Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lipopolysaccharides Shapes the Human Wharton's Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Vitro

Background: Although the expression of toll-like receptors (TLRs) on different types of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) has recently been reported, controversy remains regarding the presence of TLR4 as well as its engagement and impact on human Wharton's jelly-derived MSCs (hWJ-MSCs). Methods: In the present study, the expression and role of TLR4 in hWJ-MSCs was investigated using a model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Proliferation, apoptosis, and the expression of paracrine factors in hWJ-MSCs primed with LPS were analysed. Results: The expression of TLR4 was high at the RNA level but very low at the protein level. hWJ-MSCs responded to LPS stimulation and initiated a marked up-regulation of inflammatory cytokine (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8) production. Moreover, hWJ-MSCs LPS stimulation resulted in the up-regulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase [IDO]-1, Cox2, interferon [IFN]-β, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 but a down-regulation of MMP-9, which affect the immunosuppressive potential of hWJ-MSCs. Conclusions: These data suggest that LPS engagement shapes hWJ-MSCs and results in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibitory immune mediators, showing TLR4 agonist induces the hWJ-MSCs polarization to a pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive state, which may be beneficial for the exploration of the clinical potential of hWJ-MSCs.
Differential platelet deposition onto collagen in cone-and-plate and parallel plate flow chambers

To routinely test the formation of thrombi and the effect of drugs modifying it, proper test systems are needed. Their design should rely on the laws of rheology and the physiology of laminar flow. To best model physiological or pathological shear conditions, parallel/linear and rotational type flow chambers are developed. We have compared the initial phase of platelet thrombus formation in a parallel plate flow chamber (PPC) and a cone-and-plate chamber (CPC) under von Willebrand dependent shear conditions. Blood was allowed to flow through human collagen type III surfaces at a shear rate of 1000 s−1 for 150 s. Thrombus deposition was characterized by surface coverage, average area and height of thrombi. VWF distribution within thrombi was analyzed with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Reduced surface-specific platelet adhesion and aggregation (surface coverage and average thrombus size) were observed in CPC along with a significant increase in single platelet disappearance from the circulating blood. Our data suggest that the higher rate of platelet consumption in this device, as opposed to PPC, is limiting the adhesion to the surface. Consequently, surface-specific processes and aggregation in the flowing blood are both assessed using CPC, while comprehensive evaluation of surface-specific processes is best achieved with PPC. Therefore, the choice of chamber type as a diagnostic tool is purpose-dependent.
Transition from the spouse dementia caregiver role: A change for the better?

One in 15 Australians over 65 experience dementia, and are commonly supported by spouses. Evidence demonstrates declining wellbeing for these caregivers as their role continues. There are indications of improvement once caregivers transition out of the role (recovery) but alternate suggestions that caregiving stress may be too damaging to be appeased (wear and tear). It seems plausible that reason for transition (care recipient’s move into residential care or death) will affect caregivers’ outcomes. A synthetic cohort method compared caregivers’ stress and wellbeing prior to, and one and two years post-transition. There was evidence of wear and tear for physical wellbeing but recovery for psychological wellbeing over time; with little difference based on reason for transition. Caregiver outcomes seem to be a function of the action rather than the reason for transition, but factors such as age must be considered when designing methods to support post-transition wellbeing.
Energy-saving resource allocation scheme with QoS provisioning in OFDMA femtocell networks

In this paper, the resource allocation problem is studied in downlink femtocell networks to minimize the energy consumption of femtocell base stations (FBSs), provide delay-aware quality-of-service (QoS) guarantees for femtocell users and limit the cross-tier interference. Specifically, by integrating the concept of effective capacity, users' delay-aware QoS requirements are characterized by the QoS exponent and minimum effective capacity constraints. The problem of minimizing transmit power of FBSs is formulated as a mixed integer programming problem and is decomposed into two subproblems in order to reduce the complexity. Accordingly, a suboptimal subchannel allocation algorithm and a QoS-driven optimal power allocation algorithm are proposed respectively. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms can use the lowest transmit power to satisfy diverse delay-aware QoS requirements of femtocell users, which show great advantages in energy saving and QoS provisioning.
NON-INVASIVE ANGIOGRAPHY Original Studies Coronary Stent Assessability by 64 Slice Multi-Detector Computed Tomography

Background: We evaluated the assessability of contemporary stent platforms by 64slice multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). Methods: Patients undergoing coronary stenting were included in a prospective protocol of MDCT imaging within 48 hr of stent implantation. MDCT data were acquired using a ‘‘Sensation 64’’ MDCT scanner (Siemens Medical Solutions, Forchheim, Germany). Stent assessability was assessed by two independent blinded observers and disagreement was resolved by a third observer. Assessability was defined at visualization of the in-stent lumen without influence of partial volume effects, beam hardening, motion, calcification, or contrast to noise limitations. Results: Fifty four stents (Cypher n = 25, Vision/Minivision n = 19, Taxus Express n = 8, Liberte n = 1, Driver n = 1) in 44 patients were included in the study. The two independent observers classified 30 of 54 stents (56%) as assessable. Interobserver reproducibility was good with j = 0.66. Stent size was the most important determinant of assessability. Consistently assessable stents were 3.0 mm or larger (85%), whereas those under 3 mm were mostly nonassessable (26%). Conclusions: Contemporary stent designs evaluated on a 64-slice MDCTscanner showed artifact free assessability only in larger stents. Increase in spatial resolution of MDCTscanners or modifications in stent design will be necessary to noninvasive evaluate stents<3 mm in diameter, where in-stent restenosis ismore frequent. ' 2007Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Learning the Marshallese Phonological System: The Role of Cross-language Similarity on the Perception and Production of Secondary Articulations

The current study determines the influence of cross-language similarity on native English speakers’ perception and production of Marshallese consonant contrasts. Marshallese provides a unique opportunity to study this influence because all Marshallese consonants have a secondary articulation. Results of discrimination and production tasks indicate that learners more easily acquire sounds if they are perceptually less similar to native language phonemes. In addition, the degree of cross-language similarity seemed to affect perception and production and may also interact with the effect of orthography.
Clinical impact and prognostic value of metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging in children with metastatic neuroblastoma.

PURPOSE The clinical value of metaiodobenzylguanidine (mIBG) scintigraphy in patients with disseminated neuroblastoma (NB) at the time of diagnosis and after induction chemotherapy was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS The medical records and imaging studies of 30 patients with stage 4 NB who underwent mIBG scintigraphy and 99mTc hydroxy methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy at the time of diagnosis were reviewed. Scores were calculated for the mIBG and bone scintigrams, and outcome according to the initial and follow-up imaging studies was determined. RESULTS Discrepancies between bone scintigraphy and mIBG osteomedullary localization were seen in six patients. For the entire cohort, 2-year event-free survival did not significantly differ for the group of patients with initial mIBG or bone scintigraphy scores > or = 10 compared to those with scores < 10 (P = 0.23 and 0.61, respectively). However, for patients older than 1 year, a trend associating worse outcome with mIBG scores > or = 10 at diagnosis was seen (P = 0.08). A trend correlating abnormal mIBG scintigraphy after induction therapy and poor outcome was also observed (P = 0.09). Outcome did not correlate with the results of the bone scintigram studies performed after induction chemotherapy (P = 0.68). CONCLUSION Because a discordance between mIBG and bone scintigraphy results were seen in a subset of stage 4 NB patients, both imaging studies should be performed at the time of diagnosis. mIBG imaging studies performed at the time of diagnosis and after induction chemotherapy may be of prognostic value, particularly in stage 4 patients older than 1 year.
The financialization of policy preferences: financial asset ownership, regulation and crisis management

Political economists have often drawn a hard line between the interests of owners of capital and the interests of labor. Yet over the past 30 years in Anglo-Saxon countries in particular, workers have become increasingly invested in capital markets activity through the privatization of pension systems and other incentives for market-based savings. In this article, we investigate whether this ‘financialization of everyday life’ has generated a convergence of policy preferences whereby individuals support policies traditionally associated with the financial sector. Using three separate datasets on the US population, we find evidence that financial asset ownership is associated with lower support for more stringent financial regulatory policy, and higher support for financial sector bailouts. Such effects on individual preferences are modest on average, but persist even when controlling for indicators of social class and a range of other conditions, circumstances and time periods.
An Estimated New Keynesian Phillips Curve for Nigeria

This paper estimates a New Keynesian Phillips curve (NKPC) model for the Nigerian economy. This is to identify the structural parameters determining inflation dynamics in Nigeria. Previous studies that examined the dynamics of inflation in Nigeria have largely estimated the traditional Phillips curve. This study employs quarterly time series data on six macroeconomic variables from 1990:1 to 2012:4. The study adopts the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique to analyse the data. The findings indicate that both backward-looking and forward-looking behaviour are significant determinants of inflation dynamics in Nigeria. The results, however, suggest that backwardlooking behaviour seems to be more quantitatively important in inflation dynamics. Moreover, the findings indicate that price of foreign input, money supply and the lending rate are the main drivers of inflation in Nigeria.
Effectiveness of a unique dihydropyridine (BAYTG 1000) for prevention of laminitis in horses.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether a unique dihydropyridine (BAYTG 1000) would be beneficial in preventing laminitis in horses. ANIMALS 16 clinically normal adult horses. PROCEDURE 8 pairs of horses were used in a controlled double-blind study, using sex- and age-matched horses randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. Horses were subjected to carbohydrate overload to induce laminitis. Treated horses were administered BAY TG 1000 (30 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h) for 3 days. Hoof wall surface temperature (HWST) and lameness were recorded at 4-hour intervals. The HWST was adjusted on the basis of time of onset of lameness and evaluated, using a repeated-measures ANOVA. Lameness 8 hours after onset and clinical status 72 hours after onset of lameness were evaluated, using Mann-Whitney procedures. RESULTS Analysis revealed that BAYTG 1000 did not decrease the incidence of lameness but significantly ameliorated prodromal hypothermia, lessened the severity of lameness 8 hours after onset of lameness, and improved the clinical status of horses 72 hours after onset of lameness. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results support the conclusion that BAYTG 1000 was protective when used in prevention of laminitis. The drug decreased severity and improved clinical status (recovery) of induced lameness, which was interpreted to mean that the drug's actions were on mechanisms important but secondary to primary causal mechanisms of laminitis. Therefore, drugs that enhance digital perfusion via alteration of rheologic activity may have potential use in the prevention and management of laminitis in horses.
The Role of Self-Efficacy in Predicting Rule-Following Behaviors in Shelters for Homeless Youth: A Test of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Through a prospective study of 70 youths staying at homeless-youth shelters, the authors tested the utility of I. Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behavior (TPB), by comparing the constructs of self-efficacy with perceived behavioral control (PBC), in predicting people's rule-following behavior during shelter stays. They performed the 1st wave of data collection through a questionnaire assessing the standard TPB components of attitudes, subjective norms, PBC, and behavioral intentions in relation to following the set rules at youth shelters. Further, they distinguished between items assessing PBC (or perceived control) and those reflecting self-efficacy (or perceived difficulty). At the completion of each youth's stay at the shelter, shelter staff rated the rule adherence for that participant. Regression analyses revealed some support for the TPB in that subjective norm was a significant predictor of intentions. However, self-efficacy emerged as the strongest predictor of intentions and was the only significant predictor of rule-following behavior. Thus, the results of the present study indicate the possibility that self-efficacy is integral to predicting rule adherence within this context and reaffirm the importance of incorporating notions of people's perceived ease or difficulty in performing actions in models of attitude-behavior prediction.
Essays in Liquidity and Financial Markets

This thesis presents three studies related to the effects of liquidity on financial markets. The first topic explores the relationship between funding liquidity and credit default swap (CDS) spreads. Using panel estimations, this study provides evidence that a tightening of funding liquidity increases spreads, effect which is three times larger in magnitude for high-CDS entities compared to low-CDS firms. Moreover, this paper highlights the impact of the 'CDS Small Bang' regulatory changes, especially the introduction of fixed coupons which induced upfront fees for trading CDSs. We find that after the introduction of the fees, funding liquidity changes have a much larger and more significant impact on CDS spread changes. The second study presents an empirical investigation of the theoretical predictions of Brunnermeier and Pedersen (2009) connecting funding liquidity with market liquidity and volatility and an extension of these linkages to CDS spreads. Specifically, in a European context, this paper documents that: (i) funding conditions co-move with illiquidity, volatility and CDS spreads, (ii) during tight funding conditions, illiquid, volatile and high-CDS spread securities become particularly illiquid, (iii) a tightening of funding liquidity increases CDS spreads, this effect being stronger if funding conditions were already constrained, (iv) a deterioration of funding liquidity decreases contemporaneous returns , and (v) funding shocks are priced in the cross-section of illiquidity-sorted portfolios The third study examines the relationship between monetary policy and stock liquidity, in the context of the U.K. market. In line with the inventory paradigm of market microstructure and theories linking capital constraints with market illiquidity, this study documents that a con tractionary (expansionary) monetary policy reduces (increases) stock liquidity. Moreover, this study finds that the effect of monetary policy on stock liquidity depends on the liquidity proxies chosen, decreases with firm size , increases with firm volatility, and is stronger during the 2007-2009 financial crisis.
Analysis of high dysmorphogenic activity of Ro 13-6307, a tetramethylated tetralin analog of retinoic acid.

Certain synthetic retinoids differ widely from retinoic acid (RA) in teratogenic potency, being much more or much less effective than RA. It is assumed that the potency of a retinoid may depend on the nature of its interaction with cellular binding components (nuclear retinoic acid receptors or cytoplasmic binding proteins) and, as in the case of retinoids that are mammalian teratogens, on factors that determine its accessibility to the embryo. To investigate some of the factors that contribute to potency, we used a new synthetic retinoid Ro 13-6307 that differs in structure from RA in having an aromatic ring inserted in its side chain along with gem dimethyl modification of the natural cyclohexenyl ring. Pregnant ICR mice were given a single oral dose (0, 1, or 10 mg/kg) on day 11 of gestation, and the resultant teratogenic outcome was monitored on day 17. Direct effects on cell differentiation were obtained by exposing high density cultures of limb bud mesenchymal cells to a range of concentrations (0.3 ng/ml-3 micrograms/ml) of Ro 13-6307 and scoring for chondrogenic suppression. Concentrations reaching the embryo after maternal administration of Ro 13-6307 were measured by HPLC to quantify the analog for a period of 4 h after administration of the oral dose. We found that this retinoid was 40-fold as active as RA in both inducing teratogenesis and suppressing chondrogenesis, yet its concentration in the affected embryo was only a fraction of that achieved after an equivalent dose of RA was employed in a similar protocol. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The complexity of the Spanish subjunctive in bilingual children with SLI

ABSTRACT This study investigates the use of the Spanish subjunctive in bilingual children with and without specific language impairments (SLI). Using an elicitation task, we examine: (i) the potential of the subjunctive as a grammatical marker of SLI in Spanish-English bilingual children, (ii) the extent to which degree of bilingualism affects performance, and (iii) the specific patterns of errors across groups. The participants in this study include 16 children with SLI and 16 typically developing children (TD) matched on age, English language proficiency, and mother’s education level. Bilingual children are classified either as Spanish-dominant children with intermediate English proficiency (asymmetrical bilinguals, AsyBi) or near-balanced bilinguals (BalBi). The experimental task consists of a sentence-completion exercise eliciting the subjunctive in complement, purpose, and temporal clauses. Results suggest that (i) level of bilingual proficiency, language clinical status, and age predicts the accurate production of the subjunctive; and (ii) temporal clauses might have a better potential to discriminate between TD children and children with SLI in bilingual settings. This study provides general support for grammatically targeted approaches to assessment in bilingual populations.
Biomechanical and histological observations of the dog patellar tendon after removal of its central one-third

The use of a central one-third patellar tendon as an autograft for surgical reconstruction of a damaged cru ciate ligament is common. Few complications of its use have been reported. However, recent clinical studies indicate that decreased quadriceps strength, de creased range of motion, decreased thigh circumfer ence, and patellofemoral problems can be associated with this procedure. Some of these complications may result from alterations in the biomechanical properties of the remaining patellar tendon. The objective of this study was to examine biomechanically and histologi cally the fate of the remaining patellar tendon after removal of its central one-third. Three groups of dogs were used for this study. On one knee the central third of the patellar tendon was removed, while the contralateral side was used as a control. One group was immediately euthanized, while the other two groups were euthanized at 3 and 6 months. Control and operated patella-patellar tendon- tibia preparations were harvested and stretched to failure at 100% strain per second. The 3 and 6 month groups had a 10% decrease in length of the operated patellar tendon versus the con tralateral control. There was a very significant increase in cross-sectional area of the patellar tendon at 3 months, and a further increase at 6 months. The failure load was 70% of the controls at 3 months and 60% of the controls at 6 months. The stiffness and modulus of the operated tendon within the physiologic range were dramatically reduced to 70% and 33% of controls at 6 months, respectively. These overall results were observed with the central one-third defect closed or left open in surgery. This study indicated that the canine patellar tendon had not fully recovered 6 months after removal of its central third. The biomechanical changes observed in the remaining tendon may help explain the loss of quadriceps strength that has been documented in re cent clinical studies after using patellar tendon grafts.
Generalized yule-walker blind identification for single-output multiple-output systems

Blind identification for single-input multiple-output systems has received much attention in the areas of communication and signal processing. This paper extends the Yule-Walker identification method of auto-regressive models to single-input multiple-output systems and presents a generalized Yule-Walker blind identification algorithm. In order to increase the computational efficiency, the generalized Yule-Walker based recursive least squares blind identification algorithm is presented by using the recursive least squares principle. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Cavernous sinus invasion and effect of immunohistochemical features on remission in growth hormone secreting pituitary adenomas.

AIM We examined the cavernous sinus invasion and tumor biological markers that influence the remission rate. Cavernous sinus (CS) invasion was evaluated radiologically. Tumor biological markers consisting of the tumor cell growth parameter Ki-67 and the cancer cell vasculature marker of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS We examined 28 immunohistochemically proven GH secreting pituitary adenoma patients who had been operated via endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery at Department of Neurosurgery, Kocaeli University Hospital between 2003 and 2008. Pathology preparations were stained with Ki-67 and VEGF. We evaluated remission at the postoperative 6th week. The basal GH level, nadir GH level and IGF-1 levels were evaluated to determine remission. RESULTS Remission was achieved in 6 of 18 patients (33%) who had cavernous sinus invasion. Remission was achieved in 7 of 10 patients (70%) who did not have cavernous sinus invasion. There was no correlation between the Ki-67 proliferation index and cavernous sinus invasion (p=0.593). There was a positive correlation between VEGF expression and cavernous sinus invasion (p=0.03). CONCLUSION The remission rate found less in the cavernous sinus invasion group. No association was found between Ki 67 proliferation index and cavernous sinus invasion. We found that a positive correlation between VEGF expression and cavernous sinus invasion. VEGF expression can therefore indirectly affect remission via cavernous sinus invasion.