Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deprivation of bFGF Promotes Spontaneous Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells.

BACKGROUND The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), an important tissue monolayer of retina, sustains visual function and retinal homeostasis. In disease conditions such as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and Age related Macular degeneration (AMD), the integrity and functional capacity of RPE monolayer is compromised. Human embryonic stem cells derived RPE (hESC-RPE) is ideal for cell based therapy because of their ability to morphologically and functionally mimic native fetal and adult RPE. However protocols for optimum culture of hESC-RPE are not well established. AIM To describe a simplified protocol for differentiating human embryonic stem cells (hESC) into retinal pigment epithelial cells. METHODS hESC (WA09-DL-11) cell lines were grown with standard stem cell culture protocol. After cell colonies were established, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was deprived (day 0). hESC colonies expressing pigmentation were characterized for expression of RPE65 and Zonular occludens--1 (ZO-1) with immunocytochemistry on days 0, 36, 42, 56 and 70 and western blot analysis on days 0, 40, 48, 53 and 63. In addition, morphological assessment was conducted on transformed cells longitudinally. RESULTS Pigmented cells were noted 36 days after deprivation of bFGF from growth media. Immunofluorescence demonstrated progressive up regulation of RPE specific proteins (ZO-1 & RPE 65). Immunofluorescence of ZO-1 (in pixels) was (3.08 ± 0.31) on day 42, (5.33 ± 0.89, p = 0.0001) on day 56 and (4.87 ± 0.57, p = 0.0011) on day 70. Similarly expression of RPE 65 was (2.44 ± 0.31) on day 42, which continued to increase (4.23 ± 0.60, p = 0.0011) on day 56 and (5.59 ± 0.36, p < 0.0001) on day 70. Protein expression patterns using western blot confirmed the trends seen in immunofluorescence. Western blot analysis of ZO-1 expression (in optical density unit) was 272.57 ± 31.75 on day 40, 4212.20 ± 911.31 (p = 0.0004) on day 48, 5182.43 ± 1230.38 (p = 0.030) on day 53 and 5848.76 ± 241.04 (p < 0.0001) on day 63. Protein expression of RPE 65 was 1607.64 ± 247.76 on day 40, 2448.07 ± 152.66 on day 48 and (2341.15 ± 52.84) on day 63. hESC-RPE cells displayed a series of specific morphological changes (cytoplasmic, nuclear pigmentary and cell shape) over the course of time frame. By day 70, cells with hexagonal pattern, dark dense nucleus and uniform cytoplasm were noted in densely pigmented RPE colonies. CONCLUSION bFGF deprivation leads to successful differentiation of hESC into RPE cells. Longitudinal transformative changes were confirmed with measurement of ZO-1 and RPE 65, specific markers of RPE.
Modelling the Coherence in Short-run Nominal Exchange Rates: A Multivariate Generalized ARCH Model

A multivariate time series model with time varying conditional variances and covariances, but constant conditional correlations is proposed. In a multivariate regression framework, the model is readily interpreted as an extension of the Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) model allowing for heteroskedasticity. Parameterizing each of the conditional variances as a univariate Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedastic (GARCH) process, the descriptive validity of the model is illustrated for a set of five nominal European U.S. dollar exchange rates following the inception of the European Monetary System (EMS). When compared to the pre- EMS free float period, the comovements between the currenciess are found to be significantly higher over the later period. Copyright 1990 by MIT Press.
Non-cooperative Bargaining and Union Formation

We study a union formation decision problem when workers consist of two groups distinguished by different productivities. Workers may form either a joint union or two separate unions. The whole decision process is modelled as an extensive-form bargaining game. Workers form a joint union when the sizes or productivities of the groups are similar. In the first case, there is a wage differential which is more (less) than proportional to the productivity difference if the size of the more productive is smaller (larger) than that of the less productive. In the second case, there is no wage differential.
Signaling, Free Cash Flow and 'Nonmonotonic' Dividends

Many argue that dividends signal future earnings or dispose of excess cash. Empirical support is inconclusive, potentially because no model combines both rationales. This paper does. Higher quality firms pay dividends to eliminate the free cash-flow problem, while firms that outsiders perceive as lower quality pay dividends to signal future earnings and reduce the free cash-flow problem. In equilibrium, dividends are nonmonotonic with respect to the signal observed by outsiders; the highest quality firms pay smaller dividends than lower perceived quality firms. The model reconciles the existing literature and generates new empirical predictions that are tested and supported.
Risk Adjusted Time Series Momentum

We introduce a new class of momentum strategies, the risk-adjusted time series momentum (RAMOM) strategies, which are based on averages of past futures returns, normalized by their volatility. We test these strategies on a universe of 64 liquid futures contracts and show that RAMOM strategies outperform the time series momentum (TSMOM) strategies of Ooi, Moskowitz, and Pedersen (2012) for almost all combinations of holding and look-back periods. This outperformance is driven by the following new striking stylized fact that we document: For almost all of the 64 futures contracts, independent of the asset class, realized futures volatility is contemporaneously negatively related to the Fama and French (1987) market (MKT), value (HML), and momentum (UMD) factors. As a result, RAMOM returns have a natural, built-in exposure to the MKT, HML, and UMD factors and outperform TSMOM returns precisely in times when (some of) the factors deliver good returns. In particular, RAMOM allows investors to gain significant exposure to Fama and French factors without actually trading the very large stock universe. Furthermore, dollar turnover of RAMOM strategies is about 40% lower than that of TSMOM, implying a drastic reduction in trading costs. We construct measures of momentum-specific volatility, both within and across asset classes, and show how these volatility measures can be used for risk management. We find that momentum risk management significantly increases Sharpe ratios, but at the same time may lead to more pronounced negative skewness and tail risk. Furthermore, momentum risk management leads to a much lower exposure to market, value, and momentum factors; as a result, risk-managed momentum returns offer much higher diversification benefits than those of standard momentum returns.
Revisiting Fama French Three-Factor Model in Indian Stock Market

Stock market anomalies have always attracted questions over the applicability of Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) for being an efficient predictor of stock market returns. Roll (1977), Banz (1981), Bhandari (1988), Jagadeesh (1992), Lakonishok, Shleifer, and Vishney (1994), Arumugam (1996) showed market anomalies for CAPM. Fama French (1992, 1996, and 2004) demonstrated the inability of CAPMs beta to explain the cross-sectional stock market returns by introducing two other factors i.e. size and value. In this study, the Capital Asset Pricing Model and Fama French Model have been examined by taking a sample of 187 companies for a study period of five years, ranging from June 2004 to June 2009. In order to validate the results, the sample selection was made on the basis of continuous presence in S&P CNX 500 index for at least ten years without fail. The study showed that efficiency of Fama French Model, for being a good predictor, can not be ignored in India but either of the two factors (size and value) might improve the model. It is so because a high degree of correlation is found between the size and value factor returns.
Gr-1+ Myeloid Cells Derived from Tumor-Bearing Mice Inhibit Primary T Cell Activation Induced Through CD3/CD28 Costimulation1

Activation of T cells is a necessary step in the development of a specific antitumor immune response. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of Gr-1+ myeloid cells, derived from the bone marrow or spleen of tumor-bearing mice, to inhibit CD3/CD28-mediated T cell activation. Using flow cytometry, we found that growth of a murine colon carcinoma (MCA-26) induces a significant increase in the number of Gr-1+ and Gr-1+/Mac-1+ myeloid cells in both bone marrow and spleen of the tumor host. The proliferative response of T cells was dramatically decreased when naive T cells were activated by anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 Abs in the presence of a myeloid-enriched cell fraction derived from spleen or bone marrow of tumor-bearing mice vs the bone marrow of naive mice. Reversal of the inhibitory effect could be achieved by adding a combination of MnTBAP (manganese [III] tetrakis [4-benzoic acid]) porphyrin and l-NMMA (NG-monomethyl-l-arginine), a superoxide dismutase mimetic and inducible NO synthase inhibitor, respectively, or by depletion of the Gr-1-positive cells. IFN-γ, which is endogenously produced by CD3/CD28-stimulated naive T cells, is involved in induction of the inhibitory activity of myeloid cells. Importantly, when T cells pre-activated with anti-CD3 Abs were used as responder cells, the bone marrow- or spleen-derived Gr-1+ myeloid cells were unable to suppress CD3/CD28-induced T cell proliferation. Our findings suggest that one mechanism by which an increased number of immune suppressive Gr-1+ cells can induce T cell unresponsiveness or immune tolerance in tumor hosts could be through peroxynitrite production upon primary T cell activation.
The Cost Channel of Monetary Policy Transmission

The Cost Channel of Monetary Policy Transmission In this paper, we develop the new Keynesian Phillips curve augmented by the cost channel of monetary transmission and analyze the central bank's best monetary policy if the central bank is obliged to minimize inflation. It can be shown that a small change of the cost channel's coefficient might lead from a major increase in interest rates to a major decrease in interest rates and vice versa. Even though the optimal interest rate might change dramatically, the inflation response is of only marginal effect.
Risk Premia and the Dynamic Covariance between Stock and Bond Returns

Abstract We investigate whether intertemporal variation in stock and bond risk premia can be explained by time-varying covariances with priced risk factors. We estimate and test a conditional two-factor variant of Merton's ICAPM in which excess returns on an equity index and a long-term government bond portfolio proxy for risk factors. Conditional second moments follow the asymmetric dynamic covariance (ADC) model of Kroner and Ng (1998). We find that conditional bond variance responds symmetrically to bond return shocks but is virtually unaffected by stock return shocks, while conditional stock variance responds asymmetrically to both stock and bond return shocks. Models that impose a constant correlation restriction on the covariance matrix between stock and bond returns are strongly rejected. We conclude that the conditional two-factor model fails to adequately explain intertemporal variation in stock and bond risk premia.
HLA-A, B (Class I) and HLA-DR, DQ (Class II) Antigens in Turkish Patients with Recurrent Aphthous Ulceration and Behçet's Disease

Objective: The aims of the present study were to typify the human leukocyte antigen system (HLA)-A, B (class I) and HLA-DR, DQ (class II) antigens and to assess the frequency of the presence of these antigens in the Turkish population with recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) and Behçet's disease (BD) compared to healthy subjects. Subjects and Methods: Thirty patients with RAU, 30 with BD, and 15 healthy subjects were included in the study. HLA typing was performed by serology with commercial kits for HLA class I and II (One Lambda, Canoga Park, Calif., USA). Results: The HLA-A23 frequency was 26.7% in the RAU patients, which was significantly higher than the 3.3% frequency in the patients with BD (p < 0.05). The HLA-A24 frequency was 33.3% in the RAU patient group, which was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the frequency in the healthy subjects (6.7%). Significantly higher frequencies (46.7%) of HLA-A30 were found in the healthy subjects compared to the BD (13.3%) and RAU (3.3%) patients (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). A higher frequency of HLA-B13 was observed in the RAU (23.3%) patients compared to the BD (0%) patients (p < 0.01). A decrease was observed in HLA-DR10 and HLA-DR17 in the RAU patients (p < 0.05), while a higher frequency of HLA-DR10 was observed in the BD patients compared to the RAU patients (p < 0.01). Conclusions: These results showed that RAU and BD were not in the same spectrum and the involvement of other genetic and/or environmental factors might be responsible for the development of these diseases and/or disease progression.
Prevalence Comparison of Accompanying Lesions between Primary and Recurrent Anterior Dislocation in the Shoulder

Background Many authors have reported the presence of intra-articular lesions after primary dislocation of the shoulder joint. However, few studies have focused on their prevalence or the differences in accompanying lesions between primary and recurrent dislocations of the shoulder joint. Purpose This study was undertaken to investigate and analyze accompanying lesions, including types of anteroinferior labrum injuries, using diagnostic arthroscopy and magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) in 144 patients with traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder joint. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods There were 33 patients with 33 dislocations in the primary dislocation group and 111 patients with 111 dislocations in the recurrent dislocation group. Preoperative magnetic resonance arthrography and diagnostic arthroscopy were performed on all patients. Results In the primary dislocation group, 8 Bankart lesions, 9 free anterior labrum periosteal sleeve avulsion (ALPSA) lesions, 4 bony Bankart lesions, and 1 adhesive ALPSA lesion were observed. In the recurrent dislocation group, 68 Bankart lesions, 11 free ALPSA lesions, 13 bony Bankart lesions, 16 adhesive ALPSA lesions, and 1 glenoid articular rim disruption lesion were found. There were 22 (66.6%) and 109 (98.1%) patients with lesions in the anteroinferior labrum in the primary and recurrent groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .002). Also, there was a significant difference between the 2 groups in the prevalence of the Hill-Sachs lesion and inverted pear-shaped glenoid lesion (P = .008/P = .047). Inverted pear-shaped glenoids were observed in 15 patients in the recurrent group. In 139 of 144 patients, surgical findings of accompanying lesions coincided with magnetic resonance arthrography findings (96.5%). Conclusion Various forms of anteroinferior labral lesions were seen in patients with traumatic anterior dislocation of shoulder. The recurrent dislocation group showed a significantly higher prevalence of anteroinferior labral lesions and bony lesions in comparison with the primary group. In our study, magnetic resonance arthrography was an accurate method to assess accompanying lesions in first-time and recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder, suggesting that this may be a useful tool for determining a treatment method.
Importance-performance analysis revisited: the role of the factor structure of customer satisfaction

The measurement and management of customer satisfaction has become a key issue in the last decade. Banks must thoroughly understand the needs of their customers and design products and services that meet and exceed their expectations. The importance-performance analysis (IPA) is a widely used analytical technique that yields prescriptions for the management of customer satisfaction. IPA is a two-dimensional grid based on customer perceived importance of service attributes and attribute performance. Depending on the interplay of these two dimensions, four strategies can be derived. Recent research in customer satisfaction, however, suggests that service attributes fall into three categories (basic factors, performance factors, and excitement factors) and that their importance depends on their performance. As a result, the traditional IPA needs to be reconsidered. In this article, the results of an empirical study on the satisfaction with bank services are presented and it is demonstrated that traditional IPA can be misleading. This is attributed to the existence of three satisfaction factors: basic, performance, and excitement factors. The authors then present an analytical procedure to identify these factors and discuss how these findings can be interpreted and how the traditional IPA should be extended and modified. The paper closes with managerial implications of the findings.
FROM FINANCE TO EQUALITY: THE SUBSTANTIVE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN'S INTERESTS BY MEN AND WOMEN MPS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Recent debates within the gender and politics field have reflected a shift to consider how, when, where, why and by whom the representation of women's interests occurs (Lovenduski 2008). Indeed, Celis et al. have suggested that those who seek to act on behalf of women may not necessarily be female (2008). This possibility is significant and requires both conceptual and empirical analysis. This article begins this process by adopting a case study approach to comparing the ways in which men and women MPs articulate women's interests.
Happiness and Outdoor Vacations Appreciative versus Consumptive Tourists

Recently particular attention has been devoted to the relationship between leisure activities and subjective well-being. Less attention has been dedicated to tourism as a life satisfaction domain, despite it being one of the most relevant leisure activities. The aim of this article is to contribute to expanding this line of investigation. Building on the Dunlap and Heffernan hypothesis and employing activity-based segmentation, it verifies to what extent environmental attitudes are related to activities that tourists perform during their vacation, and whether a relationship exists between the activities performed and life satisfaction. The hypothesis is that tourists involved in more appreciative activities are normally more concerned about the environment, more beneficial for host territories, and happier. The article demonstrates that a positive association exists between these aspects and the way tourists “use” nature.
Audit Quality Indicators: A Status Update on Possible Public Disclosures and Insights from Audit Practice

SUMMARY: This paper addresses the current status of the recommendation by the Advisory Committee on the Auditing Profession (ACAP) that auditing firms provide periodic reporting on audit quality indicators. We first consider several reasons why public reporting of audit quality indicators in the U.S. is highly controversial. We then report some information on how global network auditing firms are internally measuring audit quality in the post-Sarbanes-Oxley environment.
Industrialisation, Catching Up and Economic Growth: A Comparative Study across the World's Capitalist Economies

Various hypotheses are examined seeking to explain inter-country convergence at the upper end, but divergence at the lower end, of the world income rankings. A model of disequilibrium growth with sector-specific technological progress and spillover is developed and then estimated on two samples of capitalist economies 1960-85. It is found that the degree of disequilibrium between agriculture and industry is greatest in the least developed economies, but their rate of labor transfer has been slow. Technological spillover has stimulated productivity growth in less developed agricultural sectors, but not in the industrial sectors of the least developed economies. Copyright 1991 by Royal Economic Society.
Human cytomegalovirus UL55, UL144, and US28 genotype distribution in infants infected congenitally or postnatally

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital infection. This pathogen exhibits extensive genetic variability in the genes that encode structural envelope glycoproteins, regulatory proteins, and proteins that contribute to immune evasion. However, the role of specific viral strains in the outcome of congenital CMV infection is unclear. Variation in the UL55 gene encoding glycoprotein B (gB), the UL144 gene encoding TNF α‐like receptor, and the US28 gene encoding β‐chemokine receptor was determined in 60 newborn infants with congenital CMV infection and 90 infants with postnatal or undefined CMV infection. CMV polymorphisms were studied in relation to disease outcome and viral load. Genotyping was performed by a sequencing analysis of PCR‐amplified fragments, and the viral load was measured by quantitative real‐time PCR. The results demonstrated that (1) the UL55 and US28 genotype distributions were similar among the group of congenital and postnatal CMV infection; (2) the UL144 B1 genotype was more prevalent in congenital than in postnatal infection and was detected in 70% of newborns with asymptomatic congenital infection; and (3) none of the examined genotype was significantly linked with symptomatic CMV infection. No relationship was observed between genotype and viral load. The results revealed that UL55, UL144, and US28 polymorphisms are not associated with the outcome of CMV infection in infants, but the presence of UL144 B1 genotype might be virological marker of asymptomatic infection at birth. J. Med. Virol. 87:1737–1748, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Risk Perception And The Analysis Of Risk Attitudes

Risk has long been recognised as an important feature of the environment facing farmers. In recent years the von Neumann-Morgenstern expected utility theory has been used to analyse decision making under risk. However, many people behave in a manner inconsistent with the expected utility theory. One widely suggested explanation is based on subjective probability distortion. A number of attempts to incorporate this phenomenon into utility theories have been made. In this paper, the problems of analysing subjective probability distortion are discussed. Evidence from a survey of farmers' risk attitudes undertaken in conjunction with the 1977 BAE Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey is analysed in the light of this discussion.
The Impact of Pressure on Performance: Evidence from the PGA Tour

Do large rewards lead to psychological pressure causing underperformance? Previous studies have tested this ‘choking’ phenomenon using the world of sports, but such studies often lack an explicit link between performance and reward. This study utilizes a large PGA TOUR dataset to more directly analyze the effect of pressure on individual performance by calculating the potential change in earnings from making or missing a putt on the final hole of a tournament. We find that as the amount of money riding on a shot increases, the likelihood that shot is made is significantly reduced.