Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of Natriuretic Peptide Receptor Guanylyl Cyclase-A in Myocardial Infarction Evaluated Using Genetically Engineered Mice

Although plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are elevated early after myocardial infarction (MI), the significance is not fully understood. We therefore investigated the function of natriuretic peptides after induction of MI in knockout (KO) mice lacking the natriuretic peptide receptor guanylyl cyclase-A, the receptor for ANP and BNP. KO and wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to left coronary artery ligation and then followed up for 4 weeks. Irrespective of genotype, almost all deaths occurred within 1 week after induction of MI. KO mice showed significantly higher mortality because of a higher incidence of acute heart failure, which was associated with diminished water and sodium excretion and with higher cardiac levels of mRNAs encoding ANP, BNP, transforming growth factor-&bgr;1, and type I collagen. By 4 weeks after infarction, left ventricular remodeling, including myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, and impairment of left ventricular systolic function were significantly more severe in KO than WT mice. Notably, the enhanced myocardial fibrosis seen in KO mice was virtually absent in infarcted double-KO mice, lacking guanylyl cyclase-A and angiotensin II type 1a receptors, although there was no improvement in survival and no attenuation of cardiac hypertrophy. Thus, guanylyl cyclase-A activation by endogenous cardiac natriuretic peptides protects against acute heart failure and attenuates chronic cardiac remodeling after MI. These beneficial effects are mediated partly through inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), although RAS-independent protective actions of guanylyl cyclase-A are also suggested.
Anterior Face Height Values in a Nigerian Population

Background: Withan increasing demand in the number of patients seeking orthodontictreatment at the Orthodontic unit of University of Benin teaching hospital it becomes imperative to provide normative values for anterior face heights. These values will then form a basis for clinical diagnosis, treatment planning and evaluation of facial proportions following orthodontic treatments. Aim: The aim of this study was to measure anterior face height proportions of school children in Benin City. Subjects and Methods: One hundred Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 12-15 years old school children, in Benin City were taken to establish anterior face height values. Manual tracings of the cephalograms were carried out and the linear measurements were recorded, summarized, and statistically analyzed using the Microsoft Excel Programme 2000. The comparative test was conducted using the Student's t-test to demonstrate any statistically significant difference between the values for the males and females, at 95% confidence level P < 0.05, was regarded as significant. Result: Out of the 100 subjects who participated in the study, there were 40 males 40% (40/100) and 60 females 60% (60/100), with a mean age of 12.2 years. Following a combined data analysis for both males and females, the mean biological values obtained for the parameters investigated are; Anterior Lower Face Height (ALFH) 60.9 (5) mm, Anterior Upper Face Height 47.7 (4) mm, Anterior Total Face Height (ATFH) 108.5 (5) mm, ratio of ALFH to ATFH ALFH: ATFH 56 (4)%. Conclusion: This study provides anterior face height measurements, which will be of great significance in evaluating facial proportions andesthetics in orthodontics, orthognathic surgery, and prosthetic dentistry.
Emotional License: Negative emotions as justification for self-regulation failure

We propose that negative emotions do not always cause self-regulation failure by making us more impulsive; sometimes they are deliberately used as a justification to allow oneself a forbidden pleasure. We report two studies that investigated whether negative affect is used as license to indulge while ruling out direct emotion effects. Awareness of an emotional event was manipulated by inducing emotions either consciously or unconsciously. Only participants who were aware of experiencing a negative event would have a justification to indulge and would therefore eat more in a subsequent taste test while keeping negative affect constant in both conditions. Results indicated that, despite being equally emotional, participants highly aware of an emotional event indulged more in tasty but unhealthy snacks than participants less aware of the event (Study 1, N= 39). Furthermore, highly aware participants only consumed more of tasty but forbidden food, but not of equally palatable but healthy food (Study 2, N= 57). These findings suggest that a prototypical ‘hot’ state can lead to indulgent behavior in a more deliberate manner by employing negative emotions as a justification.
Position paper on the therapeutic use of rituximab in CD20‐positive diffuse large B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma

Summary. The available data on rituximab in combination with chemotherapy confirm that the addition of an independently active biological agent to full‐dose standard chemotherapy results in higher rates of complete response, lower rates of relapse, prolonged survival, little additional toxicity and no compromise of the dose intensity of standard chemotherapy regardless of age and risk group. Given the strength of these data, the British Committee for Standards in Haematology believes that rituximab should be available for prescription by UK haematologists and oncologists according to its licensed indication in patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma until further data are available to confirm or refute these results. We consider that the use of rituximab with chemotherapy in aggressive lymphoma is cost‐effective and that failure to support its introduction will be strongly in conflict with professional and patient opinion.
An Analysis of Congressional Career Decisions, 1947–1986

Most previous research on congressional career decisions has focused on one of two binary choices—between retiring and running for reelection, or between running for reelection and seeking higher office. But most of the time, representatives face all three choices simultaneously. Employing a “mother logit” model, we estimate the effects of relevant variables both on pairwise comparisons (conditional probabilities) and on the unconditional probabilities of choosing each one of these three alternatives. Probably most intriguing is our finding that a member's age has little or no effect upon the unconditional probability of running for reelection. The interrelatedness of career options is seen particularly clearly in the case of incumbents who had been redistricted out of their seats. When they had an opportunity to run for higher office, they were likely to take it. Only when they lacked such an opportunity were they more likely than other members to opt for retirement.
An Evaluation of Computer Mediated Communication to Support Group Discussion in Continuing Education

An evaluation of a taught module within a Post-Graduate Master of Education course is reported. Participants on the course were mainly teachers learning for continuing professional development. The evaluation studies the use of ICT to provide flexible learning support. A Virtual Classroom environment was developed using WebCT and within this environment CHAT seminars were used to discuss issues arising from students' pre-reading of set papers. Participation in seminars was evaluated in relation to the quality of both written assignments and collaborative group-work. The evaluation raised the issue of how to increase the participation of some students in on-line CHAT and group-work. Above average participation in the CHAT was accompanied by above average performance in group-work. However, there seemed to be no such relationship between speaking in the CHAT and performing well on the written assignment. From students’ questionnaires the main reasons for non-participation in CHAT seminars was difficulty in accessing the CHAT from home at the scheduled time. Issues arising from these findings are discussed in relation to structuring courses to meet the needs of full-time, part-time and distant students.
An emergent science on the brink of irrelevance: a review of the past 8 years of DNA barcoding

DNA barcoding has become a well‐funded, global enterprise since its proposition as a technique for species identification, delimitation and discovery in 2003. However, the rapid development of next generation sequencing (NGS) has the potential to render DNA barcoding irrelevant because of the speed with which it generates large volumes of genomic data. To avoid obsolescence, the DNA barcoding movement must adapt to use this new technology. This review examines the DNA barcoding enterprise, its continued resistance to improvement and the implications of this on the future of the discipline. We present the consistent failure of DNA barcoding to recognize its limitations and evolve its methodologies, reducing the usefulness of the data produced by the movement and throwing into doubt its ability to embrace NGS.
UNDERSTANDING THE POPULATION GENETIC STRUCTURE OF GLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS L.: THE SCALE AND PATTERN OF POLLEN GENE FLOW

Spatial and temporal patterns of gene flow determine the extent to which populations can differentiate from one another as a result of natural selection or genetic drift. In this study, we investigated pollen‐mediated gene flow in two eastern Kansas populations of the subdioecious tree species, Gleditsia triacanthos L. (Leguminosae), or honeylocust. In 2 yr at each site, we used paternity‐exclusion analysis to estimate the proportion of seeds sired by immigrant pollen. We also used a single‐parent and parent‐pair exclusion analysis on naturally established seedlings and saplings to estimate gene flow into one site over a 12‐yr period and into the second site over a 22‐yr period. Results of both analyses showed high minimum estimates of pollen gene flow into each site (17%–30%). In each population, we found significantly less gene flow in years of high fruit production than in years of low fruit production, but in one population, we observed little variation in gene‐flow rates among age classes of seedlings and saplings. The level of pollen gene flow showed weak negative dependence on the relative isolation distances of the maternal trees sampled (140–240 m at one site vs. 85–120 m at the second site), and gene‐flow estimates from naturally established juveniles were very similar at the two sites. Within populations, a multiple regression model showed that maximum‐likelihood estimates of male fertility were negatively associated with distances between mates and positively associated with male size as measured by stem diameter. In neither population, however, did the regression explain more than 16% of the total variation in male fertilities.
Short-Term Plasticity at Primary Afferent Synapse in Rat Spinal Dorsal Horn and Its Biological Function

Short-term plasticity (STP) is an important element of information processing in neuronal networks. As the first synaptic relay between primary afferent fibers (PAFs) and central neurons, primary afferent synapses in spinal dorsal horn (DH) are essential to the initial processing of somatosensory information. In this research, we examined the STP between Aδ-PAFs and spinal DH neurons by patch-clamp recording. Our results showed that depression dominated the STP at primary afferent synapses. The curves of STP had no significant changes in the presence of bicuculline, CTZ or AP-5. Lowering extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) from 2.4 to 0.8 mM reduced the depression of synaptic responses at all stimulus rates, while raising [Ca2+]o from 2.4 to 4.0 mM increased the synaptic depression. Increasing the bath temperature from 24 to 32°C clearly reduced the depression of all responses. These results indicate that the observed STP is of presynaptic origin and depends on transmitter release. By fitting the experimental data recorded under different conditions, a model of STP was used to quantitatively characterize the observed STP and to analyze the possible mechanisms underlying the effects of [Ca2+]o and temperature. Furthermore, using a model neuron receiving synaptic inputs, we found that with this form of STP, postsynaptic DH neurons could detect rate changes in both rapidly- and slowly-firing afferents with equal sensitivity. The present study links the intrinsic STP properties of primary afferent synapses with their role in processing neural information, and provides a basis for further research on the STP in spinal DH and its biological function under in vivo conditions.
Lifetime prevalence, age of risk, and genetic relationships of comorbid psychiatric disorders in Tourette syndrome.

IMPORTANCE Tourette syndrome (TS) is characterized by high rates of psychiatric comorbidity; however, few studies have fully characterized these comorbidities. Furthermore, most studies have included relatively few participants (<200), and none has examined the ages of highest risk for each TS-associated comorbidity or their etiologic relationship to TS. OBJECTIVE To characterize the lifetime prevalence, clinical associations, ages of highest risk, and etiology of psychiatric comorbidity among individuals with TS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Cross-sectional structured diagnostic interviews conducted between April 1, 1992, and December 31, 2008, of participants with TS (n = 1374) and TS-unaffected family members (n = 1142). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Lifetime prevalence of comorbid DSM-IV-TR disorders, their heritabilities, ages of maximal risk, and associations with symptom severity, age at onset, and parental psychiatric history. RESULTS The lifetime prevalence of any psychiatric comorbidity among individuals with TS was 85.7%; 57.7% of the population had 2 or more psychiatric disorders. The mean (SD) number of lifetime comorbid diagnoses was 2.1 (1.6); the mean number was 0.9 (1.3) when obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were excluded, and 72.1% of the individuals met the criteria for OCD or ADHD. Other disorders, including mood, anxiety, and disruptive behavior, each occurred in approximately 30% of the participants. The age of greatest risk for the onset of most comorbid psychiatric disorders was between 4 and 10 years, with the exception of eating and substance use disorders, which began in adolescence (interquartile range, 15-19 years for both). Tourette syndrome was associated with increased risk of anxiety (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0-1.9; P = .04) and decreased risk of substance use disorders (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9; P = .02) independent from comorbid OCD and ADHD; however, high rates of mood disorders among participants with TS (29.8%) may be accounted for by comorbid OCD (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 2.9-4.8; P < .001). Parental history of ADHD was associated with a higher burden of non-OCD, non-ADHD comorbid psychiatric disorders (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.32-2.61; P < .001). Genetic correlations between TS and mood (RhoG, 0.47), anxiety (RhoG, 0.35), and disruptive behavior disorders (RhoG, 0.48), may be accounted for by ADHD and, for mood disorders, by OCD. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study is, to our knowledge, the most comprehensive of its kind. It confirms the belief that psychiatric comorbidities are common among individuals with TS, demonstrates that most comorbidities begin early in life, and indicates that certain comorbidities may be mediated by the presence of comorbid OCD or ADHD. In addition, genetic analyses suggest that some comorbidities may be more biologically related to OCD and/or ADHD rather than to TS.
Estimating Dynamic Models of Imperfect Competition

We describe a two-step algorithm for estimating dynamic games under the assumption that behavior is consistent with Markov perfect equilibrium. In the first step, the policy functions and the law of motion for the state variables are estimated. In the second step, the remaining structural parameters are estimated using the optimality conditions for equilibrium. The second step estimator is a simple simulated minimum distance estimator. The algorithm applies to a broad class of models, including industry competition models with both discrete and continuous controls such as the Ericson and Pakes (1995) model. We test the algorithm on a class of dynamic discrete choice models with normally distributed errors, and a class of dynamic oligopoly models similar to that of Pakes and McGuire (1994).
The effect of problem construction creativity on solution creativity across multiple everyday problems

 創造性に関する研究は、不明確な問題や曖昧な問題を、構造化または定義する行為である問題構築 が、問題解決の創造性にプラスの影響を与えることを示している  この関係を複数の日常的な問題の問題構築と問題解決過程に着目して検討した  具体的には、参加者は自分の言葉で問題を構築し、それをもとに解決策を生み出した  先行研究では問題構築課題と問題解決課題は別の問題を扱うことが多かった(発表者注)  さらに参加者の流暢性と問題構築能力(一般的な問題構築課題の創造性得点)を評価した  以上の問題構築能力、日常的な問題に対する問題構築の創造性得点、日常的な問題に対する問題解決 の創造性得点、流暢性について検証を行った結果、  流暢性を制御した状況のもと、問題構築能力と日常的な問題に対する問題解決の創造性得点の間に、 日常的な問題に対する問題構築の創造性得点が媒介する役割を果たしていることが発見された。  一方で、結果については課題とした問題状況によって異なる結果が得られた  日常的な問題 1 については問題構築の品質が問題解決の品質に、問題構築の独創性が独創性に 影響を与えている(一致効果)  日常的な問題2については問題構築の品質が問題解決の品質と独創性の双方に影響を与えてい た  この研究の結果は、問題の構築は日常の問題の解決の創造性にとって有益であるが、この関係はタス クによって影響を受ける可能性があることを示す証拠を提供する
Factors promoting staying at work in people with chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review

Purpose: To identify determinants for staying at work (SAW) in workers with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP). Method: A systematic review of factors that promote SAW in workers with CMP. We searched the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, PsycInfo, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library. We included studies reporting on working subjects without present CMP-related sick leave. A quality assessment of GRADE criteria and evidence synthesis was performed. Results: We identified five cross-sectional studies and two qualitative studies reporting on factors associated with SAW in workers with CMP. Consistent association with SAW was found for low perceived physical disability and low emotional distress (low-level evidence). Duration of pain, catastrophizing, self-esteem and marital status were not associated with SAW (low-level evidence). Qualitative studies indicated that personal adjustments and workplace interventions are important determinants for SAW (evidence not graded). Conclusions: No high-level evidence for SAW determinants for workers with CMP was identified. Future interventions aimed at promoting SAW could consider reducing perceived physical disability and emotional distress, and promoting adjustment latitude at work, support from supervisors, and the workers’ motivation and self-management skills. Further research is required because knowledge of SAW in workers with CMP is scarce, and the relevance of the subject is high. Implications for Rehabilitation When modifiable factors that promote staying at work can be identified, interventions can be developed to support the ability of workers with chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain to stay at work. Consistent evidence of promoting staying at work was found for low emotional distress and perceived physical disability, while duration of pain, catastrophizing, self-esteem and marital status were consistently not associated. Future interventions aimed at promoting staying at work should consider reducing perceived physical disability and emotional distress.
SPECTROSCOPY OF AN AdS REISSNER–NORDSTRØM BLACK HOLE

In the framework of black hole spectroscopy, we extend the results obtained for a charged black hole in an asymptotically flat space–time to the scenario with non-vanishing negative cosmological constant. In particular, exploiting Hamiltonian techniques, we construct the area spectrum for an AdS Reissner–Nordstrom black hole.
The young and techless? Investigating internet use and problem-solving behaviors of young adults in Singapore

This article critically examines the technologically-savvy image of young adults by investigating the digital divide issues underlying youth internet use, including their daily computer and internet problem-solving behaviors. The study draws on data from a web-based questionnaire and face-to-face interviews with young adults in Singapore, a country where internet adoption is pervasive. Contrary to popular conceptualizations of youths as a cohort of technically-savvy experts, the findings showed considerable variance in their internet expertise and problem-solving behaviors, with some demonstrating limited knowledge of internet use and awareness of troubleshooting strategies. The analyses also showed that internet skills and self-efficacy in internet-related problem-solving behaviors were significantly related to the internet practices of young adults. The findings suggest that in wired contexts, variations in post-adoption patterns may reflect more accurately the extent and presence of social stratification, extending the meaning and scope of the digital divide.
Efficient denting and bending of rigid bodies

We present a novel method for the efficient denting and bending of rigid bodies without the need for expensive finite element simulations. Denting is achieved by deforming the triangulated surface of the target body based on a dent map computed on-the-fly from the projectile body using a Z-buffer algorithm with varying degrees of smoothing. Our method accounts for the angle of impact, is applicable to arbitrary shapes, readily scales to thousands of rigid bodies, is amenable to artist control, and also works well in combination with prescoring algorithms for fracture. Bending is addressed by augmenting a rigid body with an articulated skeleton which is used to drive skinning weights for the bending deformation. The articulated skeleton is simulated to include the effects of both elasticity and plasticity. Furthermore, we allow joints to be added dynamically so that bending can occur in a non-predetermined way and/or as dictated by the artist. Conversely, we present an articulation condensation method that greatly simplifies large unneeded branches and chains on-the-fly for increased efficiency.
Illuminated, and Enlightened, by GRB 991216

We consider models for the generation of the emission line recently discovered in the X-ray afterglow spectrum of several bursts and, especially, of GRB 991216 observed by Chandra. These observations suggest the presence of 0.1-1 M☉ of iron in the vicinity of the bursts. We show that there are strong geometric and kinematic constraints on the line-emitting material. We discuss several classes of models, favoring one where the line photons are produced by reflection off the walls of a wide funnel of semiopening angle ϑ ≈ 45° excavated in a young (a few months old) supernova remnant made of ≈10 M☉ with radius 6 × 1015 cm and ≈1 M☉ of iron, providing strong support for the "supranova" model.
Moral Salience and the Role of Goodwill in Firm-Stakeholder Trust Repair

Re-establishing trust presents a complex challenge for a firm after it commits corporate misconduct. We introduce a new construct, moral salience, which we define as the extent to which the firmâ€™s behavior is morally noticeable to the stakeholder. Moral salience is a function of both the moral intensity of the firmâ€™s behavior and the relational intensity of the firm-stakeholder psychological contract. We apply this moral salience construct to firm misconduct to develop a model of trust repair that is based on goodwill, and moderated by the firmâ€™s stakeholder culture.