Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Strategies of Secretome of Mesenchymal Stem Cell

the chapter Abstract Great progress has been made in the therapeutic strategies of multiple diseases that lack curative treatments with the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), such as in onco-hematological diseases, myocardial infarction (MI), cerebrovascular diseases, degenerative diseases of the nervous system (multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease), and diseases of the immune system, among others. Stem cells (SC) participate in the biological processes of tissue regeneration and repair through cell replication. Recently, the beneficial therapeutic effects of SCs that are generated by the release of proteins with paracrine actions and not by cell differentiation are more well known, and 80% of the therapeutic effect of SC is attributed to paracrine actions. The MSCs release large amounts of proteins and growth factors (GF), nucleic acids, proteasomes, exosomes, and microRNA, and membrane vesicles known as the secretome are released into the extracellular space, regulating multiple biological processes. Currently, the therapeutic strategies in tissue engineering (TE) and regenerative medicine (RM) are focused on the management of products derived from cells that act, both locally and remotely, in the affected tissue or organ, achieving regenerative actions. The application of new knowledge of the secretome initiates a change in the paradigm of regenerative therapy by knowing more about and using cell products derived from cells as a “factory” for biological drugs. interferon-γ, low-density lipoprotein, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, nuclear factor κB, nitric oxide, NO synthase, endothelial NOS, NYHA
DigComp at Work Implementation Guide

The Implementation Guide accompanies the "DigComp at Work" report published separately. It aims at supporting labour market intermediaries in their digital skilling actions in employability or employment contexts. It offers specific guidelines, examples, tips and useful resources for the use of DigComp for defining specific job's digital competence needs, for assessing digital competences and for cataloguing, developing and delivering training on digital competences.
Estimating Capital Formation and Capital Stock by Economic Sector in China: The Implications for Productivity Growth

This paper aims to fill a gap in the literature on capital formation in China by estimating the capital stock in four economic sectors: business, infrastructure, government, and housing. Such a breakdown is necessary for the purpose of analysis of economic development in China, as the normal models of economic development are based on a competitive economy, which is clearly not the case for the country's infrastructure and government sectors. Moreover, the contribution of housing to gross domestic product in China is very poorly measured. Although the results of this analysis can only be approximate, as the required detailed information for a better estimate is not published, they nonetheless suggest that there has not been overinvestment in the Chinese business sector -- its capital-output ratio has risen only slightly over the past 40 years. Yet, there have been surges in the stocks of housing and infrastructure in the past decade. These sectors account nearly all the recent increase in the capital-output ratio in China.
The Effect of Loneliness and Family Communication on Addiction Potential: A Study Conducted in Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran

Background: The prevalence of risky behaviors, such as drug abuse, among adolescents and young adults indicates the importance of investigating and recognizing such risky behaviors. Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the effect of loneliness and family communication on addiction potential. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2015 to 2016. The current study had a sample of 452 students (242 men and 210 women), who were studying at the University of Sistan and Baluchestan, in Zahedan, Iran. The participants were selected using a cluster sampling method. The Schmidt and Sermat Feeling of Loneliness Scale (1983), Fitzpatrick and Ritchie Family Communication Patterns Inventory (1994), and Weed, Butcher, McKenna, and Ben-Porath Addiction Potential Scale (1992) were used as data measurement tools. Data was analyzed in SPSS software, using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Stepwise multiple regression. Results: Results showed that loneliness and laissez-faire communication patterns were significantly and directly related to addiction potential; however, the consensual communication pattern was significantly and diversely correlated with addiction potential. In addition, results of the regression analysis indicated that, in the first step, loneliness predicted 0.09 and, in the second step, loneliness together with the laissez-faire communication patter predicted 0.11 of the variance in addiction potential (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Accordingly, university students and university students and educators are advised to pay attention to loneliness and family communication, as these factors play an important role in addiction potential. Thus, special programs should be introduced that focus on these specific factors.
A comparison of the efficacy and safety of combined aclidinium bromide and formoterol fumarate in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract Background: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined aclidinium bromide and formoterol fumarate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials, WanFang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database were searched for studies on the use of combined aclidinium bromide and formoterol fumarate in the treatment of COPD. Two independent researchers performed literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of quality of studies. The strength of the association of the efficacy and safety of combined aclidinium bromide and formoterol fumarate in the treatment of COPD was evaluated according to the odds ratio (OR), mean differences (MDs), and 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical analysis was carried out via using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: The results of the present study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Conclusion: The conclusion of the present study will provide evidence to judge whether combined aclidinium bromide and formoterol fumarate is an effective and safety intervention in the treatment of COPD. Systematic review registration number: INPLASY202070063.
An Integrative Review of Factors Associated With Resilience Post-Spinal Cord Injury

This study aimed to analyze factors associated with resilience among persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). An integrative review was conducted. Electronic databases including PubMed, ProQuest, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Web of Science were searched using relevant search terms and keywords. A total of two qualitative and nine quantitative studies were included in the review. Psychosocial factors such as social support, self-efficacy, spirituality, post-traumatic growth, life satisfaction, adaptive coping strategies, psychological strength, and being a role model were associated with higher resilience. Stress, anxiety, depression, external locus of control, and attachment avoidance correlated with lower resilience. Inconsistent results were reported for demographic and injury-related variables such as the age of the participants, gender, pain, and functional independence. The integrative review reported a number of factors associated with resilience in people with SCI. Rehabilitation counselors working with this population can design rehabilitation interventions targeting these variables to enhance the resilience of people with SCI. Consideration of cultural and contextual influences on resilience, as well as the design of effective interventions, are important directions for future research.
Lyophilization of nucleic acid nanoparticles

The objective of the thesis was the lyophilization of cationic polymer-based pDNA or siRNA nanoparticles (i.e. polyplexes) with a special focus on the development of long-term stable formulations, the investigation of stabilization mechanisms especially during freezing, and the advanced monitoring of the lyophilization process. It was shown that an up-scaled preparation method in combination with subsequent lyophilization is a promising approach to reproducibly achieve long-term stable pDNA or siRNA polyplexes maintaining particle size and biological activity at pharmaceutically defined high quality. The results demonstrated that formulation development, highly dependent on the used type of polymer or nucleic acid, and process development, with a strong focus on the freezing, in combination with appropriate process monitoring needs always to be performed hand in hand. All in all, this thesis makes an essential contribution in order to move closer from a promising biotechnological approach towards clinic-friendly drugs.
Building an effective information security awareness program

Many researchers and experts in the field of information security agree that the user is the weakest link in an organization’s chain of information security. Even if the system’s and the stored data’s physical and logical protection is well developed, the human factor exposes security to significant risk. The effective protection against the threats is to provide security awareness through implementing a well-developed and successful Information Security Awareness Program. Although organizations are able to recognize the importance of information security awareness, the implementation of the awareness programs can be difficult. The aim of this study is to help organizations to develop an effective Information Security Awareness Program tailored to the characteristics of the organization. The paper presents how we can build a program that influences and improves the user’s knowledge, attitude and behavior the most towards information security and makes positive changes in the security culture of an organization. To achieve that goal, the study identifies the key elements of the implementation, compares traditional awareness programs with modern trainings and highlights the importance of communication channels and methods. There is no single solution to improve information security, the essay summarizes and shows the most effective techniques that experts can use in order to seize the user’s attention toward information security, to establish credibility and trust, and to motivate action.
THE IMPACT OF OWNERSHIP TYPES ON THE VALUE OF DISCRETIONARY ACCRUALS: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF AUDIT COMMITTEE? EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN

The research paper attempts to investigate the connection between Ownership Structure and Audit Committee Effectiveness on discretionary accruals in Pakistan. This study analyzed 5 years of data over the period of 2013 to 2017 of 169 listed firms of the Pakistan Stock Exchanges (PSX). The data is panel and it is analyzed with the fixed-effect regression to check the association between ownership structure and audit committee effectiveness on discretionary accruals. The findings of this article show that the effectiveness of an audit committee is very instrumental in bringing down the value of discretionary accruals. This paper confirms the view that audit committee effectiveness mitigates discretionary accruals in PSX listed firms, Furthermore, this study found no clue that blocks ownership, management ownership, foreign ownership and institutional ownership constrain discretionary accruals. To the best of researchers’ knowledge, this empirical study is first of its kind in Pakistan. The present research study recommended and supports the recent amendment in Pakistan Corporate Governance Code about audit committee independence and expertise for reducing discretionary accruals.
Characterization of Volatile Compounds from Ethnic Agave Alcoholic Beverages by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Summary Ethnic Agave alcoholic beverages such as raicilla, sisal, tequila, mezcal, bacanora, sotol and pulque have been analyzed by gas chromatography and headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). There were 105 compounds identified, eleven were classified as major compounds and the others were classified as minor compounds. Seventeen minor compounds could be used as authenticity markers since they were beverage specific. Cluster analysis (CA) showed that Agave alcoholic beverages could be distinguished by multivariate analysis of major compounds; however, the analysis of minor compounds provided a better fingerprinting.
Doenças causadas por vírus

DOENÇA CONTÁGIO SINTOMAS PREVENÇÃO CATAPORA Contato com a saliva, secreções respiratórias de pessoas doentes. Febre, mal estar, dor de cabeça, manchas vermelhas e coceira. VACINAÇÃO Evitar contado com as secreções e saliva do doente. CAXUMBA Gotículas de saliva da pessoa infectada. Inchaço na garganta, dor de cabeça, dores musculares, febre, calafrios e dor ao engolir. Inflamação nos testículos e nos ovários. VACINAÇÃO.
Unlimited Power Division Ratio of Microstrip Balanced-to-Unbalanced Gysel-Type Arbitrary Power Divider

A microstrip balanced-to-unbalanced (BTU) Gysel-type arbitrary power divider without the high-impedance transmission-line (TL) section is proposed to eliminate the power division ratio (PDR) limit of the conventional microstrip BTU power dividers. The proposed circuit includes five moderate-impedance TLs having the same characteristic impedance in addition to a grounded resistor. The arbitrary PDR is easily obtained by varying the electrical length of the TLs without changing the characteristic impedances, especially the large PDR, which is difficult to achieve by means of conventional BTU power dividers. When the PDR is ∞, the proposed circuit becomes a balun. The closed-form design equations are derived and discussed. To verify the proposed circuit, three prototypes I, II, and III are designed and fabricated for PDRs of 10 dB, 20 dB, and ∞ dB, respectively. The measured PDRs are in good agreement with the simulations. The measured isolation between the output ports is higher than 31 dB for prototypes I and II. The measured insertion loss of the balun prototype is 0.194 dB. Furthermore, the common-mode suppression of greater than 32 dB and the return loss of higher than 22 dB are obtained for various PDRs.
The Point Interpolation Method for Static Analysis Using Quadratically Consistent Three-Point Integration Scheme

The element free Galerkin method (EFG) is much interest in recent years due to its merits of only node information needed in constructing shape functions and high precision. However, its low computational efficiency becomes a technical issue in the simulation of realistic problems. To develop a more efficient and accurate method, the point interpolation method using quadratically consistent three-point integration scheme (PIM-QC3) is proposed, based on consistency framework for meshfree nodal shape function and its derivatives. And the shape functions along with corrected nodal derivatives at integration points, adopt quadratic basis, meet the differentiation of the approximation consistency (DAC) and the discrete divergence consistency (DDC). In addition, they possess Kronecker delta property and could enforce displacement boundary conditions simply. The T6-Scheme is utilized for node selection in constructing approximation, to avoid the singular moment matrix and make the computation of shape functions simple. Numerical results show the excellence of the proposed method in accuracy and efficiency of all tested methods. Specially, it is more efficient than three-point integration scheme based on element-free Galerkin method. The research in this paper could provide an efficient and reliable tool for analysis of engineering structure.
Bioactivity of surface modified porous titanium

Solid metals have previously been widely used for implant fabrication in the replacement of human hard tissues. For the implant-bone interface bonding newer materials are now-a-days being introduced with porosity. With tissue ingrowth into the porous structure of the implant this bonding has subsequently been enhanced. Pore interconnectivity facilitates extensive body fluid transport through the metallic implants. In this present study, porous titanium samples with interconnected 3D pores were taken for various surface chemical treatments that will enhance the surface chemistry and topology. Ti-samples were subjected to alkali, dual acid, citric acid and fluoride treatment to study the role of surface modified titanium in in-vitro bioactivity and protein adhesion. Porosity measurement being a vital parameter was also calculated with the surface porosity (optical microscope) being 41.36% and the bulk porosity (Archimedes’ Principle) as 50.347%. XRD analysis shows the diffraction pattern of the samples corresponding to titanium with the absence of any new phase owing to a chemical treatment. Both the sets of samples were characterized before and after immersing in SBF for 4 weeks. The sample treated with fluoride seemed to nucleate more as compared to others. Protein adsorption study was carried out with Bradford reagent using Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). The sample with alkali treatment showed maximum adsorption due to hydrolyzed surface enhancing protein adsorption. The results with improved properties of Ti make it a preferable potential use in tissue engineering.
Is there a point? Teachers’ perceptions of a policy incentivizing the study of advanced mathematics

ABSTRACT A growing body of international research has highlighted the importance of students studying mathematics at an advanced level. In Ireland, the subject has been assigned a special status with the introduction of an education policy called the Bonus Points Initiative (BPI) in 2012. Students are now awarded an extra 25 points in their final State examination results if they achieve ≥40% in advanced/Higher Level (HL) mathematics. This incentive has had a noticeable impact and the numbers opting for HL mathematics in the final State examination have increased from 15.8% in 2011 to 32.9% in 2019. While this is undoubtedly a positive development, there has been little research about any knock-on effects regarding the teaching and learning of the subject. This article examines HL mathematics teachers’ (n = 266) perceptions of the BPI. The findings reveal many mixed opinions with more teachers (46%) agreeing with the initiative than disagreeing (27%), recognizing advantages such as increasing numbers and rewarding students. However, issues perceived by teachers such as questionable student motivation and the negative impact on the pace of lessons appear to be key reasons for a majority of teachers recommending a review (56%) or discontinuation (23%) of the initiative.
Institutional Relationships，Start-up Size and Growth of Start-ups

China is currently facing problems such as declining marginal output of investment, overcapacity, and insufficient innovation drive. It is urgent to obtain new growth momentum through innovation and entrepreneurship. “Mass entrepreneurship and innovation” is exactly the strategy advocated by the central government. Inspired by this strategy, some government officials and heads of state-owned enterprises also decide to quit their jobs and seek out entrepreneurial opportunities outside the system. The existing literature only focuses on the impact of institutional relationships on whether the individual will start a business, and does not really reflect the value of institutional relationships in entrepreneurial activities. Therefore, the more important research question is whether entrepreneurial institutional relationships will affect the initial size of start-ups and the long-term growth in the future when the entrepreneur leaves the system for business. If there is a significant impact, then “what are the impact channels” is also an important issue.We empirically test the impact of entrepreneurial institutional relationships on the size and long-term growth of start-ups. The data used in this study come from the 7th to the 10th Private Enterprise Survey data in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012. The results show that, compared with entrepreneurs from outside the system, the scale of entrepreneurs created by entrepreneurs with institutional relationships（former government official or head of state-owned enterprise）is 19.7 percentage points higher, and the compound growth rate of start-ups is 1.9 percentage points higher. Furthermore, we find that entrepreneurs who serve as public servants or SOE managers depend more on bank loans or restructured SOEs to obtain seed capital. They are more familiar with the government’s support policy, and more likely to get NPC deputies and CPPCC members or leaders of the Federation of Industry and Commerce. It can be seen that the above entrepreneurs have the advantages of resource acquisition, information superiority and political identity, which is beneficial for entrepreneurs to achieve better entrepreneurial results. Finally, this paper also finds that institutional relationships play a more limited role in regions with more developed financial industries.This paper shows that the informal institution such as institutional relationships play an important role when the formal institution is incomplete. In order to achieve the “mass entrepreneurship and innovation” strategy, we need to create a fairer and more just entrepreneurial environment, and promote the reform from administrative orientation to market-oriented resource allocation. This paper not only makes an important supplement to the relevant literature, but also provides valuable policy inspiration for China’s “mass entrepreneurship and innovation” strategy.
Staphylococcus aureus biofilms: an opportunistic pathogen with multidrug resistance

Studies related to bacterial biofilm formation are extremely relevant because of their constant association with several human diseases. The organization of this sessile microbial community provides protection against opsonization and phagocytosis. It is responsible for hampering not only the immune system performance against infections but also antimicrobial activity. Staphylococcus aureus is part of healthy human microbiota including skin and nasal vestibule. However, many strains have become opportunistic pathogens because of the ability of biofilm formation in implants and medical devices by using them as route of access to bloodstream. S. aureus’ ability of biofilm formation is widely known and it has been responsible for several infections, such as endocarditis, bacteremia and sepsis. Several factors contribute to biofilm formation including expression of specific genes and interaction between proteins involved in adhesion to substrate. This work aims to explore the main aspects related to biofilm formation by S. aureus, using tools as data index bases from the scientific literature: Google Scholar, LILACS, MEDLINE (PubMed), SciELO, Scopus and Book/eBook, between July 2018 and February 2019, in English, Spanish and Portuguese. This review aims to provide a better understanding of biofilm formation and its impact on host health.