Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical analysis of 3-B-(-) and 7-D-4 epitope expression in canine osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE To examine the distribution of the 3-B-3(-) and 7-D-4 epitopes in proteoglycans from morphologically normal and osteoarthritic (OA) canine articular cartilage. METHODS Cartilage samples from the femurs of stable and destabilized stifle joints of 9 dogs that had undergone transection of the cranial cruciate ligament were examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The 3-B-3(-) and 7-D-4 epitopes were expressed in the superficial zone of cartilage from the destabilized femorotibial joints in the early stages of developing OA. The staining patterns with these two antibodies differed, with 3-B-3(-) reactivity confined to the superficial and upper middle zones of the articular cartilage, and 7-D-4 reactivity more prominent in the matrix, extending into the deeper zones and increasing with progression of the lesion. Both epitopes were also expressed in the superficial and upper middle zones of areas peripheral to the lesions and were detectable before the loss of matrix and proteoglycans could be identified by histochemical staining with toluidine blue. CONCLUSION In this study, the expression of atypical chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans was demonstrated in osteoarthritic canine cartilage, and the pattern of expression changed as the lesions progressed. The occurrence of 3-B-3(-) and 7-D-4 epitopes appears to be associated with changes in chondrocyte metabolism in the early stages of cartilage degeneration in experimental osteoarthritis.
Representation of Contextually Related Multiple Objects in the Human Ventral Visual Pathway

Real-world scenes usually contain a set of cluttered and yet contextually related objects. Here we used fMRI to investigate where and how contextually related multiple objects were represented in the human ventral visual pathway. Specifically, we measured the responses in face-selective and body-selective regions along the ventral pathway when faces and bodies were presented either simultaneously or in isolation. We found that, in the posterior regions, the response for the face and body pair was the weighted average response for faces and bodies presented in isolation. In contrast, the anterior regions encoded the face and body pair in a mutually facilitative fashion, with the response for the pair significantly higher than that for its constituent objects. Furthermore, in the right fusiform face area, the face and body pair was represented as one inseparable object, possibly to reduce perceptual load and increase representation efficiency. Therefore, our study suggests that the visual system uses a hierarchical representation scheme to process multiple objects in natural scenes: the average mechanism in posterior regions helps retaining information of individual objects in clutter, whereas the nonaverage mechanism in the anterior regions uses the contextual information to optimize the representation for multiple objects.
Metamorphic viruses detection by hidden Markov models

Since finding and extracting a fixed signature for metamorphic viruses is hard due to the fact that, their shape changes frequently. Virus writers by using obfuscation methods make their viruses undetectable, in order to disable anti viruses to detect them easily, which ends in metamorphic viruses. We used hidden Markov model to propose the Detection Sphere method. We used three elements of a string occurrence probability, specifically-located character occurrence probability, and the amount of virus similarity to a family of viruses. The 94% detection rate result is magnificent in contrary to other anti-viruses which are less than 30%. More research and investment in multi-factor methods in hidden Markov model are recommended to detect viruses and malwares.
Crowdfunding and Sustainable Development

The aim of this article is to verify the hypothesis that crowdfunding campaigns with sustainable orientations are significantly more likely to convince investors and successfully raise funds. The research covered 50 successful crowdfunding projects’ reward and equity-based models, which were pledged on Polish platforms, and analyzed the context of the campaigns. Basic statistical non-parametric tests were used to analyze the data. The study shows that although there were big differences in the amount of raised funds and achieved success rates, the sustainable orientation of the project itself was not so important. It is worth noticing that the level of realization of the objectives of sustainable development was really low, and was not highlighted in the description. This paper explores the relevant success factors of crowdfunding projects, which is very important in order to prepare new ideas for financing and attract the crowd as an investor.
Cognitive impairment in primary ambulatory health care: pharmacotherapy and the use of potentially inappropriate medicine

Drug intake is associated with a risk of drug‐related problems, for example, the intake of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM), especially for cognitively impaired individuals. The proportion of PIM taken by immobile individuals, especially patients with suspicion of dementia in the AGnES studies (German: Arzt‐entlastende Gemeinde‐nahe E‐Health‐gestützte Systemische Intervention), and possible determinants were analyzed.
Biosynthesis of peptide fragments of eukaryotic GPCRs in Escherichia coli by directing expression into inclusion bodies

Biosynthesis of peptides in heterologous systems is often a prerequisite to biophysical analyses. Large amounts of peptides, in particular portions of membrane proteins, are needed to optimize conditions for secondary and tertiary structure analysis. Chemical synthesis of these peptides is limited by their high hydrophobicity and also due to the need to incorporate isotopic labels for high resolution NMR analysis. In this protocol, we describe a method for the heterologous expression and purification of unlabeled and isotopically labeled peptide fragments of Ste2p, an integral membrane G protein‐coupled receptor. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antiretroviral Use and Pharmacy-Based Measurement of Adherence in Postpartum HIV-Infected Women

Background.Antiretroviral treatment for HIV-infected women is standard during pregnancy to prevent vertical transmission, but data on postpartum therapy for the mother are lacking. Objective.The objective of this study was to examine the impact of provider and patient characteristics on receipt of antiretroviral therapy and pharmacy-based measurement of adherence by postpartum HIV-infected women. Research Design.This was a retrospective cohort study. Subjects.The study included 2,648 New York State Medicaid–enrolled HIV-infected women who delivered from January 1993 through October 1996 and were followed up through September 1997. Measures.From Medicaid claims in the first postpartum year, the study examined any prescribed antiretroviral therapy and, among women treated >2 months, adherence, defined as ≥80% days covered by prescribed therapy from first to last antiretroviral prescription. Results.Antiretroviral therapy was prescribed for 681 (26%) study women. Of 292 women treated >2 months, 28% were adherent on the basis of the pharmacy-based measure. The proportion of treated women was highest in 1996 (40%), and adherence was best in 1995 (44%) when most women took monotherapy. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of treatment were 1.67 (95% CI, 1.24 to 2.25) for women receiving HIV-focused services and 2.71 (95% CI, 1.99 to 3.69) for women with a provider in an HIV-related specialty. The AORs of adherence were greater for women with HIV-focused services (2.13; 95% CI, 1.05 to 4.30) and for former illicit drug users versus nonusers (2.40; 95% CI, 1.05 to 5.50). Conclusions.This population-based pharmacy analysis reveals improving antiretroviral use but continuing poor pharmacy-based adherence by postpartum HIV-infected women. Receipt of HIV-focused services appears to be particularly beneficial in increasing the likelihood of treatment and adherence.
Biomarkers of Endothelial Cell Activation in Early Sepsis

Purpose The objective of this study was to investigate the association of endothelial-related markers with organ dysfunction and in-hospital mortality to validate our earlier findings in a multicenter study. We hypothesize that (i) endothelial biomarkers will be associated with organ dysfunction and mortality in sepsis and that (ii) soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) holds promise as a novel prognostic marker in sepsis. Methods This was a prospective, multicenter, observational study of a convenience sample of emergency department (ED) patients with a suspected infection presenting to one of four urban, academic medical center EDs between January 2009 and January 2010. We collected plasma while the patients were in the ED and subsequently assayed endothelial-related biomarkers, namely, sFlt-1, soluble E-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). Outcomes were organ dysfunction and in-hospital mortality. Results We enrolled a total of 166 patients: 63 with sepsis (38%), 61 with severe sepsis (37%), and 42 with septic shock (25%). All endothelial biomarkers were significantly associated with sepsis severity, P < 0.002. We found a significant intercorrelation between all biomarkers, strongest between sFlt-1 and PAI-1 (r = 0.61, P < 0.001) and PAI-1 and soluble E-selectin and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (r = 0.49, P < 0.001). Among the endothelial biomarkers, sFlt-1 had the strongest association with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (r = 0.58, P < 0.001). Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 and PAI-1 had the highest area under the operating receiver characteristic curve for mortality of 0.87. Conclusions This multicenter validation study confirms that markers of endothelial activation are associated with sepsis severity, organ dysfunction, and mortality in sepsis. This supports the hypothesis that the endothelium plays a central role in the pathophysiology of sepsis and may serve as a more accurate prediction tool and a target for therapies aimed at ameliorating endothelial cell dysfunction. In addition, sFLT-1 holds promise as a novel sepsis severity biomarker.
The Institutional Foundation of the Emergence of Subnational Political Dynasties in Indonesia

Decentralization and democratization at the subnational level are two main policies to avoid another centralization of power in the hands of a small number of elites in Jakarta. Instead of solving the problem of concentration of power, the introduction of decentralization and democratization at the subnational level allows some local strongmen to monopolize power at the subnational level through the formation of political dynasties. Why has this contradictory result occurred? The paper argues that the interaction between macrolevel institutional stability and micro-level continuous institutional transformations creates an avenue for power monopolization by a small number of elites at the subnational level. By applying Taylor C. Boas’ composite-standard model of path dependence, the paper aims to show that the institutional development not only precedes the rise of subnational political dynasties but also enables such political force to be an enduring feature of Indonesia’s political landscape for years to come. Additionally, by using the composite-standard model, the paper aims to capture the complexity and the dynamics of the power struggle between the competing political actors—both at the national and subnational levels—to change or to maintain the existing institutions. This paper supplements some previous studies on the emergence of political dynasties in Indonesia with a more detailed discussion on the institutional aspects that allows such dynasties to exist and to persist. This paper employs secondary data from various sources, including news archives and the Constitutional Court’s proceedings to support its claim. Keywords—decentralization; democratization; political dynasties; historical institutionalism; Indonesia
Fluoroalkylethyl silane coating as a moisture barrier for dental ceramics.

The performance of dental ceramics is reduced in wet environments due to stress-corrosion limiting restoration lifetime. As analysis suggests that fracture is typically initiated from the internal surface, placement of a thin coating before a restoration is cemented to place may prevent fracture if it acts as a moisture barrier. Of coatings we tested, a fluoroalkylethyl silane (du Pont MPD-7680) showed promise. This study aimed to test a range of concentrations on glass and to determine any strength improvement on dental ceramics. Glass slides (n = 8-9) were indented (29-N load) stored 24 h, etched, coated with 100, 50, and 25% fluorosilane in isopropyl alcohol, and air-cured for 24 h. The slides were fractured on a biaxial fixture in water at 0.5 mm/min and maximum stresses calculated. Uncoated controls were tested in water and liquid N2 to determine the inert strength without stress-corrosion. Results showed increasing mean strength from uncoated (53.6 MPa) to 100% (68.0 MPa) which compared to the 80.4 MPa inert strength. ANOVA showed P < . 05. Subsequently the experiment was repeated on discs of three dental ceramics (n = 7-10): feldspathic (Ceramco), glass-ceramic (Dicor MGC), high-leucite (Optec) with the 100% solution only. Mean strength was significantly (P < .01) enhanced in the feldspathic (56.2 MPa, untreated, 70.7 MPa, treated) but not the high-leucite (83.1, 83.0) or the glass-ceramic (283.9, 271.4). Fluoroalkylethyl silane coating reduced stress-corrosion in glass and feldspathic porcelain. It may be a practical approach to reducing fracture of ceramic restorations.
The Optimal Interaction between a Hedge Fund Manager and Investor

ABSTRACT This study explores hedge funds from the perspective of investors and the motivation behind their investments. We model a typical hedge fund contract between an investor and a manager, which includes the manager’s special reward scheme, i.e., partial ownership, incentives and early closure conditions. We present a continuous stochastic control problem for the manager’s wealth on a hedge fund comprising one risky asset and one riskless bond as a basis to calculate the investors’ wealth. Then we derive partial differential equations (PDEs) for each agent and numerically obtain the unique viscosity solution for these problems. Our model shows that the manager’s incentives are very high and therefore investors are not receiving profit compared to a riskless investment. We investigate a new type of hedge fund contract where the investor has the option to deposit additional money to the fund at half maturity time. Results show that investors’ inflow increases proportionally with the expected rate of return of the risky asset, but even in low rates of return, investors inflow money to keep the fund open. Finally, comparing the contracts with and without the option, we spot that investors are sometimes better off without the option to inflow money, thus creating a negative value of the option.
Fast-Light Based Pulse Compression in 2-D Photonic Crystal Waveguides

Chirped-pulse propagation close to a mini-stopband (MSB) in short photonic crystal (PhC) waveguides is studied using the 2-D finite-difference time-domain method. The group delay (GD) is calculated for different length waveguides and is shown to have a nonlinear relationship with length, implying that dispersion diagram based design approaches may not be applicable in these cases. Pulse compression is then observed directly in the time domain, and a GD-based analysis is used to explain the results. It is shown that the fast-light or negative GD region that is found within the MSB plays a more important role than pulse filtering effects, which can also induce compression. The GD analysis is then used to find the optimum length waveguide for the maximum pulse compression, and this is found to be in agreement with direct time-domain results. Finally, a different PhC waveguide structure is studied based on square holes, which results in an increased GD and, hence, increased pulse compression.
Three Essays on Currency Union and Trade

Cette these releve du commerce international, des politiques monetaires et de macroeconomie internationale. Le premier chapitre etudie les differentes caracteristiques des differents regimes de change fixe et evalue les effets de chacune de ces caracteristiques sur le commerce international. Il apparait que la transparence des prix et les couts de transaction lies au changement de monnaie n’ont pas d’effet significatif sur le commerce, seule la credibilite du regime de change fixe (liee a l’absence de possibilite de devaluation) augmente significativement le commerce. Cela explique pourquoi seule l’union monetaire augmente le commerce entre ses membres des les premieres annees du regime de change. Le second chapitre s’interesse aux effets de l’euro sur le commerce pendant la crise financiere de 2008-2009. Il apparait que l’euro amortit la chute du commerce observee partout dans le monde, grâce a l’absence de volatilite du taux de change entre ses membres. Le troisieme chapitre presente un modele theorique permettant d’etudier la transmission des chocs dans une economie specialisee verticalement, et propose une politique monetaire optimale pour stabiliser l’economie. Le modele promeut des politiques monetaires symetriques entre les deux pays partageant un mode de production base sur les chaines globales de valeur.
Indigenous Management Practices in Africa Indigenous Human Resource Management Practices in Africa: Empirical Lessons from Four Sub- regions

Over decades, indigenous management practices and their values in Africa have changed from time to time. However, it continued to remain relevant in most business organisations in developing countries. Today in Africa and across the globe, there is a paradigm shift and stiff competition in human resource management practices as a basic element for effective and efficient business organisations’ performance. Effective human resource management practices and performance of organisations rely on the integration of indigenous management practices and sound strategies aligned to cultural values and cores business objectives. The study covers four regions of Africa as a continent. Empirical teachings of the study form a basis for active reforms and innovations, so as to revamp the use of indigenous knowledge, which was deliberately destroyed by colonial masters. Over the years, human resource management practice has evolved in favour of Western strategies and ideologies. Advocates for curriculum reforms in all African countries so as to incorporate indigenous knowledge content, since it is believed to be the future of Africa. An appropriate employees management practice in Africa is a necessary move in today’s business community as it enhances service delivery and performance. The application of indigenous management practices is believed to play a vital role and invokes effective decision-making practices in the business organisation. Therefore, the chapter traces the origin of indigenous wisdom and its fundamental structure in management practices. This chapter attempts to throw light on indigenous management practices and their values in business organisations in Africa.
Mirrored Feedback in Chronic Stroke

Background. Mirrored feedback has potential as a therapeutic intervention to restore hand function after stroke. However, the functional (effective) connectivity of neural networks involved in processing mirrored feedback after stroke is not known. Objective. To determine if regions recruited by mirrored feedback topographically overlap with those involved in control of the paretic hand and to identify the effective connectivity of activated nodes within the mirrored feedback network. Methods. Fifteen patients with chronic stroke performed a finger flexion task with their unaffected hand during event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Real-time hand kinematics was recorded during fMRI and used to actuate hand models presented in virtual reality (VR). Visual feedback of the unaffected hand motion was manipulated pseudorandomly by either actuating the VR hand corresponding to the moving unaffected side (veridical feedback) or the affected side (mirrored feedback). In 2 control conditions, the VR hands were replaced with moving nonanthropomorphic shapes. Results. Mirrored feedback was associated with significant activation of regions within and outside the ipsilesional sensorimotor cortex, overlapping with areas engaged when patients performed the task with their affected hand. Effective connectivity analysis showed a significantly interconnected ipsilesional somatosensory and motor cortex in the mirrored feedback condition. Conclusions. Mirrored feedback recruits ipsilesional brain areas relevant for control of the affected hand. These data provide a neurophysiological basis by which mirrored feedback may be beneficial as a therapy for restoring function after stroke.
Optimum Receiver Design and Performance Analysis for Fully Correlated Rician Fading MIMO Channels with Imperfect Channel State Information

The error performance of a fully correlated Rician fading MIMO channel is assessed by evaluating in closed form the decoding metric and the pairwise error probability. Three types of receivers are addressed by this work: i) a genie-aided receiver based on perfect knowledge of the channel state information (CSI); ii) a mismatched receiver exploiting pilot-aided channel matrix detection followed by the use of a perfect-CSI metric; Hi) an optimum pilot-aided receiver based on perfect channel distribution information at the receiver (CDIR) avoiding the direct use of the channel matrix.
Flexible Label-Free Quantitative Assay for Antibodies to Influenza Virus Hemagglutinins

ABSTRACT During the initial pandemic influenza H1N1 virus outbreak, assays such as hemagglutination inhibition and microneutralization provided important information on the relative protection afforded by the population's cross-reactivity from prior infections and immunizations with seasonal vaccines. However, these assays continue to be limited in that they are difficult to automate for high throughput, such as in pandemic situations, as well as to standardize between labs. Thus, new technologies are being sought to improve standardization, reliability, and throughput by using chemically defined reagents rather than whole cells and virions. We now report the use of a cell-free and label-free flu antibody biosensor assay (f-AbBA) for influenza research and diagnostics that utilizes recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) in conjunction with label-free biolayer interferometry technology to measure biomolecular interactions between the HA and specific anti-HA antibodies or sialylated ligands. We evaluated f-AbBA to determine anti-HA antibody binding activity in serum or plasma to assess vaccine-induced humoral responses. This assay can reveal the impact of antigenic difference on antibody binding to HA and also measure binding to different subtypes of HA. We also show that the biosensor assay can measure the ability of HA to bind a model sialylated receptor-like ligand. f-AbBA could be used in global surveillance laboratories since preliminary tests on desiccated HA probes showed no loss of activity after >2 months in storage at room temperature, indicating that the same reagent lots could be used in different laboratories to minimize interlaboratory assay fluctuation. Future development of such reagents and similar technologies may offer a robust platform for future influenza surveillance activities.