Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subretinal implantation of retinal pigment epithelial cells derived from human embryonic stem cells: improved survival when implanted as a monolayer.

PURPOSE To evaluate cell survival and tumorigenicity of human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (hESC-RPE) transplantation in immunocompromised nude rats. Cells were transplanted as a cell suspension (CS) or as a polarized monolayer plated on a parylene membrane (PM). METHODS Sixty-nine rats (38 male, 31 female) were surgically implanted with CS (n = 33) or PM (n = 36). Cohort subsets were killed at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Both ocular tissues and systemic organs (brain, liver, kidneys, spleen, heart, and lungs) were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned. Every fifth section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and analyzed histologically. Adjacent sections were processed for immunohistochemical analysis (as needed) using the following antibodies: anti-RPE65 (RPE-specific marker), anti-TRA-1-85 (human cell marker), anti-Ki67 (proliferation marker), anti-CD68 (macrophage), and anti-cytokeratin (epithelial marker). RESULTS The implanted cells were immunopositive for the RPE65 and TRA-1-85. Cell survival (P = 0.006) and the presence of a monolayer (P < 0.001) of hESC-RPE were significantly higher in eyes that received the PM. Gross morphological and histological analysis of the eye and the systemic organs after the surgery revealed no evidence of tumor or ectopic tissue formation in either group. CONCLUSIONS hESC-RPE can survive for at least 12 months in an immunocompromised animal model. Polarized monolayers of hESC-RPE show improved survival compared to cell suspensions. The lack of teratoma or any ectopic tissue formation in the implanted rats bodes well for similar results with respect to safety in human subjects.
Clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of HP-human FSH (Fostimon®) versus rFSH (Gonal-F®) in IVF-ICSI cycles: a meta-analysis

Abstract Clinical efficacy of human-derived follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) versus recombinant FSH (rFSH) in IVF-ICSI cycles has long been compared, but no clear evidence of the superiority of a preparation over the other has been found. Human gonadotropins have been often grouped together, but a different glycosylation may be present in each preparation, therefore influencing the specific bioactivity. To exclude confounding factors, a meta-analysis and a cost-effectiveness analysis were designed to compare effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a specific highly purified human FSH (HP-hFSH) (Fostimon®) versus rFSH (Gonal-F®) in IVF/ICSI cycles. Research methodology filters were applied in MEDLINE, Current Contents and Web of Science from 1980 to February 2012. Eight randomized trials met selection criteria. The meta-analysis showed no significant differences between rFSH and HP-hFSH treatment in live-birth rate (odds ratio [OR] 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–1.11), clinical pregnancy rate (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.68–1.07), number of oocytes retrieved, number of mature oocytes and days of stimulation. The cost-effectiveness ratio was €7174 in the rFSH group and €2056 in the HP-hFSH group. HP-hFSH is as effective as rFSH in ovarian stimulation for IVF-ICSI cycles, but the human preparation is more cost-effective.
MM11 based flash memory cell model including characterization procedure

The objective of this paper is to present a flash cell model for static and transient simulations. As a core element of this model, a Philips MOS model (MM11) model has been used coupled with the charge neutrality expression in the structure. The charge neutrality, including the charge trapped in the floating gate, is applied to determine the potential of the floating gate. From the floating gate potential, related to the terminal voltages, the drain current and the different charges present in the cell structure are calculated with the MM11 formulation. This pragmatic model takes into account the different injection mechanism (CHE, CHISEL and FN). Moreover, the characterization procedure developed under ICCAP to extract the MM11 model card as well as the tunnel current parameters is presented. This model has been successfully implemented in ELDO
High frequency of chronic cough and sputum production with lowered exercise capacity in young smokers

Abstract Objectives. The aim was to evaluate how cigarette smoking is associated with respiratory symptoms, fitness, and anthropometric measures in young smokers. Methods. The prevalence of smoking was investigated in a cohort of young military draftees (n = 1130; 98% between 18–21 years of age) in Northern Finland. The associations of smoking with respiratory symptoms, physical fitness (12-min running test), education, and anthropometric measures were analysed using a self-reported questionnaire with high response rate (80%). Results. Almost half (46.5%) of the young males were daily smokers, 17.4% being occasional smokers. The prevalence of self-reported chronic cough and sputum production was high in daily smokers (40.7%) and occasional smokers (26.9%) compared to non-smokers (12%). These symptoms were significantly associated with the smoking history. Aerobic fitness was worse in regular smokers compared to non-smokers (P < 0.001). Smokers had a higher body mass index than non-smokers (P = 0.035). In the regular smokers, the more active the subjects were in sports, the less they smoked when evaluated by pack year history (P < 0.001). Smokers had a lower educational level than occasional smokers or, especially, non-smokers (P < 0.001). Conclusions. The frequency of young smokers with chronic cough and sputum production was very high, posing a serious risk to their future health.
Linking event quality to economic impact

The aim of this study is to develop and test, in an event context, a model describing the relationships between perceived quality, satisfaction, use value and consumer expenditures. A model is proposed and tested using data from a Web and telephone survey of 326 visitors to a Swedish music festival. Findings from bivariate correlation, multiple regression and structural equation models show that links are significant and support a chain of dependencies. Better managed festivals seem to generate higher economic impact at the destination as well as in the festival area. Implications of this are that festival managers can influence the economic impact by careful design, planning and operation of the festival and that the DMO can positively influence the economic impact by monitoring the quality of publicly supported festivals and events. Quality standards and quality certification could provide means for such developments.
Interference in spectrophotometric analysis of cerebrospinal fluid by haemolysis induced by transport through a pneumatic tube system

The hypothesis that sending blood-stained cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through a pneumatic tube causes in vitro haemolysis has been tested. Spectrophotometric scanning of CSF supernatants demonstrated a significantly greater absorbance at 415nm in those CSF samples that had been sent through the tube system compared to those that had not (P=0·0034). It is concluded that passage of blood-stained CSF down a pneumatic tube system causes in vitro haemolysis, accompanied by the release of oxyhaemoglobin from the lysed cells into the surrounding CSF. In view of this observation, it is recommended that CSF samples requiring spectrophotometric analysis, as part of the investigation of subarachnoid haemorrhage, should not be transported via a pneumatic tube system.
‘Time is costly’: modelling the macroeconomic impact of scaling-up antiretroviral treatment in sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Macroeconomic policy requirements may limit the capacity of national and international policy-makers to allocate sufficient resources for scaling-up access to HIV care and treatment in developing countries. Method: An endogenous growth model, which takes into account the evolution of society's human capital, was used to assess the macroeconomic impact of policies aimed at scaling-up access to HIV/AIDS treatment in six African countries (Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe). Results: The model results showed that scaling-up access to treatment in the affected population would limit gross domestic product losses due to AIDS although differently from country to country. In our simulated scenarios of access to antiretroviral therapy, only 10.3% of the AIDS shock is counterbalanced in Zimbabwe, against 85.2% in Angola and even 100.0% in Benin (a total recovery). For four out of the six countries (Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast), the macro-economic gains of scaling-up would become potentially superior to its associated costs in 2010. Conclusion: Despite the variability of HIV prevalence rates between countries, macro-economic estimates strongly suggest that a massive investment in scaling-up access to HIV treatment may efficiently counteract the detrimental long-term impact of the HIV pandemic on economic growth, to the extent that the AIDS shock has not already driven the economy beyond an irreversible ‘no-development epidemiological trap’.
The Zinc Cluster Protein Sut1 Contributes to Filamentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT Sut1 is a transcriptional regulator of the Zn(II)2Cys6 family in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The only function that has been attributed to Sut1 is sterol uptake under anaerobic conditions. Here, we show that Sut1 is also expressed in the presence of oxygen, and we identify a novel function for Sut1. SUT1 overexpression blocks filamentous growth, a response to nutrient limitation, in both haploid and diploid cells. This inhibition by Sut1 is independent of its function in sterol uptake. Sut1 downregulates the expression of GAT2, HAP4, MGA1, MSN4, NCE102, PRR2, RHO3, and RHO5. Several of these Sut1 targets (GAT2, HAP4, MGA1, RHO3, and RHO5) are essential for filamentation in haploids and/or diploids. Furthermore, the expression of the Sut1 target genes, with the exception of MGA1, is induced during filamentous growth. We also show that SUT1 expression is autoregulated and inhibited by Ste12, a key transcriptional regulator of filamentation. We propose that Sut1 partially represses the expression of GAT2, HAP4, MGA1, MSN4, NCE102, PRR2, RHO3, and RHO5 when nutrients are plentiful. Filamentation-inducing conditions relieve this repression by Sut1, and the increased expression of Sut1 targets triggers filamentous growth.
Somatic Healthcare Utilization Among Adults With Serious Mental Illness Who Are Receiving Community Psychiatric Services

Background/Objective.Somatic health care utilization was studied among individuals with serious mental illness who were receiving community-based psychiatric services. Research Design.Cross-sectional study. SubjectsA total of 200 outpatients, 100 with schizophrenia and 100 with affective disorder, were recruited from randomly selected samples receiving care at two psychiatric centers. Measures.Patients were interviewed using questions from national health surveys. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to compare responses from each sample to those of matched subsets of individuals from the general population. Results.The psychiatric samples were more likely to report receiving some medical care services in the past year than were individuals in the general population including having visited a general medical doctor (Odds ratio, schizophrenia sample = 2.04; Odds ratio, affective disorder sample = 2.37) and having a complete physical examination (Odds ratio, schizophrenia sample = 2.69; Odds ratio, affective disorder sample = 1.74). However, our samples were less likely to receive routine dental care (Odds ratio, schizophrenia sample = 0.46; Odds ratio, affective disorder sample = 0.60). Perceived barriers to receiving medical care were reported significantly more often by the patient groups than the comparison groups (Odds ratios > 3). Conclusions. General health services are widely utilized by individuals with serious mental illness who are in outpatient psychiatric care. Dental services remain underutilized, however, and there is a high rate of perceived barriers to receiving medical care in this population.
A Preliminary Study on the Characteristics of the Velopharyngeal Structures in Different-Age Patients With Cleft Palate

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the developmental tendency of velopharyngeal structures in different-age patients with cleft palate (CP) to provide reference for selecting surgery in clinic. The investigators implemented a retrospective study, and 66 patients were selected, including 38 boys and 28 girls (average age, 15 years 5 months ± 7 years). These patients were divided into 3 groups (G1, G2, and G3) according to their ages and were taken lateral preoperative cephalograms at rest and during phonation of /i/. Twelve lengths and 3 ratios variables were defined in this study. All these measurements were analyzed by analysis of variance and post hoc test, whereas P value was set at 0.05. There were significant differences of velar thickness and height, vertical velar length, pharyngeal height and depth, uvular pharyngeal depth, and hard palate length and height. Except velar height and vertical velar length of which the differences were only significant between G1 and G2, the difference of the others was significant between G1 and G2, and G1 and G3. In conclusion, velar thickness and posterior velar length increased significantly before 20 years old, whereas the motility of velar muscles between 12 years old and 20 years old was weaker. Growths of maxilla in vertical and horizontal dimension were faster before 20 years old. Besides, height-depth ratio was increasing with increase in age.
Low range sidelobe pulse compression with complex-valued window to minimize distributed clutter power

In this paper, a pulse compression with complex valued window, termed PCX, is proposed to achieve low range sidelobe, low mismatch loss and small broadening factor simultaneously. By modeling distributed sidelobe clutter with steering vectors, a complex-valued window minimizing the distributed clutter power is derived. Proposed PCX shows superior performance against Taylor windowed pulse compression in integrated range sidelobe level, mismatch loss and broadening factor. Proposed PCX can be implemented affordably by replacing current real-valued window weighting processing with complex-valued processing in the fast convolution circuit.
Identification of Motifs Involved in Endoplasmic Reticulum Retention–Forward Trafficking of the GLT-1 Subtype of Glutamate Transporter

Glutamate transporters may exist as homomultimers, but little is known about the mechanisms that ensure proper assembly and surface expression. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms that contribute to posttranslational processing of the GLT-1 subtype of glutamate transporter. An extracellular leucine-based motif was identified that after mutation to alanine (6L/6A GLT-1) prevented export of GLT-1 from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the plasma membrane and displayed a glycosylation pattern characteristic of “immature” transporter. This 6L/6A variant had a selective dominant-negative effect on wild-type GLT-1 expression and formed coimmunoprecipitable complexes with GLT-1. Mutation of two downstream arginine residues to alanine partially restored maturation and functional activity of the 6L/6A variant. The fact that this additional mutation rescued maturation of GLT-1 essentially excludes the possibility that the 6L/6A mutant variant is not appropriately processed because of simple misfolding. When the domain containing these motifs was introduced into a topologically similar location in the interleukin 2α receptor subunit (Tac protein), the mutations had a similar effect on protein maturation. Topological models place at least the leucine-based motif in an extracellular domain, which would face the lumen of the ER during assembly. On the basis of these data, we suggest that an evolutionarily conserved arginine-based motif functions as an ER retention signal and a lumenal leucine motif is required for suppression of this signal. Interestingly, a high percentage of variably spliced GLT-1 mRNAs lacking parts of this domain are found in the CNS, suggesting that GLT-1 expression may be regulated during assembly.
Virus Characterization, Clinical Presentation, and Pathology Associated with H7N3 Avian Influenza in British Columbia Broiler Breeder Chickens in 2004

Low-pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) subtype H7N3 was diagnosed on a two-age broiler breeder farm in Abbotsford, British Columbia (BC), in early February 2004. The presenting complaint in the older index flock was feed refusal, with 0.5% mortality over 72 hr that resolved over the following week Ten days after the initial complaint in the index flock, a younger flock in an adjacent barn experienced an abrupt spike in mortality (25% in 48 hr). The gross lesions of tracheal hyperemia and hilar pulmonary consolidation were subtle and nonspecific, and the diagnosis of avian influenza required laboratory confirmation. Two different viruses were isolated from the index farm: a LPAI (H7N3) was isolated from the older flock and a high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) (H7N3), which had an additional 21 base insertion at the hemagglutinin-cleavage site, was isolated from the younger flock. The presence of this insertion sequence and the similarity of adjacent sequences indicate that the LPAI had mutated into HPAI at some point between the first and second barn. Despite enhanced on-farm biosecurity measures, the virus was not contained on the index farm and eventually spread to over 40 commercial poultry facilities before massive depopulation efforts enabled its eradication.
Going on record: Revisiting the logic of roll-call vote requests in the European Parliament

While many contributions on legislative politics in the European Parliament rely on recorded votes, the motivations behind the decision to record a vote remain somewhat arcane. This article frames roll-call vote requests as a minority right which offers party groups an opportunity to shape the voting agenda and signal commitment to a policy proposal. The analysis adds to our understanding of legislative behavior by linking the committee stage to the plenary stage. Party groups which do not support a floor proposal drafted by the lead committee are found to be more likely to request a roll-call vote in plenary. The quantitative evidence is supplemented by interview data which shed light both on the actors’ motivations and the internal decision-making processes preceding the decision to go on record.
Metformin reduces the rate of small intestinal glucose absorption in type 2 diabetes

In rodents, metformin slows intestinal glucose absorption, potentially increasing exposure of the distal gut to glucose to enhance postprandial glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) secretion. We evaluated the effects of metformin on serum 3‐O‐methylglucose (3‐OMG; a marker of glucose absorption) and plasma total GLP‐1 concentrations during a standardized intraduodenal infusion of glucose and 3‐OMG in patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 12 patients, treated with metformin 850 mg twice daily or placebo for 7 days each in a double‐blind, randomized, crossover design (14 days’ washout between treatments), were evaluated on days 5 or 8 of each treatment (6 subjects each). On each study day, 30 minutes after ingesting 850 mg metformin or placebo, patients received an infusion of glucose (60 g + 5 g 3‐OMG, dissolved in water to 240 mL) via an intraduodenal catheter over the course of 120 minutes. Compared with placebo, metformin was associated with lower serum 3‐OMG ( P < .001) and higher plasma total GLP‐1 ( P = .003) concentrations. The increment in plasma GLP‐1 after metformin vs placebo was related to the reduction in serum 3‐OMG concentrations ( P = .019). Accordingly, metformin inhibits small intestinal glucose absorption, which may contribute to augmented GLP‐1 secretion in type 2 diabetes.
Tenascin‐C levels in pseudosynovial fluid of loose hip prostheses

Objective: Aseptic loosening is one of the most important problems that can occur after total hip arthroplasty (THA). In this study, we analysed levels of large tenascin‐C (TN‐C) variants and compared them in pseudosynovial fluid from patients with aseptic loosening after THA with those in synovial fluid from patients undergoing primary THA (control). Methods: Pseudosynovial fluid samples (n = 24) were obtained by aspiration at the time of revision THA performed due to aseptic loosening. Synovial fluid samples (n = 12) were obtained by aspiration at the time of primary THA. Expression of TN‐C splice variants was examined using immunoblotting. TN‐C levels were measured using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system that we developed previously. Results: Western blotting showed the presence of large TN‐C variants in pseudosynovial fluid of artificial joints with loosening. TN‐C levels were approximately three times higher in pseudosynovial fluid of loose artificial joints (median 151.9 ng/mL) than in synovial fluid controls (median 50.1 ng/mL) (p = 0.035). Conclusion: Levels of TN‐C including large variant subunits are elevated in pseudosynovial fluid of loose artificial joints, indicating that TN‐C is a useful novel biochemical marker of loose hip prostheses.
Congruence Method for Sidelobe Control in SAR images

A new method for nonlinear processing of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is experimentally approved. The method was suggested and is based on nonlinear processing of two different SAR images generated from the same raw data. One of these images is SAR image with low sidelobes while the second one has Ltarray blindnessGt at the target direction. The method essentially suppresses impulse response sidelobes with no mainlobe widening. Description of the processing algorithm is given. SAR images generated using noise waveform SAR are presented
Global Airline Networks: Comparative Nodal Access Measures

Abstract One strategy for making sense of airline network complexity is to assess the empirical network against an appropriate benchmark. The purpose of this paper is to develop and use well known measurements of betweenness and to deploy them in the context of airline transportation nets. The paper demonstrates some structural differences that emerge in larger networks. Selected extreme values are computed, as benchmarks, from a hypothetical ideal hub network. Actual values are shown to largely comport with these expectations, but there are numerous and interesting exceptions.
Analysis of Industrial Structural Change and Growth Vitality in China During the Year 1999-2005

It is the important task that reducing the gap between the coastal region and the inner region in the course of regional development of China.Since the strategy of development of the western part of China,the central government put forward another two strategies aiming at accelerating the middle and northeast part of China in succession.But non of these strategies can put those region's economic growth rate to catch up with that of coastal region.By using the research result of foreign scholar,the author of this paper put forward that it is the active change of industrial structure in the coastal region to make it's economic growth rate higher than that of inner region.By contrast,it is the passive change and excessive specialization that make the inner region's growth rate lag behind.It must be take new idea and carry out active change in their structure,can the inner region catch up the coastal region.