Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pure astrocyte cultures derived from cells isolated from mature brain

Enriched preparations of oligodendrocytes, isolated either from adult bovine brain or from 30‐day‐old rat brain, eventually yield cultures in MEM‐15% calf serum that contain, in addition to oligodendrocytes, proliferating astrocytes and variable numbers of fibroblast‐like cells. If these cultures are switched to a serum‐free defined medium during the 1st week, mixed cultures containing only oligodendrocytes and astrocytes are obtained. Bovine cultures can be replated and purified by selective adhesion to yield cultures that are < 99% astrocytes; similar procedures were not successful with rat cultures. Cytoskeletal preparations of the purified astrocyte cultures from mature bovine brain contain both vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), but vimentin is by far the major intermediate filament protein. Thus, the intermediate filament composition of these astrocytes is similar to that of astrocytes in primary cultures obtained from neonatal rat brain. Immunofluorescent studies of these cultures at 24 hr in vitro show that there are no GFAP+ cells in cultures of either species; the bovine cultures contain < 95% GC+ cells; and the rat cultures contain 90% GC+ cells. After a few days in vitro flat cells appear that are vimentin+/GFAP–/GC–. In serum‐free medium these cells eventually become vimentin+/GFAP+. We propose that the astrocytes that grow in these cultures arise from a population of glial precursor cells, which are present even in adult brain and are isolated together with oligodendroglia, and that they do not derive from contaminating mature astrocytes. Thus, the astrocytes in our cultures may have the same origin as astrocytes grown in culture from dissociated neonatal brain.
The real effects of primary and secondary equity markets on firm performance: Evidence from Indonesia

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the real effects of primary and secondary equity markets on the post-issue operating performance of initial public offering (IPO) firms. Design/methodology/approach The author utilizes the intended use of proceeds as a proxy variable for the primary market and the investment-to-price sensitivity and the informativeness of stock prices as alternative proxy variables for the secondary market. The compositional data, and non-parametric quantile regressions which are more robust to outliers than standard least square regressions, are employed for Indonesian equity market over the period of 1999-2013. Findings While confirming that firm operating performance can be explained by the firm’s motivation to go public, the author also shows that the operating performance is positively affected by investment-to-price sensitivity and negatively affected by stock price informativeness. The stock prices affect investment decisions by the way that the more liquid a stock is, the more informative its price is, and the more relevant stock prices are in investment decisions. These findings still hold after controlling for ownership structure. Originality/value Departing from the existing literature, the author investigates the role of primary and secondary equity markets for firm performance in an integrated framework because both markets interact closely in reality. The author shows that public listed firms can benefit both from the capital-raising function of the primary market and from the informational role of the stock prices of the secondary market. A measure of stock price informativeness, 1−R2, however, must be understood in the context of thin trading in the sense that the level of liquidity affects the level of stock price informativeness.
Stent implantation in patients with metal allergy: a systemic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess whether outcomes of patients with metal allergy after coronary stent implantation differ from those of patients without metal allergy. MethodsA meta-analysis was carried out to compare the outcome in patients who are allergic to the metal material of a stent with those who are nonallergic. A computer-based online retrieval of databases and manual searches were performed to identify articles that addressed the association between in-stent restenosis (ISR) and contact allergy to stent materials, without language restrictions. The meta-analysis was carried out with a fixed-effect model using STATA 11. Odds ratio (OR) was used as an effect size. ResultNine relevant articles, encompassing 1223 patients, were identified. Being allergic to stent material obviously increased the risk of ISR. With the fixed model, ORs for allergic patients and nonallergic patients were 2.65 (confidence interval 1.82–3.82). A subgroup analysis of race was carried out. OR in the Asian group was higher than that in the European group (3.71 vs. 2.25), which might suggest that Asians who are allergic to stent material have a higher risk of ISR than Europeans. ConclusionAllergy to stent material worsens the prognosis of patients with coronary stent implantation. New well-designed prospective clinical trials are required to confirm this relationship and to establish the indispensability of a skin patch test before coronary stent implantation.
Interleukin-21 enhances T-helper cell type I signaling and interferon-gamma production in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS T-helper (Th)1 cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of tissue damage in Crohn's disease (CD). Interleukin (IL)-12/STAT4 signaling promotes Th1 cell commitment in CD, but other cytokines are needed to maintain activated Th1 cells in the mucosa. In this study, we examined the expression and role of IL-21, a T-cell-derived cytokine of the IL-2 family; in tissues and cells isolated from patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS IL-21 was examined by Western blotting in whole mucosa and lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) from patients with CD, ulcerative colitis (UC), and controls. We also examined the effects of exogenous IL-12 on IL-21 production, as well as the effects of blocking IL-21 with an IL-21-receptor Ig fusion protein. Interferon (IFN)-gamma was measured in the culture supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and phosphorylated STAT4 and T-bet were examined by Western blotting. RESULTS IL-21 was detected in all samples, but its expression was higher at the site of disease in CD in comparison with UC and controls. Enhanced IL-21 was seen in both ileal and colonic CD and in fibrostenosing and nonfibrostenosing disease. IL-12 enhanced IL-21 in normal lamina propria lymphocytes through an IFN-gamma-independent mechanism, and blocking IL-12 in CD LPMCs decreased anti-CD3-stimulated IL-21 expression. Neutralization of IL-21 in CD LPMC cultures decreased phosphorylated STAT4 and T-bet expression, thereby inhibiting IFN-gamma production. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that IL-21 contributes to the ongoing Th1 mucosal response in CD.
PENGARUH HARGA MINYAK DUNIA, INFLASI, DAN NILAI TUKAR TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI INDONESIA (Studi Pada Tahun 2007 - 2014)

This research aimed to know the effect of world oil prices, inflation, and exchange rate towards economic growth of Indonesia. This research is an explanatory research type with quantitative approach. The data used is the quarterly time series data in 2007-2014, there are 32 samples. Multiple linear regression model is used as an analytical technique in this study. The results of this study showed that in simultaneous (Test F) world oil prices, inflation, and exchange rates have a significant effect on economic growth in Indonesia. Partially (t test) indicates that the variable world oil prices and the exchange rate have a significant effect on economic growth in Indonesia, while the inflation variable does not significantly influence economic growth in Indonesia. Based on this research, it is hoped the Indonesian government as a regulator of commodity export policies can optimize the mine which is one of the leading in Indonesia. In addition, the Indonesian government and the central bank (Bank Indonesia) can maintain the stability of the exchange rate in order to provide clarity for economic agents such as exporters and importers Keywords: world oil prices, inflation, exchange rate, economic growth of Indonesia ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh harga minyak dunia, inflasi, dan nilai tukar terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia. Penelitian yang dilakukan merupakan jenis penelitian eksplanatori dengan pendekatan kuantitatif. Data yang digunakan merupakan data time series triwulanan tahun 2007-2014 dengan metode sampling jenuh sebanyak 32 sampel. Model regresi linear berganda digunakan sebagai teknik analisis dalam penelitian ini. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa secara simultan (Uji F) harga minyak dunia, inflasi, dan nilai tukar berpengaruh signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia. Secara parsial (Uji t) menunjukkan bahwa variabel harga minyak dunia dan nilai tukar berpengaruh signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia, sedangkan variabel inflasi tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, diharapkan pemerintah Indonesia sebagai pengatur kebijakan dapat mengoptimalkan ekspor komoditas tambang yang merupakan salah satu unggulan di Indonesia. Selain itu, pemerintah dan bank sentral Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) dapat menjaga stabilitas nilai tukar rupiah agar dapat memberikan kejelasan bagi pelaku perekonomian seperti eksportir dan importir. Kata Kunci: harga minyak dunia, inflasi, nilai tukar, pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia
Laboratory screening of coating libraries for algal adhesion

Abstract Coatings libraries achieved through a combinatorial chemistry approach, which may generate tens to hundreds of formulations, can be deposited in an array of 12 patches, each approximately 9 cm2, on 10 × 20 cm primed aluminum panels. However, existing methods to quantify algal biomass on coatings are unsuitable for this type of array format. This paper describes an algorithm modelled on a probability distribution that quantifies the area of surface covered by a green alga from digital images. The method allows coatings with potential fouling-release properties to be down-selected for further evaluation. The use of the algorithm is illustrated by a set of eight siloxane-polyurethane coatings made using organofunctional poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and poly(ϵ-caprolactone)-PDMS-poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL-PDMS-PCL) triblock copolymers along with four PDMS standards which were deposited on one panel. Six replicate panels were seeded with Ulva zoospores which grew into sporelings (small plants) that completely covered the surface. The ease of removal of the Ulva sporeling biofilms was determined by automated water jetting at six different impact pressures. The coverage of the biofilm on the twelve individual formulations after jet washing was quantified from the green colour of digital images. The data are discussed in relation to the composition of the coatings.
Cardiomyopathy : A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study Evaluation of Bromocriptine in the Treatment of Acute Severe Peripartum

Copyright © 2010 American Heart Association. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0009-7322. Online 72514 Circulation is published by the American Heart Association. 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109. 901496 2010;121;1465-1473; originally published online Mar 22, 2010; Circulation Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner Anthony Becker, John McMurray, Hatice Yamac, Saida Labidi, Ingrid Struman and Karen Sliwa, Lori Blauwet, Kemi Tibazarwa, Elena Libhaber, Jan-Peter Smedema, Cardiomyopathy: A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study Evaluation of Bromocriptine in the Treatment of Acute Severe Peripartum http://circ.ahajournals. org/cgi/content/full/121/21/e425 An erratum has been published regarding this article. Please see the attached page or: http://circ.ahajournals. org/cgi/content/full/121/13/1465 located on the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is
Expected Diabetic Control in Childhood and Psychosocial Functioning in Early Adult Life

This study examined relationships between the extent to which doctors seek to achieve good (i.e., tight) diabetic control during childhood and the frequency of psychosocial problems in later life. A sample of 225 young adults with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was studied by use of a systematic interview. A measure of the level of control the doctor was attempting to achieve was developed from questionnaires administered to the doctors who provided most of the patient's care during childhood. The results were compared with scores on three indices of psychosocial functioning based on responses given in structured interviews with the patients. Although potentially important psychosocial problems were found for 10–20%, there was no statistically significant relationship between any of these problems and the doctors' desired levels of control. Thus, efforts to achieve good control during childhood, whether successful or not, may not be followed by psychosocial problems in later life. This finding should help support clinicians' attempts to obtain the levels of control during childhood judged to be essential in preventing serious organic complications.
Future-biased intergenerational altruism

We show that intergenerational altruism suffers from future bias if generations overlap and people? s altruism concerns the well-being of immediate ancestors and descendants. Future bias involves preference reversals associated with increasing impatience, which can create a con? flict of interest between current and future governments representing living generations. We explore the implications of this con? flict for intergenerational redistribution when there is a sequence of utilitarian governments choosing policies independently over time. We show that future-biased governments can have an incentive to legislate and sustain a pay-as-you-go pension system, which can be understood, from the viewpoint of every government, as a self-enforcing commitment mechanism to increase future old-age transfers.
Purkinje cell dysfunction and alteration of long-term synaptic plasticity in fetal alcohol syndrome

In cerebellum and other brain regions, neuronal cell death because of ethanol consumption by the mother is thought to be the leading cause of neurological deficits in the offspring. However, little is known about how surviving cells function. We studied cerebellar Purkinje cells in vivo and in vitro to determine whether function of these cells was altered after prenatal ethanol exposure. We observed that Purkinje cells that were prenatally exposed to ethanol presented decreased voltage-gated calcium currents because of a decreased expression of the γ-isoform of protein kinase C. Long-term depression at the parallel fiber–Purkinje cell synapse in the cerebellum was converted into long-term potentiation. This likely explains the dramatic increase in Purkinje cell firing and the rapid oscillations of local field potential observed in alert fetal alcohol syndrome mice. Our data strongly suggest that reversal of long-term synaptic plasticity and increased firing rates of Purkinje cells in vivo are major contributors to the ataxia and motor learning deficits observed in fetal alcohol syndrome. Our results show that calcium-related neuronal dysfunction is central to the pathogenesis of the neurological manifestations of fetal alcohol syndrome and suggest new methods for treatment of this disorder.
Effect of Electromagnetic Interference on Human Body Communication

In human body communication (HBC), the human body is used as a medium for transmitting data between devices as a replacement for wired and wireless technologies. The human body functions as an antenna in the low-frequency band used by HBC. Owing to this antenna function, electromagnetic waves radiating from electronic devices or wireless services cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) in HBC devices. This paper addresses such EMI in HBC devices. The interference signal caused by EMI was measured while the human subject, who was using an HBC device, was exposed to a general EMI environment at multiple sites. Using the interference model obtained from the measured interference signals, bit-error-rate degradation caused by the interference signal was simulated. The interference model presented in this paper can be effectively used to achieve reliable data communication in various HBC devices.
Determinants of Successful Entrepreneurship: A Review of the Recent Literature

This paper reviews and evaluates the academic literature on how entrepreneurial performance depends on the characteristics of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial teams. A number of conceptual and methodological issues in the study of entrepreneurial performance are discussed. Reviews of published and unpublished work suggest that factors such as education, industry experience, managerial experience and prior entrepreneurial experience are positively associated with venture performance. There is some evidence that traits such as tenacity improve performance.Emerging research on the role of social capital and entrepreneurial founding team composition is also reviewed. However, many of the conclusions from prior research should be treated with caution, as the literature generally is characterized by a number of methodological shortcomings. Chief among these is that most studies restrict their analyses to samples of new ventures, which makes the observed associations between variables difficult to interpret. This has important implications for both researchers and policy makers, and suggests that the study of entrepreneurial performance could benefit from the development of a rigorous and systematic research program to identify the drivers of entrepreneurial performance as a distinctive economic activity.
An Education Program for Patient Self-Management of Warfarin.

INTRODUCTION Although improved anticoagulation therapy outcomes have been demonstrated in clinical trials evaluating warfarin patient self-management (PSM) programs, these studies did not provide detailed information regarding PSM program development and patient training. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of and methods for developing and administering an education program to support a novel pilot warfarin PSM program. METHODS Patients receiving warfarin for atrial fibrillation were recruited to participate in a prospective, intervention-only, open-label pilot PSM program that released venipuncture international normalized ratio results to patients via a secure, online Web site. To support the pilot, a warfarin PSM education program with a dosing algorithm was developed and delivered to patients during a two-hour classroom session. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE A comparison of participants' PSM competency test scores before and after attending the PSM program. RESULTS Forty-four patients attended the education program. The mean age of participants was 71 years and 50% were women. Patients declining study participation were older (p = 0.003) and had a greater burden of chronic disease (p = 0.005) than participants. Following PSM training, the mean competency score improved from 55.8% to 88.8% (p < 0.001), and the proportion achieving a passing score increased from 34.9% to 95.3% (p < 0.001). In the poststudy survey, 100% of responders perceived that PSM training prepared them to self-manage warfarin, and 92.9% of responders were comfortable changing warfarin doses on their own. CONCLUSION Developing and administering a warfarin PSM education program for patients with atrial fibrillation was feasible. Improvement in PSM competency and high levels of self-reported comfort with warfarin PSM were identified.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, MICROFINANCE AND POVERTY NEXUS: AN EMPIRICAL ESTIMATION PERSPECTIVE

Deprivation and poverty are worldwide challenges for poorer countries. Poor people especially women were excluded from financial services until microfinance institutions (MFIs) emerged. During the past few decades microcredit has enjoyed tremendous growth and women continue to be the major beneficiaries. The main objective of this study is to check weather microfinance helped women to attain decent work and strengthen their empowerment or not. This study is based on primary data and respondents were taken from First Microfinance Bank. A sample of 125 respondents was taken through simple random sampling. The study area was Faisalabad.SPSS 22 software was used for analysis. Logit model was applied to get and analyze results. Results showed significant positive relationship between women empowerment and different socio-economic independent variables i.e. income, investment, self-confidence, free movement. All the variables are statistically significant other than education. It is cleared that women enjoy more freedom, self-confidence and learn more skills to enhance their income. By investing in people and empowering individual women and men with education and generation of equal opportunities can create the conditions to allow the poor to break out of the poverty. Keywords: Microfinance, Women empowerment, Poverty alleviation, Consumer behavior, Empirical analysis, developing countries
Female online shoppers: Examining the mediating roles of e-satisfaction and e-trust on e-loyalty development

Purpose – As the number of female customers shopping in online clothing stores increases, understanding how female customers’ e-loyalty is formed and fostered in this type of online store becomes very pivotal. Yet, despite its importance, little research has been done on this issue. The purpose of this paper is to focus on female online clothing shoppers and aim to examine the mediators of e-loyalty in the context of online clothing stores: e-satisfaction and e-trust. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 482 subjects who are female and have online clothing store shopping experience in Taiwan were obtained and structural equation modeling was performed to analyze the measurement and structural models. Findings – The results show that both perceived online privacy and security are positively associated with e-trust, whereas web design is not. Furthermore, perceived delivery time and web site design are positively associated with e-satisfaction. Both e-trust and e-satisfaction in turn positively influenc.
Magnetic resonance imaging as surrogate for clinical endpoints in multiple sclerosis: data on novel oral drugs

Recent studies have provided evidence for using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) active lesions as surrogate for relapses and disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the validity of MRI metrics as surrogate endpoints in MS is controversial. Furthermore, the extrapolation of previous results to novel therapies is not warranted. We tested here the validity of MRI surrogacy in MS studies on recently published trials of oral drugs. The 92% of observed effects of oral drugs on clinical outcomes resulted close to those predicted by MRI active lesions. This further validates MRI surrogacy in MS, with important implications for future trials planning.