Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction of Ocular Surface With Heterologous Limbal Epithelium and Amniotic Membrane in a Rabbit Model

Purpose. To report in vivo reconstruction of the ocular surface using amniotic membrane and heterologous transplants of epithelial limbal cells in rabbits with chemical burns. Methods. After severe damage to the ocular surface with n-heptanol and keratectomy, 15 rabbits developed total limbal deficiency with conjunctival epithelialization, vascularization, and chronic inflammation. One month later, a complete keratectomy was performed in all eyes: 12 received additional transplantation of human amniotic membrane and heterologous limbal epithelial cells in a double amniotic membrane layer, 2 received amniotic membrane only, and 1 control eye received no procedure. Results. After 1 month of follow-up, corneas in eight of the operated eyes presented minimal vascularization, without signs of rejection. Corneal surface reconstruction was demonstrated with the growth of new corneal-like epithelial phenotype and integration of amniotic membrane to the basal corneal surface. A superficial amniotic membrane (with the amnion side up as a dressing) peeled off after 7 to 10 days. The epithelialization with heterologous limbal epithelial cells was evident underneath. The other four operated eyes were followed for 6 months; the ocular surface was also stable with a corneal-like epithelial phenotype. Conclusion. Simultaneous transplantation of amniotic membrane and heterologous limbal epithelial cells in severe ocular surface disorders could restore ocular surface and may be useful in patients with severe bilateral limbal epithelial loss, giving new perspectives for the treatment of severe ocular surface disorders.
The role of peripherality in students’ entrepreneurial learning

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to expand on the entrepreneurial learning literature and situated learning theory to explore how students with different educational backgrounds learn to recognise opportunities at the periphery of an entrepreneurial practice. The authors theoretically outline factors that may influence students’ entrepreneurial learning, including co-participation and roles at the periphery, power relations in communities of practice (CoP), and emotional exposure. The authors make use of the concept legitimate peripheral participation and Politis’ entrepreneurial learning framework to explore empirically students’ entrepreneurial learning transformations and entrepreneurial learning outcomes. Design/methodology/approach The authors adopted a qualitative approach in research, used the focus group methodology and the critical incident technique in interviewing. The research investigated two groups of Norwegian master students that differed in educational background aiming to explore their experience with entrepreneurial learning in a three months long internship in American start-ups representing emerging CoPs. Findings The research identified important factors influencing students’ entry transitions into an entrepreneurial practice, highlighting the complexity in peripheral participation. By acknowledging and exploring the social dimensions in students’ learning, the authors demonstrate and exemplify how these influence students’ entrepreneurial learning trajectories, learning outcomes and ultimately their influence in students’ contributions to the practice community. Originality/value The research integrates the existing entrepreneurial learning literature and situated learning theory to identify various factors influencing entrepreneurial learning, contributing with novel insights about the role of peripherality in students’ entrepreneurial learning in situated practice.
Flavivirus Capsid Is a Dimeric Alpha-Helical Protein

ABSTRACT The capsid proteins of two flaviviruses, yellow fever virus and dengue virus, were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to near homogeneity suitable for biochemical characterization and structure determination by nuclear magnetic resonance. The oligomeric properties of the capsid protein in solution were investigated. In the absence of nucleic acid, both proteins were predominately dimeric in solution. Further analysis of both proteins with far-UV circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated that they were largely alpha-helical. The secondary structure elements of the dengue virus capsid were determined by chemical shift indexing of the sequence-specific backbone resonance assignments. The dengue virus capsid protein devoid of its C-terminal signal sequence was found to be composed of four alpha helices. The longest alpha helix, 20 residues, is located at the C terminus and has an amphipathic character. In contrast, the N terminus was found to be unstructured and could be removed without disrupting the structural integrity of the protein.
Adolescent health in urban India

Adolescence is the period in human growth and development that occurs after childhood and before adulthood, from ages 10 to 19 years. It is a period of dynamic brain development. During this period, adolescents learn from the social behavior and environmental surroundings of their community. Because of rapid urbanization without accounting for the basic health-care amenities, health disparities tend to arise. In this review, we have tried to describe the health profile of adolescents in urban India. Relevant articles were extracted from PubMed and related websites. Adolescents in urban areas perceive their physical environment as very poor. Social capital and social cohesion are very important in their development. Increasing child marriage and poor antenatal care among adolescents are key challenges in improving the reproductive and sexual health. More than half of adolescents are undernourished. About 56% of adolescent girls are anemic. At this time of fighting against under-nutrition, burden of overweight and obesity is increasing among the urban adolescents. Mass media use and increased sedentary lifestyle increase the risk factors for noncommunicable diseases. Labile mental and emotional behavior makes them prone to suicide and intentional self-harm. Another avoidable key challenge among adolescents is addiction. Urban living and regular media exposure are positively associated with smoking and alcohol consumption. Among unintentional injuries, road traffic accidents dominate the picture. Various health programs targeting adolescent health have been launched in the recent past.
Risk‐based selection from the general population in a screening trial: Selection criteria, recruitment and power for the Dutch‐Belgian randomised lung cancer multi‐slice CT screening trial (NELSON)

A method to obtain the optimal selection criteria, taking into account available resources and capacity and the impact on power, is presented for the Dutch‐Belgian randomised lung cancer screening trial (NELSON). NELSON investigates whether 16‐detector multi‐slice computed tomography screening will decrease lung cancer mortality compared to no screening. A questionnaire was sent to 335,441 (mainly) men, aged 50–75. Smoking exposure (years smoked, cigarettes/day, years quit) was determined, and expected lung cancer mortality was estimated for different selection scenarios for the 106,931 respondents, using lung cancer mortality data by level of smoking exposure (US Cancer Prevention Study I and II). Selection criteria were chosen so that the required response among eligible subjects to reach sufficient sample size was minimised and the required sample size was within our capacity. Inviting current and former smokers (quit ≤ 10 years ago) who smoked >15 cigarettes/day during >25 years or >10 cigarettes/day during >30 years was most optimal. With a power of 80%, 17,300–27,900 participants are needed to show a 20–25% lung cancer mortality reduction 10 years after randomisation. Until October 18, 2005 11,103 (first recruitment round) and 4,325 (second recruitment round) (total = 15,428) participants have been randomised. Selecting participants for lung cancer screening trials based on risk estimates is feasible and helpful to minimize sample size and costs. When pooling with Danish trial data (n = ±4,000) NELSON is the only trial without screening in controls that is expected to have 80% power to show a lung cancer mortality reduction of at least 25% 10 years after randomisation. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
European Union’s preferential trade agreements in agricultural sector: a gravity approach

The European Union (EU) is the first target market for developing countries’ and Least Developed Countries’ agricultural exports. Preferential trade agreements, either reciprocal or not, play a central role in forming trade opportunities for numerous developing countries. Our objective is to measure the impact of eleven regional trade agreements (RTA) on European agricultural imports with an expanded gravity model. Also, in order to compare these RTAs and their effects we calculate the implied tariff equivalent. Results indicate that a large number of EU’s RTAs support the agricultural exports of developing countries to the EU market. Thus, RTAs are generally an attractive alternative for countries wishing to speed up the move towards multilateral free trade in agriculture. Nevertheless, two most important and unilateral RTAs (Generalized System of Preference expanded by Everything But Arms) and the agreement with Mexico have the negative effect over agricultural exports to EU. We attempt to explain the reasons of their failure.
What Makes Business Incubation Work? Measuring the Influence of Incubator Quality and Regional Capacity on Incubator Outcomes

To optimize public investment in business incubator programs, it is crucial to distinguish the effects of the program from the effects of the host region’s economic environment. This study measures the influence of incubator quality and regional capacity variables on incubation outcomes using survey data from program managers across the United States. Results suggest that incubator quality variables have a stronger causal influence on successful incubation outcomes than regional capacity variables. While regional capacity is a stronger predictor for graduate-firm outcomes than for tenant-firm outcomes, incubator quality matters more overall. Results suggest that quality incubation may compensate for deficiencies in regional innovative capacity, which is often associated with entrepreneurial success. This research is expected to help policy makers more effectively use business incubators to “hatch” innovation-based entrepreneurial development.
Opportunities for promoting youth physical activity: an examination of youth summer camps.

BACKGROUND Youth summer camp programs have the potential to provide opportunities for physical activity, but little to no research has been conducted to determine activity levels of campers. This study aimed to examine physical activity occurring in day and resident summer camps and how activity levels differed in these camps based upon demographic characteristics. METHODS Pedometer data were collected during hours of camp operation from 150 day campers and 114 resident campers between the ages of 8 and 12 years old. Independent t tests were used to compare physical activity by sex, race, and Body Mass Index. RESULTS Campers at day camps averaged 11,916 steps per camp day, while resident campers averaged 19,699 steps per camp day. Day campers averaged 1586 steps per hour over 7.5 hour days and resident campers averaged 1515 steps per hour over 13 hour days. Male sex, Caucasian race, and normal Body Mass Index were significant correlates of more physical activity. CONCLUSIONS Youth summer camps demonstrate the potential to provide ample opportunities for physical activity during the summer months. Traditional demographic disparities persisted in camps, but the structure of camp programs should allow for changes to increase physical activity for all participants.
The social interaction of return to work explored from co-workers experiences

Purpose. The objective was to explore the role and contribution of co-workers in the return-to-work process. The social interaction of co-workers in the return-to-work process are analysed within the framework of the Swedish national and local employer organisational return-to-work policies. Methods. An exploratory qualitative method was used, consisting of open-ended interviews with 33 workplace actors across seven work units. Organisational return-to-work policies were collected from the three public sector employers. Results. The key findings that emerged during analysis showed that some co-workers have a more work-task oriented approach towards the return-to-work process, whilst others had a more social relational approach. In both situations, the social relations worked hand in hand with job tasks (how task were allocated, and how returning workers were supported by others) and could make or break the return-to-work process. Conclusion. A suggestion for improvement of return-to-work models and policies is the need to take into account the social relations amongst workplace actors, especially involving co-workers when planning for return-to-work interventions. Otherwise the proper attention to work arrangements, social communication and the role of co-workers in the return-to-work process might not be seen.
Financial Literacy and Financial Behavior: Evidence from the Emerging Asian Middle Class

This paper analyses financial literacy and financial behavior of middle class people living an urban Asian economy. Other than most papers on financial literacy that focus on people in developed countries, we surveyed people living Bangkok. Using standard financial literacy questions, we find that financial literacy levels are largely comparable to industrialized countries, but understanding of more advanced financial concepts is lower. Similarly, savings accounts are held by most people, but more sophisticated products are a lot less common. We further show, in line with the literature, that higher financial literacy leads to improved financial decision making.
Parenting Children with Developmental Delays: The Role of Positive Beliefs

Parents of children with developmental delays consistently report higher levels of child behavior problems and also parenting stress than parents of typically developing children. This study examined how mothers' positive beliefs influence the relation between children's behavior problems and mothers' parenting stress among families of children who are developmentally delayed (DD: n = 72) or typically developing (TD: n = 95) and assessed at ages 3, 5, and 7 years. Positive beliefs had a main effect on parenting stress at all ages, which was mediated by child behavior problems for mothers in the DD group at every age and across time. In the TD group, mediation was found at age 3 years. Additionally, support was found for a moderation effect of positive beliefs on the relation between child behavior problems and parenting stress, but only in the DD group at age 3. These findings have implications for interventions drawing on Seligman's (1991) work on learned optimism, the positive counterpart of learned helplessness.
Investigating transitory and chronic poverty in SouthAfrica, 2008-2015

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . v LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . viiii LIST OF TABLES . ix LIST OF FIGURES . x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background and problem statement . 1 1.2 Objectives of the study . 2 1.3 Relevance . 3 1.4 Structure of the study . 3 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 5 2.
Comparison of surgical outcomes between laparoscopic pyelolithotomy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with multiple renal stones in various parts of the pelvocalyceal system.

PURPOSE To evaluate surgical outcomes of laparoscopic pyelolithotomy (LP) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in managing multiple renal stones in various parts of the pelvocalyceal system. SUBJECTS AND METHODS From February 2004 to December 2011, 45 patients underwent LP, and 39 underwent PCNL for treatment of pelvic stone(s) with calyceal stone(s). Differences in demographics, perioperative data, and complications were compared between LP and PCNL patients. The primary end point in this study was the stone-free rate in a single session. RESULTS Stone-free rates were 91.1% and 64.1% in the LP and PCNL groups, respectively (P=.003). Mean operation time was longer in the LP group (P<.001). Mean change in hemoglobin level (P<.001) as well as postoperative analgesics usage (P=.022) was significantly better in the LP group. However, mean estimated blood loss (P=.112), mean change in creatinine level (P=.172) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (P=.395), and mean length of hospitalization (P=.842) were similar in both groups. The PCNL group had more overall complications. CONCLUSIONS LP was safer and more effective than PCNL according to our study. Therefore, LP may be a feasible modality in managing multiple complex renal stones in various parts of the pelvocalyceal system.
Structural Predictors of Loss of Renal Function in American Indians with Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States, but early structural determinants of renal function loss in type 2 diabetes are poorly defined. We examined the association between morphometrically determined renal structural variables and loss of renal function in 111 American Indians with type 2 diabetes who volunteered for a research kidney biopsy at the end of a 6-year clinical trial designed to test the renoprotective efficacy of losartan versus placebo. Participants were subsequently followed in an observational study, in which annual measurements of GFR (iothalamate) initiated during the clinical trial were continued. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Renal function loss was defined as ≥40% loss of GFR from the research examination performed at the time of kidney biopsy. Associations with renal function loss were evaluated by Cox proportional hazards regression. Hazard ratios (HRs) were reported per 1-SD increment for each morphometric variable. RESULTS Of 111 participants (82% women; baseline mean [±SD] age, 46 years old [±10]; diabetes duration, 16 years [±6]; hemoglobin A1c =9.4% [±2.2]; GFR=147 ml/min [±56]; median albumin-to-creatinine ratio, 41 mg/g [interquartile range, 13-158]), 51 (46%) developed renal function loss during a median follow-up of 6.6 years (interquartile range, 3.1-9.0). Fourteen had baseline GFR <90 ml/min, and three had baseline GFR <60 ml/min. Higher mesangial fractional volume (HR, 2.27; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.58 to 3.26), percentage of global glomerular sclerosis (HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.21 to 2.21), nonpodocyte cell number per glomerulus (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.05), glomerular basement membrane width (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.05 to 2.08), mean glomerular volume (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.96), and podocyte foot process width (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.60); lower glomerular filtration surface density (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.94); and fewer endothelial fenestrations (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.95) were each associated with GFR decline after adjustment for baseline age, sex, duration of diabetes, hemoglobin A1c, GFR, and treatment assignment during the clinical trial. CONCLUSIONS Quantitative measures of glomerular structure predict loss of renal function in type 2 diabetes.
The Prion Protein Has RNA Binding and Chaperoning Properties Characteristic of Nucleocapsid Protein NCp7 of HIV-1*

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are fatal neurodegenerative diseases associated with the accumulation of a protease-resistant form of the prion protein (PrP). Although PrP is conserved in vertebrates, its function remains to be identified.In vitro PrP binds large nucleic acids causing the formation of nucleoprotein complexes resembling human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nucleocapsid-RNA complexes and in vivoMuLV replication accelerates the scrapie infectious process, suggesting possible interactions between retroviruses and PrP. Retroviruses, including HIV-1 encode a major nucleic acid binding protein (NC protein) found within the virus where 2000 NC protein molecules coat the dimeric genome. NC is required in virus assembly and infection to chaperone RNA dimerization and packaging and in proviral DNA synthesis by reverse transcriptase (RT). In HIV-1, 5′-leader RNA/NC interactions appear to control these viral processes. This prompted us to compare and contrast the interactions of human and ovine PrP and HIV-1 NCp7 with HIV-1 5′-leader RNA. Results show that PrP has properties characteristic of NCp7 with respect to viral RNA dimerization and proviral DNA synthesis by RT. The NC-like properties of huPrP map to the N-terminal region of huPrP. Interestingly, PrP localizes in the membrane and cytoplasm of PrP-expressing cells. These findings suggest that PrP is a multifunctional protein possibly participating in nucleic acid metabolism.
Don’t Touch My Cheese: Short Selling Pressure, Executive Compensation Justification, and Real Activity Earnings Management

ABSTRACT This article aims at investigating the effects of short selling on a firm’s executive compensation and earnings management. We use a panel data set of Chinese public firms from 2007 to 2014 to test our hypotheses. We find that the level of excess compensation in short-selling firms is greater than that in non-short-selling firms. Our further analysis shows that the executives of the short-selling firms will justify their excess compensation by improving the pay-performance sensitivity, which is accomplished through the real earnings management. Finally, we find that there is more prominent decrease/increase in accrual/real earnings management in short-selling firms.
Complete colonoscopy rarely misses cancer.

BACKGROUND The assumption that colonoscopy is highly accurate for detecting colorectal cancer was tested by identifying cancer subsequent to colonoscopy in 2 cohorts of patients in which colonoscopy was reported as normal. METHODS A multicenter endoscopy database was used to identify all reportedly normal colonoscopies. One cohort was assessed 5 years after colonoscopy with the use of a population-based health services-linked database to link patient morbidity, cancer, and mortality data. The second cohort was assessed by identifying patients who had cancer on repeat colonoscopy. RESULTS Of 1047 patients with normal colonoscopies followed for 5 years or until death if earlier, 5 cancers (0.5%) were detected. This rate was not significantly different from that predicted by Australian statistics (risk = 1.0%, p > 0.1), but significantly lower compared with that for all patients presenting for colonoscopy during the study period (risk = 5.2%, p < 0.001). In another cohort of 8486 patients with reportedly normal colonoscopies, 496 patients underwent repeat colonoscopies during an average follow-up of 3.1 years; cancer was diagnosed at the subsequent procedure in 3 patients (0.6%). CONCLUSIONS The high accuracy of colonoscopy is demonstrated by the low risk of harboring an advanced neoplastic lesion after a normal examination.