Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute respiratory distress syndrome leads to reduced ratio of ACE/ACE2 activities and is prevented by angiotensin‐(1–7) or an angiotensin II receptor antagonist

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating clinical syndrome. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) and its effector peptide angiotensin (Ang) II have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ARDS. A counter‐regulatory enzyme of ACE, ie ACE2 that degrades Ang II to Ang‐(1–7), offers a promising novel treatment modality for this syndrome. As the involvement of ACE and ACE2 in ARDS is still unclear, this study investigated the role of these two enzymes in an animal model of ARDS. ARDS was induced in rats by intratracheal administration of LPS followed by mechanical ventilation. During ventilation, animals were treated with saline (placebo), losartan (Ang II receptor antagonist), or with a protease‐resistant, cyclic form of Ang‐(1–7) [cAng‐(1–7)]. In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of ventilated LPS‐exposed animals, ACE activity was enhanced, whereas ACE2 activity was reduced. This was matched by enhanced BALF levels of Ang II and reduced levels of Ang‐(1–7). Therapeutic intervention with cAng‐(1–7) attenuated the inflammatory mediator response, markedly decreased lung injury scores, and improved lung function, as evidenced by increased oxygenation. These data indicate that ARDS develops, in part, due to reduced pulmonary levels of Ang‐(1–7) and that repletion of this peptide halts the development of ARDS. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hospitalization and Skilled Nursing Care are Predictors of Influenza Vaccination Among Patients on Hemodialysis: Evidence of Confounding by Frailty

Background:Observational studies of preventive medications, such as vaccinations, can suffer from the healthy-user bias because vaccinated patients may be healthier than unvaccinated patients. Indicators of health status and frailty suitable for attenuating this bias could be identified in administrative data. Objective:To examine the association of baseline variables and time-dependent hospitalization and skilled nursing care with the receipt of influenza vaccination in patients with end-stage renal disease. Research Design:Observational cohort study using United States Renal Data System files each year from 1999 to 2005. Subjects:Population-based cohorts that included >115,000 adult, hemodialysis patients each year. Measures:We estimated hazard ratios for the association of baseline variables and time-dependent hospitalization days and skilled nursing days with influenza vaccination, controlling for demographic and baseline health status variables. Results:Vaccination coverage increased from 47% in 1999 to 60% in 2005. Patients with any length of hospitalization were less likely to be vaccinated, however, the association was stronger in patients with longer stays [15–25 d: hazard ratio=0.64 (95% confidence interval, 0.62–0.65); 26–30 d: 0.40 (0.38–0.42)]. Patients with any length of skilled nursing care of >1 day had similar estimates; these patients were also less likely to be vaccinated [26–30 d: 0.66 (0.64–0.69)]. Conclusions:Patients with long hospitalizations or skilled nursing stays were less likely to be vaccinated suggesting evidence of the healthy-user effect. These variables could be used to account for bias in studies of preventive services in patients on dialysis.
The Effect of Sustainability as Innovation Objectives on Innovation Efficiency

Though sustainability exists as major objective of pursuing innovation, the effect of it on innovation performance is still unanswered. While the outcome of innovation should consider both input and output, moreover, studies on sustainable innovation are yet to consider the overall efficiency, but rather the performance itself. To fill the gap between the effect of sustainability as the objective of innovation and its innovation performance, and to bridge the hole between the outcome of sustainable innovation and its efficiency, we analyze the relationship between sustainability as innovation objective and innovation efficiency. We use 441 manufacturing companies in Korea from 2016 KIS data, and perform the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method to calculate efficiency score of each firm and tobit regression analysis to investigate the effect of sustainability as an objective of innovation on innovation efficiency. The results show that the objective of ‘environmental improvement’ negatively affects innovation efficiency, while ‘safety improvement’ positively affects the efficiency. On the contrary, the effect of ‘material and energy reduction’ as an objective of innovation on innovation efficiency is not verified. The implications, limitations, and guidelines for future research are presented.
Immunodeficiency in methylmalonic acidaemia

ABSTRACT Three Chinese infants with methylmalonic acidaemia were described. They presented in the neonatal period with recurrent episodes of poor feeding, lethargy, apnoea and severe acidosis. The diagnosis was established by increased methylmalonic acid concentration in the plasma and/or urine. Pancytopenia was a prominent feature in all three patients. Only patient three had assessment of lymphocyte subsets and it showed diminished population of B‐lymphocytes and a reversed CD4/CD8 ratio. All three patients were unresponsive to vitamin B12. They experienced severe infections including Gramnegative septicaemia, candidiasis and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia which caused their deaths. Patients with this disease should be regarded as having severe immunodeficiency, and in addition to optimal metabolic control, they should be treated aggressively for any suspected infective episodes.
Evaluation of holmium laser versus cold knife in optical internal urethrotomy for the management of short segment urethral stricture

Objectives: Sachse cold knife is conventionally used for optical internal urethrotomy intended to manage urethral strictures and Ho: YAG laser is an alternative to it. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of urethral stricture treatment outcomes, efficacy, and complications using cold knife and Ho: YAG (Holmium laser) for optical internal urethrotomy Materials and Methods: In this prospective study included, 90 male patients age >18 years, with diagnosis of urethral stricture admitted for internal optical urethrotomy during April 2010 to March 2012. The patients were randomized into two groups containing 45 patients each using computer generated random number. In group A (Holmium group), internal urethrotomy was done with Holmium laser and in group B (Cold knife group) Sachse cold knife was used. Patients were followed up for 6 months after surgery in Out Patient Department on 15, 30 and 180 post-operative days. At each follow up visit physical examination, and uroflowmetry was performed along with noting complaints, if any. Results: The peak flow rates (PFR) were compared between the two groups on each follow up. At 180 days (6 month interval) the difference between mean of PFR for Holmium and Cold knife group was statistically highly significant (P < 0.001). Complications were seen in 12.22% of cases. Conclusion: Both modalities are effective in providing immediate relief to patients with single and short segment (<2 cm long) urethral strictures but more sustained response was attained with Cold knife urethrotomy.
Stock Vesting Conditions, Control Benefits and Managerial Replacement

This article considers the effect of vesting conditions of stock-based compensation on firms decisions to replace managers. I indicate that firms may excessively replace managers with both long- and short-term vested stock-based compensation, while excessive retention can be caused only by short-term vested options. If the discount factor is sufficiently small, I also show that short-term vested stock-based compensation is the equilibrium contract. The study also has implications for regulations concerning mandatory deferral and clawback of executive pay.
MO-FG-CAMPUS-IeP3-03: Optimal Parameters to Determine the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Diffusion Weighted Imaging Via Simulation.

PURPOSE To investigate in silico how calculation of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) is affected by image SNR, b-values, and the true tissue ADC. METHODS Diffusion-weighted (DW) images were generated assuming a mono-exponential signal model with two different b-values and known true ADC values. Rician noise of different levels was added to the DWI images to adjust the image SNR. Using the two DWI images, ADC was calculated using a mono-exponential model for each set of b-values, SNR, and true ADC. 40,000 simulations were performed for each parameter setting to determine the mean and the standard-deviation of the calculated ADC, as well as the percentage accuracy and precision with respect to the true ADC. In our study, we simulated two true ADCs (ADC 0.00102 for prostate tumor and 0.00180 mm2 /s for normal prostate tissue). SNR was varied from 2 to 100 and b-values were varied from 0 to 2000s/mm2 . RESULTS The accuracy (difference between known and calculated ADC) and precision (standard-deviation of calculated ADC) were increased with SNR. To increase SNR, 10 signal-averagings (NEX) were used. The optimal NEX combination for tumor and normal tissue was 2, 8, and the optimal b-value pair were 0, 1200s/mm2 and 0, 700s/mm2 . The minimum accuracy and precision errors were obtained when low b-value is 0. For any choice of low b-value until 400s/mm2 , the errors were minimized when b-value difference is approximately 1200 and 700s/mm2 for tumor and normal tissues respectively. For true ADC < 0.00144 mm2 /s accuracy and precision improves when high b-value is around 1200s/mm2 . Otherwise, for true ADC > 0.00144 mm2 /s, it is around 700s/mm2 . CONCLUSION Using the optimal choices of parameters for the prostate peripheral region both normal and tumor tissues were calculated with 99% accuracy and 94% precision. Suggestions for parameters choices could be made for any tissue ADC.
Do Banks Care About Analysts' Forecasts When Designing Loan Contracts?

We investigate whether banks rely on the information content in equity analystsâ€™ annual earnings forecasts when assessing the risk of potential borrowers. While a long literature finds that analysts provide useful information to market participants, it is not clear that banks, which have access to privileged information, would benefit from publicly available analystsâ€™ forecasts. If, however, banks do rely on this information, then more precise private information in earnings forecasts may inform banks. We focus our analysis on the requirement of collateral because it is a direct measure of default risk, whereas other loan terms such as interest spread and debt covenants can also protect against other risks, such as asset misappropriation. The direct link between collateral and default risk allows us to examine whether information from analysts is relevant to banks when designing loan contracts. Consistent with our predictions, we find that higher precision of the private information in analystsâ€™ earnings forecasts is associated with a lower likelihood of requiring collateral, and this effect is larger when a borrower does not have a prior relationship with the lender or their accounting or credit quality is low. We also find that this association disappears after the implementation of Regulation FD, consistent with this regulation reducing analystsâ€™ access to private information.
Projections to the visual cortex in the golden hamster

Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to determine the origins of afferent connexions to the visual cortex (areas 17, 18a and 18b) in the hamster. The distribution of neurons projecting to the visual cortex from other cortical areas, from the thalamus and from the brainstem was studied using a computer technique for three‐dimensional reconstruction.
Tonography assessment using quantitative and qualitative analysis of the aqueous humor outflow mechanism

Purpose To perform qualitative evaluation of the aqueous humor (AH) outflow mechanism in glaucoma and nonglaucoma patients by means of tonography assessment and mathematical analysis. Methods Sixty-two primary open angle and 58 pseudoexfoliation glaucoma patients were recruited in a non-interventional, observational study between 2004 and 2007. Qualitative and quantitative outflow assessment was acquired by means of a digital tonographer and mathematical analysis. Qualitative results were represented using slope analysis of the change of the AH outflow rate over the tonography study. The results were compared to the control group (CG; n=100) as well as to a pseudoexfoliation group (PEX; n=46). Results Regarding quantitative analysis, glaucoma groups exhibited significantly lower outflow facility compared to nonglaucoma ones (p<0.001). Outflow facility value was significantly correlated to cup to disc ratio (Pearson correlation r=–0.3, p<0.001). Regarding qualitative analysis, the primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) group presented a significant profile variation at the beginning of the tonography, expressed as an increased resistance of the AH outflow. Both glaucoma groups exhibited profile stabilization at the end of the measurement, suggesting that the outflow rate remained constant, while nonglaucoma groups followed a continuous reduction of the AH outflow rate throughout the study. Conclusions The POAG, PXG, PEX, and CG groups demonstrated both qualitative and quantitative tonographic profile differences. The observed differences in the glaucoma groups suggest a distinct pathomechanism between POAG and PXG. It is suggested that POAG patients have a temporary disruption of the AH flow pathway, while PXG patients have a generalized increased flow resistance.
Specific immunization strategies against oxidized low‐density lipoprotein: A novel way to reduce nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by hepatic lipid accumulation combined with inflammation, which can ultimately progress into cirrhosis. Recently, we demonstrated that deletion of scavenger receptors (SRs) CD36 and SR‐A in hematopoietic cells reduced hepatic inflammation. In addition to uptake of modified lipoproteins, CD36 and SR‐A are also involved in other functions that can activate the inflammatory response. Therefore, the actual trigger for SR activation during NASH is unclear. Here, we hypothesized that hepatic inflammation is triggered by recognition of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) by Kupffer cells (KCs). To inhibit recognition of oxLDL by KCs, low‐density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr−/−) mice were immunized with heat‐inactivated pneumococci, which were shown to induce the production of anti‐oxLDL immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies, due to molecular mimicry with oxLDL. The mice received a high‐fat, high‐cholesterol diet during the last 3 weeks to induce NASH. Immunization with pneumococci increased anti‐oxLDL IgM levels and led to a reduction in hepatic inflammation, as shown by reduced macrophage, neutrophil, and T cell infiltration, and reduced gene expression of tumor necrosis factor (Tnf), interleukin‐6 (Il‐6), interleukin‐1β (Il‐1b), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (Mcp1), and fibrosis‐related genes. In immunized mice, KCs were smaller and showed fewer cholesterol crystals compared with nonimmunized mice. Conclusion: Antibodies to oxLDL play an important role in the pathogenesis of NASH. Therefore, the potential of phosphorylcholine‐based vaccination strategies as a novel tool for the prevention and therapy of NASH should be tested in the future. (HEPATOLOGY 2012;56:894–903)
Does Homeownership Partly Explain Low Participation in Supplementary Pension Schemes?

We used nine waves of the Bank of Italy’s Survey on Household income and Wealth (1995-2012) to investigate a possible trade-off between homeownership and individual participation in a supplementary pension scheme. Italy lends itself to this type of investigation because the Italian public pension system has been heavily reformed in the period, providing in principle incentives for participation, and the homeownership rate is very high. The impact of homeownership is captured in two ways: by a dummy for being homeowner and by an index defined as the share of housing wealth over total wealth. Our results show that indeed, after controlling for a vast array of socio-economic characteristics and allowing for unobserved individual heterogeneity, both measures of homeownership are negatively associated with participation in supplementary pension schemes and that such an effect does not disappear even after the 2007 reform.
Atomoxetine Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature of the first nonstimulant approved for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). data sources: Primary literature and review articles were obtained through PubMed/MEDLINE (1966–February 2003). STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Literature evaluating atomoxetine in ADHD was selected. Animal data were excluded. DATA SYNTHESIS: Stimulants are currently first-line therapy for ADHD. However, their use raises several concerns including the potential for abuse and adverse effects. Atomoxetine introduces a new therapeutic drug class, selective norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors, for ADHD management. This additional treatment option offers potential advantages over current therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical trials demonstrate that atomoxetine is a safe and effective alternative for ADHD treatment in children and adults; however, its disadvantages may hinder it from becoming a first-line agent.
Dodecylamine Template-Based Hexagonal Mesoporous Silica (HMS) as a Carrier for Improved Oral Delivery of Fenofibrate

The aim of present investigation was the preparation of dodecylamine template-based hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) as a carrier for poorly water-soluble drug (fenofibrate). HMS material has distinctive characteristics such as easy synthesis, high surface area and wormhole pores. These characteristics are highly admirable to make use of it as a carrier in drug delivery system. HMS was prepared by pH and temperature-independent process. Fenofibrate was loaded into the HMS by solvent immersion method using organic solvent. The BET surface area of HMS was evaluated by nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis. HMS and drug-loaded HMS were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and contact angle study. The HMS-based system was also evaluated for in vitro and in vivo study as compared to plain drug. The BET surface area of HMS was found 974 m2/g with a narrow pore size average of 2.6 nm. The DSC and XRD study confirmed the amorphization of drug within the HMS. SEM and TEM study showed morphological features of HMS as well as revealed the wormhole porous structure. Contact angle study showed improvement in aqueous wetting property of drug within the HMS (contact angle 46°). The In vitro drug release study showed a remarkable dissolution enhancement in HMS-based system as compared to plain drug. In vivo pharmacodynamic study (hyperlipidaemia model) exhibited HMS-based formulation was significantly improved the bioavailability of fenofibrate. Thus, HMS has admirable properties; makes it a potential carrier for delivery system of poorly water-soluble drugs.
Primate supplementary eye field: I. Comparative aspects of mesencephalic and pontine connections

WGA‐HRP was used to examine projections to the brainstem from the supplementary eye field (SEF). The SEF was defined electrophysiologically in awake, behaving monkeys and connections were compared to those of the arcuate frontal eye field (FEF), area 6DC, and primary motor cortex. The SEF was found to have either direct or indirect connections with almost every known pre‐ and paraoculomotor structure of the brainstem. The SEF was found to project bilaterally to layers I and IV of a tangentially widespread region of the superior colliculus. Terminal label was evident in the pretectal olivary nucleus, nucleus of the optic tract, nucleus raphe interpositus (omnipause region), nucleus prepositus hypoglossi, the perioculomotor cap of the central gray, dorsal central gray, nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis, nucleus reticularis pontis oralis, and to multiple nuclei of the basis pontis (most densely to the dorsomedial nucleus). Bilateral projections were found in the parvicellular red nucleus. Reciprocal connections were present in the nucleus limitans, the mesencephalic reticular formation, locus coeruleus, and the serotonergic nuclei of the raphe complex (dorsalis and central superior). Overall patterns of connectivity were similar to those of the FEF and markedly different from those of the contiguous dorsocaudal area 6 or primary motor cortex. It was concluded that observed patterns of SEF‐brainstem connectivity further justifies viewing this region as a distinct eye field that is likely to serve preparatory and trigger functions in the generation of saccadic eye movements.
Rapid Fall in Lung Density Following Smoking Cessation in COPD

Introduction: Whether smoking-induced lung inflammation subsides after smoking cessation is currently a matter of debate. We used computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation on lung density in patients with COPD. Material and methods: Thirty-six patients quit smoking out of 254 current smokers with COPD who were followed with annual CT and lung function tests (LFT) for 2–4 years as part of a randomised placebo-controlled trial of the effect of inhaled budesonide on CT-lung density. Lung density was expressed as the 15th percentile density (PD15) and relative area of emphysema below -910 HU (RA-910). From the time-trends in the budesonide and placebo groups the expected CT-lung densities at the first visit after smoking cessation were calculated by linear regression and compared to the observed densities. Results: Following smoking cessation RA-910 increased by 2.6% (p = 0.003) and PD15 decreased by −4.9 HU (p = 0.0002). Furthermore, changes were larger in the budesonide group than the placebo group (PD15: −7.1 vs −2.8 HU. RA-910 3.7% vs 1.7%). These differences were, however, not statistically significant. The LFT parameters (FEV1 and diffusion capacity) were not significantly influenced by smoking cessation. Conclusion: Inflammation partly masks the presence of emphysema on CT and smoking cessation results in a paradoxical fall in lung density, which resembles rapid progression of emphysema. This fall in density is probably due to an anti-inflammatory effect of smoking cessation.