Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased CD163 expression is associated with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.

AIM To assess CD163 expression in plasma and peripheral blood and analyze its association with disease in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) patients. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2012. Forty patients with ACHBLF (mean age 44.48 ± 12.28 years, range 18-69 years), 40 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (mean age 39.45 ± 12.22 years, range 21-57 years) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (mean age 38.35 ± 11.97 years, range 28-60 years) were included in this study. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the frequency of CD163+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and surface protein expression of CD163. Real-time transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to assess relative CD163 mRNA levels in PBMCs. Plasma soluble CD163 (sCD163) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Clinical variables were also recorded. Comparisons between groups were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 15.0 software and a P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Flow cytometry showed that the population of CD163+ PBMCs was significantly greater in ACHBLF patients than in CHB patients and healthy controls (47.9645% ± 17.1542%, 32.0975% ± 11.0215% vs 17.9460% ± 6.3618%, P < 0.0001). However, there were no significant differences in mean fluorescence intensity of CD163+ PBMCs within the three groups (27.4975 ± 11.3731, 25.8140 ± 10.0649 vs 20.5050 ± 6.2437, P = 0.0514). CD163 mRNA expression in ACHBLF patients was significantly increased compared with CHB patients and healthy controls (1.41 × 10⁻² ± 2.18 × 10⁻², 5.10 × 10⁻³ ± 3.61 × 10⁻³ vs 37.0 × 10⁻⁴ ± 3.55 × 10⁻⁴, P = 0.02). Plasma sCD163 levels in patients with ACHBLF were significantly increased compared with CHB patients and healthy controls (4706.2175 ± 1681.1096 ng/mL, 1089.7160 ± 736.8395 ng/mL vs 435.9562 ± 440.8329 ng/mL, P < 0.0001). In ACHBLF patients, plasma sCD163 levels were significantly positively associated with model for end-stage liver disease scores (r = 0.5075, P = 0.008), hepatitis B virus-DNA (r = 0.6827, P < 0.0001), and negatively associated with prothrombin activity (r = -0.3348, P = 0.0347), but had no correlation with total bilirubin (r = 0.2551, P = 0.1122). Furthermore, sCD163 was obviously elevated in non-surviving patients compared with surviving patients with ACHBLF (5344.9080 ± 1589.5199 ng/mL vs 3641.7333 ± 1264.5228 ng/mL, P = 0.0321). CONCLUSION CD163 and sCD163 may be related to disease severity and prognosis in ACHBLF patients.
Testosterone supplementation in older men: a rational idea whose time has not yet come.

Forty years after the introduction of estrogens, the debate over the risks and benefits of estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women is still not entirely settled. In contrast, the issues of testosterone replacement in older men are just beginning to be addressed. There is agreement that total, free, and bioavailable testosterone (ie, not bound by sex hormone-binding globulin) levels decline progressively with advancing age (Harman and Tsitouras, 1980, 1982; Murono et al, 1982; Nieschlag et al, 1982; Zumoff et al, 1982; Bremner and Prinz, 1983; Davidson et al, 1983; Nankin and Calkins, 1986; Tenover et al, 1987; Gray et al, 1991; Vermeulen, 1991; Simon et al, 1992; Rudman and Shetty, 1994; Morley et al, 1997; Zmuda et al, 1997; Harmon et al, in press), and that many of the physiological changes that occur with advancing age such as loss of bone and muscle mass; increased fat mass; impairment of physical, sexual, and cognitive functions; loss of body hair; and decreased hemoglobin levels, are similar to those associated with androgen deficiency in young men. However, the beneficial effects of testosterone replacement on health-related outcomes in older men with low testosterone levels have yet to be demonstrated, and the risks of long-term testosterone administration, particularly the risks of prostate cancer and heart disease, remain unknown. Therefore, it is premature to make a general recommendation about testosterone supplementation in older men. Despite the paucity of efficacy and safety data, the sales of testosterone and other androgenic products have witnessed explosive growth recently
Changing Citizenship in the Digital

Democracy is not a sure thing. Governments and party systems often strain against changes in societies, and some fall prey to corruption and bad policies. Under the right conditions, people may reassert their rights to govern, and produce remarkable periods of creative reform, realignment, and change. In these times, politics becomes a focus of personal life itself, restoring the sense that participation makes a difference. The challenges of influencing the course of nations and addressing global issues may inspire creative solutions from the generations of young citizens who have access to digital communication tools. The cascading advance of media platforms and social software enables unprecedented levels of production and distribution of ideas, public deliberation, and network organization. It is clear that many young citizens of this digital and global age have demonstrated interests in making contributions to society. Yet the challenge of engaging effectively with politics that are linked to spheres of government remains, for most, a daunting prospect. The reasons are numerous. A casual look at world democracies suggests that many of the most established ones are showing signs of wear. Parties are trying to reinvent themselves while awkwardly staying the course that keeps them in power. In the press, in everyday conversation, and often from the mouths of politicians, politics has become a dirty word rather than a commonly accepted vocabulary for personal expression.1 Perhaps most notably, younger generations have disconnected from conventional politics and government in alarming numbers. These trends in youth dissatisfaction with conventional political engagement are not just occurring in the United States, but have parallels in other democracies as well, including Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.2 The pathways to disconnection from government are many: adults are frequently negative about politics, the tone of the press is often cynical, candidates seldom appeal directly to young voters on their own terms about their concerns, politicians have poisoned the public well (particularly in the United States) with vitriol and negative campaigning, and young people see the media filled with inauthentic performances from officials who are staged by professional communication managers.3 Paralleling these developments has been a notable turning away from public life into online friendship networks, gaming and entertainment environments, and consumer
Quantitative Examination of Piezoelectric/Seismoelectric Anomalies from Near-Surface Targets

The piezoelectric and seismo-electrokinetic phenomena are manifested by electrical and electromagnetic processes that occur in rocks under the influence of elastic oscillations triggered by shots or mechanical impacts. Differences in piezoelectric properties between the studied targets and host media determine the possibilities of the piezoelectric/seismoelectric method application. Over a long time, an interpretation of obtained data is carried out by the use of methods developed in seismic prospecting. Examination of nature of piezoelectric/seismoelectric anomalies observed in subsurface indicates that these may be related (mainly) to electric potential field. In this paper, it is shown that quantitative analysis of piezoelectric/seismoelectric anomalies may be performed by the advanced and reliable methodologies developed in magnetic prospecting. Some examples from mining geophysics (Russia) and ancient metallurgical site (Israel) confirm applicability of the suggested approach.
Effect of weaning status and implant regimen on growth, performance, and carcass characteristics of steers.

One hundred forty-three Angus x Simmental crossbred steers (initial BW = 155.1 +/- 4.5 kg) were used in a 2-yr study (yr 1, n = 67; yr 2, n = 76) to determine the effects of weaning age, implant regimen, and the weaning age x implant regimen interaction on steer growth and performance, organ mass, carcass characteristics, and cooked beef palatability. Steers were early-weaned at an average age of 108 d (EW) or normally weaned at an average age of 202 d (NW) and allotted by weight to an aggressive or nonaggressive implant regimen. On their respective weaning dates, EW and NW steers were penned individually and fed a grain-based diet until they were slaughtered at a final BW of 546 kg. A subsample of steers (n = 2 per treatment) were slaughtered at 254 kg. At 254 kg, EW steers implanted with the aggressive implant regimen had 64% greater backfat depth than those implanted with the nonaggressive implant regimen; conversely, NW steers implanted with the aggressive implant regimen had 52% lower backfat depth than those implanted with the nonaggressive implant regimen (weaning status x implant regimen interaction; P < 0.01). A similar interaction was observed for empty visceral organ weights. Early-weaned steers were younger (354.7 vs 372.4 d; P < 0.01) at final slaughter but were in the feedlot longer (246.5 vs 169.6 d; P < 0.01) than NW steers, whereas the aggressive implant regimen decreased days fed (203.3 vs 212.7; P < 0.07) compared to the nonaggressive implant regimen. Overall ADG was greater for EW than for NW steers (1.61 vs 1.50 kg/d; P < 0.01) and for the aggressive compared with the nonaggressive implant regimen (1.59 vs 1.52 kg/d; P < 0.02). Early-weaned steers consumed less DM per day (7.4 vs 8.5 kg/d; P < 0.01) and were more efficient (0.217 vs 0.208 kg/kg; P < 0.02) but consumed more total DM (1,817 vs 1,429 kg; P < 0.01) than NW steers while in the feedlot. Implant regimen did not affect DMI (P > 0.37) or feed efficiency (P > 0.15). Weaning status did not affect carcass characteristics (P > 0.14), final empty body composition (P > 0.25), or final longissimus muscle composition (P > 0.18); however, steaks from EW steers had higher (P < 0.05) taste panel tenderness and juiciness ratings than steaks from NW steers. The aggressive implant regimen decreased yield grade (P < 0.02), but did not affect quality grade (P > 0.86) compared to the nonaggressive implant regimen. Placing early-weaned steers on an aggressive implant regimen is a viable management option.
Vascular ageing and interventions: lessons and learnings

This review discusses the relationship between elevated blood pressure, hypertension, arterial stiffness and hence vascular ageing. This is a complex process and the majority of treatments target the consequences of this, rather than the pathophysiology of ageing itself. This is because preventing vascular ageing from occurring is complex and would require very early intervention and lifelong treatment. The process of arteriosclerosis is known to result from reversible and irreversible functional components, and, together, these are responsible for the increased systolic and decreased diastolic blood pressure seen with advancing age. Indeed, hypertension develops as it becomes more difficult for the heart to drive blood flow around the body, as a result of poor ventricular coupling and increased arterial stiffness. Elevated blood pressure is therefore a clinical manifestation of ageing that continues to increase with advancing years, and is also linked with an increased risk of cardiac, cerebrovascular and chronic kidney disease. These manifestations arise due to changing haemodynamics associated with ageing, and therefore treatments that reduce the development of these conditions or delay their progression have the potential to improve patient outcomes. This may be possible with existing therapies as well as new treatments currently under investigation.
Capsid Region Involved in Hepatitis A Virus Binding to Glycophorin A of the Erythrocyte Membrane

ABSTRACT Hepatitis A virus (HAV) has previously been reported to agglutinate human red blood cells at acidic pHs. Treatment of erythrocytes with different enzymes and chemical reagents indicated that HAV attachment is mediated through an interaction with sialylglycoproteins. HAV hemagglutination could be blocked by incubating the virus with glycophorin A, indicating that this sialylglycoprotein is the erythrocyte receptor. The number of receptors used was estimated to be around 500 per cell. At the same time, HAV-induced hemagglutination could also be blocked by either monoclonal antibody H7C27 or an anti-VP3(102-121) ascitic fluid, indicating that lysine 221 of VP1 and the surrounding VP3 residues lining the capsid pit are involved in HAV binding to erythrocytes.
Mobile devices as multi-DOF controllers

Conventional input devices such as the mouse and keyboard lack in intuitiveness when it comes to 3D manipulation tasks. In this paper, we explore the use of accelerometer and magnetometer equipped mobile phones as 3-DOF controllers in a 3D rotation task. We put the mobile phone up against the established standards, a mouse and a touch pen and compare their performance. Our preliminary evaluation indicates that for this type of task, with only 5 minutes of practice the mobile device is significantly faster than both the mouse and the touch pen.
Linear-to-circular polarization transformer using electrically small antennas

In this contribution, a linear-to-circular polarization transformer based on the employment of electrically small antennas is presented. The proposed setup consists of a circular metallic disk with a sub-wavelength aperture through which two sets of connected circularly polarized electrically small antennas are placed. We assume to use such a structure to close an open-ended linearly polarized circular waveguide in order to change the polarization from linear to circular. The proposed setup works around 1.627 GHz and exhibits 8 MHz of 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth.
CHOW COHOMOLOGY , AND LINEAR VARIETIES

We compute the Chow groups and Fulton–MacPherson’s operational Chow cohomology ring for a class of singular rational varieties including toric varieties. The computation is closely related to the weight filtration on the ordinary cohomology of these varieties. We use the computation to answer one of the open problems about operational Chow cohomology: it does not have a natural map to ordinary cohomology. 2010 Mathematics Subject Classification: 14C15 (primary); 14F42, 14M20 (secondary) In 1995, Fulton, MacPherson, Sottile, and Sturmfels [13] succeeded in computing the Chow group CH∗X of algebraic cycles and the “operational” Chow cohomology ring A∗X [12] for a class of singular algebraic varieties. The varieties they consider are those which admit a solvable group action with finitely many orbits; this includes toric varieties and Schubert varieties. In this paper we generalize their theorem that AiX Hom(CHiX,Z) to the broader class of linear schemes X, as defined below. We compute explicitly the Chow groups and the weight-graded pieces of the rational homology of those linear schemes which are finite disjoint unions of pieces isomorphic to (Gm) × Ab for some a, b. We show that the Chow groups ⊗Q of any linear scheme map isomorphically to the lowest subspace in the weight filtration of rational homology. Finally, we find some special properties of toric varieties (splitting of the weight filtration on their rational homology and existence of a map AiX ⊗Q→ H2i(X,Q) with good properties) which do not extend to arbitrary linear schemes, as is shown by an interesting example (a surface with a cusp singularity). We formulate some open problems about Chow cohomology in section 8. c © The Author(s) 2014. The online version of this article is published within an Open Access environment subject to the conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution licence <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/>.
Employer-Provided Training: Patterns and Incentives for Building Skills for Higher Productivity

Programs for skills development while on the job are crucial for economic performance and growth. In fact, a signifi cant part of human capital is accumulated through on-the-job training (OJT), and, over their lifetimes, workers acquire most of their new and improved skills on the job. Especially when tastes and technologies change rapidly, human capital investments are important in maintaining fi rms’ competitiveness, innovation, and growth. Without a workforce that continually acquires new skills, appropriating all the returns from technological progress is diffi cult. As preemployment and technical training are increasingly criticized for producing skills that do not immediately align with the labor market, investment in job training by the private sector gains additional relevance for skills development policy. This chapter presents important patterns in OJT and discusses policy tools to promote that investment in the developing world. On-the-job skill development can be accomplished through both formal training, provided mainly by employers, and informal processes, including learning by doing. OJT can also take place at both formal and informal fi rms. Depending on the defi nition of formality in skill development at the fi rm level, the content and scope of OJT will vary. In this chapter, on-the-job training is defi ned as formal training provided by private sector fi rms to Employer-Provided Training: Patterns and Incentives for Building Skills for Higher Productivity
Russian Firms in the Visegrád Countries

This article analyses direct investment patterns by Russian firms in the four Visegrad countries, their motivations and ownership advantages, based mostly on the eclectic paradigm. Beside statistical data, it relies on case studies to present the profile of the most important Russian investors in each host country. In the Visegrad countries, market, and to a lesser extent, resource-seeking investment by state-owned firms in the hydrocarbons, steel and nuclear energy industries dominate. Some innovative private Russian companies, with features similar to developed-country multinationals can also be identified. Extant investment theories, with the exception of the eclectic paradigm, fall short of explaining Russian investment.
Objective outcome measures of quality of life.

An objective end point of quality of life-the clinical benefit response-was developed for use in clinical cancer research. This end point was used in two clinical trials of gemcitabine (Gemzar) in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. To qualify as clinical benefit responders, patients had to demonstrate a marked, sustained improvement in pain and performance status; if both parameters were stable, patients could still be considered responders if they showed at least a 7% increase in dry weight. In a phase III trial in 126 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, gemcitabine was significantly superior to fluorouracil (5-FU) with regard to clinical benefit, and also produced a survival advantage. In a phase II trial involving 63 patients in whom 5-FU had previously failed, gemcitabine also afforded clinical benefit. We conclude that clinical benefit response is an effective means of evaluating the activity of gemcitabine in advanced pancreatic cancer.
The Vulnerability of Tourism Sector Under Scenario of Climate Change: Case Study Sousse

Current literature has addressed the relationship between tourism business and climate change; however, much focus is placed on global strategic orientations, with a strong emphasis on the mitigation of climate change impacts. Few researches have studied the impact of climate change effects on tourism sector; tourism industry may be positively or negatively affected by climatic conditions. This research analysis the vulnerability of tourism sector towards climate change in Sousse; through developing a tourism vulnerability index. The tourism vulnerability index (TVI) helps identifying factors contributing to vulnerability of tourism sector in the region. TVI was developed for the region of Sousse, which represents one of the most important touristic destinations in Tunisia. Results have broad implications to tourism business and have also repercussions for the government and policy makers.
[When should patients be referred by the physician to the lung transplant team? Patient selection, indications, timing of referral and preparation for lung transplantation].

INTRODUCTION Lung transplantation (LT) is accepted as a therapeutic option in a wide range of end stage lung diseases, with evidence supporting survival and quality of life benefits in transplant recipients. Appropriate patients who have good chance of survival with transplantation should be identified carefully. STATE OF THE ART Four diagnoses account for approximately 80% of transplant recipients: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency emphysema. The aim of this review is to discuss the selection process of potential candidates and to assist physicians in referring these patients to a transplant team. The decision to refer patients for transplantation is difficult and depends on several parameters such as the results of transplantation, the referring physician's view of survival prospects with actual medical therapy according to the pathology, and also the patient's physical, nutritional and psychological status. The timing of listing patients remains a difficult decision which is imposed by both defined criteria and uncertain events such as the rapid worsening of the lung disease and the likely waiting time. PERSPECTIVES The optimal modalities for pre-surgical rehabilitation programs and their postoperative impact should be evaluated. CONCLUSIONS Careful selection of potential candidates for lung transplantation at the most appropriate time should lead to an improvement of survival of such patients.
Frequency Dependence of Path Loss with Wide Dynamic Range in Urban Macro Cells between 2 and 26 GHz

This paper presents the frequency dependence of path loss based on the results of measurement campaign in two urban macro (UMa) cell environments using three frequencies from 2 to 26 GHz. In the channel model above 6 GHz standardized by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the frequency dependence of UMa path loss model is indicated by 20log(f). However, some studies show that the frequency dependence become more than 20log(f). The 3GPP model is based on several measurements that are limited in distance and dynamic range. Therefore, we measured the path loss characteristic using a wide dynamic range device capable of obtaining a path loss of 170 dB or more at 26 GHz. The measurement result shows that the frequency dependence is similar to the 3GPP UMa model in the line-of-sight (LoS), but it is larger than the dependence of 20log(f) in the non-LoS. As the results of the analysis, the high frequency dependence especially can be seen when the path loss of 26 GHz become larger than 150 dB. The analysis results indicate that this frequency dependence can be caused by dominant diffraction paths from the top of building near the receiver.
Lease Accounting Methodology: A Theoretical Reflection

The purpose of this paper is to examine lease accounting methods and x-ray how they influence a choice of lease arrangements. Requirements of International Accounting Standards (IAS) 17 were considered including theoretical framework on the various dimensions of leasing. From archival data, preference is given to operating leases as an off-statement of financial position financing. It also possesses few bottlenecks than finance leases in terms of compliance with accounting requirements. Consequently, it is essential to take cognisance of the complexities inherent in the respective lease options before deciding on which one to undertake. Moreover, the need to be computer literate as a result of growing trends in information and communication technology (ICT) is vital because most leasing arrangements presently, are perfected using sophisticated software.