Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contact Fluorescence Imaging of Reentry in Monolayers of Cultured Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocytes

Reentry in Cell Monolayers Imaged by CFI. Introduction: We present a novel contact fluorescence imaging (CFI) approach to monitor transmembrane potentials in monolayers of cultured neonatal rat ventricular cells. We apply CFI to demonstrate, for the first time, long‐term recordings as well as electrical induction and termination of reentrant activity in this in vitro model.
University Students' Attitudes Towards Mental Patients and Psychiatric Treatment

Background: Public attitudes towards mental patients and psychiatric treatment are mostly unfavorable, Mental patients tend to conceal their illness or selectively disclose their treatment histories to someone they trust. Aims: To examine the university students' attitudes towards different information regarding a person labeled as mentally ill. Methods: We designed seven descriptions of a mentally ill person of varying past and current treatment histories and randomly assigned 308 university under graduates to read one of the descriptions. Subjects rated their willingness to interact with the hypothetical case using a 19-item social distance scale. Results: Greater social distance was associated with non-medical field of study, no previous contact with the mentally ill and female gender. Subjects without previous contact with mentally ill individuals kept greater distance from a discharged mental patient receiving psychiatric care than a mental patient who did not require medications nor psychiatric follow-up. In contrast, respondents who had previous contact with the mentally ill were more willing to interact with a discharged mental patient receiving psychiatric care comparing with a person labeled as mentally ill alone and a mental patient who had never been admitted to hospital. Conclusions: Implications of our findings in clinical management and designing stigma-reducing programme are discussed.
Financial Analysts and Their Contribution to Well-Functioning Capital Markets

Well-functioning capital markets rely on a complex set of institutions and participants that ensure capital is allocated to its best possible use, and that information flows between firms receiving capital and the investors who provide it. In this manuscript, we endeavor to understand whether, how, and under what circumstances sell-side research contributes to the functioning of capital markets. We review major findings in the literature, address significant regulatory and technological changes, and offer suggestions for future research.
IL-13 Induces Disease-Promoting Type 2 Cytokines, Alternatively Activated Macrophages and Allergic Inflammation during Pulmonary Infection of Mice with Cryptococcus neoformans1

In the murine model of Cryptococcus neoformans infection Th1 (IL-12/IFN-γ) and Th17 (IL-23/IL-17) responses are associated with protection, whereas an IL-4-dependent Th2 response exacerbates disease. To investigate the role of the Th2 cytokine IL-13 during pulmonary infection with C. neoformans, IL-13-overexpressing transgenic (IL-13Tg+), IL-13-deficient (IL-13−/−), and wild-type (WT) mice were infected intranasally. Susceptibility to C. neoformans infection was found when IL-13 was induced in WT mice or overproduced in IL-13Tg+ mice. Infected IL-13Tg+ mice had a reduced survival time and higher pulmonary fungal load as compared with WT mice. In contrast, infected IL-13−/− mice were resistant and 89% of these mice survived the entire period of the experiment. Ag-specific production of IL-13 by susceptible WT and IL-13Tg+ mice was associated with a significant type 2 cytokine shift but only minor changes in IFN-γ production. Consistent with enhanced type 2 cytokine production, high levels of serum IgE and low ratios of serum IgG2a/IgG1 were detected in susceptible WT and IL-13Tg+ mice. Interestingly, expression of IL-13 by susceptible WT and IL-13Tg+ mice was associated with reduced IL-17 production. IL-13 was found to induce formation of alternatively activated macrophages expressing arginase-1, macrophage mannose receptor (CD206), and YM1. In addition, IL-13 production led to lung eosinophilia, goblet cell metaplasia and elevated mucus production, and enhanced airway hyperreactivity. This indicates that IL-13 contributes to fatal allergic inflammation during C. neoformans infection.
Monitoring agricultural productivity for sustainable production and R&D planning

Abstract Argentina’s G20 presidency has emphasized the need to improve soil management and sustainably increase agricultural productivity to achieve an inclusive and resilient food future. While increased agricultural productivity can improve economic welfare and help address food security problems by benefiting both consumers and producers simultaneously, it also must address the depletion of already scarce natural resources. In the context of a changing climate, sustainable and resilient agricultural production forms a major cornerstone of both adaptation and mitigation strategies. The global community needs to have the proper tools with which to monitor sustainable agricultural productivity gains, identify countries and sectors lagging behind, and commit R&D efforts accordingly to address the challenges ahead. As such, it is suggested that 1) an international consortium should monitor agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) to provide international comparisons and track performance over time; 2) the G20 should acknowledge and address the issue of sustainable productivity measurement, and; 3) the G20 should support more in-depth research into the relationship between agricultural TFP and agricultural R&D.
Effect of gender (barrows vs. females) on carcass traits and meat quality of Celta pig reared outdoors.

BACKGROUND Today, the Celta is the unique indigenous pig breed of Galicia (northwest Spain), included in the Official Catalogue of Breeds of Spain as being in danger of extinction. The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of gender (barrows vs. female) on carcass traits and meat quality of Celta pig reared outdoors. The differences in carcass and meat quality between castrated barrows and gilts (n = 20), reared outdoors and slaughtered at a live weight of 140 kg, were determined. RESULTS The mean carcass weight was 108 kg and killing out percentage and chilling losses did not differ (P > 0.05) between genders, with a mean value of 78.2% and 2.68%, respectively. There were no statistical differences in the morphometric parameters between genders except for the leg length (LL) (P < 0.01), and hand length (HL) and ham length (Hml) (P < 0.001), which were greater in barrows. Gender affected significantly pH (5.67 vs. 5.55; P < 0.05) and moisture content (73.2% vs. 72.0%; P < 0.05), while intramuscular fat (IMF) did not differ significantly between genders (2.12% vs. 1.67%, P > 0.05) for barrows and females, respectively. No significant effect (P > 0.05) on parameters measured by Warner-Braztler (WB) test (shear force, firmness and total work of cut) was found, whereas textural profile analysis showed significant differences for all traits determined due to gender effect. Sensory evaluation of longissimus dorsi (LD) samples showed significant differences between genders in odour and taste traits. Finally, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in any amino acid concentrations between genders. CONCLUSION Values for carcass parameters indicated that Celta pigs produced very similar carcasses to those obtained from other rustic pigs. The percentage of 'noble' cuts relative to carcass weight was higher in barrows than in females. Finally, gender appeared to have little effect on the colour, textural organoleptic traits or amino acid profile of this breed of pig.
Role of cysteinyl leukotrienes in airway inflammation and responsiveness following RSV infection in BALB/c mice

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) contribute to the development of airway obstruction and inflammation in asthma; however little information is available on the role of these molecules in the pathophysiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of RSV infection on CysLTs production in a well‐established mouse infection model. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of anti‐inflammatory agents (a leukotriene receptor antagonist, MK‐571, and dexamethasone) on the functional and immune changes induced by RSV infection. Six to 8‐wk‐old BALB/c mice were infected with human RSV (strain A2). Measurements of airway function were performed using whole body plethysmography. Lung inflammation was assessed by cell counts, measurement of cytokines and CysLTs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in the absence and presence of treatment with MK‐571 or dexamethasone. RSV infection produced a marked increase in CysLTs in the BALF and lung tissue, recruitment of neutrophils and lymphocytes into the airways, increased IFN‐γ levels and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Treatment with MK‐571 decreased RSV‐induced AHR without affecting the cellular and inflammatory responses to RSV. Dexamethasone decreased AHR and markedly reduced the recruitment of inflammatory cells and production of IFN‐γ. Our findings suggest CysLTs play an important role in the pathogenesis of RSV‐induced airway dysfunction. Treatment with MK‐571 decreases RSV‐induced AHR but does not appear to alter the lung inflammatory responses to RSV. In contrast, dexamethasone decreases RSV‐induced AHR but interferes with recruitment of inflammatory cells, resulting in decreased Th1 cytokines (a potentially Th2‐prone environment) in this model. These studies support recent reports on the beneficial effects of CysLT receptor antagonist in human trials and provide a model for investigating the role of CysLTs in RSV bronchiolitis.
The Review of Economics and Statistics

Models with multiway fixed effects are frequently used to address selection on unobservables. The data used for estimating these models often contain few observations per value of either indexing variable (sparsely matched data). I show that this sparsity has important implications for inference and propose an asymptotically valid inference method based on subsetting. Sparsity also has important implications for point estimation when covariates or instrumental variables are sequentially exogenous (e.g., dynamic models), and I propose a new estimator for these models. Finally, I illustrate these methods by providing estimates of the effect of class size reductions on student achievement.
Aggregate exposures under the Food Quality Protection Act: An approach using chlorpyrifos.

The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-170, August 3, 1996), which amended the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requires that the EPA evaluate pesticide safety in light of potential aggregate exposures from both nondietary and dietary routes. As with any new legislation, there has been considerable discussion and challenges presented within the regulatory and scientific communities regarding the effective implementation of this act as it relates to the determination of aggregate exposures. This paper describes a novel methodology incorporating personal exposure factors, route-specific exposure measurements, and usage information to characterize potential aggregate exposures to a widely used pesticide, chlorpyrifos. A calendar model framework has been developed to describe potential multipathway exposures to individuals. The model assimilates information regarding the typical use patterns of chlorpyrifos-containing pesticides in concert with quantitative exposure and dose measurements to estimate the probability and magnitude of exposures to members of the U.S. population. Studies measuring 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol, the primary metabolite of chlorpyrifos, in the urine of individuals within the United States show that aggregate exposures derived from this approach are consistent with actual population-based exposures to chlorpyrifos. According to this assessment, potential health risks attributed to exposure to chlorpyrifos are low when compared to relevant toxicological end points.
Lifetime cocaine use and cardiovascular characteristics among young adults: the CARDIA study.

OBJECTIVES Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors, morbidity, and mortality. Despite these demonstrated relationships, it has been difficult to assess the long-term cardiovascular consequences of cocaine use. METHODS The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study provides an opportunity to evaluate the association of lifetime cocaine use with cardiovascular disease risk factors in a randomly sampled biethnic cohort of men and women of varied socioeconomic status, aged 20 to 32 in 1987. RESULTS More extensive cocaine use experience was associated with being White, older, and less educated, regardless of sex. Higher levels of licit and illicit substance use behavior were reported by those reporting more extensive cocaine experience; however, most cardiovascular disease risk factors such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, hypertension, physical activity, and anthropometric measurements were not related to lifetime cocaine experience. CONCLUSIONS In this age group, the detrimental cardiovascular effects of cocaine may be limited to acute effects. Further studies are needed to determine whether continued exposure is related to cardiovascular disease risk factors later in life.
Gain Saturation and Output Characteristics of Index-Antiguided Planar Waveguide Amplifiers With Homogeneous Broadening

We investigate numerically and analytically the propagation characteristics of gain-guided modes in index-antiguided planar waveguides. We show that the gain-guided mode has modal confinement proportional to the modal gain, and single-transverse mode propagation is very robust in such waveguides. The power evolution of the fundamental mode can be described analytically with very good accuracy. Limiting power and optimum length of the waveguide amplifiers can also be obtained analytically.
Distal small fiber neuropathy: Results of tests of sweating and autonomic cardiovascular reflexes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate sweating and cardiovascular autonomic function in patients with distal small fiber neuropathy (DSFN). Sweat testing by the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test was abnormal in 32 of 40 (80%) patients. The thermoregulatory sweat test was abnormal in 18 of 25 (72%) patients; one or both tests were abnormal in 36 of 40 (90%). Minor heart rate abnormalities were present in 11 of 40 (28%) patients. We conclude that, in patients with DSFN: (a) the sympathetic sudomotor fibers are frequently affected, and that evaluation of sweating is a useful diagnostic test; (b) that the autonomic nerves controlling heart rate are less affected.
Comorbidity of mood and anxiety disorders

This article reviews data on the prevalence of panic, social phobia, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder, and research documenting the comorbidity of these disorders with major depression (MDD). These anxiety disorders are frequently comorbid with MDD, and 50–60% of individuals with MDD report a lifetime history of one or more of these anxiety disorders. The anxiety disorders are also highly correlated with one another, and approximately one‐quarter to one‐half of individuals with each of the anxiety disorders report a lifetime history of an alcohol or substance use disorder. Anxiety disorders rarely exist in isolation, with several studies reporting that over 90% of individuals with anxiety disorders have a lifetime history of other psychiatric problems. Implications for research are discussed, including the potential benefit of using combined categorical and dimensional rating scale approaches in future genetic, biochemical, neuroimaging, and treatment studies. The clinical implications of the findings are also discussed, and the results of recent clinical trials summarized. Available data suggests selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the first‐line pharmacological treatment for these disorders, and that newer serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors show significant promise, especially for comorbid cases. Comorbidity among depression and anxiety disorders is associated with greater symptom severity, and a considerably higher incidence of suicidality. Increased public awareness about these disorders and the availability of effective treatments is sorely needed. Depression and Anxiety, Volume 12, Supplement 1:69–76, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.†
Bullying at Aceh Modern Islamic Boarding Schools (Pesantrens): Teachers’ Perceptions and Interventions

The study focused on obtaining substantial information of teachers’ perceptions and interventions in bullying cases in the environment of modern ‘pesantren’, Islamic boarding school that facilitates students with formal schooling and dormitory facilities. The study provided an analysis of how teachers at the pesantren conceptually perceive bullying behavior and their concrete actions to prevent the behavior. The study revealed that the pesantren’s teachers perceived bullying as dangerous behavior and therefore should be intervened. The study also discovered that the teachers intervened the behavior more reactively than proactively. However, their positive perceptions that bullying is detrimental as well as their concrete actions to prevent bullying on their pesantren could not reduce its occurrence significantly. Teasing, mocking or nick-name-calling, for instance, were still found in the researched pesantren. [Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui persepsi dan intervensi para guru di lingkungan pesantren modern terhadap perundungan. Pesantren terindikasi sebagai tempat yang cukup rentan terjadi perundungan karena interaksi yang terus menerus terjadi antar siswa, baik di lingkungan sekolah maupun di asrama. Studi ini memberikan analisis bagaimana guru di pesantren secara konseptual memandang perilaku perundungan dan bagaimana tindakan nyata mereka untuk mencegah perilaku tersebut. Penelitian ini juga mencoba mengungkap bagaimana persepsi dan intervensi guru di pesantren terhadap masalah perundungan secara fenomenografi. Penelitian ini menemukan bahwa para guru di pesantren menganggap perundungan sebagai perilaku berbahaya yang perlu ditangani. Para guru di pesantren menggunakan beberapa intervensi dalam bentuk pendekatan reaktif daripada proaktif. Namun, persepsi positif mereka dan tindakan nyata mereka untuk mencegah terjadinya perundungan di dalam lingkungan pesantren tidak dapat mengurangi kemunculannya secara signifikan, terutama mengejek atau menyebut nama gelar tertentu sudah cenderung menjadi kebiasaan dan budaya di lingkungan pesantren. ]
Monoclonal antibody 123C3, identifying small cell carcinoma phenotype in lung tumours, recognizes mainly, but not exclusively, endocrine and neuron‐supporting normal tissues

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) I23C3 was raised against a membrane preparation of a small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) specimen and its reactivity on normal tissues was tested. For the endocrine system, positive tissues included: pituitary and adrenal glands, thyrocytes and C‐cells of the thyroid, the parathyroids, testis Leydig cells and pancreatic islets. In bronchioles and intestinal epithelium occasional cells, resembling Kultchitsky and enterochromaffin cells, were also positive. Epithelia like rete testis, mammary epithelium and gastric mucosa were positive in all or a significant proportion of cells. The positive cells in mammary epithelium and gastric mucosa were too numerous to represent the endocrine cells only. Neurons were usually negative or weakly positive. Their supportive cells such as glial, Schwann and ganglionk satellite cells were positive. Mesenchymal cell types, such as smooth muscle cells in most organs, cardiac muscle cells, the pia‐arachnoid and ovarian stroma cells were positive, indicating that I23C3 reactivity is not confined to epithelial and neuron‐supporting tissues. In Western blots of tumour specimens 123C3 recognized a 29 kDa band in reducing conditions, shifting to approximately ISO kDa in non‐reducing conditions. Immunofluorescence on live tissue culture cells demonstrated presence of the antigen on the cell surface.
microRNA-328 is a favorable prognostic marker in human glioma via suppressing invasive and proliferative phenotypes of malignant cells

Objective: microRNA (miR)-328 has been reported to be implicated into tumorigenesis and tumor progression in human gliomas. However, there were controversial study results in relation to its expression pattern as well as functions in this disease. The aim of the current study was to determine the clinical significance of miR-328 expression in patients with gliomas and its effect in tumor cell malignant phenotypes. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect the expression levels of miR-328 in 116 glioma and 15 non-neoplastic brain tissues. Then, the correlations of miR-328 expression with selected clinicopathologic parameters and clinical outcome of glioma patients were statistically evaluated. Moreover, CCK-8 and transwell assays were performed to investigate the functions of miR-328 in cell proliferation, invasion and migration, respectively. Results: Compared to non-neoplastic brain tissues, the expression levels of miR-328 were significantly downregulated in glioma tissues (p < 0.001). In addition, miR-328 downregulation was significantly associated with WHO grade (p < 0.001) and Karnofsky performance status score (p = 0.02). Moreover, glioma patients with low miR-328 expression exhibited markedly shorter overall survival than those with high expression (p < 0.001). Furthermore, functional assays in vitro system demonstrated that enforced expression of miR-328 could notably attenuate cell proliferation, invasion and migration of two glioma cell lines, including U251 and U87. Conclusions: Our data offer the convincing evidence that loss of miR-328 expression may stimulate advanced tumor progression and adverse outcome via promoting cellular proliferation and invasion. We propose a tumor suppressive role of miR-328 and its potential therapeutic value in human glioma.
Shear and Time-Dependent Changes in Mac-1, LFA-1, and ICAM-3 Binding Regulate Neutrophil Homotypic Adhesion1

We examined the relative contributions of LFA-1, Mac-1, and ICAM-3 to homotypic neutrophil adhesion over the time course of formyl peptide stimulation at shear rates ranging from 100 to 800 s−1. Isolated human neutrophils were sheared in a cone-plate viscometer and the kinetics of aggregate formation was measured by flow cytometry. The efficiency of cell adhesion was computed by fitting the aggregate formation rates with a model based on two-body collision theory. Neutrophil homotypic adhesion kinetics varied with shear rate and was most efficient at 800 s−1, where ∼40% of the collisions resulted in adhesion. A panel of blocking Abs to LFA-1, Mac-1, and ICAM-3 was added to assess the relative contributions of these molecules. We report that 1) LFA-1 binds ICAM-3 as its primary ligand supporting homotypic adhesion, although the possibility of other ligands was also detected. 2) Mac-1 binding to an unidentified ligand supports homotypic adhesion with an efficiency comparable to LFA-1 at low shear rates of ∼100 s−1. Above 300 s−1, however, Mac-1 and not LFA-1 were the predominant molecules supporting cell adhesion. This is in contrast to neutrophil adhesion to ICAM-1-transfected cells, where LFA-1 binds with a higher avidity than Mac-1 to ICAM-1. 3) Following stimulation, the capacity of LFA-1 to support aggregate formation decreases with time at a rate ∼3-fold faster than that of Mac-1. The results suggest that the relative contributions of β2 integrins and ICAM-3 to neutrophil adhesion is regulated by the magnitude of fluid shear and time of stimulus over a range of blood flow conditions typical of the venular microcirculation.