Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Time‐dependent changes in the response of cartilage to static compression suggest interstitial pH is not the only signaling mechanism

The goal of the present study was to reexamine the role of interstitial pH in regulating the biosynthetic rate in cartilage tissue by addressing two research questions: (a) Do small, short‐term changes in interstitial pH, induced independently by two different mechanisms (namely, by controlling the pH of the medium or by mechanical compression), result in biosynthetic rates commensurate with those expected from the “natural” relationship between interstitial pH and biosynthesis? and (b) Are the effects of changes in the pH of the medium or in compression the same for short‐term (14‐hour) and long‐term (60‐hour) exposures? Biosynthetic rates were estimated from incorporation of sulfate and proline into explants of bovine epiphyseal cartilage during the final 14 hours of culture. These rates decreased with decreasing pH of the medium, with increasing compression, and with decreasing native glycosaminoglycan content; or, expressed in terms of interstitial pH, acidification induced by compression or by lowering the pH of the medium resulted in a decreased biosynthetic rate, whereas interstitial acidification effected by increasing glycosaminoglycan content enhanced it. When the time for which tissue was exposed to changes in the pH of the medium was increased from 14 to 60 hours, the relationship between the biosynthetic rate and the pH remained constant whereas the relationship between the biosynthetic rate and compression was reversed. These data suggest that the transduction mechanisms underlying the response to pH of the medium and compression differ and that some adaptation or stimulation by modest levels of compression can occur with longer exposures. Interstitial pH is not the sole determinant of biosynthesis, and it cannot really account for the long‐term response of cartilage tissue to static compression.
Fuzzy Control for Uncertain Vehicle Active Suspension Systems via Dynamic Sliding-Mode Approach

This paper investigates the fuzzy control issue for uncertain active suspension systems via dynamic sliding-mode method. The Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy approach is adopted on the background of the varying masses to describe the prescribed nonlinear system in order to achieve the design targets via the method of sector nonlinearity. This paper employs the dynamic sliding-mode scheme to control nonlinear active suspension systems. In the proposed sliding-mode control scheme, the sliding surface function is formed linearly with the system states and control inputs. Then, a fuzzy dynamic term is utilized to construct the sliding-mode feedback controller. In existing results, the sliding mode is achieved and maintained with no consideration of the system perturbations. Thus, sufficient conditions are proposed to make the sliding surface reachable with the existence of the system perturbations to make the augmented system stable. Finally, simulation results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.
Endocytoscopic visualization of squamous cell islands within Barrett's epithelium.

AIM To study the endocytoscopic visualization of squamous cell islands within Barrett's epithelium. METHODS Endocytoscopy (ECS) has been studied in the surveillance of Barrett's esophagus, with controversial results. In initial studies, however, a soft catheter type endocytoscope was used, while only methylene blue dye was used for the staining of Barrett's mucosa. Integrated type endocytoscopes (GIF-Q260 EC, Olympus Corp, Tokyo, Japan) have been recently developed, with the incorporation of a high-power magnifying endocytoscope into a standard endoscope together with narrow-band imaging (NBI). Moreover, double staining with a mixture of 0.05% crystal violet and 0.1% of methylene blue (CM) during ECS enables higher quality images comparable to conventional hematoxylin eosin histopathological images. RESULTS In vivo endocytoscopic visualization of papillary squamous cell islands within glandular Barrett's epithelium in a patient with long-segment Barrett's esophagus is reported. Conventional white light endoscopy showed typical long-segment Barrett's esophagus, with small squamous cell islands within normal Barrett's mucosa, which were better visualized by NBI endoscopy. ECS after double CM staining showed regular Barrett's esophagus, while higher magnification (× 480) revealed the orifices of glandular structures better. Furthermore, typical squamous cell papillary protrusion, classified as endocytoscopic atypia classification (ECA) 2 according to ECA, was identified within regular glandular Barrett's mucosa. Histological examination of biopsies taken from the same area showed squamous epithelium within glandular Barrett's mucosa, corresponding well to endocytoscopic findings. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the first report of in vivo visualization of esophageal papillary squamous cell islands surrounded by glandular Barrett's epithelium.
Basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in sera from non-small cell lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND The formation of new microvessels from the existing vascular bed is known as angiogenesis and is normally under the tight regulatory control of angiogenic factors. This control is lost in malignant tumours. Previous studies have correlated increased microvessel density with poor prognosis in patients with primary lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our group measured levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in sera from 68 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and compared elevated levels of VEGF and bFGF with clinical outcome. Serum basic FGF and VEGF were measured using commercially available enzyme- linked immunosorbent assays (R & D Systems Inc., Minneapolis, MN USA). RESULTS In 26/68 (38%) patients we found that elevated circulating levels of bFGF and in 27/68 (39%) serum samples levels of VEGF were elevated. Elevated bFGF values in sera was a statistically significant good prognostic factor, p- value = 0.048, when adjusted to stage and there was a trend in that patients with elevated levels of bFGF had a higher fraction of adenocarcinomas compared with squamous epithelial carcinomas (chi 2 = 2.0). No significant correlations could be demonstrated when elevated levels of VEGF in serum was present. Elevated levels of both VEGF and bFGF was present in 45% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS We found that elevated levels of bFGF is a good prognostic factor when measured in sera from NSCLC patients. As this result disagrees with earlier studies on other malignancies the results from our study needs to be further investigated in a prospective study.
Occupational exposure to beryllium and cancer risk: A review of the epidemiologic evidence

There is controversy on whether occupational exposure to beryllium causes lung cancer. We conducted a systematic review of epidemiologic studies on cancer among workers exposed to beryllium, including a study of seven U.S. production plants which has been recently updated, a study of patients with beryllium disease (largely overlapping with the former study) and several smaller studies. A small excess mortality from lung cancer was detected in the large cohort, which was partially explained by confounding by tobacco smoking and urban residence. Other potential confounders have not been addressed. The excess mortality was mainly among workers employed (often for a short duration) in the early phase of the manufacturing industry. There was no relation with duration of employment or cumulative exposure, whereas average and maximum exposure were associated with lung cancer risk. The use of lagged exposure variables resulted in associations with lung cancer risk; however, these associations were due to confounding by year of birth and year of hire. The studies of beryllium disease patients do not provide independent evidence and the results from other studies do not support the hypothesis of an increased risk of lung cancer or any other cancer. Overall, the available evidence does not support a conclusion that a causal association has been established between occupational exposure to beryllium and the risk of cancer.
When Trading is Hazardous to Your Wealth: Financial Literacy, Gender, and Stock Selling During the 08/09 Financial Crisis

We study the motivations for stock selling in a context where this was (at least from an ex-post perspective) hazardous to investors' wealth. Making use of a unique feature of the Cognitive Economics Study (CogEcon) that allows us to elicit domain-specific stock literacy and corresponding confidence, we find that independent of their actual knowledge, investors were more inclined to sell stocks during the financial crisis with high levels of confidence. This was the case even when trading was apparently not motivated by liquidity demands, risk-bearing capacities or expectations about future asset market developments. Even more importantly, and in line with the literature that relates the discrepancy between financial knowledge and confidence to making investment mistakes, we find that overconfidence was associated with a higher propensity to realize stock losses - that is, selling assets whose value had deteriorated. Male as well as female investors in our sample were overconfident on average shortly before the outbreak of the crisis. Strikingly, however, only female investors traded to their detriment as a result of their overconfidence. We do not find, in contrast, male investors to be at a real disadvantage of high levels of confidence not warranted by actual knowledge. We take a number of steps in response to endogeneity concerns including an alternative identification method recently introduced by Lewbel (2012) that exploits information from the heteroscedastic structure of the data. Further research is needed to understand the long-term consequences of our findings concerning stock-market participation and finally wealth levels of females, who are already at a high risk of hitting poverty at old-age.
Review of Risk Assessment Instruments for Juvenile Sex Offenders

Risk assessment is considered to be a key element in the prevention of recidivism among juvenile sex offenders (JSOs), often by imposing long-term consequences based on that assessment. The authors reviewed the literature on the predictive accuracy of six well-known risk assessment instruments used to appraise risk among JSOs: the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol-II (J-SOAP-II), Juvenile Sexual Offence Recidivism Risk Assessment Tool-II (J-SORRAT-II), Estimate of Risk of Adolescent Sexual Offence Recidivism (ERASOR), Juvenile Risk Assessment Scale (JRAS), Structured Assessment of Violent Risk in Youth (SAVRY), and Hare Psychopathy Checklist:Youth Version (PCL:YV). Through a systematic search, 19 studies were reviewed. Studies showed differences in the predictive accuracies for general, violent, and sexual recidivism, and none of the instruments showed unequivocal positive results in predicting future offending. Not unexpectedly, the accuracy of the SAVRY and PCL:YV appeared to be weaker for sexual recidivism compared with specialized tools such as the J-SOAP-II or the ERASOR. Because of the rapid development of juveniles, it is questionable to impose long-term restrictions based on a risk assessment only. New challenges in improving risk assessment are discussed.
Comorbid conditions in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The objective of this study was to investigate axis I comorbidity in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A total of 147 patients diagnosed as OCD for DSM-III-R criteria were included in the study. At least one comorbid axis I disorder was present in 68.7% of the patients. Major depression was the most common comorbid disorder (39.5%). Uncomplicated (n = 46) and comorbid (n = 101) OCD groups were compared with respect to the demographic variables and the scores obtained from the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRSA), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). No significant difference in terms of age, sex, marital status, age at onset, or duration of illness was found between the groups. The scores on the HRSA, HRSD, and Y-BOCS were significantly higher in the comorbidity group. Our results demonstrate that at least one psychiatric disorder is present in approximately two thirds of OCD patients, the majority being depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. The fact that comorbid conditions raise not only anxiety and depression levels, but also the severity of obsessions and compulsions, is noteworthy.
Determination of splenomegaly by CT: is there a place for a single measurement?

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine if there is a single parameter that can be used as a marker of splenomegaly using CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS Splenic length, width, and thickness were measured in 249 CT scans and multidimensional indexes were obtained from the multiplication of these measurements. Volume was calculated by summing the volumes of multiple contiguous scans. The relationship of the spleen to the left liver lobe and inferior third of the left kidney was also evaluated. Linear equations were obtained to correlate each measurement to the splenic volume. RESULTS The unidimensional measurements with best correlation to volume were splenic length (r = 0.81, p < 0.01) and width (r = 0.804, p < 0.01). Correlation was better for the multidimensional indexes (r = 0.95, p < 0.01). Using a previously described upper limit of normality for splenic volume of 314.5 cm3 in the linear regression equation obtained, a maximum spleen length of 9.76 cm was the upper limit of normality. The relation of the lowest point of the spleen to the inferior third of the kidney also showed that if the spleen reached or extended below this portion of the kidney, it could be used as evidence of splenomegaly (p < 0.005), although it had a low sensitivity. CONCLUSION Splenic length and multidimensional indexes correlate well with splenic CT volume. A splenic length of 9.76 cm can be used to accurately diagnose splenomegaly and can replace multiple-measurement, time-consuming methods in the clinical routine.
Antecedents and the mediating effect of customer-restaurant brand identification

ABSTRACT This study develops a framework of customer-restaurant brand identification and tests a full and partial mediation model of brand identification to understand the way in which customers develop brand identification in the restaurant sector. The models are tested via customer data using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The findings suggest that brand identification by customers is influenced by four antecedents: brand prestige, symbol attractiveness, self-congruence, and brand experience. The study confirms that brand identification fully mediates the effect of self-congruence on brand loyalty. The effects of brand prestige, symbol attractiveness, and brand experience on brand loyalty are partially mediated by brand identification. This study contributes to the branding strategies of global restaurants to secure a competitive edge.
The Impact of Media Campaigns on Tax Filing: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from Pakistan

This paper examines the effect of mass media campaigns on income tax filing using survey data from Pakistan. We use information collected about a pro-tax filing communication campaign shortly after the 2013-14 tax filing deadline by Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue. We use an inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment estimator to construct comparable treatment and control groups in terms of media exposure and control for predictors of income tax filing. We find that respondents’ likelihood of income tax filing significantly increased in response to exposure to newspaper advertisements of information provision surrounding tax eligibility but not those concerning the tax filing deadline or the benefits associated with tax filing in the form of non-application of financial penalties. TV advertisements that relied on moral suasion and solely portrayed self-employed taxpayers did not significantly improve tax filing for the entire survey population but were effective among the self-employed. This highlights the importance of the content of the message as well as the implementation of targeted media campaigns by a tax administration to enhance income tax filing.
Risks and Challenges of Complex Financial Instruments: An Analysis of SSM Banks

We investigate the valuation risk affecting financial instruments classified as L2 and L3 for accounting purposes. These are instruments that are not directly traded in active markets and are often relatively complex, opaque and illiquid. There is a huge volume of L2 and L3 instruments in the balance sheets of SSM banks (around €6.8 trillion worth, considering both assets and liabilities). We argue that the complexity and opacity of these instruments create substantial room for discretionary accounting and prudential choices by financial intermediaries, which have incentives to use this discretion to their advantage. The current regulatory reporting standard is not sufficient to make a comprehensive assessment of the overall risks stemming from L2 and L3 instruments. We highlight that these instruments share some characteristics with NPLs (illiquidity, opacity), and argue that the risk they pose might also be comparable.
Introduction: The Power of Global Performance Indicators

Abstract In recent decades, IGOs, NGOs, private firms and even states have begun to regularly package and distribute information on the relative performance of states. From the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index to the Financial Action Task Force blacklist, global performance indicators (GPIs) are increasingly deployed to influence governance globally. We argue that GPIs derive influence from their ability to frame issues, extend the authority of the creator, and — most importantly — to invoke recurrent comparison that stimulates governments' concerns for their own and their country's reputation. Their public and ongoing ratings and rankings of states are particularly adept at capturing attention not only at elite policy levels but also among other domestic and transnational actors. GPIs thus raise new questions for research on politics and governance globally. What are the social and political effects of this form of information on discourse, policies and behavior? What types of actors can effectively wield GPIs and on what types of issues? In this symposium introduction, we define GPIs, describe their rise, and theorize and discuss these questions in light of the findings of the symposium contributions.
Diagnostic potential of antibody titres against Candida cell wall β‐glucan in Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis syndrome of unknown aetiology in children. The administration of Candida cell wall antigens induced KD‐like coronary vasculitis in mice. However, the responses of KD patients to Candida cell wall antigen are unknown. In this study, we examined the response of KD patients to β‐glucan (BG), one of the major fungal cell wall antigens, by measuring the anti‐BG titre. In KD patients, the anti‐C. albicans cell wall BG titre was higher than that in normal children. The anti‐BG titre was also higher in KD patients compared to children who served as control subjects. The efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in KD is well established. We categorized the KD patients into three groups according to the therapeutic efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and compared the anti‐BG titre among these groups. Anti‐BG titres were similar in the control group and the non‐responsive group. In the fully responsive group, the anti‐BG titre showed higher values than those in the normal children. This study demonstrated clinically that KD patients have high antibody titres to Candida cell wall BG, and suggested the involvement of Candida cell wall BG in the pathogenesis of KD. The relationship between IVIG therapy and anti‐BG titre was also shown. These results provide valuable insights into the therapy and diagnosis of KD.
Inactivation of endotoxin by serum: a phylogenetic study.

In an attempt to elucidate the nature of the endotoxin-altering reaction, normal sera from animals of different phylogenetic levels were tested for capacity to inactivate endotoxin from Escherichia coli. Inactivation was assayed quantitatively by reduction in capacities of endotoxin to be precipitated by homologous antiserum and to kill mice, and by changes in its immunodiffusion pattern. Sera from species of Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia, Osteichthyes, and Chondrichthyes were shown to have similar capacities to inactivate endotoxin, whereas sera from cyclostomes and hemolymphs from crustaceans altered endotoxin only slightly or not at all. In general, the qualitative nature of the endotoxin-altering reaction by these sera was similar in that the reaction was inhibited by calcium (100 [tmoles/ml) and, excepting carp and turtle sera, it was heat stable (56 C for 30 min). Inactivation was greater when endotoxin was incubated with serum at 37 C rather than at 3 C or 26 C. It is postulated that an endotoxin-altering mechanism similar to that of human serum originated phylogenetically between hagfish and shark.
Social Influence on Green Consumerism: Country and Gender Comparisons between China and the United States

Abstract China's rapid economic growth and population momentum have precipitated an environmental crisis on an unprecedented scale. Consequently, green consumerism is a hot topic leaving marketing managers looking for ways to influence green buying behaviors. One way to examine this problem is to compare the effect of social influence on green behaviors against countries that have experienced a similar spike in pollution owing to rapid development (e.g., the United States). Unfortunately, a gap exists in the literature with respect to how social influence impacts green purchasing behaviors. This research examines the issue across country and gender between China and the United States. The findings show that Chinese consumers are indeed more susceptible to social influence with respect to purchasing behaviors. The Chinese view social influence as a multidimensional construct with both cognitive and behavioral components. Chinese females were significantly different from other respondents with respect to cognitive and behavioral social influence.
Investigation of Changes in Kinetic Tremor through Analysis of Hand-drawing Movements - Differences between Physiological and Essential Tremors

Tremor is the most common movement disorder characterized by repetitive and stereotyped movements. Tremor can be classified in many ways, depending on its phenomenology, frequency and location. The data collection conducted under kinetic conditions and while performing a voluntary movement highlights the kinetic tremor. The analysis of hand-drawing movements is commonly used in the evaluation of patients with tremor. In this study, a number of features extracted from tremor activity, obtained from digitized drawings of Archimedes’ spirals, were analysed. The analyses followed the sequence bellow: 1 – Linearization of the spiral of Archimedes; 2 – Estimate of tremor activity; 3 – Data pre-processing; and 4 – Feature extraction from the tremor activity. The statistical analysis of the extracted features was able to prove the differences between physiological and essential tremors collected under kinetic conditions.