Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retinal growth and cell addition during embryogenesis in the teleost, Haplochromis burtoni

Neurogenesis of the developing embryonic retina is described for the African cichlid fish, Haplochromis burtoni, from 4 days post fertilization until all cell phenotypes are generated (day 7). Cell addition and differentiation both begin at the same absolute location which later becomes the central retina. As observed in most other vertebrates, cones and ganglion cells differentiate first, followed by amacrine and bipolar cells. Rod photoreceptors, which are added late, differentiate last. Changes in retinal thickness, retinal stretching, cell size, and cell density were measured during development. From day 4 through 7, there is an increase in retinal thickness largely due to the expansion of the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL). The inner nuclear layer (INL) decreases in thickness and there is a transient decrease in the density of cells in the scleral portion of the INL. Cells increase in size in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and the vitread INL, decrease in size in the sclerad INL, and remain the same in the ONL. Changes in the density of the cell layers were observed: the density of ONL cells increased, the density of GCL cells decreased, and INL cells increased then decreased. From day 4 to day 6, eye growth is entirely due to cell addition because no retinal stretching was observed in the ONL or the horizontal layer.
Prognostic significance of biologic factors in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most lethal tumors. Therefore, it is important to identify prognostic factors for patients with this disease. The objective of this study was to clarify the relation between clinicopathologic and biologic factors in esophageal carcinoma and to determine the prognostic significance of different biologic factors.
Waiting time and assessment of patient satisfaction in a large reference emergency department: a prospective cohort study, France

Objectives To assess patient satisfaction in a French Emergency Department (ED) and to determine factors associated with dissatisfaction. Methods From July 2003 to February 2004, a prospective cohort study was conducted in an ED (Elbeuf Reference Hospital, Upper-Normandy region). Baseline data collection was performed during individual interview at inclusion. Waiting time in the ED was recorded. Patient satisfaction was assessed by telephone 1 month later. Questions included assessment of overall satisfaction and three different areas of satisfaction: quality of reception, patient–doctor communication, and delays. Results One hundred sixty-five patients were included, 146 patients (88.5%) responded to the telephone follow-up. We found high levels of satisfaction in the ED (89.7%). Highest satisfaction rate (92.5%) was for reception. Lower satisfaction rates were reported for waiting times (72.6%) and medical information provided by physicians (71.9%). The mean total time spent was 149.9 min (median=133.5). In multivariate analysis, waiting time was the unique independent determinant of patient dissatisfaction: second quartile odds ratio (OR)=0.40; 95% confidence interval (CI)=(0.06–2.66), third quartile OR=1.45; 95% CI=(0.32–6.47), last quartile OR=2.69; 95% CI=(0.65–11.08); ptrend=0.04. Conclusion Elevated waiting times appeared as the unique independent risk factor of patient dissatisfaction. Information on delays and reasons for this delay could be systematically communicated to patients attending EDs; it could be an effective strategy to reduce perceived waiting times and improve patient satisfaction.
Salience Theory and Stock Prices: Empirical Evidence

Abstract We present evidence on the asset pricing implications of salience theory. In our model, investors overweight salient past returns when forming expectations about future returns. Consequently, investors are attracted to stocks with salient upsides, which are overvalued and earn low subsequent returns. Conversely, stocks with salient downsides are undervalued and yield high future returns. We find empirical support for these predictions in the cross section of US stocks. The salience effect is stronger among stocks with greater limits to arbitrage and during high-sentiment periods. Our results are not explained by common risk factors, return reversals, lottery demand, and attention-grabbing news events.
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES THE CONSEQUENCES OF LONG TERM UNEMPLOYMENT: EVIDENCE FROM MATCHED EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE DATA

It is well known that the long-term unemployed fare worse in the labor market than the short-term unemployed, but less clear why this is so. One potential explanation is that the long-term unemployed are “bad apples” who had poorer prospects from the outset of their spells (heterogeneity). Another is that these bad outcomes are a consequence of their extended unemployment (state dependence). We use Current Population Survey data on unemployed individuals linked to wage records for the same people to distinguish between these explanations. The rich information on work histories provided by the wage records allows us to control for individual heterogeneity that could be affecting post-unemployment labor market outcomes. Even with these controls in place, we find that unemployment duration has a strongly negative effect on the likelihood of subsequent employment. This finding is inconsistent with the “bad apple” (heterogeneity) explanation for why the long-term unemployed fare worse than the shortterm unemployed. We also find that longer unemployment durations are associated with lower subsequent earnings, though this is mainly attributable to the long-term unemployed having a lower likelihood of subsequent employment rather than to their having lower earnings once a job is found. Katharine G. Abraham Department of Economics and Joint Program in Survey Methodology University of Maryland 1218 LeFrak Hall College Park, MD 20742 and NBER kabraham@umd.edu John C. Haltiwanger Department of Economics University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 and NBER haltiwan@econ.umd.edu Kristin Sandusky U.S. Census Bureau 4600 Silver Hill Road Washington, DC 20233 lee.k. sandusky@census.gov James Spletzer U.S. Census Bureau 4600 Silver Hill Road Washington, DC 20233 james.r. spletzer@census.gov
Pengaruh Karakteristik Tujuan Anggaran Terhadap Perilaku, Sikap Dan Kinerja Aparat Pemerintah Daerah (Studi Empiris Di Kabupaten Kampar)

The purpose of this study was to test the effect of the characteristics of the objectives of budget consists of budgetary participation, budget goal clarity, feedback budget, budget evaluation and budget goal difficulty on behavior, attitude and performance of government officials. The population in this study were employees at the working unit (SKPD) in Kampar, which amounted to 102 respondents . Data collection was done by direct survey to respondents. Test of hypotheses to be tested empiricaly by using multiple regression analysis. The results of the research hypothesis I showed that characteristics significantly influence the budget goals of behavior. The results of the study hypothesis II shows that the characteristics significantly influence the budgetary objectivs attitude. While the results of hypothesis III also show that the characteristics of the budget goals have a significant effect on performance. This shows that the attitudes, behavior and performance of officers of local government district of Kampar in participation in the budget, clarity of budget goals, feedback budget, budget evaluation and trouble purpose budget has followed the rules established, namely the participation of staff and the public in both formulating, implementing, and accountability budget. keyword : budget destination characteristics, attitudes, behavior and performance
Long-term efficacy of inhaled N-acetylcysteine in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND Inhalation of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been carried out in our department since 1994 for treating interstitial pneumonia such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In this study, the clinical efficacy and safety of long-term NAC inhalation monotherapy for IPF was investigated. METHODS NAC inhalation was carried out in 23 of 34 cases diagnosed as IPF by surgical lung biopsy in our department between 1994 and 2008. The treatment was continued for one year or longer in 14 cases. In these 14 cases and in 11 cases without treatment, the clinical courses, prognosis, lung function (%FVC, %DLco, and %TLC), and changes in serum markers for interstitial pneumonia (KL-6 and SP-D) were examined. RESULTS There were no significant differences in survival curves between the two groups. Acute exacerbation was observed in 4 of 14 cases (28.6%) receiving NAC inhalation. Compared with the results just before the beginning of NAC inhalation, Δ%FVC and Δ%DLco in the treated cases were -4.7% and -2.9% one year later and -4.0% and -5.8% two years later, respectively. In cases without treatment, Δ%FVC and Δ%DLco were -3.5% and +5.3% one year later and +0.2% and +1.0% two years later, respectively. CONCLUSION Since this study is an open case-control study in a single institute and the number of cases is not large, its use in evaluating the efficacy of NAC inhalation monotherapy is limited. In addition, the role of NAC inhalation in combination with a steroid, an immunosuppressive agent, and a new anti-fibrosis drug should also be investigated.
Struktur und Wandel der Weiterbildung

Since the reform phase of the educational system in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s, three major attempts have been made to modernize adult education: Reforming the legal framework aimed at constructing a publicly run “quaternary sector” within the educational system; professionalization was meant to balance social and curricular deficits; quality management was introduced in order to improve the customer orientation of the educational services provided. What can be said about the effects of these modernization strategies? The author of this book analyzes the structural change of adult and further education using the example of a specific regional further education market. Comparative research on the welfare state is used as a theoretical as well as a methodological stimulus. Over the last three decades, information has been gathered in a panel structure itemizing adult education providers. Analyzing their programs, the author traces back changes on three levels: on the level of the educational system, on the level of the educational organization as well as on the course level. Beyond the contribution to the research of structural change, this book provides evidence-based information on the (im-)possibilities to plan, regulate and govern the further education system.
Design of a CMOS bandgap Reference Circuit with a Wide temperature Range, High Precision and Low temperature coefficient

This paper presents an approach to the design of a high-precision CMOS voltage reference. The proposed circuit is designed for TSMC 0.35 μm standard CMOS process. We design the first-order temperature compensation bandgap voltage reference circuit. The proposed post-simulated circuit delivers an output voltage of 0.596 V and achieves the reported temperature coefficient (TC) of 3.96 ppm/°C within the temperature range from -60°C to 130°C when the supply voltage is 1.8 V. When simulated in a smaller temperature range from -40°C to 80°C, the circuit achieves the lowest reported TC of 2.09 ppm/°C. The reference current is 16.586 μA. This circuit provides good performances in a wide range of temperature with very small TC.
Organic–inorganic hybrid materials based on polyaniline/TiO2 nanocomposites for ascorbic acid fuel cell systems

Polyaniline was grafted onto a mixture of rutile and anatase TiO2 nanoparticles by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. These nanocomposites were characterized by carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen (CHN) analysis, x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. FTIR and UV–vis confirm the formation of polyaniline on TiO2 nanoparticles. The TEM shows that the composites consist of PANI and TiO2 nanoparticles. Compared to the neat polyaniline, PANI/TiO2 composites show a higher capacitance and also a higher activity per mass of polyaniline. Since the PANI/TiO2 composites are stable during the electrooxidation of ascorbic acid, they can be used as an alternative catalyst for direct ascorbic acid fuel cells.
INFECTIONS AFTER BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION USING CYCLOSPORINE

The incidence of infection in 86 consecutive patients having bone marrow transplantation for acute or chronic myeloid leukemia, in a protocol in which cyclosporine was the main immunosuppressant, was low. Severe bacterial infections were infrequent and mostly caused by gram-positive cocci but early bacterial infection was often associated with severe graft-versus-host disease. Fungal infections were prevented by nystatin and amphotericin thus avoiding the difficult combination of cyclosporine and ketaconazole. Viral infections were no more common than in other series but, in patients with mismatched grafts, they tended to be associated with neurological complications clinically diagnosed as encephalitis.
Geographical Patterns in Cyanobacteria Distribution: Climate Influence at Regional Scale

Cyanobacteria are a component of public health hazards in freshwater environments because of their potential as toxin producers. Eutrophication has long been considered the main cause of cyanobacteria outbreak and proliferation, whereas many studies emphasized the effect of abiotic parameters (mainly temperature and light) on cell growth rate or toxin production. In view of the growing concerns of global change consequences on public health parameters, this study attempts to enlighten climate influence on cyanobacteria at regional scale in Brittany (NW France). The results show that homogeneous cyanobacteria groups are associated with climatic domains related to temperature, global radiation and pluviometry, whereas microcystins (MCs) occurrences are only correlated to local cyanobacteria species composition. As the regional climatic gradient amplitude is similar to the projected climate evolution on a 30-year timespan, a comparison between the present NW and SE situations was used to extrapolate the evolution of geographical cyanobacteria distribution in Brittany. Cyanobacteria composition should shift toward species associated with more frequent Microcystins occurrences along a NW/SE axis whereas lakes situated along a SW/NE axis should transition to species (mainly Nostocales) associated with lower MCs detection frequencies.
Effects of tea saponins on in vitro ruminal fermentation and growth performance in growing Boer goat

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of tea saponins (TS) on in vitro ruminal fermentation and growth performance in growing Boer goats. In Experiment 1, the Reading Pressure Technique (RPT) system was used to investigate the effect of addition of TS (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/ml) on the ruminal fermentation in vitro. The 24 h gas production and methane emission were significantly decreased when 0.4 or 0.8 mg TS was included, suggesting that the TS could inhibit the release of methane. Compared to the control, the TS had little effect on pH values and the concentration of total volatile fatty acids in the ruminal fluids. However, the fermentation patterns were changed, with lower acetate and higher proportions of propionate when TS was added. Ammonia-N concentration and protozoal counts were significantly reduced, while microbial protein yield was increased by the TS addition, suggesting that the TS could modify the ruminal fermentation. In Experiment 2, 27 growing Boer goats were used to evaluate the effects of the TS addition on growth performance. The animals received the same basal diets, and added TS at levels of 0 (C), 3 g (T1) and 6 g (T2) per day. The experiment lasted for 60 days with the first 15 days for adaptation. Blood samples were obtained by jugular venipuncture before the morning feeding on the final day of the experiment. During the whole periods, dry matter intake, average daily gain and feed efficiency in T1 were higher than in the other two. Serum total protein, albumin, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, Ca and P and alkaline phosphatase levels were higher in group T1 than in C and T2, whereas the blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and total cholesterol were lower in the TS-added groups. The concentrations of glucose, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase were not affected by the TS. From the results obtained in this study, it is inferred that the TS could modify the ruminal fermentation and that proper doses of TS may have potential in improving the animal growth performance, whereas at high doses, it may have adverse effects on animal production.
Cleidocranial Dysplasia: Diagnosis, Surgical and Orthodontic Planning and Interventions in a Pediatric Patient

La displasia cleidocraneal (CCD) es un trastorno oseo, autosomico dominante, causado por un defecto en el gen CBFA1 y se caracteriza por anomalias esqueleticas, craneofaciales y bucodentales. En este trabajo se describen los principales aspectos de un caso de CCD, desde el diagnostico y la planificacion para la primera etapa de las intervenciones. Un paciente varon de 11 anos de edad, concurrio a la Clinica de Odontologia Pediatrica de la Universidad Federal de Parana (Brasil) con un problema de retencion prolongada de casi todos sus dientes de leche. Se describen los examenes clinicos y de imagen dirigidos al diagnostico de la CCD y el plan de tratamiento. La primera etapa consistio en la extraccion de cuatro dientes primarios, dos dientes permanentes y dos dientes supernumerarios del maxilar, seguido de separacion del paladar, traccion de los dientes afectados y traccion inversa del maxilar. El paciente permanece en tratamiento. El seguimiento clinico, asi como la concientizacion y motivacion de la familia son factores importantes en este tipo de casos.
Post-Traumatic Osteomyelitis: Analysis of Inflammatory Cells Recruited into the Site of Infection

Device-associated infections after implants or endoprostheses inflict local inflammation and ultimately osteolysis, a clinical entity referred to as posttraumatic osteomyelitis. The underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet known; formation of bacterial biofilms on the implant is presumed, conferring resistance to antibiotics and to host defense mechanisms as well. To gain insight into the pathogenesis of post-traumatic osteomyelitis, the infected site was analyzed for the presence of immunocompetent cells. In 18 patients, the infected site was rinsed intraoperatively. This so-called lavage contained 1–2 × 107 leukocytes, predominantly highly activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), as characterized by low expression of CD62L (selectin), and high expression of the adhesion protein CD18, of the high-affinity immunoglobulin (IgG) receptor CD64, and of the LPS-receptor CD14. CD16, the low-affinity IgG receptor, was affected in some patients only. Because the majority of infections were caused by staphylococci species, the effect of bacteria-derived lipoteichoic acid on PMN of healthy donors was tested in vitro. A similar activation pattern was found: rapid down-regulation of CD62L, a slower loss of CD16, and upregulation of CD18, CD64, and CD14. Lipoteichoic acid signaling required p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and resulted in induction of CD14-specific mRNA and de novo protein synthesis. We conclude that PMNs infiltrate the infected site, but despite local activation they are unable to clear the bacteria, presumably because of biofilm formation. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that during the ineffective “frustrated” attempt to phagocytose, PMNs release cytotoxic and proteolytic entities that in turn contribute to the progression of tissue injury and ultimately to osteolysis.
Tyrosine Kinase 2 Plays Critical Roles in the Pathogenic CD4 T Cell Responses for the Development of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis1

Tyrosine kinase 2 (Tyk2), a member of the JAK family, is involved in IL-12- and IL-23-mediated signaling. In the present study, we examined the roles of Tyk2 in the development of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by using Tyk2 knockout (KO) mice. In vitro differentiation of Th1 but not Th17 cells was severely impaired in Tyk2 KO CD4 T cells, although Tyk2 KO Th17 cells did not respond to IL-23. Tyk2 KO mice showed complete resistance against EAE with no infiltration of CD4 T cells in the spinal cord. Surprisingly, the number of MOG-specific Th17 cells in the periphery was comparable between KO and wild-type (WT) mice, whereas Th1 cells were greatly reduced in Tyk2 KO mice. Adoptive transfer of MOG-primed WT T cells induced EAE in Tyk2 KO recipients, indicating that Tyk2 in the environment was dispensable for the infiltration of effector T cells into the spinal cord. A reduced but significant number of Tyk2 KO T cells were detected in the spinal cord of mice with EAE, which had been reconstituted with bone marrow cells of WT and KO mice. Furthermore, MOG-immunized Tyk2 KO mice developed EAE after adoptive transfer of MOG-primed WT Th1 cells, which might trigger local inflammation that recruits Th17 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that Tyk2 is critically involved in the pathogenic CD4 T cell responses and thus could be a target molecule for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Virulence conversion of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 by passage in guinea pigs and embryonated eggs

When virulent Legionella pneumophila is passaged on supplemented Mueller-Hinton agar, it remains virulent for guinea pigs and embryonated hen eggs for two passages. However, by the fifth passage the cultures become avirulent for guinea pigs. Flagella were not produced by L. pneumophila on the first passage on supplemented Mueller-Hinton agar. In contrast, 12 passages on charcoal-yeast extract agar did not result in the reduction of virulence or the loss of flagella of L. pneumophila. Growth in supplemented yeast extract broth or on Norit-A-filtered supplemented yeast extract agar also did not result in a reduction of the virulence of L. pneumophila. However, L. pneumophila did not produce flagella when grown on these two media. Thus, it appears that the production of flagella is not required for the virulence of L. pneumophila when administered by the intraperitoneal route of infection. A virulent flagellated form of L. pneumophila was recovered by passing an avirulent form six times in guinea pigs. When avirulent L. pneumophila was passaged 12 times in embryonated eggs, a nonflagellated form of the bacterium was recovered which had an increased virulence for guinea pigs and embryonated eggs. However, virulent forms were not recovered by passage of avirulent forms on commonly used laboratory media. These results support the suggestion that a suitable host is required for the selection of the virulent form of L. pneumophila from avirulent cultures.