Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fibrocystic changes at anterosuperior femoral neck: prevalence in hips with femoroacetabular impingement.

PURPOSE To retrospectively evaluate if there is an association between juxta-articular fibrocystic changes at the anterosuperior femoral neck and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). MATERIALS AND METHODS The institutional review board approved this study and did not require informed patient consent. An orthopedic surgeon and a radiologist in consensus retrospectively reviewed the anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiographs of 117 hips with FAI and compared these images with the AP radiographs of a control group of 132 hips with developmental dysplasia (DD) to determine the prevalence of juxta-articular fibrocystic changes at the anterosuperior femoral neck. Criteria for juxta-articular fibrocystic changes at the anterosuperior femoral neck were location close to the physis and a diameter (of the fibrocystic change) of greater than 3 mm. The sensitivity and specificity of AP pelvic radiography in the detection of these fibrocystic changes were calculated by using an additional 61 hips with FAI and on the basis of findings at magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography, which was routinely performed for assessment of FAI. In 24 patients who underwent joint-preserving surgery for FAI, the fibrocystic changes were localized intraoperatively and the spatial relation of the region of these changes to the area of FAI was identified. Joint-preserving surgery consisted of anterior surgical dislocation of the hip with osteochondroplasty of the proximal femur and/or the acetabular rim to improve the impingement-free range of hip motion. For statistical comparisons, nonparametric tests were performed. RESULTS Fibrocystic changes were identified on the AP radiographs of 39 (33%) of the 117 FAI-affected hips and on none of the radiographs of the 132 DD-affected hips. According to MR arthrogram findings, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of AP pelvic radiography were 64%, 93%, 91%, and 71%, respectively. The mean diameter of the juxta-articular fibrocystic changes was 5 mm (range, 3-15 mm); smaller lesions were more prevalent. Dynamic MR imaging with the hip flexed and intraoperative observations revealed a close spatial relationship between the region of the fibrocystic changes at the anterosuperior femoral neck and the acetabular rim. CONCLUSION The high prevalence of juxta-articular fibrocystic changes at the anterosuperior femoral neck and their spatial relation to the impingement site suggest an association and possible causal relationship between these alterations and FAI.
Cross-border acquisitions in Central and Eastern Europe with focus on Russia versus Germany deals: an empirical analysis

Globalization, deregulation and the attendant liberalization of capital markets have made cross border mergers and acquisitions attractive to firms seeking to strategically position themselves within the global economy to take advantage of the opportunities that globalization offers. As a result, cross-border acquisition and merging activities have increased dramatically over the recent decades. Because of the fall of the “iron curtain” and the proceeds of European integration, mainly the European single market has created new possibilities. Moreover, one of the main results of globalization is a greater role of emerging markets in the global economy, especially in the area of foreign direct investment. The paper therefore analyses announced and completed cross border acquisitions between a public listed acquirer and target companies from Central and Eastern Europe and associated reactions of the capital markets. The analysis focuses, in particular, on cross-border Russia versus Germany deals. Examining the sample of 11,085 announced deals over the period from January 1990 through December 2014, the analysis points out some important trends in the global economy in the area of companies acquisition and merging activities. In summary, it can be emphasized that Central and Eastern Europe as the region is very attractive from the market’s perspective due to the expected growth rates and the framework conditions as well as from the perspective of Western European investors. Analysis results indicate that Russian market is better in the area of cross-border acquisitions than remaining Central and Eastern European markets. It allows us to suggest that it is worthier investing in Russia than in remaining Central and Eastern Europe.
Misperception of Exponential Growth: Are People Aware of their Errors?

Previous research shows that individuals make systematic errors when judging exponential growth, which has harmful effects for their financial well-being. This study analyzes how far individuals are aware of their errors and how these errors are shaped by arithmetic and conceptual problems. Whereas arithmetic problems could be overcome using computational assistance like a pocket calculator, this is not the case for conceptual problems, a term we use to subsume other error drivers like a general misunderstanding of exponential growth or overwhelming task complexity. In an incentivized experiment, we find that participants strongly overestimate the accuracy of their intuitive judgment. At the same time, their willingness to pay for arithmetic assistance is too high on average, often much above the actual benefits a calculator provides. Using a multitier system of task complexity we can show that the willingness to pay for arithmetic assistance is hardly related to its benefits, indicating that participants do not really understand how the interplay of arithmetic and conceptual problems shape their errors in exponential growth tasks. Our findings are relevant for policymaking and financial advisory practice and can help to design effective approaches to mitigate the detrimental effects of misperceived exponential growth.
Hematopoietic deletion of transferrin receptor 2 in mice leads to a block in erythroid differentiation during iron‐deficient anemia

Iron metabolism and erythropoiesis are inherently interlinked physiological processes. Regulation of iron metabolism is mediated by the iron‐regulatory hormone hepcidin. Hepcidin limits the amount of iron released into the blood by binding to and causing the internalization of the iron exporter, ferroportin. A number of molecules and physiological stimuli, including erythropoiesis, are known to regulate hepcidin. An increase in erythropoietic demand decreases hepcidin, resulting in increased bioavailable iron in the blood. Transferrin receptor 2 (TFR2) is involved in the systemic regulation of iron metabolism. Patients and mice with mutations in TFR2 develop hemochromatosis due to inappropriate hepcidin levels relative to body iron. Recent studies from our laboratory and others have suggested an additional role for TFR2 in response to iron‐restricted erythropoiesis. These studies used mouse models with perturbed systemic iron metabolism: anemic mice lacking matriptase‐2 and Tfr2, or bone marrow transplants from iron‐loaded Tfr2 null mice. We developed a novel transgenic mouse model which lacks Tfr2 in the hematopoietic compartment, enabling the delineation of the role of Tfr2 in erythroid development without interfering with its role in systemic iron metabolism. We show that in the absence of hematopoietic Tfr2 immature polychromatic erythroblasts accumulate with a concordant reduction in the percentage of mature erythroid cells in the spleen and bone marrow of anemic mice. These results demonstrate that erythroid Tfr2 is essential for an appropriate erythropoietic response in iron‐deficient anemia. These findings may be of relevance in clinical situations in which an immediate and efficient erythropoietic response is required. Am. J. Hematol. 91:812–818, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of Ponalrestat, an Aldose Reductase Inhibitor, on Neutrophil Killing of Escherichia Coli and Autonomic Function in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

In diabetic subjects, polyol pathway activity might inhibit neutrophil function and cause nerve damage. The effects of ponalrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor, were assessed on neutrophil intracellular killing of Escherichia coli and on autonomic function in diabetic subjects in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. We studied 31 diabetic subjects with autonomic dysfunction and 21 age- and sex-matched control subjects. During two 12-wk treatment periods, the diabetic subjects took either 600 mg of ponalrestat or matching placebo once daily. Neutrophil killing of E. coli was measured by a microbiological assay technique. Kmax by neutrophils from the diabetic subjects was lower than in the control group (Kmax of diabetic subjects 54.5 ± 26.4 vs. control subjects 67.3 ± 16.3, P = 0.045). Ponalrestat significantly increased bacterial killing in the diabetic subjects (Kmax of ponalrestat 75.1 ± 16.5 vs. placebo 58.2 ± 20.8, P = 0.003) so that there was no longer any significant difference in Kmax between the control subjects and the diabetic subjects on active treatment. Ponalrestat had no significant effect on a range of standard cardiovascular autonomic nerve function tests. We conclude that neutrophil killing of E. coli is impaired in diabetic subjects with autonomic dysfunction. This is restored to normal by ponalrestat.
A top box analysis of DinEX to optimize restaurant resources

ABSTRACT This study examined the relative perceived importance of the various dimensions of the restaurant experience, as captured by DinEX. Over 1,000 U.S. restaurant patrons provided perceived importance ratings of six DinEX dimensions as they related to their most recent dining experience across a variety of meal periods and restaurant categories. To make comparisons, an innovative approach to analyzing top box data was utilized. The results indicate significant differences exist across each of the DinEX dimensions, with food quality emerging as the top concern of restaurant patrons. The results of the study offer valuable guidance to the restaurateur in terms of the distinct ordering of experience dimensions that were observed, as well as the straightforward methodology demonstrated for monitoring and evaluating customers’ importance perceptions.
A Two-Stage Model of Assignment and Market

Centralized matching mechanisms and decentralized markets have been widely studied to allocate indivisible objects. However, they have been analyzed separately. The present paper proposes a new framework, by explicitly formulating a two-stage model where objects are allocated through a matching mechanism in the first stage and traded in the second stage market. In addition, one divisible good called money may or may not be available in the market. Every player demands at most one unit of object besides money. The players may face different priorities at each object type in the first stage. Each object type has a limited amount of capacity, called quota. Each player has a quasi-linear utility function. The present analysis sets forth the equivalence conditions under which stability and efficiency are attained in equilibrium.
Fiscal equalization and composition of subnational government spending: implications for regional convergence

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of fiscal equalization payments on the composition of government spending under endogenous growth theory. Analytical conjectures stemming from the model are tested empirically. As an instrumental variable for within-province variations in provinces’ equalization entitlements, we use plausibly exogenous variations in the grant eligibility rule for the Canadian fiscal equalization system. We find that fiscal equalization payments have a significant negative effect on the share of productive expenditures and a significant positive effect on the share of unproductive government expenditures. Furthermore, the results show that fiscal equalization lowers the speed of cross-regional convergence in real gross domestic product per worker.
Excess plasma proteins as a cause of chronic inflammation and lymphoedema: Biochemical estimations

The subcutaneous tissue of rats was injected with plasma, PVP or saline. Precautions were taken to avoid Immunological reactions and the release of mediators. The repeated injection of plasma proteins caused changes typical of chronic inflammation in the skin and to a much greater extent in the fascia. Coumarin significantly reduced the extent of this inflammatory reaction in the skin but not in the fascia. It increased the numbers of cells in the skin and may have stimulated them to lyse the excess protein. After 32 days, PVP injection caused some of the changes seen in chronic inflammation, but to a much lesser extent than those found with plasma. The only effect of coumarin was to reduce the water content of the skin (and hence the skin weight).
Development of the First Fluorescence Screening Assay for the SLC39A2 Zinc Transporter

Zinc is an essential micronutrient that is crucial for many vital cellular functions such as DNA and protein synthesis, metabolism, and intracellular signaling. Therefore, the intracellular zinc concentration is tightly regulated by zinc transporters and zinc-binding proteins. The members of the SCL39 transporter family transport zinc into the cytosol. The SLC39A2 (hZIP2) protein is highly expressed in prostate epithelial cells and was found to be involved in prostate cancer development. Thus far, there is no specific modulator available for the SLC39 transporters. The aim of this study was to develop a screening assay for compound screening targeting hZIP2. Employing the pIRES2-DsRed Express 2 bicistronic vector, we detected human ZIP2 expression at the plasma membrane in transiently transfected HEK293 cells. Using the FLIPR Tetra fluorescence plate reader, we demonstrated that ZIP2 transports Cd2+ with an apparent Km value of 53.96 nM at an extracellular pH of 6.5. The cadmium influx via hZIP2 was inhibited by zinc in a competitive manner. We found that hZIP2 activity can be measured using cadmium in the range of 0.1 to 10 µM with our assay. In summary, for the first time we developed an assay for human ZIP2 that can be adapted to other zinc transporters.
Activity related biometric authentication using Spherical Harmonics

This paper proposes a novel activity-related authentication method for ambient intelligence environments, based on Spherical Harmonics Analysis (SHA). The approach is based on the representation of the user's behavioural response with an Activity Surface (AS), while performing a regular office activity. Multi-referenced Spherical Harmonics Analysis has been utilized for extracting the corresponding Spherical Harmonics Coefficients (SHC)from each surface, which stand for the user's biometric signature. The experimental scenario has been carried out on a database that consists of 29 persons performing a phone-conversation activity. The authentication potential of the proposed biometric features has been seen to be significantly high in the performed experiments, while it is enhanced with recording view-angle invariance.
The Second Half: Interest Group Conflicts and Coalitions in the Implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act Derivatives Rules

The design of the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act” (hereinafter Dodd-Frank) has been heralded as a turning point in the regulation of derivatives markets. In particular, the provisions included in Title VII of the 2,300 pages long legislation overturned the decision taken a decade earlier by the US Congress to exempt OTC derivatives markets from federal regulatory oversight, a step that was subsequently recognized as contributing to the financial crisis. DoddFrank introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework which brought for first time under the direct oversight of US regulators a broad range of actors and products that constitute the modern derivatives markets.
Lippia origanoides extract induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and suppresses NF-κB signaling in triple-negative breast cancer cells

Treatments targeting hormone receptors typically fail to provide a positive clinical outcome against triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), which lack expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2/neu). Towards identifying viable treatments for aggressive breast cancer, we have tested an extract of the tropical plant Lippia origanoides (LOE) on TNBC and normal cells lines to uncover its potential anticancer effects. Treatment with LOE reduced TNBC cell viability in a dose-dependent manner to a greater extent than in normal mammary epithelial MCF10A cells. In MDA-MB-231 cells, LOE was found to halt the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase via cyclin D1 and cIAP2 regulation, and induce apoptosis without promoting necrosis via caspase-8/-3 and PARP cleavage. Constitutive nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling has been shown to contribute to the heightened inflammatory state and survival in TNBC cells. Herein, we also provide evidence that LOE inhibits NF-κB signaling by reducing RIP1 protein levels in MDA-MB-231 cells. These studies reveal that LOE suppresses key features of the progression of aggressive breast cancer cells and provides a basis for further definition of its underlying mechanisms of action and anticancer potential.
Phylogeography of Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera L.) across China: aggregate effects of refugia, introgression and riverine barriers

The role of Pleistocene glacial cycles in forming the contemporary genetic structure of organisms has been well studied in China with a particular focus on the Tibetan Plateau. However, China has a complex topography and diversity of local climates, and how glacial cycles may have shaped the subtropical and tropical biota of the region remains mostly unaddressed. To investigate the factors that affected the phylogeography and population history of a widely distributed and nondeciduous forest species, we analysed morphological characters, mitochondrial DNA sequences and nuclear microsatellite loci in the Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera). In a pattern generally consistent with phenotypic clusters, but not nominal subspecies, deeply divergent mitochondrial lineages restricted to different geographic regions were detected. Coalescent simulations indicated that the time of main divergence events corresponded to major glacial periods in the Pleistocene and gene flow was only partially lowered by drainage barriers between some populations. Intraspecific cytonuclear discordance was revealed in mitochondrial lineages from Hainan Island and the Sichuan Basin with evidence of nuclear gene flow from neighbouring populations into the latter. Unexpectedly, hybridization was revealed in Yingjiang between the Silver Pheasant and Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) with wide genetic introgression at both the mtDNA and nuclear levels. Our results highlight a novel phylogeographic pattern in a subtropical area generated from the combined effects of climate oscillation, partial drainage barriers and interspecific hybridization. Cytonuclear discordance combined with morphological differentiation implies that complex historical factors shaped the divergence process in this biodiversity hot spot area of southern China.
Examining ethnic disparities in provider and parent in-session participation engagement.

Purpose Well-documented ethnic disparities exist in the identification and provision of quality services among children receiving community-based mental health services. These disparities extend to parent treatment engagement, an important component of effective mental health services. Currently, little is known about differences in how providers support parents' participation in treatment and the degree to which parents actively participate in it. The purpose of this paper is to examine potential differences in both provider and parent in-session participation behaviours. Design/methodology/approach Participants included 17 providers providing standard community-based mental health treatment for 18 parent-child dyads, with 44 per cent of the dyads self-identifying as Hispanic/Latino. In-session participation was measured with the parent participation engagement in child psychotherapy and therapist alliance, collaboration, and empowerment strategies observational coding systems. Findings Overall, results indicate significantly lower levels of parent participation behaviours among Hispanic/Latino families compared to their Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino counterparts. No significant differences were seen in providers' in-session behaviours to support parent participation across Hispanic/Latino and Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino families. Research limitations/implications These findings contribute to the literature on ethnic differences in parent treatment engagement by utilising measures of in-session provider and parent behaviours and suggest that further investigation is warranted to documenting and understanding ethnic disparities in parents' participation in community-based child mental health treatment. Originality/value This paper contributes to the evaluation of differences in parent treatment engagement through demonstrating the utility of an in-session observational coding system as a measure of treatment engagement.
A case of intravascular large B cell lymphoma: New clinical and immunohistochemical findings

Intravascular large B cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare extranodal non‐Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by proliferation of malignant cells within the lumen of small vessels, with a predilection for the CNS and the skin. IVLBCL clinical course is highly aggressive, clinical signs and symptoms are not specific and may consist of neurological and cognitive impairment, fever of unknown origin and cutaneous lesions, lacking of a typical neuroimaging pattern. For all these reasons the diagnosis is commonly missed and the exitus is frequent, therefore post mortem evaluation is necessary to clarify the clinical history. We present a case of IVLBCL in a 62‐year‐old woman with unusual symptomatology, mimicking a vascular, multi‐infarctual cerebropathy. Hachinski Ischemic Score was 7 suggesting a vascular dementia. Autopsy was unable to define the nature of the disease. Immunohistochemical analysis for cluster of differentiation 20 (CD20) revealed the ubiquitous presence of malignant lymphoid B‐cells into the vessel of all organs analyzed, allowing the definitive diagnosis of IVLBCL. The atypical cells expressed high levels of anti‐apoptotic proteins B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2) and Galectin‐3, and showed cellular myelocytomatosis (c‐Myc) staining in <50% of tumor nuclei. Conversely, cells were immunonegative for multiple myeloma‐1 (MUM1), CD3, CD44, CD30, CD34 and CD133. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis for MYC rearrangements was negative. The high expression of Galectin‐3 provides new insights in the understanding of molecular pathogenesis of IVLBCL; indeed, such a finding represents a prognostic factor for other types of lymphoma and should, in the same way, be taken into account in IVLBCL.
A Self‐Organized Anisotropic Liquid‐Crystal Plasmonic Metamaterial

A composite material that leads to self organization of mesogen-coated gold nanospheres is synthesized and shows enhanced anisotropic optical properties due to synergistic effects of the mesogens intrinsic birefringence and its ability to drive the self-assembly process into highly anisotropic architectures with densely packed nanospheres. Such nanoengineered matter sustains a response beyond that achievable by its individual constituents, i.e., a metamaterial.