Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Meniscus refixation: suture or anchor?].

Suture techniques are the standard for fixation of meniscus bucket-handle lesions. In 1993 a new method for meniscus repair with self-reinforced biodegradable "arrows" was introduced. Currently, various meniscus implants are available in Germany and are widely used clinically. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate and discuss the literature on biodegradable meniscus implants. Relevant articles were retrieved from Medline of the National Library of Medicine (1966 until July 2000) using the combined search strategy for the keywords "meniscal repair" and "arrow. " Ten publications were found. The reported advantages of meniscus arrows are the reduced operation time, the easy surgical technique, and the reduced risk of neurovascular injury. In most experimental studies, lower failure strength of meniscus arrows was found compared to meniscus sutures. In clinical studies, the meniscal healing rates comparing the arrow technique and suture technique are comparable. Various complications of the new arrow technique have been reported such as inflammatory foreign-body reaction, cartilage lesions, and arrow displacement. Based on the existing literature, no final judgment is possible. Currently, individual indications depending on the kind of meniscal lesion and location are recommended. A combination of suture and arrow technique might be a treatment option, but further prospective randomized studies and longer follow-ups are necessary.
Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Comprehensive Review to Recent Non-Invasive Methods

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and considered to be one of the hassles in medical communities. CRC develops from precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum and is preventable and curable by an early diagnosis and with the removal of premalignant polyps. In recent years, scientists have looked for inexpensive and safe ways to detect CRC in its earliest stages. Strong evidence shows that screening for CRC is a crucial way to reduce the incidence and mortality of this devastating disease. The main purpose for screening is to detect cancer or pre-cancer signs in all asymptomatic patients. In this review, we holistically introduce major pathways involved in the initiation and progression of colorectal tumorgenesis, which mainly includes chromosome instability (CIN), microsatellite instability (MSI), the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), and we then will discuss different screening tests and especially the latest non-invasive fecal screening test kits for the detection of CRC.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Role of Intermittent Hypoxia and Inflammation

Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea results in intermittent hypoxia via repetitive upper airway obstruction leading to partial or complete upper airway closure, apneas and hypopneas, respectively. Intermittent hypoxia leads to sympathetic nervous system activation and oxidative stress with a resultant systemic inflammatory cascade. The putative mechanism by which obstructive sleep apnea has been linked to numerous pathologic conditions including stoke, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and metabolic derangements is through these systemic effects. Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea appears to reduce systemic markers of inflammation and ameliorates the adverse sequelae of this disease.
Variable-speed hydro generation: operational aspects and control

The potential advantages of variable-speed hydroelectric generation are discussed in this article. Some general aspects concerning the efficiency gains in turbines and the improvements in plant operation are analyzed. The main results of measurements on a test loop with an axial-flow turbine are reported. Also, we describe the control scheme implemented, which is based on artificial neural networks. To confirm the practical interest of this technology, the operation of a run-of-the-river small hydro plant has been simulated for several years. Substantial increases in production with respect a fixed-speed plant have been found.
Comparison of Two Team Learning and Team Entrepreneurship Models at a Finnish University of Applied Sciences. Setting the Scene for Future Development

This team learning and team entre-preneurship model of education has been deployed at the Bachelor’s level in the degree programmes of IT and Business Administration (BA). In BA studies the students who take part in team learning have specialized in marketing since 2009 at the Saimaa University of Applied Sciences (SUAS). The model called ICT entrepreneurship study path (ICT-ESP) has been developed for IT education. The ICT-ESP has been built on the theory of experien-tal learning and theories of knowledge creation and knowledge management. The students study and complete their degree as team entrepreneurs. The model has been further developed in the Business Administration Degree Programme with students who specialize in marketing. The Degree Programme in IT at the Bachelor’s level was terminated in 2011 by Finnish Min-istry of Education and Culture. Cur-rently, there are severe discussions on bringing it back – not as an IT but as an ICT Degree Programme. This article makes a cross-section of what has already been explored with the team learning and team entrepreneurship model and what the next steps will be. It makes a comparison of two originally sep-arately developed models and dis-cusses their best practices. The arti-cle also argues whether the upcom-ing ICT education should be orga-nized in a conventional way – as curriculum of courses, or as expan-sion of the current team learning and team entrepreneurship model. The data consists of field notes, meeting memos, and dozens of un-official discussions with colleagues and company representatives. Liter-ature studies made during the ongo-ing research, development, and in-novation (RDI) projects offered an extra view of how the business con-text is changing and what should be done to make benefit out of the change. The results suggest that the up-coming ICT Degree Programme at SUAS should be integrated into the existing deployment of team learning and team entrepreneurship learning environment. This would foster col-laboration between different disci-plines, e.g. marketing and ICT. Fur-thermore, the emerging ideation, ser-vice design and experimentation eco-system which we are developing in ongoing RDI projects, would be strengthened by adding more students focused on ICT competencies into it. The article was later extended to include interview data from 12 theme-based specialist interviews where the thoughts of original article were tested among administration of our campus, RDI funder, experienced and former team entrepreneurs, and local entre-preneurs. The results validated the author’s previous suggestions of how future ICT education should be organized and also provided some new targets for development. The essential find-ings were: The future ICT education should be deployed in a way that it a) develops students’ entrepreneurial mindset b) offers versatile coopera-tion possibilities with existing market-ing team entrepreneurs and other en-terprises, and c) the current ecosystem should be internationalized.
Does Advertising Content Matter? Impacts of Healthy Eating and Anti-Obesity Advertising on Willingness to Pay by Consumer Body Mass Index

This study examines the impacts of two types of advertising content—healthy eating and anti-obesity advertising—on the demand for healthy and unhealthy food and beverage items. We show that differentiating consumers by weight is crucial in fully understanding the effects of advertising content on food and beverage demand. We find that among overweight individuals, anti-obesity advertisements are more effective than healthy eating advertisements at reducing the demand for unhealthy items and increasing the demand for healthy items. Furthermore, the magnitude of this effect increases with BMI. We discuss possible explanations and policy implications based on our results.
Use of a phosphotyrosine-antibody pair as a general detection method in homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence: application to human immunodeficiency viral protease.

A homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay has been developed for human immunodeficiency viral (HIV) protease. The assay utilizes a peptide substrate, differentially labeled on either side of the scissile bond, to bring two detection components, streptavidin-cross-linked XL665 (SA/XL665) and a europium cryptate (Eu(K))-labeled antiphosphotyrosine antibody, into proximity allowing fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to occur. Cleavage of the doubly labeled substrate by HIV protease precludes complex formation, thereby decreasing FRET, and allowing enzyme activity to be measured. Potential substrates were evaluated by HTRF with the best results being obtained using (LCB)K4AVSQNbeta-NapPIVpYA(NH2) and Eu(K)-pY20 where the peptide titrated with an EC50 of 7.7 +/- 0.3 nM under optimized detection conditions. Using these HTRF detection conditions, HIV protease cleaved the substrate in 50 mM NaOAc, 150 mM KF, 0.05% Tween 20, pH 5.5, with apparent first-order kinetics with a Km of 37.8 +/- 8.7 microM and a kcat of 0.95 +/- 0.07 s-1. Examination of the first-order rate constant versus enzyme concentration suggested a Kd of 9.4 +/- 2.7 nM for the HIV protease monomer-dimer equilibrium. The HTRF assay was also utilized to measure the inhibition of the enzyme by two known inhibitors.
Bayesian Approach to Average Bioequivalence Using Bayes' Factor

Abstract In recent years, bioavailability studies for assessment of bioequivalence between two or more drug formulations have become very popular in drug development. However the current practice for the assessment of bioequivalence suffers from certain serious drawbacks. For example, sometimes these tests fail to control the consumer's risk. In this article a new methodology based on the application of Bayes' factor for solving the average bioequivalence problem is proposed. We compare our approach with the existing methods by using real data sets from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Results are further explored using simulation studies.
Inclusion On The Dow Jones Sustainability Index (North America): Implications For Market Capitalization And Stock Return

This study seeks to understand the relationship between sustainability practices (SP) and financial performance. While literature exists with conflicting conclusions, many of these studies only examine sustainability through a one-dimensional view. Additionally, much of the research linking financial performance to SP are international or foreign-based studies. Using inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America (DJSI), a multi-dimensional sustainability assessment tool, we analyze the relationship between corporate sustainability practices (as measured by inclusion on the DJSI) and two measures of financial performance: market capitalization and stock return. Specifically, we test whether the relationship between traditional financial accounting predictor variables (i.e. net income, long-term debt, total revenue, and basic earnings per share) and financial performance indicators (market capitalization and stock return) is different for firms included in the DJSI versus those not included.
A watermarking sequence using parities of error control coding for image authentication and correction

A novel function for image watermarking is proposed. We show how the watermarking sequence can be used for correction of illegal modifications. To make this task possible, the parities generated by the conventional error control coding (ECC) technique is used for the watermarking sequence. Then, the receiver can correct any alterations by applying the ECC decoding. To increase the correction capability we also adopt a scrambling scheme before the encoding to change a burst type of content modifications (i.e., errors) into a random noise. The scrambling key can be also used as a key for the authentication of the sender.
The Timing of Merger and the Decision of Information Search Based Synergistic Value under Double Uncertainties

This paper analyzes the timing of merger and the decision of information research based synergistic value under double uncertainties. Through the introduction of the concept of merger success factors, we research merger threshold under two sources of uncertainty which contain size uncertainty and realization uncertainty. Then we estimate the information value of information research and get hold of thresholds of information research and merger, and by comparing these three thresholds we find the optimal strategy of merging firm. Finally, this paper compares the timings under no information research and information research, and reveals the relations between the probability of merger success, the correlation and the timings of merger and information research through numerical analysis.
Effects of transforming growth factor beta 1 and L-ascorbate on synthesis and distribution of proteoglycans in murine osteoblast-like cells.

Proteoglycans synthesized by osteoblasts are incorporated into bone matrix and thought to play a role in bone metabolism. Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta affects the synthesis of matrix proteins, including proteoglycans, in various stromal cells, and proteoglycans, especially decorin, are associated with matrix collagen. In the present study, the effects of TGF-beta 1 and L-ascorbate, a factor essential for collagen synthesis, on the synthesis and distribution of proteoglycans were examined using murine osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. TGF-beta 1 stimulated the synthesis of proteoglycans in MC3T3-E1 cells. Among various proteoglycans, the synthesis of decorin was preferentially enhanced by TGF-beta 1, and the effect was more pronounced on secreted decorin compared to that associated with the cell/matrix layer. TGF-beta 1 also stimulated the initiation and elongation of the dermatan sulfate glycosaminoglycan chain, resulting in a larger molecular size of decorin. TGF-beta 1 influenced the synthesis of a heparan sulfate proteoglycan only slightly. L-ascorbate had no effect on the synthesis of proteoglycans, but increased those associated with the cell/matrix layer. Furthermore, when L-ascorbate was added to the culture along with TGF-beta 1, the percentage of proteoglycans associated with the cell/matrix layer increased from 25.8 +/- 1.0 to 41.0 +/- 0.5%. These data demonstrate that TGF-beta 1 markedly stimulates the synthesis of proteoglycans, especially decorin, mainly as a secreting form, that the accumulation of decorin into matrix is enhanced by L-ascorbate, and that the effects of TGF-beta 1 and L-ascorbate are additive. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Simple Frame Marker for Image and Character Recognition

In this paper, we propose Simple Frame Marker (SFM) which has a rectangular frame and encompasses a planar natural view such as characters, logos and images. In order to support recognition of characters as well as an image, Simple Frame Marker is constructed by square-type and rectangle-type markers. Therefore Simple Frame Marker first distinguishes its content by the marker type and applies a proper recognition method for the content. We describe how to construct Simple Frame Marker and how to discriminate different types of Simple Frame Marker.
[Hepatoprotective effect of Gossipium hirsutum extract on acute experimental hepatitis on rat liver injury].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the protective effect on the mice acute experimental hepatic injury by Flos Gossypium herbaceum extracts (FGF-I, FGF-II). METHOD Experimental hepatic injury model was established by a single intraperitoneal injection of 350 mg x kg(-1) D-CalN in Wistar rats. Serum samples for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST) level and liver homogenate samples for super oxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione peroxidese (GSH-PX) activities were assayed. RESULT For acute experimental hepatic injury, FGF-I and FGF-II significantly decrease the serum transaminase activities (P < 0.01). FGF-I increased the SOD activities (P < 0.01), and decreased MDA content only for 50 mg x kg(-1) FGF-I (P < 0.05), no effect on GSH-PX activity was found for them. FGF-II increased the SOD and GSH-PX activity (P < 0.05) with decreased MDA content (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION FGF-I and FGF-II showed significant protective action in mice experimental hepatic injury.
Policy as a Bridge across the Global Digital Divide

This chapter assesses how public policy can be used to bridge the global digital divide, especially in developing nations. First, the chapter characterizes the Internet technologies encompassed within the digital divide according to dimensions of individual socioeconomic characteristics and service provider infrastructure characteristics. Then, the chapter develops a set of technology policy dimensions as they affect those two dimensions, using case vignettes from India to illustrate policy actions. Finally, the chapter makes policy action recommendations to bridge the digital divide, including investments in education and literacy, e-governance, intermediary services, infrastructure
A Novel Quasi-Resonant Bridge Modular Switched-Capacitor Converter With Enhanced Efficiency and Reduced Output Voltage Ripple

A novel quasi-resonant bridge modular switched-capacitor converter (BMSCC) is proposed in the paper. The main merit is that its resonant circuit has high stability and simplicity, resulting from the employment of the stray inductance distributed in the circuit as a collective resonant inductor. Accordingly, the current spike during switching operation is removed due to zero-current-switching (ZCS) realization. Another distinct merit is that the proposed converter features symmetric construction. With this kind of construction, the voltage ripple of charge/pump capacitors can be cancelled out with each other and then output voltage ripple will be largely reduced. Thus, it is unnecessary to use a bulky capacitor to reduce output voltage ripple. Compared with conventional SCCs, at the same conversion ratio, the BMSCC with symmetric construction requires fewer switches and capacitors with lower voltage stress, so as to cut the size and cost and promote the power destiny further. It is also noteworthy that the symmetric construction character assures that the two symmetric parts can work independently under a simplified control strategy. In addition, the modular configuration contributes to convenient voltage extension conveniently. The simulation and experimental results of a 100 W prototype with a voltage conversion ratio of eight validate the principle and features of this topology.
The Role of Culture in IT Governance Five Focus Areas: A Literature Review

Information technology governance ITG is one of the top challenges of managers today and culture in different level can have an important role while implementing IT governance. This is a new and significant issue, which has not been investigated deeply. This paper sets out to provide a systematic review of the literature, focusing on the role of culture in IT governance. The literature review findings are categorized through the lens of IT governance's five focus areas which are IT strategic alignment, IT value delivery, Risk management, IT resource management and Performance measurement. This study contributes to the field of IT governance by reviewing and discussing the existing literature on the role of culture on IT governance. This literature review resulted that there are few research studies in this topic and many of the IT governance focus areas are not covered regarding the role of culture in these IT governance areas.
Phytochrome B Enhances Photosynthesis at the Expense of Water-Use Efficiency in Arabidopsis1[W][OA]

In open places, plants are exposed to higher fluence rates of photosynthetically active radiation and to higher red to far-red ratios than under the shade of neighbor plants. High fluence rates are known to increase stomata density. Here we show that high, compared to low, red to far-red ratios also increase stomata density in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). High red to far-red ratios increase the proportion of phytochrome B (phyB) in its active form and the phyB mutant exhibited a constitutively low stomata density. phyB increased the stomata index (the ratio between stomata and epidermal cells number) and the level of anphistomy (by increasing stomata density more intensively in the adaxial than in the abaxial face). phyB promoted the expression of FAMA and TOO MANY MOUTHS genes involved in the regulation of stomata development in young leaves. Increased stomata density resulted in increased transpiration per unit leaf area. However, phyB promoted photosynthesis rates only at high fluence rates of photosynthetically active radiation. In accordance to these observations, phyB reduced long-term water-use efficiency estimated by the analysis of isotopic discrimination against 13CO2. We propose a model where active phyB promotes stomata differentiation in open places, allowing plants to take advantage of the higher irradiances at the expense of a reduction of water-use efficiency, which is compensated by a reduced leaf area.
Face Loss and Resistance to Clinical Decision Support Systems

From the face saving perspective, this paper attempts to investigate the factors influencing physicians’ resistance of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) in outpatient settings. We develop a research model which posits that physician resistance of CDSS is determined not only by their rational perceptions of CDSS’ usefulness, but also by their sociocultural perceptions of face loss. To contextualize theory development, we include a moderator – time pressure, which is unique for physicians’ decision context. By proposing that time pressure can strengthen both the negative impact of perceived usefulness and the positive impact of face loss on CDSS resistance, we attempt to demonstrate that time pressure’s effects are paradoxical: it plays dual roles in both facilitating and reducing resistance. This paper takes a unique perspective to understand physician resistance behavior, and we expect it to make an important contribution to HCI research and practice.
Agency and Institutional Transformation: The Emergence of a New Corporate Governance Model

This research examines institutional transformation of the board of directors in Canada to a collaborative model in which the board, in addition to its monitoring function, provides a service role by acting as a sounding board to management and providing advice and counsel to management on strategic issues. This thesis also examines how director search, likely initiated by the ‘Enron’ scandals, led to some boards adopting a new model of practice that directors deemed more efficacious and possessing legitimacy, bringing together the old and the new institutionalism in institutional change processes. Legitimacy was drawn from guidance from a professional association for directors that outlined how boards could become strategic asset to the firm that was consistent with a stewardship model of governance that saw boards collaborative with management. It is also argued in this thesis that following the Enron scandal, directors searched for a model of practice that would be more efficacious such that their fears of liability were reduced. In searching for and adopting a new model of practice, the collaborative board, it is also argued that adoption requires coupling to the technical core (enacted), as opposed to symbolic, if it is to be effective. This research studies directors and senior management of public firms of the TSX Composite by way of survey methods. The findings ii provide support that the board is evolving in Canada to a new collaborative model and that the model of practice appears to be enacted (coupled) as opposed to symbolic (decoupled). Further, the results did not find that collaborative boards are impaired in their monitoring function and support is found that the board’s monitoring role may actually be enhanced. These results are discussed as well as future research directions and limitations of the study.