For the latter, increased mRNA stability was evidenced with the aid of actinomycin D. The Dex-KGF synergy may have potential interest for diseases associated with surfactant deficiency.
Social Relationships, Adversity and Neurosis: An Analysis of Prospective Observations

Summary The effect of deficiencies in social relationships has been studied prospectively in a community sample. In the half who were exposed to the higher level of adversity, these deficiencies explained 30 per cent of the variance in neurotic symptoms four months later. They explained only 4 per cent in those with lower adversity. Contrary to expectation, it was not the lack of relationships, but perception of these as being inadequate under adversity, which had by far the stronger predictive power. This may mean that actual conditions in the immediate social environment are not important for neurosis. Instead, intrapsychic and personality factors may have a much stronger effect.