Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microvascular dysfunction in diabetic foot disease and ulceration

Diabetic foot disease and ulceration is a major complication that may lead to the amputation of the lower limbs. Microangiopathy may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of tissue breakdown in the diabetic foot. However, the precise mechanisms of this process remain unclear and poorly understood. Microvasculature in the skin is comprised of nutritive capillaries and thermoregulatory arteriovenous shunt flow. It is regulated through the complex interaction of neurogenic and neurovascular control. The interplay among endothelial dysfunction, impaired nerve axon reflex activities, and microvascular regulation in the diabetic patient results in the poor healing of wounds. Skin microvasculature undergoes both morphologic changes as well as functional deficits when parts of the body come under stress or injury. Two important theories that have been put forward to explain the abnormalities that have been observed are the haemodynamic hypothesis and capillary steal syndrome. With advances in medical technology, microvasculature can now be measured quantitatively. This article reviews the development of microvascular dysfunction in the diabetic foot and discusses how it may relate to the pathogenesis of diabetic foot problems and ulceration. Common methods for measuring skin microcirculation are also discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fragmentation: New Production Patterns in the World Economy

"Fragmentation" is a term used in this volume to describe cross-border component specialization and production-sharing. Examination of recent trade data suggests that offshore sourcing of parts and components, as well as offshore assembly, are assuming an increasing role in the world economy. The theoretical implications of this type of specialization are examined in several chapters with the aid of both Ricardian and Heckscher-Ohlin trade models. Production is first decomposed ("fragmented") into its constituent parts and activities, and then it is at this level that factor-intensities and technologies are calibrated. The implications of intra-product specialization and component trade are investigated under conditions of free, restricted, and preferential trade. The role of multinationals is explored and the importance of cross-border service-links among component activities is examined. Overall, extension of the principle of comparative advantage beyond products to the realm of parts and components is welfare-enhancing. Industries take advantage of offshore sourcing in order to reduce costs and increase competitiveness. Component specialization offers new and additional opportunities for the exploitation of scale economies. Across a broad range of conditions, it raises output and employment. Its effects on wages are spelled out. Trade between advanced, high-wage and developing low-wage countries is an obvious candidate for the two-way application of component specialization. The empirical part of the volume presents an evaluation of new data which allow the separation of trade in components and in final products. It also provides assessments of the role of component specialization in the trade of several countries and regions. In addition to their relevance for trade theorists and country specialists, the studies collected in this volume have interesting implications for the conduct of trade policy. They contradict claims that trade with low-wage countries must be welfare-reducing and they suggest new approaches to industrialization and economic development. Contributors to this volume - Sven W. Arndt and Henryk Kierzkowski Ronald W. Jones and Henryk Kierzkowski Alan V. Deardorff Richard G. Harris Swen W. Arndt Victoria Curzon Price Alexander J. Yeats Frances Ruane and Holger Gorg Leonard K. Cheng, Larry D. Qiu, and Guofu Tan Alberto Petrucci and Beniamino Quintieri Giovanni Graziani Henryk Kierzkowski
Impact of inward and outward FDI on employment: the role of strategicasset-seeking FDI

Abstract Due to accelerating employment shifts from industry sector to the services sector, this study raises the question of whether foreign direct investment (FDI) affects sector employment shifts in host country and home country. The study presents a mediation model that includes three location factors – information and communications technology (ICT), educated labour, and economic and political stability – to show the effects of FDI inward (FDII) and FDI outward (FDIO) on employment in industry and service sectors in 33 advanced countries (ACs) versus 116 developing and emerging countries (EDCs). The results show that FDII and FDIO in ACs lead to employment shifts from industry sector to the service sector, while only FDII in EDCs leads to employment shifts from the service sector to industry sector. The study highlights the complex challenges faced by labour markets in either ACs or EDCs. In EDCs, the main challenge lies in creating an environment that provides a combination of economic and political stability, a supply of educated labour, and an advanced ICT infrastructure to encourage FDI and the creation of new jobs. While in ACs, strategic asset-seeking FDI could serve as an ‘engine’ for developing and marketing innovative products to create new jobs for educated labour. The study emphasises the need for strategic asset-seeking FDI to encourage FDI in terms of employment, both in ACs and EDCs.
The Effect of Stock Trading Volume on Return: Egyptian stock market

This study examined the relationship between trading volume and stock return to shed more light on the structure of the Egyptian stock exchange and the information arrival pattern, aiming to reach recommendations which may be beneficial to the stock exchange, investors and other stakeholders. The study found that there is a contemporaneous relationship between trading volume and return, besides the historical data of trading volume especially for the last five days helps improve the prediction of future return. Even though one should not only rely on trading volume to predict return as it explains a very small part of change in stock return. Also, the Egyptian stock exchange is informationally inefficient as the information arrives to the market sequentially not simultaneously and that there is much noise and speculative trading. The study recommends that the number of transactions is a better measure of trading volume in the Egyptian stock market. These results are important to the Egyptian Exchange management, investors, and technical analysts.
Use of PCR for prenatal and postnatal diagnosis of congenital rubella

A reverse transcription-nested PCR assay (RT-PCR) was evaluated for diagnosis of congenitally acquired rubella in utero and during infancy. RT-PCR was compared with virus isolation for retrospective detection of rubella virus in placental and fetal tissues obtained after termination of pregnancy following primary rubella or rubella virus reinfection. Concordant results were obtained for 85% of samples; rubella virus RNA was detected by RT-PCR alone in four samples, and rubella virus was detected by isolation alone in two samples. Samples were also obtained for prenatal diagnosis of congenital infection; rubella virus RNA was detected in three of seven chorionic villus samples and one of three amniotic fluid samples by RT-PCR, while rubella virus was isolated in only one chorionic villus sample. To demonstrate that the RNA extracted from chorionic villus samples contained amplifiable RNA, a nested RT-PCR was used to detect keratin mRNA. Rubella virus was detected in placenta in two cases in which the fetus was uninfected, and there was no evidence of rubella virus in the placenta from one case in which the fetus was infected. Thus, detection of rubella virus in chorionic villus samples by RT-PCR may not always correctly predict fetal rubella virus infection. RT-PCR was successfully used for the diagnosis of congenitally acquired rubella in infancy. Rubella virus RNA was detected in cyropreserved or formalin-fixed lens aspirates obtained from infants in India with serologically confirmed congenital rubella but not in samples from controls with inherited cataract.
Does Public School Spending Raise Intergenerational Mobility? Evidence from U.S. School Finance Reforms

It is generally believed that equality of opportunity can be achieved through high qual-ity public schools. This paper examines the causal e˙ect of public school spending on intergenerational mobility by exploiting U.S. court-mandated school finance reforms. I utilize college attendance rate and intergenerational income mobility that Chetty et al. (2014) construct based on administrative tax records. Event study and instru-mental variable models show that students are more likely to attend college due to additional resources in public schools. Reform-induced spending increases also improve intergenerational mobility of advantaged children, but have little impact on mobility of disadvantaged children. In fact, the gap in the mean income rank between advan-tage and disadvantage children widens. The heterogeneity by county characteristics suggests that the school spending e˙ect may be mitigated by negative environments in high poverty area.
Engineering of Adenovirus Vectors Containing Heterologous Peptide Sequences in the C Terminus of Capsid Protein IX

ABSTRACT The utility of the present generation of adenovirus (Ad) vectors for gene therapy applications could be improved by restricting native viral tropism to selected cell types. In order to achieve modification of Ad tropism, we proposed to exploit a minor component of viral capsid, protein IX (pIX), for genetic incorporation of targeting ligands. Based on the proposed structure of pIX, we hypothesized that its C terminus could be used as a site for incorporation of heterologous peptide sequences. We engineered recombinant Ad vectors containing modified pIX carrying a carboxy-terminal Flag epitope along with a heparan sulfate binding motif consisting of either eight consecutive lysines or a polylysine sequence. Using an anti-Flag antibody, we have shown that modified pIXs are incorporated into virions and display Flag-containing C-terminal sequences on the capsid surface. In addition, both lysine octapeptide and polylysine ligands were accessible for binding to heparin-coated beads. In contrast to virus bearing lysine octapeptide, Ad vector displaying a polylysine was capable of recognizing cellular heparan sulfate receptors. We have demonstrated that incorporation of a polylysine motif into the pIX ectodomain results in a significant augmentation of Ad fiber knob-independent infection of CAR-deficient cell types. Our data suggest that the pIX ectodomain can serve as an alternative to the fiber knob, penton base, and hexon proteins for incorporation of targeting ligands for the purpose of Ad tropism modification.
Biosynthesis and Post-translational Processing of the Precursor to Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor*

We examined the biosynthesis and post-translational processing of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor (pro-BDNF) in cells infected with a pro-BDNF-encoding vaccinia virus. Metabolic labeling, immunoprecipitation, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveal that pro-BDNF is generated as a 32-kDa precursor that is N-glycosylated and glycosulfated on a site, within the pro-domain. Some pro-BDNF is released extracellularly and is biologically active as demonstrated by its ability to mediate TrkB phosphorylation. The precursor undergoes N-terminal cleavage within the trans-Golgi network and/or immature secretory vesicles to generate mature BDNF (14 kDa). Small amounts of a 28-kDa protein that is immunoprecipitated with BDNF antibodies is also evident. This protein is generated in the endoplasmic reticulum through N-terminal cleavage of pro-BDNF at the Arg-Gly-Leu-Thr57-↓-Ser-Leu site. Cleavage is abolished when Arg54 is changed to Ala (R54A) by in vitromutagenesis. Blocking generation of 28-kDa BDNF has no effect on the level of mature BDNF and blocking generation of mature BDNF with α1-PDX, an inhibitor of furin-like enzymes, does not lead to accumulation of the 28-kDa form. These data suggest that 28-kDa pro-BDNF is not an obligatory intermediate in the formation of the 14-kDa form in the constitutive secretory pathway.
A Digital Door Lock System for the Internet of Things with Improved Security and Usability

Recently, digital door locks have been widely used as part of the IoT (Internet of Things). However, the media has reported digital door locks being opened by invalid users to invade homes and offices. In this study, a digital door lock system that can work with the IoT environment is proposed. It is designed and implemented to enhance security and convenience. The proposed system provides strengthened security functions that can transfer recorded images to a user"s mobile device when an invalid user attempts an illegal operation; it can also deliver alarm information to the mobile device when the door lock is physically damaged. The proposed system enables a user to check the access information and remotely operate the door lock to enhance convenience.
Cytogenetic and molecular characterization of two isodicentric Y chromosomes.

We report the results of detailed molecular-cytogenetic studies of two isodicentric Y [idic(Y)] chromosomes identified in patients with complex mosaic karyotypes. We used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the structure and genetic content of the abnormal chromosomes. In the first patient, classical cytogenetics and FISH analysis with Y chromosome-specific probes showed in peripheral blood lymphocytes a karyotype with 4 cell lines: 45,X[128]/46,X,+idic(Y)(p11.32)[65]/47,XY,+idic(Y)(p11.32)[2]/47,X,+2idic(Y)(p11.32)[1]. No Y chromosome material was found in the removed gonads. For precise characterization of the Yp breakpoint, FISH and fiberFISH analysis, using a telomeric probe and a panel of cosmid probes from the pseudoautosomal region PAR1, was performed. The results showed that the breakpoint maps approximately 1,000 Kb from Ypter. The second idic(Y) chromosome was found in a boy with mild mental retardation, craniofacial anomalies, and the karyotype in lymphocytes 47,X,+idic(Y)(q11.23),+i(Y)(p10)[77]/46,X,+i(Y)(p10)[23]. To our knowledge, such an association has not been previously described. FISH and PCR analysis indicated the presence of at least two copies of the SRY gene in all analyzed cells. Using 17 PCR primers, the Yq breakpoint was shown to map between sY123 (DYS214) and sY121 (DYS212) loci in interval 5O in AZFb region. Possible mechanisms of formation of abnormal Y chromosomes and karyotype-phenotype correlations are discussed.
Reserve Accumulation and Money Supply in China: A Time-Varying Analysis

Abstract This study investigates the causal relationship between reserve accumulation and money supply in China over the period of 1999 M1–2015 M6. First, we use a Granger causality test and find that there is a unidirectional relationship from money supply growth to reserve accumulation growth; however, taking structural changes into account, we assess stability of parameters of the estimated vector autoregressive models. We find both the short-run and long-run relationships between money supply growth and reserve accumulation growth estimated using full-sample data are unstable over the sample period. This suggests that full-sample causality tests cannot be relied upon. We turn to propose a time-varying (bootstrap) rolling-window approach to revisit the dynamic causal relationship between the two variables. We find that two variables have causal relationships in some sub-periods. We argue that reserve accumulation growth has put pressure on money supply growth. However, in general, sterilization is effective, but not in few months 2006–2007. And money supply has a positive reserve accumulation from the second half of 2001–2003 because RMB was undervalued under the fixed exchange rate regime. We argue that the improvements of monetary policy and the exchange rate regime are crucial to break the relationship between reserve accumulation growth and the money supply growth.
The Political Economy of Fiscal Institutions and Macroeconomic Management in Sudan

This chapter draws on the literature on historical institutionalism and distributive politics, combining qualitative and quantitative information from Sudan’s territorial economic structures, to highlight the evolution of the fiscal and political institutions and indicate their impact on fiscal policy and macroeconomic outcomes. The results show that the inherited colonial fiscal institutions, underpinned by cotton production partnership, significantly determined Sudan’s economic development path after independence and facilitated the incorporation of rural areas and communities into the national economy. However, the greater centralization of power to boost the elites’ legitimacy, including the prioritization of public expenditures on entrenched and inefficient political patronage networks, have not only undermined the macroeconomic management role of the fiscal policy, but also triggered a process of territorial fragmentation that escalated into open civil wars and eventually led to the breakup of the state. The policy implications of these findings are outlined.
Motivation to change and posttreatment temptation to drink: a multicenter study among alcohol-dependent patients

Background An inpatient 28-day rehabilitation program for alcohol dependence is focused on detoxification, enhancing motivation to change, and coping strategies for the management of emotional distress and temptation to drink. The aims of the present study were to investigate 1) changes over time in motivation to change, anxiety, and depression in individuals undergoing residential rehabilitation treatment for alcohol addiction, and 2) which pretreatment factors are associated with posttreatment temptation to drink. Methods We assessed 432 patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision) consecutively recruited from seven residential rehabilitation centers in Northern Italy. Patients were assessed by means of self-report questionnaires at the beginning of rehabilitation (pretreatment) and before their hospital discharge (posttreatment) regarding motivation to change and self-efficacy (motivation assessment of change – alcoholism version), readiness to change and temptation to drink (visual analog scales), and depression and anxiety (cognitive behavioral assessment – outcome evaluation). Results Results showed an overall improvement in motivation to change and a significant reduction over time in depression and anxiety levels for the total sample, particularly patients with low baseline level of temptation to drink. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that significant predictors of posttreatment temptation to drink were polysubstance dependence (p<0.001), readiness to change (p=0.01), and self-efficacy (p=0.05). Conclusion Inpatients’ rehabilitation for alcohol dependence is associated with an overall improvement in motivation to change and a significant reduction of psychological distress. Treatments for alcohol-dependent patients should focus on motivation to change, negative moods, and relapse prevention strategies for the management of craving.
Effective Strategies for Generating Awareness and Interest in Science and Engineering among Underrepresented Youth

Native Americans are seriously underrepresented in science and engineering. To address this concern, the authors have created a flexible two-component workshop that uses submarines and submersibles as a vessel to introduce basic science and engineering concepts. Submarines must resist considerable pressures, resist corrosion, be able to move in three dimensions while mostly navigating blindly, and be able to support life for months at a time. Science and engineering basics that are needed to address those concerns are introduced and explained in the workshop, such as pressure and strength, controls, environment, and product development. One component of the workshop is lectures that incorporate electronic slides and short videos, where each short video demonstrates a concept. For example, one video shows how inflated balloons shrink when submerged, due to the water pressure increasing at depth. Another video shows animations of how submarines are able to move in three dimensions under water. The other component of the workshop is hands-on activities. The hands-on activities start with letting participants control a remote-controlled submarine in a swimming pool. Next, the participants assemble tethered remotely-operated submersibles according to a fixed design from pre-made kits. Finally, a design challenge with a scored competition at the end is conducted, where participants receive a large collection of parts to build their own design of tethered remote-operated submersible. The competition consists of several timed navigation challenges, such as traversing a portion of the pool while the submersible remains submerged the entire time. The workshop has been given to groups of Native American middleand high school students five times in two states, South Dakota and North Dakota, and is about to be given to a small group of incarcerated youth at a local juvenile detention center, the Western South Dakota Juvenile Services Center. Written surveys are given before and after the workshops, and qualitative results consistently show a large increase in the participants’ interest in pursuing careers in science and engineering.
On the directional selectivity of cells in the visual cortex to drifting dot patterns

Abstract It is well established that cortical neurons frequently show different preferred drift directions for random dots and gratings. Dot stimuli often produce two preferred directions which are arranged symmetrically on either side of the preferred directions for gratings. Based on their filter properties in three-dimensional (3-D) Fourier space and on the 3-D power spectra of drifting dot patterns, we estimated the optimal direction to drifting dots for ten neurons in the striate cortex of five adult cats. These estimates frequently gave two optimal directions, one on either side of the optimal direction to gratings. The angle between the two estimated peaks increases with drift speed. Predicted and actual angles were in reasonably good agreement. We conclude, therefore, that the directional selectivity of cortical neurons to drifting random dot patterns can be understood from linear filtering properties. For this reason, the directional tuning to drifting dot patterns seems to reflect the same mechanisms that mediate the responses to sinusoidal gratings and do not require a separate directional mechanism.