Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of hyaluronan on cell proliferation and mRNA expression of procollagens alpha 1 (I) and alpha 1 (III) in tendon-derived fibroblasts from patients with rotator cuff disease: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND Hyaluronan (HA) improves postoperative recovery after flexor tendon surgery, preventing postoperative adhesion. However, its influence on the rotator cuff tendon after cuff repair has not yet been clarified in detail. HYPOTHESIS Hyaluronan is likely to modulate cell proliferation and mRNA expression of procollagens alpha1 (I) and alpha1 (III) in tendon-derived fibroblasts in patients with rotator cuff disease. STUDY DESIGN Controlled laboratory study. METHODS The study subjects were 10 patients with rotator cuff disease, with an average age of 62 years (range, 44-72). Various concentrations of HA (1.0-5.0 mg/mL) were added to monolayer-cultured tendon-derived fibroblasts from these patients. Hyaluronan binding and CD44 expression on the tendon-derived fibroblasts were evaluated by confocal microscopy using fluorescein-conjugated HA and antihuman CD44 antibody (OS/37). Cell proliferation was evaluated by recording changes in cell number. The levels of expression of procollagen alpha1 (I) and alpha1 (III) mRNA were measured by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Immunofluorescence cytochemistry detected constitutive binding of HA and CD44 expression on the tendon-derived cells. Treatment with various concentrations of HA significantly inhibited cell proliferation and decreased the expression level of procollagen alpha1 (III) mRNA, but not that of procollagen alpha1 (I) mRNA, in the tendon-derived fibroblasts. CONCLUSION Hyaluronan modulates cell proliferation and the expression level of procollagen alpha1 (III) mRNA, but not that of pro-collagen alpha1 (I), in fibroblasts from patients with rotator cuff disease. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Postoperative use of exogenous HA may allow the healing of a repaired rotator cuff tendon with minimal adhesion.
Bilateral thoracoscopic thymectomy using a novel positioning system

Several techniques of bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy have been proposed, and each has its own proponents. We summarize our experience in 20 patients who underwent bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy, using a new patient positioning that amplifies the thoracoscopic view of the cardiophrenic regions which are often difficult to visualize with standard techniques. In all cases, en-bloc thymectomy with complete dissection of the mediastinal fatty tissue was achieved without sternal retractors or additional incisions.
Linear to circular polarization converters based on self-complementary metasurfaces

In this work a technique for designing linear to circular polarization convertors is proposed. It is based on self-complementary metasurfaces graved on metal sheets. This kind of device can receive a linearly polarized wave and convert it into a circularly polarized wave. The main advantage over previous designs is the theoretical constancy of the phase difference between the transmission (or reflection) coefficients for two orthogonal linear polarizations, which is closely equal to 90° for any frequency.
Current concepts of climbing fiber function

This review examines several of the current postulates regarding the function of one of the most intriguing afferent systems in the brain, the climbing fiber system. The fact that these afferents are activated under a variety of conditions has contributed substantially to the diversity of postulates that have been proposed. In part because of the unique anatomical relationship between individual climbing fibers and the dendritic tree of Purkinje cells, these afferents have been proposed as a key input in establishing long‐term plastic changes in the cerebellar cortex. This concept is contrasted with other postulates proposing that the heterosynaptic action of this system produces a short‐lasting enhancement rather than a long‐term depression of Purkinje cell responsiveness. Although a generally accepted view regarding climbing fiber function does not exist, this review emphasizes the extensive functional insights that have been reported and supports the notion that progress toward a complete understanding of these afferents will require an integration of their morphological characteristics with the fundamental physiological properties of their responses assessed in a variety of contexts and conditions. Anat. Rec. (New Anat.) 253:118–126, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recombinant prion protein induces rapid polarization and development of synapses in embryonic rat hippocampal neurons in vitro

While a β‐sheet‐rich form of the prion protein (PrPSc) causes neurodegeneration, the biological activity of its precursor, the cellular prion protein (PrPC), has been elusive. We have studied the effect of purified recombinant prion protein (recPrP) on rat fetal hippocampal neurons in culture. Overnight exposure to Syrian hamster or mouse recPrP, folded into an α‐helical‐rich conformation similar to that of PrPC, resulted in a 1.9‐fold increase in neurons with a differentiated axon, a 13.5‐fold increase in neurons with differentiated dendrites, a fivefold increase in axon length, and the formation of extensive neuronal circuitry. Formation of synaptic‐like contacts was increased by a factor of 4.6 after exposure to recPrP for 7 days. Neither the N‐terminal nor C‐terminal domains of recPrP nor the PrP paralogue doppel (Dpl) enhanced the polarization of neurons. Inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) and of Src kinases, including p59Fyn, blocked the effect of recPrP on axon elongation, while inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase showed a partial inhibition, suggesting that signaling cascades involving these kinases are candidates for transduction of recPrP‐mediated signals. The results predict that full‐length PrPC functions as a growth factor involved in development of neuronal polarity.
The 7-year teesside experience of primary prevention ICD indications following primary PCI (PPCI) and the potential impact of a change in NICE guidance

Introduction The recovery of LV function in patients with severe LV impairment in the acute phase following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is not well established. The indication for a primary prevention ICD post-STEMI is dependent on which screening guidance, NICE or ESC, is followed. The potential impact of the new NICE guidance is estimated. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients presenting with a STEMI over a 7-year period (2005–2012) treated with PPCI to determine in-hospital mortality, LV function at index presentation, at 3 months and the predicted primary prevention ICD implantation rate using NICE (TA095) and ESC 2006 guidelines. Predicted implant rates using the new NICE guidance (TA314) and actual implantation rates were also assessed. Results 3902 patients with a mean age of 65±13 years underwent PPCI. Of those patients surviving until discharge, 332 (10%) had LVEF ≤35%. 254 of 332 patients (76%) with a severely impaired ventricle were followed up at participating centres. 210 of 254 (83%) patients had a repeat echocardiogram within 3 months post-MI; among these patients, 89 (42%) remained to have LVEF ≤35%. The number of patients fulfilling NICE and ESC criteria for primary prevention ICD implantation was 14 (16%) and 84 (94%), respectively. The actual number of patients receiving an ICD was 17 (19%). The number of patients fulfilling the new NICE (TA314) guidance was 84 (94%). Conclusions A small proportion of patients with STEMIs undergoing PPCI have a severely impaired LV systolic function. A large proportion of these patients will have improved LV systolic function at 3 months. There is a five-fold difference in the predicted ICD implantation rates depending on which guidance is followed—NICE versus ESC. The potential impact of the new NICE (TA314) guidance on ICD implantation will be a significant increase in ICD implantation rates.
Essays in Corporate Finance

This dissertation contains three chapters. In the first chapter, which is joint work with Paul Gompers and Steven Kaplan, we survey 79 private equity (PE) investors with combined assets under management of more than $750 billion about their practices in firm valuation, capital structure, governance, and value creation. Investors rely primarily on internal rates of return and multiples to evaluate investments. Their limited partners focus more on absolute performance as opposed to risk-adjusted returns. Capital structure choice is based equally on optimal trade-off and market timing considerations. PE investors anticipate adding value to portfolio companies, with a greater focus on increasing growth than on reducing costs. We also explore how the actions that PE managers say they take group into specific firm strategies and how those strategies are related to firm founder characteristics. The second chapter, co-authored with Efraim Benmelech, Nittai Bergman, and Anna Milanez, identifies a new channel through which bankrupt firms impose negative externalities on non-bankrupt peers. The bankruptcy and liquidation of a retail chain weakens the economies of agglomeration in any given local area, reducing the attractiveness of retail centers for remaining stores leading to contagion of financial
Mediating transurethral microwave thermotherapy by intraprostatic and periprostatic injections of mepivacaine epinephrine: effects on treatment time, energy consumption, and patient comfort.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Profound intraprostatic blood flow may complicate reaching a therapeutic temperature in the prostate during transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A retrospective survey is presented describing the effect of intraprostatic and periprostatic administration of mepivacaine epinephrine on treatment time, intraprostatic blood flow, energy delivery, and patient comfort. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifteen consecutive obstructed patients with lower urinary tract symptoms attributable to BPH received TUMT (ProstaLund Feedback Treatment). In order to improve patient comfort, injections of 10 mL of 0.5% mepivacaine epinephrine were administered in three locations into the prostate prior to treatment. The results were compared with those of a reference group consisting of 35 consecutive patients who had received ProstaLund Feedback Treatment without administration of mepivacaine epinephrine. RESULTS Patients who received intraprostatic mepivacaine epinephrine had a shorter treatment time (32+/-9 minutes v 61+/-6 minutes), required less energy (65+/-27 kJ v 172+/-32 kJ), and had a lower calculated intraprostatic blood flow (13+/-5 units/minute v 26+/-12 units/minute) than the reference group. Patients receiving mepivacaine epinephrine also required less analgesic medication during the treatment. The clinical outcome in terms of symptom scores and peak uroflow rates appeared to be similar for the two groups. CONCLUSION Intraprostatic injection of mepivacaine epinephrine prior to TUMT seems to have beneficial effects. It may represent an important improvement of thermotherapy and enable successful treatment of those patients who previously failed secondary to a profound intraprostatic blood flow.
Void free processing of flip chip on board assemblies using no-flow underfills

A consistent problem that has plagued the introduction of innovative no-flow underfill materials into volume flip chip onboard/in-package production is voiding of the underfill during processing. In addition to outgassing voids typically due to moisture and solvents in the substrate or outgassing of the underfill, voids are produced as a result of the squeeze flow experienced by the underfill during chip placement. This paper presents a systematic development of optimal flip chip on board assembly process for no flow underfill materials presenting process parameters compatible with four commercially available no flow fluxing underfills. A novel hybrid process is developed that combines a capillary flow dynamic with no-flow fluxing underfills resulting in virtually a void free assembly process. The results of the initial studies are used to choose an optimal process for the materials. The newly developed edge patterned hybrid no-flow process has resulted in near void-free assemblies capable of passing 2000 cycles without an electrical failure for the -40 to 125/spl deg/C AATC reliability test.
Zonal Chondrocyte Subpopulations Reacquire Zone-Specific Characteristics during in Vitro Redifferentiation

Background If chondrocytes from the superficial, middle, and deep zones of articular cartilage could maintain or regain their characteristic properties during in vitro culture, it would be feasible to create constructs comprising these distinctive zones. Hypothesis Zone-specific characteristics of zonal cell populations will disappear during 2-dimensional expansion but will reappear after 3-dimensional redifferentiation, independent of the culture technique used (alginate beads versus pellet culture). Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Equine articular chondrocytes from the 3 zones were expanded in monolayer culture (8 donors) and subsequently redifferentiated in pellet and alginate bead cultures for up to 4 weeks. Glycosaminoglycans and DNA were quantified, along with immunohistochemical assessment of the expression of various zonal markers, including cartilage oligomeric protein (marking cells from the deeper zones) and clusterin (specifically expressed by superficial chondrocytes). Results Cell yield varied between zones, but proliferation rates did not show significant differences. Expression of all evaluated zonal markers was lost during expansion. Compared to the alginate bead cultures, pellet cultures showed a higher amount of glycosaminoglycans produced per DNA after redifferentiation. In contrast to cells in pellet cultures, cells in alginate beads regained zonal differences, as evidenced by zone-specific reappearance of cartilage oligomeric protein and clusterin, as well as significantly higher glycosaminoglycans production by cells from the deep zone compared to the superficial zone. Conclusion Chondrocytes isolated from the 3 zones of equine cartilage can restore their zone-specific matrix expression when cultured in alginate after in vitro expansion. Clinical Relevance Appreciation of the zonal differences can lead to important advances in cartilage tissue engineering. Findings support the use of hydrogels such as alginate for engineering zonal cartilage constructs.
Mid-term results and costs of coronary artery bypass vs drug-eluting stents for unprotected left main coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND The optimal revascularization strategy for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease in the era of drug-eluting stents (DES) has become more controversial between coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS Since April 2004, 89 patients underwent CABG, including 82 (92.1%) off-pump procedures and 63 patients underwent PCI with DES for ULMCA disease. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE: death, acute myocardial infarction, stroke and repeat revascularization) and hospitalization costs were compared. Patients in the CABG group were likely to have multivessel disease and higher euroSCORE. The mean follow-up was 2.2+/-1.1 years in the CABG group and 1.6+/-0.8 years in the DES group (P<0.001). The overall survival rate did not differ (P=0.288) between the groups (CABG: 93.4% and DES: 91.9% at 2 years). The MACCE-free survival rate was better (P=0.033) in the CABG group (CABG: 82.2% and DES: 62.6% at 2 years). Total hospitalization costs were lower (P=0.013) in the CABG group (median: 3,225 thousand yen) than in the DES group (median: 4,192 thousand yen). CONCLUSIONS CABG might be associated with cost-effectiveness and could be still the first revascularization strategy for ULMCA disease.
Evaluation of a Low Energy, Low Density, Non-Ablative Fractional 1927 nm Wavelength Laser for Facial Skin Resurfacing.

OBJECTIVE We investigated the safety, tolerability and efficacy of a low energy low density, non-ablative fractional 1,927-nm laser in the treatment of facial photodamage, melasma, and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. DESIGN Prospective non-randomized trial. SETTING Single center, private practice with a dedicated research department. PARTICIPANTS Subjects with clinically diagnosed facial photodamage, melasma, or post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. INTERVENTIONS Subjects received four to six treatments at 14-day intervals (+/- 3 days) with a low energy low density non-ablative fractional 1,927-nm laser (Solta Hayward, CA) with an energy level of 5 mJ, and density coverage of either 5%, 7.5%, or 10%, with a total of up to 8 passes. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES Blinded assessment of clinical photos for overall improvement at one and three months post final treatment. Investigator improvement scores, and subject pain and satisfaction scores for overall improvement were recorded as well. RESULTS We enrolled 23 subjects, average age 45.0 years (range, 25-64 years), 22 with Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-IV and 1 with Type VI, with facial photodamage, melasma, or post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Approximately 55% of subjects reported marked to very significant improvement at one and three months post final treatment. Blinded assessment of photography of 20 subjects revealed an average of moderate improvement at one-month follow up and mild to moderate improvement at three months. Average subject pain score was 3.4/10 during treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Favorable outcomes were demonstrated using the low energy low density, non-ablative fractional 1,927-nm laser in facial resurfacing for photodamage, melasma, and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Results were maintained at the 3-month follow up, as demonstrated by investigator and subject assessments, as well as blinded evaluations by three independent dermatologists utilizing photographs obtained from a standardized facial imaging device.
Growth Breaks and Growth Spells in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper examines the growth performance of sub-Saharan African countries since 1960 through the lens of growth turning points (accelerations and decelerations) and periods of sustained growth (growth spells). Growth accelerations are generally associated with improved external conditions, increased investment and trade openness, declines in inflation, better fiscal balances, and improvements in the institutional environment. Transitioning from growth accelerations to growth spells often requires additional efforts beyond what is needed to trigger an acceleration. Growth spells are sustained by fiscal policy that prevents excessive public debt accumulation, monetary policy geared toward low inflation, outward-oriented trade policies, and structural policies that reduce market distortions, as well as supportive external environment and improvements in democratic institutions. Overall, determinants of growth spells in sub-Saharan Africa are different from those in the rest of the emerging and developing countries.
19F-MRI for monitoring human NK cells in vivo

ABSTRACT The availability of clinical-grade cytokines and artificial antigen-presenting cells has accelerated interest in using natural killer (NK) cells as adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) for cancer. One of the technological shortcomings of translating therapies from animal models to clinical application is the inability to effectively and non-invasively track these cells after infusion in patients. We have optimized the nonradioactive isotope fluorine-19 (19F) as a means to label and track NK cells in preclinical models using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Human NK cells were expanded with interleukin (IL)-2 and labeled in vitro with increasing concentrations of 19F. Doses as low as 2 mg/mL 19F were detected by MRI. NK cell viability was only decreased at 8 mg/mL 19F. No effects on NK cell cytotoxicity against K562 leukemia cells were observed with 2, 4 or 8 mg/mL 19F. Higher doses of 19F, 4 mg/mL and 8 mg/mL, led to an improved 19F signal by MRI with 3 × 1011 19F atoms per NK cell. The 4 mg/mL 19F labeling had no effect on NK cell function via secretion of granzyme B or interferon gamma (IFNγ), compared to NK cells exposed to vehicle alone. 19F-labeled NK cells were detectable immediately by MRI after intratumoral injection in NSG mice and up to day 8. When 19F-labeled NK cells were injected subcutaneously, we observed a loss of signal through time at the site of injection suggesting NK cell migration to distant organs. The 19F perfluorocarbon is a safe and effective reagent for monitoring the persistence and trafficking of NK cell infusions in vivo, and may have potential for developing novel imaging techniques to monitor ACT for cancer.
Learning from the voices of first generation learners in a remote community of Maharashtra, India

This paper reports the opportunities and challenges faced by first generation learners, all of whom were designated as being from scheduled tribes and scheduled castes, accessing education in a rural community in the state of Maharashtra, India. The design of the research and the methods used for this child-centred study aimed to generate data to enable reflection on the reallife complexities experienced by children in this situation. Ten case studies based around individual children who shared common experiences were developed. These children had attended the local Zilla Parishad School (Government funded school) in the past and were enrolled at a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) funded school at the time of the investigation. The ten case studies focused on those antecedents, contextual factors, perceptions and attitudes towards education that had shaped the experiences of the children. Their personal circumstances, opportunities and challenges emanating from their social, economic, cultural and political environments are discussed.
European IPO Markets: The Post-Issue Performance Imperative

European secondary markets appear to have so far failed as providers of capital for emerging growth companies. Conventional explanations focus on the supply side of the market, blaming over-regulation, complex listing requirements, the absence of an equity culture, weak competition between national markets, and a shortage of growth companies. This paper highlights significant underperformance in long-term IPO returns in European markets, possibly affecting demand by Investors. Alternative demand-side factors, such as constraints on Institutional investments in small cap stocks and the consequent lack of supporting analysts, and methodological Issues in measuring long-term performance, are also discussed.