Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tissue Repair in the Fetal Intestinal Tract Occurs With Adhesions, Fibrosis, and Neovascularization

Cutaneous wound healing in the fetus can occur in a nonfibrotic, regenerative manner. However, other fetal tissues such as bone and stomach heal with scar formation. In light of potential ramifications for adult hollow visceral scarring (biliary and intestinal strictures), this study was undertaken to determine if tubular visceral tissue repair in the fetus is regenerative or fibrotic. Fetal rabbits underwent laparotomy on day 24 of gestation, during which a controlled intestinal enterotomy was created and suture repaired immediately using microsurgical techniques. Maternal rabbits and adult male rabbits also underwent enterotomy and repair. After 5 days all animals were sacrificed and the wounds analyzed histologically by a pathologist in a blinded fashion. All animals demonstrated a similar degree of peri-intestinal adhesion formation. Fetal and maternal wounds contained fibroblastic and smooth muscle cell proliferation, mild inflammatory infiltration, and new blood vessel formation. The male adult wounds demonstrated a more pronounced fibrovascular healing response. Immunohistochemical staining for CD31 (endothelial cell marker) was quantitated on a scale of 0 to 4+, indicating degree of neovascularization. The mean scores for the fetal and maternal groups were similar (1.70 ± 0.68 and 1.23 ± 1.07 respectively), but were significantly greater for male adults (2.93 ± 0.12; p = 0.001 by analysis of variance). The results of this study indicate that hollow visceral tissue repair in the fetal rabbit intestine occurs in a similar fibrotic manner as adult healing. This provides further evidence that regenerative healing in the fetus is not ubiquitous. Differences in the degrees of fibrosis and neovascularization between adult male and pregnant female wounds deserve further investigation.
Progression of lower-extremity disability in older women with diabetes: the Women's Health and Aging Study.

OBJECTIVE Older patients with diabetes are more likely to have a higher prevalence of multiple risk factors for physical disability, as a result of diabetic complications. We evaluated the pace of decline in lower-extremity function and the risk for progression of disability in older women with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a 3-year longitudinal cohort study of a random sample of 729 physically impaired older women (age > or =65 years) living in the community (Baltimore, MD). Diabetes was ascertained by standard criteria. Self-reported functional status and objective performance measures were assessed at baseline and over six semiannual follow-up visits. RESULTS The baseline prevalence of diabetes was 14.4%. After adjustment for age and compared with women without diabetes, those with diabetes had an RR of 1.8 (95% CI 1.3-2.5) for incident mobility disability and 1.6 (1.2-2.1) for incident activity of daily living disability. The increased incidence of new disability associated with diabetes was paralleled by a greater decline in objective measures of lower-extremity function. Adjustment for multiple risk factors for disability did not significantly attenuate the risk for disability associated with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS In older patients, impaired lower-extremity function is a long-term diabetic complication. Comprehensive assessment of older diabetic patients should include a standardized evaluation of lower-extremity performance.
Stereo and Shading Contribute Independently to Shape Convexity-Concavity Discrimination

The present study examined the joint contribution of shading and stereopsis to the perception of shape convexity–concavity. The stimuli were the images of a synthetic convex 3-D shape seen from viewpoints leading to ambiguity as to its convexity. Illumination came from either above or below, and from either the right or the left, and stimuli were presented dichoptically with normal binocular disparity, reversed disparity, or no disparity. Participants responded “convex” more often when the lighting came from above than from below. Also, participants responded that the shape was convex more often with normal than with zero disparity, and more often with zero disparity than with reversed stereopsis. The effects of lighting direction and display mode were additive—that is, they did not interact. This indicates that shading and stereopsis contribute independently to shape perception.
A Critique of Modern Portfolio Theory and Asset Pricing Models Based on Behavioral Insights from Benjamin Graham's Value Investing Paradigm

Modern Portfolio Theory, the Capital Asset Pricing Model, and the Efficient Market Hypothesis are the cornerstone concepts in both academic and professional curricula. In spite of their long history and reputation, the CAPM and its extensions are not able to yield satisfactory empirical results. We argue that this is because the modelling process ignored the impact of human behavior in financial markets. We present a critique of these standard models using behavioral insights from Benjamin Graham’s value investing paradigm. We propose that if, instead of getting fixated on investors’ optimal rational decision making, we adopt Benjamin Graham’s value investing perspective which explicitly acknowledges that investor decision making is by definition imperfect primarily due to psychological biases, we would be able to derive better investment decision making processes.
Effect of different growth hormone-releasing factors on the concentrations of growth hormone, insulin and metabolites in the plasma of sheep maintained in positive and negative energy balance.

Three experiments were conducted to compare the ability of different preparations of growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) to stimulate GH secretion in sheep maintained in positive and negative energy balance. In experiment 1 five sheep were injected (i.v.) with three preparations of human pancreatic GRF (hpGRF-44, hpGRF-40, hpGRF-29-NH2) and one preparation of rat hypothalamic GRF (rhGRF-29-NH2) all at 98.0 pmol/kg, or control vehicle, in a Latin square design when the animals either had free access to food or were fed half their maintenance requirements. Analysis of plasma samples, obtained before and for 150 min after injection, revealed that the reduced food intake resulted in the expected changes in body weight and circulating GH, insulin, glucose, urea and non-esterified fatty acids. The maximum post-injection concentrations of GH did not differ between either the two levels of feeding or the four GRF preparations but the mean post-injection concentration of GH was significantly higher for all GRF treatments on the restricted ration (P less than 0.001). The mean post-injection response to rhGRF-29-NH2 was less than that obtained with hpGRF-44 for sheep with food available ad libitum (P less than 0.05) and was clearly more persistent for all GRF treatments in animals fed the reduced diet (P less than 0.001). In experiment 2 the same five sheep were injected i.v. with rhGRF-29-NH2 (98.0 pmol/kg) when they had free access to food and after food had been withdrawn for 3 days. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Assessment of cone survival in response to CNTF, GDNF, and VEGF165b in a novel ex vivo model of end-stage retinitis pigmentosa.

PURPOSE To develop a robust ex vivo model for evaluating cone survival in end-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and apply this to quantify the effects of putative neuroprotective compounds. METHODS Rhodopsin knockout mice were crossed with OPN1-GFP reporter mice so that GFP-positive cones could be identified against the background of a rod-specific degeneration. Retinal explants were harvested from 10-week-old mice and maintained in organotypic culture. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), or vascular endothelial growth factor 165b (VEGF(165b)) was administered daily to treatment groups at three doses (200 ng/mL, 100 ng/mL, or 50 ng/mL; n = 5 explants per group). Fluorescence microscopy was performed on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12 to document the number of GFP-expressing cones. RESULTS Cone survival could be assessed reliably and reproducibly in this model, and cone degeneration was significantly greater in the absence of rods, in keeping with clinical observations of RP. Daily administration of 200 ng/mL CNTF led to significantly increased cone survival compared with sham-treated controls. The effect was dose dependent; 100 ng/mL CNTF reduced cone loss but to a lesser extent, and 200 ng/mL GDNF showed significant protection against cone loss at later time points (day 9-12) but was much less effective than CNTF at all doses. VEGF(165b) showed no neuroprotective effect in this model at any dose. CONCLUSIONS This model allows precise quantification of the neuroprotective effects of various compounds on cone survival and may therefore provide a robust method of screening neuroprotective compounds before application in vivo.
Novel tight binding PETT, HEPT and DABO-based non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) are a key component of effective combination antiretroviral therapies for HIV/AIDS. NNRTIs despite their chemical diversity, bind to a common allosteric site of HIV-1 RT, the primary target for anti-AIDS chemotherapy, and noncompetitively inhibit DNA polymerization. NNRTIs currently in clinical use have a low genetic barrier to resistance and therefore, the need for novel NNRTIs active against drug-resistant mutants selected by current therapies is of paramount importance. We describe the chemistry and biological evaluation of highly potent novel phenethylthiazolylthiourea (PETT), 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT) and dihydroalkoxybenzyloxopyrimidine (DABO) derivatives targeting the hydrophobic binding pocket of HIV-1 RT. These NNRTIs were rationally designed by molecular modeling and docking studies using a novel composite binding pocket that predicted how drug-resistant mutations would change the RT binding pocket shape, volume, and chemical make-up and how these changes could affect NNRTI binding. Several ligand derivatization sites were identified for docked NNRTIs that fit the composite binding pocket. The best fit was determined by calculating an inhibition constant (Ludi Ki) of the docked compound for the composite binding pocket. Compounds with a Ludi Ki of < 1 μM were identified as the most promising tight binding NNRTIs. These NNRTIs displayed high selective indices with robust anti-HIV-1 activity against the wild-type and drug-resistant isolates carrying multiple RT gene mutations. The high rate of treatment failure due to the emergence of drug resistance mutations makes the discovery of broad-spectrum PETT, HEPT and DABO-based NNRTIs useful as a component of effective combination regimens.
The nutrition transition in Barbados: trends in macronutrient supply from 1961 to 2003

Barbados has been experiencing increasing rates of obesity and chronic non-communicable diseases characteristic of a country in nutrition transition. However, few studies have been carried out on how precisely the diet has changed in recent decades. Our aim was to analyse the FAO food balance sheets for Barbados from 1961 to 2003 in order to characterise the changes that have taken place in the macronutrient supply of the country during that period. Annual food balance sheets were downloaded from the FAOSTAT database, and per capita supply for twelve commodity groupings was analysed for energy and macronutrient levels using WISP dietary analysis software (Tinuviel Software, Llanfechell, Anglesey, UK). The food supply in 2003 provided over 2500 kJ (about 600 kcal) more energy per capita per d than it did in 1961. Energy from carbohydrate as a percentage of total energy has fallen from 70 % in 1961 to 57 % in 2003 and is now at the lower end of WHO recommendations. Energy from fat as a percentage of total energy increased from 19 % to 28 % and now lies at the upper end of WHO recommendations. Sugars, at over 17 % of dietary energy, are well above the upper limit set by the WHO. Despite having methodological limitations associated with the use of food balance statistics, our data suggest that these imbalances need to be addressed as a matter of priority in order to try to reverse the incidence of nutrition-related chronic diseases that are projected to cause increasing disability and premature death in the country in the coming years.
The interaction between NK cells and dendritic cells in bacterial infections results in rapid induction of NK cell activation and in the lysis of uninfected dendritic cells

NK and DC reciprocal interactions have only recently been investigated. In this study, we focused on the interplay between NK cells and DC in two models of bacterial infection. Immature monocyte‐derived DC were cultured in the presence of live Escherichia coli or bacillus Calmette–Guérin. Upon exposure to either extracellular or intracellular bacteria, DC underwent maturation as assessed by the increased levels of expression of CD80, CD86, and HLA molecules and the de novo expression of CD83 and CCR7. Significant amounts of TNF‐α and IL‐12 were released by DCupon infection, whereas IL‐2 and IL‐15 were barely detectable in culture supernatants. Both infected and uninfected DC were capable of inducing in fresh autologous NK cells the expression of CD69 and HLA‐DR and of inducing cell proliferation. Remarkably, however, infected DC were much stronger inducers of NK cell activation and proliferation than uninfected DC. Thus, after just 24 h of NK/DC coculture, only those NK cells that had been exposed to bacteria‐infected DC had acquired the ability to lyse autologous immature DC. In addition, infected DC were more resistant to NK‐mediated lysis as a consequence of the up‐regulation of HLA class I molecule expression on their surface. This study suggests a regulatory circuit involving NK cells and DC in which DC‐induced NK cell activationis effectively enhanced by the presence of pathogens. Activated NK cells, by limiting the supply of immature DC, may then exert a control on subsequent innate and adaptive immune responses.
Assessment of knowledge and practices about breastfeeding and weaning among working and non-working mothers.

OBJECTIVE To assess the knowledge and practices of working and non-working mothers regarding breastfeeding and weaning. METHODS This cross-sectional study involving working and non-working mothers was conducted from May 2015 to May 2016 at different hospitals of Karachi. Data was collected from women who had at least one child aged below 5 years and who had previously breastfed their child. Non-probability quota sampling technique was used. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis. RESULTS Of the 414 participants, 207(50%) were non-working while 207(50%) were working mothers. The overall mean age was 29.6±6.3 years. Moreover, 277(66.9%) mothers breastfed their youngest child and a significant difference was observed among the breastfeeding practices of working and non-working mothers (p<0.05). Bottle-feeding was adopted by 320(77.9%) mothers as an alternative method although 259(62.6%) mothers were aware about the harmful effects of bottle-feeding. Home-made products were used for weaning by 389(94%) mothers. CONCLUSIONS Knowledge and practices regarding breastfeeding showed significant difference in most of the aspects between working and non-working mothers. As for weaning, both groups had the same knowledge and practices.
Earlier versus later tracheostomy in patients with respiratory failure after cardiac surgery in the United States.

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of timing of tracheostomy on outcomes of patients with respiratory failure after cardiac surgery. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of national database. SETTING United States hospitals. PARTICIPANTS A weighted estimate of 2,063,227 patients (475,773 case records) undergoing cardiac surgery identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2002-2010 INTERVENTIONS: Early versus late tracheostomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The incidence of postoperative respiratory failure was 7.8%. The strongest independent predictors of respiratory failure included female gender (odds ratio [OR] 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28-1.31), age (OR 1.13 for each decade, 95% CI 1.12-1.13), chronic obstructive airways disease (OR 2.16, 95% CI 2.13-2.19), chronic renal insufficiency (OR 2.28, 95% CI 2.25-2.31), and valve surgery (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.6-1.64). Tracheostomy was performed in 22.9% of patients with respiratory failure; 13.6% of tracheostomies were performed within 5 days of surgery (or within 5 days of intubation in patients who underwent reintubation), and 20.5% were performed on postoperative day 21 or later. Compared with tracheostomy performed within 5 days of intubation, there was a near-stepwise increase in risk of mortality with delayed tracheostomy performed between days 11-15 (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.16-1.43), days 16-20 (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.11-1.41), and day 21 or later (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.37-1.71). CONCLUSIONS In this analysis of outcomes of patients with respiratory failure after cardiac surgery in the United States, deferring tracheostomy did not appear to improve patient outcomes after cardiac surgery.
Tracking the viral spread of incivility on social networking sites: The case of cursing in online discussions of Hong Kong–Mainland China conflict

Scholars are increasingly concerned with the polarizing nature of incivility which extends from the offline context to interactions on social networking sites. Although this is a common concern in the literature, few studies have empirically tested whether online swearing behaviors are purely individual acts of uttering strong emotion or contagious social practices that may heighten group polarization. Using the case of Hong Kong–Mainland China conflict, the current study taps into the discursive struggles in Sina Weibo discussion over contentious issues that provoke major conflicts between Hong Kong and Mainland China residents, with a focus on the use and diffusion of swear words. To explore the mechanism that underlies the virality of swearing on Sina Weibo, this study links the expressive and social functions of swearing to its linguistic contexts. Our findings show that emotion is not the single motivating factor. Personal pronouns—which the swearers used as positioning devices and identity markers—are the most important predictor. The effects of source cues particular to social networking site settings were also examined.
Activation of the cGMP/nitric oxide signal transduction system by nicotine in the retina

Acetylcholine is one of the primary excitatory neurotransmitters/neuromodulators in the retina, but little is known about the downstream signaling pathways it can activate. The present study immunocytochemically examines the potential sources of acetylcholine and the location of the nicotinic cholinergic receptors in the turtle retina. It also examines how activation of these receptors can influence the nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signal-transduction pathways. Photoreceptors, amacrine cells, and potentially ganglion cells contain choline acetyltransferase-like immunoreactivity (LI). Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are immunocytochemically localized on photoreceptors, horizontal, bipolar, and ganglion cells. Nitric oxide imaging indicates that stimulation with nicotine increases NO production primarily in photoreceptors, horizontal, Müller, bipolar, and ganglion cells. In turn, very select populations of amacrine cells respond to this NO with increased levels of cGMP-LI. Selective inhibitors reveal that nitric oxide synthase is involved in most, but not all, of these increases in cGMP-LI. These results show that acetylcholine can activate the NO/cGMP signal-transduction pathways in both the inner and outer retina. This indicates that both of the major excitatory retinal transmitters, glutamate and acetylcholine, can stimulate NO production that increases levels of cGMP-LI in overlapping populations of retinal cells.
Price transmission of Vietnam's Robusta coffee : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of AgriCommerce at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

i Acknowledgements . ii List of Tables. v List of Figures . vi List of Acronyms . vii Chapter One: INTRODUCTION . 1 Chapter Two: OVERVIEW OF COFFEE SECTOR. 5 2.1. World coffee market . 5 2.1. 1. Production . 5 2.1. 2. Consumption . 7 2.1. 3. Trade . 8 2.2. Coffee sector in Vietnam . 9 2.2.1. Importance of coffee in Vietnam’s tradable commodities. 10 2.2.2. Production . 11 2.2. 3. Exports . 12 2.2. 4. Domestic market . 14 2.2. 5. Vietnam’s coffee organisations. 15 Chapter Three: LITERATURE REVIEW . 17 3.
Osteoinduction in Umbilical Cord- and Palate Periosteum-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Adult abdominoplasty (AA) fat is an ideal source for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) because it is discarded after surgery, abundant, and easy to harvest. Children however, do not have the same abundant quantities of fat as adults, nor are they likely to undergo a procedure during which fat is routinely discarded. Hence, finding an alternate source for MSCs in children is a reasonable strategy. Two such sources are the palate periosteum (PP) and the umbilical cord (UC). Advantages for PP as a source of MSCs are accessibility during palate repair, ease of harvest, and minimal risk to the patient. The UC, like AA, is a discarded tissue, with a theoretically unlimited supply, which can be harvested in children with craniofacial bone abnormalities in advance of reconstructive procedures. Our objective in this study is to characterize MSCs from 3 sources (AA, PP, and UC) by surface marker prevalence, and to assess osteoinductive capability.Institutional review board approval was obtained for harvest of AA, PP, and UC. The presence of MSCs was determined using immunostaining and flow cytometry for cell surface markers CD73, CD90, CD105, and SSEA-4. Osteogenesis was induced using osteogenic medium. Osteoinduction was evaluated using Alizarin red staining, and real-time polymerase chain reaction for bone morphogenetic protein-2, alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin at 7, 14, and 21 days.MSCs from AA, PP, and UC all stained positive for CD73, CD90, CD105, and SSEA-4. Flow cytometry demonstrated significant differences in expression of CD90 and SSEA-4 but similar values for CD73 and CD105. Following osteoinduction, MSCs from all sources stained positive for calcium deposition. In UC MSCs, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated greater elevation in bone morphogenetic protein-2 and alkaline phosphatase mRNA beginning at day 7 and extending to day 21. Osteocalcin mRNA levels were comparable for all 3 sources of MSCs.For children with craniofacial bone defects, UC-derived MSCs may be ideal for tissue engineered bone: temporally, the UC can be harvested in advance of surgical timing for the need for bone, is readily available, easy to harvest, and leads to osteoinduction that is more robust than either AA or PP.