Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serial Sampling of Serum Protein Biomarkers for Monitoring Human Traumatic Brain Injury Dynamics: A Systematic Review

Background The proteins S100B, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), and neurofilament light (NF-L) have been serially sampled in serum of patients suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) in order to assess injury severity and tissue fate. We review the current literature of serum level dynamics of these proteins following TBI and used the term “effective half-life” (t1/2) in order to describe the “fall” rate in serum. Materials and methods Through searches on EMBASE, Medline, and Scopus, we looked for articles where these proteins had been serially sampled in serum in human TBI. We excluded animal studies, studies with only one presented sample and studies without neuroradiological examinations. Results Following screening (10,389 papers), n = 122 papers were included. The proteins S100B (n = 66) and NSE (n = 27) were the two most frequent biomarkers that were serially sampled. For S100B in severe TBI, a majority of studies indicate a t1/2 of about 24 h, even if very early sampling in these patients reveals rapid decreases (1–2 h) though possibly of non-cerebral origin. In contrast, the t1/2 for NSE is comparably longer, ranging from 48 to 72 h in severe TBI cases. The protein GFAP (n = 18) appears to have t1/2 of about 24–48 h in severe TBI. The protein UCH-L1 (n = 9) presents a t1/2 around 7 h in mild TBI and about 10 h in severe. Frequent sampling of these proteins revealed different trajectories with persisting high serum levels, or secondary peaks, in patients with unfavorable outcome or in patients developing secondary detrimental events. Finally, NF-L (n = 2) only increased in the few studies available, suggesting a serum availability of >10 days. To date, automated assays are available for S100B and NSE making them faster and more practical to use. Conclusion Serial sampling of brain-specific proteins in serum reveals different temporal trajectories that should be acknowledged. Proteins with shorter serum availability, like S100B, may be superior to proteins such as NF-L in detection of secondary harmful events when monitoring patients with TBI.
Diverging Trends in Self-Employment in Canada

The Strong performance of self-employment relative to paid-employment over recent years in Canada has sparked a wide interest in determining the sources and implications of these developments in the economy.Using Labour Force Survey data, this paper attempts to place thesedevelopments in perspective by exploring some of the main features of the aggregate trends in self-employment in the Canadien economy over the 1976-96 period.
Development of Methyltransferase Activities of Human Fetal Tissues

Extract: N5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase specific activity was higher in fetal (2nd trimester) human liver and kidney (4.70 ± 0.20 and 7.25 ± 0.23 nmol/mg protein/hr) than in mature human liver and kidney (1.30 ± 0.16 and 0.76 ± 0.18 nmol/mg protein/hr). During the same period, there was a significant correlation of decreasing specific activity of this enzyme in fetal brain with increasing crown-rump length (r = −0.72; P < 0.005), reaching the specific enzymatic activity of adult brain (1.37 ± 0.26 nmol/mg protein/hr). Betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase specific activity was lower in fetal liver and brain (1.82 ± 0.21 and 0.20 ± 0.05 nmol/mg protein/hr) than in mature liver and brain (7.78 ± 1.89 and 0.37 ± 0.07 nmol/mg protein/hr). During the same period, there was a significant correlation of increasing enzymatic activity in fetal kidney with increasing crown-rump length (r = 0.80; P < 0.005) toward the mean specific activity of mature kidney (22.6 ± 2.0 nmol/mg protein/hr). Serine tetrahydrofolate 5,10-hydroxymethyltransferase specific activity showed no significant difference between fetal and mature liver and kidney; however, the fetal brain showed a significant correlation of decreasing specific activity of this enzyme with increasing crown-rump length (r = −0.69; P < 0.005). The specific activities of betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase and serine-tetra-hydrofolate 5,10-hydroxymethyltransferase in the liver of the neonate was not different from that in the mature liver. N5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase in neonatal liver attained a specific activity similar to that found in mature liver before cystathionase did.Cystathionase in 2nd trimester human fetal kidney, in contrast to cystathionase in human fetal liver and brain, already has attained two-thirds of the mean specific activity of mature kidney.Speculation: Although the measurements of these enzyme activities as assayed in vitro do not take into consideration substrate availability in vivo, the relative specific activities of these methyltransferases in human fetal liver and brain, considered together with the absence of cystathionase, suggests to us that perhaps, in these two organs, the trans-sulfuration pathway for the further metabolism of homocysteine is turned off in favor of the N6-methyltetrahydrofolate-Bi2remethylation pathway (Fig. 1). The latter pathway converts 7V6-methyl tetrahydrofolate, the major monoglutamic folate in liver and serum [1], to tetrahydrofolate. The latter form of folate reacts with the f3 carbon of serine, on serine-tetrahydrofolate 5,10 hydroxymethyltransferase, to form Ni · 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, a 1-carbon precursor for the de novo synthesis of thymidylate, which is uniquely required for DNA but not for RNA. This suggests that the /3 carbon of serine is being shunted into DNA synthesis during periods of rapid cellular multiplication, rather than having the entire carbon skeleton accept the sulfur from homocysteine to form cysteine. The latter thus becomes an essential amino acid in human fetal liver and brain.
The Tax Gradient: Spatial Aspects of Fiscal Competition

State borders create a discontinuous tax treatment of retail sales. In a Nash game, local tax rates will be higher on the low-state-tax side of a border. Local taxes will decrease from the nearest high-tax border and increase from the low-tax border. Using driving time from state borders and all local sales tax rates, local tax rates on the low-tax side of the border are 1.25 percentage points higher, reducing the differential in state tax rates by over three-quarters. A ten minute increase in driving time from the nearest high-tax state lowers a border town’s local tax rate by 6%.
HYPNOTIZABILITY AND THE USE HEALING IN NEPAL’ OF TRADITIONAL DHAMI-JHANKRI

This study examined the role of hypnotic responsiveness in the practice of a dhami-jhankri, a traditional Nepali healer. The hypnotic capacity of 248 male patients was measured in an allopathic (Western) clinic, an Ayurvedic (ancient Hindu healing art) clinic, and a dhamijhankri’s practice. Hypnotizability was assessed using the Hypnotic Induction Profile (HIP). The Induction scores of the HIP were significantly higher among the dhami-jhankri’s patients than among either the Ayurvedic or allopathic patients. Furthermore, patients who returned to the dhami-jhankri were more highly hypnotizable than first-time dhami-jhankri patients. In addition, treatment satisfaction as reported by dhami-jhankri patients was positively correlated with HIP scores. The authors conclude that hypnotic phenomena as measured in the West might be an important component of the dhami-jhankri’s treatment in the East.
Corporate environmental reporting on the internet: an exploratory study

CER is considered a key medium through which to communicate environmental information to its stakeholders. The rapid growth of 'internet' technology has enabled the firms to disseminate information to the global audience by removing all geographical barriers. In this study, we explore the status of ER made by 39 corporations during the year 2005-2006, by using 'content' analysis methodology. In order to examine the quality of ER by these corporations on their websites, we followed the technology adoption model. The empirical data used in this study is based on the online annual reports and reporting made on their websites. An analysis of information collected indicates that corporations provide more ER on their websites, in sharp contrast, to reporting made within their annual reports. Unfortunately, ER in annual report is general, broad and narrative in nature, without specifically discussing the 'environment management policy' followed by the corporation and/or 'statement of assurance' from the corporate management regarding compliance with the external standards, if any. We feel this need to be improved soon and there is considerable scope to improve internet- and web-based EID.
Depression and treatment among U.S. pregnant and nonpregnant women of reproductive age, 2005-2009.

BACKGROUND Depression is often undiagnosed and untreated. It is not clear if differences exist in the diagnosis and treatment of depression among pregnant and nonpregnant women. We sought to estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed depression, treatment by modality, and treatment barriers by pregnancy status among U.S. reproductive-aged women. METHODS We identified 375 pregnant and 8,657 nonpregnant women 18-44 years of age who met criteria for past-year major depressive episode (MDE) from 2005-2009 nationally representative data. Chi-square statistics and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were calculated. RESULTS MDE in pregnant women (65.9%) went undiagnosed more often than in nonpregnant women (58.6%) (aPR 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-1.3). Half of depressed pregnant (49.6%) and nonpregnant (53.7%) women received treatment (aPR 1.0, 95% CI 0.90-1.1), with prescription medication the most common form for both pregnant (39.6%) and nonpregnant (47.4%) women. Treatment barriers did not differ by pregnancy status and were cost (54.8%), opposition to treatment (41.7%), and stigma (26.3%). CONCLUSIONS Pregnant women with MDE were no more likely than nonpregnant women to be diagnosed with or treated for their depression.
Effects of Subsidized Health Insurance on Newborn Health in a Developing Country

Colombia’s rapid and considerable expansion of health insurance coverage in the 1990s provides an opportunity to evaluate in a developing country whether health insurance improves health outcomes. Using administrative data and a regression discontinuity design, we find that babies born from mothers with health insurance have a lower incidence of low birth weight. We also find some indication that mothers with health insurance had better access to health facilities. These results are robust to different specifications and sample restrictions.
PROTECTION FROM LETHAL ENDOTOXIC SHOCK AFTER TESTOSTERONE DEPLETION IS LINKED TO CHROMOSOME X

Men are considered more susceptible to sepsis after severe injury than are women, which has been attributed to a suppressing effect of male sex steroids on the inflammatory response. Moreover, the effect of sex steroids on the inflammatory process depends on the genetic background. The present study examined the genetic contribution to survival after endotoxic shock in mice depleted of testosterone by surgical castration. Six-week-old male mice, from strains A/J, AKR/J, C57BL/6J (B6), BALBc/J, DBA/2J, and C3H/HeN, were castrated (CX) or nonoperated (NoOp). Two weeks after surgery, mice were injected intraperitoneally with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (15 mg/kg) and the frequency of mortality was monitored. CX A/J mice showed a significantly higher survival rate than NoOp mice, but this protective effect was not observed in the other strains. Administration of 5-α-dihydrotestosterone to CX A/J mice reverted the protection by CX. The protective effect of CX was also observed in crosses of female A/J and male B6 (AXB), but not female B6 and male A/J (BXA), suggesting that protection is linked to the A/J X chromosome. This possibility was corroborated by using consomic mice containing A/J chromosome X and the remaining chromosomes from B6. These results suggest that testosterone is a negative factor in the recovery from endotoxic shock, depending on the genetic background.
Ultra low dose CT for attenuation correction in PET/CT

In this paper, we present an ultra low-dose CT acquisition and reconstruction technique that provides sufficient image quality for PET attenuation correction while keeping the CT dose to a minimum. With PET/CT, CT is used instead of radioactive transmission sources to acquire data for attenuation correction. While this results in higher radiation dose to the patient, the CT images are also viewed with the PET images and provide an anatomical reference to aid the physician in localizing tumors. We found that using low tube voltage and current results in severe shading and CT number shifts and causes artifacts and quantitative errors in PET images. By adding a simple low pass filter to CT reconstruction prior to the logarithmic step, shading and CT number shifts are reduced substantially. The resulting CT number accuracy and uniformity of the images with the proposed approach makes them acceptable for PET attenuation correction.
Competition and Growth

From book description: Though competition occupies a prominent place in the history of economic thought, among economists today there is still a limited, and sometimes contradictory, understanding of its impact. In Competition and Growth, Philippe Aghion and Rachel Griffith offer the first serious attempt to provide a unified and coherent account of the effect competition policy and deregulated entry has on economic growth. The book takes the form of a dialogue between an applied theorist calling on "Schumpeterian growth" models and a microeconometrician employing new techniques to gauge competition and entry. In each chapter, theoretical models are systematically confronted with empirical data, which either invalidates the models or suggests changes in the modeling strategy. Aghion and Griffith note a fundamental divorce between theorists and empiricists who previously worked on these questions. On one hand, existing models in industrial organization or new growth economics all predict a negative effect of competition on innovation and growth: namely, that competition is bad for growth because it reduces the monopoly rents that reward successful innovators. On the other hand, common wisdom and recent empirical studies point to a positive effect of competition on productivity growth. To reconcile theory and evidence, the authors distinguish between pre- and post-innovation rents, and propose that innovation may be a way to escape competition, an idea that they confront with microeconomic data. The book's detailed analysis should aid scholars and policy makers in understanding how the benefits of tougher competition can be achieved while at the same time mitigating the negative effects competition and imitation may have on some sectors or industries.
Best-practice benchmarking in UK higher education: new nonparametric approaches using financial ratios and profit efficiency methodologies

The neglected issue of using profit efficiency for the best-practice benchmarking of UK universities is explored to see whether this supports the policy stance of encouraging more specialized university production. The article also investigates whether nonparametric modelling with financial ratios, in contrast to nonparametric modelling based on the prices and quantities of each university's inputs and outputs, can yield ready insights into this profit efficiency issue. The empirical results, using two new approaches, confirm that more specialized university production yields relatively higher performance on average than less specialized production. The results also highlight certain advantages of financial ratios modelling.
Influence of strategies and heuristics on farmers’ response to change under uncertainty

Hierarchical Decision Models of woolproducers’ decisions provide unique insights into the impact of major price changes. Producers’ lagged response in some contexts appear to be due to the ambiguous decision environment they face, their strategic goals and responses to that environment apart from lags caused by factors such as attitude to risk, expectations adjustment, adjustment costs and learning costs. Much of the response to major price changes comes from strategic decisions to change enterprises rather than marginal changes to existing enterprises. In ambiguous environments, methods may need to be found that incorporate simplifying behavioral rules and strategies.
Interaction of the TGGCA‐binding protein with upstream sequences is required for efficient transcription of mouse mammary tumor virus.

A high‐affinity binding site for the TGGCA‐binding protein, also known as nuclear factor I, has previously been shown to reside within the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) long terminal repeat. We have introduced mutations into this binding site to test the importance of this ubiquitous nuclear protein in MMTV transcription. Mutations which abolish the binding of the TGGCA protein in vitro are shown to impair strongly glucocorticoid‐induced transcription from this promoter in vivo. These data demonstrate that the TGGCA‐binding protein is a multifunctional DNA‐binding protein, capable of serving a transcriptional role in the case of MMTV, in addition to its known involvement in the replication of adenovirus.
Dynamic Portfolio Choice under Ambiguity and Regime Switching Mean Returns

I examine a continuous-time intertemporal consumption and portfolio choice problem under ambiguity, where expected returns of a risky asset follow a hidden Markov chain. Investors with Chen and Epstein''s (2002) recursive multiple priors utility possess a set of priors for unobservable investment opportunities. We explicitly characterize optimal consumption and portfolio policies in terms of the Malliavin derivatives and stochastic integrals. When the model is calibrated to U.S. stock market data, I find that continuous Bayesian revisions under incomplete information generate ambiguity-driven hedging demands that mitigate intertemporal hedging demands. In addition, ambiguity aversion magnifies the importance of hedging demands in the optimal portfolio policies. Out-of-sample experiments demonstrate the economic importance of accounting for ambiguity.
Evaluation of Commonly Used Temporary Skin Dressings and a Newly Developed Collagen Matrix for Treatment of Superficial Wounds

OBJECTIVE: In the authors’ experience, extended superficial-thickness wounds often were treated with the application of synthetic temporary wound dressings. There is a broad range of expensive products available in this market. The aim of this study was to compare commonly used temporary skin dressings with a newly developed collagen matrix. METHODS: A total of 56 standardized superficial skin defects were generated on the back of 28 adult male Lewis rats using a skin dermatome. The wounds were treated with Biobrane (Smith & Nephew, St Petersburg, Florida) (n = 14), Suprathel (PolyMedics, Denkendorf, Germany) (n = 14), and newly developed Collagen Cell Carrier (Naturin Viscofan, Weinheim, Germany) (CCC; n = 14). Histological evaluation was performed at 3 months’ postoperative in regard to quality of newly formed skin. RESULTS: In regard to epidermal cell count and thickness of skin, Biobrane and Suprathel demonstrated comparable values, whereas CCC demonstrated higher epidermal cell count and thicker neoepidermis. The epidermal thickness of CCC was comparable to untreated, healthy skin. CONCLUSIONS: The presented results reveal the potential of CCC in the treatment of superficial skin defects and encourages further evaluation of CCC in surgical applications and regenerative medicine.
Are We at the Cutting Edge or the Blunt Edge?: Improving NGO Organizational Performance with Private and Public Sector Strategic Management Frameworks

Bankruptcy or irrelevance are likely paths for not-for-profit organizations (NGOs) that do not reshape themselves to achieve greater impact, efficiency, and accountability in an increasingly global, competitive environment. But how relevant are public and private sector management frameworks for NGO repositioning? This article provides initial answers through a case study of CARE, one of the largest international relief and development nonprofit organizations in the United States. It explores the transformation frameworks employed at CARE between 1992 and 1997, assesses what worked and what did not, and identifies initial lessons learned for the broader sector.
ESSAYS ON SCIENCE AND SOCIETY: From the World of Science to the World of Research?

In the last century and a half, scientific development has been breathtaking, but the understanding of this progress has dramatically changed. It is characterized by the transition from the culture of "science" to the culture of "research. " Science is certainty; research is uncertainty. Science is supposed to be cold, straight, and detached; research is warm, involving, and risky. Science puts an end to the vagaries of human disputes; research creates controversies. Science produces objectivity by escaping as much as possible from the shackles of ideology, passions, and emotions; research feeds on all of those to render objects of inquiry familiar.
Eastern Europe at the Crossroads of Democratic Transition

Research on Eastern European attitudes toward democracy has not comprehensively examined the economic, social, and political origins of support for and satisfaction with democracy and what these portend for democratic consolidation in Eastern Europe. Differentiating origins of mass support and satisfaction clarify whether ordinary citizens perceive democracy as a normatively correct, legitimate process of making collective and binding decisions or merely as a means to achieving efficiency and distributive justice. Multivariate analysis revealed that whereas social, economic, and psychological factors influence support, only economic evaluations predict satisfaction. This identifies support for democracy in Eastern Europe as emanating more from a recognition of the moral worth of the process than from a calculus about its benefits. However, the study reveals that dissatisfaction with democratic government abounds and may affect support. This challenges optimism for speedy consolidation, showing Eastern Europe poised to linger at the crossroads of transition for a while.
On Modeling the Effects of Inflation Shocks: Comments and Some Further Evidence

Fair (2002) argues that New Keynesian models are wrong in predicting that an inflation shock has contractionary effects only if it raises the real interest rate, and that a coefficient on inflation higher than one in the Taylor rule is a necessary condition for stability. While Fair uses his macroeconometric model as a benchmark to evaluate the predictions of the standard New Keynesian framework, we adopt a VAR supported by models in that framework, and the model of Rudebusch and Svensson (1999). The findings are broadly in line with Fair's.
Suspended Education: Urban Middle Schools in Crisis

In order to better understand the issues of efficacy and fairness in the use of out-of-school suspension, we first must answer two questions: How frequently is suspension being used in our schools? Are there significant differences in the frequency of suspension when we look at subgroups of children by race/ethnicity and gender? This report, published by the Southern Poverty Law Center with research by CRP Senior Law and Education Policy Associate Daniel Losen and Indiana University Professor Russell Skiba, is designed to help answer these questions. Article can also be found at: http://civilrightsproject.ucla. edu