Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accuracy and Predictive Value of Classification Schemes for Ketosis-Prone Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Ketosis-prone diabetes (KPD) is an emerging, heterogeneous syndrome. A sound classification scheme for KPD is essential to guide clinical practice and pathophysiologic studies. Four schemes have been used and are based on immunologic criteria, immunologic criteria and insulin requirement, BMI, and immunologic criteria and beta-cell function (Abeta classification). The aim of the present study is to compare the four schemes for accuracy and predictive value in determining whether KPD patients have absent or preserved beta-cell function, which is a strong determinant of long-term insulin dependence and clinical phenotype. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Consecutive patients (n = 294) presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis and followed for 12-60 months were classified according to all four schemes. They were evaluated longitudinally for beta-cell autoimmunity, clinical and biochemical features, beta-cell function, and insulin dependence. beta-Cell function was defined by peak plasma C-peptide response to glucagon >or=1.5 ng/ml. The accuracy of each scheme to predict absent or preserved beta-cell function after 12 months of follow-up was tested using multiple statistical analyses. RESULTS The "Abeta" classification scheme was the most accurate overall, with a sensitivity and specificity of 99.4 and 95.9%, respectively, positive and negative likelihood ratios of 24.55 and 0.01, respectively, and an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.972. CONCLUSIONS The Abeta scheme has the highest accuracy and predictive value in classifying KPD patients with regard to clinical outcomes and pathophysiologic subtypes.
Tissue Culture of Human Fetal Pancreas: Effects of Human Serum on Development and Endocrine Function of Isletlike Cell Clusters

The human fetal pancreas represents a source of insulin-producing β-cells with a potential for transplantation to diabetic patients. It has previously been shown that such cells can be viably maintained in tissue culture media containing fetal calf serum (FCS) and that these explants continue to synthesize and release insulin. In this study the effects of human serum (HS) on the growth and function of human fetal pancreatic explants have been compared with those of FCS. For this purpose, pancreatic glands, obtained after prostaglandin-induced abortions, were briefly exposed to collagenase, and the digest was cultured in RPMI-1640 medium plus 10% pooled HS or FCS. The outgrowth of isletlike cell clusters (ICCs) was monitored. In 31 of 58 consecutively explanted glands, development of ICCs was observed. In the presence of FCS the outgrowth of ICC took place on top of a fibroblast monocellular cell layer; HS effected less growth of fibroblasts and increased the formation of ICCs about sevenfold compared with explants from the same glands maintained in FCS. However, in the explant cultures with HS, the cell number per ICC, expressed as DNA content, was reduced by 50%. In both FCS and HS the insulin content of the medium showed great variability and progressively declined from day 2 to day 5. The medium glucagon concentration also decreased but not to the same extent as that of insulin. Immunocytochemical-stained ICCs showed insulin- and glucagon-positive cells scattered among most nonstained, presumably nonendocrine cells. The ultrastructure of the cultured cells was well preserved, with frequent granulated cells, some of which were identified as β-cells. Measurements of [3H]thymidine incorporation into ICCs indicated a high rate of DNA replication. ICCs maintained in HS showed significant rates of insulin biosynthesis and release. We conclude that in comparison with explants cultured with FCS, the yield of ICCs is markedly increased by HS. The size and geometry of these ICCs may make them particularly suited for transplantation.
Determinants of Seeking Advice within Defined Contribution Retirement Savings Schemes

We report results from a study of superannuation member advice‐seeking within their plan, explaining observed patterns by member age, gender, issue salience and size‐of‐bet effect. Inquiry mode, frequency and volume of contact with the advice‐provider, and sensitivity of members to legislative change and macroeconomic events are considered. Results show that gender (female more likely than male), age (older rather than younger), balance (larger rather than smaller) and experience (longer rather than shorter) are the strongest advice‐seeking predictors, consistent over time. Findings suggest member engagement around retirement planning may be more effective when considering the factors affecting advice‐seeking behaviour in general.
Fiscal Policy in Good Times and Bad

Thanks in large part to recently enacted tax cuts, U.S. fiscal policy has taken a decidedly procyclical turn? providing stimulus when the economy is growing. In fact, the projected increase in the federal deficit over the next few years would represent the most procyclical fiscal policy stance since the Vietnam War. This matters because many recent studies have found that fiscal stimulus has a smaller impact when the economy is strong, implying that the near-term boost to GDP growth could be two-thirds or less of that from previous tax cuts.
Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Three-Dimensional Gelatin Sponge Scaffold Attenuate Inflammation, Promote Angiogenesis, and Reduce Cavity Formation in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury

Three-dimensional (3D) gelatin sponge (GS) scaffolds were constructed by ensheathing GS with a thin film of poly-(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). Rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated, cultured, and then seeded to the scaffolds. Distribution of cells and cell growth, survival, and proliferation within the scaffolds were then determined. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis were employed to detect the deposition of fibronectin to the scaffolds on day 3 and day 7 of culture. Scaffolds with or without MSCs were then transplanted into the transected rat spinal cord. One or 8 weeks following transplantation, cavity areas, activated macrophages/microglia, expression of TNF-α and IL-1β, and neovascularization within the grafts were examined and quantified. Deposition of fibronectin (FN) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) as potential inducing factors for angiogenesis were also examined. Results showed that 3D GS scaffolds allowed MSCs to adhere, survive, and proliferate and also FN to deposit. In vivo transplantation experiments demonstrated that these scaffolds were biocompatible, and MSCs seeded to the scaffolds played an important role in attenuating inflammation, promoting angiogenesis, and reducing cavity formation. Therefore, the GS scaffolds with MSCs may serve as promising supporting transplants for repairing spinal cord injury.
Continuous cytosine‐b‐D‐arabinofuranoside infusion reduces ectopic granule cells in adult rat hippocampus with attenuation of spontaneous recurrent seizures following pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus

Brief or prolonged seizures induce various patterns of plasticity. Axonal or dendritic remodelling and development of ectopic granule cells have been described in the hilus and molecular layer of the adult rodent hippocampus. Hippocampal cell proliferation also occurs after seizures. However, whether the seizure‐induced cell proliferation plays a pathological or reparative role in the epileptic brain is unknown. In this study, we attempted to suppress the seizure‐induced cell proliferation with the antimitotic agent cytosine‐b‐D‐arabinofuranoside (Ara‐C) and to examine the development of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). Experimental status epilepticus was induced with pilocarpine, and Ara‐C or vehicle alone was infused continuously with an osmotic minipump. SRS were video‐monitored. BrdU immunohistochemistry was used for the spatial and temporal analysis of hippocampal cell proliferation, and double labelling with NeuN, calbindin and GFAP antibodies was performed for the differentiation of BrdU‐positive cells. Timm staining was also performed for evaluation of mossy fibre sprouting (MFS). With continuous Ara‐C infusion, the likelihood of developing SRS was decreased and, during the latent period, the development of ectopic granule cells in the hilus and new glia in the CA1 area was reduced when compared with the vehicle‐infused group, while MFS was not altered. The results suggest that the hippocampal cell proliferation plays a pro‐epileptogenic role rather than a compensatory role, and that the epileptogenic process may be associated with the generation of new glia in the CA1 area and/or new neurons in the dentate gyrus, particularly the ectopically located hilar granule cells.
Does a Bank Levy Increase Frictions on the Interbank Market?

The crisis has shown that a drop in liquidity, as well as the shortened maturity of interbank transactions, has caused many problems for banks. We analyze how the introduction of a bank levy on bank assets in Poland has affected the interbank market, as well as money market pricing. Analyzing daily volume and number of interbank transactions, along with daily bank quotes, we document that the bank levy has significantly reduced trading intensity on the market, shortening the maturity of transactions. We also find that it has increased the dispersion of bank quotes for short-term transactions, while at the same time ''killing'' interbank long-term transactions, including the pricing for this market. The regulators should re-think the nature of bank levies in several countries, as they negatively affect the functioning of the interbank market and brings intoquestion the credibility of interbank benchmarks.
Technology Adoption and Diffusion: A New Application of the UTAUT Model

Diffusion of innovation is a key challenge for organizations; it brings social change that alters a system's structure and how it operates. Most of the studies in this area have focused on the information and communication technologies sector (ICT). In this paper, we have sought to understand the acceptance and use of wood-based technology in the non-residential construction sector. For this purpose, we conducted a web survey of 28 engineers in Quebec's construction industry. Upon examining the survey results using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) theory, we have proposed a conceptual framework specific to the use of wood in non-residential construction and identified the main similarities and differences according to the basic UTAUT model. We have also identified some constraints regarding the use of wood-based technology.
Longitudinal study of insulin resistance and sex hormones over the menstrual cycle: the BioCycle Study.

CONTEXT Conflicting findings have been reported regarding the effect of menstrual cycle phase and sex hormones on insulin sensitivity. OBJECTIVE The aim was to determine the pattern of insulin resistance over the menstrual cycle and whether variations in sex hormones explain these patterns. DESIGN The BioCycle study is a longitudinal study that measured hormones at different phases of the menstrual cycle. Participants had up to eight visits per cycle; each visit was timed using fertility monitors to capture sensitive windows of hormonal changes. SETTING The study was conducted in the general community of the University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY). PARTICIPANTS A total of 257 healthy, premenopausal women (age, 27±8 yr; body mass index, 24±4 kg/m2) participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We measured fasting insulin, glucose, and insulin resistance by the homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS Significant changes in HOMA-IR were observed over the menstrual cycle; from a midfollicular phase level of 1.35, levels rose to 1.59 during the early luteal phase and decreased to 1.55 in the late-luteal phase. HOMA-IR levels primarily reflected changes in insulin and not glucose. After adjustment for age, race, cycle, and other sex hormones, HOMA-IR was positively associated with estradiol (β=0.082; P<0.001) and progesterone (β=0.025; P<0.001), and inversely associated with FSH (adjusted β=-0.040; P<0.001) and SHBG (β=-0.085; P<0.001). LH was not associated with HOMA-IR. Further adjustment for BMI weakened the association with SHBG (β=-0.057; P=0.06) but did not affect other associations. CONCLUSION Insulin exhibited minor menstrual cycle variability. Estradiol and progesterone were positively associated with insulin resistance and should be considered in studies of insulin resistance among premenopausal women.
Oligodendrocyte‐type 2 Astrocyte Progenitors Use a Metalloendoprotease to Spread and Migrate on CNS Myelin

Oligodendrocyte‐type 2 astrocyte (O‐2A) progenitors are highly motile cells which migrate in the developing and adult central nervous system (CNS). Adult CNS myelin, however, contains inhibitory proteins, the neurite growth inhibitors NI 35/250, which block neurite outgrowth and spreading of many different cell types, such as astrocytes and fibroblasts. In the present study we investigated the spreading of dissociated cells and migration out of aggregates (‘spheres’) of primary O‐2A cultures and of a glial precursor cell line (CG‐4) on purified CNS myelin and on CNS tissue. Primary O‐2A progenitors and CG‐4 cells quickly attached to and spread on CNS myelin‐coated culture dishes, showing no inhibition by the neurite growth inhibitors. CG‐4 cells migrated with a velocity of 30 pm/h on a CNS myelin protein extract and at 5.7 μm/h on adult spinal cord tissue. Both cell spreading and migration on a CNS substrate could be specifically blocked by metalloprotease blockers like o‐phenanthroline and the tetrapeptide carbobenzoxy‐phe‐ala‐phe‐tyr‐amide, whereas blockers of the serine, aspartyl and cysteine proteases had no effect. On differentiation to astrocytes, the O‐2A progenitors lost their ability to spread on CNS myelin. These results suggest the crucial involvement of a metalloprotease in the mechanism of migration on a CNS substrate. In vivo, migration of oligodendrocyte progenitors may be an important aspect of myelin repair following local traumatic, inflammatory or toxin‐induced myelin loss.
Conserved epitopes on the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase proteins of human and bovine parainfluenza type 3 viruses: nucleotide sequence analysis of variants selected with monoclonal antibodies

We have previously identified 11 epitopes located in two topologically nonoverlapping antigenic sites (A and B) and a third bridging site (C) on the human type 3 parainfluenza virus (PIV3) hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein by using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) which inhibit hemagglutination and virus infectivity (K. L. Coelingh, C. C. Winter, and B. R. Murphy, Virology 143:569-582, 1985). We have identified three additional antigenic sites (D, E, and F) on the HN molecule by competitive-binding assays of anti-HN MAbs which have no known biological activity. Epitopes in sites A, D, and F are conserved on the bovine PIV3 HN glycoprotein and also among a wide range of human isolates. The dideoxy method was used to identify nucleotide substitutions in the HN genes of antigenic variants selected with neutralizing MAbs representing epitopes in site A which are shared by human and bovine PIV3. The deduced amino acid substitutions in the variants were located in separate hydrophilic stretches of HN residues which are conserved in the primary structures of the HN proteins of both human and bovine PIV3 strains.
Eggs in Early Complementary Feeding and Child Growth: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This rigorously conducted trial showed that when offered early in complementary feeding, the food-based intervention of eggs produced a large effect size on child growth. BACKGROUND: Eggs are a good source of nutrients for growth and development. We hypothesized that introducing eggs early during complementary feeding would improve child nutrition. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in Cotopaxi Province, Ecuador, from March to December 2015. Children ages 6 to 9 months were randomly assigned to treatment (1 egg per day for 6 months [n = 83]) and control (no intervention [n = 80]) groups. Both arms received social marketing messages to encourage participation in the Lulun Project (lulun meaning “egg” in Kichwa). All households were visited once per week to monitor morbidity symptoms, distribute eggs, and monitor egg intakes (for egg group only). Baseline and end point outcome measures included anthropometry, dietary intake frequencies, and morbidity symptoms. RESULTS: Mothers or other caregivers reported no allergic reactions to the eggs. Generalized linear regression modeling showed the egg intervention increased length-for-age z score by 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38–0.88) and weight-for-age z score by 0.61 (95% CI, 0.45–0.77). Log-binomial models with robust Poisson indicated a reduced prevalence of stunting by 47% (prevalence ratio [PR], 0.53; 95% CI, 0.37–0.77) and underweight by 74% (PR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.10–0.70). Children in the treatment group had higher dietary intakes of eggs (PR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.28–1.92) and reduced intake of sugar-sweetened foods (PR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51–0.97) compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: The findings supported our hypothesis that early introduction of eggs significantly improved growth in young children. Generally accessible to vulnerable groups, eggs have the potential to contribute to global targets to reduce stunting.
Does It Pay to Be Sustainable? Evidence from European Banks

This paper aims to explore the relationship between the economic, environmental, social, and corporate governance component of Corporate Social Performance (CSP) and the Corporate Financial Performance (CFP) in the European banking sector. The empirical analyses, based on panel data, are performed on a sample of 70 listed European banks (EU28) over the period 2011-2015. The main results show a significant and positive relationship between the aggregated CSP measure and the average profitability of banks' assets and market capitalization. Furthermore, the social component positively affects the average return on assets and equity; the economic component is positively associated with the performance of prospective profitability and market capitalization; finally, the environmental component is positively associated with the ROAA. Sustainable banks, in line with the stakeholder Theory, through ethical and social policies, might increase their financial and economic performance.
Hardware Trojans classification for gate-level netlists based on machine learning

Recently, we face a serious risk that malicious third-party vendors can very easily insert hardware Trojans into their IC products but it is very difficult to analyze huge and complex ICs. In this paper, we propose a hardware-Trojan classification method to identify hardware-Trojan infected nets (or Trojan nets) using a support vector machine (SVM). Firstly, we extract the five hardware-Trojan features in each net in a netlist. Secondly, since we cannot effectively give the simple and fixed threshold values to them to detect hardware Trojans, we represent them to be a five-dimensional vector and learn them by using SVM. Finally, we can successfully classify a set of all the nets in an unknown netlist into Trojan ones and normal ones based on the learned SVM classifier. We have applied our SVM-based hardware-Trojan classification method to Trust-HUB benchmarks and the results demonstrate that our method can much increase the true positive rate compared to the existing state-of-the-art results in most of the cases. In some cases, our method can achieve the true positive rate of 100%, which shows that all the Trojan nets in a netlist are completely detected by our method.
An update on leptin as immunomodulator

Until the discovery of leptin 20 years ago, adipose tissue was considered only as a fat storage organ, involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis. At present, it is well known that adipokines, being leptin the forerunner of this superfamily, may act in different biological processes, including inflammation and immunity. In this review, we have explored the recent evidence about the relationship between leptin and immune system, summarizing the most important findings related to the involvement of leptin in both innate and adaptive immune response.
18F-FDG PET studies in patients with extratemporal and temporal epilepsy: evaluation of an observer-independent analysis.

UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to evaluate an observer-independent analysis of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET studies in patients with temporal or extratemporal epilepsy. METHODS Twenty-seven patients with temporal epilepsy and 22 patients with extratemporal epilepsy were included in the study. All patients with temporal epilepsy and 7 patients with extratemporal epilepsy underwent surgical treatment. In patients who showed significant postoperative improvement (temporal, n = 23; extratemporal, n = 6), the epileptogenic focus was assumed to be located in the area of surgical resection. In extratemporal epilepsy patients who did not undergo surgery, the focus localization was determined using a combination of semiology, ictal and interictal electroencephalography, [99mTc]ethyl cysteinate dimer SPECT, MRI and [11C]flumazenil PET. Visual analysis was performed by two experienced and two less experienced blinded observers using sagittal, axial and coronal images. In the automated analysis after anatomic standardization and generation of three-dimensional stereotactic surface projections (SSPs), a pixelwise comparison of 18F-FDG uptake with an age-matched reference database (n = 20) was performed, resulting in z score images. Pixels with the maximum deviation were detected, summarized and attached to one of 20 predefined surface regions of interest. For comparison with 18F-FDG PET and MR images, three-dimensional overlay images were generated. RESULTS In patients with temporal epilepsy, the sensitivity was comparable for visual and observer-independent analysis (three-dimensional SSP 86%, experienced observers 86%-90%, less experienced observers 77%-86%). In patients with extratemporal epilepsy, three-dimensional SSP showed a significantly higher sensitivity in detecting the epileptogenic focus (67%) than did visual analysis (experienced 33%-38%, each less experienced 19%). In temporal lobe epilepsy, there was moderate to good agreement between the localization found with three-dimensional SSP and the different observers. In patients with extratemporal epilepsy, there was a high interobserver variability and only a weak agreement between the localization found with three-dimensional SSP and the different observers. Although three-dimensional SSP detected multiple lesions more often than visual analysis, the determination of the highest deviation from the reference database allowed the identification of the epileptogenic focus with a higher accuracy than subjective criteria, especially in extratemporal epilepsy. CONCLUSION Three-dimensional SSP increases sensitivity and reduces observer variability of the analysis of 18F-FDG PET images in patients with extratemporal epilepsy and is, therefore, a useful tool in the evaluation of this patient group. The benefit of this analytical approach in patients with temporal epilepsy is less apparent.