Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Macrophages Produce TGF-β-Induced (β-ig-h3) following Ingestion of Apoptotic Cells and Regulate MMP14 Levels and Collagen Turnover in Fibroblasts1

Phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells by macrophages is an essential part in the resolution of inflammation. It coincides with activation of repair mechanisms, including accumulation of extracellular matrix. A possible link between clearance of apoptotic debris and accumulation of extracellular matrix has not been investigated. Production of collagen was measured in primary fibroblasts cocultured with macrophages. Ingestion of apoptotic cells by monocyte-derived macrophages led to up-regulation of collagen. Direct contact between macrophages and fibroblasts was not required for collagen up-regulation. Macrophages produced TGF-β following ingestion of apoptotic cells, but the levels of this cytokine were lower than those required for a significant up-regulation of collagen. Simultaneously, the levels of TGF-β-induced (TGFBI), or keratoepithelin/BIGH3, mRNA and protein were increased. In contrast, primary alveolar macrophages stimulated collagen production without exposure to apoptotic cells; there was no further increase in the levels of TGFBI, mRNA or protein, or collagen after ingestion of apoptotic cells. Stimulation of fibroblasts with TGFBI down-regulated MMP14 levels, decreased DNA binding by p53, increased DNA binding by PU.1, and up-regulated collagen protein but not mRNA levels. Overexpression of MMP14 or p53, or small interfering RNA-mediated inhibition of PU.1 led to an increase in MMP14 and a decline in collagen levels, whereas small interfering RNA-mediated inhibition of MMP14 led to elevation of collagen levels. In conclusion, monocyte-derived but not alveolar macrophages produce TGFBI following ingestion of apoptotic cells, leading to the down-regulation of MMP14 levels in fibroblasts through a mechanism involving p53 and PU.1, and to subsequent accumulation of collagen.
A Case of Academic Social Networking Sites Usage in Malaysia: Drivers, Benefits, and Barriers

Social networking tools have become an integral part of our daily lives. Recently, a new type of Social Networking Sites SNSs namely Academic Social Networking sites ASNSs has attracted global users. There is perceived usefulness on the impact of ASNSs on patterns of academic research activities. However, it remains unclear why some researchers do not use ASNSs at all. The purpose of this paper is therefore to explore the ASNSs usage among Malaysian academic researchers and to investigate benefits, specific purpose, drivers and barriers of using ASNSs. A total of 210 completed cases were collected through paper-based and online-based questionnaire. In order to show the outcome of the research, descriptive interpretation of data is performed. The overall findings of this research indicate that there is low rate of ASNSs usage among researchers. In addition, the results show that colleagues, attitude toward technology and communication benefits are the drivers to use ASNSs and trust, privacy and security are the common barriers regarding to use ASNSs.
Important enabler in the knowledge sharing process: Top management support

This quantitative survey carried out among accountants and managers revealed that individual and organizational enablers are critical in ensuring the success of knowledge sharing process, through knowledge donating and knowledge collecting. Knowledge of accounting information, whether it be financial or non-financial, is an important driver on the success of an organization. Successful companies ensure that important knowledge is shared throughout the organization. The results of this study show that top management support is an important enabler in the knowledge sharing process. The study provides an insight on how knowledge sharing should be integrated as part of the business strategies to improve business performance.
In vivo characterization of several rodent glioma models by 1H MRS

The assessment of metabolites by 1H MRS can provide information regarding glioma growth, and may be able to distinguish between different glioma models. Rat C6, 9 L/LacZ, F98 and RG2, and mouse GL261, cells were intracerebrally implanted into the respective rodents, and human U87 MG cells were implanted into athymic rats. Ethyl‐nitrosourea induction was also used. Glioma metabolites [e.g. total choline (tCho), total creatine (tCr), N‐acetylaspartate (NAA), lactate (Lac), glutamine (Gln), glutamate (Glu), aspartate (Asp), guanosine (Gua), mobile lipids and macromolecules (MMs)] were assessed from 1H MRS using point‐resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) [TE = 24 ms; TR = 2500 ms; variable pulse power and optimized relaxation delay (VAPOR) water suppression; 27‐μL and 8‐μL voxels in rats and mice, respectively] at 7 T. Alterations in metabolites (Totally Automatic Robust Quantitation in NMR, TARQUIN) in tumors were characterized by increases in lipids (Lip1.3: 8.8–54.5 m m for C6 and GL261) and decreases in NAA (1.3–2.0 m m for RG2, GL261 and C6) and tCr (0.8–4.0 m m for F98, RG2, GL261 and C6) in some models. F98, RG2, GL261 and C6 models all showed significantly decreased (p < 0.05) tCr, and RG2, GL261 and C6 models all exhibited significantly decreased (p < 0.05) NAA. The RG2 model showed significantly decreased (p < 0.05) Gln and Glu, the C6 model significantly decreased (p < 0.05) Asp, and the F98 and U87 models significantly decreased (p < 0.05) Gua, compared with controls. The GL261 model showed the greatest alterations in metabolites. 1H MRS was able to differentiate the metabolic profiles in many of the seven rodent glioma models assessed. These models are considered to resemble certain characteristics of human glioblastomas, and this study may be helpful in selecting appropriate models. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Towards Effective Combination of Prior Knowledge and Cognitive Styles in Adaptive Educational Hypermedia Systems

Adaptive Educational Hypermedia Learning Systems (AEHS) have been developed and evaluated over the past decade. These AEHS tailored navigational support and presentation of content basing on either prior knowledge or cognitive styles of students separately. The empirical evaluations of the AEHS showed that, generally, there is positive improvement in the performance and perceptions of students. There is, however, a need to explore how prior knowledge and cognitive styles could be strategically combined in AEHS in order to maximize learning and comprehension of educational materials. To this end, this paper pursues this exploration by presenting results of a comparative analysis between two AEHS, one tailored to students’ prior knowledge while the other to their cognitive styles, with emphasis on Pask’s Holist-Serialist dimension. The comparative measure for this investigation is improvement in learning performance. A total of 104 students participated in the study, with 60 students using the prior knowledge version while 44 participated on the cognitive styles version. The findings indicated that the participants using the prior knowledge version outperformed those using the cognitive styles version basing on post-hoc tests. The implication of these results for the design of effective AEHS and recommendations are discussed by this paper.
Herschel / HIFI : first science highlights Special feature L etter to the E ditor Ortho-to-para ratio of interstellar heavy water

Context. Despite the low elemental deuterium abundance in the Galaxy, enhanced molecular D/H ratios have been found in the environments of low-mass star-forming regions, and in particular the Class 0 protostar IRAS 16293-2422. Aims. The CHESS (Chemical HErschel Surveys of Star forming regions) key program aims to study the molecular complexity of the interstellar medium. The high sensitivity and spectral resolution of the Herschel/HIFI instrument provide a unique opportunity to observe the fundamental 11,1−00,0 transition of the ortho-D2O molecule, which is inaccessible from the ground, and determine the ortho-to-para D2O ratio. Methods. We detected the fundamental transition of the ortho-D2O molecule at 607.35 GHz towards IRAS 16293-2422. The line is seen in absorption with a line opacity of 0.62 ± 0.11 (1σ). From the previous ground-based observations of the fundamental 11,0−10,1 transition of paraD2O seen in absorption at 316.80 GHz, we estimate a line opacity of 0.26 ± 0.05 (1σ). Results. We show that the observed absorption is caused by the cold gas in the envelope of the protostar. Using these new observations, we estimate for the first time the ortho-to-para D2O ratio to be lower than 2.6 at a 3σ level of uncertainty, which should be compared with the thermal equilibrium value of 2:1.
Identifying Competencies of Clinical Nurse Specialists

The performance of clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) is evaluated most often by quantitative checklists, peer review, self-evaluation, administrative review, or nursing audits. Observations of actual clinical and managerial competencies demonstrated by expert clinical nurse specialists seldom are used. An ethnographic study of the CNS role identified common competencies and skills that can be used by nurse administrators to justify the cost of the advanced practice role and its contributions to organizational goals, and to serve as criteria for job descriptions, performance evaluations, and predictors of employment success.
The Negative Impact of Early Peritonitis on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

♦ Background: Peritonitis rate has been reported to be associated with technique failure and overall mortality in previous literatures. However, information on the impact of the timing of the first peritonitis episode on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients is sparse. The aim of this research is to study the influence of time to first peritonitis on clinical outcomes, including technique failure, patient mortality and dropout from peritoneal dialysis (PD). ♦ Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted over 10 years at a single PD unit in Taiwan. A total of 124 patients on CAPD with at least one peritonitis episode comprised the study subjects, which were dichotomized by the median of time to first peritonitis into either early peritonitis patients or late peritonitis patients. Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the correlation of the timing of first peritonitis with clinical outcomes. ♦ Results: Early peritonitis patients were older, more diabetic and had lower serum levels of creatinine than the late peritonitis patients. Early peritonitis patients were associated with worse technique survival, patient survival and stay on PD than late peritonitis patients, as indicated by Kaplan-Meier analysis (log-rank test, p = 0.04, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). In the multivariate Cox regression model, early peritonitis was still a significant predictor for technique failure (hazard ratio (HR), 0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.30 - 0.98), patient mortality (HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.13 - 0.92) and dropout from PD (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.30 - 0.82). In continuous analyses, a 1-month increase in the time to the first peritonitis episode was associated with a 2% decreased risk of technique failure (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97 - 0.99), a 3% decreased risk of patient mortality (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95 - 0.99), and a 2% decreased risk of dropout from PD (HR, 98%; 95% CI, 0.97 - 0.99). Peritonitis rate was inversely correlated with time to first peritonitis according to the Spearman analysis (r = -0.64, p < 0.001). ♦ Conclusions: Time to first peritonitis is significantly correlated with clinical outcomes of peritonitis patients with early peritonitis patients having poor prognosis. Patients with shorter time to first peritonitis were prone to having a higher peritonitis rate.
Surgical Release for Proximal Hamstring Syndrome

Background Pain in the buttock radiating to the popliteal fossa associated with hamstring weakness can be caused by tethering of the sciatic nerve to the proximal hamstring tendons. Contraction of the hamstring muscles produces traction on the sciatic nerve and subsequent symptoms. Hypothesis Surgical release of the proximal hamstring tendons, in particular from the sciatic nerve, will improve symptoms and function. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Forty-seven proximal hamstring surgical releases were performed in 44 patients (28 males, 16 females). The initial clinical findings and imaging were obtained from the medical notes, and additional data were obtained from a later questionnaire. The average age at the time of surgery was 29 years (range, 15–58 years). All patients were involved in high-level sports. Long-term follow-up was with a comprehensive postal questionnaire. Results Full follow-up was obtained in 43 patients (46 operations). Average follow-up was 53 months (range, 9–110). No major complications were encountered from the surgery. The average visual analog scale pain score decreased from 6.5 preoperatively to 2.0 (P < .001). Two patients had increased pain, and pain was unchanged in 4. The average subjective weakness score decreased from 6.6 to 2.8 (P < .001). Three patients reported increased weakness at follow-up, and 3 patients reported that the hamstring muscles felt equally weak. Thirty-four patients (77%) had returned to their previous sporting activities, with 30 patients still competing at or above state level, or professionally, after surgery. The average satisfaction score was 7.8. Six patients (14%) were not satisfied with the outcome of the procedure, 5 patients (11%) were somewhat satisfied, and 33 patients (75%) were very satisfied. Conclusion Proximal hamstring syndrome occurs mainly in patients participating in competitive sports. Release of the proximal hamstring tendons in this active group resulted in decreased pain and increased strength, and the majority of patients were satisfied with the procedure.
A Comparison of the Heat Transfer Performance of a Hexagonal Pin Fin with Other Types of Pin Fin Heat Sinks

In this study, the heat transfer performance of hexagonal pin-fin heat sinks is compared with various commonly used fin geometries in laminar forced Convection. Overall the numbers of models are carried out during this study 8 different model. In other words, 4 models in in-line arrays and the other in staggered arrays, which were round, square, rectangular and the case study hexagonal. In order to compare these various geometries, a set of standard conditions was required, the basic conditions used here (3.3mm) hydraulic diameter and (6.6mm) pitch were the same in all shapes. The ratio (PL/PW) was chosen to be one. The Analysis was simplified by some major assumptions. The fluid in the domain is air . The compressibility effects are ignored due to the low air speed. Heat transfer and fluid flow were assumed to be two-dimensional, with identical velocity and pressure distribution in the z-direction. The ratio of solid to fluid thermal conductivity for aluminum and air is around 8360, permitting the fins to be modeled as isothermal surfaces rather than conjugate solids. Numerical simulations are performed using FLUENT 6.3. The CFD simulations were carried out on a two-dimensional computational domain bounded by planes of symmetry parallel to the flow. The air approach velocity was in the range of 0.165 to 4.5m/s. A comparison of heat transfer performance and pressure drop is presented. In general, for the given pressure gradient and flow rate, the hexagonal fin geometry yield a higher Nusselt number in comparison to square fins, and a lower Nusselt number in comparison to circular fins. And it can be noted that the staggered hexagonal fin geometry gave the heat transfer performance like in-line circular performance at most Reynolds numbers in the range considered here.
Mammographic density, plasma vitamin D levels and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women

Mammographic density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer, but the underlying biology for this association is unknown. Studies suggest that vitamin D may reduce breast cancer risk and dietary vitamin D intake has been associated with reduced breast density. We conducted a case–control study nested within the Nurses' Health Study cohort consisting of 463 and 497 postmenopausal cases and controls, respectively. We examined the association between mammographic density and plasma levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D]. We assessed whether plasma vitamin D metabolites modify the association between breast density and breast cancer. Percent mammographic density was measured from digitized film mammograms. Generalized linear models were used to determine mean percent breast density per quartile of vitamin D metabolite. Logistic regression models were used to calculate relative risks and confidence intervals. All models were adjusted for matching variables and potential confounders. We found no cross‐sectional association between circulating levels of 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)2D with mammographic density. Women in the highest tertile of mammographic density and lowest tertile of plasma 25(OH)D had 4 times greater risk of breast cancer than women with the lowest mammographic density and highest plasma 25(OH)D levels (RR = 3.8; 95% CI: 2.0–7.3). The overall interaction between mammographic density and plasma 25(OH)D was nonsignificant (p‐het = 0.20). These results indicate that the association between mammographic density and breast cancer is independent of plasma vitamin D metabolites in postmenopausal women. Further research examining vitamin D, mammographic density and breast cancer risk is warranted.
Distribution of the glutamate transporters GLAST and GLT‐1 in rat circumventricular organs, meninges, and dorsal root ganglia

The glial glutamate transporters GLAST and GLT‐1 are primarily responsible for the removal of glutamate from brain extracellular fluid. This study compares the distribution of GLAST and GLT‐1 expression in the circumventricular organs of the brain, in the meninges, and in the dorsal root ganglion. By using a highly sensitive nonisotopic in situ hybridization method and immunostaining, we demonstrate marked differences in the expression patterns for the two transporters. In the three sensory circumventricular organs that contain neuronal elements, i.e., the subfornical organ, the vascular organ of the lamina terminalis, and the area postrema, GLAST is strongly expressed, whereas GLT‐1 is faintly expressed or absent. Both transporters are absent from the choroid plexus, and only GLAST mRNA is found in the subcommisural organ. In the pineal gland, GLAST is expressed by astrocytic cells near the pineal stalk, whereas GLT‐1 is expressed by pinealocytes throughout the gland. In the pituitary gland, GLAST is likely expressed by folliculo‐stellate cells in the anterior lobe, by a group of astrocyte‐like cells and by marginal cells in the intermediate lobe, and by pituicytes in the posterior lobe, whereas GLT‐1 is expressed only by the astrocyte‐like cells in the intermediate lobe. Finally, GLAST, but not GLT‐1, is expressed by specific layers of the meninges, and by satellite cells in the dorsal root ganglion. These results show that GLAST is the primary glutamate transporter in the circumventricular organs. The data provide further evidence that these two glutamate transporters fulfill markedly different functions in the nervous system. J. Comp. Neurol. 421:385–399, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis and interpretation of a test for characterizing the response of sandwich panels to water blast

Metallic sandwich panels are more effective at resisting underwater blast than monolithic plates at equivalent mass/area. The present assessment of this benefit is based on a recent experimental study of the water blast loading of a sandwich panel with a multilayered core, using a Dyno-crusher test. The tests affirm that the transmitted pressure and impulse are significantly reduced when a solid cylinder is replaced by the sandwich panel. In order to fully understand the observations and measurements, a dynamic finite element analysis of the experiment has been conducted. The simulations reveal that the apparatus has strong influence on the measurements. Analytic representations of the test have been developed, based on a modified-Taylor fluid/structure interaction model. Good agreement with the finite element results and the measurements indicates that the analytic model has acceptable fidelity, enabling it to be used to understand trends in the response of multilayer cores to water blast. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The inner door: toward an understanding of suicidal patients.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To describe the suicide care dilemmas that psychiatric nurses experience and how they respond to suicidal patients. Background. Psychiatric nurses play a major role in helping patients after suicide attempts. Little is known, however, about the ways nurses resolve their suicide care dilemmas. DESIGN Focused ethnography was used to describe the meanings and patterns of actions of psychiatric nurses in a medical centre in Taipei, Taiwan. METHODS Fieldwork included two years of participant observation and individual interviews with 18 psychiatric nurses. Data from transcripts of observation field notes and interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed. RESULTS An important factor, the inner door (an invisible door inside the nurse's mind), determined the nurse's ability to understand the inner worlds of suicidal patients and the nurse himself or herself. In the absence of such understanding, nurses felt discouraged, labelled the patients and even restrained them, thus closing their inner doors. On the other hand, the nurses' willingness to reflect on their own experiences and receive the patients' teaching helped them understand the defensive patients and nurses themselves, thus opening the inner doors and enabling them to treat patients as their family or friends. CONCLUSIONS The opening and closing of the inner door is a dynamic process. Nurses need to understand the essential meaning of a suicide experience to develop the insight to open the door and keep it open. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The concept of an inner door helps nurses better understand why they distance themselves from patients when they encounter clinical dilemmas and offers a way to resolve their inner conflicts through self-reflection and appreciation of the patient's experiences.
Neonatal diabetes mellitus: improved screening and early management of an underestimated disease

Neonatal diabetes mellitus is underdiagnosed in the neonatal period because of the metabolic adaptation capacities of the newborns. However, it is associated with increased risk of short‐ and long‐term morbidity; when transient it may recurs in adulthood. It is important to improve screening and early management with appropriate guidelines.
Whorfian effects on colour memory are not reliable

The Whorfian hypothesis suggests that differences between languages cause differences in cognitive processes. Support for this idea comes from studies that find that patterns of colour memory errors made by speakers of different languages align with differences in colour lexicons. The current study provides a large-scale investigation of the relationship between colour language and colour memory, adopting a cross-linguistic and developmental approach. Colour memory on a delayed matching-to-sample (XAB) task was investigated in 2 language groups with differing colour lexicons, for 3 developmental stages and 2 regions of colour space. Analyses used a Bayesian technique to provide simultaneous assessment of two competing hypotheses (H1–Whorfian effect present, H0–Whorfian effect absent). Results of the analyses consistently favoured H0. The findings suggest that Whorfian effects on colour memory are not reliable and that the importance of such effects should not be overestimated.