Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
International normalized ratio for prothrombin times in patients taking oral anticoagulants: critical difference and probability of significant change in consecutive measurements.

To determine when a change in serial measurements of prothrombin time in patients receiving oral anticoagulant therapy (ACT) is a statistically significant biological change necessitating dose adjustment, one must know the size of the "critical difference" in statistical terms (i.e., probabilities). In a cohort of 32 ACT patients at pharmacological steady-state, we studied the within-subject total variation of prothrombin time, expressed as International Normalized Ratio (INR), over 6 months. The total within-subject variation (CV) of INR was 10.1%. The corresponding critical differences required for significance of change in serial INR results was 0.7 at a therapeutic target of 2.5 INR and 1.0 at a therapeutic target of 3.5 INR. The data presented allow generation of objective criteria for monitoring ACT patients and deciding dose adjustments. We recommend that estimations of critical differences for significant change of INR in ACT patients should be based on results obtained in the specific clinic investigated to mirror the routine total variation of INR measurements they obtain.
The Effect of Governance on Credit Decisions and Perceptions of Reporting Reliability

ABSTRACT: We conduct an experiment to examine how lending decisions are affected by lender perceptions of reporting and governance quality. We perform a set of experiments to determine whether lenders are sensitive to the quality of governance as measured by board composition along multiple dimensions, whether their perceptions of reporting reliability are a function of the strength of the board, and whether their lending decisions are then affected by their perceptions of reporting reliability. Study participants are a group of 62 professional lenders from Singapore, with at least three years of professional credit analysis and lending experience. We find that lenders are primarily sensitive to financial condition and the perceived reliability of financial reporting. While we also find that lenders are sensitive to board strength, further tests suggest lenders appear particularly sensitive to board strength only for relatively high-performing firms. We also find that the perceived reliability of the fina.
Remission of nonparaneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy after minimal steroid treatment.

PURPOSE To describe the clinical findings in a patient demonstrating recovery from nonparaneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy after a minimal course of steroid treatment. METHODS Clinical presentation was documented, and paraclinical tests were obtained using Humphrey automated perimetry for visual fields, Western blotting for antiretinal antibodies, and electroretinography for evaluation of rod and cone function. RESULTS Initial presentation revealed marked visual field deficits, electroretinographic dysfunction, and the presence of α-enolase autoantibodies. After a brief course of oral corticosteroids, the patient demonstrated improvement in visual fields, disappearance of α-enolase autoantibodies, partial recovery of the cone on-response, and complete recovery of the rod response. CONCLUSION This case is distinguished from previous reports by the rapidity and degree of recovery, the brevity of treatment required, and the unique electroretinographic recovery pattern with concomitant disappearance of α-enolase autoantibodies. These findings suggest a pathologic role for α-enolase autoantibodies in autoimmune rod bipolar cell dysfunction. Identification of other cases exhibiting such improvements and associated autoantibody activity may expand our understanding of nonparaneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy disease pathogenesis.
C-terminal domain small phosphatase 1 and MAP kinase reciprocally control REST stability and neuronal differentiation

Significance A fundamental process involved in nervous-system formation is the conversion of stem cells into mature neurons. A key transcription factor in this regard is repressor element 1 (RE1) silencing transcription factor (REST), which suppresses the neuronal phenotype in stem cells and must be eliminated to promote the expression of neuronal genes in postmitotic neurons. We find that a phosphatase, C-terminal domain small phosphatase 1, coexpressed with REST in stem cells, dephosphorylates a newly identified site on REST and promotes REST stability. Conversely, we find that epidermal growth factor, an extracellular signaling molecule that promotes neurogenesis, induces phosphorylation by extracellular signal-regulated (ERK/MAP) kinases at the same site on REST. The phosphorylation facilitates elimination of REST during the transition to neurons. Our mechanism helps explain the timing of REST degradation during neuronal differentiation. The repressor element 1 (RE1) silencing transcription factor (REST) in stem cells represses hundreds of genes essential to neuronal function. During neurogenesis, REST is degraded in neural progenitors to promote subsequent elaboration of a mature neuronal phenotype. Prior studies indicate that part of the degradation mechanism involves phosphorylation of two sites in the C terminus of REST that require activity of beta-transducin repeat containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase, βTrCP. We identify a proline-directed phosphorylation motif, at serines 861/864 upstream of these sites, which is a substrate for the peptidylprolyl cis/trans isomerase, Pin1, as well as the ERK1/2 kinases. Mutation at S861/864 stabilizes REST, as does inhibition of Pin1 activity. Interestingly, we find that C-terminal domain small phosphatase 1 (CTDSP1), which is recruited by REST to neuronal genes, is present in REST immunocomplexes, dephosphorylates S861/864, and stabilizes REST. Expression of a REST peptide containing S861/864 in neural progenitors inhibits terminal neuronal differentiation. Together with previous work indicating that both REST and CTDSP1 are expressed to high levels in stem cells and down-regulated during neurogenesis, our results suggest that CTDSP1 activity stabilizes REST in stem cells and that ERK-dependent phosphorylation combined with Pin1 activity promotes REST degradation in neural progenitors.
Zinc isotopic fractionation in Phragmites australis in response to toxic levels of zinc

Stable isotope signatures of Zn have shown great promise in elucidating changes in uptake and translocation mechanisms of this metal in plants during environmental changes. Here this potential was tested by investigating the effect of high Zn concentrations on the isotopic fractionation patterns of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. Plants were grown for 40 d in a nutritive solution containing 3.2 μM (sufficient) or 2 mM (toxic) Zn. The Zn isotopic composition of roots, rhizomes, shoots, and leaves was analysed. Stems and leaves were sampled at different heights to evaluate the effect of long-distance transport on Zn fractionation. During Zn sufficiency, roots, rhizomes, and shoots were isotopically heavy (δ66ZnJMC Lyon=0.2‰) while the youngest leaves were isotopically light (–0.5‰). During Zn excess, roots were still isotopically heavier (δ66Zn=0.5‰) and the rest of the plant was isotopically light (up to –0.5‰). The enrichment of heavy isotopes at the roots was attributed to Zn uptake mediated by transporter proteins under Zn-sufficient conditions and to chelation and compartmentation in Zn excess. The isotopically lighter Zn in shoots and leaves is consistent with long-distance root to shoot transport. The tolerance response of P. australis increased the range of Zn fractionation within the plant and with respect to the environment.
Metaphors of nature and development: reflection on critical course of sustainable business

This article examines the role of metaphors of nature, sustainable development, and neoliberalism in business education. The research underpinning this article focused on a shift in the language business students used in response to a critical course on the neoliberal economic model. Results of the examination of metaphors before and after this course suggest a change in these higher education students’ perceptions toward the recognition of culturally unique and ecologically sensitive ways of conceiving environment and human development. The study also shows that intervention courses can play a role in disrupting how university students view nature in relation to neoliberal economics, business practices, and social relations. It is argued that the alternative conceptions of nature and development help to inform and empower students about solutions to the sustainability challenges.
Adverse effects of risperidone on spatial working memory in first-episode schizophrenia.

CONTEXT Working memory impairments are a central neurocognitive feature of schizophrenia. The nature of these impairments early in the course of illness and the impact of antipsychotic drug treatment on these deficits are not well understood. The oculomotor delayed response task is a translational spatial working memory paradigm used to characterize the neurophysiologic and neurochemical aspects of working memory in the primate brain. OBJECTIVE To examine oculomotor delayed response task performance in patients with first-episode schizophrenia before and after antipsychotic drug treatment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Twenty-five antipsychotic drug-naive, acutely ill patients with first-episode schizophrenia performed an oculomotor delayed response task at baseline before any drug treatment and again after 6 weeks of risperidone treatment. Twenty-five matched healthy controls were studied in parallel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Accuracy for remembered spatial locations on an oculomotor delayed response task. RESULTS Before treatment, patients demonstrated baseline impairment in the ability to maintain spatial location information in working memory at longer delay-period durations (8 seconds), when maintenance demands on working memory were greatest. After 6 weeks of risperidone treatment and significant clinical improvement, this pretreatment impairment worsened such that patients were uniformly impaired across all delay period durations (1-8 seconds). This occurred in the absence of any generalized adverse effect on oculomotor systems or significant extrapyramidal adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS Deficits in the maintenance of spatial information in working memory are present early in the course of illness. Risperidone treatment exacerbated these deficits, perhaps by impairing the encoding of information into working memory. Studies with nonhuman primates performing oculomotor delayed response tasks suggest that the apparent adverse effect of risperidone might result from treatment-related changes in modulatory functions of prefrontal D1 receptor systems.
Cognition, Affect, and Behavior in the Prediction of Group Attitudes

Based on a tripartite perspective on attitudes, research was designed to identify the cognitions (stereotypes and values), affects, and behavior associated with three target groups (Afirican Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans) and to examine the contribution of each to the prediction of group attitudes. Cognitions associated with the target groups extended previous findings and indicated that current perceptions focus more on the group's relationship to the rest of society than on characteristics of group members. Less positive affect was associated with all three target groups, especially with Afiican Americans, with whom fear was also associated. Affect and behavior were the strongest predictors of group attitudes; cognition made a minor contribution for each group. Implications for conceptualization and change in group attitudes (i.e., reducing prejudice) are discussed.
Is Continuous Sedation at the End of Life an Ethically Preferable Alternative to Physician-Assisted Suicide?

The relatively new practice of continuous sedation at the end of life (CS) is increasingly being debated in the clinical and ethical literature. This practice received much attention when a U.S. Supreme Court ruling noted that the availability of CS made legalization of physician-assisted suicide (PAS) unnecessary, as CS could alleviate even the most severe suffering. This view has been widely adopted. In this article, we perform an in-depth analysis of four versions of this “argument of preferable alternative. ” Our goal is to determine the extent to which CS can be considered to be an alternative to PAS and to identify the grounds, if any, on which CS may be ethically preferable to PAS.
Introduction: Doubts and insights concerning variable- and person-oriented approaches to human development

A quarter century ago, I was immersed in writing my doctoral thesis. At that time, Child Development released a special issue on structural equation modelling (SEM), the magic bullet for modelling developmental change processes. Cross-lagged path models applied to longitudinal data, usually consisting of not more than two waves of measurement, were state of the art in those days. Some years previously, I had become an adherent of LISREL V (Jöreskog & Sörbom, 1981), had datasets spanning three measurement occasions (Berlin Youth Longitudinal Study; Silbereisen & Eyferth, 1986), a sound theory (‘‘Deviant Behavior in Defense of Self’’; Kaplan, 1980), and ultimately the luck of some significant and theory-compatible beta coefficients (see Figure 1). What could go wrong? The results seemed to justify the hypothesized developmental process, whereby high self-derogation would lead to an increase in cathartic leisure activities (acting out, letting off steam) one year later, to a subsequent rise in alcohol consumption in the following year, with the whole process helping to restore self-esteem, i.e., lowering selfderogation: In short, deviant behaviour in defence of self. However, my clinical background, somewhat contaminated by early writings on personoriented approaches to human development (e.g., Brandtstädter, 1985; Fergusson & Horwood, 1988; Hertzog & Nesselroade, 1987; Hinde &
IMPROVEMENT OF TELUGU OCR BY SEGMENTATION OF TOUCHING CHARACTERS

The reported success rates for Telugu OCRs are 84-87% for fonts sizes from 12-20 and 95.4-98.5% for sizes from 15 to 35. Some of the issues mentioned in the literature are noise and confusion characters. Studies by the authors have indicated that the touching characters constitute about 1% - 2% of the total characters in printed books of normal size fonts (14 pts). The editable output of OCR System has additional errors due to incorrect code selection emphasizing the need to identify the touching characters. Identification of touching characters is a challenge as the touching may occur at different places due to orthography and rules of grammar. A complete strategy of identification, segmentation and recognition system is proposed along with syllable models for segmentation. Effect of normalization methods at preprocessing stage for improving the identification of touching characters and recognition rates of normal characters is studied. A new algorithm is proposed for segmenting the touching conjunct consonants. The use of augmented database shows clear improvement in the recognition rates. The touching characters are identified and segmented successfully with 83% success rate, thus improving the overall performance of OCR System for Telugu.
Pavement Design for Curved Road Sections: Fatigue Performance of Interfaces and Longitudinal Top-down Cracking in Multilayered Pavements

This paper focuses on damage processes other than the main one observed and studied in pavement design. Previous research has targeted the experimental fatigue performance of tack coats. The French Pavement Design method has been chosen herein to illustrate how interface fatigue performance can lead to improved design, especially when pavements are subjected to repeated horizontal loadings. In a curved pavement section, longitudinal top-down cracking is observed, and this damage process may also be taken into account during the design approach. A 3D finite element model has been derived to assess pavement lifetime. In conclusion, it is proposed to include the fatigue performance of interfaces when designing pavements with horizontal loadings and thin surface layers.
Assessing Content Domains of Repetitive Thought in the Anxiety Spectrum: Rumination and Worry in Nonclinical and Clinically Anxious Samples

It has been hypothesized that anxious rumination may focus on ruminative content themes pertaining to gaining control and coping with future uncertainty (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2000), although it is unclear to what extent this content of repetitive thought is distinct from dimensions of depressive rumination, worry, and anxiety sensitivity. Two studies were conducted to test the role of rumination in the anxiety spectrum. Nonclinical (N = 491) and clinical participants with DSM-IV anxiety disorders (N = 282) completed a newly constructed measure of anxious rumination, as well as measures of depressive rumination, worry, anxiety sensitivity, and other symptoms. Support was found for a two-factor model of anxious rumination in both nonclinical and clinical samples. Anxious rumination factors showed convergence with depressive rumination and worry, but provided unique predictive validity in relation to anxiety, depressive, and composite symptom constellations. There was partial support for mood-state ruminative spe.
Activity of irofulven against human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND Irofulven (MGI 114), a novel antitumor agent synthesized from the natural product illudin S, has a unique mechanism of action involving macromolecule adduct formation, S-phase arrest and induction of apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study utilized MiaPaCa pancreatic xenografts to demonstrate irofulven antitumor activity using either a daily or intermittent dosing schedule. Additionally, irofulven and gemcitabine were tested in vitro and in vivo to assess the anticancer activity of the combination. RESULTS Both dosing regimens of irofulven demonstrated curative activity against the MiaPaCa xenografts. Similar activity of irofulven on the intermittent schedule was observed at lower total doses compared to the daily dosing schedule. Furthermore, enhanced antitumor activity was observed when irofulven and gemcitabine were combined compared to single agent activity. CONCLUSION These results support further clinical characterization of intermittent irofulven dosing schedules and suggest that irofulven combined with gemcitabine may have activity in patients with pancreatic tumors.
Divalproex sodium versus olanzapine in the treatment of acute mania in bipolar disorder: health-related quality of life and medical cost outcomes.

BACKGROUND Divalproex sodium is a mood stabilizer used in the United States for the treatment of acute mania associated with bipolar disorder. Recently, olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic, was approved for the treatment of acute mania. This study compares the clinical, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and economic outcomes of divalproex and olanzapine in the treatment of acute mania associated with bipolar disorder. METHOD This 12-week, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized clinical trial included 120 subjects with DSM-IV bipolar disorder type I hospitalized for an acute manic episode recruited from 21 U.S. clinical centers. Subjects were randomly assigned to treatment with either divalproex or olanzapine and were followed in hospital for up to 21 days. If after 21 days clinical improvements (based on the Mania Rating Scale [MRS]) were not observed, subjects were discontinued. Subjects showing clinical improvement were treated for up to 12 weeks. HRQL was assessed using the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) after hospital discharge (baseline) and at 6 and 12 weeks. Medical resource use and costs were collected over the 12-week study. RESULTS A total of 120 subjects (N = 63 divalproex, N = 57 olanzapine) were randomized, and 78 (65%) were followed beyond 21 days. No statistically significant differences between the treatment groups for baseline-to-endpoint MRS or Q-LES-Q scores were observed. Total 12-week outpatient medical costs were significantly lower for the divalproex-treated group (541 US dollars) compared with the olanzapine-treated group (1080 US dollars) (p =.004). There was no significant difference in total medical costs between the 2 groups (divalproex = 13,703 US dollars; olanzapine = 15,180 US dollars; p =.88). CONCLUSION Divalproex is associated with lower 12-week outpatient costs compared with olanzapine. Divalproex and olanzapine have similar short-term effects on clinical or HRQL outcomes in bipolar disorder subjects.
Adults' Versus Children's Performance on the Stroop Task: Insights From Ex-Gaussian Analysis

In the Geneva Variability Study, the Stroop task was administered to children and young adults. Interference and facilitation effects were investigated by comparing mean reaction times (RTs) and applying ex-Gaussian distribution analysis. Our analyses were motivated by three goals: First, we aimed to replicate the results obtained with young adults by Spieler, Balota, and Faust (2000); second, we applied this method to children's data; third, the question of age-related differences in these inhibitory processes was investigated with the ex-Gaussian approach. In young adults, findings pertaining to the interference effect reported by Spieler et al. (2000) were replicated; in children, the interference effect was only manifested in the estimated Gaussian parameters (Mean RT, μ, σ); facilitation effects were only observed in children. The substantive meaning of the results and the advantages of ex-Gaussian analyses for describing RT distributions are discussed.
Digestibility and utilization of pearl millet diets fed to finishing beef cattle.

Pearl millet grain was blended with corn in 1:1 or 2:1 ratios in beef finishing diets fed in two metabolism and two feedlot trials. In Exp. 1, diets contained 1) 79.5% corn and 4.5% soybean meal (C-SBM), 2) 28% corn, 54.5% sorghum, and 1.5% soybean meal [GSC(2:1)], and 3) 28% corn and 56% pearl millet [PMC(2:1)]. In Exp. 2, diets contained 1) 81.5% corn and 3.5% soybean meal (C-SBM) or 2) 42.5% corn and 42.5% pearl millet [PMC(1:1)]. Diets fed to steers in metabolism trials in Exp. 1 and 2 had similar (P > .10) apparent digestion coefficients for OM, crude fiber, NDF, and ADF. However, ether extract digestibility was higher (P < .05) for C-SBM than for GSC(2:1) and PMC(2:1) in Exp. 1, and it was higher (P < .10) for C-SBM than for PMC(1:1) in Exp. 2. In both experiments CP digestibility was higher (P < .10) for C-SBM diets, and N retention was similar (P > .10) for diets within each experiment. In each experiment, TDN calculated from apparent digestion coefficients was converted to NEm and NEg. The TDN, NEm, and NEg were lower (P < .10) for GSC(2:1) and PMC(2:1) than for C-SBM in Exp. 1. Experimental diets were fed to steers (n = 45; 396 +/- 19 kg initial BW; 70-d ad libitum feeding) in Exp. 1 and to heifers (n = 30; 318 +/- 15 kg initial BW; 92-d ad libitum feeding) in Exp. 2. The ADG, empty body weight gain (EBG), and predicted EBG were not different (P > .10) for diets composed of the different grain sources. Feed DMI and DM per gain were higher (P < .05) for PMC(1:1) than for C-SBM in Exp. 2. Pearl millet supplied approximately 88% as much NEm and 85% as much NEg as the corn-SBM portion of diets having similar CP concentrations.
Cutaneous histoplasmosis in 13 Ethiopian donkeys

BS40 5DU T. Abreha, DVM, K. Asmamaw, DVM, H. Bekelle, DipAHA, T. Dawit, DipAHA, K. Itsay, DVM, G. A. Feseha, BSc, DVM, MVSc, Donkey Health and Welfare Project, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia FIG 2: Gram-stained smear of purulent exudate from a nodule, showing Gram-positive yeast-like organisms with lightly staining halos characteristic of Histoplasma farciminosum (arrows). x 100