Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on biological characteristics of osteoblasts.

OBJECTIVE To elucidate the effects of exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on biological characteristics of rat osteoblasts cultured in vitro. METHODS The osteoblasts isolated from a Sprague-Dawley rat and cultured in vitro were treated with different concentrations of bFGF (5-50 ng/ml) respectively. At 24 hours after treatment, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen was measured with immunocytochemistry, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was determined and the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta(1)) was detected to observe the effects of bFGF on growth and differentiation of osteoblasts. RESULTS bFGF (5-50 ng/ml) could obviously promote the growth of osteoblasts. The intracellular expression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA increased significantly, but the intracellular ALP content decreased. CONCLUSIONS bFGF can obviously stimulate the proliferation of osteoblasts and promote the synthesis of TGF-beta(1), but cannot promote the differentiation of osteoblasts.
Effects of linear feedback trading in an interactive market model

In the literature a lot of articles about so-called feedback-based trading strategies, i.e., strategies that compute investment exclusively from their own gain exist. Price is therein treated as a disturbance variable in the technical application. With these strategies, astonishing results may be shown. However, the so-called price taker property is always assumed, that means that one's own trading does not affect the price, which is quite unrealistic. In the work at hand, an interactive and thus more realistic market model is introduced which is completely determined by the traders' decisions. In this market model, distinct groups of traders can interact, e.g., feedback traders and noise traders, as they are considered to be relevant in economics in explaining real market prices. Furthermore, this interactive market model is a natural generalization of the geometric Brownian motion. Of course the model has to be bubble-prone to be realistic. The market model will be analyzed as well as the effects of linear feedback strategies and trading restrictions on the price. A way to calculate thresholds for the parameters to cause bubbles is provided. To conclude the work, backtesting on real market data is performed.
Membrane fusion catalyzed by a Rab, SNAREs, and SNARE chaperones is accompanied by enhanced permeability to small molecules and by lysis

The fusion of biological membranes entails a drastic rearrangement of the lipid bilayer. New assays that distinguish fusion from lysis were developed to study an in vitro reconstitution of the yeast vacuolar fusion machinery. These assays revealed that true fusion is accompanied by strongly enhanced membrane permeability to small molecules and by lysis.
Human Complement Factor H Binds to Outer Membrane Protein Rck of Salmonella

Serum resistance, or resistance to complement-mediated killing, is a key virulence property of microbial pathogens. Rck is a 17-kDa outer membrane protein encoded on the virulence plasmid of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Enteritidis. When expressed in either Escherichia coli or S. enterica Typhimurium, Rck confers serum resistance independent of LPS length. Recently, the Rck homolog from Yersinia enterocolitica, Ail, has been shown to bind the complement regulatory protein factor H (fH). Based on these observations, we hypothesized that Rck may also possess this ability. Using both flow cytometery and direct binding analysis, we demonstrate that Rck expressed in E. coli binds fH. We observed fH binding to Rck from human serum and also using the purified protein. Expression of Rck protected bacteria from alternative pathway-mediated killing and was associated with a reduction in C3b, Bb, and membrane attack complex deposition. fH bound to Rck promoted C3b cleavage in the presence of factor I. Binding was specific and mediated by two regions in fH, the short consensus repeats 5–7 and 19 to 20. These results suggest that fH recruitment by Rck is functional and can protect a normally serum-sensitive heterologous host against complement attack. Binding and exploitation of fH may thus contribute to Rck-mediated serum resistance.
Microbiology of Root Surface Caries in Humans

Studies on the microbiology of root surface caries between 1970 and 1975 placed emphasis on Gram-positive pleomorphic filamentous rods, particularly Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii. Both of these species had been shown to produce root surface caries in experimental animals. Since this time, studies have placed more emphasis on Streptococcus mutans, and S. mutans and Lactobacillus are significant in prediction of root surface caries risk in patients. Subsequent studies confirmed an association between S. mutans and 'soft' or 'initial' root lesions. Thus, it is important when determining the microflora of root surface lesions to make careful characterization of the state of the lesion. A second important aspect of the analysis of bacterial communities associated with root surface caries is better definition of the organisms. Most studies have concentrated on 'target organisms' S. mutans, S. sanguis, A. viscosus, A. naeslundii, Lactobacillus, and Veillonella. However, it has been known for 17 years that the Actinomyces associated with the lesions may be variants of A. viscosus and A. naeslundii. Such strains (intermediate strains) have been described in taxonomic studies of Actinomyces, yet little is known of the differences in physiology of these strains or their relationship to root surface caries. A similar situation exists with oral Streptococcus where new taxonomic divisions are being proposed. Recognition of the potential diversity within the 'target' genera of root surface caries could yield valuable data. Recent studies suggest that this is so, since samples from root surface lesions which contain S. mutans and Lactobacillus show a high isolation of S. mitis 1 and no isolations of A. naeslundii. Careful definition of the lesions of root surface caries and the flora will allow analysis to relate a specific bacterial community to the state of the lesion and assist in monitoring the control of the lesion through fluoride and antibacterials.
Optimization of plasmonic-organic hybrid electro-optics

Chipscale integration of electronics and photonics is a logical next step in the evolution of information technology; however, given issues related to the footprint of photonic devices and circuits, bandwidth of current electro-optic (EO) modulators, energy efficiency of EO devices, and optical loss budget, electronic photonic integration represents a grand challenge requiring both improvement of electro-optic materials and implementation of novel device architectures. Progress in silicon photonics and plasmonics has brought chipscale integration closer to reality. This presentation focuses on the utilization of multiscale theoretical methods to significantly increase the electro-optic activity of organic π-electron materials. Such improvement is crucial to reducing EO device footprint, energy requirements, optical insertion loss, and improving operational bandwidth. Indeed, current improvement of in-device EO activity to values of several hundred picometers (pm) per volt (V) has permitted device voltage-length parameters to be improved to 40 V-μm, energy efficiency to approximately 1 femtojoule/bit, bandwidth to > 170 GHz, and optical insertion loss to < 6 dB.
Lung epithelial stem cells

This review concentrates on recent evidence about lung stem cell origins and plasticity. The range of potential cells which can repopulate the injured lung, classically the basal and mucous secretory cells of the trachea, the Clara cells of the bronchiole, and the type II pneumocyte of the alveolus, has been extended to include the mucus‐gland duct cells of the trachea and bronchus. Some evidence suggests that there are variant Clara cells that lack cytochrome P‐450 and so are spared toxic activation of xenobiotics, and may aid bronchiolar repopulation after injury, such as with naphthalene. There may even be involvement of the neuroepithelial bodies or cells in this, though the evidence is not yet conclusive. The search for a resident pulmonary multipotent cell for repopulating any lung epithelium has not yet been successful. The picture remains similar to earlier conclusions, in that the local stem or precursor cell is the most likely to contribute to local needs in times of tissue damage. There remains a major challenge for lung cancer treatment, where high‐dose chemo‐ or radio‐therapy may be hoped to promote the seeding and repair of lung parenchyma by circulating bone marrow stem cells, as seen in liver models. Patient survival rates do not yet suggest that this occurs to any great extent, but this remains to be shown formally. The effects of prior fibrosis and tumour necrosis are probably confounding factors in this lack of rescue. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of social support in helping Chinese women with perinatal depressive symptoms cope with family conflict.

PURPOSE To investigate the role of social support (direct, moderating, and/or mediating effects) in mitigating the stressors (marital conflicts and/or conflicts with parents-in-law) that are associated with perinatal depressive symptoms. DESIGN A 3 stage (second trimester, third trimester and postpartum), prospective, longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS A total of 2,365 women were recruited with systematic sampling from 6 regional public hospitals in Hong Kong. OUTCOME MEASURES The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List was used to measure the functional aspects of the perceived availability of social support. The women were identified as having depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Marital conflict and conflict with parents-in-law were investigated using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Stryker Adjustment Checklist, respectively. RESULTS Social support was consistently found to have direct effects in the 3 stages of the perinatal period. It was also found to have a moderating effect on the relationship between antenatal depressive symptoms and marital and mother-in-law conflicts and on postnatal depressive symptoms in conflicts with father-in-law and to play a mediating role in the relationship between marital and mother-in-law conflicts and postnatal depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide important information about the role of social support related to antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms among the Hong Kong Chinese population.
Role of the rostral ventrolateral medulla in maintenance of blood pressure in rats with Goldblatt hypertension.

The aim of the present study was to examine the participation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in the maintenance of hypertension in rats submitted to the renovascular Goldblatt (two-kidney, one clip) procedure. We inhibited or stimulated this area with the use of drugs such as glycine, L-glutamate, or kynurenic acid. (1) Bilateral microinjection of glycine (100 nmol, 200 nL, n = 13) into the RVLM of hypertensive rats produced a decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) from 177.2 +/- 29.3 to 102.3 +/- 20.9 mm Hg (P < .05), which was similar to the decrease produced by intravenous administration of hexamethonium. The inhibition of RVLM with glycine in normotensive rats produced a decrease in MAP from 106 +/- 17.1 to 59.7 +/- 7.3 mm Hg (P < .05, n = 9). (2) An impressive increase in MAP from 153.3 +/- 16.3 to 228 +/- 34.9 mm Hg (P < .05) occurred in hypertensive rats after microinjection of L-glutamate (50 nmol, 200 nL, n = 6) into the RVLM. The same procedure caused a significant but less intense increase in MAP from 105 +/- 13.8 to 148.3 +/- 24.9 mm Hg in normotensive rats (P < .05, n = 6). (3) A decrease in MAP from 151.6 +/- 25.3 to 96.8 +/- 22.5 mm Hg occurred in hypertensive rats after microinjection of the broad-spectrum glutamate antagonist kynurenic acid (4 nmol, 200 nL, n = 6) into the RVLM, whereas the same procedure did not change MAP in normotensive animals (n = 6). Heart rate was not significantly affected in any group. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Poster child and guinea pig – insights from a structured literature review on Airbnb

PurposeA growing body of research from various domains has investigated Airbnb, a two-sided market platform for peer-based accommodation sharing. The authors suggest that it is due time to take a step back and assess the current state of affairs. This paper aims to conflate and synthesize research on Airbnb.Design/methodology/approachTo facilitate research on Airbnb and its underlying principles in electronic commerce, the authors present a structured literature review on Airbnb.FindingsThe findings are based on 118 articles from the fields of tourism, information and management, law and economics between 2013 and 2018. Based on this broad basis, the authors find that: research on Airbnb is highly diverse in terms of domains, methods and scope; motives for using Airbnb are manifold (e.g. financial, social and environmental); trust and reputation are considered crucial by almost all scholars; the platform’s variety is reflected in prices; and the majority of work is based on surveys and empirical data while experiments are scarce.Practical implicationsBased on the present assessment of studied topics, domains, methods and combinations thereof, the authors suggest that research should move toward building atop of a common ground of data structures and vocabulary, and that attention should focus on the identified gaps and hitherto scarcely used combinations. The set of under-represented areas includes cross-cultural investigations, field experiments and audit studies, the consideration of dynamic processes (e.g. based on panel data), Airbnb’s “experiences” and automated pricing algorithms and the rating distribution’s skewness.Originality/valueThis study provides a comprehensive overview of work on the accommodation sharing platform Airbnb, to the best of the auhtors’ knowledge, representing the first systematic literature review. The authors hope that researchers and practitioners alike will find this review useful as a reference for future research on Airbnb and as a guide for the development of innovative applications based on the platform’s peculiarities and paradigms in electronic commerce practice. From a practical perspective, the general tenor suggests that hotel and tourism operators may benefit from: focusing on their core advantages over Airbnb and differentiating features and aligning their marketing communication with their users’ aspirations.
Daytime Sleepiness and Quality of Sleep in Patients with COPD Compared to Control Group

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a widespread disease. It produces some night symptoms such as nighttime cough and dyspnea. Then subjective and objective changes in sleep pattern are expected. Present study was conducted to determine frequency of sleepiness and quality of sleep in patients with COPD. Materials & Methods: Present case-control study has been performed on 120 patients with diagnosis of COPD who had been referred to pulmonary disease clinic in a University teaching hospital. One hundred twenty age- and sex- matched healthy individuals were recruited in the study and served as control. Spirometry (PFT) was performed for all patients. Patients were categorized under 3 groups in relation to their PFT as follow: mild COPD (FEV1/FVC<70% and FEV1≥80%), moderate COPD (FEV1/FVC<70% and 50%≤FEV1<80%), and severe COPD (FEV1/FVC<70% and FEV1<50%). Pittsburgh Sleep Quality questionnaire (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were used to estimate quality of sleep and daytime sleepiness in the patients and control group. The collected data were analyzed using version 16 SPSS software. Student’s T- test, Chi- square and multiple logistic regressions were used as appropriated. Results: 120 patients with COPD (79 males and 41 females) and 120 normal individuals responded to the questionnaires. Mean scores of quality of sleep were 8.03±3.66 and 4.2±2.8 in COPD patients and control group respectively. 32.1% of the patients had good sleep quality (PSQI score less than 5) and 67.9% had poor sleep quality. Daytime sleepiness (ESS≥ 10) was present in 34.8% of the patients and 15% of control people. Multiple logistic regressions showed that the patients reported significantly worse sleep quality and more daytime sleepiness than control group [OR=2.9; 95% CI (1.6-3.7) & OR=3.5; 95% CI (2.5-4.3) respectively]. Conclusion: Results of present study confirmed that COPD is associated with daytime sleepiness and poor quality of sleep, possibly attributable to nighttime respiratory difficulties and concomitant sleep apnea. Assessment of the patients for symptoms of sleep apnea, daytime sleepiness should be a part of regular follow up visits of patients with COPD.
A new approach for optimal shunt active power filter control considering alternative performance indices

A new steady-state approach for determining the optimal shunt active power filter (APF) reference compensation current injections to control harmonic currents generated by the nonlinear load and for reactive power compensation under ideal or nonideal supply voltages are presented in the paper. Conventionally, the compensation currents injected by the shunt APF are determined to eliminate harmonic currents of the load. However, when considering different APF performance indices such as minimizing source current distortion and maximizing compensated load power factor, the issues related to sizing the APF to meet IEEE-519 harmonic current limits and other constraints such as current imbalance limits and minimum load power factor requirement are rarely investigated. In the paper, a new theory of APF control in the a-b-c reference frame is proposed to determine the APF current injections to meet different constraints with an optimal APF size, where the filter control strategy is formulated as a nonlinear programming problem and is solved to find the optimal current injections. Results obtained by simulations with Matlab/Simulink show that the proposed approach is more flexible and effective than the conventional approaches on compensating reactive power and harmonic currents of the load.
Role of Copy Number Variants in Structural Birth Defects

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Human genomes include copy number variants (CNVs), defined as regions with DNA gains or losses. Pathologic CNVs, which are larger and often occur de novo, are increasingly associated with disease. Given advances in genetic testing, namely microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization and single nucleotide polymorphism arrays, previously unidentified genotypic aberrations can now be correlated with phenotypic anomalies. The objective of this study was to conduct a nonsystematic literature review to document the role of CNVs as they relate to isolated structural anomalies of the craniofacial, respiratory, renal, and cardiac systems. METHODS: All full-length articles in the PubMed database through May 2011 that discussed CNVs and isolated structural defects of the craniofacial, respiratory, renal, and cardiac systems were considered. Search terms queried include CNV, copy number variation, array comparative genomic hybridization, birth defects, craniofacial defects, respiratory defects, renal defects, and congenital heart disease. Reports published in languages other than English and articles regarding CNVs and neurocognitive deficits were not considered. RESULTS: Evidence supports that putatively pathogenic CNVs occur at an increased frequency in patients with isolated structural birth defects and implicate specific regions of the genome. Through CNV detection, advances have been made in identifying genes and specific loci that underlie isolated birth defects. CONCLUSIONS: Although limited studies have been published, the promising evidence reviewed here warrants the continued investigation of CNVs in children with isolated structural birth defects. Patient care and genetic counseling stand to improve through a better understanding of CNVs and their effect on disease phenotype.
Does the January Effect Still Exists

The issue of the January Effect has attracted a lot of interest by both practitioners and researchers. The idea that stock returns in January are statistically bigger than in other months was first presented several decades ago. This study analyzes the issue of the January effect in a systematic and global way of studying the performance of 106 indexes in 86 countries and jurisdictions. It was observed that while this effect can still be appreciated in some markets it would appear that it is decreasing globally over time. It was also found that there appears to be an Inverted January Effect in several markets with the returns in January being lower than the returns in some other months. This analysis was performed with nonparametric tests. The hypothesis that the returns of the indexes do not follow in general a normal distribution was also confirmed with several tests.
Immunological and Ultrastructural Disruptions of T Lymphocytes Following Exposure to the Glycopeptidolipid Isolated from the Mycobacterium avium Complex

In this study, we examined the effects of the serovar‐specific glycopeptidolipid (GPL) on the ultrastructure of purified T lymphocytes and the interleukin secretion by spleen and purified T lymphocytes. Electron microscopy indicated extensive disruption of the cytoplasmic compartment of T lymphocytes, which could result in altered function of immune cells. Despite the cellular damage as viewed by the electron microscopy, the expression of T‐cell surface markers, Thy 1.2 and Lyt‐2, were not affected. The data indicate that GPL is capable of inducing in‐vitro interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐2 production by whole spleen or purified spleen T lymphocytes. The level of production of IL‐6 and IL‐2 following the exposure of the mycobacteria‐infected cells to GPL was approximately the same as the uninfected control. A similar finding was also obtained with the total lipid extraction from the mycobacterium. The results suggest that the ability of the total lipid extraction, in inducing cytokine production, may be attributed to its GPL content.