Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transplantation of human amnion mesenchymal cells attenuates the disease development in rats with collagen-induced arthritis.

OBJECTIVES Human amnion mesenchymal cells (hAMCs), isolated from the amniotic membrane of human placenta, are a unique population of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Recent studies indicated that hAMCs had immunosuppressive functions and might be used in treatment of some autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study is to explore the feasibility of using hAMCs for treatment rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a classic animal model for human rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS SD rats were immunised with type II collagen and Freund's incomplete adjuvant. hAMCs were injected intraperitoneal when arthritis had become established. The arthritis was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. Serum levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, SOD, MDA, GSH-Px and T-AOC were detected by commercially assay kits. CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-cell ratio in peripheral blood was examined by flow cytometry. Proliferation of splenocytes was evaluated using MTT assay. RESULTS The results demonstrated that application of hAMCs significantly ameliorated severity of arthritis and decreased the histopathological changes in CIA rats. Consistently, production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ and TNF-α was dramatically inhibited. Moreover, hAMCs exerted anti-oxidative capacity by significantly raising the levels of SOD, GSH-Px, T-AOC and lowering the level of MDA. In addition, hAMCs also remarkably restored CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-cell ratio and induced hyporesponsiveness of T lymphocytes by inhibiting their active proliferation. Finally, hAMCs had no obvious side effect on CIA rats. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our results indicated that hAMCs could attenuate the disease development in rats with CIA, which might be a promising cell source for therapy of rheumatoid arthritis.
Crossword Puzzles as a Learning Tool For Vocabulary Development

Introduction. Since vocabulary is a key basis on which reading achievement depends, various vocabulary acquisition techniques have become pivotal. Among the many teaching approaches, traditional or otherwise, the use of crossword puzzles seems to offer potential and a solution for the problem of learning vocabulary. Method. This study was conducted to examine the effects of crossword puzzles on vocabulary acquisition of first-year students. Sixty-eight students enrolled in a fundamental English course participated in the study. The instruments were pre-and post-vocabulary tests and a questionnaire surveying the students’ attitudes toward learning. Results. The findings revealed that the students’ overall post-test score was higher than their pre-test score at a significance level of . 05. When classifying students into three groups based on their vocabulary proficiency, it was found that students in all groups could improve their vocabulary knowledge at a significance level of . 05. The results from Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance test showed that significant differences existed in the scores of the three tests which students gained from the tests and the final exam. The results of the questionnaire also illustrated their very favorable attitudes toward learning vocabulary through crosswords as a whole. Discussion and Conclusion. Crossword puzzles can help students improve vocabulary knowledge, meanwhile incresase their learning motivation.
Measurement of Rib Vertebral Angle Difference: Intraobserver Error and Interobserver Variation

Study Design The rib vertebral angle difference was measured on 50 juvenile scoliosis radiographs. Three observers measured each radiograph independently and on three separate occasions to determine interobserver and intraobserver error. Objective To determine the interobserver and intraobserver error in measuring the rib vertebral angle difference. Summary of Background Data The rib vertebral angle difference is a commonly used measurement, the reliability of which has not been tested rigorously. Methods Fifty standing radiographs of juvenile scoliosis were measured. All patients were Risser 0 at the time of measurement. All angles were measured by the method of Mehta using the same protractor and apical vertebra to avoid confounding variables. Three surgeons individually measured the 50 radiographs randomly and on three separate occasions. All markings were erased before remeasurement. Results The intraobserver error was determined to be 4.4°. The interobserver error was 3.6°. The interobserver accuracy was 6.2°. Conclusions The rib vertebral angle measurement is highly reproducible and is a valid measurement.
Applicability of BCLC stage for prognostic stratification in comparison with other staging systems: single centre experience from long‐term clinical outcomes of 1717 treatment‐naïve patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

The most informative staging system regarding survival outcomes for treatment‐naïve hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains debated. We evaluated prognostic values of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage compared with other staging systems, and identified discrepancies between treatment options chosen in Korean clinical practice and BCLC guidelines.
The Real Effects of Credit Ratings: The Sovereign Ceiling Channel

We show that sovereign debt impairments can have a significant impact on financial markets and real economies through a credit ratings channel. Specifically, we find that firms reduce their investment and reliance on credit markets due to a rising cost of debt capital following a sovereign rating downgrade. We identify these effects by exploiting exogenous variation on corporate ratings due to rating agencies' sovereign ceiling policies that require firms' ratings to remain at or below the sovereign rating of their country of domicile.
Accuracy of MR imaging for revealing residual breast cancer in patients who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE Our study investigated the usefulness of contrast-enhanced MR imaging for accurately measuring the size of residual tumor after patients have undergone neoadjuvant (pre-operative) chemotherapy. The imaging analysis method was optimized for identifying residual disease in the treated breast. Tumor sizes measured on the MR images and at the clinical examination were compared with the size of residual disease measured at pathology after surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Before undergoing surgery, 52 patients were imaged before and after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. For each patient, specific malignancy criteria were applied to MR images before chemotherapy to identify the location of tumor, and residual disease was then identified as any remaining enhancement in the same area on the MR images after chemotherapy. Residual tumor size was measured using both the MR technique and the clinical examination findings, and the degree of measurement error for each method was assessed in comparison with the pathologic findings. RESULTS The correlation with pathology was an r value of 0.89 for MR measurements compared with an r value of 0.60 for clinical measurements. In addition, MR imaging revealed all cases of residual disease, whereas clinical assessment resulted in five false-negative interpretations in the 52 treated lesions. CONCLUSION The high correlation between measurements of residual disease obtained on MR images and those obtained at pathology validates the sensitivity of MR imaging of the breast after chemotherapy.
Why do some engineering students study alone?

This paper looks at undergraduate engineering students who have solitary study habits and do not frequently engage with classmates. These students, referred to as `academic solitaries,' explicitly state that they do not interact or study much with their academic peers and may find a sense of belonging elsewhere. Using a mixed methods approach (including interviews with students and surveys), our data show that while some students are happy studying alone and do so by choice (`preferred solitaires'), others universally express feeling like an outsider and study alone as a result (`outsider solitaries'). We argue that many of these outsider solitaries may be at risk of dropping out or changing fields over short, moderate, or long-term time scales. As part of our mixed methods study, we have identified a unifying set of indicators that can be obtained by survey at much lower self-select bias than recruiting students for interviews. We found that this approach allows greater success in identifying outsider solitaries at potential risk of dropping out. In this pilot study, we show that using these affective indicators in survey form can potentially allow practitioners to identify students at risk of dropping out long before they reach the point of leaving.
AN IMPACT OF MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS ON PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY OF CONSOLIDATION BANKING SECTOR IN INDIA

The Financial sector improves to introduce by the Indian Government during the early 1990s and the key parameters like globalisation and post -liberalisation of the world economy, Indian banking has begun to change itself. It is experiencing scenario to change known as ‘consolidation’ of Indian banking. In this paper interpret the financial performance of banking sector pre and post -merger their activities consolidated by the stronger financial institutions. This paper analysis the Impact of M& A’son productivity and profitability of consolidation in the Indian Banking sector. The current paper examined the performance, strengthens and weakness of the sample two banks i.e.one public and one private sector banks based on the financial ratios from the perspective of pre and post – merger grounds. The collection of data covers financial performance of selected banks from 2004-05 to 2014-15. The statistical tools are arithmetic mean, standard deviation, t-test and p-value etc. to use gauge the various financial ratios before and after merger analysis. Ratios of studies are used to compare pre and post -merger financial performance evaluation of consolidation banks , test analysis and multiple comparisons which realisation the efficiency of the sample banks. Positioned on the analysis of ICICI Bank concluded that Net Profit Margin, Operating Profit Margin, Return on Capital Employed, Return on Net Worth, Interest Coverage, Deposit per Employee and Credit Deposit Ratio there is significant difference but non-significant difference with respect to Gross Profit Margin, Dept-Equity Ratio, Current Ratio, Quick Ratio, Earnings per Share and Business per Branch. Positioned on the analysis of State Bank of India concluded that there is non-significant difference in respect to Gross Profit margin, Operating Margin, Return on Capital Employed, Dept-Equity, Interest Coverage and Current Ratio but there is significant difference with respect to Net Profit Margin, Return on Net Worth, Quick Ratio, Credit Deposit Ratio, Earnings per Share, Deposit per Employee, Credit per Employee, and Business per Branch. The study concluded that the banks have been positive effects when distinguished between pre – mergers and post- merger period.
Thyroid hormone therapy for obesity and nonthyroidal illnesses: a systematic review.

CONTEXT Thyroid hormone therapy to enhance weight loss in obesity during caloric deprivation and to improve morbidity and mortality in adults with nonthyroidal illnesses remains controversial. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review evaluating effectiveness and risks of T(3) and/or T(4) therapy in these populations. DATA SOURCES Electronic databases and reference lists were searched. STUDY SELECTION Studies with comparable control groups comparing T(3) and/or T(4) therapy to placebo in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or prospective observational studies were selected. DATA EXTRACTION Three reviewers performed serial abstraction. DATA SYNTHESIS During caloric deprivation of obese subjects, T(3) therapy decreased serum TSH and T(4) concentrations. Consistent effects of T(3) or T(4) on weight loss, protein breakdown, metabolic rate, and heart rate could not be established. In euthyroid cardiac patients, T(3) decreased TSH and free T(4) levels, without consistent effects of T(3) or T(4) on heart rate, cardiac output, or systemic vascular resistance. Mortality increased 3.3-fold with T(4) therapy in acute renal failure patients, whereas an effect in cardiac, critically ill, and burn patients could not be established. Equivalence testing indicated that larger RCTs are required to determine whether thyroid hormone therapy alters end-points in obesity or nonthyroidal illnesses. LIMITATIONS Numbers of usable unique studies were small, numbers of patients in each study were inadequate, end-points were variable, few RCTs were performed, and study quality of non-RCTs was poor. CONCLUSIONS Available data are inconclusive regarding effectiveness of thyroid hormone therapy in treating obesity or nonthyroidal illnesses, whereas data support that such therapy induces subclinical hyperthyroidism.
Hybrid and population density affect yield and quality of silage maize in central Alberta

Four maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids planted at varying plant densities were evaluated for their yield, maturity, and quality across environments in north central Alberta. Given the balance of yield and quality, very early maturing hybrids [2000 corn heat units (CHU)] planted at ~100 000 plants ha-1 are recommended for north central Alberta. Key words: Corn; Zea mays L. ; northern latitudes; corn heat units
Influence of house-staff experience on teaching-hospital mortality: the "July phenomenon" revisited.

BACKGROUND The "July phenomenon" refers to a purported worsening of outcomes in teaching-hospital patients with the arrival of new, inexperienced house-staff. Previous quantitative studies of new house-staff and increased mortality have been limited primarily by a focused patient population and the use of limited data to adjust for severity of patient illness. METHODS We included all medicine, surgical, and obstetrical patients admitted to a teaching hospital in Ontario, Canada between April 15, 2004 and December 31, 2008. We calculated the ratio of observed to expected weekly number of deaths in hospital. The expected number of deaths was calculated using a validated, discriminative, and well-calibrated multivariate survival model. Collective house-staff experience was modeled from a minimum on July 1st to a maximum on June 30th using five distinct patterns. RESULTS We studied 259,748 encounters that included 164,318 people. The mortality rate was 3.0%. The ratio of observed to expected number of weekly deaths was not associated with collective house-staff experience, irrespective of the pattern in which it was modeled. The lack of association between risk of death in hospital and house-staff experience did not vary by admission type (urgent vs elective) or specialty (medicine vs surgery). CONCLUSION At our hospital, we found no association between the arrival of new house-staff and the adjusted risk of death in hospital. These data, along with the results of the vast majority of previous studies in this field, make the existence of the "July Phenomenon" for inpatient mortality extremely unlikely.
In Vivo Intracellular pH Measurements in Tobacco and Arabidopsis Reveal an Unexpected pH Gradient in the Endomembrane System[W]

This work combines biochemistry and live-cell imaging to perform in vivo pH measurements of different compartments of the endomembrane system in plant cells. It reports that the prevacuolar compartments are more alkaline than the trans-Golgi network and provides evidence that endosomal proton pumps and proton efflux transporters contribute to pH homeostasis. The pH homeostasis of endomembranes is essential for cellular functions. In order to provide direct pH measurements in the endomembrane system lumen, we targeted genetically encoded ratiometric pH sensors to the cytosol, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the trans-Golgi, or the compartments labeled by the vacuolar sorting receptor (VSR), which includes the trans-Golgi network and prevacuoles. Using noninvasive live-cell imaging to measure pH, we show that a gradual acidification from the endoplasmic reticulum to the lytic vacuole exists, in both tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) epidermal (ΔpH −1.5) and Arabidopsis thaliana root cells (ΔpH −2.1). The average pH in VSR compartments was intermediate between that of the trans-Golgi and the vacuole. Combining pH measurements with in vivo colocalization experiments, we found that the trans-Golgi network had an acidic pH of 6.1, while the prevacuole and late prevacuole were both more alkaline, with pH of 6.6 and 7.1, respectively. We also showed that endosomal pH, and subsequently vacuolar trafficking of soluble proteins, requires both vacuolar-type H+ ATPase–dependent acidification as well as proton efflux mediated at least by the activity of endosomal sodium/proton NHX-type antiporters.
Dimensionality of the Women as Managers Scale: Factor Congruency Among Three Samples

PERCEIVED AND ACTUAL BARRIERS to women’s career advancement persist (Deal & Stevenson, 1998; Ragins, Townsend, & Mattis, 1998), and, recently, there has been a renewed interest in assessing attitudes about women as managers. During the last three decades, investigators have produced a catalog of research using several different instruments (e.g., Shein’s, 1973, Descriptive Index; the Managerial Attitudes Toward Female Executives Scale of Dubno, Costas, Cannon, Wankel, & Emin, 1979; the Women as Managers Scale or WAMS of Peters, Terborg, & Taynor, 1974). However, the measures have undergone little refinement, despite some early concerns about the strength of some of the scales. In particular, Crino,
Infectious gastroenteritis and risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Infectious gastroenteritis (IGE) is known to exacerbate previously diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, limited data are available describing a causal link between IGE and incident IBD. METHODS By using a medical encounter data repository of active duty military personnel, a study was conducted to assess IBD risk in subjects with an antecedent case of IGE. RESULTS Between 1999 and 2006, there were 3019 incident IBD cases and 11,646 matched controls who were evaluated in a conditional logistic regression model. To control for potential misclassification, IGE episodes within 6 months of IBD diagnosis were excluded as exposures. After adjusting for potential confounders, an episode of IGE increased the risk of IBD (odds ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-1.66). The risk was slightly higher for Crohn's disease compared with ulcerative colitis. In addition, there was an approximate 5-fold increase in IBD risk for persons with a previous irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS These data support theories that the initiation of IBD is a multifactorial process that might include the disruption of normal gut homeostatic mechanisms. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the pathogen-specific risks, identify susceptible populations, and better understand the pathophysiologic relationship between IGE and IBD.
Flat Epithelial Atypia and Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia: Carcinoma Underestimation Rate

Abstract: This study was carried out to determine the underestimation rate of carcinoma upon surgical biopsy after a diagnosis of flat epithelial atypia and atypical ductal hyperplasia and 11‐gauge vacuum‐assisted breast biopsy. A retrospective review was conducted of 476 vacuum‐assisted breast biopsy performed from May 2005 to January 2007 and a total of 70 cases of atypia were identified. Fifty cases (71%) were categorized as pure atypical ductal hyperplasia, 18 (26%) as pure flat epithelial atypia and two (3%) as concomitant flat epithelial atypia and atypical ductal hyperplasia. Each group were compared with the subsequent open surgical specimens. Surgical biopsy was performed in 44 patients with atypical ductal hyperplasia, 15 patients with flat epithelial atypia, and two patients with flat epithelial atypia and atypical ductal hyperplasia. Five cases of atypical ductal hyperplasia were upgraded to ductal carcinoma in situ, three cases of flat epithelial atypia yielded one ductal carcinoma in situ and two cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, and one case of flat epithelial atypia/atypical ductal hyperplasia had invasive ductal carcinoma. The overall rate of malignancy was 16% for atypical ductal hyperplasia (including flat epithelial atypia/atypical ductal hyperplasia patients) and 20% for flat epithelial atypia. The presence of flat epithelial atypia and atypical ductal hyperplasia at biopsy requires careful consideration, and surgical excision should be suggested.
Novel schemes for interference‐resilient OFDM wireless communication

This research work introduces some novel techniques for interference‐resilient OFDM wireless communication. Firstly, novel schemes for spatial multiplexing and interference cancelation based on signal subspace estimation are proposed. Secondly, the OFDM system is designed such that it meets three main objectives simultaneously, namely, (i) interference‐resiliency, (ii) throughput maximization, and (iii) energy consumption minimization. Interference‐cancelation techniques in prior art mostly consider maximization of throughput without any focus on energy consumption. On the other hand, the literature in energy minimization is limited to interference‐free environments. Most of the previous techniques also have a drawback that they cannot operate in smart or dynamically changing interference environments. The focus here is on interference‐resilient communication with equal attention to both throughput and energy‐efficiency maximization in dynamic hostile environments. The optimization problem is formulated, and then optimal policies and switching thresholds are found for throughput and energy‐efficient interference‐resilient communication. Methodologies for estimating the channel and jammer conditions and then adapting the transmission strategies accordingly are proposed. Moreover, to have an effective defense against smart jamming scenario, a constant‐payoff scheme is also introduced. Simulation results are compared with previous techniques that demonstrate the efficacy of proposed research. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bone Stress Injuries Causing Exercise-Induced Knee Pain

Background No comprehensive studies of bone stress injuries in the knee based on magnetic resonance imaging findings have been published. Purpose Assess the incidence, location, nature, and patterns of bone stress injuries in the knee in military conscripts with exercise-induced knee pain. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods During a period of 70 months, 1330 patients with exercise-induced knee pain underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the knee. A total of 1577 knees were imaged; the images with bone stress injury findings were retrospectively reevaluated with respect to location and type of injury. The person-based incidence of bone stress injuries in the knee was calculated, based on the number of conscripts within the hospital's catchment area. Results Of the 1330 patients, 88 (7%) met the inclusion criteria, and 141 bone stress injuries were found in the 110 knees imaged. The incidence of bone stress injuries was 103 per 100 000 person-years. Of the patients, 25% had bilateral bone stress injuries; 28% had 2 solitary bone stress injuries in the same knee simultaneously, all situated in the femoral condyle and tibial plateau. The most common anatomical location for a bone stress injury was the medial tibial plateau (31%), which was also the most typical location for a more advanced injury. After the commencement of military service, a bone stress injury in the medial tibial plateau caused knee pain earlier than did a bone stress injury elsewhere in the knee (P=. 014). Conclusion The incidence of bone stress injuries in the knee with exercise-induced knee pain is relatively high in conscripts. Multiple and bilateral injuries can occur. For accurate diagnosis and to ensure appropriate treatment, magnetic resonance imaging is recommended as a routine imaging method when a physical activity can be regularly associated with the onset of symptoms.