Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Magnetic Stimulation of the Right Visual Cortex Impairs Form-specific Priming

Recent evidence suggests that priming of objects across different images (abstract priming) and priming of specific images of an object (form-specific priming) are mediated by dissociable neural processing subsystems that operate in parallel and are predominantly linked to left and right hemispheric processing, respectively [Marsolek, C. J. Dissociable neural subsystems underlie abstract and specific object recognition. Psychological Science, 10, 111118, 1999]. Previous brain imaging studies have provided important information about the neuroanatomical regions that are involved in form-specific and abstract priming; however, these techniques did not fully establish the functional significance of priming-related changes in cortical brain activity. Here, we used repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in order to establish the functional role of the right occipital cortex in form-specific priming [Kroll, N. E. A. , Yonelinas, A. P., Kishiyama, M. M. , Baynes, K. , Knight, R. T. , & Gazzaniga, M. S. The neural substrates of visual implicit memory: Do the two hemispheres play different roles? Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 15, 833842, 2003]. Compared to no TMS and sham TMS, rTMS of the right occipital cortex disrupted immediate form-specific priming in a semantic categorization task. Left occipital rTMS, on the other hand, had no converse effect on abstractive priming. Abstract priming may involve deeper semantic processing and may be unresponsive to magnetic stimulation of a single cortical locus. Our TMS results show that form-specific priming relies on a visual word-form system localized in the right occipital lobe, in line with the predictions from divided visual field behavioral studies [Marsolek, 1999].
Biomechanical Comparison of Two Stabilization Techniques of the Atlantoaxial Joints: Transarticular Screw Fixation versus Screw and Rod Fixation

OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanical stability imparted to the C1 and C2 vertebrae by either transarticular screw fixation (TSF) or screw and rod fixation (SRF) techniques in a cadaver model. METHODS: Ten fresh ligamentous human cervical spine specimens were harvested from cadavers. The specimens were tested sequentially in the intact state, after injury and stabilization (unilateral left side and bilateral), and after fatiguing to 5000 cycles (0.5 Hz) at ±1.0 N·m of flexion and extension. The specimens were stabilized by use of TSF in 5 spines or SRF in the other 5 spines. The data were converted to angular displacements, and the stabilized cases were compared with intact states for evaluating the efficacies of the two techniques in stabilizing the C1–C2 segments. RESULTS: In the TSF group, the unilateral fixation using one screw imparted a significant stability in only the axial rotation mode. The unilateral procedure in the SRF group was effective in stabilization in all modes except in extension. The bilateral procedure in both of the groups was effective across the C1–C2 segment. However, the SRF group afforded higher stability than the corresponding TSF group in the flexion and extension modes. The degree of stability did not change after fatigue compared with the prefatigue data. CONCLUSION: In general, a surgeon should undertake a bilateral fixation to achieve sufficient stability across the atlantoaxial complex, and either technique will provide satisfactory results, although the SRF technique may be better in the flexion and extension modes. One should use the SRF procedure while trying to achieve stability with a unilateral system.
The Use of Bone Age in Clinical Practice – Part 1

This review examines the role of skeletal maturity (‘bone age’, BA) assessment in clinical practice. BA is mainly used in children with the following conditions: short stature (addressed in part 1 of this review), tall stature, early or late puberty, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (all addressed in part 2). Various manual and automatic methods of BA assessment have been developed. Healthy tall children tend to have advanced BA and healthy short children tend to have delayed BA in comparison to chronological age. Growth hormone (GH) treatment of children with GH deficiency leads to a catch-up in BA that is usually appropriate for the height of the child. Response to GH is dependent on BA delay in young children with idiopathic short stature, and GH dosage appears to affect BA acceleration. In chronic renal failure, BA is delayed until puberty but then increases due to increased sensitivity of the growth plate to sex steroids, thus further impairing adult height. The assessment of BA provides an important contribution to the diagnostic workup and management of children with short stature.
A Discussion on the Signaling Hypothesis of Dividend Policy

This paper discusses the signaling hypothesis of corporate dividend policy. We discuss this traditionally important matter in the field of corporate finance by introducing both classic and newest related studies. There seem to be some general agreements on the dividend-signaling hypothesis; however, our discussions include the following new viewpoints. First is the possibility of the firm risk changes after dividend policy changes. Second is the linkage between market efficiency and dividend policy. Third is the reality of dividend policy changes as signals by corporate managers. We consider that our many-sided discussions on the dividend-signaling hypothesis with reviewing both classic and newest literature contribute to theoretical and empirical future related research in this field.
Postoperative pain management in patients undergoing thoracoscopic repair of pectus excavatum: A retrospective analysis of opioid consumption and adverse effects in adolescents

Introduction: Although the Nuss procedure provides excellent cosmetic results for the correction of pectus excavatum, the provision of analgesia following such procedures can be challenging. Methods: The current study retrospectively reviews our experience over a 2.5 year period with thoracic epidural analgesia (TE), paravertebral blockade (PVB), and intravenous opioids delivered via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) to provide postoperative analgesia. Results: The study cohort included 30 patients (mean age = 15.6 ± 1.5 years), 15 of whom were treated with PCA, 8 with TE, and 7 with PVB. There were no significant differences in pain scores between the 3 groups at any time point during the first 3 postoperative days. Compared to PCA, the PVB group had lower opioid consumption over the first 24 hours of hospitalization by 1.7 mg/kg morphine equivalents (95% CI of difference: 0.1, 3.3; p=0.035); but had higher opioid consumption by 2.0 mg/kg morphine equivalents than the TE group (95% CI of difference: 0.3, 3.7; p=0.024). There were no differences in opioid consumption between PVB and PCA or between PVB and TE at 48 or 72 hours. The number of intraoperative hypotension episodes was significantly lower in the PCA group when compared to the PVB group (p=0.001), with no difference between the PVB and TE groups. Conclusions: The use of regional anesthesia should be considered a viable option for the relief of postoperative pain in pediatric patients following the Nuss procedure albeit with a higher incidence of intraoperative hemodynamic effects. A randomized, prospective, study powered to compare all 3 techniques against one another would be necessary to confirm the significance of these findings.
Penetration of concrete targets

We developed penetration equations for ogive-nosed projectiles that penetrated concrete targets after normal impact. Our penetration equations predict axial force on the projectile nose, rigid-body motion, and final penetration depth. For target constitutive models, we conducted triaxial material experiments to confining pressures of 600 MPa and curve-fit these data with a linear pressure-volumetric strain relation and with a linear Mohr-Coulomb, shear strength-pressure relation. To verify our penetration equations, we conducted eleven penetration experiments with 0.90 kg, 26.9-mm-diameter, ogive-nosed projectiles into 1.37-m-diameter concrete targets with unconfined compressive strengths between 32-40 MPa. Predictions from our penetration equation are compared with final penetration depth measurements for striking velocities between 280--800 m/s.
Mechanism of transport of IFT particles in C. elegans cilia by the concerted action of kinesin-II and OSM-3 motors

The assembly and function of cilia on Caenorhabditis elegans neurons depends on the action of two kinesin-2 motors, heterotrimeric kinesin-II and homodimeric OSM-3–kinesin, which cooperate to move the same intraflagellar transport (IFT) particles along microtubule (MT) doublets. Using competitive in vitro MT gliding assays, we show that purified kinesin-II and OSM-3 cooperate to generate movement similar to that seen along the cilium in the absence of any additional regulatory factors. Quantitative modeling suggests that this could reflect an alternating action mechanism, in which the motors take turns to move along MTs, or a mechanical competition, in which the motors function in a concerted fashion to move along MTs with the slow motor exerting drag on the fast motor and vice versa. In vivo transport assays performed in Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) protein and IFT motor mutants favor a mechanical competition model for motor coordination in which the IFT motors exert a BBS protein–dependent tension on IFT particles, which controls the IFT pathway that builds the cilium foundation.
Learning from Directed Evolution: Further Lessons from Theoretical Investigations into Cooperative Mutations in Lipase Enantioselectivity

An earlier experimental study, which involved the directed evolution of enantioselective lipase variants from Pseudomonas aeruginosa as catalysts in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of 2‐methyl‐decanoic acid p‐nitrophenyl ester, provided a mutant with six mutations. Consequently, the selectivity factor was found to increase from E=1.1 for the wild‐type to E=51 for the best mutant. Only one of the amino acid exchanges in this mutant was found to occur next to the binding pocket, the other mutations being remote. Our previous theoretical analysis with molecular‐dynamics simulations helped to unveil the source of enhanced enantioselectivity: a relay mechanism that involves two of the six mutations was shown to induce strong cooperativity. In this investigation, single, double, and triple mutants were constructed and tested as enantioselective catalysts. This study supports our original postulate regarding the relay mechanism, offers further mechanistic insight into the role of individual mutations, and provides mutants that display even higher enantioselectivity (E of up to 64).
Hyperthermophilic enzymes − stability, activity and implementation strategies for high temperature applications

Current theories agree that there appears to be no unique feature responsible for the remarkable heat stability properties of hyperthermostable proteins. A concerted action of structural, dynamic and other physicochemical attributes are utilized to ensure the delicate balance between stability and functionality of proteins at high temperatures. We have thoroughly screened the literature for hyperthermostable enzymes with optimal temperatures exceeding 100 °C that can potentially be employed in multiple biotechnological and industrial applications and to substitute traditionally used, high‐cost engineered mesophilic/thermophilic enzymes that operate at lower temperatures. Furthermore, we discuss general methods of enzyme immobilization and suggest specific strategies to improve thermal stability, activity and durability of hyperthermophilic enzymes.
Mask Cost and Profitability in Photomask Manufacturing: An Empirical Analysis

An empirical study of the economics of manufacturing photomasks concludes that the uncontrolled growth of optical proximity effect correction and resolution enhancement techniques is driving up the cost of pattern generation and mask inspection to levels that threaten the profitability of photomask manufacturing. The intrinsic cost of some leading edge photomasks has already exceeded the price that customers are willing to pay for them. A model of the lifecycle of photomask manufacturing, developed from interviews involving the 1990-to-2005 operations of six mask shops and a survey of seven photomask manufacturers, shows that design for manufacturability (DFM) constitutes the most promising approach for alleviating this market impasse. Unilateral action by mask shops to increase their capital productivity is necessary but insufficient and perhaps unaffordable. DFM solutions will require the majority of participants in the lithography value chain to collaborate according to a volatile demand schedule that is driven by semiconductor manufacturers
Plasma Homocysteine Is Associated with Increased Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Welders

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of vitamin B6 status and plasma homocysteine with oxidative stress and antioxidant capacities in welders. Workers were divided into either the welding exposure group (n = 57) or the nonexposure controls (n = 42) based on whether they were employed as welders. There were no significant differences in vitamin B6 status and plasma homocysteine concentration between the welding exposure group and the nonexposure controls. The welding exposure group had significantly higher levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower erythrocyte glutathione concentration and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities when compared to nonexposure controls. Plasma pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentration did not correlate with oxidative stress indicators or antioxidant capacities in either group. However, plasma homocysteine significantly correlated with total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (partial r s = −0.34, P < 0.05) and erythrocyte SOD activities (partial r s = 0.29, P < 0.05) after adjusting for potential confounders in the welding exposure group. In the welding exposure group, adequate vitamin B6 status was not associated with oxidative stress or antioxidant capacities. However, elevated plasma homocysteine seemed to be a major contributing factor to antioxidant capacities (TAC and erythrocyte SOD activities) in welders.
Natural feline leukemia virus variant escapes neutralization by a monoclonal antibody via an amino acid change outside the antibody-binding epitope

We have molecularly cloned a natural variant of feline leukemia virus subtype B. This isolate is unique in that it is not neutralized by a monoclonal antibody which neutralized all other feline leukemia virus isolates tested, including members of the A, B, and C subtypes. Western immunoblotting indicated that the monoclonal antibody was less able to bind to the gp70 of the resistant isolate (designated lambda B1) than to the gp70s of susceptible viruses. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the envelope gene of lambda B1 revealed a high degree of homology with the susceptible Snyder-Theilen, Gardner-Arnstein, and Rickard subtype B isolates, including the presence of a 5-amino-acid minimal binding epitope required for binding by the neutralizing monoclonal antibody. The only change within the vicinity of this epitope was in a single nucleotide, and this difference changed a proline residue to leucine three amino acids from the N terminus of the binding epitope. Competitive binding studies with synthetic peptides indicated that substitution of leucine for proline resulted in a 10-fold decrease in the ability of the peptide to compete for antibody binding to native antigen. The results are consistent with the interpretation that this amino acid change lowers the affinity of antibody binding, resulting in failure of the antibody to neutralize the variant virus.
Wave 0-Trace and length spectrum on convex co-compact hyperbolic manifolds

For quotients of the $n+1$-dimensional hyperbolic space by a convex co-compact group $\Gamma$, we obtain a formula relating the renormalized trace of the wave operator with the resonances of the Laplacian and some conformal invariants of the boundary, generalizing a formula of Guillope and Zworski in dimension 2. By writing this trace with the length spectrum, we prove precise asymptotics of the number of closed geodesics with an effective, exponentially small error term when the dimension of the limit set of $\Gamma$ is greater than $n/2$.
Lymphovascular invasion is a pathological feature of biologically aggressive disease in patients treated with radical prostatectomy.

UNLABELLED We examined whether invasion of lymphatic and/or vascular vessels (LVI), or perineural spaces (PNI) is associated with prostate cancer features and outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 630 consecutive men underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy for clinically localized disease. LVI and PNI examination was part of the routine specimen evaluation. RESULTS Foci of LVI were identified in 32 patients (5%) and 381 (60.5%) had PNI. LVI and PNI were associated with clinical stage T2 disease, higher biopsy and final Gleason sum, extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle involvement, positive surgical margins and a higher percent of positive biopsy cores (p <0.001). LVI was associated with metastases to regional lymph nodes and higher preoperative serum prostate specific antigen (p <0.001 and 0.004, respectively). PNI and LVI were associated with an increased risk of rapid biochemical progression after radical prostatectomy on univariate (p <0.001 and 0.001, respectively) but not on multivariate analysis. LVI was associated with shorter prostate specific antigen doubling time after biochemical progression (p = 0.012) and higher probabilities of failed local salvage radiation therapy (p = 0.0169), distant metastases (p <0.001) and death (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS Only LVI is associated with metastases to regional and distant sites, and most importantly with overall survival. LVI and PNI are associated with established markers of biologically aggressive disease and rapid biochemical progression in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. Our findings support the routine evaluation of LVI status in radical prostatectomy specimens and its inclusion in predictive models for clinical outcomes, since it appears to be a pathological marker of the lethal phenotype of prostate cancer.
Hepatitis C : Choices Part Two : Treatment Approaches Chapter 15 PRODUCTS MARKETED TO PEOPLE WITH HEPATITIS C

There are many over-the-counter products marketed to people living with hepatitis C. Many claims are made about these products. At times, it can be very hard to determine what to believe. Your western doctor may not be able to provide you with guidance because he or she may not be familiar or experienced with these products. Making a decision about whether to use one or more of these products can be quite difficult. In addition, there is no way to be sure how any one person will react to any one product.
The colours of satellite galaxies in the Illustris simulation

Observationally, the fraction of blue satellite galaxies decreases steeply with host halo mass, and their radial distribution around central galaxies is significantly shallower in massive (M* ≥ 1011 M⊙) than in Milky Way-like systems. Theoretical models, based primarily on semi-analytical techniques, have had a long-standing problem with reproducing these trends, instead predicting too few blue satellites in general but also estimating a radial distribution that is too shallow, regardless of primary mass. In this Letter, we use the Illustris cosmological simulation to study the properties of satellite galaxies around isolated primaries. For the first time, we find good agreement between theory and observations. We identify the main source of this success relative to earlier work to be a consequence of the large gas contents of satellites at infall, a factor ∼5–10 times larger than in semi-analytical models. Because of their relatively large gas reservoirs, satellites can continue to form stars long after infall, with a typical time-scale for star-formation to be quenched ∼2 Gyr in groups but more than ∼5 Gyr for satellites around Milky Way-like primaries. The gas contents we infer are consistent with z = 0 observations of H I gas in galaxies, although we find large discrepancies among reported values in the literature. A testable prediction of our model is that the gas-to-stellar mass ratio of satellite progenitors should vary only weakly with cosmic time.
The Use of Intranasal Dexmedetomidine and Midazolam for Sedated Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Children: A Report From the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to describe the use of intranasal dexmedetomidine (IN DEX) for sedated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations in children. The use of IN DEX for MRI in children has not been well described in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium (PSRC) is a collaborative and multidisciplinary group of sedation practitioners dedicated to understanding and improving the process of pediatric sedation. We searched the 2007 version of the PSRC database solely for instances in which IN DEX was used for MRI diagnostic studies. Patients receiving intravenous medications were excluded. Patient demographics, IN DEX dose, adjunct medications and dose, as well as procedure completion, complications, interventions, and monitoring providers were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 224 sedation encounters were included in our primary analysis. There were no major adverse events. Most sedations (88%) required no intervention. Registered nurses were the monitoring provider in over 99% of cases. The median (interquartile range) dose of dexmedetomidine was 3 (2.5-3) mcg/kg. Adjunctive midazolam was used in 219/224 (98%) of the cases. All procedures were completed. CONCLUSIONS This report from the PSRC shows that IN DEX in combination with midazolam is an effective medication regimen for children who require an MRI with sedation.
Multiscale superpixel classification for tumor segmentation in breast ultrasound images

Tumor localization and segmentation in breast ultrasound (BUS) images is an important as well as intractable problem for computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) due to the high variation in shape and appearance. We propose a novel algorithm in this paper without making any assumption on tumor, compared to most previous works. Heterogeneous features are collected via a hierarchical over-segmentation framework, which we have shown has the multiscale property. The superpixels are then classified with their confidences nested into the bottom layer. The ultimate segmentation is made by using an efficient conditional random field model. Experiments on challenging data set show that our algorithm is able to handle almost all kinds of benign and malignant tumors, and also confirm the superiority of our work through a comparison with other two different approaches.
Swine influenza virus vaccine serologic cross‐reactivity to contemporary US swine H3N2 and efficacy in pigs infected with an H3N2 similar to 2011–2012 H3N2v

Swine influenza A virus (IAV) reassortment with 2009 H1N1 pandemic (H1N1pdm09) virus has been documented, and new genotypes and subclusters of H3N2 have since expanded in the US swine population. An H3N2 variant (H3N2v) virus with the H1N1pdm09 matrix gene and the remaining genes of swine triple reassortant H3N2 caused outbreaks at agricultural fairs in 2011–2012.