Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epithelial cell dynamics in rabbit cecum and proximal colon P1

The large intestine of mammals has long been viewed as an osmoregulatory organ, and evidence suggests that fluid and solute transport mechanisms within the intestine are heterogenous, varying depending on the particular segment involved. Variations in function are often matched by morphological correlates, but despite the widespread use of rabbit large intestine as an experimental model, there is a lack of knowledge about the cellular makeup and dynamics in the colonic mucosal epithelium. The presence of mitotic figures and immunohistochemical localization of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were used to identify the proliferative zone(s). Cellular migration patterns were determined through the use of the thymidine analog 5‐bromo‐2‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) over a 24‐, 48‐, and 72‐hr period. Apoptotic nuclei were identified utilizing terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase d‐UTP nick‐end labeling (TUNEL). Both cecum and the initial portion of the proximal colon (P1) exhibited a proliferative zone at or near the crypt base, and migration proceeded upwards toward the surface epithelium lining the intestinal lumen, where apoptosis occurred Turnover time of crypt columnar cells was determined to be about 3 days; that of mucous cells was estimated to be about 5 weeks. Rabbit cecum and proximal colon P1 are similar in their cellular morphology and epithelial cell kinetics. In both, the major proliferative zone is located at or near the crypt base, from which crypt columnar cells migrate toward the lumenal surface epithelium over a period of 3 days. Goblet cell turnover rate is much slower than that of columnar cells. Anat Rec 264:427–437, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Option Pricing for the Transformed Binomial Class

This article generalizes the seminal Cox‐Ross‐Rubinstein (1979) binomial option pricing model to all members of the class of transformed‐binomial pricing processes. The investigation addresses issues related with asset pricing modeling, hedging strategies, and option pricing. Formulas are derived for (a) replicating or hedging portfolios, (b) risk‐neutral transformed‐binomial probabilities, (c) limiting transformed‐normal distributions, and (d) the value of contingent claims, including limiting analytical option pricing equations. The properties of the transformed‐binomial class of asset pricing processes are also studied. The results of the article are illustrated with several examples. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl. Fut Mark 26:759–787, 2006
Workers’ direct participation at the workplace and job quality in Europe

In this paper we focus on workplace practices aimed at increasing workers’ direct voice, and their connection to job quality. After contextualizing historically the various reasons for increasing different types of workers’ participation and exploring the muddled role of direct participation in European policy, it reflects on possible indicators for workplace worker involvement (direct and through representatives) and offers a brief review regarding research on the impact of workers’ direct participation on job quality in Europe, identifying essentially positive but also some negative outcomes. The interaction of the workers’ direct voice with representative participation at the workplace in terms of substitution or complementarity and the mediating role of productive and industrial relations contexts are also reflected upon.
Forecasting and Finite Sample Performance of Short Rate Models: International Evidence

This paper evaluates the forecasting and finite sample performance of short-term interest rate models in a number of countries. Specifically, we run a series of in-sample and out-of-sample tests for both the conditional mean and volatility of one-factor short rate models, and compare the results to the random walk model. Overall, we find that the out-of-sample forecasting performance of one-factor short rate models is poor, stemming from the inability of the models to accommodate jumps and discontinuities in the time series data. In addition, we perform a series of Monte Carlo analyses similar to Chapman and Pearson to document the finite sample performance of the short rate models when "β" 3 is not restricted to be equal to one. Our results indicate the potential dangers of over-parameterization and highlight the limitations of short-term interest rate models. Copyright (c) International Review of Finance Ltd. 2006.
Clinical outcome of angiosome-oriented infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for isolated infrapopliteal lesions in patients with critical limb ischemia.

PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate the clinical usefulness and outcome of angiosome-oriented percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (IP-PTA) and its clinical outcome for isolated infrapopliteal lesions in diabetic critical limb ischemia. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 70 patients (82 limbs) with diabetic critical limb ischemia who had localized disease at the level of the infrapopliteal artery. Patients underwent IP-PTA between January 2011 and December 2013 and were followed up for a mean of 13 months. The primary target arterial lesions were chosen according to the angiosome concept. We evaluated clinical findings, technical success, and patients' clinical outcome. The angiographic outcome of IP-PTA was assessed using the angiosome score. We analyzed the relationship between the angiosome score and the amputation rate. RESULTS There were 69 anterior tibial artery (ATA) lesions, 70 posterior tibial artery (PTA) lesions, and 58 peroneal artery (PA) lesions. The primary target arteries were the ATA (n=43), PTA (n=26), PA (n=2), and ATA + PTA (n=11). We divided the treated limbs into target (n=63) and nontarget (n=19) groups. The overall initial technical success rate was 91.4%. Successful wound healing rates were 87.3% (55/63) and 47.3% (9/19) in the target and nontarget groups, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Angiosome-oriented primary targeted IP-PTA shows a highly effective treatment outcome in diabetic critical limb ischemia. In cases with inadequate angioplastic results of the target artery, IP-PTA of the nontarget artery should be recommended to improve the limb salvage rates.
Additive effect of indomethacin and methotrexate on suppression of growth in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the medium‐term effects of methotrexate (MTX) and indomethacin on the growth of young rats. Four equal groups of Sprague–Dawley male rats (four animals in each group; mean±S.D. body weight, 183±13 g, in their rapid growth phase) were subjected to the following drug treatment: one group was given MTX (0.2 mg kg−1 body weight) subcutaneously on every fourth day, another received indomethacin (2.5 mg kg−1 body weight) subcutaneously daily and the third group was given both of these drugs (MTX on every fourth day and indomethacin daily). The fourth group was injected subcutaneously with physiological saline every day to serve as a control group. Total body weight, food and water consumption by animals in each group were monitored every second day for a period of 10 weeks. After this period, liver, spleen and kidneys were excised, weighed and analysed for MTX and dihydrofolate reductase activity. Compared with the groups, which received MTX alone, indomethacin alone, or physiological saline, mean increase (17±11 g) in body weight of rats was minimal in the group receiving both MTX and indomethacin. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.001) when the values of mean increase in body weight of rats in different treatment groups after a 10‐week treatment were compared. The mean weights of liver and spleen in this group receiving both MTX and indomethacin were also found to be significantly less than the weights of these organs in the control group (p<0.01). There also appears to be a decline in food consumption in this group (p<0.05). This negative effect on growth of animals in this group appears to be not only due to decreased food consumption but also due to increased inhibition of de novo pathway of DNA synthesis. This is supported by increased accumulation of MTX and decreased dihydrofolate reductase activity in this group receiving both MTX and indomethacin, as compared with the group receiving MTX alone. The data indicate an additive effect of MTX and indomethacin on the suppression of growth in young rats, alluding to the notion that patients suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia receiving these two drugs concomitantly over a long period of time might be at a risk of experiencing short‐term suppression of growth. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tricortical Versus Quadricortical Syndesmosis Fixation in Ankle Fractures: A Prospective, Randomized Study Comparing Two Methods of Syndesmosis Fixation

Objective: To assess short-term functional results in 2 types of syn-desmotic fixation, comparing the traditional rigid quadricortical syndesmotic screw fixation with a more dynamic tricortical screw fixation. Design: Prospective, randomized clinical study. Setting: University clinic, level 1 trauma center. Patients: Sixty-four patients with closed ankle fractures in which the syndesmosis was found to be unstable intraoperatively. Intervention: The unstable syndesmoses were fixed with either one 4.5-mm cortical screw through both tibial cortices (n = 30) or two 3.5-mm cortical screws engaging only 1 cortex of the tibia (n = 34). The quadricortical screws were routinely removed after 2 months, whereas the tricortical screws were removed only in the case of discomfort. Rehabilitation was the same in both groups. Results: The Olerud Molander functional score (0–100) was significantly higher in the tricortical group (77 points) compared with the quadricortical group (66 points) (P = 0.025) at 3 months. After 1 year, however, the functional score was not significantly higher (P = 0.192) in the tricortical group (92.6 points) compared with the quadricortical group (85.7 points). Pain was significantly lower in the tricortical group (P = 0.017) after 3 months, but there was no significant difference after 1 year. There was no significant difference in dorsiflexion between the groups at any point of time. No losses of fixation were detected. The tricortical screws were removed in 2 patients due to migration. Conclusions: Syndesmosis fixation with 2 tricortical screws is safe and improves early function. After 1 year, however, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in functional score, pain, and dorsiflexion.
Pharmacokinetics of Ropivacaine in Uremic and Nonuremic Patients After Axillary Brachial Plexus Block

Reports on the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of local anesthetics in uremic patients have been controversial. Our study involved 29 uremic and 28 nonuremic patients. We performed axillary block with ropivacaine 300 mg (50 mL). Venous blood samples were drawn for 24 h for assay of total and unbound plasma ropivacaine, 3-hydroxyropivacaine, pipecoloxylidide (PPX), and serum &agr;1-acid glycoprotein (AAG). Block quality was similar in both groups. No toxicity occurred. Plasma clearance of ropivacaine was smaller and the area under the concentration-time curve of ropivacaine, 3-hydroxyropivacaine, and PPX larger in the uremic patients. The plasma concentration of PPX increased until 24 h in uremic patients whose AAG concentrations were also larger throughout the study. The free fraction of ropivacaine in plasma was smaller in the uremic group when measured 60 min and 12 h after the block, but the unbound concentration of ropivacaine was larger in the uremic group at 12 h. Enhanced absorption of ropivacaine into circulation, increased binding to AAG, and probably reduced urinary excretion of the metabolites lead to larger total plasma concentrations of ropivacaine and its main metabolites in uremic patients.
Transformational leadership and innovation in an R&D organization experiencing major change

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to add to the understanding of how transformational leaders influence R&D team outcomes around being more innovative. In particular, the study aims to focus on the role of group identification in mediating innovative outcomes.Design/methodology/approach – In total, 104 participants in a large Australian R&D organization were surveyed twice during a 12 month period of major restructuring and change. These matched respondents came from 29 different teams.Findings – Results revealed that group identification and perceived support for creativity exerted equal independent effects in fully mediating the relationship between transformational leadership and team innovation.Research limitations/implications – The potential for leadership to influence innovation through identification raises interesting alternative possibilities. Future research may generate new insights by investigating alternative samples, leadership styles or using qualitative methods.Practical implications.
Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Therapy for Stroke Prevention in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are frequently used to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. These patients are often also on aspirin or other antiplatelet agents. It is possible that treatment with both NOACs and aspirin or other antiplatelet drug may be effective in decreasing stroke, but data are sparse regarding the efficacy and safety of using both agents for stroke prevention. To address these issues, data were pooled from the 4 recent randomized, controlled trials of NOACs: apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and edoxaban, which included 42,411 patients; 14,148 (33.4%) were also on aspirin or other antiplatelet drug. The number of thromboembolic events among participants on NOAC and aspirin/antiplatelet was compared with the number of events in patients on NOAC alone. Bleeding rates were also compared between those on NOAC + aspirin/antiplatelet and on NOAC alone. These results were compared with thromboembolic and bleeding events in the warfarin + aspirin/antiplatelet versus warfarin alone. No greater risk for thromboembolism was seen in patients on NOACs compared with patients on both NOACs and aspirin/antiplatelet drug. In this nonrandomized comparison, there was initially a signal toward higher thromboembolic rates among NOAC users also on aspirin/antiplatelet drugs (relative risk, 1.16; 95% confidence intervals, 1.05, 1.29) when compared with NOAC alone. This likely reflected the higher CHADS2 scores of those on aspirin/antiplatelet drugs. When the analysis was limited to studies that included aspirin rather than other antiplatelet drugs, no difference was seen for thromboembolic rates comparing dual therapy to NOAC alone (relative risk, 1.02; 95% confidence intervals, 0.90, 1.15). Higher rates of bleeding were seen with aspirin/antiplatelet drug in conjunction with NOAC. In this meta-analysis and nonrandomized comparison of aspirin/antiplatelet users and nonusers also on anticoagulation, there was no additional benefit seen of anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy for stroke prevention when compared with anticoagulation alone. There was, however, an increased risk of bleeding. Careful assessment of the indications for antiplatelet drugs in patients with atrial fibrillation who are also receiving oral anticoagulants is warranted, and future randomized comparisons are needed.
Fringe benefits and job satisfaction

Purpose - The paper seeks to empirically identify the theoretically ambiguous relationship between employer fringe benefit provision and worker job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach - Using the five most recent waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, both pooled cross-section and fixed effects estimates explain the relationship between fringe benefits and job satisfaction. The potential endogenous relationship is also tested using a recursive bivariate probit procedure. Findings - Fringe benefits are significant and positive determinants of job satisfaction. The potential endogeneity between fringe benefits and job satisfaction is not shown in this dataset while controlling for fixed effects does not remove the significant impact of fringe benefits. Research limitations/implications - A limitation is the inability to control for total compensation within the estimations and control for wage changes as a result of fringe benefit provision. Practical implications - Higher levels of worker job satisfaction, potentially resulting from fringe benefit provisions, have been linked to important productivity measures such as lower quit rates and absenteeism. Originality/value - The paper is the first to study the relationship between fringe benefits and job satisfaction in detail while additionally testing for the endogeneity of the relationship and controlling for fixed effects.
Differential evolution algorithm for transmission network expansion planning based on AC load flow model

Transmission expansion planning has become a complicated process in the recent era. The fast growth of the transmission networks and the deregulation has introduced more factors to be considered in transmission expansion planning to the transmission network planners. The main goal of this process is to locate the additional transmission lines that must be added to meet the forecasted load in the system adequately with minimum cost. This work solves the transmission expansion planning using meta-heuristic algorithm by the means of differential evolution as an optimization tool. An AC load flow model is used in solving the TEP problem. DEA produced a high quality solution for the TEP problem.
Does Polyvictimization Affect Incarcerated and Non-Incarcerated Adult Women Differently? An Exploration Into Internalizing Problems

In this study, we used data from life histories of 424 non-incarcerated (n = 266) and incarcerated (n = 158) women to examine the extent to which women are exposed to multiple forms of victimization, including child abuse, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and traumatic life events. We assessed the effects of polyvictimization (e.g., multiple victimizations) on women’s health-related outcomes (e.g., attempted suicide, drug and alcohol problems) as well as whether the prevalence rates and effects of victimization were significantly different between the subsamples of women. Results indicate that incarcerated women experience significantly more victimization than non-incarcerated women, and while polyvictimization was associated with a higher likelihood of alcohol problems, drug problems, and attempted suicide among non-incarcerated women, it was only marginally associated with an increased likelihood of alcohol problems among incarcerated women. Finally, low levels of polyvictimization affected alcohol and drug problems among incarcerated and non-incarcerated women differently.
Efficacy of Liposomal Amphotericin B with Prolonged Circulation in Blood in Treatment of Severe Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Leukopenic Rats

ABSTRACT The therapeutic efficacy of long-circulating polyethylene glycol-coated liposomal amphotericin B (AMB) (PEG-AMB-LIP) was compared with that of AMB desoxycholate (Fungizone) in a model of severe invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in persistently leukopenic rats as well as in temporarily leukopenic rats. PEG-AMB-LIP treatment (intravenous administration) consisted of a single, or double (every 72 h), or triple (every 72 h) dose of 10 mg of AMB/kg of body weight, a double dose (every 72 h) of 14 mg of AMB/kg, or a 5-day treatment (every 24 h) with 6 mg/kg/dose. AMB desoxycholate was administered for 10 consecutive days at 1 mg of AMB/kg/dose. Treatment was started 30 h after fungal inoculation, at which time mycelial growth was firmly established. Both persistently and temporarily leukopenic rats died between 4 and 9 days after Aspergillus fumigatus inoculation when they were left untreated or after treatment with a placebo. In persistently leukopenic rats, a single dose of PEG-AMB-LIP (10 mg/kg) was as effective as the 10-day treatment with AMB desoxycholate (at 1 mg/kg/dose) in significantly prolonging the survival of rats infected with A. fumigatus and in reducing the dissemination of A. fumigatus to the liver. Prolongation of PEG-AMB-LIP treatment (double or triple dose or 5-day treatment) did not further improve efficacy. For temporarily leukopenic rats no major advances in efficacy were achieved compared to those for persistently leukopenic rats, probably because the leukocyte numbers in blood were restored too late in the course of infection.
Economic freedom, democracy and economic growth: a causal investigation in transition countries

This article addresses the issue of causality in the relationship between political and economic freedom and economic growth in transition countries. This problem has been discussed in the literature but the results concerning political freedom and economic growth are still ambiguous. Moreover, owing to the impact of time we now have at our disposal significantly longer time series, which in this kind of research is especially important. The analysis was conducted for 25 post-socialist countries for 1990–2008 using a set of 20 indicators of economic and political freedom and Granger causality tests. The results show that although economic freedom has a positive impact on economic growth in transition countries, political freedom is neutral for economic growth; changes in the level of political freedom are however influenced by economic growth.
Options Trading and the Extent that Stock Prices Lead Future Earnings Information

We examine the relation between options trading and the extent that stock prices lead future earnings information in the period 1998-2009. In a firm specific approach, we find that stock prices reflect future earnings information to a greater extent in firms’ post-options-listing period than in their pre-options-listing period. In a cross-sectional setting, we find that stock prices of firms with readily available options trading reflect future earnings information more and earlier than those of firms without available options. In a sub-sample containing only firms with listed options, we find that stock prices of firms with a high level of options trading volume reflect future earnings information more and earlier than those of firms with a low level of options trading volume. Findings in this study support the proposition that options trading results in more current information that is relevant for predicting future earnings being impounded into stock prices. Consistent with this proposition, we also document an inverse relation between options trading and the amount of new information provided by earnings announcements.