Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A clinicopathological study of TRAIL expression in halo nevi

Pathogenesis of the halo phenomenon in halo nevus (HN) is not completely understood. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is implicated in the causation of immune and inflammatory cutaneous disorders such as vitiligo. To evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and the expression of TRAIL in HN, we analyzed clinicopathological data of 32 patients with HN and performed immunohistochemistry for TRAIL and CD8 on HN (n = 32) and melanocytic nevi of healthy controls (n = 10). Correlation of TRAIL expression with clinicopathological features was assessed. We also performed double immunofluorescence staining for TRAIL and CD8 to confirm their co-localization. A variable degree of inflammatory cell-infiltrate around the melanocytic nevus was observed in all cases. Immunohistochemical staining showed a significantly higher expression of TRAIL in HN lesions as compared to that in skin of healthy controls. The shorter the evolution time of HN, the stronger was the TRAIL expression. TRAIL had a positive association with the CD8+ T cells infiltrate. Co-localization of TRAIL in the CD8+ cells in HN was observed on double immunofluorescence. According to its abundant expression in HN lesions and close association with the disease course and predominant CD8+ inflammatory cells, it seems that TRAIL involves in the pathogenesis of HN.
Constructive coupling effect of topological states and topological phase transitions in plumbene

Combining tight-binding (TB) models with first-principles calculations, we investigate electronic and topological properties of plumbene. Different from the other two-dimensional (2D) topologically nontrivial insulators in group IVA (from graphene to stanene), low-buckled plumbene is a topologically trivial insulator. The plumbene without spin-orbit coupling exhibits simultaneously two kinds of degeneracies, i.e., quadratic non-Dirac and linear Dirac band dispersions around the \Gamma and K/K' points, respectively. Our TB model calculations show that it is the coupling between the two topological states around the \Gamma and K/K' points that triggers the global topologically trivial property of plumbene. Quantum anomalous Hall effects with Chern numbers of 2 or -2 can be, however, achieved after an exchange field is introduced. When the plumbene is functionalized with ethynyl (PbC2H), quantum spin Hall effects appear due to the breaking of the coupling effect of the local topological states.
A simple finite-time observer for linear time-delay systems

This paper presents a finite-time observer for linear time-delay systems with commensurate delay. Unlike the existing observers in the literature which converges asymptotically, the proposed observer provides a finite-time estimation. This is realized by using the well-known sliding mode technique. Simulation results are also presented in order to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method.
Patch‐clamp characterisation of somatostatin‐secreting δ‐cells in intact mouse pancreatic islets

1 The perforated patch whole‐cell configuration of the patch‐clamp technique was applied to superficial cells in intact mouse pancreatic islets. 2 Three types of electrical activity were observed corresponding to α‐, β‐ and δ‐cells. The δ‐cells were electrically active in the presence of glucose but lacked the oscillatory pattern seen in the β‐cells. By contrast, the α‐cells were electrically silent at high glucose concentrations but action potentials could be elicited by removal of the sugar. 3 Both α‐ and β‐cells contained transient voltage‐activated K+ currents. In the δ‐cells, the K+ currents activated above −20 mV and were completely blocked by TEA (20 mm). The α‐cells differed from the δ‐cells in possessing a TEA‐resistant K+ current activating already at −40 mV. 4 Immunocytochemistry revealed the presence of Kv3.4 channels in δ‐cells and TEA‐resistant Kv4.3 channels in α‐cells. Thus the presence of a transient TEA‐resistant current can be used to functionally separate the δ‐ and α‐cells. 5 A TTX‐sensitive Na+ current developed in δ‐cells during depolarisations beyond −30 mV and reached a peak amplitude of 350 pA. Steady‐state inactivation of this current was half‐maximal at −28 mV. The δ‐cells were also equipped with a sustained Ca2+ current that activated above −30 mV and reached a peak of 60 pA when measured at 2·6 mm extracellular Ca2+. 6 A tolbutamide‐sensitive KATP channel conductance was observed in δ‐cells exposed to glucose‐free medium. Addition of tolbutamide (0·1 mm) depolarised the δ‐cell and evoked electrical activity. We propose that the KATP channels in δ‐cells serve the same function as in the β‐cell and couple an elevation of the blood glucose concentration to stimulation of hormone release.
Transverse masticatory movements, occlusal orientation, and symphyseal fusion in selenodont artiodactyls

Based on extensive experimental work on primates, two masticatory loading regimes have emerged as the likely determinants of mandibular symphyseal fusion—dorsoventral shear and lateral transverse bending (wishboning) (Ravosa and Hylander, 1994; Hylander et al., 1998, 2000). Recently, however, it has been argued that, rather than functioning to strengthen the symphysis during mastication, fusion serves to stiffen the symphyseal joint so as to facilitate increased transverse jaw movements during occlusion (Lieberman and Crompton, 2000). As part of this transverse stiffness model, it has been suggested that taxa with fused symphyses should also exhibit more horizontally oriented occlusal wear facets. Using a series of univariate and bivariate analyses, we test predictions of these three models in a sample of 44 species of selenodont artiodactyls. Consistent with the wishboning and transverse stiffness models, taxa with fused symphyses (camelids) have more horizontally oriented M2 and M2 occlusal wear facets, anteroposteriorly (AP) elongate symphyses, and relatively wider corpora. Contrary to the dorsoventral shear model, camelids do not have relatively deeper corpora (due to greater parasagittal bending). While taxa with ossified symphyses have relatively larger symphysis cross‐sectional areas, this appears to be the byproduct of an increase in AP symphysis length due to greater lateral transverse bending of the mandible. Theoretical consideration of the biomechanics of mastication further suggests that strength, not stiffness, is the critical factor in determining symphyseal ossification. Thus, like anthropoid primates, fusion in selenodont artiodactyls appears to function in resisting increased wishboning stresses arising from an emphasis on transverse occlusal/mandibular movements and loads. J. Morphol. 249:221–241, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The utility of the Mini-Mental Status Exam in older adults with traumatic brain injury

Primary objective: To assess the utility of the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) among the older TBI population. Methods and procedures: The MMSE and a number of other neuropsychological tests were administered to forty-three adults aged 50 and over one year following mild to moderate TBI. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of the MMSE were evaluated in relation to these tests. Main outcomes and results: The domains of the MMSE generally exhibited low sensitivity while high specificity was demonstrated by Attention and Language. Positive predictive value was high only for Language but negative predictive value was moderate to high for all domains. Conclusions: These results suggest that one year following mild to moderate TBI among older adults, the MMSE should not be used to identify those with cognitive impairment; if administered, a perfect score on a component of the MMSE suggests that enhanced testing in that given domain may not reveal further impairment. A small sample size and a small number of those impaired limit our results.
Beliefs about causes of schizophrenia among family members: a community-based survey in Bali.

OBJECTIVE This community-based study investigated causal beliefs regarding schizophrenia among families of individuals in Bali who screened positive for schizophrenia and examined how their beliefs were related to the individual's psychiatric treatment status. METHODS Causal beliefs of 39 key relatives were examined: 19 of the individuals with schizophrenia had received psychiatric medical treatment and 20 had never received such treatment. A questionnaire developed by the authors that listed 15 possible causes of schizophrenia was used to examine the respondents' beliefs. RESULTS Key relatives attributed supernatural causes to schizophrenia more often than natural causes. Compared with relatives who listed a natural cause as most important (14 relatives, or 36 percent), relatives who considered a supernatural cause as being the most important (25 relatives, or 64 percent) had a significantly higher mean age and less education and were more likely to have family members with schizophrenia who had never received psychiatric medical treatment. CONCLUSIONS Families' attribution of supernatural causes was strongly related to no receipt of psychiatric medical treatment by the individual with schizophrenia.
Do Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Enjoy Export-Led Growth? A Comparison of Two Small South Asian Economies

The export-led growth (ELG) hypothesis suggests that there is a strong positive linear relationship between a country’s exports and economic growth. For many years, theoretical and empirical studies have examined the causal relationship between exports and economic growth and found that this relationship is one of interdependence rather than of unilateral causation. The purpose of this article is to empirically re-examine the ELG hypothesis in the context of two small South Asian countries: Bangladesh for the period of 1980–2011 and Sri Lanka for the period of 1984–2011. Using a model that controls for a host of domestic and international factors, this article tests the ELG hypothesis by employing the Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds test for cointegration and the Granger causality tests. The empirical results confirm the validity of the ELG hypothesis for both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Methods of assessing clients' priorities: a survey of adult physical dysfunction settings.

OBJECTIVES Recent clinical reasoning literature has identified a collaborative model of treatment--one that responds to clients' perceptions of their illness and disability experiences--as central to occupational therapy practice. Assessing clients' priorities on admission is essential to that model. METHOD Surveys from of a convenience sample of 269 occupational therapy directors in adult physical rehabilitation facilities throughout the United States (70.2% response rate) were analyzed to see whether occupational therapists in those settings are assessing clients' priorities on admission, and if so, how. RESULTS The majority of occupational therapists are using informal interview to determine clients' priorities on admission. Client goals obtained from these interviews are vague and do not specify meaningful occupations; this finding suggests that therapists are setting treatment goals without specific input from clients about their valued activities. CONCLUSION Occupational therapists have not yet successfully translated their values about client-therapist collaboration into a formal set of procedures for practice.
MRI-guided biopsies and minimally invasive therapy for prostate cancer

Recent advances in multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) have led to a paradigm shift in the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer (PCa). Its sensitivity in detecting clinically significant cancer and the ability to localize the tumor within the prostate gland has opened up discussion on targeted diagnosis and therapy in PCa. Use of mp-MRI in conjunction with prostate-specific antigen followed by targeted biopsy allows for a better diagnostic pathway than transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy and improves the diagnosis of PCa. Improved detection of PCa by mp-MRI has also opened up opportunities for focal therapy within the organ while reducing the incidence of side-effects associated with the radical treatment methods for PCa. This review discusses the evidence and techniques for in-bore MRI-guided prostate biopsy and provides an update on the status of MRI-guided targeted focal therapy in PCa.
Women on Boards of Directors and Corporate Social Performance: A Meta‐Analysis

Research Question Whether and how women directors influence firms' engagement in socially responsible business practices and social reputation among diverse stakeholders is unclear due to conflicting empirical evidence, the lack of a coherent theory linking these variables, and inattention to the national contexts in which these relationships occurs. Research Findings Results from our meta-analysis of 87 independent samples suggest that, while generally positive, the female board representation–social performance relationship is even more positive in national contexts when boards may be more motivated to draw on the resources that women directors bring to a board (i.e., among firms operating in countries with stronger shareholder protections) and in contexts where intra-board power distribution may be more balanced (i.e., in countries with higher gender parity). Theoretical Implications Future studies should more attentively examine how firms' institutional contexts enhance or mitigate the relationship between women's representation on boards and corporate social performance. Our findings also highlight the need for a comprehensive understanding of the social performance-related knowledge, perspectives, and values that men and women bring to boards. Practitioner/Policy Implications Our results suggest that, to enhance any benefits of diversity for corporate social performance, efforts be directed at holding boards more accountable toward diverse stakeholders and improving the status of women in society and in the workforce.
Trade Interdependence and the Use of Force: Do Issues Matter?

ABSTRACT In this project, we investigate the relationship between the use of military force and trade interdependence, suggesting that the influence of trade on militarized conflict varies based on the issue under dispute. For some issues, trade is likely to attenuate the chances that states escalate a dispute to the use of military force, while for others trade can intensify disputes so that military conflict is more likely. Specifically, we hypothesize that greater trade interdependence decreases the probability of military conflict over realpolitik issues like territory. On the other hand, greater trade interdependence increases the probability that states use military force when the issue under dispute concerns the regime, policies, and conditions in the target. To test our hypotheses, we employ new data on dyadic uses of force from the International Military Intervention data set that records the initiator’s reason(s) for using force against the target. The statistical tests support our hypotheses; trade decreases the use of force against a target for territorial and military/diplomatic reasons, which is consistent with arguments from the liberal paradigm. However, trade interdependence increases the use of force for humanitarian and economic reasons as well as to affect the regime or policy of the target. Thus, our study improves upon current research about the relationship between economic interdependence and foreign policy by specifying a conditional relationship based on the issues under contention.
Medical check-up findings characteristic of smokers: aimed at improving smoking cessation interventions by physicians.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to elucidate the medical check-up findings associated with smoking habit, which medical professionals, particularly physicians, should use for the promotion of quitting smoking. METHODS In 6,215 male and 1,627 female employees who participated in annual medical check-up, we compared the results of each test between smokers and nonsmokers. RESULTS Many results were significantly different between smokers and nonsmokers in both males and females. Among them, the hematocrit, leukocyte count, and levels of hemoglobin and triglyceride were significantly higher, the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly lower, and the frequencies of positive urinary occult blood and hearing loss were significantly higher in male smokers than in male nonsmokers. Furthermore, the hematocrit, leukocyte count, positive urinary occult blood, hearing loss, and levels of hemoglobin, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed significant trends for male nonsmoker, and light, moderate, and heavy male smokers, that is, significant associations with larger numbers of cigarettes smoked per day. CONCLUSION Not only polycythemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level but also high leukocyte count, hearing loss, positive urinary occult blood, and high triglyceride level are smoking-related abnormal findings. In the medical check-up, medical professionals should inform smokers of these data and encourage them to quit smoking.
A comparative economic analysis of the contribution of Livestock to household incomes: a case of Uiri, Karungu and Nyatike Divisions

xvi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION. 1 1.0 Background. 1 1.1 Purpose and Objectives of the Study.3 1.2 Hypotheses to be tested.3 1.3 Justification of the Study. 4 1.4 Organization of the Thesis.5 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW.4 2.
Creating A Serious Game for Health

The prevalence of chronic illnesses continues to increase as does the cost of such care. Teaching self-management skills is more effective than solely providing information and teaching technical skills at improving health outcomes. Serious games for health provide an opportunity to support learning and health-related behavior change using messages and experiences in an engaging and entertaining format. We developed eSMART-HD with the intention of improving interactions between patients with chronic disorders and their health care providers. This paper describes the factors that we considered when creating eSMART-HD, a serious game for health.
Emissions from nonconducting negatively charged dust grains

Dust grains immersed into a low-temperature plasma are charged negatively because the electron attachment dominates other charging processes. However, increasing energy of impinging electrons leads to the increase of the yield of secondary emission. When this yield exceeds unity, the grain becomes charged positively. Previous laboratory experiments with electron beams have shown that the surface potential of large grains follows roughly an energy dependence of the secondary emission yield. It means that the grain potential reaches its maximum for hundreds of electronvolts of electron energy and then decreases. Model calculations reveal that the decrease of the grain potential with the electron energy can lead to the reversal of charge sign in a certain range of grain diameters. After this reversal, the grain is charged to the negative potential close to the beam energy. We use of this effect for investigations of electron field emission from nonconducting spheres (glass and melamine formaldehyde resin) with the diameter 4-11 /spl mu/m for glass and 5 and 10 /spl mu/m for resin. Single grains were trapped in a Paul trap and bombarded by the electron beam. The beam energy was changed in a range of 0.3-10 keV. The experimental results confirm the aforementioned expectations and an analysis of these results has shown that: 1) the effective work function for electron field emission from charged nonconducting materials (glass and melamine resin) could be as low as 2 eV, but it can be close to 5 eV as expected for insulating materials. The difference is connected with the charging history. 2) The effect of field dependent secondary emission limits the attainable negative potential.
Saturable disposition of taurine in the rat cerebrospinal fluid.

Recently, we described a saturable Na(+)-dependent taurine transporter in the choroid plexus, the blood-CSF barrier (Chung et al., 1994). The goal of this study was to determine whether this transporter plays a role in the in vivo elimination of taurine from the CSF. 3H-taurine and 14C-inulin were injected into the lateral ventricle of anesthetized rats, and the concentrations of the radiolabeled compounds in the CSF were determined. The apparent clearance of taurine from the CSF was greater than the estimated CSF bulk flow (P < .005), which indicates that there is a clearance process in addition to the CSF bulk flow. Taurine distribution into the choroid plexus was at least 10-fold higher than that found in other brain areas. The apparent clearance of 3H-taurine and the distribution of taurine into the choroid plexus and cerebral cortex were dose-dependent. The Michaelis-Menten rate constant estimated from the in vivo elimination study (40 +/- 25 microM) is in the range of that obtained for taurine uptake in isolated choroid plexus tissue slices (137 +/- 67 microM). Both alpha- and beta-alanine decreased the clearance of taurine from the CSF as well as the distribution of taurine into the choroid plexus via inhibitory effects (either direct or indirect) on the Na(+)-taurine transporter in the choroid plexus. These data suggest that the previously characterized taurine transporter in the choroid plexus plays a role in the in vivo saturable disposition of taurine in the CSF.
Exploring the Predictors of the International Digital Divide

ABSTRACT The digital divide, while attracting considerable research and political attention since the introduction of the Internet, remains an apparently intractable issue for parts of the developing world. While most prior research focuses on national income as the most significant predictor of the digital divide and thus leaves little room for intervention when financial resources are scarce, the current study identifies institutional stability and infrastructure development as being of similar importance, thereby demonstrating a route out of the otherwise apparent impasse. In this study, we employ TreeNet, a software tool based on the gradient descent algorithm, which has not been previously used in digital divide studies. This tool allows for the determination of the relative importance of predictors of digital development and the importance of predictors that propel countries to top or bottom levels of digital development. The authors also uncover important interactions among predictors of digital development. Separate models were built for the level of Internet use and for the number of mobile phone subscriptions at a country level and these models were found to be different. As a result, the authors were able to determine critical thresholds of infrastructure at which the level of digital development drastically increases.